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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21769352-2,00.html
PM spits out $540,000 dinner bill
By Maria Hawthorne May 21, 2007 05:49pm
* Plans for room fitting up to 20 diners
* Building work estimated to cost $475,000
* MPs said no need for costly work at suite
PRIME Minister John Howard has scrapped plans for a $540,000 extension to a private dining room in his Parliament House suite.
Officials in Mr Howard's department had been considering knocking down a wall to create a larger dining room capable of hosting dinners for up to 20 people.
Mr Howard's wife Janette was involved in the meeting at which the plan was first discussed.
A Senate estimates committee was told today that the rough estimate for the building work alone had come in at $475,000 - enough to buy a house in most capital cities.
But late today, a spokesman for Mr Howard said the work would not go ahead.
"There was a proposal to increase the size of the area but the Government has decided not to proceed," a spokesman for Mr Howard said.
More than $65,000 has already been spent on architect and consultant fees for the extension, the committee was told today.
And the architect drawing up the plans recommended spending $200,000 on new furniture for the enlarged room - a proposal Mr Howard's office immediately rejected.
Labor senators spent an hour trying to get the projected cost of the extension out of public servants at today's hearing.
Senate President Paul Calvert refused to table the document outlining the estimated cost, accusing Labor senators John Faulkner and Penny Wong of wanting to make a "cheap headline".
"There's nothing cheap about this headline, I'll tell you. This is $475,000 plus consultants' fees of $65,000, plus the furniture and refurbishment. That's no cheap headline Senator Calvert," Senator Faulkner said.
"Four hundred and seventy five thousand dollars, not including the furniture, not including the fit-out, and not including any of the consultants' or architects' fees. Four hundred and seventy five thousand dollars, and of course the Prime Minister would want it covered up.
"It is the cost of a house, of course it is. This is just outrageous."
The alterations were costed at $205,000 in September 2005 but by late last year, the rough estimate had gone up to $475,000, Department of Parliamentary Services deputy secretary David Kenny said. |
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