Australian government spends too much on koala cuddling, says Labor

Diplomacy may be an expensive business but the $400,000 cost racked up by the Australian government for foreign diplomats to cuddle koalas and other marsupials is too hefty, the opposition has said.

The $400,000 price tag is one of the examples of so-called government waste highlighted in Labor’s “Waste-pedia” booklet and Waste Watch website, launched on Thursday.

The booklet says foreign minister Julie Bishop’s marsupial-related costs included $133,000 to fly four koalas to Singapore zoo, a $62,500-a-day tour of Kangaroo Island with foreign diplomats, and $150,000 for a diplomatic trip to Western Australia “where they hugged wombats for a change”.

Opposition waste spokesperson Pat Conroy said, “Tony Abbott is no stranger to this – he spent $24,000 so Vladimir Putin could hug a koala at the G20. He was talking about shirt-fronting Putin but in the end he spent $24,000 to let him hug a koala.”

The waste booklet also cites the $66m cost of the 2014 G20 in Brisbane, which included $9.6m in building upgrades; $2.2m on accommodation (twice the original budgeted amount); and $31,000 spent on coffee.

“International diplomacy has a role and soft power is very important, but you’ve to get the balance right. Sometimes this government goes over the top because they don’t care about the money,” Conroy said.

“Government spending is not in itself bad, but it must be remembered at all times its taxpayers’ money, not politicians’ money being spent.”

Other examples cited by Conroy included $79,000 spent on media training for executives of the Australian Border Force, and the attorney general, George Brandis, spending $16,000 on bookshelves and taking a $6,000 water taxi ride through Venice.

The Immigration Department has responded that media awareness training is common across the public service. Brandis has defended the water taxi ride by saying his travel arrangements were organised by the Australian embassy in Italy, and he and his staff did not request the water taxi.

Julie Bishop has defended the cost of diplomatic corp trips by saying they are a longstanding practice supported by both sides of government and the cost of the WA trip was comparable to trips under the Labor government.

The booklet also features Bronwyn Bishop’s $5,200 bill for a chartered helicopter flight to attend a Liberal party fundraiser, which triggered her resignation as Speaker.

“Some are examples of large expenditure, some small. But through it all it’s obvious these Liberals are more concerned about living the high life than they are [about] tightening their own belts,” Conroy said.

He said the Waste Watch website allowed members of the public to dob in further examples of so-called waste for him to investigate.

The foreign minister’s office has been contacted for comment.