A QUT Business School student will represent Australia at a prestigious global forum in Paris this month, joining the ranks of current and former world leaders and others of international influence.
Madison Ure, 22, was selected as one of just four Australians to make up the Global Voices Australian Youth Delegation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) annual forum from 31 May-5 June.
Now in her final semester of a dual degree in international business and law, Newstead-based Madison will head to the City of Light to attend the annual forum, which aims to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
Madison's visit is fully sponsored by QUT Business School and her research scholarship topic is the implications of unilateral action against base erosion and profit shifting which is highly topical to the Australian business community.
Base erosion and profit shifting refers to tax planning that leverage n tax laws to shift profits to low or no tax locations. It enables companies to pay little or no corporate tax in certain jurisdictions and is currently the subject of a senate inquiry - the Senate Economic Committee Hearing on Corporate Tax Avoidance.
A consultant with the International Trade and Excise team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Madison said attending the forum would allow her to gain some real world experience.
"The OECD is developing an action plan on base erosion profit shifting which is the subject of my research," said Madison, who met her fellow delegates, along with the Prime Minister at a briefing session in Canberra in early April.
"I am looking at whether laws enacted by the Australian Government could be effective on a global level.
"The OECD will release the second stage of its action plan later this year and I believe Australia and other countries should follow their lead on what approach to take to be most effective in cracking down on corporate tax avoidance."
Madison will leave for Paris on 23 May to see the sights and visit the Champagne region before the OECD Forum begins on 31 May. Afterwards, she and the other Global Voices delegates will have the opportunity to engage in one on one discussion with diplomats and other dignitaries.
The Global Voices mission is to provide opportunities for young Australians to engage with international policy at home and abroad.
Throughout the forum, Madison will be live tweeting at @madison_ure
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
