Minister Bignell’s use of a chauffeur car service to take him to the AFL Grand Final instead of walking 1.4 kilometres is another example of an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today.
“Similarly, taxpayers will be furious at Mr Bignell on another Melbourne trip spending $255 on chauffeured cars to take him three times on the two kilometre trip between the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Crown Casino/Towers complex,” said Mr Lucas.
“This bill included an extra $65 waiting charge as the chauffeured car had to wait an extra hour for Mr Bignell to leave the Crown Casino/Towers complex at midnight. This two kilometre trip can be walked in about 20 minutes, and the cost of a taxi is estimated to be about $8-$9.
“It is interesting to note that every weekend AFL fans walk just over one kilometre from Rundle Mall to the Adelaide Oval without having to pay $75 for a limousine to drive them!
“Perhaps Mr Bignell as Minister for Recreation and Sport should follow his own advice he gave everyone on 16 March 2015:
‘….the Australian Masters Games…highlights the benefits of remaining active no matter your age, and encourages people to be more active, more often.’”
Mr Bignell’s widely-criticised spending includes:
• More than $150,000 on overseas trips in a single year;
• $426 for a limousine service to take him to the NRL Grand Final and wait for him; and,
• $100 for a bottle of Argentinian red wine for a dinner with his Ministerial staffer.
“Struggling South Australian families coping with massive slugs in ESL and cuts to critical health services such as the closure of the Repat Hospital will be furious at what they see as the warped priorities of Mr Bignell and the Weatherill Government.”