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Australia is closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19. This is an unfolding situation so Australian Government 
employers are advised to monitor the most up-to-date information via the websites of the Australian 
Government Department of Health and the State and Territory health department websites. 
Purpose 
1.  COVID-19 is a significant public health issue, and Australian Government employers should take the lead in 
effective action to prevent its spread in our community and workplaces. This includes putting in place 
special, time limited arrangements to practically deal with the emerging public health issues. 
2.  Individuals exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with a person confirmed to have the virus or through 
recent travel should act to reduce the risk of further spread of the virus. Anyone with symptoms and a 
reason to believe they are at risk of contracting COVID-19 should seek medical advice. Up to date 
information on exposure and isolation requirements is provided on the Department of Health website. 
3.  This guidance provides Australian Government employers with information to: 
a.  assist in addressing employee questions about the COVID-19 and what response the employer may take; 
and 
b.  guide decision making around attendance at work and accessing leave provisions, if employees present 
with symptoms or indicate they are at risk of having been exposed to COVID-19. 
Keeping up to date 
4.  As the situation is evolving, agencies are to regularly review the information contained on the Australian 
Government Department of Health website.  
5.  The Australian Government Department of Health also provide a latest news page. 
6.  Agencies should also regularly review the information contained in the state and territory health department 
websites relevant to their operations. The Australian Government Department of Health website contains 
the relevant links. 
7.  The latest advice from DFAT on travel is available at www.smartraveller.gov.au. 
8.  Further information for Australian Government employees is also available on the COVID-19 page of the 
APSC website. 

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For Australian Government employees who contract the 
coronavirus 
9.  If an employee advises they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner, the employee 
should be given access to paid Personal Leave for personal illness in accordance with the agency’s workplace 
arrangements. If the employee has insufficient credits to cover the medically advised period, paid 
Discretionary Leave (or equivalent) should be provided. 
10.  An agency may request reasonable evidence as per the relevant industrial instrument. 
If an employee notifies they have been exposed 
11.  Where an employee believes they have been exposed to COVID-19 through recent travel or through close 
contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, they are to seek and follow medical advice. 
As a first point of contact, the employee should call the Coronavirus health information hotline on 1800 020 
080. 
12.  Where an employee is advised to self-isolate but a positive diagnosis has not been received, agencies should 
attempt to enable the employee to work from home while they monitor their health. If this is not practical or 
there is no facility for working remotely, paid Discretionary Leave (or equivalent) for the required isolation 
period should be provided. 
13.  Agencies need to consider what they will accept as reasonable evidence. It is recommended that a common 
sense approach be adopted regarding evidence requirements which may include proof of travel, medical 
advice or a statutory declaration confirming close contact with an individual who has tested positive. It is 
recommended that employees not be required to obtain a medical certificate for self-isolating unless they 
become unwell. 
For employees in a household affected by COVID-19 
14.  Each circumstance needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 
15.   Where an employee’s household member has been directed to self–isolate but does not require care, unless 
the employee has also been medically advised to self-isolate or the household member becomes unwell, the 
employee should continue to work. 
16.  Where an employee has a household member who is positively diagnosed with COVID-19, the employee will 
be considered a close contact and must isolate per medical advice. During this period the employee may be 
able to continue working from home. Where working from home is not practical or there is no facility for 
working remotely, paid Discretionary Leave (or equivalent) for the period required by the relevant health 
authority should be provided. 
17.  If the employee is subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19, access to paid Personal Leave for personal illness 
should be provided. If personal leave is exhausted, access to paid Discretionary Leave (however described) 
should be provided. 

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18.  Where an employee is required to provide care or support for a family member due to a medical direction 
that the family member not attend a facility, paid Carer’s leave should be provided. Where an unexpected 
emergency requires the employee to care for their family member, paid Carer’s leave should be provided. An 
example of this may be where a school is closed at short notice, or temporarily due to a child or staff 
member testing positive to COVID-19. Discretionary leave may be used if paid leave is exhausted. See Fair 
Work Ombudsman guidance. 
19.  APS employees are essential workers. Where schools are open or arrangements for the children of essential 
workers are available, employees should make use of these facilities, or work remotely. Employees who 
choose not to send their children to school, and subsequently make themselves unavailable for work, may 
utilise their available leave credits. Where credits are exhausted, there is no entitlement to additional paid 
leave. 
Casual employees 
20.  Due to the current extraordinary circumstances of the outbreak and the potential widespread impact, paid 
arrangements should also be extended to casual employees who are required to isolate due to COVID-19 
exposure or who contract the virus. This exceptional measure is in place for the duration of the pandemic 
until advised by the Australian Government Department of Health. 
21.  This is to minimise any incentive for employees to attend the workplace against medical advice and to 
minimise exposure to the public. 
22.  Agencies should ensure that paid arrangements to enable absence, such as paid Discretionary Leave (or 
equivalent), are in place to allow casual employees to self-isolate when required to do so by the relevant 
health authority. This could include determinations being made under section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 
1999, other agency employment legislation or the use of individual flexibility arrangements. 
23.  Australian Government agencies engage casual employees for a range of irregular and intermittent tasks. 
The basis on which casual employees are employed and rostered varies both between and within agencies. 
In determining the amount of payment, where possible agencies should consider the agreed or accepted 
shifts in the period undertaken by the casual employee. This may include averaging work done over the 
settlement period immediately before the employee was required to self-isolate, or considering the 
upcoming work schedule and any plans to engage the employee over that period. 
24.  Agencies should discuss options with their payroll providers early to ensure there is an ability to put 
arrangements in place quickly when required. 
25.  As with other employees, where a casual employee is in required self-isolation but not unwell, work from 
home arrangements should be considered where possible. 
 
