Opposition questions Government renovations
The Opposition may have tried in vain to use Senate Estimates Hearings for questions on the AWB kickbacks scandal, but it did get answers about some controversial Government spending measures, like the $25,000 spent replacing the wrong shade of carpet in the Cabinet suite.
Questions were also asked about $52,000 spent sound-proofing the doors to the Prime Minister's office and a $200,000 project to upgrade the Prime Minister's dining room.
[The $200,000 figure is a September 2005 "rough estimate" By late 2006 it was closer to half a million.]PM scraps plan for $540,000 dining room
A Senate estimates committee today heard that the rough estimate for the building work alone had come in at $475,000 - enough to buy a house in most capital cities.
ut late today, a spokesman for Mr Howard said the work would not go ahead.
More than $65,000 has already been spent on architect and consultant fees for the extension, a Senate estimates committee heard today.
Senate President Paul Calvert had 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.
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