TREASURER Joe Hockey says a drive for "smaller government" is behind the closure of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) at Hurstville.
Mr Hockey offered no hope of a last-minute reprieve while speaking at a business forum at Penshurst on Monday.
However, he added, "if there is some way we can help with the transition, because it is a major local employer, I will certainly look at what we can do".
Deputy mayor of Hurstville Nancy Liu questioned the decision, which will see more than 500 workers transferred before the lease on the building expires in February next year.
Councillor Lin said it was inconsistent with the state government's recognition of Hurstville as a "commercial hub".
Mr Hockey was unaware of the closure.
He said the ATO had 26,000 employees, and cost nearly $4 billion a year to run.
"We are reducing the size of government, so don't feel as though it's just you," he said.
"There are a range of other places where we have to have a smaller operation.
"I am not going to be a hypocrite and, on the the one hand, say I want government to be smaller and more efficient and, on the other, say, don't worry, I am going to [reverse the decision]."
Mr Hockey said the operations of the ATO and other government agencies were being consolidated to make them more efficient.
Banks MP David Coleman said he was "very focused" on the impact of the ATO closure and would be talking to Mr Hockey and other ministers about what help could be given to Hurstville.
JOE’S JOKE
A light-hearted comment by Joe Hockey had the potential to get him into more ‘‘hot water’’ after last week’s comments about poor people not owning cars.
When a small business owner told of the impact the closure of the ATO would have on Hurstville businesses, the Treasurer quipped, ‘‘Well, maybe you should fill the vacuum, you could employ a few more people’’.
Fortunately for Mr Hockey, the business owner, Lou Konjarski, who is also the president of the Hurstville Chamber of Commerce, didn’t see it as a dismissal of the concerns, and joined in the laughter.
‘‘It was just a joke,’’ Mr Konjarski said later. ‘‘We were getting towards the end [of the forum], and he probably wanted to leave people in good spirits.’’
What do you think of Joe Hockey's explanation?