 

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Labour hire and Contractors 
26.  Labour hire workers are not Australian Government employees, and are generally the employee of labour 
hire companies. Leave and pay conditions remain a matter for the labour hire company. Agencies should, 
through the appropriate contract managers, consult with labour hire providers about their arrangements, 
and confirm that the provider has systems in place to ensure the potential for COVID-19 affected employees 
to present at workplaces is minimised. Labour hire providers are required to comply with Commonwealth 
and agency policies, guidelines and directions. 
27.  Agencies should ensure, and require labour hire providers to ensure, that labour hire workers and 
contractors who are advised not to be present at the workplace are absent for the advised period. 
28.  Where relevant, agencies should engage with labour hire providers on arrangements to fulfil their contracts 
remotely or from home. Labour hire providers must ensure their staff continue to comply with an applicable 
security or other Commonwealth requirements. 
Travel 
29.  On 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced Australians should not travel abroad. 
30.  Australian Public Service employees who choose to undertake private overseas travel from 18 March 2020 
are to use their own accrued annual or long service leave for the purposes of the 14 days self-isolation on 
return to Australia. If accrued annual or long service leave is not available employees will need to access 
leave without pay. If the employee is unwell personal leave may be accessed with appropriate medical 
evidence. Work from home arrangements may be negotiated with supervisor agreement assuming the 
employee is otherwise well. 
31.  Where Australian Public Service employees choose to undertake personal travel to areas with known self-
isolation requirements, the additional time will be covered by the employee’s own leave credits consistent 
with paragraph 30. 
Further considerations 
32.  Agencies should continue to review their policies and procedures in light of emerging issues. 
33.  Maintaining agency operations and continuing to serve the community will remain important as we navigate 
these uncertain times. It will be critical for employees able to attend work to continue to deliver services to 
the public. Employees are expected to attend work or notify their employers as to reasons for their absence. 
34.  Agencies should engage with employees who have particular health concerns which may make them more 
vulnerable to COVID-19. On a case by case basis, considerations such as working from home or transfer to a 
non-public facing job should be considered. 
35.  This circular will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis as new information arises. 
36.  Agencies seeking further information should contact xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx. 

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Circular 2020/9: Returning to Usual Workplaces 
Purpose 
1.  The purpose of this Circular is to provide advice to agencies about employees returning to their usual 
(pre-COVID) workplaces. The fol owing advice applies to al  Commonwealth agencies and their employees 
including ongoing, non-ongoing and casual employees. 
2.  Where the Australian Government and state and territory governments relax COVID-19 restrictions, in 
line with the Roadmap to a COVID-safe Australia agreed by National Cabinet, and as the number of 
COVID-19 cases stabilises and remains low in most communities, agency heads should make 
arrangements to facilitate employees returning to their usual workplaces. 
3.  The focus of agencies and employees should be the continued delivery of critical functions to the 
Australian public, as well as ensuring workplaces are COVID-safe. 
4.  Agency heads should act on government, public health and other relevant advice, and make timely 
decisions to ensure business continuity and a safe transition back to the workplace. 
5.  Given that many agencies have a geographical y dispersed operating environment, a COVID-safe return 
to the workplace may vary within an agency, depending on the workplace location. 
6.  A single approach for the APS is not practicable given the diversity of working environments. Each 
agency’s approach wil  be different and tailored to their particular circumstances. 
 
COVID-safe workplaces 
7.  Agency heads remain responsible for making working from home decisions in their agencies in 
accordance with their agency’s workplace arrangements.  
8.  Where there is limited or no community transmission of COVID-19, employees should return to their 
usual workplaces, where it is safe to do so. 
9.  Returning employees to usual workplaces must be in line with government policy and public health 
advice issued by the Australian Government and State and Territory governments, including physical 
distancing requirements and the National COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Principles. 
10. Current public health advice states that the current number of COVID-19 cases is low in most 
communities. Therefore, al  employees, even those at higher risk of more severe il ness, may be able to 
return to usual workplaces with consideration given to the individual circumstances and the 
epidemiological environment, fol owing an appropriate risk assessment and with appropriate controls in 
place. 
11. Agencies should assess their workplaces to ensure they are COVID-safe and can accommodate the return 
of employees to the workplace. Considerations include: 
a.  a systematic risk assessment of work health and safety risks in accordance with the Safe Work 
Australia code of practice; 
b.  adhering to physical distancing principles, with particular consideration given to common areas 
such as kitchens and break out spaces; 
c.  maximum occupancy capacity of enclosed spaces, such as offices and meeting rooms; 

