Public servants encouraged to get on the bus and reduce their travel costs

[Buzz Killington]

ACT Government Media Release

From 1 June 2011 the ACT Government will provide ACT Public Service employees and their families an incentive to get on the bus and reduce their travel costs with plans to provide access to salary packaging for ACTION bus fares outlined in Estimates today by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher MLA.

"I am very pleased to announce this important initiative which will see ACT Public Service employees save up to between $300 and $400 a year on the cost of public transport for travel between home and work," Ms Gallagher said.

"As the second biggest employer in Canberra with a workforce of nearly 20,000 this is a significant commitment to our employees and the community."

"In addition to providing savings to ACT public servants and their families, the introduction of this initiative will also hopefully see greater patronage on our buses which in turn will lessen the carbon footprint of the ACT."

"A commitment to initiate arrangements was made in the ACTPS 2010-2011 enterprise bargaining agreements to introduce salary packaging of public transport costs for ACT Government employees."

"The benefit applies to all public service employees including part-time workers, and also applies to family members for their travel between home and work or school on ACTION buses under a private ruling obtained from the Australian Taxation Office," the Chief Minister concluded.

[p_stampy]

That'd be right... just as I stop work for a bit they bring it in 

[Buzz Killington]

Well, at this stage there has been no mention of the scheme for commonwealth public servants, just those employed by the ACT Government.

[p_stampy]

Ooohh mybad.