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Article: Include Go Cards in salary packages, says public sector union

Started by ozbob, November 21, 2011, 06:38:43 AM

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ozbob

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Include Go Cards in salary packages, says public sector union

QuoteInclude Go Cards in salary packages, says public sector union
Tony Moore
November 21, 2011 - 6:19AM

Queensland's main public service union backs plans for Go Cards to be included in salary packages to arrest the slow down in public transport.

Last week, brisbanetimes.com.au published several stories in which Brisbane City Council and the state government-owned Translink argued over declining public transport use.

Queensland Conservation Council executive director Toby Hutcheon said new ideas were needed to break the "blame game" stalemate.
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He called for public servants - both state and local - to get Go Cards as part of their salary packages.

Alex Scott, secretary of the Together union covering 40,000 public servants, said it was a good idea and one the former Queensland Public Sector Union had explored in pre-Go Card days.

"There isn't enough encouragement to have people use public transport and the government should be taking the lead on that," he said.

Mr Hutcheon said on top of QCC's list was an offer of Go Cards to all public servants - whether they are state government or Brisbane City Council employees - as part of their salary.

"It's a benefit for government because its public servants who get it as part of their salary package," he said.

"So the government links it because it obviously increases patronage because it increases the use of services."

Mr Hutcheon said the Go Cards could be discounted because they could be purchased from Translink as part of a "discounted bulk buy".

He said there were too many public servants who drove cars into work, more or less as a "status symbol".

Mr Hutcheon said Brisbane's public transport system worked well, but was not coping in the morning and evening peak hours.

"Public servants should not be getting vehicles unless it is necessary for their function and their jobs," he said.

"If it is just simply to get from home to work as part of their package, I think all of that really does need to be removed.

"It is almost regarded as a status symbol. You get to a certain level in the bureaucracy and it means you get a car. That is particularly apparent in local government."

Mr Scott said it was an idea unions had pushed in the past.

"We would support something along those lines and it is something we have sought previously," he said.

Mr Scott said public servants had earlier asked to be able to get annual rail cards through their salaries.

"It was probably pre-Go Card, probably about three or four years ago," he said.

"Particularly when the rail cards were annual cards and our members had at that time sought to be able to have them purchased and then paid for through their salary sacrificing, or just direct debit through the government."

Mr Scott said the tightening of the fringe benefits tax legislation had reduced the number of public servants who drove cars to and from work as a "status symbol".

"Very few these days. Particularly since the fringe benefits tax came in," Mr Scott said.

"There has been a significant drop-off in both the number of people who have it in formal salary packages and also having in enhanced salary packages."

Translink did not directly answers the questions about public servants receiving Go Cards as part of their salaries, but said they were trialling a "corporate" Translink card.

"TransLink has trialled a transferable corporate Go Card with more than 40 organisations," a spokesman said.

"We are reviewing feedback received from the trial and will have a final product available next year."

In southeast Queensland, 83 per cent of journeys are by private vehicle, while only 7 per cent are by public transport.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/include-go-cards-in-salary-packages-says-public-sector-union-20111121-1npp6.html
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Derwan

Queensland Public Servants and BCC employees are already able to claim up to $1333.33 per year as part of their salary packaging *.  However this limit is shared with claims for electricity.

An average household is likely to use at least $1333.33 per year in electricity alone, rendering the public transport packaging useless.

* Conditions apply.  See http://www.remserv.com.au/electricityPublicTransport.cfm?refer=government for details.
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colinw

My employer already does a "metro club" thing where the company will pay up to $250 pa to recharge your Myki or Go Card.

We also get a $250 "health & fitness" allowance which can go toward cycle tyres, accessories, that sort of thing.  Apparently there's quite a high uptake of that in Melbourne office, due to the much better cycling culture in Melbourne compared to Brisbane.

somebody

Quote from: Derwan on November 23, 2011, 14:15:20 PM
Queensland Public Servants and BCC employees are already able to claim up to $1333.33 per year as part of their salary packaging *.  However this limit is shared with claims for electricity.

An average household is likely to use at least $1333.33 per year in electricity alone, rendering the public transport packaging useless.

* Conditions apply.  See http://www.remserv.com.au/electricityPublicTransport.cfm?refer=government for details.
Which makes the PSU's statement largely valid.  Although could be better put.

Set in train

How about we make commuter travel 100% tax deductible? Quasi free PT.

Arnz

Rgds,
Arnz

Unless stated otherwise, Opinions stated in my posts are those of my own view only.


Golliwog

Quote from: Arnz on November 24, 2011, 01:20:17 AM
or integrate the go-card with their staff passes or student cards, like USC has done here.

http://www.usc.edu.au/university/campus-and-facilities/maps-transport-and-parking/transport/go-card/u-pass-faqs.htm
I thought when that came out TL made a media statement or something and basically explained that this was a trial or something, and depending on how it went may or may not be rolled out to other universities? Though part of it was USC's doing as IIRC they give each student/staff $60 go card credit or something?
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Set in train

Quote from: Golliwog on November 24, 2011, 10:38:08 AM
Quote from: Arnz on November 24, 2011, 01:20:17 AM
or integrate the go-card with their staff passes or student cards, like USC has done here.

http://www.usc.edu.au/university/campus-and-facilities/maps-transport-and-parking/transport/go-card/u-pass-faqs.htm
I thought when that came out TL made a media statement or something and basically explained that this was a trial or something, and depending on how it went may or may not be rolled out to other universities? Though part of it was USC's doing as IIRC they give each student/staff $60 go card credit or something?

Yes, $65. Which won't last that long.

p858snake

Quote from: tramtrain on November 23, 2011, 14:45:11 PM
I totally do not understand packaging electricity in there.
Staff whine if they do things outside of work and don't get benefits for it.

Derwan

Quote from: p858snake on November 24, 2011, 15:59:37 PM
Quote from: tramtrain on November 23, 2011, 14:45:11 PM
I totally do not understand packaging electricity in there.
Staff whine if they do things outside of work and don't get benefits for it.

Not quite.  As the State Government owns the infrastructure that supplies the electricity, it can offer the electricity to its employees as a fringe benefit.  The same applies with public transport.  (It's technically limited to QR and BCC buses.)
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somebody

Quote from: Derwan on November 27, 2011, 19:45:46 PM
Quote from: p858snake on November 24, 2011, 15:59:37 PM
Quote from: tramtrain on November 23, 2011, 14:45:11 PM
I totally do not understand packaging electricity in there.
Staff whine if they do things outside of work and don't get benefits for it.

Not quite.  As the State Government owns the infrastructure that supplies the electricity, it can offer the electricity to its employees as a fringe benefit.  The same applies with public transport.  (It's technically limited to QR and BCC buses.)
Always wondered how that came about.  Tks.

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