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166
d.  ensuring interactions between employees while working and on breaks are managed in a COVID-
safe way; 
e.  modifying workplace attendance arrangements where the agency cannot maintain physical 
distancing in the workplace, or where public transport risk mitigation measures affect travel. For 
example, rostering employees to work from the office or home on different days or alternating 
weeks, or facilitating more flexible start and finish times; 
f.  connectivity and employee wel being;  
g.  guidance and support to assist employees in the transition to their usual workplace; and 
h.  ongoing workplace health and safety implications and obligations both in the workplace and 
working from home.  
12. Agencies should engage with employees, and where they choose, their representatives, to identify and 
control risks; adapt and promote safe work practices; actively control against the transmission of COVID-
19 in the workplace; and respond to any cases of COVID-19 in the workplace. 
13. Agencies should support the COVID-safe return to usual workplaces with a communication strategy that 
clearly outlines what this means for employees and how it will be implemented, and include information 
about contingencies should there be changes in the epidemiological environment. 
14. Agencies should be flexible in responding and adapting to changes in advice from the Australian 
Government and state and territory governments. 
Localised outbreaks 
15. Agencies should have a formal plan in place to respond to future localised outbreaks that has employee 
roles and responsibilities pre-defined and is supported by a risk communication program, so that 
employees know what to expect. This should be incorporated into the agency’s business continuity or 
pandemic plan.  
16. Agency heads remain responsible for making working from home decisions in their agencies. Actions 
should be based on a formal risk management process. 
17. Where there is a localised outbreak, agency heads should facilitate employees in the location of the 
outbreak working from home, where it is appropriate and practicable to do so. 
18. Agency heads must ensure operational requirements are met and services continue to be delivered in a 
COVID-safe manner. 
19. The ability for employees to work from home wil  depend on the types of advice and work they need to 
undertake. For operational reasons some employees wil  need to attend their usual workplace. 
20. Where employees are working from home due to a localised outbreak, agencies should put in place 
arrangements to support employees who are working from home. These may include regular check in 
arrangements, teleconferences, and other mechanisms to maintain regular communication between 
employees and their managers. 
21. Where employees are unable to access supervision for their children, in the first instance, agencies 
should facilitate flexible working arrangements to al ow employees to continue working. 
22. Where flexible working arrangements cannot be accommodated, agencies should consider whether the 
employee can temporarily undertake a different (more flexible) role, either within their agency or in a 
different agency. 
23. Where an employee is unavailable for work, they wil  need to access an approved leave type. 
24. Employees who make themselves unavailable for work may utilise their available leave credits. Where 
credits are exhausted, there is no entitlement to additional paid leave. 
25. Paid carer’s leave may be appropriate in specific circumstances. Paid carer’s leave is available to ful -time 
or part-time employees where the employee needs to look after a family member or a member of their 

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household who requires care or support because of a personal il ness or unexpected emergency affecting 
the member. See Fair Work Ombudsman guidance on personal/carer’s leave during COVID-19 and 
Circular 2020/1: COVID-19 Leave Arrangements for further information. 
 
Mobility 
26. The APSC continues to coordinate and support the mobility of employees between APS agencies in 
response to COVID-19. 
27. This Circular does not impact agencies’ responsibility to continue to review their critical functions based 
on current and emerging needs in response to COVID-19. In doing so, agencies wil  identify employees 
who can undertake a temporary mobility opportunity. This wil  help ensure agencies are ready to 
respond to surge requests to support the continued delivery of critical government services to the 
Australian public.  
28. Agencies must continue to identify employees available for temporary mobility opportunities to the APS 
Workforce Management Taskforce, in response to surge requests. 
29. More information on mobility can be found in Circular 2020/6: Temporary mobility arrangements as part 
of the continued response to COVID-19. 
Business continuity 
30. Agencies must continue to implement their business continuity plans, including risk management, 
contingencies for different epidemiological environments and how they wil  return to COVID-safe 
workplaces when it is safe to do so. Agency heads have a responsibility to ensure their agencies continue 
to deliver essential services to the Australian public. 
31. Agencies should communicate actions from business continuity to employees and maintain regular 
discussions regarding the return to COVID-safe workplaces. 
Interaction with Circular 2020/1 and Circular 2020/5 
32. This Circular does not supersede, and should be read in conjunction with, Circular 2020/1: COVID-19 
Leave Arrangements. 
33. This Circular supersedes Circular 2020/5: Preparing for a COVID-safe transition for APS workplaces. 
34. This Circular does not limit or restrict existing agency head powers to facilitate arrangements for 
employees to work from home. These arrangements could be for cohorts of employees, or on a case-by-
case basis. 
 
Last reviewed: 
28 September 2020 

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171
From:
s. 22
on behalf of Wiley-Smith, Mary
To:
"Jacqui Curtis"
Subject:
data on working arrangements [SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive]
Date:
Tuesday, 27 October 2020 10:32:00 AM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.jpg
image004.jpg
image005.jpg
image006.jpg
ATO.docx
image006.jpg
OFFICIAL:Sensitive
Hi Jacqui
s. 47E
The most recent data for your agency is attached, based on information provided through our
fortnightly survey s. 47E
If your team have any questions, they should feel free to reach out to Katrina Purcell, Assistant
Commissioner Strategic Policy and Research (xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx).
I’m also very happy to chat, bearing in mind I’m not the data expert J
Cheers
Mary
Mary Wiley-Smith
Deputy Commissioner
Australian Public Service Commission
Level 5, B Block, Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, PARKES ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176 CANBERRA ACT 2601
t: 02 6202 3504 w: www.apsc.gov.au
s. 47F
 

