Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 22 February 2011:

In respect of the media report 'A rails run on the champers' (Daily Telegraph, 30 November 2010, page 16), is it a fact that chef Mr Tony Bilson was contracted to work at an event held by the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh; if so, (a) on what date and for what purpose was this event held, (b) what sum of money was Mr Bilson paid for his services at this event, (c) did the Government pay for Mr Bilson's airfares and accommodation; if so, what was their combined cost, and (d) what was the total cost to the Government for this event.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

No. (a) The High Commission has not held any event involving Mr Bilson, (b) nil, (c) no, and (d) nil.