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Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bureaucrats forced to fly economy as tribunal contradicts government
Government board members and leaders of Commonwealth agencies flying between Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne will be forced to endure economy seats despite the government insisting public servants be permitted to sit in business class. The Albanese government quietly revealed earlier this month that it had rejected a recommendation from the Finance Department that required bureaucrats to travel economy on flights of less than three hours, effectively allowing them to stay in business class. But the Remuneration Tribunal – which is an independent agency responsible for setting pay and perks rules for Commonwealth officials, including department heads, politicians and other senior bureaucrats – announced on Thursday that it was removing access to business-class travel for 'tier-two' office holders. Tier-two office holders tend to be leaders of some government corporations and agencies, or those serving on government boards and councils. This includes leaders of the High-Speed Rail Authority Board, Housing Australia, Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Australian Research Council, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. Secretaries of major departments or high-profile roles such as the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia are classified under tier one, meaning they are still entitled to fly business class on domestic flights. Loading A national outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. The Department of Finance review called for public servants to be required to use economy rather than business class on flights of less than three hours, which could save up to $4 million a year on domestic flights. '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 stated.
The Age
5 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Bureaucrats forced to fly economy as tribunal contradicts government
Government board members and leaders of Commonwealth agencies flying between Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne will be forced to endure economy seats despite the government insisting public servants be permitted to sit in business class. The Albanese government quietly revealed this month that it had rejected a recommendation from the Finance Department that required bureaucrats to travel economy on flights of less than three hours, effectively allowing them to stay in business class. But the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent agency responsible for setting pay and perks rules for Commonwealth officials, including department heads, politicians and other senior bureaucrats, announced on Thursday that it was removing access to business-class travel for 'tier-two' office holders. Tier-two office holders tend to be leaders of some government corporations and agencies, or those serving on government boards and councils. This includes leaders of the High-Speed Rail Authority Board, Housing Australia, Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Australian Research Council, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. Secretaries of major departments or high-profile roles such as the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia are classified under tier one, meaning they are still entitled to fly business class on domestic flights. Loading A national outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. The Department of Finance review called for public servants to be required to use economy rather than business class on flights of less than three hours, which could save up to $4 million a year on domestic flights. '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 stated.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Public servants to be banned from free flight upgrades – but business class still a go
The Albanese government has knocked back a plan to force federal bureaucrats to fly economy between Sydney and Melbourne, but has agreed to stop them accepting first-class flight upgrades that airlines use to win favour in Canberra. A Department of Finance review of government travel policies released quietly on Friday last week, seven months after it was completed, found that existing policies were delivering value for money but weren't consistently followed. National outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. 'The Australian public, parliamentarians and submissions to the review have raised the possibility that access to exclusive lounges provided by Qantas and Virgin may unduly influence government travel patterns,' the report said. The report said data from 2023-24 showed there was higher use of Qantas flights by public servants in and out of Canberra than other airlines, but attributed this to more availability from the national carrier and said the booking patterns were consistent with the public. Loading The review, completed in December last year, found the existing policy was fit-for-purpose and saved the government $260 million in 2022-23, but was not always being followed by individuals. It made seven recommendations to improve value and efficiency in government travel, and support competition. The government accepted them to varying degrees, and tasked the department with implementing the changes. The rules will apply to public servants, but politicians and their staff will escape the upgrade restrictions because their travel comes under different legislation. A key recommendation bars public servants from accepting flight upgrades except in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is no other seat on a plane. The department said it would draft a new travel policy to include the recommendation to be effective from early next year.
The Age
06-08-2025
- Business
- The Age
Public servants to be banned from free flight upgrades – but business class still a go
The Albanese government has knocked back a plan to force federal bureaucrats to fly economy between Sydney and Melbourne, but has agreed to stop them accepting first-class flight upgrades that airlines use to win favour in Canberra. A Department of Finance review of government travel policies released quietly on Friday last week, seven months after it was completed, found that existing policies were delivering value for money but weren't consistently followed. National outcry over government travel perks exploded last year after commentator Joe Aston revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class, worth tens of thousands of dollars, as had other politicians and public servants. 'The Australian public, parliamentarians and submissions to the review have raised the possibility that access to exclusive lounges provided by Qantas and Virgin may unduly influence government travel patterns,' the report said. The report said data from 2023-24 showed there was higher use of Qantas flights by public servants in and out of Canberra than other airlines, but attributed this to more availability from the national carrier and said the booking patterns were consistent with the public. Loading The review, completed in December last year, found the existing policy was fit-for-purpose and saved the government $260 million in 2022-23, but was not always being followed by individuals. It made seven recommendations to improve value and efficiency in government travel, and support competition. The government accepted them to varying degrees, and tasked the department with implementing the changes. The rules will apply to public servants, but politicians and their staff will escape the upgrade restrictions because their travel comes under different legislation. A key recommendation bars public servants from accepting flight upgrades except in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is no other seat on a plane. The department said it would draft a new travel policy to include the recommendation to be effective from early next year.
AU Financial Review
01-08-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Tariff bullet dodged but ASX dives; Star's deal implodes; Joe Aston on Twiggy
Want to get this in your inbox at lunchtime every weekday? Financial Review subscribers can sign up for The Brief newsletter here. Plus start your day with our Before the Bell newsletter and read a full wrap of the day's news in Market Wrap. In today's news, Australia's sharemarket drops as the country dodges a tariff bullet, Star's casino deal implodes at the 11th hour, and Joe Aston says the possibilities with Andrew Forrest are terrifying.
