Victorian taxpayers slugged $40,000 for new dining table for Parliament House

In the middle of a cost of living crisis and skyrocketing debt, the Victorian government has been criticised for going on a “Saddam Hussein-inspired spending spree” for a new table.

Victorian taxpayers have been slugged $40,000 for a new dining table at Parliament House.

Victorian taxpayers have been slugged $40,000 for a new dining table at Parliament House, replacing one dubbed too “uncomfortable”.

Amid a worsening cost of living crisis that is seeing the state government punished in the polls, taxpayers have been forced to fork out for the bespoke, solid timber, eight seater table.

Department of Parliamentary Services secretary, Trish Burrows, defended the table’s $39,420 price tag.

“The table that was previously in the room was very old and was not a dining table, it had a low apron which meant it was difficult and uncomfortable for many people to sit at,” she said.

This $40,000 table will replace one deemed too ‘uncomfortable’. Picture: Supplied

“The table was also not accessible for anyone in a wheelchair.

“The table was too large for the room, and it was difficult to manoeuvre around the table, including for serving staff, if the room was at capacity.

“The chairs were mismatched, very old and unstable, and no longer fit for purpose.”

The Herald Sun found similar tables and dining chairs online for less than one quarter of the price, with Australian furniture brands Berkowitz and Oz Design models retailing for $6250 and $7091 respectively.

A lengthy procurement process saw Victorian firm Steel Road Custom Furniture awarded a contract to design and build the table.

Three other regional Victorian suppliers also contributed to the custom build.

“The furniture is located in one of the pre-eminent rooms in Parliament House that is used to meet with visiting dignitaries to Victoria and conduct other parliamentary business,” Ms Burrows said.

“In replacing the aged furniture, the intent was to procure furniture from local Victorian artisans that was appropriate for the location and purpose, and that would showcase the high-quality products available in Victoria; the table and chairs will be included in the register of assets of the Parliament of Victoria, and we anticipate in 30 years, will be recorded as heritage items.

“While the one-off purchase cost is significant, based on the current ongoing use of other quality furniture items in Parliament House it can be anticipated that these items will likely continue to be in use for well over 50 years.”

But Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Scrutiny of Government, Nick McGowan, slammed the table as a waste of taxpayer money.

“Spending $40,000 on a table just shows how much this state government has lost sight of the true needs of the Victorian people,” he said.

“In the midst of a cost of living crisis this state government has its priorities all wrong.

“I am disgusted at what has happened here – how can anyone think it is OK to spend $40,000 dollars of taxpayers’ money to replace a perfectly good table with an ugly designer table while Victorians go hungry and homeless in the streets?

“I call upon the Premier to immediately auction the $40,000 table and donate the entire proceeds to a homeless shelter or women’s refugee.

“Now is not the time for the state Labor government to be indulging itself in some Saddam Hussein-inspired spending spree on designer furniture. It’s tone deaf, plain wrong and must go.”