Australian taxpayers have reportedly footed the bill for almost $60million in office upgrades for government bureaucrats.
More than half was spent by Department of Human Services to upgrade 26 offices, including a $4million refurbishment to its Melbourne CBD space.
A department spokesman justified the spending spree, claiming it needed to upgrade its properties so they’re fit for purpose.
Department of Jobs and Innovation staff in a Melbourne office now have a new $210,643 kitchen, thanks to a government spending spree (stock image)
Department of Environment and Energy staff have two new treadmills (stock image)
‘The Department of Human Services manages the largest non-defence property portfolio in the Commonwealth, the majority of these properties consist of our customer facing service centre network,’ he told The Herald Sun.
Other government departments also splashed out on taxpayers funds, according to the publication.
Department of Jobs and Innovation staff in one Melbourne office now have a new kitchen worth $210,643, where an extra $38,000 was spent on a ‘tea point’.
Four chateau tub chairs worth $1,500 each and a $2,200 timber coffee table were purchased for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s headquarters in Canberra.
Almost $60 million of taxpayers’ funds were spent office upgrades for federal government bureaucrats (stock image)
Department of Environment and Energy staff have two new treadmills worth $6,000 each and 40 sandwich presses, while staff in the Home Affairs ministry are enjoying $141,000 worth of upgraded white goods, the publication reported.
Blockout blinds were also installed in one department’s offices while another department’s office is now closer to the gym, thanks to a $313,000 handout from taxpayers.
The $60million spent on the office upgrades is the same amount the federal government is spending on vital projects.
Many government bureaucrats are enjoying upgraded offices, courtesy of Australian taxpayers (stock image)
They include to boost mobile phone coverage in regional and remote areas, building the new Cradle Mountain cableway in Tasmania and duplicating a 5km stretch of the Capricorn Highway in Central Queensland.
News of the spending spree comes a week after Daily Mail Australia revealed that five ineligible federal MPs claimed almost $1 million in expenses from taxpayers in just six months, despite being under a citizenship cloud due to their ties to Britain.
It was also recently revealed that Prince Charles and Camilla’s trip to Australia for the Commonwealth Games in April cost taxpayers more than $1 million.