Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Myki cards are part of the ticketing system used for travel on Melbourne's public transport system. Myki is a smartcard where monetary amounts or periodical fares, for example, yearly passes, are stored enabling myki holders to use the public transport system. The Transport Ticketing Authority in Melbourne has a 'Commuter Club' scheme which enables myki 365 day (yearly) passes to be purchased corporately offering a 10% discount off the retail price of the pass.

FWA will pay for the purchase of the periodic ticket e.g. yearly ticket and the employee repays the amount to FWA through after-tax deductions from their fortnightly pay over the period of the travel e.g. 12 months for a yearly ticket.

(a) Fair Work Australia provides ongoing employees, and non-ongoing employees with an employment contract of at least 12 months, the opportunity to participate in the transport fares assistance scheme.

(b) The myki cards are used for travel by Melbourne based employees.

(c) (i) Approximately 210 employees in Melbourne were eligible to participate in the transport fares assistance scheme during 2010-11

(ii) FWA purchased 71 myki cards for employees in 2010-11

(d) In the 2010-2011 financial year, the total cost of the myki's cards purchased from the Transport Ticketing Authority was $88,528.05. Noting that this amount is to be repaid by staff over the course of the twelve month (12) period). Each myki purchased contains a 365 day (yearly) pass.