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172
Australian Taxation Office: 
Note: No response to the work exclusively from home question since the question was introduced in survey in first week of September 
 
Indicative proportion of APS staff working from home on 12 October 
 
 
NSW 
VIC 
QLD 
WA 
SA 
TAS 
NT 
ACT 
Total 
ATO percent 
86% 
100% 
68% 
60% 
68% 
60% 
. 
61% 
 
WFH on 
(5767) 
(4970) 
(3875) 
(1094) 
(1893) 
(721) 
(2438) 
12/10/2020 
Whole of APS 
48%  
82% 
30% 
20% 
31% 
22% 
26% 
40% 
46% 
Weighted 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
average 
percent WFH 
on 12 Oct 20 
APS Staff 
21,974  
20,943  
15,404  
6,105  
7,082  
3,532  
1,625  
37,688  
114,353  
reporting 
 

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174
We have a critical role to play as leaders through this difficult time. 
We ask that you urgently turn your attention to:
identifying which work in your branch is critical; this is a judgment call for you to make
considering what meaningful non-critical work or training could be undertaken by your
teams from home that does not require access to ATO systems.
You will need to consider this immediately for those staff in the ACT, NSW and Victoria, but
should also be considering this for teams in other states as they may have to adopt similar
measures over the coming days.
As you would appreciate, the situation is evolving very quickly. Thank you for working with
us to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our people while we maintain critical services for
the Australian community. You would be aware of the raft of economic measures recently
announced by the Prime Minister, we have a crucial role in delivering these and our business
continuity is absolutely essential.
We will continue to keep you up to date with emails and SES phone briefings as we respond to
this challenge.
This information is current at 22 March 2020.
Jacqui Curtis
Jeremy Geale
Chief Operating Officer
COVID Response Committee
Australian Taxation Office
Australian Taxation Office
ATO | Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

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176
This information is current at 22 March 2020.
Jacqui Curtis
Jeremy Geale
Chief Operating Officer
COVID Response Committee
Australian Taxation Office
Australian Taxation Office
ATO | Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

---

177
From:
Bradley Chapman
To:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
Subject:
FW: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Date:
Friday, 4 December 2020 7:26:21 PM
Attachments:
Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 1.jpg
Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 2.jpg
Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 3.jpg
Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 4.jpg
Hi Mary,
I think your address in the below emails may incorrectly have an underscore rather than a
hyphen…so here they are in case you didn’t receive them.
I hope all is well
Regards
Brad
Brad Chapman (FCPHR)
Deputy Commissioner
ATO People
Australian Taxation Office
P 07 3149 5548 M s. 47F
From: Woolcott, Peter 
Sent: Friday, 4 December 2020 5:16 PM
To: Chris Jordan 
Cc: Jacqui Curtis ; Bradley Chapman ; Hetherington, Patrick ; Jeremy Moore ;
xxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx; Spaccavento, Marco 
Subject: Re: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
** This is an external email – exercise caution **
Thanks Chris and much appreciated
Regards
Peter
Sent from my iPhone
On 4 Dec 2020, at 6:02 pm, Chris Jordan wrote:
Good afternoon Peter,
As you may already be aware from advice provided to staff at the APSC late last
week and earlier this week, the ATO has been attempting to work through a
dispute with the Australian Services Union (ASU) regarding current working from
home arrangements resulting from the pandemic. s. 22

---

178
s. 22
The ATO holds a different view to the ASU, in that our COVID working from home
arrangements:
· were put in place to comply with Government directions and to protect our staff;
· covered classes of employees that are not covered by the relevant clauses of the ATO
EA (such as our casual and non-APS staff);
· were always designed to be temporary rather than the longer term, business as usual
arrangements contemplated in the ATO EA;
· provided (in practice) similar protections to our EA, and
· utilised completely different processes than our “normal” work from home
agreements.
s. 42
s. 47E
If you or your staff would like any further information I would be happy to provide.
Regards
Chris
Chris Jordan AO
Commissioner of Taxation
Australian Taxation Office
P 02 621 61018

---

179
ATO. Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information 
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or 
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you 
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other 
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If you 
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by 
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the 
message from your computer system. 
______________________________________________________________________
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

---

180
From:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
To:
Jacqui Curtis
Cc:
xxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx; Spaccavento, Marco; s. 22
Subject:
FW: working from home [SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive]
Date:
Tuesday, 31 March 2020 10:22:00 AM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
OFFICIAL:Sensitive
Hi Jacqui
Thanks for raising s. 22
 and I’d suggest that decisions on home office equipment should be managed in the
same way. I understand your broader WHS concerns but given all the factors at play it would be
very hard to implement an APS-wide approach.
s. 47E
s. 22
Cheers
Mary
From: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx> 
Sent: Monday, 30 March 2020 1:01 PM
To: Wiley-Smith, Mary <xxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Bradley Chapman <xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: working from home [DLM=Sensitive]
Dear Mary
I did not want to raise this at the meeting this morning as I feel we are getting bogged down in
some things around WFH, and that the redeployment piece is the most critical, however I did
want to get your views on a few other things.
s. 22
s. 22
 s. 47E
 s. 22

