Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 8069 |
| Work Detail | DESPITE decades of the internet, Australian politicians are still spending thousands on faxes, while most people have moved into communicating through 21st century technology. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott resigned by fax in September 2015, and the latest entitlements report shows the antiquated systems are surprisingly popular with just two NSW-based federal politicians not charging taxpayers for faxes. For the non-tech heads in Canberra it’s possible to spend $770 on faxes in six months, with some billing more than a quarter of all their telecommunications costs over a fax line. Even former minister for innovation Wyatt Roy and future-focused Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull charged voters for fax line rental and use in 2015. Maybe all these fax numbers are given to voters that politicians doesn’t like very much. Thankfully federal Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher moved away from messages sent by modems built in 1993. Mr Fletcher and Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek were the only NSW-based federal politicians to use an e-fax system that costs taxpayers nothing in the six months to December 2015. Mr Fletcher said his office receives about 300 emails a day, and just one fax a fortnight. “In February 2016, I made the decision to move from a fax service to an e-fax service,” he said. “Quite a few constituents still write letters — but the number of faxes has dropped right off. These usually seem to come from small businesses, newsagents and the like.” The FaxStream service used by Mr Fletcher can send “fast” facsimile transmissions of “high quality” to many fax numbers. Halting the popularity the modern FaxStream service is the fact that it is not covered by politicians entitlements, so senators and MPs are personally responsible for meeting the costs of the FaxStream service. Newly-elected Berowra MP Julian Leeser said he is setting up his office to save taxpayers money where possible. “We are looking at an eFax service that will be both cost efficient and maintain a fax service for local residents,” he said. A Department of Finance spokesman said it does not comment on the use of work expenses by individual senators and members. The fax machine peaked in use from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, but sending an image over a wire predates the invention of the telephone and was used in Europe in the 1860s. |
| Country | Australia , Australia and New Zealand |
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/hornsby-advocate/australian-politicians-entitlements-and-expenses-used-to-pay-for-fax-machines/news-story/b645c74c48954a98f7e0b5e48aa72d35?nk=9f9be5323d697e167253533b947dee28-1473306195 |
