Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has been criticised for flaunting his “party propensity” after hosting a more lavish – and expensive – Pride gala than the last.
Last year, Rudd, 66, hosted an extravagant “pride party” at his White Oaks residence in Washington, which cost more than $23,000 and sparked accusations that he had turned the Australian embassy into a “party house”.
But it has now been revealed that this year’s party, held on June 13, had an entertainment budget that exceeded $64,000.
Australia splashed out on a $3,500 Eurovision show featuring drag queens Kitty Glitter and Crystal Edge, and racked up a canapé bill of nearly $20,000.
The catering team provided a menu of bite-sized Aussie classics including ‘mini chicken parmigiana’, ‘mini BLTs’ and ‘honey mint lamb bites’ over two and a half hours for 200 guests before the ‘stuffed lambs’ arrived for dessert.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was also billed $6,000 for a representation of Australian beer, wine and spirits.
Attendees were offered selected beers from Bent Spoke and Coopers, Yalumba Sauvignon Blanc and Tasmanian Jansz Brut Cuvée.
A balloon arch, a photographer to document the event, a photo booth and magnets were billed for almost $3,900.
Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd is seen at the Australian Embassy’s ‘party house’ in June this year at their Pride celebration.
Mr Rudd (pictured at his 2023 Pride party) spent more than $64,000 on the 2024 gala
South Australian electro-soul duo Electric Fields performed for $10,000 and are fresh from this year’s Eurovision song contest as they continue their US tour.
Then, cleaning company Facilities Partners and Solutions, a “diverse, LGBTQ, veteran-owned facility partner,” arrived “after hours” to clean the Embassy atrium.
Stage, sound and lighting technicians were reported to have cost a total of $21,000 for the event and hotel rooms for guests cost $2,700.
The federal opposition obtained the costs under freedom of information laws, which were later obtained by Daily Mail Australia.
Federal opposition MP James Stevens said Rudd, a historically hardliner, had become lax in the United States.
“There are many important aspects of the ambassador’s role, but all we seem to hear is Dr Rudd’s tendency to party,” he told the The Telegraph newspaper.
‘Anthony Albanese must explain why he thinks it is appropriate for his ambassador to spend our money in this way, when ordinary Australians are suffering under Labor’s long and painful cost of living crisis.’
Drag DJ Kitty Glitter and performer Crystal Edge performed at the lavish Pride gala
MP James Stevens said Rudd has a “propensity for partying” and questioned his spending
The diplomatic gala served as a bridge between the World Pride celebrations in Australia and the event taking place next year in Washington.
DFAT premeditated the publication of Dr Rudd’s invoices, saying Australian embassies and diplomats “regularly” host functions for diverse and influential stakeholders.
“Celebrating Pride Month has been an integral part of the Australian Embassy’s public diplomacy in Washington DC since 2017,” the department said.
A key element of this has been the hosting of a Pride Reception which began in 2021 at the Deputy Chief of Mission Residence and has grown in size and stature since then.
‘In 2024, the Embassy’s Pride event, again hosted by the Deputy Chief of Mission, was deliberately designed to mark the handover of WorldPride from Sydney to next year’s WorldPride host, Washington DC, and included hundreds of guests from Congress and across government, the media and the private sector.’
The Australian ambassador has already faced criticism for purchasing a $15,000 barbecue and spending money on parties, butlers and alcohol at the embassy.
However, Mr Rudd’s spending was still under budget in 2023, with several costs covered by corporate sponsorships.
The former Australian prime minister said in a statement that his spending represented a “25 percent reduction” from the amount spent before the pandemic.
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