---

---

182
From:
Jacqui Curtis
To:
Wiley-Smith  Mary
Subject:
Fwd: RE: Urgent media enquiry - 
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
s. 22
Date:
Monday, 23 March 2020 7:19:05 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
Hi Mary
Are you able to assist with the query below? I can understand everyone very busy there but wondered if this just got overlooked? Thanks
Jacqui
---
Sent from Workspace ONE Boxer<https://whatisworkspaceone.com/boxer>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
Date: 23 March 2020 at 6:17:26 pm AEDT
Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
To: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Bradley Chapman <xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Jeremy Geale
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Katherine Philp <xxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx> s. 47F
s. 47F
,Kath Anderson <xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
Hello Jacqui, Brad, and Jeremy
Update – I am still awaiting approval on our response to s. 22
 from the APSC COVID19 Taskforce meaning we have now
missed the journalist’s deadline.
The ASPS COVID19 Taskforce has had our COO-approved response since 4:45pm AEDT and I have followed up via phone and email
twice.
Thank you
s. 47F
Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
Media line 02 621 61901
ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
From: Media Unit
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:48 PM
To: Jacqui Curtis; Bradley Chapman
Cc: Katherine Philp;s. 47F
; Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale
Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

---

183
Hellos. 47F, Jacqui, and Brad
Thank you.
I have sent our proposed response to the APSC COVID19 Taskforce for approval.
Once they have approved, I will respond to the journalist.
s. 47F
Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
Media line 02 621 61901
ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
From: s. 47F
 On Behalf Of Jacqui Curtis
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:42 PM
To: Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale; Jacqui Curtis
Cc: Bradley Chapman; Katherine Philp; s. 47F
Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Importance: High
Hi s. 47F
Jacqui has approved the response to the media enquiry.  No further changes.
Thanks
s. 47F

---

---

185
s. 22
Proposed response
The below response can be attributed to an ATO spokesperson:
The ATO is not intending to have a significant proportion of our workforce working from home from Tuesday 24 March.
There is currently no directive for ATO staff to work from home. Like many other organisations we are taking steps to ensure the ATO is
well-prepared if there is a need for a portion of our workforce to work from home, regardless of the type of work they do.
s. 22
Only staff with specific work from home arrangements in place, such as those identified as taking part in a new Remote Desktop Access
pilot and those considered to be at greater risk of COVID-19, have been asked to work from home.
If a staff member has an ATO issued device like a laptop, iPad, iPhone, we asking them to take these devices home with them as part of
our preparations.
s. 47F
Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
 Media line 02 621 61901
ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
**********************************************************************

---

186
From:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
To:
Bradley Chapman
Subject:
RE: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Date:
Monday, 7 December 2020 11:36:00 AM
OFFICIAL
Many thanks Brad – and good luck!
Hope you are well
Cheers
Mary
From: Bradley Chapman 
Sent: Friday, 4 December 2020 7:25 PM
To: Wiley-Smith, Mary 
Subject: FW: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Hi Mary,
I think your address in the below emails may incorrectly have an underscore rather than a
hyphen…so here they are in case you didn’t receive them.
I hope all is well
Regards
Brad
Brad Chapman (FCPHR)
Deputy Commissioner
ATO People
Australian Taxation Office
P 07 3149 5548 M s. 47F
From: Woolcott, Peter <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx> 
Sent: Friday, 4 December 2020 5:16 PM
To: Chris Jordan <xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; Bradley Chapman
<xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; Hetherington, Patrick <xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Jeremy Moore <xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; xxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx; Spaccavento,
Marco <xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: Re: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
** This is an external email – exercise caution **
Thanks Chris and much appreciated
Regards
Peter
Sent from my iPhone
On 4 Dec 2020, at 6:02 pm, Chris Jordan <xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
Good afternoon Peter,
As you may already be aware from advice provided to staff at the APSC late last
week and earlier this week, the ATO has been attempting to work through a
dispute with the Australian Services Union (ASU) regarding current working from
home arrangements resulting from the pandemic. s. 22

---

187
s. 22
The ATO holds a different view to the ASU, in that our COVID working from home
arrangements:
· were put in place to comply with Government directions and to protect our staff;
· covered classes of employees that are not covered by the relevant clauses of the ATO
EA (such as our casual and non-APS staff);
· were always designed to be temporary rather than the longer term, business as usual
arrangements contemplated in the ATO EA;
· provided (in practice) similar protections to our EA, and
· utilised completely different processes than our “normal” work from home
agreements
s. 42
s. 47E

---

188
If you or your staff would like any further information I would be happy to provide.
Regards
Chris
Chris Jordan AO
Commissioner of Taxation
Australian Taxation Office
P 02 621 61018
ATO. Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information 
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or 
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you 
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other 
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If you 
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by 
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the 
message from your computer system. 
______________________________________________________________________
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

---

189
From:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
To:
s. 47F
Subject:
RE: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Date:
Monday, 7 December 2020 3:31:00 PM
Attachments:
image001.jpg
image002.jpg
image003.jpg
image004.jpg
OFFICIAL
Many thanks s. 47F
From: s. 47F
 
