Ex-Premiers Unhappy Over Cuts

Former premiers expressed their dissatisfaction over the announcement that the government is cutting the entitlements given to them. Yesterday, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said retired premiers will receive fewer entitlements starting June. 

Nick Greiner is the first to voice out his objection over the said move despite being a key adviser of the O’Farrell government. A source close to Greiner does not want to give up his Macquarie Street office. The plan was to move his office to a cheaper one. 

A spokesman of O’Farrell explained that while Greiner is staying in his current office, the former premier is now mandated to reimburse the excess costs to the Department of Premier and Cabinet. These costs represent the amount spent over and above what was spend for the offices of Bob Carr and Neville Wran. 

According to documents, Greiner is renting a 209.8-metre square office for an annual cost of $136,101.72. Carr’s office costs taxpayers $96,102.69. 

More than $160,000 was also spent to pay for electricity, car parking and cleaning of Greiner’s office. Add to this an additional $213,593.63 for his staff salary. 

Greiner also charged $5,223.86 for domestic airfares last year. 

O’Farrell said the cutback on retired premiers’ entitlement is the government’s way of saving taxpayers’ money. He said that in 2010 and 2011, about $1.6 million were spent to fund these privileges. With the cutback, the government is expected to save as much as $500,000 annually. 

O’Farrell explained that retired premiers should also contribute to the government’s move to save money and agreeing to the cutbacks would greatly help.