Professor Emeritus Graeme Cooper
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Professor Emeritus Graeme Cooper

BA LLB LLM DipJur (Sydney) LLM (Ill) LLM JSD (Col)
Professor of Taxation Law
Phone
+61 2 9351 0310
Fax
+61 2 9351 0200
Professor Emeritus Graeme Cooper

Graeme Cooper studied tax in Australia and the United States and holds a doctorate in law from Columbia University. He has taught tax in Law Schools in Australia, Europe and the United States. His principal research and teaching focus is domestic corporate taxation, comparative tax law and tax policy.

He is the author of many articles published in Australian and international tax journals and a co-author of Cooper, Krever, Rider and Vann, Income Taxation Commentary and Materials, now in its fifth edition, one of the leading student works on the Australian income tax system. He serves on the Editorial Boards of the Canadian Tax Journal, e-Journal of Tax Research and the New Zealand Journal of Taxation Law and Policy and is Australian correspondent for Tax Notes International. He is a frequent conference speaker and has presented papers at conferences in Australia, Europe and North America.

He is a Member of the Board of Governors of the Australian Tax Research Foundation and a former Chair of the NSW Division of the Taxation Institute of Australia. He is a member of the Taxation Committee of the Law Council of Australia, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the International Fiscal Association and a fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.

He was admitted to legal practice in NSW (1980) and Victoria (1999) and practised in Sydney before entering teaching. He currently works part-time as a consultant to Greenwoods & Freehills, specialist tax advisers in Sydney.

Beginning in 1992, he has worked as a consultant on a variety of tax design and implementation projects in Asia, Europe and Africa for various international organisations including the OECD, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other NGOs. From 1995-98 he worked in Paris for the Fiscal Affairs Division of the OECD where he was involved in technical assistance and training projects for Governments and officials from developing countries. He has worked on tax reform projects in Albania, Bulgaria, China, the SAR of Hong Kong, India, Latvia, Lesotho, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Slovenia, and been involved in tax reform projects with officials from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Vietnam.

In Australia, he has been commissioned to undertake projects by the Australian Taxation Office, the Board of Taxation and the Australian National Audit Office. He is regularly involved in consultations with government on the development, design and implementation of tax reform measures.

  • Taxation of Business and Investment Income – A
  • Taxation of Business and Investment Income – B
  • Corporate Tax
  • Taxation of Corporate Groups
  • Tax Incentives

Publications

Books

  • Cooper, G., Dirkis, M., Stewart, M., Vann, R. (2023). Income Taxation: Commentary & Materials - 10th edition. Pyrmont, NSW: Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Ltd.
  • Stewart, M., Cooper, G., Vann, R., Dirkis, M. (2020). Income Taxation: Commentary & Materials - 9th edition. Australia: Thomson Reuters.
  • Ault, H., Arnold, B., Cooper, G. (2019). Comparative Income Taxation: A Structural Analysis, 4th edition. Wolters Kluwer.

Edited Books

  • Cooper, G. (2008). Executing an Income Tax: Conference Series no 25. Sydney: Australian Tax Research Foundation.

Book Chapters

  • Cooper, G. (2021). Australia Income Tax General Anti-Avoidance Rule. In Brian J Arnold (Eds.), The General Anti-Avoidance Rule: Past, Present, and Future. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Tax Foundation.
  • Cooper, G., Vann, R. (2021). Transfer Pricing Money 'bis'. In Georg Kofler, Ruth Mason, Alexander Rust (Eds.), Thinker, Teacher, Traveler - Reimagining International Tax: Essays in Honor of H. David Rosenbloom, (pp. 153-179). Amsterdam: IBFD.
  • Cooper, G. (2019). Setting Interest Rates in Transfer Pricing. In Eric C.C. M. Kemmeren et al (Eds.), Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe 2018. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD).

