Public servants given free week off work over Christmas period

It’s been revealed public sector employees were given a free week off work over the Christmas period while private sector employees had to use accrued annual leave.

A report published by the Herald Sun revealed thousands of workers at the Australian Taxation Office, Department of Social Services , Safe Work Australia and Treasury were paid for having a full three days off work from December 28 to December 30.

News Corp Australia says the ATO’s employees’ days off cost taxpayers an estimated $35 million while the  Social Services department likely added another $3.8 million.

Rebecca Weisser, research associate at the Centre for Independent Studies said taxpayers had a right to be angry.

“They have an expectation that the public service should operate under the same constraints as they do,” she said.

Aaron Lane, Institute of Public Affairs legal fellow, criticised the entitlement, saying the public sector shouldn’t be different to the private, where employees are “expected to draw on their annual leave, or take unpaid leave”.

Other departments which have “Christmas close-down” entitlements include the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Department of Finance.