The Federal Government thinks senior public servants should fly business class even on short flights, despite the Finance Department recommending otherwise. Photo: Qantas.
Senior public servants won’t be forced to rough it with the hoi polloi on short flights despite a Finance Department review of travel policies recommending they do.
The Federal Government has overruled its own department’s recommendation that all Australian Public Service employees must travel economy class for all flights under three hours, including the Senior Executive Service.
A review of the government’s travel policies and procurement practices was undertaken following outrage last year with revelations that senior public servants and politicians – including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – had taken advantage of free Qantas upgrades from economy to business class.
The government has accepted the review’s recently published recommendation that federal bureaucrats (but not politicians and their staff) should be banned from accepting such free flight upgrades.
But it won’t, as a matter of policy, make them fly economy, even on short trips.
This is despite the Finance Department identifying significant savings for the taxpayer if public servants were made to travel cattle class between Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and some regional locations.
Up to $4 million a year could be saved if this policy were put in place.
“While there can be operational requirements to use business class on longer flights where government officials are expected to rest on the flight and arrive and commence work immediately, there are few operational requirements for shorter flights, especially those under three hours,” the report said.
The Labor government disagrees and believes even short flights should not require all public servants to fly economy.
Banning them from accepting free flight upgrades (except when there are no other seats available) will be implemented and will form part of the government’s new travel policy, kicking in next year.
The review found that, overall, the existing travel policy was generally fit for purpose and had saved the government money in 2022-23, but a number of improvements were identified to make travel policies more efficient and better value for money.
“The recommendations of the review are anticipated to generate further savings through a reduction of business class use on flights under three hours, encouraging simple international bookings to be made online, and applying changes to the air travel booking system that aim to positively increase compliance with the Government Travel Policy,” it stated.
The snub of a recommendation to restrict public servant air travel to economy class for flights under three hours has outraged ACT tourism operator and Canberra Liberals President Nick Tyrrell.
He’s taken to Substack to vent his anger in a detailed article that describes the decision as “baffling” and a “blunder”.
He has also spoken to Region on the topic and says the private sector is setting a far better example than either the government or the public service.
“The move undermines the present discussion about tax reform,” Mr Tyrrell said.
“Who wants to pay more tax if the government won’t even stop bureaucrats flying in the pointy end for the 47-minute hop from Majura Park to Kingsford Smith?
“It dismisses environmental concerns, and alienates a public already grappling with cost-of-living pressures.”
On the issue of environmental impact, Mr Tyrrell points to carbon calculator myclimate.org.
It suggests business class seats on routes such as Canberra to Melbourne and Canberra to Brisbane generate about 46 per cent and 47 per cent more CO2 emissions, respectively, than do economy seats.
This is due to the larger space and resources allocated per passenger in business class, including heavier seats and more legroom.
“At a time when the government claims to prioritise sustainability, allowing public servants to emit nearly 50 per cent more carbon for the sake of a slightly comfier seat for a couple of hours is incredibly hypocritical,” he said.
“If the public sector is serious about climate goals, it should lead by example, and voluntarily give up emissions-heavy perks in the interests of their own stated sustainability goals.
“Australians are grappling with cost-of-living pressures, and the government’s response has been a one-sided conversation about tax hikes with little mention of spending restraint.
“Government-funded short-haul business class flights have a little tinge of privilege to them at a time when ordinary citizens are tightening their belts.”
Mr Tyrrell owns GoBoat Australia, which he is keen to point out is certified ecotourism, carbon neutral, and a founding member of the Marine Emissions Reductions Coalition.
“Some of us walk the talk,” he said.
The Department of Finance review of the government’s travel procurement was completed in December but was just recently (and quietly) published on its website.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