Journals

  • Cooper, G. (2021). Building on the Rubble of Pillar One. Bulletin for International Taxation, 75(11-12), 533-542.
  • Cooper, G. (2021). Fixing the Defective Jigsaw. Melbourne University Law Review, 45(1), 362-384.
  • Cooper, G. (2021). The MLI - Australia's other income tax treaty. Tax Specialist, 23(2), 85-103.

Conferences

  • Cooper, G. (2016). Australia's Experience with Hybrids. Symposium on Taxing Non-Residents - A Global Response to BEPS 2016: University of Auckland Business School, Auckland, New Zealand: Presentation.
  • Cooper, G. (2016). Enforcing Tax Claims Cross-Border. Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe Conference 2016: The European Tax College and The Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law, Tilburg, The Netherlands: Presentation.
  • Cooper, G. (2016). Implementing BEPS, or Maybe Not - the Australian Experience One Year On. Symposium on Taxing Non-Residents - A Global Response to BEPS 2016: University of Auckland Business School, Auckland, New Zealand: Presentation.

Report

  • Hill, J., Cooper, G., Dirkis, M., McCracken, S., Stumbles, J., Tolhurst, G., Vann, R. (2014). Regulation and Reforms to Enhance Financial Stability in the Post-GFC Era - Report for the Centre for International Finance and Regulation (CIFR).

2023

  • Cooper, G., Dirkis, M., Stewart, M., Vann, R. (2023). Income Taxation: Commentary & Materials - 10th edition. Pyrmont, NSW: Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Ltd.

2021

  • Cooper, G. (2021). Australia Income Tax General Anti-Avoidance Rule. In Brian J Arnold (Eds.), The General Anti-Avoidance Rule: Past, Present, and Future. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Tax Foundation.
  • Cooper, G. (2021). Building on the Rubble of Pillar One. Bulletin for International Taxation, 75(11-12), 533-542.
  • Cooper, G. (2021). Fixing the Defective Jigsaw. Melbourne University Law Review, 45(1), 362-384.

2020

  • Stewart, M., Cooper, G., Vann, R., Dirkis, M. (2020). Income Taxation: Commentary & Materials - 9th edition. Australia: Thomson Reuters.

2019

  • Ault, H., Arnold, B., Cooper, G. (2019). Comparative Income Taxation: A Structural Analysis, 4th edition. Wolters Kluwer.
  • Cooper, G. (2019). Setting Interest Rates in Transfer Pricing. In Eric C.C. M. Kemmeren et al (Eds.), Tax Treaty Case Law around the Globe 2018. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD).
  • White, A., Blackwood, C., Cooper, G. (2019). Taxing Private Trusts. Taxation in Australia, 53(7), 372-377.

2018

  • Cooper, G. (2018). The case against removing imputation. In P. Broderick, G. Cooper, K. Davis, R. Deutsch, M. Dirkis, J. Dunne et al (Eds.), The Australian taxation system: The 2017 great debate, (pp. 143-163). Sydney: The Tax Institute.
  • Cooper, G. (2018). The Curious Reform of Foreign Source Income. Tax Specialist, 22(1), 2-14.
  • Cooper, G. (2018). The role and meaning of "purpose" in statutory GAARs. In Nigar Hashimzade, Yulia Epifantseva (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Tax Avoidance Research, (pp. 78-96). Oxon: Routledge. [More Information]

2017

  • Cooper, G. (2017). Be Careful What you Wish For. In E. Kemmeren, D. Smit, P. Essers, M. Lang, J. Owens, P. Pistone, A. Rust et al. (Eds.), Tax Treaty Case Law Around the Globe 2016. Amsterdam: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD).
  • Cooper, G. (2017). Implementing BEPS, or Maybe Not - the Australian Experience One Year On. New Zealand Law Review, 2017 (2), 145-174.
  • Cooper, G., Dirkis, M., Stewart, M., Vann, R. (2017). Income Taxation: Commentary and Materials - 8th Edition. Australia: Thomson Reuters.

