INTHEBLACK June 2022 - Magazine - Page 6
FROM THE DESK
// M E R R A N K E L S A L L F C PA
CONSTRUCTIVELY
CHALLENGING
OUR VIEWS
Welcome to the June issue of INTHEBLACK.
It feels like the first half of the year has flown by. It’s
been especially busy for CPA Australia’s Policy and
Advocacy team.
Many jurisdictions in which we operate have
announced their government budgets for the year,
and in Australia there’s been a Federal Election as
well. We provided expert analysis and commentary
on these (and other) policy developments.
With a membership of over 170,000 professionals,
we know that there is a diverse range of viewpoints
among our members. From time to time, the Policy
and Advocacy team hears from members who say
they disagree with a position we have taken or
question whether we should involve ourselves in
an issue at all.
That’s totally understandable. We greatly
appreciate this feedback, which we carefully
consider and respond to. Having our views
subjected to member and public scrutiny and
feedback is a critical part of our policy and
advocacy process.
The CPA Australia constitution obliges us to take
an interest in “legislative, economic and social
matters”. We have built a wealth of policy expertise
across financial, business and accounting subject
matters to enable us to do this.
When developing our policy positions, we consider
the relevant standards and legislative and regulatory
frameworks to assess whether they are operating
well and what can be done to improve them.
We consider the perspectives of members, the
profession and the public interest.
Our policy positions are thoroughly debated
by Policy and Advocacy team members. We have
fostered an environment of constructive challenge,
whereby team members are encouraged to question
and present alternative viewpoints.
Members play a key role in shaping our positions.
The specialist expertise of Centres of Excellence
members, as well as engagement with discussion
6 ITB June 2022
“The CPA Australia
constitution obliges us
to take an interest in
“legislative, economic
and social matters”. We
have built a wealth of
policy expertise across
financial, business and
accounting subject
matters to enable us
to do this.”
groups, committees and directly with members,
lets us find out what matters most to you and the
profession. It allows us to test and debate our views.
All open consultations are published on our
website, and can be commented on by members.
Your views on these consultations help shape our
final positions, and we’re grateful for them.
In the same vein, I’d like to thank those members
who took the opportunity to ask questions both
before and during our recent Annual General
Meeting. The AGM is yet another avenue for us to
engage with members, to help shape the direction of
CPA Australia and the profession. If you were unable
to attend the AGM, a recording will soon be available
on our website, along with answers to any Questions
on Notice.
Merran Kelsall FCPA, CPA Australia president and chairman