Through involvement in numerous tax community committees and memberships, I bring my clients new and innovative perspectives based on the latest thinking. My interest in energy, resources and climate change is complemented by the PhD I have recently completed in nuclear fusion research.

Career highlights

• A multinational mining company – advised on the Australian tax implications of a $2.5 billion debt assignment, including commercial debt forgiveness, foreign exchange rules, limited recourse loan provisions, stamp duty and taxation of financial arrangements
• Coal industry bodies and others – advised on various aspects of the research and development (R&D) tax incentive, including obtaining class rulings on mining company contributors’ ability to access the incentive for low-emissions technologies research, development and demonstration
• A US-based client – provided guidance in relation to debt and equity rules, amendments to capital allowances rules, thin capitalisation rules and stamp duty. This included seeking a private ruling on debt, equity and capital allowances rules, which was the first private ruling to discuss the meaning of the term ‘financing arrangement’
• A multinational mining company – successfully resolved a $20 million stamp duty dispute in relation to corporate reconstruction relief, which included developing a novel argument that was accepted by the Office of State Revenue
• A Queensland liquefied natural gas company – helped with all aspects of compliance with the former carbon pricing mechanism. This included internal and external pass-through of carbon costs, and preparing submissions on drafting and amending the Clean Energy Act 2008 (Qld)
• Advised on GST, stamp duty and income tax consequences of substantial infrastructure construction on State-owned land
• Recognised by Doyles Guide as a leading tax lawyer in Queensland
• Recommended by Best Lawyers for expertise in tax
• Recently listed as a Rising Star nationally in the tax law category in The Legal 500 in 2020 and 2021. The Legal 500 said 'Brisbane-based special counsel Craig Bowie is a name to watch in the corporate tax space'...'Craig maintains a strong client base in the infrastructure, energy and resources and financial services industries.'

Education
LLB; BAppSc (Physics) (HONS 1); BSC (Physics); MTAX; Graduate Diploma of Insurance

Professional Associations
Craig is a Chartered Tax Adviser (The Tax Institute), a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, and Queensland Chair of the Tax Institute's Technical Committee, the Tax Institute's sole representative on the ATO Energy and Resources Working Group, and a member of the Tax Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council, and the Large Business and International Committee of the Tax Institute, the Tributum Club - Taxation Discussion Group, the Technical Committee (Queensland) of The Taxation Institute, and the Australian Institute of Physics.

• Significant Queensland land tax increases for 2019-20
  

  The Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (Qld), which followed the Queensland State Budget for 2019-20, contains many important changes to Queensland's state taxes. Our update sets out the key land tax changes effected by the Amendment Act.

• Federal Budget Highlights: 2020-21
  

  A highly anticipated Federal Budget announced late in a turbulent and unpredictable year, the 2020-21 Budget sets out significant taxation relief for individuals and businesses in response to the COVID-19 recession. MinterEllison explores the impact and implications across the key focus areas raised in the government’s Budget announcement.

• Queensland Land Tax changes - Important Update
  

  The Queensland Government has announced that it will introduce guidelines to exempt certain taxpayers from the foreign owner land tax surcharge that was introduced by the Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (Qld).

   

• Federal Budget 2020-21: Expanded research and development tax incentives
  

  The Federal Government announced a suite of measures in the 2020-21 Budget designed to ensure that Australia continues to invest in research and development (R&D) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• A 'thin' new world - Proposed changes to Australia's thin capitalisation rules
  

  Under proposed new law, organisations may be limited in their ability to claim debt deductions from 1 July 2023.

• Queensland - Exemption Guidelines for Foreign Owner Land Tax Surcharge
  

  More than 12 months after the introduction of a 2% land tax surcharge for ‘foreign companies’ and trustees of ‘foreign trusts’, the Queensland Government has finalised guidelines to exempt certain entities. We outline what this means for affected taxpayers.

• Queensland 2019-20 State Budget – What impact will the budget have on your tax agenda?
  

  Queensland has just announced significant changes to its tax regime through the 2019-20 State Budget which will particularly impact employers, landowners, and the LNG industry.