Sent: Monday, 7 December 2020 8:15 AM
To: Wiley-Smith, Mary 
Subject: FW: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Hi Mary
Apologies but I think I had an incorrect email id for you.
Regards
s. 47F
s. 47F
_____________________________________________
From: Chris Jordan 
Sent: Friday, 4 December 2020 6:02 PM
To: Peter Woolcott AO (xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx) <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; Chapman, Bradley
<xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx; Jeremy Moore
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>; xxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Subject: ASU Federal court case [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good afternoon Peter,
As you may already be aware from advice provided to staff at the APSC late last week and earlier
this week, the ATO has been attempting to work through a dispute with the Australian Services
Union (ASU) regarding current working from home arrangements resulting from the pandemic. s. 22
s. 22
The ATO holds a different view to the ASU, in that our COVID working from home arrangements:
were put in place to comply with Government directions and to protect our staff;
overed classes of employees that are not covered by the relevant clauses of the ATO EA (such as
our casual and non-APS staff);
were always designed to be temporary rather than the longer term, business as usual

---

---

191
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

---

---

193
I did not want to raise this at the meeting this morning as I feel we are getting bogged down in some things around WFH, and that the
redeployment piece is the most critical, however I did want to get your views on a few other things.
s. 22
s. 22
 s. 47E
s. 22
Finally, there is the issue of equipment for working from home. We are providing,  IT equipment including monitors and mouse, as well
as lap tops. Some agencies are letting staff take their chairs home, so far we have really only concentrated on staff with WHS plans in
place that require special adjustments due to health concerns. Do you have a view on agencies making their own calls about equipment?
My sense is we shouldn’t be allowing big bulky equipment to go home, I feel it presents other dangers especially if people start wanting
to move equipment themselves. s. 47E
For consideration and any thoughts when you get some time.
Thanks
Jacqui
Jacqui Curtis  FAHRI
Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Operations

---

194
Australian Taxation Office
Adjunct Professor, University of Canberra
26 Narellan Street, Canberra City  ACT  2600
P 02 6216 5071  M s. 47F
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image003.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.facebook.com/ato.gov.au> 
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image004.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://twitter.com/ato_gov_au>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image005.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-taxation-office>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image006.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://community.ato.gov.au/>
ATO. Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
    The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the
message from your computer system.
______________________________________________________________________
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
**********************************************************************

---

195
From:
Wiley-Smith  Mary
To:
Jacqui Curtis
Cc:
Spaccavento  Marco; s. 22
Subject:
Re: Urgent media enquiry - 
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
s. 22
Date:
Monday, 23 March 2020 8:22:24 PM
Apologies Jacqui - there must be a breakdown in the system as we cleared the response this afternoon.
I’ll find out what happened - and fix 
Cheers
Mary
Sent from my iPhone
> On 23 Mar 2020, at 7:19 pm, Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
>
> Hi Mary
>
> Are you able to assist with the query below? I can understand everyone very busy there but wondered if this just got overlooked?
Thanks
>
> Jacqui
>
>
> ---
> Sent from Workspace ONE Boxer<https://whatisworkspaceone.com/boxer>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
> Date: 23 March 2020 at 6:17:26 pm AEDT
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> To: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Bradley Chapman <xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Jeremy Geale
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
> Cc: Katherine Philp <xxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,s. 47F
Kath Anderson <xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
>
>
> Hello Jacqui, Brad, and Jeremy
>
>
>
> Update – I am still awaiting approval on our response to s. 22
 from the APSC COVID19 Taskforce meaning we have
now missed the journalist’s deadline.
>
>
>
> The ASPS COVID19 Taskforce has had our COO-approved response since 4:45pm AEDT and I have followed up via phone and email
twice.
>
>
>
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
> Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
Media line 02 621 61901
>
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>
>
>

---

196
>
>
>
>
> From: Media Unit
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:48 PM
> To: Jacqui Curtis; Bradley Chapman
> Cc: Katherine Philp; s. 47F
 Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
>
>
>
> Hello s. 47F , Jacqui, and Brad
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> I have sent our proposed response to the APSC COVID19 Taskforce for approval.
>
>
>
> Once they have approved, I will respond to the journalist.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
s. 47F
Media line 02 621 61901
>
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: s. 47F
On Behalf Of Jacqui Curtis
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:42 PM
> To: Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale; Jacqui Curtis
> Cc: Bradley Chapman; Katherine Philp; s. 47F
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Importance: High
>
>
>
> Hi s. 47F
>
>
>
> Jacqui has approved the response to the media enquiry.  No further changes.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> s. 47F
>

---

197
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
>
>
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image003.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.facebook.com/ato.gov.au> 
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image004.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://twitter.com/ato_gov_au>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image005.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-taxation-office>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image006.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://community.ato.gov.au/>
>
>
>
> ATO. Working for all Australians
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Media Unit
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 4:35 PM
> To: Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale; Jacqui Curtis
> Cc: Bradley Chapman; Media Unit; Katherine Philp; s. 47F
> Subject: Urgent media enquiry -s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Importance: High
>
>
>
> Hello Kath, Jeremy and Jacqui
>
>
>
> We have just received the following enquiry from s. 22
. I have already given the APSC a heads up.
>
>
>
> The response has been approved by Brad Chapman.
>
>
>
> Action required
>
> Can you please review and approve the response by 4:45pm AEDT?
>
>
>
> Once you approve it, it will be sent to the APSC COVID-19 team for approval
>
>
>
> Enquiry

