The data haul from Panama earlier this year is allowing Australia's tax authorities to close the net on 100 people, while a further 1,000 are being checked as a result of data from other jurisdictions.

Australia is close to tackling 100 taxpayers who have been identified in the huge leak of data from Panama earlier this year, and profiles of a further 1,000 people are being checked as a result of information gleaned from other tax jurisdictions.

The Australian Taxation Office and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce have made 15 unannounced access visits in Victoria and Queensland, and executed three search warrants, in what Kelly O'Dwyer, the revenue minister, has labelled a "week of action", according to the AAP news service. A statement from the Australian Taxation Office said a total of 19 joint operations are in progress.

Separately, a statement from Chris Jordan, ATO commissioner of taxation, said: “I am pleased to announce that we have made significant progress in dealing with those exposed in the Panama Papers who have tried to avoid their tax obligations.

“For example, we have received data on Australians who have failed to disclose offshore bank accounts. In addition, we have obtained information on offshore service providers who have established entities for Australians in secrecy jurisdictions – the sole purpose of which is to conceal their interests and wealth,” he added.

“While our week of action is responding to the Panama Papers, we are currently accessing 10 further data sets that have come to us from a variety of sources. Experience tells us that within this information we will find further examples of the use of these structures to attack the Australian tax system. Given our strong and trusted relationships with other countries, we have in the last four years managed over 2,500 exchanges of information that has resulted in A$1 billion in tax liabilities being raised,” Jordan said.

The Panama Papers saga has been controversial in Australian domestic politics, as it has been in nations such as the UK and Iceland. To see an article on the topic, see here.