Julian Hill declares ‘priceless’ gift from constituent in updated register of interests

A Victorian politician has declared a “priceless” and somewhat unusual gift to his official register of interests.

Victorian MP Julian Hill is now the proud owner of a “priceless” statue depicting him on a throne.

In an update to his parliamentary register of interests, the Labor member for Bruce added a “statue of me” received from a constituent.

The statue, which was made in Iran, is 56cm high and features Mr Hill sitting on a 75cm high throne in front of a sign that reads “ALBO 2022”, an Australian flag and some Aboriginal art.

“Value: Priceless,” Mr Hill’s interests form reads.

Victorian MP Julian Hill was gifted a statue of himself from a constituent. Picture: Supplied

The Bruce MP said the gift was ‘priceless’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Hill told NCA NewsWire the statue was “a lovely albeit surprising gesture by a wonderful local family who my office has helped enormously.

“My staff did say ‘what’s wrong with flowers and chocolate’, but obviously now if I’m out of the office and they miss me, then they can commune with my statue.”

In other additions submitted last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had received a bottle of wine from the Hunter Valley’s Brokenwood Wines and a miniature Boxer model from Rheinmetall following his announcement Australia will supply locally made Rheinmetall Boxer vehicles to Germany.

Mr Albanese also registered gifts he had recently surrendered, including a handcrafted orchid in a pot from the Prime Minister of Singapore, a framed portrait of him and the Vietnamese Prime Minister, a silver picture frame with the seal of the President of the Philippines, a watch from the Sultan of Brunei, and an assorted porcelain dinner set from the Vietnamese Prime Minister.

He retained a gift from the First Lady of the Philippines; as well as a “custom VIP classic turntable with commemorative plaque” from US President Joe Biden.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also updated his register of interests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Appleyard

Among other recent additions to the register of interests is a painting called “Bush Onion” by Loretta Morton, gifted to Indigenous Australians Minister and Barton MP Linda Burney, $25 worth of hot cross buns gifted by the Australian Association of Christian Schools to Resources Minister and Brand MP Madeline King.

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi declared he’d received bottles of wine, vouchers for wineries, tickets to the AFL and NRL grand finals as well as the State of Origin, Qantas business class tickets, Melbourne Cup tickets and other prizes for him to donate to a local charity day.

He said all of the donated gifts were given to the “A Day for Wendy” charity day, which raised funds via raffle and auctions for the Mark Hughes Foundation.