Turnbull tax haven use bad example: Labor

Malcolm Turnbull's use of overseas tax havens is not a good example to set for the country, Labor says.

Malcolm Turnbull's investments in offshore funds may be above board but they're not a good look, Labor says.

Veteran Labor MP Wayne Swan has seized on reports the prime minister has reshuffled his hedge fund investments, most of which are registered in the Cayman Islands.

"When the leader of a country chooses to place his investments in a tax haven he provides a tacit endorsement for (their) use," Mr Swan told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"Tax havens are the source of massive tax evasion by multinational companies and by high-wealth individuals."

While the prime minister may pay full Australian tax rates on his investments in the Cayman Islands his use of the tax haven is not an example to set the country, Mr Swan said.

"The prime minister constantly lectures the parliament about moral leadership," he said.

"I don't think the public can have any faith that a leader that places his funds in a tax haven will take any substantive action against tax havens."


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world