VW makes some nice cars these days. No longer a producer of cheap and cheerful beetles, the German marque has aspirations to not only rival BMW and Mercedes in the prestige stakes, but to become the planet’s largest car manufacturer by 2015.
Clearly, somebody in the Health Department has a soft spot for European engineering. This nicely maintained 2009 model was spotted yesterday in Launceston, showing all the signs of careful ownership. With just 32,000 kilometres on the clock, it’s virtually brand new. In fact since the start of February, it’s only been driven three times. 8 kilometres in the 8th, 110 on the 11th, and then a short trip to the Star Bar where the driver was enjoying some refreshments this evening. Thanks for leaving the logbook on the passenger seat.
The Golf Pacific in the turbo diesel variant is certainly an enjoyable drive, and clearly preferable to similar sized vehicles from lesser manufacturers. At around $36,000 new, it should be. The pensioners’ favourite (but still Japanese built) Toyota Corolla cost around $12,000 less in 2009, with the frugal and well-warrantied Hyundai Getz one third the sticker price.
Without suggesting our public servants don’t deserve reliable, safe and efficient transport, surely one could question why a hack vehicle for staff at the LGH needs to be a $36K Euro? And this isn’t a salary-sacrifice special, this is a general purpose vehicle. And the bloody thing is leased from a private company.
Our new Treasurer Lara, she of the sudden realisation that the Budget position was tricky, was Health Minister when the shiny silver VW was purchased. Staff at the department that drains most of our State revenue tell me that the humble VW isn’t the only waste of limited funds. Aurions (a bigger, blander Toyota than the Camry) are routinely ordered instead of more cost-effective alternatives. Klugers (a bloated, petrol-guzzling 4WD version of the Camry) are preferred for those difficult trips to the outskirts of our fair Isle. And computers are leased.
In the good times when our Federal friends dished out more GST revenue, perhaps this wouldn’t matter. But in a fiscal environment when a proposed 3 per cent cut in public sector costs sends the union brotherhood to the barricades, then surely it’s fair to question why financial decisions are delegated to public servants whose experience with spending money is limited to buying a plasma television on Harvey Norman style payment plans?
If the public sector can do the job, then one might understand why these matters are handled without private sector involvement. But with 37,000 State employees, plus around 6,000 on the GBE payroll, why is it that basic functions like fleet management and asset procurement go so awry? Should the unions stick to protecting the oft-wailed about `front line services’, and leave commercial matters to the private sector?
Perhaps Lara needs to be considering cuts of 30 per cent, not 3.
It’s Tough at the Top …
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php?/weblog/3m-how-the-labor-elite-rule/
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php/article/tough-at-the-top
His
Hers
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php?/weblog/tough-at-the-top/
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php?/weblog/article/tough-at-the-top-2-outrageous-waste/
http://oldtt.pixelkey.biz/index.php?/article/tough-at-the-top-3/
