Federal Department of Education officials have apologized to Australian taxpayers after spending thousands of dollars on work trips and meetings at five-star restaurants.
Department Secretary Tony Cook admitted his team “let taxpayers down” after it was revealed education officials racked up a $290,000 hospitality and travel bill last year.
This included a $1,543 dinner in Mezzaluna Restaurant in Sydneya $1,209 bill at Courgette restaurant in Canberra and a $3,000 meeting at Mabu Mabu in Melbourne.
Department of Education Secretary Tony Cook admitted his team “let taxpayers down” after it was revealed officials racked up a $290,000 hospitality and travel bill last year (pictured Mabu Mabu in Melbourne , where officials held a meeting that cost $3,000).
This included a $1,543 dinner at Mezzaluna restaurant in Sydney, a $1,209 bill at Courgette restaurant (pictured) in Canberra and a $3,000 meeting at Mabu Mabu in Melbourne.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said the department’s use of taxpayer funds was “appalling”.
‘How can you run a department that allows this kind of blatant waste of taxpayers’ money?’ Senator Henderson asked.
“Senator, again, I think we’ve let the taxpayers down and if you look at the variety of those restaurants and the numbers, I think some of them were less than $40 a head,” Mr. Cook explained.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said the department’s use of taxpayer funds was “appalling”.
In the first six months of last year, the Department of Education spent a total of $172,691 on events and catering, and another $118,404 on lodging and travel expenses, according to budget documents.
After media reports about the department’s lavish spending emerged in January, Cook said he was “personally” drawn to raise the issue by Education Minister Jason Clare.
He said the department revised its hospitality policy a week later, setting a maximum limit of $77 per person for dining.
“This is just a complete waste of taxpayer money,” exclaimed Senator Henderson.
‘Holding a meeting should take place in a meeting room with a cup of tea and a biscuit, do you agree?
Cook repeated that his department had “let the taxpayer down” in what they expected from public servants.
“It shouldn’t have happened, we shouldn’t have used taxpayers’ money on that kind of expense,” he said.