TONY Abbott has ordered a ban on the use of limousines to ferry officials around during the G20 in Brisbane next week, following a review of the $370 million budget allocated to the event. 
 
The Saturday Telegraph learned the Prime Minister’s office had run a red line through $8 million worth of hire cars that had been budgeted for by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

It has also axed frivolous spending that had been planned, such as $40,000 on showbag-style backpacks containing brochures and trinkets for officials. The crackdown on the slush fund for the event ­allocated under the previous Labor government was ordered earlier this year when the PM was alerted to the lack of oversight on G20 spending.

The office was alerted to the extravagant spending when several ministers were revealed to have indulged in the unfettered budget, including harbour cruises for visiting officials.

The Daily Telegraph ­revealed earlier this week that Mr Abbott had also axed a tender for an $8 million fitout of luxury hotel suites in Brisbane to upgrade them to meet the whims of some world leaders.

Also canned was an open 24-hour bar earmarked to provide free alcohol for up to 3000 foreign media.

It can be revealed the PM’s office has now also banned the purchase of new furniture for some hotel suites which would be used for only 48 hours.

“Since the PM intervened earlier this year there has been better oversight of expenditure,” a spokeswoman for the PM said.

“The last government did not put in place a reporting framework for expenditure, so spending to date had little oversight. The PM wants to balance the desire for a world- class event with best value for taxpayers.”

But the office said the cutbacks would not affect the marketing and tourism opportunities to promote Australia at the conference, which is to be held at the Brisbane Exhibition and Entertainment Centre, considered a world-class venue. Addressing the canned hotel upgrades on Wednesday, Mr Abbott said the accommodation would still offer comfort to his “friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin, following “robust conversations that he’ll have” at the G20.

It’s anticipated that one of those discussions will be with Mr Abbott on the death of 38 Australians on flight MH17.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/prime-minister-tony-abbott-says-no-to-limousines-to-ferry-officials-around-during-the-g20-after-review-of-370-million-budget/story-fni0cx12-1227094405800

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 6:32am:

Also canned was an open 24-hour bar earmarked to provide free alcohol for up to 3000 foreign media.

That will save the most.

Boozy Journos we all know their reputation.

Good work Toneeee!  ;)

maybe we can import some rickshaws to ferry the leaders around in?

Will the LNP be giving that embarrassment sloppy Joe an overseas junkett whilst G20 on? What's going to happen if climate change is mentioned, i hope credlin has some nice scripts for Tony , if he has to adlib this is going to be brutal to watch.

John Smith wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 8:14am:

maybe we can import some rickshaws to ferry the leaders around in?

The leaders attending the G20 summit will be ferried around in armoured BMW cars capable of withstanding projectiles and chemical weapons. It's just the other officials, such as staffers, etc that won't be getting limousines. Seems fair to me.

a)  and the evidence that this $8m was ONLY a Labor thing is.. where?

b)  are these visiting dignitaries going to take cabs , buses and trams?  I know a nice bicycle hire place on the south bank of Brissie....

c) What need is there for this conference anyway?  What can't be done over the phone or the internet or using a budget flight for talks?

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 10:04am:

a)  and the evidence that this $8m was ONLY a Labor thing is.. where? Ummm, you DO realise that Labor organised this entire event in Australia before they were kicked out by the vast majority of Australians, right? Abbott is simply cleaning up their wasteful spending. b)  are these visiting dignitaries going to take cabs , buses and trams?  I know a nice bicycle hire place on the south bank of Brissie.... You didn't read a thing, did you? If you had, you'd know that specially-built armoured BMW cars will transport dignitaries and leaders around and it's only staffers and other people who will not have limousines to drive around in. They're hiring buses, etc instead. This was common practice at APEC. c) What need is there for this conference anyway?  What can't be done over the phone or the internet or using a budget flight for talks? You can't have talks on sidelines, etc by teleconference.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 9:47am:

The leaders attending the G20 summit will be ferried around in armoured BMW cars capable of withstanding projectiles and chemical weapons

They only bought one for ToeKnee which hasnt even arrived !

