CANBERRA: Australian Taxation Office deputy commissioner Michael Cranston has fallen on his sword, ending what has been described as an “illustrious” public service career after his first day before court in connection with an alleged $165 million tax scam. The ATO this afternoon confirmed Mr Cranston had submitted his resignation, less than a month after he was temporarily stood down in the wake of a sting on Sydney-based payroll company, Plutus Payroll. “We can confirm Michael Cranston has chosen to resign his Deputy Commissioner role at the ATO effective 13 June 2017,” an ATO spokeswoman said. Mr Cranston and his daughter Lauren Cranston, 24, appeared before Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court today over allegations they were connected to the scam. The pair were excused from attending coming hearings — set down for August 8 and 29 — on the proviso they were represented by their lawyers.
The move was welcomed by Ms Cranston’s lawyer, who said the 24-year-old was expecting a child at the end of July. Both Mr Cranston and Ms Cranston are currently on bail. They both declined to comment when leaving the court this morning. Mr Cranston’s son, and Ms Cranston’s brother, Adam Cranston, 30, is accused of being a central player in the alleged $165m tax fraud, which allegedly siphoned employee tax payments away from the ATO. Police don’t allege Mr Cranston was aware of the scam, but claim he acted improperly by accessing sensitive internal ATO information on behalf of his son. Last month, 300 Australian Federal Police officers raided 28 Sydney properties as part of the sting. Millions of dollars worth of property was seized, including luxury cars and jewellery.