New information released today shows that the Government is cutting down ministerial travel costs.
The information has been released publicly online at http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/rti/disclosure_log, and shows that from the period 1 January to 18 November 2015, the Liberal Government has slashed over $122,000 from ministerial travel expenses.
In its last year in power, the Labor-Green Government spent $297,841 on ministerial travel (between 1/4/2013 and 31/3/2014).
From 1 January 2015 to 18 November 2015 the Government spent around $175,000 on travel expenses.
Ministerial travel is just one area where the Government has made savings to cut a massive $108 million from supplies and consumables in 2014-15 alone. That’s money that can now be reinvested in frontline services like health, education and supporting the vulnerable.
I am also pleased to announce that today is the last time that such information will only be released in response to an RTI request, or in response to questions in Parliament.
From now on this and other information will be released online every six months, in April and October of each year.
This will mean every six months Tasmanians will be able to view updated information online on departmental and ministerial information, including Ministerial travel and entertainment expenses, employment and workforce statistics, expenditure on telecommunications and mobile devices, and other Government associated expenditure.
The Government understands that the community rightly expects transparency with the expenditure of taxpayer money. This latest measure is all part of the Government’s commitment to increased accountability and transparency.