I say again - these changes only affect those on short-term assignments overseas who remain residents of Australia for tax purposes. Some law firms and legal job agencies are jumping up and down because of the many lawyers who work overseas on lucrative, tax-free, short term assignments who will be impacted by these changes. I personally know several lawyers who from time-to-time love jetting off to places like the Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Indonesia or Dubai for a stint of tax-free legal work (usually drafting local legislation or lecturing at a university). On the other hand, Aussies based overseas for extended or indefinite periods usually elect to become non-residents for tax purposes. In that situation they only have to pay tax (including non-resident withholding tax) on their Australian investment income.