Australian diplomats have come under fire after spending almost $20,000 for a didgeridoo performance to open a promotional sporting event overseas.
The Australian Consulate in Chennai, south-east India, spent the sum to send an Indigenous didgeridoo soloist to the south Asian nation for an event in May celebrating the upcoming Summer of Cricket.
Documents released to the Coalition under Freedom of Information, and seen by the Daily Telegraph, revealed an incredible $19,926 was spent on the performance by internationally renowned musician Ronald Murray.
Mr Murray’s flights, accommodation and travel cost $8,840 while his performance fee, including tax and a travel allowance, came to an astonishing $11,086 – which is understood to have been funded by the taxpayer’s wallet.
The ‘extreme’ expenditure was approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade just five days before the event, which was given a budget of $40,000.
An email from a DFAT official involved in securing Mr Murray’s performance justified his presence as ‘a taste of Australia’s Indigenous culture’.
Attendees were also treated to a physical taste of Australian wines, lamb and pavlova – a meal many taxpayers could only dream of amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Coalition waste spokesman James Stevens slammed the entertainment bill as an ‘extreme amount of money to spend on a brief musical performance’.
The Australian Consulate in Chennai spent almost $20,000 on a performance from Ronald Murray (pictured)
‘There are many ways to showcase Australian culture, but flying someone to India to play the didgeridoo is extravagant and excessive,’ he said.
‘While it is important to showcase Australia’s proud heritage, it can certainly be done in a more affordable way.’
A DFAT spokeswoman argued the spending was necessary to ‘promote and build a better understanding of Australia and Australian Government policies’.
‘Hosting high quality events that draw attendance from diverse, influential stakeholders and showcase Australia as a modern and inclusive society is at the core of diplomacy and advancing Australia’s policies, priorities and interests internationally,’ she said.
Consul-General Silai Zaki shared photos of the luxurious event in May and described it as a ‘great night celebrating’ relations between Australia and India.
‘We brought together senior (Indian) business leaders to discuss business engagement and other opportunities on the sidelines of the cricket in (Australia)!’ she said.
‘Their insights were invaluable. This series will go beyond cricket and foster community and business collaboration!’
Several Indian cricket official attended the event including Roger Binny, the Indian President of Board of Control for Cricket.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted DFAT for further comment.
The news comes just two weeks after Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd was accused of turning the Washington embassy into a ‘party house’.
The former prime minister, who was appointed as ambassador in March 2023, was found to have spent thousands of dollars on parties, butlers and alcohol at the embassy.
The extravagant event in May was to celebrate the upcoming Summer of Cricket
One of Mr Rudd’s most notable expenditures was a $15,340 barbecue, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The documents released by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also revealed $1,100 and $540 invoices for two events held in May: a dinner hosting 20 guests and a cocktail reception for 45 guests.
That same month, the embassy paid just over $2,000 for 12 ‘butlers’ from Nelly’s Professional Staff, who worked four hours each.
Mr Rudd’s office claimed the ambassador’s ‘allowance was actually underspent’ in 2023.
When questioned by the Telegraph on how the events were funded, a spokesman for Mr Rudd only said a separate event – the inaugural ‘Embassy of Australia Awards’ – was paid by sponsors.
The awards black-tie gala was boasted by Mr Rudd as ‘first ever Australian Embassy Gala’, bringing ‘a taste of Australia to Washington DC’.
The event cost almost $300,000 with that sum including a $25,000 pay packet to Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs for her role as MC and $24,000 paid to Creative Artists Agency for a performance from Australian soprano Amy Manford.
Mr Rudd’s office released a statement clarifying his ‘allowance was actually underspent last year’ and defended the pricey gala.
An email from a DFAT official involved in securing Mr Murray’s performance justified his presence as ‘a taste of Australia’s Indigenous culture’
‘The front-page story infers this year’s Australia Day celebration at the new embassy building in Washington showed the embassy ‘splashing out’ taxpayer funds,’ it said.
‘This event could have been paid for by the embassy, as is common for Australia Day events around the world, but it was actually funded by corporate sponsorship arranged by the embassy.’
