Canberra’s Culture of Waste

Analysis of Commonwealth government tenders has revealed a culture of lavish public spending across a host of government departments.

From expensive artwork to multiple subscriptions to the same gender equality service, examples of waste are rife in the Canberra bureaucracy, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spending more than $870,000 on five pieces of artwork for an embassy.

Opposition waste spokesman, James Stevens said that “it seems the federal government departments have acquired Anthony Albanese’s taste for the finer things in life.

“Every dollar that the government spends comes out of the pockets of hardworking Australians and the bureaucracy has a duty to spend it judiciously.

“With Labor increasing the public service by 36,000 people, it is horrifying to think of the enormous growth in government waste to come,” Mr Stevens said.