Ministers went 5-star ‘on advice’

SECURITY advice dictated where the Premier and senior ministers stayed during the Commonwealth Games, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says.

Ms Trad defended the $81,000 Games accommodation bill yesterday amid an Opposition attack over the cost.

She insisted it was on the advice of police for security reasons and at the request of the Commonwealth Games Federation that Ms Palaszczuk and Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones stay with other Games dignitaries at the swish Sheraton Grand Mirage.

The pair’s accommodation alone cost about $20,000 with the total bill for Ministers and staff coming in at about $81,000.

“It was very much the advice of the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Police Commissioner that all senior public dignitaries like the Premier and like the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, stay in the one location with the Commonwealth Games Federation … and that’s why key senior ministers stayed at that particular accommodation,” she said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said the bill was “an obscene waste of taxpayers’ money” and showed the Government was out of touch.