Queen's expensive state visit

Sep 5, 2006, 15:15 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth's four day visit to Australia for the Commonwealth Games cost taxpayers $250 a minute.

Australians are outraged by the figures, released yesterday (04.09.06) which revealed the brief visit by the queen and her husband Prince Phillip cost a total of $1.45 million Australian dollars.

$662,678 was spent on travel expenses, $81,800 on accommodation, $61,460 on security and a whopping $644,300 for "other expenses'', including entertainment.

During her visit the queen opened the Commonwealth Games, watched one swimming race, and supervised two ceremonial tree plantings

Philip watched some badminton and was given a tour of the latest research advances by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The couple took one afternoon off during the four-day trip to recover from jet-lag.

Sydney MP Daryl Melham told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper the cost was "obscene".

He said: "I don't say you don't pay for a portion of visiting dignitaries expenses. They're often trade visits, and it works both ways. They're worthwhile, and they result in jobs and trade.

"But this is an indulgence. It's got to be value for money, and I don't believe in throwing public money down the drain.''

The total cost of the queen's four day visit exceeded the total for trips made by US President George Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and nine other presidents and prime ministers over the past three years.

(C) BANG Media International