Closure by stealth claim on tax office

THE Federal Government has had a “long-running agenda” to dwindle down the Geelong Australian Taxation Office branch and shut it down by “stealth”, according to Corangamite MP Libby Coker.

The Labor MP said the slated closure of the Geelong office flew in the face of the Federal Government’s policy to decentralise the public service.

“If the Coalition was serious about their own policy of decentralising jobs they would keep the doors open,” Ms Coker said.

“Workers are rightly distressed. We all know this isn’t about the lease ending.

“This is about the Government shutting down the office by stealth — an office that does highly skilled and vital forensic tax investigations. It has existed here for over 50 years.

“It’s now been two weeks since I first wrote to the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to demand he intervenes to save the ATO Geelong office from closure. I have received no response.”

Geelong-based Senator Sarah Henderson said she had taken the issue up with Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar.

“I have made it clear I do not want to see one job leave Geelong and am very aware of the local ATO staff members’ commitment to our region,” Senator Henderson said.

Mr Sukkar said the proposed closure of the Geelong office was a decision of the Commissioner of Taxation, not the Federal Government.

The tax office said its office at Little Ryrie St was too big and it couldn’t find a suitable sub-tenant. But commercial property developers have said several CBD sites could be tailored for the ATO, providing between 500sq m and 3000sq m of space.

The ATO was consulting Geelong staff and would make a final decision on the future of its office in August, a spokesman said last week.

It is proposing to close the Geelong office when its lease expires on June 27 next year.