Brett Freudenberg is a Professor – Taxation at Griffith University (Australia). Brett is known for his research expertise in the tax law and policy issues facing private enterprises, as evidenced by his Fulbright Scholarship (2006) and over 70 refereed publications in leading Australian and international journals. Professor Freudenberg’s research has analysed whether Australia should introduce a tax flow-through company, the tax treatment of discretionary trusts and the motivation for choice of business structure. His research has also considered the tax issues confronting private enterprises, reforms for enterprises in the arts sector, as well as to facilitate Islamic finance.

Brett has also successfully supervised Honours and PhD students who have researched into the areas of tax literacy, effective use of debt, Australia’s superannuation system, as well as how private enterprises are affected by GST in terms of their cash flow, compliance cost and complexity. His excellence with research supervision was recognised with Higher Degree Research Supervision Award (2017).

Professor Freudenberg’s research has informed government policy as he was invited to present his PhD research findings to the Australian Treasury as part of the Henry Tax Review. Also his PhD was awarded the CCH-ATTA Doctoral Prize which saw it published as a book in 2011: Tax Flow-Through Companies. Brett’s research formed the basis of CPA Australia’s submission on Islamic finance to the Board of Taxation. He uses his extensive tax law knowledge to influence policy debate with appointments to the ATO Small Business Fix-It Squad and the Advisory Panel with the Board of Taxation.

Prior to commencing with Griffith University, Brett was a senior taxation consultant with KPMG and a lawyer with Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

WHY I SUPPORT THE SBAA THINK TANK

It is great to be part of the Think Tank and be able to make a positive contribution to formulate recommendations to government about reforms to the tax system to assist small business. Also, the Think Tank provides a great opportunity to hear about current tax issues that businesses are facing, and their ideas about how things could be improved.