Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, I have launched the 'Taxpayer's guide to Liberal waste' booklet, which outlines some of the most egregious examples of waste from this government, a government addicted to waste and spin. The government was happy for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to spend $400,000 on koala and other marsupial related events. Just imagine—$400,000 on hugging koalas. There has also been one-quarter of a billion dollars wasted on advertising. There has been $170 million wasted on unused office space. The Treasurer, when he was the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, spent $330,000 to construct a media room, where he spent $800 on a doorknob. The Prime Minister spent $700,000 to rebrand the nbn co—and what did the rebrand involved? Removing the 'co'. That is $350,000 for each letter. I could go on and on about the waste from this government. Senator Brandis spent $6,000 on a water taxi in Venice, $16,000 on a bookshelf and $1,200 on a slap-up dinner for four in London, including $400 on vintage wines—incredible.

The government will go to the election with an appalling record on misusing taxpayers' money. They will stand condemned for the contempt they have for taxpayers.