Now that’s a commute
Taxpayers footing $300k bill for charities chief’s interstate office travel
TAXPAYERS have forked out almost $300,000 in business class flights, accommodation and other costs so the head of the charities watchdog can continue to live in Brisbane, while his office is based in Melbourne.
Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commissioner Dr Gary Johns, who is already paid $332,000 a year, has been taking almost weekly return flights to and from Melbourne
since he was December 2017.
The cost of his travel, which is mostly business class flights involving trips from Brisbane to Melbourne, has set taxpayers appointed in back $134,413, while he claimed another $63,000 in per diem, accommodation and travel allowances.
A further $102,000 has gone towards covering office accommodation for him in Brisbane in the Australian Taxation Office.
The ACNC has defended the outlay, saying it was part of a “verbal agreement” between Dr Johns and the assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar and part of his condition of employment.
“The arrangement was documented between the Commissioner and the ATO as the ATO manages the Commissioner’s employment arrangements on behalf of the ACNC,” an ACNC spokeswoman said.
She said his travel allowances were consistent with conditions set out by the Remuneration Tribunal.
But Opposition spokesman for charities Andrew Leigh said the Morrison Government was “spending like drunken sailors on unnecessary expenses for one of their mates”.
“In the midst of a recession and a pandemic, the LNP are happy to waste taxpayers’ money by letting Gary Johns head a Melbourne-based organisation while living in Brisbane,” Mr Leigh said.
“Even with a COVID-imposed travel drop-off, the extra cost to the taxpayer now tops $300,000, mostly in business class flights.”
Mr Sukkar, asked if the spending met community expectations and if it was appropriate for the commissioner to live in Brisbane and work in Melbourne, said the position came with travel entitlements.
“It is the Commissioner’s responsibility to ensure all entitlements are used and declared according to the appropriate guidelines,” he said.
Mr Sukkar did not address questions on if the arrangement needed to be looked at again, or if Dr Johns should be required to relocate to Melbourne due to the cost faced by taxpayers.