Kiribati

2022 - 8 - 12

Post cover — Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Fewer than 120000 people inhabit Kiribati yet they apparently hold ... (ABC News)

Yet data released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and found that $682 million in Australian bank accounts belonged to foreign tax residents apparently ...

Overall, the 2020 data released under the common reporting standard (CRS) scheme — the single global standard for the collection, reporting and exchange of financial account information on foreign tax residents — revealed the amount held by foreign tax residents in Australia totalled $186 billion. Big amounts were also held by residents of the United Kingdom ($14 billion across almost 630,000 accounts), New Zealand ($13.7 billion across almost 511,000 accounts) and Singapore ($13.55 billion across nearly 233,000 accounts). "[It] helps the Tax Avoidance Taskforce to identify, investigate and ensure that foreign-sourced income and assets held in foreign financial accounts by Australian residents are declared," Mr Thompson said. The CRS is the single global standard for the collection, reporting and exchange of financial account information on foreign tax residents. "The latest data of accounts held in Australia from offshore continue to present red flags for money laundering and tax evasion," according to the Tax Justice Network's Mark Zirnsak. Yet data released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and found that $682 million in Australian bank accounts belonged to foreign tax residents apparently from Kiribati, up from just $14 million in 2019.

Australian-born judge released from immigration detention in Kiribati ... (The Guardian)

David Lambourne, who serves on the high court of Kiribati, was detained on Thursday after a failed attempt by the Kiribati government to deport him.

The court reconvened on Friday morning to consider an urgent application for Lambourne’s release. the persons directly concerned in contempt of court. Dr Tess Newton Cain, senior research fellow and project lead for the Pacific Hub at Griffith University’s Asia Institute, expressed concern about the latest developments. The court condemned efforts to deport Lambourne. “Their efforts were unsuccessful but appear to have been in clear breach of our order which we understand had been shown to them by a court officer,” the judgment said. Immigration officials nonetheless attempted to forcibly place Lambourne on a Fiji Airways flight on Thursday afternoon. He remained detained for much of Friday, before being finally permitted to leave in the evening.

Kiribati court grants David Lambourne bail, slams attempts to deport ... (ABC News)

The Appeals Court orders the immediate release of Australian David Lambourne, who was placed in immigration detention following a failed deportation attempt ...

It must cease," the judgement said. Justice Lambourne said he believed he was being targeted because the government was trying to force his wife out of politics, calling it an "assault on the constitution". Justice Lambourne returned to Kiribati on a visitor's visa, which the government has accused him of breaching, saying he has been working in the country since his arrival. "The Government of Kiribati is concerned by the overreach of the Court of Appeal in issuing an injunction against the deportation," the government said in a statement. The allegations included "his inability to perform functions of his office and his misbehaviour", a government statement said. - The judge said the behaviour of authorities was "unacceptable" and in breach of the court order

Australian judge released in Kiribati (South Coast Register)

An Australian high court judge in Kiribati has been released from immigration detention after an order from a...

"The rule of law here has broken down completely. Over the last couple of months, we've seen this descent into authoritarianism." Yet Mr Lambourne believes it isn't the end of the matter. It took them far too long ... but it's better than them not complying with the order at all." Fortunately, my wife happened to be driving in as they were driving out and they told her I was released. "I'm glad to be home.

Australian-born Kiribati judge fights 'extraordinary' deportation move (The Sydney Morning Herald)

An Australian citizen and senior judge in Kiribati who is married to the opposition leader of the Pacific Island nation was detained by the government on ...

However, it is not clear whether the government will attempt to deport Lambourne over the weekend in defiance of that order. The court said it doubted whether this was a valid use of specific power in the Constitution. The airline took the view that it would not board Lambourne without his consent in light of the court order on Thursday. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. “The government then took the position that if Fiji Airways didn’t board him, the aircraft wouldn’t be permitted to leave at all,” Herzfeld said. It must cease,” the court said.

Australian-born Kiribati judge fears deportation saga will continue ... (SBS)

David Lambourne says an attempt by authorities to deport him was aimed at leveraging his wife who is the Pacific nation's opposition leader.

"The rule of law here has broken down completely. Yet Mr Lambourne believes it isn't the end of the matter. Over the last couple of months, we've seen this descent into authoritarianism." It took them far too long ... but it's better than them not complying with the order at all." Fortunately, my wife happened to be driving in as they were driving out and they told her I was released. "I'm glad to be home.

Australian judge fights Kiribati expulsion (Crikey)

An Australian high court judge in Kiribati has raised concerns about the rule of law in the Pacific island nation after his attempted deportation.

“The rule of law here has broken down completely. The actions constituted a breakdown of the rule of law, Mr Lambourne added. A last-minute injunction was granted by the appeals court, with the attorney-general told to take necessary steps to stop the judge’s deportation but Mr Lambourne remains in immigration detention in a motel.

Australian judge fights Kiribati expulsion (Blue Mountains Gazette)

Despite the appeals court ordering his release on Friday morning, the government continues to hold him in immigration detention, he says. Mr Lambourne says the ...

Climate risk assessment of Kiribati finds significant ecological and ... (Commonwealth)

New assessment says Kiribati vulnerable to coastal flooding and erosion and identifies investments and recommendations to protect coastal communities.

These detailed profiles help governments, businesses, and financial institutions assess climate risk and pinpoint key areas of action to help the government adapt to the climate emergency. As one of three pilot project countries, Kiribati officials work with expert analysts to review the results, better understand the available options, and formulate next steps that should be taken to develop climate-smart policies based on the report’s recommendations. Kiribati can also better harness its human capital by investing in green innovation and entrepreneurs, with a focus on climate adaptation planning, renewable energy technology, and solid waste management that have been identified as high-risk areas in this assessment. Kiribati should therefore encourage a move towards a circular economy, employing the three R’s – reduce, reuse, and recycle all forms of waste. These recommendations stem from the highest risk indicator scores – Percent of People Living Below 5 Meters Above Sea Level (9.20), Percent of Island at Risk of Flooding (8.77), and Rate of Coastal Erosion (8.60) reflect the vulnerability of an island with a maximum height of 2-3 meters. Move towards a circular economy: Improving solid and human waste management and reducing marine debris will help strengthen natural coastal defenses and reduce the impact of flooding.

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