Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer. I refer him, though, to the Prime Minister’s comments that there was some sort of calculation of an equivalent rate when he spoke at his press conference today. I take the minister’s advice that the total cost for the whole event and for all guests was paid by the Liberal Party. I ask him: how did he manage to organise such a great deal such that the total cost of alcohol was $6.50 a head? Were you only providing a VB and a pie or in fact did you get a particularly spectacular rate? It seems to any Australian who looks at it that this is a curiously inexpensive function—entertaining 225 people at such a low cost.