The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) joined forces to conduct a series of surprise visits to food sector and hospitality businesses in Darwin. The visits related to suspected shadow economy activities including worker exploitation and alcohol excise avoidance.
Assistant Commissioner Tony Goding speaks to Operation Sentinel in the media grabs. More information is available in the media release: Cooking the books? Darwin food businesses under investigation.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 1 video download (MP4, 11.4MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 1 audio download (MP3, 708KB)This link will download a file
We’ve been here in Darwin with the Fair Work Ombudsman investigating suspected shadow economy activities including worker exploitation and alcohol excise avoidance. We’ve conducted surprise visits at more than 30 food and hospitality businesses including fast food outlets, restaurants and cafés. And, our investigations are ongoing.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 2 video download (MP4, 12.1MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 2 audio download (MP3, 751KB)This link will download a file
We’ve had a big 3 days here in Darwin this week. Under Operation Sentinel, the ATO joined forces with the Fair Work Ombudsman to conduct surprise visits to more than 30 food and hospitality businesses. We’re investigating suspected shadow economy activities including worker exploitation and alcohol excise avoidance. Investigations are ongoing.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 3 video download (MP4, 12.8MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 3 audio download (MP3, 794KB)This link will download a file
Cooking the books by ripping off your workers and dodging your tax and super obligations doesn’t pass the pub test. Businesses that engage in the shadow economy are deliberately undercutting their competitors, ripping off the community, gaining an unfair advantage over honest businesses and stealing from their employees’ futures. Make no mistake, we will find out about it and take action.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 4 video download (MP4, 16.7MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 4 audio download (MP3, 1.0MB)This link will download a file
There are serious consequences for businesses that engage in the shadow economy including fines and penalties. The shadow economy involves activities such as paying workers cash-in-hand to avoid legal obligations, paying employee wages below award rates and not paying their other entitlements, including super. Businesses that engage in worker exploitation are deliberately undercutting their competitors, gaining an unfair advantage over honest businesses that are doing the right thing and stealing from their employees’ futures.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 5 video download (MP4, 13.2MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 5 audio download (MP3, 815KB)This link will download a file
Operation Sentinel has put Darwin hospitality businesses that are deliberately evading their alcohol excise obligations on notice. Businesses that evade their excise and GST obligations are operating outside the law. This behaviour is not only illegal – it also undercuts honest businesses, creates unfair competition and poses significant risk to public safety.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 6 video download (MP4, 17.8MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 6 audio download (MP3, 1.1MB)This link will download a file
If you run a business, don’t think you can get away with exploiting your workers or ripping off the community. Here at the ATO we have a range of sophisticated methods to uncover shadow economy activities. We also work closely with our partner agencies like the Fair Work Ombudsman to catch out those doing the wrong thing, including regularly sharing intelligence and community tip-offs. Our action this week under Operation Sentinel has uncovered a range of concerning behaviours and our investigations are ongoing.
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 7 video download (MP4, 10.0MB)This link will download a file
Tony Goding: Operation Sentinel 7 audio download (MP3, 622KB)This link will download a file
If you think a business is ripping off the tax and super system or their employees, you can report it. Making a tip-off to the ATO only takes a few minutes and you can remain anonymous. Visit us at www.ato.gov.au/tipoff or call us on 1800 060 062.
Images
A high-resolution headshot of ATO Assistant Commissioner Tony Goding (JPEG, 893KB)This link will download a file is available from the ATO media centre.