Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has been accused of turning the US embassy into a “party house” following revelations of his spending.
The former prime minister, who was appointed ambassador in March 2023, has spent thousands of dollars on parties, butlers and alcohol at the embassy.
One of Mr Rudd’s most notable expenditures was a $15,340 barbecue that was the subject of several emails between September last year and April this year.
Discussions revolved around whether the barbecue would need to be modified to fit embassy workplace health and safety measures before it is installed in June this year.
“Is it possible to visually confirm that the shop drawings match the system as built, i.e. that there is no risk of activating the sprinkler over the barbecue saturating the Eddie Mabo room?” one email read. The Telegraph newspaper reported.
Adding to this is concern that the embassy received hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate sponsorships for a “series of events.”
Documents released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also revealed invoices for $1,100 and $540 for two events held in May: a dinner for 20 guests and a cocktail reception for 45 guests.
That same month, the embassy paid just over $2,000 for 12 of Nelly’s professional staff “butlers,” who worked four hours each.
Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has been criticised for spending excessively to turn the embassy into a “party house”
Mr Rudd (pictured at his $23,000 Pride party) was appointed ambassador in March 2023.
Another invoice detailed an overspend of $584 on 35 bottles of alcohol, including bottles of Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay, Penfolds Max’s Shiraz Cabernet and Jansz Brut Cuvee.
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus attended two of the embassy’s luxury events – a one-on-one meeting with Mr Rudd and an afternoon tea, which cost $1,764.
Asked by the Telegraph about how the events were funded, a spokesman for Mr Rudd would say only that a separate event – the inaugural Australian Embassy Awards – was paid for by sponsors.
Mr Rudd promoted the awards gala as “the first Australian Embassy gala” and that it brought “a bit of Australia to Washington DC”.
The event cost almost $300,000 and that sum includes a $25,000 payment to Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs for her role as MC, and $24,000 paid to Creative Artists Agency for a performance by Australian soprano Amy Manford.
DFAT said the cost of the event was funded by an embassy sponsorship fund.
The department said the embassy had received US$775,000 in sponsorship funds for “a series of events to commemorate the opening of the new embassy.”
Opposition spokesman James Stevens told the outlet: ‘Kevin Rudd is having a great time in Washington, turning the Australian embassy into a party house.
‘From Pride parties to glitzy gala dinners, Rudd’s reputation for indulging in fun and frivolity is well and truly intact.’
The nearly $300,000 gala awards gala held at the embassy was billed by Mr Rudd (pictured) as “the first Australian embassy gala” and brought “a bit of Australia to Washington DC”.
Another expensive event hosted by Mr Rudd was a $23,000 Pride party at his White Oaks residence, which featured two drag queens, balloons and catering.
DFAT said the Australian Embassy had been used for “public diplomacy events” under “all ambassadors” to “promote and build a better understanding of Australia and Australian government policies in the US.”
“Hosting events that attract diverse and influential stakeholders is a fundamental part of diplomacy and advancing Australia’s policies, priorities and interests,” the spokesperson said.