While most workers in the Parliamentary Triangle brace for the introduction of paid parking, hundreds of top bureaucrats with allocated parking spaces are likely to escape having to pay.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And senior ACT officials have been shielded from the ACT government's decision to increase charges in its public car parks at the beginning of this year by the provision of taxpayer-funded parking spaces or parking allowances.
Most federal government agencies provide dedicated parking spaces for their top executives.
But some members of the Senior Executive Service could still be hit financially by the introduction of paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle if their employer requires them to meet the fringe benefit tax costs generated by keeping a free parking spot.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has 285 parking spaces for Senior Executive Service officers and for long-serving staff.
But a spokesman said staff met the fringe benefit tax costs arising from the use of the parking spaces.
The Department of Defence said it had 93 B-Class designated car spaces in Russell and Anzac Park West.
"This number is based on current entitlement and usage, with SES and star-ranked officer equivalents allocated parking spaces as part of their workplace agreements,'' a Defence spokesman said.
The Department of Finance has 59 restricted car parking bays for staff at the John Gorton Building with B-Class designation, as well as three restricted car parking bays for senior officers.
Treasury declined to comment but has clearly visible designated parking spaces outside its headquarters.
The ACT government supported the federal government's decision to introduce paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle and increased fees in its own Civic car parks in January to $13.50 for an all-day space and $12.50 for four hours.
A spokesman for Chief Minister Katy Gallagher denied her government's provision of free parking to top officials was inconsistent with its policy of promoting public transport use.
"The ACT government promotes the use of public transport to travel to and from work for public servants and actively provides an incentive to the workforce through the government's salary sacrifice scheme for MyWay fares,'' the spokesman said.
Deputy ACT Opposition Leader Alistair Coe - who as an MLA is entitled to free parking outside the Legislative Assembly - accused the ACT government of gouging workers who used public car parks in Civic.
He said the government claimed this would encourage more people to use public transport but less than 10 per cent of Canberrans used ACTION buses.
"If pay parking is going to be introduced … the supply of parking should be increased,'' Mr Coe said.
"Whilst it is easy for politicians with funded vehicles and car parks to tell people to ride a bus, the fact is … cars are a necessary part of the vast majority of Canberrans' lives."