G21 joins community calls for ATO to remain in Geelong

LOBBY group G21 is calling on the Federal Government to retain its Geelong-based Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to help bolster post-COVID economic recovery and “honour its commitment” to government agency decentralisation.

G21 chief executive Elaine Carbine has written to Federal

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg about a plan to move 160 ATO jobs from the Geelong region to Melbourne by mid-2021.

Ms Carbines labelled the proposed move “illogical, especially in the current environment”.

“The Geelong Australian Taxation Office has long been one of our vital local public sector employers and is currently employing 161 members of our community,” Ms Carbines said.

“We are dismayed by a proposal under active consideration to close the Geelong ATO with the loss of these jobs.”

“We are imploring the Treasurer to intervene and stop the closure of the Geelong ATO and avoid the consequential local job losses to Geelong.

“The Federal Government has previously stated its support for decentralising its agencies to regional areas. This proposed move by the ATO seems to fly in the face of government commitments.”

The letter comes days after the Community and Public Sector Union said Geelong could face a $9 million black hole if the jobs were moved out of the region.

City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Kylie Grzybek said she wanted to be an advocate for keeping industry within the city.

“I’m proud to be part of the advocacy for local jobs in Geelong — the city has made a submission to the ATO executive urging them to retain the Geelong office and their local employees,” she said.

In May the Australian Taxation Office said decisions on locations were on a range of factors, primarily relating to workforce planning strategy so that it could deliver the tax and superannuation system as effectively and efficiently as possible.