Four Australian Taxation Offices (ATOs) in Queensland will close, as the Federal Government winds down all regional tax centres.

Dozens of jobs will go in some already high unemployment areas, when ATO offices close their doors in Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.

The cuts are part of the Federal Government’s deep carving into the size and shape of the public sector.

Reports say this will involved the sacking of over 16,000 government employees.

Federal Opposition spokeswoman Terri Butler has labelled the shutdowns unnecessary, claiming they will disadvantage regional customers and workers.

“The Australia Taxation Office is the worst hit agency under the federal budget,” she told ABC this week.

“It is decimating the Australian public service - there is a $142 million worth of cuts to the Australian public service over the forward estimates and that's 16,500 jobs nationally.

“That is a lot of regional offices where people and local small businesses are able to go into the tax office, sort out their issues face-to-face and they won't be able to do that anymore.

“Tax issues - they can be issues that you need help with and we are also going to see of course a further jobs effect of these closures.

“We are going to see staff losing their jobs all over the country from the Australian Taxation Office.”