Seven ways for Jim Chalmers to find some much-needed spare change

With Jim Chalmers’ books in terrible shape, it would be fair to say he would be on the hunt for some spare change. Here are some cuts he might as well make immediately.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers releasing the recent mid-year Budget update. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Jim Chalmers’ books are in terrible shape. The Treasurer is running out of solutions as we head towards a record $1 trillion debt bill, meaning we’ll be repaying tens of billions of dollars in interest alone.

It’s fair to say Mr Chalmers would be on the hunt for some spare change at the moment. Here are some cuts he might as well make immediately:

1. Fat cats

The Commonwealth public service is entitled to permanently work from home, so why are we still covering the cost of expensive building leases? Picture: iStock

With the Commonwealth public service now entitled to permanently work from home, why are we still covering the cost of expensive building leases? Taxpayers spend $1.5bn on office space for bureaucrats and another $200m on utilities and maintenance. What a crazy waste of money for people who aren’t even required to be at their desk every day.

The federal bureaucracy is now costing $36bn a year to run, with another 22,000 employees given jobs under the Albanese government.

There should be a hiring freeze and, like many other businesses in Australia, some tough cuts.

2. Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)

This joint not only receives large donations from wealthy woke foreigners, who assist in gridlocking major projects in Australia, but the EDO has also benefited from $7m in federal funding. The EDO was recently lashed by a Federal Court judge for “distorting and misrepresenting” members of the Indigenous community while fighting a gas development near the Tiwi Islands. Cut them off.

3. MP printing allowance

Every year we fork out tens of millions of dollars for a ludicrous entitlement which allows politicians to send letters, emails, fridge magnets and SMS messages to their constituents. Labor MP Julian Hill has charged taxpayers $363,000 for this service in just 12 months. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones’ printing and communications bill was $250,000. Another $216,000 was splurged by Greens leader Adam Bandt. Madness.

4. ABC waste

The public broadcaster claims to be short on dough, but managed to find $818,000 this year for a design rebrand. They also forked out $3.4m on legal fees, often fighting indefensible litigation matters.

And despite having a total of five frequencies in Sydney alone, in the last survey fewer than 15 per cent of total radio listeners tuned in to the ABC. Do they really need all of them?

5. Defence leadership

General Angus Campbell. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Most of the criticism of the appalling state of our military has been levelled at the former boss, General Angus Campbell. But that has allowed another well-paid Defence executive to largely avoid the spotlight. Greg Moriarty, on a salary of almost $1m, has been the department’s secretary since 2017. During that time, recruitment has plummeted, soldiers have been disgracefully investigated for dubious claims of war crimes, and we learnt recently that our major military projects are delayed by a combined 442 months. He should resign.

6. Office of the Special Investigator (OSI)

This is the outfit established in 2021 to investigate “credible” claims of war crimes by Australian troops. So far, only one soldier has been charged with a criminal offence and recently it was reported the OSI has had to drop another case because of weak evidence. It’s costing $58m a year to run and should be dismantled.

7. High Speed Rail Authority

Japan’s famous bullet train. A very fast train will never happen here because of red tape and bureaucratic madness. Picture: iStock

A very fast train will never happen here because of red tape and bureaucratic madness which has paralysed us from replicating what is happening all over the world. Save us $55m by shutting down the poor High Speed Rail Authority.