Key super figure departs role in Treasury
Ahead of the federal budget and with the super tax reform debate reaching fever pitch, Treasury has announced a significant internal move for one of its key authorities on superannuation.
Treasury executive director, revenue group Rob Heferen, has announced he will be moving to the department of Industry, Innovation and Science on the 18th of April this year.
Mr Heferen said he will be concentrating on energy resources in northern Australia in his new role.
He is known for his frank assessments of Treasury’s estimates, acknowledging on several occasions that the Tax Expenditures Statements have their limitations.
Mr Heferen first started work at the Treasury’s Revenue Group in March 2011 as deputy secretary. He has worked in the public service since joining the Australian Customs Service as part of the graduate intake in 1989.
SMSF Association chief executive Andrea Slattery said the association will miss Mr Heferen’s input on tax issues, and thanked him for his work in the Revenue Group over the past five years.
“Certainly our superannuation sector held Rob in the highest regard. We always found he was an attentive listener, was able to distil complex issues into simple concepts and provided constructive advice across a range of issues,” Ms Slattery said.
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Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.