Redmond Neck wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 11:31am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 9:47am: The leaders attending the G20 summit will be ferried around in armoured BMW cars capable of withstanding projectiles and chemical weapons They only bought one for ToeKnee which hasnt even arrived !

Wrong. Read this article from the beginning of September...


THE Federal Government has ordered a $16 million fleet of bombproof limousines for the G20 Summit in Brisbane in November. 
 
But rather than buy the vehicles for $1 million each, it has rented them for the meeting of world leaders at a cost of $1.8 million, or $112,500 a piece.

Although BMW is poised to secure the contract to replace the Prime Minister’s fleet of ageing armoured Holdens, rival German car maker Mercedes-Benz won the tender to supply 16 vehicles for the G20 Summit of foreign heads of state, finance ministers and other dignitaries.

But not everyone will ride in them: US president Barrack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are said to be bringing their own security vehicles.

The bombproof Benzes can withstand firepower from an AK47 assault rifle, are fitted with nail-proof tyres, and have their own on-board oxygen systems in case of a chemical weapon attack.

They also have night vision technology so they can see in the dark, projecting an image of the road ahead on the wide-screen digital dashboard.

Unlike the cars in James Bond movies, however, there are no “gun-sights”, rotating number plates or other dirty tricks, such as spraying oil on the road to cause other cars to skid.

The S-Class Guard looks almost identical to the standard Mercedes limousine but weighs more than four tonnes — more than twice its regular weight — because of the added armour and thickened glass.

However, it can still make a quick getaway because it is powered by a massive V12 engine.

More than half the cars that will be used during the G20 Summit have already been shipped to Australia and are in the final stages of preparation.

Because the cars are hand-built in limited numbers, there will be a mix of left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive vehicles used at the G20 Summit in Brisbane.

The Federal Government will provide specially-trained drivers for the event.

They’ll be hoping to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment when US President Barrack Obama’s limousine, known as “The Beast”, wedged its belly on a steep driveway during a visit to Ireland in May 2011.

“The Beast” has also proven to be tricky to park, having been caught on camera attempting a three-point turn at 10 Downing Street during President Obama’s visit to London in 2009.

http://www.news.com.au/national/abbott-government-orders-bombproof-mercedes-to-protect-leaders-at-g20-summit-in-brisbane/story-fncynjr2-1227051984040

Nah!

Murdoch press..sounds like crap to me!

White Ford Fairlanes etc I suspect.

A dummy press release to put the Musos off I suspect!

$370 million LNP Budget allocated to the G20.

Abbott Office cuts the fat from the Joes Budgeting for G20.

Abbott Office saves taxpayer 4% on the unaccounted non public G20 expense account paid by the voter! 

Abbott Office axed a tender for an $8 million fitout of luxury hotel suites in Brisbane. (which ones, Abbotts secret!)

Abbott Office run a red line through $8 million worth of hire cars  (from who Abbotts secret)

“The last government did not put in place a reporting framework for expenditure, so spending to date had little oversight, and Abbott demanded it remains so!

Abbott has banned public discovery so preventing taxpayers form knowing if its just another Abbott deceit, and which LNP mates got the money!

Wonder who Abbott shirt fronted to keep LNP G20 expenditure paid to who a secret?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 9:47am:

John Smith wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 8:14am: maybe we can import some rickshaws to ferry the leaders around in? The leaders attending the G20 summit will be ferried around in armoured BMW cars capable of withstanding projectiles and chemical weapons. It's just the other officials, such as staffers, etc that won't be getting limousines. Seems fair to me.

funny that .... doesn't one off Abbotts daughters work for BMW?   :D :D :D

John Smith wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 2:48pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 9:47am: John Smith wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 8:14am: maybe we can import some rickshaws to ferry the leaders around in? The leaders attending the G20 summit will be ferried around in armoured BMW cars capable of withstanding projectiles and chemical weapons. It's just the other officials, such as staffers, etc that won't be getting limousines. Seems fair to me. funny that .... doesn't one off Abbotts daughters work for BMW?   :D :D :D

One works for the public service, and what better public service than to make Putin happy by taking away all the stresses brought on by her dad!

