Article: State Government ministers pile on the perks

[ozbob]

One wonders why the Queensland Government cannot introduce some of the public transport ticketing initiatives that benefit the community as a whole, such as in WA, NSW and Victoria. Victoria - Sunday fare saver tickets, free public transport for seniors on Sundays.  WA, soon to have free public transport on Sundays for seniors, and free travel for seniors 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.  NSW - Family Funday Sunday Ticketing. These initiatives help improve health and well being and reduces health costs, introduces people to the convenience of public transport, and maximises use of the public transport assets, and in turn increasing fare revenue.

It seems the Government is more concerned with the welfare of Ministers' partners ...
If I want bottled water I buy it or fill a bottle from the tap.

From the Courier Mail click here!

State Government ministers pile on the perks

State Government ministers pile on the perks
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Steven Wardill

December 21, 2008 11:00pm

MINISTERS and their staff are enjoying new perks, including $30 a month in bottled water for their limousine drivers, despite the economic downturn.
Meal budgets and clothing allowances have risen and even memberships to the Qantas Club's exclusive Chairman's Lounge have been handed out to each minister's partner.

The pre-Christmas perks splurge is revealed in the latest edition of the State Government Ministerial Handbook - the detailed bible of benefits for Queensland's political elite.

The extra benefits were awarded in September, just weeks before Premier Anna Bligh made a virtue out of freezing the allowances provided to all state politicians as part of the Government's belt-tightening.

Clarifications have also been made to rules which have tripped up ministers recently, including the infamous "gravy train" scandal.

Ms Bligh said the changes were reasonable and would be monitored during the tough economic times.

"I have directed that savings be made in every government department and I expect that to also occur in the Department of Premier and Cabinet," she said. "I expect that they will monitor even the smallest of expenses."

The $30 a month in bottled water, which will also be available to Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, would cost taxpayers about $6800 if all ministers and their staff drank up.

The rule change comes after a $17.60 claim by Treasurer Andrew Fraser for three bottles of water for his limousine was rejected by the Government's ministerial services branch.

Ms Bligh said the $30 limit was new but bottled water was an existing entitlement that benefited drivers.

"I thought it was important to ensure it wasn't unlimited," she said.

"Drivers can be sitting in cars for several hours waiting for ministers in meetings and they are not high-paid people."

Meal allowances have also been increased. Ministerial staff can receive, without receipts, up to $21.10 for breakfast, $23.65 for lunch, $40.65 dinner and $15.90 for incidentals while travelling or working long hours in the office.

Every three years, ministers and their staff can now also claim up to $264 (previously $248) for "cold climate" equipment, such as clothing, and $199 ($186) for "tropical climate" equipment.

Access to the exclusive Chairman's Lounge has been extended to every minister's partner. All MPs already hold free Qantas Club membership.

For the first time, ministers have also been given the right to join Virgin Blue's The Lounge at taxpayers' expense, which for an individual is $369-a-year plus a one-off $199 joining fee.

Ms Bligh said access to the Chairman's Lounge was a "completely complimentary" courtesy by Qantas, while the Virgin version was important for regional-based ministers.

"I don't expect to see much take-up of that," she said.

The Government has also introduced rules to prevent a repeat of the "gravy train" scandal, during which Transport Minister John Mickel's office organised a catered Citytrain tour for Labor Party members.

"Travel by members of a political party to visit an infrastructure project being constructed is not official travel and should not be paid for by ministerial or departmental funds," the handbook now says.

Another change will ensure all fines incurred by ministerial vehicles are brought to the "immediate attention" of a senior adviser, to avoid drivers paying for infringements caused when their political masters are behind the wheel.

[ozbob]

21 May 2008

Greetings,

As has been highlighted in the local and national media our pensioners are suffering.  One thing that all State Governments can do is follow the lead of Victoria.
Please give our Pensioners free Sunday travel on public transport.  There are no direct costs, the transport asset is running anyway and there is lots of room.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

---------------------------------------

Media Release  21 May 2008. (A re-release of 11 May 2008)

SEQ:  Call for free Sunday Translink travel for Seniors on Go Card!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has previously called for free Sunday public transport travel for Senior Citizens (1, 2).  Senior citizens now have access to a special Seniors Go Card (a red Go Card), and as a further incentive for uptake of the card and to encourage senior citizens to get out and about, it would be a simple matter to program the smart card system to allow Seniors free travel on Sundays.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Free travel for Senior citizens was introduced by the Victorian Government on the 27 August 2006 in Melbourne. This worthwhile initiative has been a huge success and when on visits to Melbourne it has been encouraging to hear senior citizens comment on how helpful it has been to them.?

?Recent announcements of the possible portability of seniors public transport travel concession entitlement cards around the nation make a lot of sense. As part of this it would make even more sense to standardise the concessions afforded to our Seniors.?

?Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on Sundays, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make this service available.  It will assist the Senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles.  The Go Card will allow for easy implementation of such an initiative.?

?RAIL Back On Track calls on Queensland Government and Translink to consider providing free public transport to retired Seniors in Queensland on Sundays who use the Seniors Go Card.?

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=52.

2. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=567.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media Release 22 December 2008

SEQ:  Call for free Sunday Translink travel for Seniors on Go Card!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has previously called for free Sunday public transport travel for Senior Citizens (1, 2, 3).  Senior citizens have access to a special Seniors Go Card  (a red Go Card), and as a further incentive for uptake of the card and to encourage senior citizens to get out and about, it would be a simple matter to program the smart card system to allow Seniors free travel on Sundays.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Free travel for Senior citizens on Sundays was introduced by the Victorian Government on the 27 August 2006 in Melbourne. This worthwhile initiative has been a huge success and when on visits to Melbourne it has been encouraging to hear senior citizens comment on how helpful it has been to them."

"Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on Sundays, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make this service available.  It will assist the Senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles.  The Go Card will allow for easy implementation of such an initiative."

"RAIL Back On Track calls on Queensland Government and Translink to provide free public transport to retired Seniors in Queensland on Sundays who use the Seniors Go Card."

"One wonders why the Queensland Government cannot introduce some of the public transport ticketing initiatives that benefit the community as a whole, such as in WA, NSW and Victoria. Victoria, Sunday fare saver tickets, free public transport for seniors on Sundays.  WA, soon to have free public transport on Sundays for seniors, and free travel for seniors 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.  NSW, Family Funday Sunday Ticketing. These initiatives help improve the health and well being of the community and reduces health costs. They introduce people to the convenience of public transport, and maximises use of the public transport assets, and in turn increases fare revenue."

"The Queensland Government and TransLink are transfixed on economic rationalist transport models.  They need to consider the broader social implications of public transport policy."

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=909.0
2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=52
3.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=567.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org