Australia's tens of thousands of tax officials have been unleashed onto the internet's social networks.
ATO workers are now able to use social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn on their work computers for the first time, beginning Monday.
But the newfound freedom of the web for the ATO's 23,000 public servants has come with a warning from Commissioner of Taxation Chris Jordan, that it is to be used sensibly.
Mr Jordan announced on Monday morning that staff at all sites around the nation would have access to the sites on their desktop computers, a workplace freedom that had previously been considered too dangerous for the ATO.
The move, part of the Commissioner's drive to modernise the Taxation Office, would allow officials to communicate with taxpayers "through their channels of choice".
"Increasingly, people are using these channels to communicate socially as well as professionally - to connect with people, share ideas and best practice, and build their networks," Mr Jordan wrote in his all-staff bulletin.
"If we are to deliver a contemporary client experience, it's important that we interact with our clients through channels of their choice."
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The Australian Public Service has been making halting progress into modern online social networks and some high-profile indiscretions have resulted in premature ends to Commonwealth careers.
But Mr Jordan said he was trusting his staff to behave sensibly in the wired-in world.
"In the past, allowing broad access to social media from work computers was deemed too risky," the commissioner wrote.
"I'm trusting you to help me manage that risk and to use these websites sensibly, as intended.
"I encourage you to think about how these tools can help you do your job as we continue to evolve the way we do business with our clients and each other."
