Staff members in sections of federal departments have been offered voluntary redundancies, which some say shows the ineffectiveness of ‘natural attrition’.

About 500 voluntary redundancies have been offered to staff at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), part of a push to cut 900 jobs.

Included in the wide dragnet of redundancy are workers from the charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Taskforce (ACNC).

“In a communiqué to staff the ATO called the process ‘an enterprise workforce refresh’ and told them they had until Friday 21st February to apply,” the Community and Public Sector Union says.

“This latest announcement shows that the Abbott Government’s austerity agenda is ploughing through the Public Service, cutting jobs and damaging essential services,” CPSU Deputy President Alistair Waters said.

“[Minister for Social Services] Kevin Andrews calls it a war on ‘red tape’. We say they are removing crucial oversight that ensures the public’s contributions to charities are handled in the correct and proper manner,” he said.

The charity regulator’s abolishment is part of the ongoing effort to run the government of Australia with as few people as possible.

In an email offering redundancies to tax office staff, second Commissioner at the ATO, Geoff Leeper said workers should take the time to reflect and ask themselves if they really want their job.

Mr Leeper asked staff to “self-assess” their contribution, and consider the ‘Enterprise Workforce Refresh’ program.

“This will help reach our estimated workforce reduction target of 900 full-time equivalent employees...and position our workforce for the future,” he wrote.

Insiders say those working in small, regional offices and business units with a lot of higher-ranking officers will be most likely to succeed if they apply for redundancy.

Applications close on February 21, with all redundancies to be completed by the end of June.