Is this CORRUPTION or Negligence ? ...either way – guess who's paying?

Dateline: January 2009.




Facts:
A Senior Federal Government Public Servant is posted to the UK. This posting involves him and his family flying Business Class with QANTAS to the UK. With him goes approx. 14 pieces of luggage. Total baggage weight, approx. 270kgs.
Allowances: Normal (QANTAS Club) Business Class travellers would have an allowance of 40kgs each (80kg for him and his wife). This leaves a TAXPAYER FUNDED EXCESS BAGGAGE bill of some 190kgs at $48/kg = $9,120.
If this EXCESS BAGAGE had been dispatched as “Unaccompanied Baggage” the bill would have been around $1,045 (at $5.50/kg).




QUESTIONS:
Why does the Taxpayer have to continually endure such inefficiencies ? or cough up an additional $8,075? Was this unlawful activity on the part of the Senior Public Servant ? or mere negligence on the part of the Department ?
Either way – Why does the Taxpayer need to fund $8,075 ? Isn’t there some Current Financial Crisis atm (at the moment)?






....but this story has an important (and unrelated) sequel ....... which cannot be revealled at present.....