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Opposition make first comments on Innovation Policy Since Election.

November 18th, 2019

At a recent speech, shadow minister for Innovation and Technology Clare O’Neil has made some high-level comments with respect to the R&D Tax Incentive and Australia’s innovation policy. Key points from the speech included the following: Australia’s national spending on R&D is about 1.8% of GDP. World-leading countries are spending more than 4%, and the OECD average today is well above Australia’s at about 2.4%; 2016-17 was the first year R&D spending in Australia actually went backwards; Labor noted […]

H2O Exchange Pty Ltd and Innovation and Science Australia (Taxation) [2019] AATA 4195 (14 October 2019)

October 31st, 2019

Introduction A recent case heard in the AAT has affirmed a previous decision by Innovation and Science Australia (AusIndustry) finding that Activities registered under the R&D Tax Incentive were not in accordance with the legislative requirements. The case: H2O Exchange Pty Ltd and Innovation and Science Australia (Taxation) [2019] AATA 4195 from 14 October 2019 refers to a company that registered R&D activities for the FY14 and FY15 periods. Background The project registered related to the development of an online platform for the cross-border (inter-state) trading of water […]

NSW establish R&D Advisory Council as BCA calls for more national action to address Australian decline

October 28th, 2019

The AFR has reported that the NSW Government is to form a new advisory council, chaired by David Gonski with a brief to make NSW “the R&D leader within Australia and a world-class contributor”. Forming of the NSW R&D council has also come among calls from the Business Council of Australia for more to be done nationally. The AFR article highlights that Australia has fallen to 22nd in the latest Global Innovation Index, which measures a country’s inventiveness from research and […]

Fintechs declare access to strong R&D Tax Programmes key to keeping R&D in Australia

October 18th, 2019

The Age has reported the results of a recent EY census of Fintech companies, which has found consensus among respondents who consider that having access to strong R&D tax programs increased the likelihood of keeping their business onshore rather than moving overseas. The census paper noted that: “Generous R&D tax incentive programs are available overseas and for Australia’s nearest neighbors Indonesia, Hong Kong and New Zealand, are seeing increased funding from governments with popular support from industry,” “Australia must be competitive […]

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