Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

the appropriate function costs—that is, the additional marginal costs of holding the function at Kirribilli House—related to food, $2,128.50; beverages, $1,476.52; casual staff, $829.57; and additional hire charges of $752.19, which, I am told, were for heaters and a mobile fridge. That was a total of $5,186.69. There were audiovisual costs, which were billed directly to the Liberal Party—the Liberal Party paid directly for those. I have indicated that the cost of full-time staff was not charged to the party because the staff were there anyway and the cost would have been incurred in the normal running of the house. Any additional staff were casual staff, and the costs were billed to the Liberal Party.

It is always the case that the Prime Minister of the day holds a variety of functions at the official residences—that has long been the practice. In this case, in relation to federal delegates of the Liberal Party and observers to that particular Federal Council meeting in Sydney, the Liberal Party was appropriately billed for all the additional costs that were incurred over and above the normal running costs for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of Kirribilli House—which would have been incurred anyway—and that bill has been paid. It sounds like something of a furphy to suggest there was anything not within the law. I suggest that that is a very long bow for Senator Faulkner to draw in this place, but, to satisfy him, if there is any information on that matter, I will bring it back to him as soon as I can.