ATO splurges $4 million on tech gadgets as Labor accuses government of playing games

THE Tax Office goes on gadget binge with a multi-million dollar buy-up of iPads and iPhones, as Labor accuses Hockey of playing games.

Politicians using social media, Labor MP David O'Byrne tweeting on his iPad

THE Tax Office is on a tablet binge with a multi-million dollar buy-up of iPads for top staff who make sure the Government gets a slice of your income.

In four big contracts the ATO has bought 4500 iPads and iPhones at a cost of $4 million since October in what it argues is a sign of a “contemporary and future-oriented organisation”.

Over the same period the department was cutting its workforce by 2500 with further retrenchments expected.

The bulk buy appears aimed at encouraging staff to take their work home but the ATO says the mobile devices will assist work-life balance.

The Labor Opposition is suggesting the the Government is playing Candy Crush with its Budget priorities.

“What kind of alternate reality are we in? We see mass redundancies at the ATO and the Government responds by buying iPads,” said Labor’s Government waste monitor Pat Conroy, MP for Charlton.

But the ATO insists the tablets will be put to good use in “more flexible working arrangements for our executive level leaders”.

The iPad spend-up began with a $955,900 contract in late October followed by a $1,318,350 bulk purchase in mid-November. There was a relatively small purchase of $439,450 around the same time.

About 10 days ago there was a fourth contract worth $1,270,010.50.

“This initiative signals our commitment to improving the staff experience in the ATO and becoming a contemporary and future-oriented organisation,” said the ATO in a statement.

“We are confident that the ATO will realise the benefits of having a more mobile and connected leadership group.”

The ATO staff had “indicated that technology enhancements would be the most effective change the ATO could make to significantly improve their effectiveness and support work-life balance”.

Staff are given the option on whether they receive a device and if they accepted one it would be for work use only.

Labor’s Pat Conroy said: “I really hope Treasurer Joe Hockey is better at Candy Crush than he is at lining up budget priorities, because his current attempt has crashed and needs to be refreshed.

“The Government is like a bunch of angry birds throwing missiles at the public service, but all the while they refuse to reign in their own spending.”