Politicians have enjoyed everything from sporting tickets to Sky News streaming subscriptions and a grilled chicken breast on someone else’s tab.
Nationals senator Ross Cadell declared a grilled chicken breast with coriander chimichurri and a Coke no sugar “because the Kingo doesn’t stock Pepsi Max” when he dined at the Kingston Hotel in Canberra with “the great John ‘Wacka’ Williams”.
“When the meal didn’t come with chips, I stole some chips from colleagues at the table,” he wrote in his declaration of interests.
“When it came time to settle the tab it had already been paid for by the Australian Association of Convenience Stores.”
The free dinner saved him $32.50.
The NSW senator was unfortunately forced to break his post-Christmas diet with some party pies in the Newcastle Jets chairman’s lounge on February 3 after “the stress of missing two penalties”.
Fortunately, he was able to enjoy “the magnificent half-time party pies while witnessing Apostolos Stamatelopoulos claw back a draw from the Melbourne Victory in the 88th minute”.
Senator Cadell had previously been given two tickets to the Newcastle Knights versus Canberra Raiders rugby thriller, where he had a single prawn because he was “too nervous to eat” but then ate two party pies when his team took the lead in the second half.
This was on top of seven Pepsi Max drinks.
Senator Cadell said he tried to declare everything he had been given in a political setting, down to the beers – except he had always bought his own.
“I have been the supplier of beers not the acquirer of beers,” he told AAP.
Other declarations included NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma jiving out to Pink in February.
Sky News streaming subscriptions and major sporting events were frequent declarations.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison, who was criticised for taking a holiday to Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires, went back to the United States island with his wife in business class in January for the Pacific Forum.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who temporarily lost his spot in parliament for holding dual citizenship, received business class flights to London courtesy of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Inaugural Conference.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was gifted five cigars from the Cuban ambassador but gave them to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Australian band Lime Cordiale was cordial enough to give independent ACT senator David Pocock four tickets to the Spilt Milk Canberra festival in November.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen also enjoyed two $50 laptop bags, $60 of cosmetics and $20 of Turkish coffee sachets in 2023.
By Dominic Giannini in Canberra
