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Tax Policy (LAWS70319)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5Not available in 2018
Overview
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All countries face the challenge of reforming their tax systems to support effective governments in the global era, to take account of increasingly mobile capital and labour, and to establish effective, fair, simple and sustainable tax systems for the future. Australia recently carried out a major tax review process – the review of Australia’s Future Tax System, commonly known as the Henry Tax Review. Other countries have recently undertaken similar reviews. This subject is taught by Greg Smith, a former member of the Review of Australia’s Future Tax System (2009), and engages with the fundamental fiscal policy issues of today for all levels of government. It will analyse the major tax bases available for governments, the interactions of tax law with the transfer system, the challenge of environmentally sustainable taxes and issues of tax law design, complexity and administration for the future.
Principal topics include:
- Introduction to macroeconomics and fiscal policy
- Introduction to microeconomics and resource allocation policy
- Principles, objectives and main concepts in tax policy formulation
- The social, economic and historical – political contexts of tax policy formulation in Australia
- Major issues in tax reform in Australia, including in relation to fiscal policy and revenue adequacy, the major tax bases at each level of government, interactions within the tax-transfer system and issues of tax policy design cost, complexity and administration.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess the economic underpinnings of taxation policy
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the key concepts in taxation policy, including recent developments in this field
- Be an engaged participant in debate regarding the linkages between taxation policy and the wider economic and social policy context
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of the factors and processes driving taxation policy
- Have an advanced understanding of the major issues in tax policy in Australia and able to critically evaluate tax policy options in the Australian context
- Have a detailed understanding of tax policy principles in the global context
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to the development of tax policy, and to critically evaluate existing legal theories, principles and concepts with creativity and autonomy
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse existing and emerging issues relating to tax policy
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding tax policy principles to relevant specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Be able demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of tax policy.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Melbourne Law Masters Students: None
JD Students: Successful completion of the below subject and have prior knowledge in economics:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50046 | Taxation Law and Policy |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Take-home examination (5,000 - 6,000 words) (100%)
or - 8,000 - 10,000 word research paper (100%) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2018
Time commitment details
136-150 hours The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Government Law Course Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies Course Graduate Diploma in International Tax Course Graduate Diploma in Tax Course Juris Doctor Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of International Tax Course Master of Laws Course Master of Tax Course Master of Public Administration Course Master of Public and International Law - Links to additional information
law.unimelb.edu.au
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 3 November 2022