2016

  • Cooper, G., Pinson, J. (2016). Australia's 2016-17 Budget. Tax Planning International Asia-Pacific Focus, 2016 (10), 2-7.
  • Cooper, G. (2016). Australia's Experience with Hybrids. Symposium on Taxing Non-Residents - A Global Response to BEPS 2016: University of Auckland Business School, Auckland, New Zealand: Presentation.
  • Cooper, G. (2016). Australia: Enforcing Tax Claims Cross-Border. In E. Kemmeren, D. Smit, P. Essers, M. Lang, J. Owens, P. Pistone, A. Rust et al. (Eds.), Tax Treaty Case Law Around the Globe 2016, (pp. 415-418). Amsterdam: International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD).

2015

  • Cooper, G. (2015). Analysing Tax Treaty Policy Trends in a post-BEPS World, A New Equilibrium in Tax Competition and Global Tax Co-operation? Singapore Management University-Tax Academy (SMU-TA) Centre for Excellence in Taxation, Singapore: Presentation.
  • Makas, M., Cooper, G. (2015). Australia Introduces New Attribution Managed Investment Trusts Regime. Tax Planning International Asia-Pacific Focus, 2015 (4). [More Information]
  • Cooper, G., Kyle, T., Howe, A. (2015). Australia's 2015-16 Budget: Tax Implications. Tax Planning International Asia-Pacific Focus, May(4).

2014

  • Cooper, G. (2014). Approaches to Treaty Shopping - the Australian Experience. Treaty Shopping: Anticipating Developments in Canada and Internationally Calgary 2014, Calgary, AB, Canada: Presentation.
  • Cooper, G. (2014). Approaches to Treaty Shopping - the Australian Experience. Treaty Shopping: Anticipating Developments in Canada and Internationally Toronto 2014, Toronto, ON, Canada: Presentation.
  • Cooper, G. (2014). Australia's Twin Track Approach to Treaty Shopping. Canadian Tax Journal, 62(3), 753-770.

2013

  • Cooper, G. (2013). A Glimpse at Australia's GAAR Bill. Tax Notes International, 69(8), 759-763.
  • Cooper, G. (2013). Australia Moves to Improve Corporate Tax Transparency. Tax Notes International, 70(2), 112-114.
  • Cooper, G. (2013). Australia's Curious Paper on Profit Shifting. Tax Notes International, 70, 624-625.

2012

  • Cooper, G. (2012). An Aussie View of the Digital Tax Disruption. Tax Notes International, 68(11), 1001-1002.
  • Cooper, G. (2012). Australia. Tax Notes International, 68(13), 1184-1186.
  • Cooper, G. (2012). Australia Backpedaling on Business Expenditure Tax. Tax Notes International, 67(8), 721-723.

2011

  • Cooper, G. (2011). Australia. In Guglielmo Maisto (Eds.), The Meaning of Enterprise, Business and Business Profits under Tax Treaties and EU Tax Law, (pp. 127-166). Amsterdam: IBFD.
  • Cooper, G. (2011). Australia's GAAR Comes Alive in the Courts. Tax Notes International, 62, 559-66.
  • Cooper, G. (2011). Policy Forum: A Few Observations on Managing the Taxation of Corporate Groups-The Australian Experience. Canadian Tax Journal, 59(2), 265-294.

2010

  • Cooper, G. (2010). Australia's Taxation of Trusts Set for Major Upheaval. Tax Notes International, 58, 49-54.
  • Cooper, G. (2010). Further Developments in the Reform of Australia's International Tax Rules. Tax Notes International, 60, 247-252.
  • Cooper, G. (2010). Legislating Principles as a Remedy for Tax Complexity. British Tax Review, 2010 (4), 334-360.

2009

  • Cooper, G. (2009). Business Tax Reform in Retrospect. In Chris Evans, Richard Krever, Peter Mellor (Eds.), Australian Business Tax Reform in Retrospect and Prospect, (pp. 39-52). Australia: Thomson Reuters.
  • Vann, R., Cooper, G., Burgess, P., Krever, R., Stewart, M. (2009). Income Taxation: Commentary and Materials (6th edition). Sydney: Thomson Reuters.
  • Cooper, G. (2009). New Legislation Targets Financial Arrangements. Tax Notes International, 53, 210-211.

