Recommendation 1B and 1C
1B – Share guidance around consulting with the Tax Profession, 1C – How engagement and stewardship groups operate
Members reaffirmed that effective consultation must be timely, transparent and designed to genuinely influence outcomes. There was broad support for:
- establishing clearer consultation principles
- broadening participation across the profession
- strengthening feedback mechanisms so practitioners can see how their insights have informed decisions and outcomes.
There was general agreement that work should focus on defining what good consultation looks like, while balancing wider engagement with targeted consultation methods. The group acknowledged the need to improve engagement with the broader practitioner community beyond existing forums, as well as communicating progress to the profession.
Priority improvements
Members were taken through the refined list of priority improvements that have been compiled based on previous discussions.
The direction of the collective priority improvements was supported, however requires some refinement. Feedback focused on:
- the need for clearer descriptions
- measurable outcomes
- transparent delivery sequencing
- improved visibility of how priorities are progressing over time.
An updated version of the priority improvements taking on board member feedback will be circulated to members out of session.
Communicating priorities to the tax profession
Members were taken through a facilitated session to explore the best ways to communicate the priority improvements to the wider tax profession.
Members agreed that communication should focus on demonstrating practical outcomes and tangible improvements for the profession. There was strong support for a sustained, multi-channel approach that leverages existing professional networks, supports genuine dialogue and clearly communicates what has changed because of practitioner feedback.
Members agreed communications should make practitioners feel:
- heard
- respected
- optimistic
- included
- that genuine change is occurring in the relationship between the ATO and the profession.
A communication plan will be developed based on this feedback and brought back to the next meeting.
Governance going forward and feedback
A proposal for how the Tax Practitioner Improvements Consultation Working Group (TPIC) group could be dissolved with governance and oversight transitioned back to the Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) was discussed.
Members broadly supported transitioning TPIC outcomes into an ongoing stewardship and governance model that maintains visibility, accountability and momentum. Future arrangements should provide clear ownership of priorities, regular oversight, transparent reporting and mechanisms to identify and address emerging practitioner issues.
It was agreed that:
- Ownership of priority improvements will transition to TPSG.
- Quarterly TPSG reporting will monitor progress.
- Two out-of-session discussions each year will focus on the priority list.
The BAS Agent Advisory Group and Tax Professional Digital Implementation Group will support implementation and oversight of technical issues.
Members emphasised that:
- The priority list should remain a living document.
- Accountability for delivery must be maintained.
- Emerging issues need a mechanism for review and escalation.
The date of the final TPIC meeting is still to be agreed.
Action items from the meeting were confirmed and will continue to be progressed. Members raised no other business.