Taxis and stationery: How NSW MPs blew $44m in 9 months
One minister’s office spent $44,000 on taxis, while another churned through $22,000 on stationery. See which NSW politicians racked up $44 million in office expenses in just nine months.
NSW
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Former NSW ministers burned through more than $44 million in nine months to run their offices with new figures showing just how much each office spent on taxis, stationery, staff and flights.
At least one office kept the taxi industry going, spending $44,000 in the nine months to the end of March last year, which included the period leading up to the state election.
Figures released under freedom of information to The Saturday Telegraph show staff salaries accounted for the biggest cost in the nine months to March this year, with more than $28 million going into adviser bank accounts.
The most expensive offices were that of former premier Dominic Perrottet – whose team cost more than $4.3 million – and then treasurer Matt Kean whose staff cost $1.9 million.
Former Nationals leader Paul Toole had the third most costly office with the bill coming in at $1.6 million.
Mr Perrottet and his office topped the list when it came to taxis, spending $44,000 to get around the State.
The only two ministers to come close were former Nationals leader Paul Toole whose office taxi bill was $9243 and former tourism and Aboriginal affairs minister Ben Franklin who spent more than $8,000.
The most frugal taxi user was former transport minister David Elliott whose office spent just $215.
Former treasurer Matt Kean spent the most on catering with the office bill coming in at $2836, followed by former Western NSW minister Dugald Saunders who spent $2126 and Mr Elliott whose bill came in at $1561.
Mr Kean’s catering bill was for the traditional NSW Press Gallery Budget drinks while Mr Elliott’s covered a war widow’s reception.
Just $10 was recorded against the office of ex-education minister Sarah Mitchell for catering, although many other offices did not list any catering expenses.
More than $245,000 was spent on overtime and meal allowances for the hardworking ministerial drivers – with Mr Perrottet’s driver understandably clocking up the most hours.
The former premier’s driver overtime and meal allowance bill totalled almost $23,000.
Former senior and multiculturalism minister Mark Coure’s driver also did extra hours, costing $21,417.
Another big office expense was travel, with ministers spending more than $1.5 million on flights and accommodation, with the two leaders at the time – Mr Perrottet and Mr Toole – understandably costing the most.
The leaders’ offices travel bills amounted to $254,000 for Mr Perrottet and $200,000 for Mr Toole.
Nationals MPs Sam Farraway, Ben Franklin and Stephanie Cooke were next on the list with each spending more than $100,000 on travel.
Motor vehicle car expenses cost taxpayers more than $291,000 with former women’s minister Bronnie Taylor topping the list with a bill of more than $26,000.
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