Census bungling Bureau of Statistics racks up million dollar foreign travel bill

The Australia Bureau of Statistics, which bungled last week’s census, has been spending a million dollars per year on foreign travel for its employees.

That is part of the $2.5 billion the Federal Government spends on flights alone.

The Census fiasco has placed the ABS and its $705,000 a year boss under scrutiny.

Now questions are being asked about how the country’s data collectors manage to spend $1 million per year on international flights.

“The whole idea of overseas travel is to broaden the mind, get new ideas to bring back home,” South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said.

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“I reckon the taxpayers want their money back after the debacle of last week.”

The $1 million figure is part of $2.5 billion the government will spend on flights alone over the next five years.

Senator Xenophon says he believes bureaucrats should be subject to the same rules as politicians and forced to give details of overseas trips at taxpayers expense.

Some international travel is not surprising. 7 News can reveal that by 2021, defence will spend $800m and foreign affairs will spend $153m.

The figures show globetrotting is not just for the high profile departments.

The Department of the Environment will spend $8.2 million on overseas flights, the Electoral Commission $3.8m and Australia’s national auditors will spend $1.2m/

Simon Brehany from the Institute of Public Affairs said technology should provide alternatives to jet-setting.

“I think it’s disappointing bureaucrats are spending so much on international travel in an era of video conferencing, of Skype in an era of telecommunication we’ve never seen previously,” he said.

Last year the Australian Government spent $420m on air travel, up 11 per cent.

Some departments have special requirements, flying prisoners, chemicals and even firearms.

But when bureaucrats themselves travel they forfeit frequent flyer points but get to keep perks such as lounge access.

The ABS says legislation requires the agency to liaise with other countries and international organisations on statistical matters.

For a full list of government air travel, click here.