---

198
s. 22
> Proposed response
>
> The below response can be attributed to an ATO spokesperson:
>
>
>
> The ATO is not intending to have a significant proportion of our workforce working from home from Tuesday 24 March.
>
>
>
> There is currently no directive for ATO staff to work from home. Like many other organisations we are taking steps to ensure the ATO
is well-prepared if there is a need for a portion of our workforce to work from home, regardless of the type of work they do.
>
>
>
s. 22
>
>
>
> Only staff with specific work from home arrangements in place, such as those identified as taking part in a new Remote Desktop
Access pilot and those considered to be at greater risk of COVID-19, have been asked to work from home.
>
>
>
> If a staff member has an ATO issued device like a laptop, iPad, iPhone, we asking them to take these devices home with them as part
of our preparations.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
> Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
Media line 02 621 61901
>
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> IMPORTANT
> The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
> recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
> privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,

---

199
> dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
> reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
> than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
> severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
> please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
> Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
> transmission together with any attachments.
> **********************************************************************

---

200
From:
Jacqui Curtis
To:
Wiley-Smith  Mary
Cc:
Spaccavento  Marco; s. 22
Subject:
Re: Urgent media enquiry - 
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
s. 22
Date:
Monday, 23 March 2020 8:25:04 PM
s. 22
 It’s all good and I totally get
you are all so busy. Just wanted to chase in case had fallen through cracks. J
---
Sent from Workspace ONE Boxer<https://whatisworkspaceone.com/boxer>
On 23 March 2020 at 8:22:34 pm AEDT, Wiley-Smith, Mary <xxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
Apologies Jacqui - there must be a breakdown in the system as we cleared the response this afternoon.
I’ll find out what happened - and fix 
Cheers
Mary
Sent from my iPhone
> On 23 Mar 2020, at 7:19 pm, Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx> wrote:
>
> Hi Mary
>
> Are you able to assist with the query below? I can understand everyone very busy there but wondered if this just got overlooked?
Thanks
>
> Jacqui
>
>
> ---
> Sent from Workspace ONE Boxer<https://whatisworkspaceone.com/boxer>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
> Date: 23 March 2020 at 6:17:26 pm AEDT
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> To: Jacqui Curtis <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Bradley Chapman <xxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Jeremy Geale
<xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
> Cc: Katherine Philp <xxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,s. 47F
,Kath Anderson <xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>,Media Unit <xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx>
>
>
> Hello Jacqui, Brad, and Jeremy
>
>
>
> Update – I am still awaiting approval on our response to s. 22
 from the APSC COVID19 Taskforce meaning we have
now missed the journalist’s deadline.
>
>
>
> The ASPS COVID19 Taskforce has had our COO-approved response since 4:45pm AEDT and I have followed up via phone and email
twice.
>
>
>
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F

---

201
>
> Australian Taxation Office
 Media line 02 621 61901
s. 47F
>
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Media Unit
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:48 PM
> To: Jacqui Curtis; Bradley Chapman
> Cc: Katherine Philp;s. 47F
; Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 - COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
>
>
>
> Hello s. 47F , Jacqui, and Brad
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> I have sent our proposed response to the APSC COVID19 Taskforce for approval.
>
>
>
> Once they have approved, I will respond to the journalist.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
> Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
 Media line 02 621 61901
>
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: s. 47F
 On Behalf Of Jacqui Curtis
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 3:42 PM
> To: Media Unit; Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale; Jacqui Curtis
> Cc: Bradley Chapman; Katherine Philp; s. 47F
> Subject: RE: Urgent media enquiry - s. 22
 COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Importance: High
>
>
>
> Hi s. 47F
>
>
>
> Jacqui has approved the response to the media enquiry.  No further changes.
>

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>
>
> Thanks
>
>
s. 47F
>
>
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image003.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.facebook.com/ato.gov.au> 
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image004.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://twitter.com/ato_gov_au>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image005.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-taxation-office>  
[mid:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx/image006.png@01D4407A.335F7A30]
<https://community.ato.gov.au/>
>
>
>
> ATO. Working for all Australians
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Media Unit
> Sent: Monday, 23 March 2020 4:35 PM
> To: Kath Anderson; Jeremy Geale; Jacqui Curtis
> Cc: Bradley Chapman; Media Unit; Katherine Philp; s. 47F
> Subject: Urgent media enquiry s. 22
 COVID19 - working from home arrangements [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
> Importance: High
>
>
>
> Hello Kath, Jeremy and Jacqui
>
>
>
> We have just received the following enquiry from s. 22
. I have already given the APSC a heads up.
>
>
>
> The response has been approved by Brad Chapman.
>
>
>
> Action required
>
> Can you please review and approve the response by 4:45pm AEDT?

