Daily Mail - Bill Shorten is accused of hypocrisy for treating bureaucrats to a lavish lunch while urging them to cut back on spending

Bill Shorten is under fire for treating senior bureaucrats to a lavish lunch at one of Canberra's most luxurious hotels - only to urge them to 'stop wasting money'.

Documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveal the Government Services Minister - and his department - forked out more than $40,000 on a one-day leadership forum for senior executives at the ritzy Hyatt Hotel in April.

The vast majority of the money - about $22,500 - was spent on hiring a function room and catering for the event at the glamorous hotel, one of the most exclusive - and expensive - venues in the national capital.

Services Australia's top brass was treated to an opening address from Mr Shorten at the forum, along with a five-star lunch, with fare ranging from chicken baguettes to roast lamb and potatoes.

A further $16,000 was spent on hiring audio-visual equipment for the event on April 30, along with $880 for a 'Welcome to Country' announcement and almost $160 for 'decorations'.

Despite the hefty outlay on the working lunch, Mr Shorten took the opportunity to remind Services Australia executives at the forum that there was 'zero appetite for wasting money'.

'When people are doing it tough, they do not want to see government projects burning their taxpayer dollars,' he said.

'Gone are the days of funnelling money into projects ... and then a bit more ... and a bit more when it's on life support.'

The decision to host the event at such an expensive hotel has since come under fire, with critics accusing Mr Shorten of 'being out of touch' with everyday Australians.  

Opposition Government Services spokesman Paul Fletcher described the leadership forum as an appalling waste of taxpayer money, particularly in the midst of a national cost-of-living crisis. 

'Families are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table and will rightly be shocked that Bill Shorten and his senior public servants are indulging themselves with this lavish offsite event, enjoying banana cake and roast lamb,' Mr Fletcher said. 

'Services Australia, which has responsibility for Centrelink, should be making life easier for Australians. 

'But instead, this crucial agency has consistently presided over skyrocketing call wait times and unacceptably high payment processing times. 

'Bill Shorten needs to get back to basics by improving Services Australia’s performance. 

'This means prioritising customer service and stop wasting money on pointless events. Australians deserve better.'

Mr Shorten's office redirected Daily Mail Australia's approach for comment to Services Australia. 

A spokeswoman said that the event was  newly appointed chief executive David Hazlehurst’s first opportunity to meet with the entire senior leadership team in person and discuss priorities and expectations for the next 12 months.

'This forum was a full-day leadership event, attended by 169 local and interstate senior executive service staff,' a spokeswoman said.

'The agency selected the venue as it best met logistical, facility, availability and value for money requirements.'

Author: Steve Jackson

This article appeared in Daily Mail Australia on 12 August 2024