ABC spends $135,000 to send breakfast duo Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller to Paris Olympics

A question in a Senate hearing last month has revealed how much taxpayers spent sending ABC breakfast duo Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller to the Olympics.

Taxpayers forked out $135,000 to send ABC breakfast duo Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller to Paris for the Olympic Games.

The Australian reports today that in response to a question on notice from a Senate hearing last month, Labor’s Senator Murray Watt said the “forecasted spend” for the Adelaide radio crew’s trip to Paris “is estimated to be $135k”.

The spend included flights, accommodation, hospitality, equipment, transport and broadcasting costs.

Prior to leaving for Paris, the ABC said the pair would “provide additional reporting on the ground and to present the local breakfast show every day”.

The ABC website also carried clips of the duo in Paris, but they were not involved in the calling of any live sport during the Paris Games.

A question in a Senate hearing last month has revealed how much taxpayers spent sending ABC breakfast duo Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller to the Olympics. Picture: Supplied

Liberal Senator Alex Antic told The Australian it was “staggering that the ABC thinks that spending $135,000 to send two breakfast radio hosts and two staff to Paris for the Olympic Games represents value for money for the Australian taxpayer”.

“All at a time when Australians face a cost-of-living crisis, multiple interest rate rises and some of the highest prices we’ve seen in the generation,’’ Senator Antic said.

He also said it showed the ABC was “out of touch’’ with “real” Australians.

The Australian reported the ABC had not responded to questions.

In the latest radio ratings, the ABC breakfast team came in third behind Triple M and FIVEAA.