Speaker defends $27k furniture bill

The WA parliamentary Speaker has defended spending almost $27,000 on furniture for his office at a time when the public service is being made to tighten its belt.

Parliamentary Speaker Michael Sutherland has defended spending almost $27,000 on office furniture. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: News Corp Australia

THE WA parliamentary Speaker has defended spending almost $27,000 on furniture for his office at a time when the public service is being made to tighten its belt.

Michael Sutherland was asked about the furniture during Senate estimates hearings today, with an indignant opposition immediately calling a media conference about the boardroom table, 12 occasional chairs and a four-seater sofa bought for the Speaker's Suite.

"This is an outrageous amount of money to spend on a table and chairs and it shows just how arrogant and out of touch this government is with ordinary people," Labor's spokeswoman for finance Rita Saffioti said.

"Western Australians will be angry their taxes are being spent on indulgences for the Speaker when families are struggling and going without."

Mr Sutherland said the opposition had created a storm in a teacup as the purchase was budgeted in 2012/13.

He said the furniture was made locally and great value for money.

"The framemakers were in Malaga, the upholstery was done in Dunsborough, the table – which is not a heavy dining room-type table, it's on aluminium legs – was re-used from another table and is West Australian wood," Mr Sutherland told 6PR Radio

Mr Sutherland said the Speaker's Suite was being increasingly used for meetings and decent furniture was necessary when hosting visiting dignitaries.

"This is the premier public building in the state," he said. "There's furniture in the Speaker's Suite that is over 20 years old."

● Extravagant or appropriate? Give us your take on the Speaker's furniture bill.

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