March 12 - NSW Government Ministers continue to pay increased rent for some of the most luxurious offices in Sydney while more than 200,000 people are now unemployed in this state, said Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird.

“It is a red flag to workers across NSW who are losing their jobs at the rate of 200 a day, that the Government continues to waste more than $20 million a year renting what is described as the pre-eminent corporate office space in Australia.

“Unfortunately the unemployment figures released today has the NSW unemployment rate up point-three to 5.8 per cent, compared to the national figure of 5.2 per cent.

“Does Nathan Rees really understand the pain being felt by the people now out of work, as he happily sits in one of the most expensive offices in Sydney.

“The Liberal/Nationals are taking a stand, declaring we will not renew the lease.

“If we win Government, we will be looking for much more cost appropriate accommodation.  The millions this will save will instead be spent protecting jobs and frontline services.

“Based on previous information released under Freedom of Information, we know that the Government has been paying an average $773 a square metre for 18 floors in Governor Macquarie Tower.(1)

“That adds up to $16.3 million a year, plus $1.4 million for car parking.

“Latest figures on commercial rents across the CBD confirm the cost to house Government Ministers and their staff in Governor Macquarie Tower will go up by close to 20 per cent in 2009.(2)

“The forecast from the owners of Governor Macquarie Tower is that the rent in 2009 will increase to above $900 a square metre which is 40 per cent higher than some of Australia’s leading corporates.

“This self indulgence has to come to an end.  All this Labor Government does is argue over who will be Premier and then which office space they will all have as evidenced by the recent renovations debacle with new Minister John Robertson.

“What has happened to the notion that Government is there to serve the people?  Where is their plan to protect jobs?” Mr Baird said.

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