Recently released Department of Finance figures show the Government’s travel system bill for 2015–16 totalled $427 million, up $50 million on 2013–14 financial year figures.
The nation currently employs 155,000 public servants and the $427 million, when split evenly amongst this group, amounts to $2700 per public servant spent on travel and accommodation in 2015–16.
The most flown routes by government travellers in Australia were Sydney–Canberra, Melbourne–Canberra and Canberra–Brisbane, while internationally, they were Perth–Christmas Island, Sydney–Los Angeles and Sydney–Singapore.
The government-wide system was established in 2010 in an effort to reduce costs and simplify the booking and administration process. The guidelines advise that public servants should book the lowest practical airline fare.
With video conferencing and other technology at their disposal, both sides of politics have demanded that public servants reconsider the need to travel for work.
What do you think? Does there need to be a full review of the Government travel system? Should public servants found to be needlessly over-spending be made to repay the money?
Read more at canberratimes.com.au
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