FOI documents reveal that almost $20,000 of taxpayer funds were spent to fly an Australian didgeridoo performer to India for a brief performance at an event hosted by the Australian Consulate in Chennai.
In May the Australian Consulate, in partnership with the taxpayer-funded Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR), hosted an event to celebrate the upcoming ‘Summer of Cricket'. The CAIR, which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, had a budget of $40,000 for this event and chose to spend half of that on a didgeridoo performance by Ronald Murray.
Mr Murray’s performance at the start of the event was intended to give the audience ‘a taste of Australia’s Indigenous culture,’ according to a DFAT official involved in engaging the didgeridoo player’s services.
It cost the Australian taxpayer $8,840 for Mr Murray’s flights and accommodation, and a further $11,086 in performance fees.
Opposition Waste Spokesman, James Stevens, questioned the expenditure, saying "$20,000 is an extreme amount of money to spend on a brief musical performance.
"There are many ways to showcase Australian culture, but flying someone to India to play the didgeridoo is extravagant and excessive.
"Whilst it is important to showcase Australia's proud heritage, it can certainly be done in a more affordable way,” Mr Stevens said.
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