Federal Government departments spent taxpayer cash on artworks, dance performances, instruments

Taxpayers forked out $650,000 so Federal Government departments could commission artworks, supplies, dance performances, and exhibitions in the last year, while $870,000 was spent by the Australian Embassy in the US on five pieces of art.

Taxpayers forked out $650,000 so Federal Government departments could commission artworks, supplies, dance performances, and exhibitions in the last year, while $870,000 was spent by the Australian Embassy in the US on five pieces of art.

Figures released to the Federal Government’s tender system confirm $649,376 was spent in the last year across several departments, with one commission by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade costing taxpayers more than $93,000.

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport commissioned Queensland-based Milani Gallery for work to the tune of $24,750 in May on behalf of another government department, another big ticket item saw DFAT spend $25,000 on an art exhibition in the United States.

It also spent a further $33,000 on an exhibition in North Melbourne.

Meanwhile, $93,200 in art was also purchased by DFAT as part of an international deal with Artbank.

An Infrastructure department spokesman said the artwork listed against it’s name were acquisitions made by Artbank for other government departments, and those artworks would not be on display in its offices around the country.

It is understood government departments have allocated budgets for the purchase of art.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal taxpayers were also slugged a massive $872,703 between June 2022 and August 2023 for five artworks to be sourced and commissioned for the new Australian Embassy in Washington DC.

Parliament House Art Services staff handling art.

Documents released under Freedom of Information requests to the Opposition show DFAT ordered a “permanent Indigenous outdoor sculpture” as well as a “loaned outdoor sculpture” and three artworks under the massive deal.

There is no suggestion in the FOI that Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, ordered the artwork

An example of artwork inside the Australian Embassy in Washington DC

The massive spend on art by government departments comes as it was also confirmed $698,998 was spent by the Department of Defence and the Australian Federal Police to acquire musical instruments, including a total of $312,000 on to a Melbourne-based wind-instrument sales and repairs company, as well as a further $163,611 on a Sydney-based saxophone and woodwind store.

Australian Government Tenders also revealed that $13,000 was spent on bagpipes and $76,319 on basses and cellos.

The AFP spent a total of $25,575 on the supply of musical instrument parts and accessories in the last year.

The Naval band play ahead of HMAS Warramunga's arrival at Garden Island, in Sydney. (AAP Image/Paul Braven) NO ARCHIVING

A Defence spokesman told The Daily Telegraph the department procures musical instruments for bands “across Navy, Army, and Air Force”.

“The ADF bands have a long history and are central to Defence’s community engagement and support, with regular performances across military, ceremonial, and community events annually both in Australia and overseas,” the spokesman said.

“Defence has consolidated the procurement of its musical equipment so as to obtain the best value for money for the Commonwealth.”

Defence has as many as 30 bands across Australia, and performs at Defence, government, and ‘Vice Regal ceremonial occasions’ including King Charles’ visit to Australia.

The Australian Army Band perform at Menin Gate, Belgium.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal $335,720 was spent in subscriptions for government departments to subscribe to a gender equality coalition in order to advance more and diverse women in leadership, and build respectful and inclusive workplaces. 

Shadow Government Waste Reduction spokesman James Stevens told The Daily Telegraph “it seems the federal government departments have acquired Anthony Albanese’s taste for the finer things in life”.

“Every dollar that the government spends comes out of the pockets of hardworking Australians and the bureaucracy have a duty to spend it judiciously,” the shadow spokesman said. 

Government departments including DFAT, Infrastructure, AFP and the Prime Minister’s office were contacted for comment.