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203
>
>
>
> Once you approve it, it will be sent to the APSC COVID-19 team for approval
>
>
s. 22
> Proposed response
>
> The below response can be attributed to an ATO spokesperson:
>
>
>
> The ATO is not intending to have a significant proportion of our workforce working from home from Tuesday 24 March.
>
>
>
> There is currently no directive for ATO staff to work from home. Like many other organisations we are taking steps to ensure the ATO
is well-prepared if there is a need for a portion of our workforce to work from home, regardless of the type of work they do.
>
>
>
>s. 22
.
>
>
>
> Only staff with specific work from home arrangements in place, such as those identified as taking part in a new Remote Desktop
Access pilot and those considered to be at greater risk of COVID-19, have been asked to work from home.
>
>
>
> If a staff member has an ATO issued device like a laptop, iPad, iPhone, we asking them to take these devices home with them as part
of our preparations.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s. 47F
> Australian Taxation Office
s. 47F
 Media line 02 621 61901
> ato.gov.au/media<http://www.ato.gov.au/media>
>

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204
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> IMPORTANT
> The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
> recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
> privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
> dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
> reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
> than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
> severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
> please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
> Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
> transmission together with any attachments.
> **********************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by
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**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
**********************************************************************

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205
From:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
To:
"Jacqui Curtis"
Subject:
RE: working from home capability ATO [DLM=SENSITIVE]
Date:
Thursday, 26 March 2020 6:22:00 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
SENSITIVE
Many thanks for the update Jacqui – very useful
From: Jacqui Curtis 
Sent: Thursday, 26 March 2020 5:43 PM
To: s. 22
 
Cc: s. 22
 Wiley-Smith, Mary 
Subject: working from home capability ATO [DLM=Sensitive]
ATO WFH Capacity – as requested by COO Committee today. s. 22
Across labour hire and employees more than 6,000 people logged on remotely today (approx.
25% of the workforce). However, we do know some people did experience intermittent technical
difficulties today, and it is not yet clear whether this is due to internal factors, external factors
such as capacity of NBN) or a combination of both.
Subject to resolving today’s technical issues, we can immediately offer WFH to:
14,000 of 18,500 employees (75%) who have the capacity to work from home now;
90% of our labour hire has capacity to work from (last month we had approximately 5,600
labour hire);
None of our outsourced call centre staff.
We would expect to be able scale up to close to 100% of employees working from home over
the next 3-4 weeks as the remote working solution for call centre staff is finalised and we
allocate new equipment to staff. This would include approximately 2,400 outsourced call centre
staff.
All of the above is subject to caveats, such as dependency and capacity of external networks,
successful completion of pilots and managing the trade-off in productivity associated with
working from home.
s. 22
Jacqui Curtis FAHRI
Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Operations
Australian Taxation Office
Adjunct Professor, University of Canberra
26 Narellan Street, Canberra City ACT 2600
P 02 6216 5071 M s. 47F
 
 
 
ATO. Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,

---

206
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.
*********************************************************************

---

---

---

209
From:
Jacqui Curtis
To:
Wiley-Smith, Mary
Cc:
Bradley Chapman
Subject:
working from home [DLM=Sensitive]
Date:
Monday, 30 March 2020 1:01:30 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
Dear Mary
I did not want to raise this at the meeting this morning as I feel we are getting bogged down in
some things around WFH, and that the redeployment piece is the most critical, however I did
want to get your views on a few other things.
s. 22
s. 22
 s. 47E
s. 22
Finally, there is the issue of equipment for working from home. We are providing, IT equipment
including monitors and mouse, as well as lap tops. Some agencies are letting staff take their
chairs home, so far we have really only concentrated on staff with WHS plans in place that
require special adjustments due to health concerns. Do you have a view on agencies making
their own calls about equipment? My sense is we shouldn’t be allowing big bulky equipment to
go home, I feel it presents other dangers especially if people start wanting to move equipment
themselves. s. 47E
For consideration and any thoughts when you get some time.
Thanks
Jacqui
Jacqui Curtis FAHRI
Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Operations

---

---

211
From:
Jacqui Curtis
To:
s. 22
Cc:
s. 22
 Wiley-Smith, Mary
Subject:
working from home capability ATO [DLM=Sensitive]
Date:
Thursday, 26 March 2020 5:43:31 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
ATO WFH Capacity – as requested by COO Committee today. s. 22
Across labour hire and employees more than 6,000 people logged on remotely today (approx.
25% of the workforce). However, we do know some people did experience intermittent technical
difficulties today, and it is not yet clear whether this is due to internal factors, external factors
such as capacity of NBN) or a combination of both.
Subject to resolving today’s technical issues, we can immediately offer WFH to:
14,000 of 18,500 employees (75%) who have the capacity to work from home now;
90% of our labour hire has capacity to work from (last month we had approximately 5,600
labour hire);
None of our outsourced call centre staff.
We would expect to be able scale up to close to 100% of employees working from home over
the next 3-4 weeks as the remote working solution for call centre staff is finalised and we
allocate new equipment to staff. This would include approximately 2,400 outsourced call centre
staff.
All of the above is subject to caveats, such as dependency and capacity of external networks,
successful completion of pilots and managing the trade-off in productivity associated with
working from home.
s. 22
Jacqui Curtis FAHRI
Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Operations
Australian Taxation Office
Adjunct Professor, University of Canberra
26 Narellan Street, Canberra City ACT 2600
P 02 6216 5071 M s. 47F
ATO. Working for all Australians
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT
The information transmitted is for the use of the intended
recipient only and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited and may result in
severe penalties. If you have received this e-mail in error
please notify the Privacy Hotline of the Australian Taxation
Office, telephone 1300 661 542 and delete all copies of this
transmission together with any attachments.

---

212
*********************************************************************

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