SA Best leader Nick Xenophon wants to scrap personal chauffeur-driven cars for SA politicians

NICK Xenophon wants to scrap personal chauffeur-driven cars for South Australian ministers and other politicians.

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NICK Xenophon wants to scrap personal chauffeur-driven cars for South Australian ministers and other politicians.

The SA Best leader, who has already proposed reducing the number of MPs in State Parliament, says the chauffeur service provided to more than 20 MPs is an “unnecessary, anachronistic indulgence”.

He will pledge an overhaul at the March state election.

Federal MPs use a pool system when they need a lift.

“Only the Prime Minister has a dedicated driver – presumably someone trained to drive a bulletproof vehicle,” Mr Xenophon said.

“This just shows our current batch of state politicians are more interested in perks than policies.

“This idea of drivers waiting around for hours while politicians are at functions is an anachronistic indulgence. They can use cabs or hire cars.”

The State Government could not confirm before deadline how much the scheme costs taxpayers each year.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon

But a spokesman said: “The Government has no plans to change arrangements for ministerial cars.”

A Cabinet document signed by the Premier in 2003 shows an additional chauffeured vehicle would cost $200,000 a year to run.

Mr Xenophon (pictured) said the savings from his policy could be worth millions.

“Pollies need to lead by example when it comes to cutting waste,” he said.

“At a federal level, they use pool cars on a needs basis.

“This is symbolic of how money is wasted in this state.

“A lot of ministerial meetings are within a square mile. (MPs) can use public transport or walk.”

Cars and drivers are available to various MPs, including the Premier, Deputy Premier, all Cabinet ministers, President of the Legislative Council, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Opposition Leader, Deputy Opposition Leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.

Mr Xenophon said it was appropriate for the Premier and Opposition Leader to have vehicles – but that was it.

Drivers are on a base salary of about $50,000 a year but do significant overtime, generating double-time penalty rates.

Mr Xenophon said the drivers could be “redeployed to do something of greater benefit than just driving politicians around”.

The vehicles are in addition to a generous car leasing arrangements available for MPs.

In late 2015, the Sunday Mail revealed that 56 of the 69 MPs in State Parliament had taken advantage of leasing arrangements that had them pay a flat $7000 a year since 2005 to lease a car – with all running costs such as petrol and registration included.

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