Just give former PMs an Uber account

The Spinoff reports:

The government has been spending around $300,000 per year to provide Crown limousines to former prime ministers and their spouses – even though the service goes mostly unused. 

Former prime ministers and governors-general are entitled to lifetime 24/7 access to chauffeur-driven cars from the Crown fleet for any travel “related to his or her role as a former prime minister”. The perk is managed by the government’s VIP Transport Service, part of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).The government spent a total of $340,646 providing this service in 2025, according to the DIA annual report. That’s despite the 15 eligible former prime ministers, governors-general and their spouses barely using the service. The entire cohort claimed just $10,921 towards land transport, which includes the use of chauffeur-driven cars charged out at an hourly rate.

This is crazy. Only Government would spent $300,000 so they can provide a service that only incurs $10,000 of use.

I’m fine with former PMs and GGs being given access to government funded transport. They often get asked to attend events etc. But you don’t need to have a fleet of limos on 24/7 standby for them. Just give them each an Uber account and you’ll save $290,000.