‘Extreme’ amount taxpayers spent on didgeridoo performance to open a promotional event for Summer of Cricket

Australian diplomats have come under fire after spending almost $20,000 on a didgeridoo performance to open a promotional sporting event overseas.

The Australian consulate in Chennai, in southeastern India, spent the money on sending a native didgeridoo soloist to the South Asian country for an event in May celebrating the upcoming Summer of Cricket.

Documents released to the Coalition under the Freedom of Information Act and obtained by the Daily Telegraphit turned out that a whopping $19,926 was spent on the performance of internationally renowned musician Ronald Murray.

Mr Murray’s flights, accommodation and travel expenses cost $8,840, while his fee, including tax and travel expenses, came to an astonishing $11,086. This sum was reportedly funded from taxpayers’ pockets.

The “extreme” expenditure was approved just five days before the event by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which was given a budget of $40,000.

A DFAT official involved in securing Murray’s performance justified his presence in an email by saying it was “a taste of Australia’s indigenous culture”.

Those in attendance also sampled Australian wines, lamb and pavlova – a meal many taxpayers can only dream of with the cost of living still high.

James Stevens, spokesman for the coalition, criticised the entertainment bill as “an extremely high amount for a short musical performance”.

“There are many ways to showcase Australian culture, but flying someone to India to play the didgeridoo is extravagant and over the top,” he said.

‘While it is important to showcase Australia’s proud heritage, there are certainly ways to do this more affordably.’

A DFAT spokeswoman said the spending was necessary to “promote and create a better understanding of Australia and Australian Government policies”.

“Delivering high-quality events that attract a diverse, influential group of stakeholders and showcase Australia as a modern and inclusive society is at the heart of diplomacy and advancing Australian policies, priorities and interests internationally,” she said.

Consul General Silai Zaki shared photos from the lavish event in May, describing it as a “wonderful evening celebrating” Australia-India relations.

“We brought together leading (Indian) businessmen to discuss business involvement and other opportunities besides cricket in (Australia)!” she said.

‘Their insights were invaluable. This series goes beyond cricket and promotes community and business collaboration!’

Several Indian cricket officials were present at the event, including Roger Binny, the Indian chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted DFAT for further comment.

The news comes just two weeks after Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, was accused of turning the embassy in Washington into a “party hall”.

The former prime minister, who was appointed ambassador in March 2023, was found to have spent thousands of dollars on parties, butlers and alcohol at the embassy.

The extravagant event in May was intended to celebrate the upcoming Summer of Cricket

One of Mr Rudd’s most notable expenses was a $15,340 barbecue, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The documents released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also show invoices for $1,100 and $540 for two events held in May: a dinner for 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 each worked four hours.

According to Rudd’s office, the ambassador’s allowance was “actually underspent” in 2023.

When asked by the Telegraph how the events were funded, a spokesman for Mr Rudd said only that a separate event – the first Embassy of Australia Awards – was paid for by sponsors.

Mr Rudd called the gala, where the awards were presented in black tie, “the Australian Embassy’s first ever gala”, bringing “a taste of Australia to Washington DC”.

The event cost almost $300,000, including a $25,000 salary for Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs for her role as MC and $24,000 for Creative Artists Agency for a performance by Australian soprano Amy Manford.

Rudd’s office released a statement clarifying that his “allowance last year was in fact too low” and defended the expensive gala.

An email from a DFAT official involved in securing Mr Murray’s performance justified his presence as ‘a taste of Australia’s indigenous culture’

“The front-page story suggested that this year’s Australia Day celebrations at the new embassy building in Washington showed the embassy was ‘throwing taxpayers’ money down the drain’,” the article said.

‘This event could have been paid for by the embassy, ​​as is common with Australia Day events around the world, but in reality it was funded by sponsorship from companies organised by the embassy.’