Ambassador Kevin Rudd’s 2024 Pride party cost more than$70,000
Criticism of Kevin Rudd’s 2023 Pride party has clearly not stung the former PM, with the now-ambassador to the US throwing another LGBTQ+ bash that cost more than three times as much.
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Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has thumbed his nose at those who have accused him of turning the Washington embassy into a party house, holding another Pride party that was more lavish and expensive than the last.
A Eurovision act, drag queens and catering for 200 people contributed to a bill of more than $70,000, which also included more than $12,000 for catering, $775 for Pride flag-coloured balloons and a bunch of items the embassy ordered off Amazon, such as a $152 “balloon time jumbo” helium tank pack, heart-shaped fairy, string Christmas lights and mini pride flags.
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Mr Rudd promoted the Pride party on his social media channel at the time.
Invoices obtained by the Opposition under freedom of information laws — and obtained by The Daily Telegraph — now reveal how much the June 13 event cost.
The documents reveal the party included a performance by South Australia duo Electric Fields — Australia’s entry in to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest — with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) paying the duo a $10,000 performance fee plus $1000 GST.
More than $2200 was paid to four-star Washington DC hotel The Darcy for four rooms.
A US-based “LGBTQ+-owned” cleaning and janitorial company called Facilities Partners and Solutions was hired for “after hours” cleaning services of the Embassy atrium.
The documents show four staff undertook the job, with DFAT paying the company $474.72.
Drag queen Crystal Edge — who was at last year’s event — was back again, and was paid $400 to “greet people at the door, announce the musical guest, and perform one number”, the documents said.
Also back was drag DJ Kitty Glitter, who received $2000 for her attendance at the event, while the room was decorated with balloons in “Pride colours”, provided at a cost of $775.
Bella Cuisine catering provided the food with guests offered a selection of “hors d’ouvres” such as “mini chicken parmas”, “mini BLTs”, “honey mint lamb bites” along with “stuffed lammies” for dessert.
The firm indicated in its invoice that “the client”, a.k.a. the embassy, foot the bill for booze.
While there were no “butlers”, Bella Cuisine provided 10 waiters, four chefs, three bartenders and a supervisor with the total bill coming in at $12,400.
If there were no photos, it didn’t happen, so another $675 was paid for “event photography”.
Washington-based Nomad Event Systems was paid $14,600 to sort the sound equipment and “decor”, which included black stage carpet, four “Lava Drape Panels” and four “Spandex Truss Sleeves”.
Almost $4000 worth of booze was provided by The Embassy of Australia “Commissary” for the event, according to the documents.
The documents also included invoices for magnets.
Opposition “waste watch” MP James Stevens said: “There are many important aspects of the ambassador’s role, but all we seem to hear about is Dr Rudd’s proclivity for partying,” he said.
“Anthony Albanese must explain why he thinks it is appropriate for his ambassador to spend our money in this way, when everyday Australians are suffering through Labor’s long and painful cost of living crisis.”
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