Taxpayers fork out millions for rail workers to stay idle

Taxpayers are forking out millions of dollars for employing more than 100 bureaucrats for menial or zero work in the public service “waiting lounge”.

Taxpayers are footing a million dollar bill for rail workers to stay idle, an official report shows. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Taxpayers are forking out millions of dollars employing more than 100 bureaucrats – paid an average $90,000 a year – for menial or zero work in the public service “waiting lounge”, an official report shows.

Latest state government data shows 112 “excess employees” are working in various departments, more than half of whom have been without work for almost a year.

The latest State of the Sector report reveals most are employed in the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, sparking a new political row over privatisation.

The number of taxpayer-funded workers in what has been dubbed the public service “waiting lounge” dipped to just 11 in 2018-19 but has climbed every year since.

Government data shows more than 112 “excess employees” are employed by various departments, more than half of whom have been without work for a year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Government officials say excess employees who, for a variety of reasons are surplus to requirements but still have a job, have been kept busy in recent years.

This has included helping police and SA Health with the Covid-19 response and undertaking minor maintenance in parks and on public transport.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport employs 85, according to the report the Office for Commissioner for Public Sector Employment compiled.

The average full-time salary for its 2096 workers in 2022-23 was $91,214.

It means the taxpayer cost is at least $7.5m each year, but the real bill would be much higher.

In a statement, the department said the group included staff who were declared excess as a result of privatisation of train and tram services under the previous government.

Those staff had worked in roles such as drivers, rail signal maintenance fitters, passenger services assistants, electricians, supervisors, plumbers, track inspectors and project officers.

All 85 are covered by enterprise agreements that require their salary to be maintained after they are declared excess and throughout the redeployment process.

Since the rail privatisation, in January 2021, more than 100 excess employees have been redeployed to other roles in the public sector. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Since the rail privatisation, in January 2021, more than 100 excess employees have been redeployed to other roles in the public sector.

Their new roles include transport compliance positions, SA Police traffic camera operations, project management, customers service, warehousing, procurement and logistics.

Another 180 workers have moved into the private sector or retired.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis attacked the Liberal privatisation, which he said the “facts speak for themselves”.

He said the report states “in black and white” that rail privatisation was responsible for up to 85 of the 112 excess workers.

“The legacy of the Liberals’ failed rail privatisation continues to make a mockery of their pledge to deliver budget savings,” he said.

“Instead of their much hyped $118 million budget boost over 12 years, the sell-off delivered a big new cost in unassigned staff, as well as additional support and operational costs – which more than offset any of the promised savings.”

He said the report was a damning indictment on the former Marshall government’s “primary economic legacy – selling off our train and tram services”.

He added: “We are now unravelling this failed legacy, and restoring these services to public hands.”

An Opposition spokeswoman hit back, calling on the government to make clear when they will be getting back to work.

“Predictably, Tom Koutsantonis is playing the blame game in a desperate attempt to try and shift responsibility away from the current Labor Government,” she said.

“If his claims were correct, why aren’t these unassigned staff back at work now rather than wasting South Australian taxpayer dollars on his watch?

“The fact that the number of excess employees has climbed by a third in the past year – and that more than half have been in this situation for nine months or more – is a concern.”

A Transport Department spokesman said they were also provided with duties or training including supporting SA Health and SA Police with the Covid-19 response.

He said it also included “various project support and minor maintenance activities on public transport infrastructure” along with national parks and heritage infrastructure with the Environment Department.

He said it expected a number of former train and tram drivers would return to their roles when operations are returned to government in 2025.

“All excess employees in the department’s redeployment program have already been invited to express their interest in these returning roles and will continue to receive priority consideration for vacancies,” he said.