Rees orders review of parking double-up for ministers

THE Premier, Nathan Rees has ordered a review of the car parking arrangements of ministers after Herald revelations that ministers had two car spots - one in Parliament House and one in Governor Macquarie Tower, 500 metres up the road.

The Herald revealed yesterday that the Government was spending $1.4 million a year on 147 parking spaces in Governor Macquarie Tower for government staff and ministers, while all ministers and some staff also had a free car park at Parliament House, which they did not use in non-sitting weeks.

Mr Rees said the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet would look into the matter; he was prepared to have parking handled in a "more efficient way".

"I need to be satisfied taxpayer funds are being spent in the most efficient way and if there's a more efficient way to do it, then we'll do it," he said.

Asked if he was comfortable parking at Parliament House and walking to the tower offices, Mr Rees said: "I'm personally comfortable with that but, as I've said, I've asked the department head to review the arrangements."

The Premier's office insisted yesterday that ministers paid a levy on their Parliament House spots out of their salary (a levy which will rise from $950 to $2000 this year) but said they did not pay the same levy for their spaces in the tower block.

Mr Rees also said he could not move ministers and staff out of their plush offices with harbourside views. "It expires in 2014 . . . to break that lease now would cost in the order of $90 million," he said.