Serious questions must be asked about a NSW Government that appears increasingly disorganised, ideologically distracted, and incapable of managing even the most basic administrative systems. Revenue NSW — the arm that aggressively enforces payments — now displays a mix of bullying, incompetence, and outdated technology that is costing businesses time, money, and reputational harm.

This week, 4Square Media, a company with zero debt and clean financials, received a threatening “Pay Now” notice claiming non-payment of Workers Compensation premiums. The accusation was baseless. The real issue was simpler and far more concerning:
Revenue NSW had the wrong address — again — and none of the previous correspondence had ever been received.

The latest letter was only found because a tenant discovered it lying on the floor of our building.

Yet, in a remarkable twist, the same Government that cannot update a business address somehow always manages to get the correct address when pursuing parking fines. Even stranger, on the very same day we received the faulty threat notice, another NSW Government department successfully delivered a renewal notice for one of our company vehicles — to the correct address.

A Call Centre Experience That Defies Logic

When contacting Revenue NSW to resolve the issue, the situation escalated from incompetence to absurdity. After providing every verification detail imaginable — claim reference, date of birth, licence number, home address, postal address — the operator’s next question was whether I was of Aboriginal descent.

When I pointed out that the matter had nothing to do with my personal background and everything to do with their repeated address failure, the operator responded not with professionalism but with hostility:
“I don’t like your tone,” followed by a hang-up.

A Year of Repeated Warnings — All Ignored

This wasn’t a one-off. Over the last 12 months:

We have written three times to Revenue NSW correcting our address.

We have visited the Service NSW centre in North Sydney twice to formally update details.

We moved from Level 1 to Level 15 long ago — yet Revenue NSW still sends critical notices to the wrong floor.

This isn’t a clerical mistake. It’s systemic failure: computer systems that don’t communicate, outdated software, and no reliable method of identifying businesses or individuals across government databases.

Right address on some corresondence but not from Revenue NSW

When Ideology Replaces Competence

The insistence on questioning racial or cultural identity — especially after a full ID check — raises serious concerns about priorities inside Revenue NSW. Staff appear more focused on ideological checkboxes than on fixing broken systems or assisting businesses.

Government Projects Making Life Harder for Local Business

The same chaotic approach extends beyond Revenue NSW:

The Warringah Freeway upgrade has created traffic management farces where two staff and a vehicle are allocated simply to watch cars exit quiet side streets.

Parking has been removed in front of 275 Alfred Street, and nearby streets have been converted to “No Parking” to make space for government contractors — driving businesses away and forcing a once-thriving café to close.

Bugger the tenants and business. Despite signs warning about contractors parking in parking spaces,  local tenants given two finger salute. After complaints the NSW Government removed parking all together so their tradies could park all day.

Contractors have shut off power to 16 floors of commercial offices for two days at a time, with no apparent consideration for the businesses affected.

System Failures With Real Consequences

Revenue NSW’s outdated, poorly governed systems are more than an inconvenience. Their failures can create false debt records, damaged credit profiles, and reputational harm for companies that have done nothing wrong.

 

And this isn’t new. Past Ombudsman reports have revealed:

Automated debt recovery systems operating contrary to law between 2016–2019.

Garnishee orders issued without proper oversight, causing financial hardship to citizens unaware automation was draining their accounts.

Inadequate risk assessments for AI and automation within Revenue NSW.

Attempts to limit complaints through restrictive settlement deeds — a deeply troubling practice criticised in 2025.

In short, the agency has a long history of technological mismanagement and administrative overreach.

A New Problem: Staff Who Shut Down Instead of Helping

Now it appears Revenue NSW has added another obstacle — call-centre operators who abandon calls the moment difficult questions arise. Instead of addressing systemic errors, they shut down conversations and leave businesses to deal with the fallout.