Indigenous communities across Australia will receive ‘on-ground’ assistance in preparing the Business Activity Statement (BAS) – through a combination of ‘caravans’, trainers and on-ground liaison officers.

The indigenous outreach program, funded by the GST Start-Up Assistance Office, was announced today by Chris Jordan, Chairman of The New Tax System Advisory Board.

The program will provide culturally appropriate information to indigenous people, businesses, organisations and communities in the lead-up to the lodgement of their first BAS due in early November.

The Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA) have been contracted by the GST Start-Up Assistance Office to deliver the program which will conclude on 10 November.

The package includes:

• 12 ‘caravans’, comprising four teams, each with an indigenous networker, a GST trainer and an accountant to visit up to 120 rural and remote locations for around 3 days per visit;
• a train the trainer program for identified field officers with indigenous agencies to help develop long-term tax knowledge within communities;
• Indigenous Liaison Officers who will guide indigenous communities to tax information and help; and
• a centralised information and support service which is a comprehensive information bank and helpline on indigenous tax matters.

The new program builds on business skills and GST training already delivered to indigenous communities through organisations including ATSIC, National Council of Social Service (NCOSS), the Australia Council and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

"This new package will provide a nationwide indigenous pool of support on taxation issues," Chris Jordan said.

"The package will further develop indigenous taxation and business skills and lead to greater awareness, preparedness and compliance within the community," Mr Jordan said.

The Executive Director of Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA), Ms Carol Croce, welcomed the initiative. "This project offers indigenous people and organisations the opportunity to understand the process of lodging a BAS statement and find out more about other aspects of The New Tax System such as the GST, PAYG and FBT," Ms Croce said.

Media contact: Anita Shooks, The New Tax System Advisory Board on (02) 6216 2318 or 0407 406 765.