2008

  • Cooper, G. (2008). Australian High Court Dismisses Transfer Pricing Appeal. Tax Notes International, 51, 482-483.
  • Cooper, G. (2008). Board of Taxation Suggests Changes to CFC Regime. Tax Notes International, 49, 1096-1101.
  • Cooper, G. (2008). Executing an Income Tax: Conference Series no 25. Sydney: Australian Tax Research Foundation.

2007

  • Cooper, G., Moschner, M. (2007). Australian Parliament Considering International Tax Package. Tax Notes International, 46, 1095-1101.
  • Cooper, G. (2007). Budget Targets Corporate Consolidation System. Tax Notes International, 46, 777-782.
  • Cooper, G. (2007). Five Reflections on the RBT's Vision for the Business Tax Base. In G Lehmann (Eds.), Business Tax Reform: Meet the Critics, (pp. 493-509). Sydney: Australian Tax Research Foundation.

2006

  • Cooper, G. (2006). 2005 - Year in Review. Tax Notes International, 41, 11-12.
  • Cooper, G. (2006). Australia Targets Tax Shelter Promoters. Tax Notes International, 42, 952-956.
  • Cooper, G. (2006). The Emerging High Court Jurisprudence on Part IVA. Tax Specialist, 9(5), 234-250.

2005

  • Cooper, G. (2005). Australia Amends Corporate Loss Rules. Tax Notes International, 40, 225-227.
  • Cooper, G. (2005). Australia's New Regime for Taxing Financial Arrangements (2006). Tax Notes International, 41, 159-165.
  • Cooper, G. (2005). Australian Tax Office Finalises Interest Withholding Tax Guidance. Tax Notes International, 38, 105-106.

2004

  • Cooper, G. (2004). Australia Clarifies Interest Withholding Tax Under US, UK Tax Treaties. Tax Notes International, 35, 963-966.
  • Cooper, G. (2004). Australia's Macquarie Ruling is Bad Sign for Banks Issuing Stapled Instruments. Tax Notes International, 36, 453.
  • Cooper, G. (2004). Australian High Court Issues Judgment on Application of GAAR. Tax Notes International, 34, 994.

2003

  • Cooper, G. (2003). Australia to Amend Treatment of Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses. Tax Notes International, 30, 1068-1070.
  • Cooper, G. (2003). Australia's Debt Equity Rules. Bulletin for International Taxation, 57(8/9), 338-345.
  • Cooper, G. (2003). Australia's New Withholding Tax Rules. Tax Notes International, 29, 723-724.

2002

  • Cooper, G. (2002). Australia Debuts New Venture Capital Measures for Foreign Investors. Tax Notes International, 27, 962-965.
  • Cooper, G. (2002). Australian Treasury Recycles Old Tax Ideas. Tax Notes International, 27, 1352-1355.
  • Cooper, G., Vann, R., Krever, R. (2002). Income Taxation: Commentary and Materials (4th edition). Sydney: Australian Tax Practice.

2001

  • Cooper, G. (2001). Australia Reviews Tax Policy to Curb Runaway Corporations. Tax Notes International, 23, 683-684.
  • Cooper, G. (2001). Australia's Tax Reform Stalls-Again. Tax Notes International, 22, 1899-1900.
  • Cooper, G. (2001). Editorial. Australian Tax Review, 30(1), 3-4.

2000

  • Cooper, G., Vann, R. (2000). A Few Myths About the GST. UNSW Law Journal, 23(2), 252-263.
  • Cooper, G. (2000). The Future of the Income Tax. World Tax Conference 2000, (pp. 46:1-46:14). Canada: Canadian Tax Foundation.

Selected Grants

2012

  • Regulation and Reforms to Enhance Financial Stability in the Post-GFC Era, Hill J, Bird J, Cooper G, Dirkis M, McCracken S, Stumbles J, Tolhurst G, Vann R, Centre for International Finance and Regulation/Research Support