The ATO is meant to be bringing work back in-house. But its target to cut consultants is ‘woefully inadequate’

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is facing criticism for its plan to reduce outsourced work by only $500,000 this financial year. This target, revealed during a Senate Estimates hearing, is considered insufficient by the Australian Services Union and Senator Barbara Pocock. The union questioned if the figure was a typographical error, given the ATO's $4.5 billion annual operating budget. Senator Pocock stated that the ATO, as a major agency, should be taking a leading role in reducing its reliance on contractors and consultants. The concern centers on the perceived inadequacy of the planned reduction in outsourced work.