Potential topics to research & discuss: concept of IGA, process of introducing FATCA within Australia (including summary of any public / parlimentary debate , required changes to Australian law, etc.

Government consideration of FATCA in Australia was rushed. As such, it is debatable whether the FATCA IGA was properly analysed and debated before being implemented, particularly from the impacted individuals point of view. Clearly, Australian businesses had much to loose and mobilised the business lobby resources to push the required FATCA changes through.

The Australian Government was forced to have the IGA and associated legislation in place by the imposed US legislated an FATCA deadline of 1 July 2014. Given the potential material financial penalties faced by impacted Australian businesses, the Parliamentary Committee on Treaties was urged to expedite consideration of the FATCA IGA by the (then) Australian Treasurer, Joe Hockey. In May 2014, the Parliamentary Committee on Treaties recommended that binding treaty action be taken despite concerns, stating¹⁾:

"The Committee, despite reservations about the Agreement, appreciates that 
it makes the best of a less than satisfactory situation."

No Privacy Impact assessment was done on the FATCA implementing legislation even though recommended by the Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) - Item 26 of OAIC Submission to Treasury on Intergovernmental agreement to implement FATCA

When looking at Privacy impact of FATCA, we should also be looking at CRS as similar privacy concerns exist. The Explanatory Memorandum includes a section on Human Rights which talks about privacy, but nothing from the Privacy Commissioner.

costs on wikipedia

FATCA Regulation Impact Statement (2014) - Summarises Treaty and Consultation

Explanatory Memorandum - TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FATCA AGREEMENT) BILL 2014

Background report on FATCA by Hannah Gobbett and Bernard Pulle for Parliamentary Information Service