Public servants told to BYO tea and coffee to cut costs

PUBLIC servants have been ordered to bring their own tea and coffee to work and to drive instead of fly on trips as the Queensland Government tries to save $100 million in the next six weeks.

In other money-saving crackdowns, indoor plants will be removed from some departments and catering budgets cut to stop the serving of food such as sandwiches at meetings.

A Queensland Government spokesman confirmed that "all departments were looking for savings" as a first step towards winding back Queensland's $85 billion debt.

The Courier-Mail understands that directors-general will be held accountable if the cost savings are not achieved. Some immediate changes have been ordered by June 30.

The cuppa is one of the first casualties. There has been confusion about public servants' use of tea at taxpayers' expense but some departments, including Transport and Main Roads, have cracked down.

It is understood catering for meetings and functions has been pared back to tea, coffee and orange juice.

Emails sighted by The Courier-Mail reveal confusion among public servants, with one manager writing: "Some are questioning why one section has to pay for it when another work unit is not and getting their supplies via supermarket."

Premier Campbell Newman's spokeswoman said every minister had been directed to spend taxpayers' money wisely but the Liberal National Party did not have a "tea and bikkie police" and was not "looking to try and get blood out of a stone".

Another spokesman confirmed plants were among the budget cutbacks.

Since taking office, hundreds of plants have been removed from government buildings, and the state's own nursery GoPlants also faces an uncertain future.

"Overall last financial year the total government spend on plants (to GoPlants) was $909,725," the Government spokesman said.

Private suppliers who compete with GoPlants for government contracts have had orders slashed by as much as half.

Peter Dolley from IEQ Indoor Plants said he did not believe running a nursery was the role of the Government and more savings could be made using private enterprise.

He also raised concerns about the removal of plants, saying studies had shown indoor plants could increase productivity by 12 per cent.

Since seizing power with a huge majority on March 24, the LNP has also cracked down on air travel for public servants, slashing travel budgets by 20 per cent. Non-essential advertising has been axed.

Public servants who revealed the extent of the cost cutting said they were concerned about the effect on small businesses and regional communities.

Late yesterday Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie introduced a Bill to amend the Industrial Relations Act.

The amendments require the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to give consideration to economic conditions when determining wages.

Tabling the Bill, Mr Bleijie said the legislation would ensure Queensland had a public service it could afford.

The changes would also give the Attorney-General overriding power to terminate industrial action.