Canberra public servants could soon have a bike and bus pass included in their salary package under a new plan the ACT Government has given approval for in principle.
The Government has agreed to a recommendation from the Legislative Assembly's public accounts committee after an inquiry into the territory's annual and financial reports for 2007-08.
The committee recommended ''that the Commissioner for Public Administration explores the feasibility of the inclusion of more environmentally friendly transport items, such as bicycles and bus tickets, as approved salary packaging menu tickets for ACT Public Service employees''.
In its formal response published this month to the committee's recommendations, the ACT Government agreed to this proposal provided the Australian Taxation Office approved it.
The ACT Greens have welcomed the Government's support for the proposal, which they believed was an important step towards ''greening'' the public service.
''It's a good innovative look at how we can provide incentives for people to maybe make that choice or change the way their mode of transport,'' Greens leader Meredith Hunter said yesterday.
''It does provide that incentive because the proposal is that bikes and bus tickets would be part of the salary packaging and would be tax-deductible.''
ACT Ride To Work Day organiser Leon Arundell, from cycling lobby group Pedal Power ACT, welcomed the proposal, and urged all employers to consider similar schemes.
''That would be a very good thing because there are so many different benefits from riding to work instead of driving a car,'' he said.
''I think it's something every employer should be looking at because of the health benefits to workers.''
Ms Hunter said she hoped the proposed new salary package options would be extended to more employees as bicycles and bus passes would cost less.
''Because it is cheaper it should be available to more than the executive or those who are in upper management positions,'' Ms Hunter said.
ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell said in a statement last night that the proposal would have environmental benefits.
''The ACT Government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our city, and this is one possible way of getting people out of cars and onto more environmentally friendly transport options.''