news Transport options for public servants in NSW will now include ride-sharing services, as part of the state government’s push to reduce overall travel expenditure.
Making the announcement on 4 March, Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Dominic Perrottet, said employees at the state’s Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI) will be first to be able to take up the new travel option.
DFSI employees who are required to travel as part of their work duties in NSW will now be able to choose the “most suitable and best value” transport option from taxi, ride-sharing and public transport services, Perrottet said in a staement.
The announcement follows the state’s decision to legalise services like UberX and GoCar in December last year, as part of reforms that are aimed to bring regulations up to date and provide more choice for consumers.
The minister said there was “no reason” the potential benefits of ride-sharing couldn’t be extended to government staff, including the possible cost savings.
“Governments shouldn’t be shackled to legacy systems and processes – we should move with the times and take advantage of what the collaborative economy has to offer,” Perrottet said.
“Sometimes public servants need to get around quickly and conveniently in the course of their work, but last financial year the NSW Government spent more than $8 million on taxis alone,” he said.
If adding ride-sharing to the transport options for public servants means saving taxpayers money, the option should be explored, he added.
The government said it will assess whether the ride-sharing should be extended to other state government agencies in “the coming months”.
Image credit: stilltheone1, Creative Commons
Uber would need to start offering corporate accounts, no way would a manager put his corporate credit card into your personal Uber account. Plus, it’s hard to beat the convenience of handing out a CabCharge voucher for a one-off taxi ride.
This isn’t a roadblock
Either open an Uber account dedicated to your work travel or make receipted expense claims for duty journeys.
What about bicycles where appropriate? I used to work for an employer who paid a small amount per km for work related travel using your own bicycle. That would save even more than Uber or Public Transport when compared to Taxis.
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