What a bunch of clowns they are. If they wouldn't create so much inequality, they could drive in a normal car in peace and no fear. They could mix with the crowd, sit together with everyday people and have a laugh.

The more they oppress people, the more they fear them to retaliate.  ;D Clowns!

gone wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 6:18pm:

What a bunch of clowns they are. If they wouldn't create so much inequality, they could drive in a normal car in peace and no fear. They could mix with the crowd, sit together with everyday people and have a laugh. The more they oppress people, the more they fear them to retaliate.  ;D Clowns!

Wow, totally deluded. You really think ISIS came about because of action by the US and allies somewhere in the world? You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. They were borne out of their struggle against the Assad regime in Syria in their fight to oust him. Then they saw they could take more power and land and have done so. It had nothing to do with Iraq wars or Afghanistan.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 8:49pm:

You really think ISIS came about because of action by the US and allies somewhere in the world?

to right they did .... if Saddam was still there ISIS would be some little arab teenage kids neighbourhood gang, instead of the threat it currently is.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18^th, 2014 at 11:25am:

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 10:04am: a)  and the evidence that this $8m was ONLY a Labor thing is.. where? Ummm, you DO realise that Labor organised this entire event in Australia before they were kicked out by the vast majority of Australians, right? Abbott is simply cleaning up their wasteful spending. b)  are these visiting dignitaries going to take cabs , buses and trams?  I know a nice bicycle hire place on the south bank of Brissie.... You didn't read a thing, did you? If you had, you'd know that specially-built armoured BMW cars will transport dignitaries and leaders around and it's only staffers and other people who will not have limousines to drive around in. They're hiring buses, etc instead. This was common practice at APEC. c) What need is there for this conference anyway?  What can't be done over the phone or the internet or using a budget flight for talks? You can't have talks on sidelines, etc by teleconference.

.. and you are saying that such conferences are not bi-partisan things, and that cutting out luxury rides for flunkies is a real issue?

This is called window dressing.... let's see some real cost cutting - like holding this conference online for a change....

So you are saying that the "entire business of running the regiment is done in the officer's mess over a drink"?  And therefore the entire conference is just an opportunity for people to gather over a cocktail and sort things out?

Then why hold an expensive $300+million conference at all?

It can be done over a drink as you pass through town.....

window dressing, son.. window dressing....

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Oct 19^th, 2014 at 1:43am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 11:25am: Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Oct 18th, 2014 at 10:04am: a)  and the evidence that this $8m was ONLY a Labor thing is.. where? Ummm, you DO realise that Labor organised this entire event in Australia before they were kicked out by the vast majority of Australians, right? Abbott is simply cleaning up their wasteful spending. b)  are these visiting dignitaries going to take cabs , buses and trams?  I know a nice bicycle hire place on the south bank of Brissie.... You didn't read a thing, did you? If you had, you'd know that specially-built armoured BMW cars will transport dignitaries and leaders around and it's only staffers and other people who will not have limousines to drive around in. They're hiring buses, etc instead. This was common practice at APEC. c) What need is there for this conference anyway?  What can't be done over the phone or the internet or using a budget flight for talks? You can't have talks on sidelines, etc by teleconference. .. and you are saying that such conferences are not bi-partisan things, and that cutting out luxury rides for flunkies is a real issue? This is called window dressing.... let's see some real cost cutting - like holding this conference online for a change.... So you are saying that the "entire business of running the regiment is done in the officer's mess over a drink"?  And therefore the entire conference is just an opportunity for people to gather over a cocktail and sort things out? Then why hold an expensive $300+million conference at all? It can be done over a drink as you pass through town..... window dressing, son.. window dressing....

Sure, they're bi-partisan to an extent, but not to the extent where blatant waste is allowed.