December 13, 2022

UOW experts available for comment this week

UOW academics provide expert comment, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

Tax avoidance by the fossil fuel industry

Dr Adam Lucas can discuss tax transparency and the fossil fuel industry. In a new article for Pearls and Irritations Dr Lucas and Emeritus Professor James Guthrie (Macquarie University), outline seven recommendations that would limit transnational corporations’ tax avoidance practices. They write:

Big Business has deep pockets and hundreds of lobbyists and corporate lawyers at their beck and call. Nevertheless, if Australians want to see some measure of equity in the tax system, and reasonable levels of tax paid by corporations earning eye-watering revenues from their operations in our country, we all need to pay far more attention to these issues and give our support and encouragement to those who advocate for reform.

Dr Lucas is a senior lecturer in Science and Technology Studies in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry. 

Cryptocurrency exchanges

Dr Paul Mazzola is available for interviews about the safety of cryptocurrency exchanges. In a new article for The Conversation Dr Mazzola and Mitchell Goroch write:

There’s an adage among crypto investors: “Not your key, not your coins, it’s that simple.”

What this means is that your crypto isn’t safe unless you have self-custody, storing your own coins in your own wallet to which you alone control the private key.

The bottom line: crypto exchanges are not like stock exchanges, and CEXs are not safe. If the worst eventuates, whether it be an exchange collapse or cyber attack, you risk losing everything.

Dr Mazzola is a Lecturer in banking and finance in the School of Business. He has more than 25 years’ banking and finance experience in the Australian, European and Asian Pacific markets. 

Four day work week

Associate Professor Alfredo Paloyo can discuss calls for more companies to trial four-day work weeks, with no reduction in pay. Recent pilot programs across Ireland, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have been deemed a success. Dr Paloyo is an Associate Professor in the School of Business.

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.