’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd has been accused of turning the Washington embassy into a ‘party house’ as his expenses are revealed.
The former prime minister, who was appointed as ambassador in March 2023, has spent thousands of dollars on parties, butlers and alcohol at the embassy.
One of Mr Rudd’s most notable expenditures was a $15,340 barbecue which was the subject of several emails between September last year and April this year.
The conversations concerned whether the barbecue would need to be modified to fit the embassy’s workplace health and safety measures before it was installed in June of this year.
‘Is it possible to visually confirm that the shop drawings match the as-built system, ie that there is no risk that setting off the sprinkler above the BBQ will result in saturating the Eddie Mabo Lounge?’ one email said, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Adding to concern is the fact the embassy received hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate sponsorships for a ‘series of events’.
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.
Another invoice detailed a $584 spending spree on 35 bottle of alcohol, including bottles of Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay, Penfolds Max’s Shiraz Cabernet and Jansz Brut Cuvee.
n Council Of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus attended two of the embassy’s luxe events – a one-on-one meeting with Mr Rudd and an afternoon tea, which cost $1,764.
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 Awards’ – was paid by sponsors.
The awards black-tie gala was boasted by Mr Rudd as ‘first ever n Embassy Gala’, bringing ‘a taste of 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 n soprano Amy Manford.
DFAT said the cost of the event was drawn from a sponsorship fund for the embassy.
The department claimed the embassy had received $US775,000 in sponsorship funding for ‘a series of events to mark the opening of the new embassy’.
Opposition waste spokesman James Stevens told the outlet: ‘Kevin Rudd is having quite the time in Washington, turning the n Embassy into a party house.
‘From pride parties to glitzy gala dinners, Rudd’s reputation for indulging in fun and frivolity is well and truly intact.’
Another expensive event hosted by Mr Rudd was a $23,000 Pride party at his White Oaks residence which featured two drag queens alongside balloons and catering.
DFAT said the n Embassy had been used for ‘public diplomacy events’ under ‘all ambassadors’ to ‘promote and build a better understanding of and n government policies in the US’.
‘Hosting events that draw attendance from diverse, influential stakeholders is a core part of diplomacy and advancing ‘s policies, priorities and interests,’ the spokesman said.