Public service bonus: Who got $1250 pre-election spend

Public servants across more than 50 state government entities, departments and agencies have pocketed $1250 bonuses in a massive cash splash that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. See who got what. SEARCH THE INTERACTIVE LIST

Public servants across more than 50 state government entities, departments and agencies pocketed $1250 bonuses in a massive cash splash that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Analysis of annual reports have revealed for the first time where the bulk of the bonuses have been paid, with more than $260 million paid out to all eligible employees across the government.

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There were at least 52 entities or departments across the government where public servants were given the payments, which were unveiled last year in a bid to encourage workers to sign up to pay agreements.

Workers in the Education Department received one of the biggest shares of the bonuses, with $86.8 million paid to over 69,000 employees, including teachers, cleaners, ground staff and teacher aides.

Public servants and workers across more than 50 government entities, agencies and departments were paid the one-off payment. iStock image.

There were $527,849 worth of bonuses paid out in the Department of Premier and Cabinet as well as more than $7.8 million within the Transport and Main Roads Department.

Workers in a number of other agencies were also given the one-off payments, with $106,138 paid in Tourism and Events Queensland, $54,755 at the Office of the Governor and $160,621 at Stadiums Queensland.

There was $3.5 million in bonuses paid at the Department of Environment and Science as well as $1.09 million at Queensland Treasury and $4.1 million at the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

At Tafe Queensland, 1,828 full time equivalent employees were paid $2.28 million worth of bonuses, while over $80,000 in payments were given to staff at the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

A government spokesman defended the payments, saying they achieved their objective of providing greater incentive for agreements to be reached.

He also pointed to figures released earlier in the year that showed about 210,000 full time equivalent employees were paid the bonus, meaning more than $260 million was spent on the payments.

“The number of payments was publicly released earlier this year,” he said.

“Only Labor will support frontline workers in Queensland.”

It remains unknown how many bonuses were paid across Queensland Health, with the spokesman saying the COVID response had delayed the preparation of some hospital and health service annual reports.

“They will be tabled as soon as possible after they are completed,” he said.

All of the payments were one off and taxable.

Originally published as Public service bonus: Who got $1250 pre-election spend