The rorts never end do they.
In estimates I quizzed Air Services staff on why they are claiming such extravagant expenses on overseas holidays and meals.
Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund fact finding missions overseas when it’s the software provider who stands to profit.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
29/05/2024
Estimates
INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS PORTFOLIO
Airservices Australia
Senator RENNICK: I’ve got some executive remuneration here, Mr Curran. I think you said you were on half a million dollars. Why do you need to claim your expenses for going out to a dinner in a foreign country? Surely when you’re paid that much money you should be able to pay your own way for extracurricular activities, shouldn’t you? It’s taking the mickey out of the taxpayer when you’re paid such a large amount of money to then turn around and be claiming—I’ve got the expense account here—thousands of dollars being spent on meals. It’s a bit rich, don’t you think? There’s one here for QT Canberra: executive workshop dinner for ASA executives at Capitol Bar & Grill for $893. Can’t you guys pay your own way? I’m looking at the salaries here for people of $870,000, $500,000, $443,000, $470,000, $448,000, $401,000, $397,000, $333,000. I’ll note that’s the Chief People and Culture Officer. So that’s a lazy $333 grand for culture. Can’t you pay for your own meals?
Mr Harfield : Part of the organisation process is that travelling and having forums like that is that we’re able to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses as part of the running of the organisation. For example, we were overseas, and some of those things are that I’m there with other members of staff and then we have go out and I pay on behalf of the organisation, so they don’t get travelling allowance when that occurs.
Senator RENNICK: Why are you going overseas? Given that you’re an expert—presumably, because of the amount you’re paid—why are you going overseas? I’m just looking at the meal claims here. I hate to think how much the flights and accommodation were.
Mr Harfield : That trip to Frankfurt and Leipzig was looking at our new digital aerodrome service that we’re putting into Western Sydney and we’re establishing in Canberra. And that’s where the operations are occurring with Frequentis, who is the supplier. The mention there for the accommodation in Paris was that I was visiting Thales, who is the major supplier of our new air traffic control system. That was the reason for the trip.
Senator RENNICK: Are they software providers?
Mr Harfield : Correct, and hardware providers.
Senator RENNICK: If they’re trying to sell you the software, why can’t they incur the costs for them to fly here rather than you fly over there? Why don’t they fly here at their expense, not the taxpayer expense, because I assume you’re going to end up signing a deal to spend more taxpayers’ dollars with these guys? Why don’t they pay?
Mr Harfield : They were already in contract and as a part of our site acceptance testing, and that’s where some of the things are provided from. Also, on that particular trip, I was already in Europe on holiday where I had paid for the airfare and all that and I was coming off the back-end of holidays to make sure I visited, because we had teams in Paris as well as in Leipzig, and I went and joined them on the way through. Because I was already in Europe, the airfare was completely at my expense. The organisation didn’t pay for it.
Senator RENNICK: What about the other staff? They got paid to fly over there, did they?
Mr Harfield : Yes, these are our air traffic control, our subject matter experts, and all that sort of stuff in accepting the technology to bring back here as part of the contract.
Senator RENNICK: I would have thought that as part of the contract they incur the costs of providing the contract. That looks to me like we’re paying over and above for an overseas holiday.
Mr Harfield : That is the not the case and for probative reasons, there are contractual arrangements to be brought in. But we also, for certification purposes, need to send our own team to check, and you don’t want the supplier paying for the people that are checking their work.
Senator RENNICK: Right.
