NSW premiers' entitlements stripped back

20 May 2012, 2:36 pm   -   Source: AAP

Premier Barry O'Farrell says from next month long-serving premiers will enjoy their retirement in a little less style.

Retired NSW premiers are about to get less of the generous life entitlements they have previously enjoyed including free air travel, office staff and access to cars and drivers.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says the changes, coming into effect from next month, will save taxpayers more than $500,000 dollars a year.

They come after a review found NSW had the most generous entitlements scheme of all the states.

Mr O'Farrell announced on Sunday that premiers who hold office for five years or more will get entitlements for just 12 months after retiring.

Other former premiers will also have their entitlements stripped back, as will deputy premiers.

Former long-serving premiers Neville Wran ($602,785 per annum), Nick Greiner ($588,533 per annum) and Bob Carr (suspended entitlements of $418,480 per annum) will all be affected by the reforms, Mr O'Farrell said in a statement.

"We went to the election with a commitment to cut costs," he said.

"It's only fair former premiers do their bit.

"Long-serving premiers in NSW have until now been given lifelong entitlements, but it's time that practice ended."

Long-serving premiers are currently entitled to a full-time car driver, air travel and office suites with services and two full-time staff.

In future, air travel will be cut, staff will be reduced to one and provision of cars and drivers will be reduced.

Taxpayers funded entitlements to the tune of $1.6 million in 2010/11.

This would fall to $1.1 million once the reforms were introduced, Mr O'Farrell said.

The opposition said it supported Mr O'Farrell's move to cap the entitlements of former premiers.

Labor's leader in the upper house, Luke Foley, welcomed the proposal.

"I welcome the report. I have no difficulty with what is being recommended," Mr Foley told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

"I think that the community would expect that long-serving political leaders, once-retired, fund most of their expenses out of their own pocket rather than through public subsidies."

Mr Foley said the report had revealed there are many trappings of office enjoyed by former premiers that just did not bear scrutiny.

"The public would expect that in difficult times these perks are reined in," he said.

"The Labor opposition is happy to endorse that."

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