GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce has splashed out $110,000 of taxpayers' money on bouquets of roses, lilies and white orchids to decorate her official residences.
Documents obtained by The Sunday Telegraph reveal that in the two and a half years since Ms Bryce was appointed, she has spent an average of $42,000 a year - $800 a week - on floral arrangements for the dining table, hallway and mantelpiece at her two properties, Government House in Canberra and Admiralty House in Sydney.
Although debate about the $2-a-week flood levy occupied Federal Parliament for weeks, taxpayers were given no choice when it came to the Governor-General's $109,784 flower bill, or the $545,000 she spent on international travel during the same time period.
And the six-figure spend would have remained secret, were her office not forced to reveal the documents under freedom-of-information laws.
Results: Governor-General's flowers Thanks for voting!
Are flowers a legitimate expense for the head of state?
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Opposition scrutiny-of-government spokesman Jamie Briggs said that, given families faced rising power bills under the carbon tax, Ms Bryce's expenditure was a concern and should be reviewed.
"The Governor-General plays a very important role in our democracy, but it's important to taxpayers that money is spent wisely," he said."Given the Gillard government is making decisions on spending priorities and has announced big new taxes, we want to ensure taxpayers' money is spent properly."
Ms Bryce's office justified the spending on flowers by arguing the bouquets were "almost exclusively used in public rooms and only when the houses are in use".
"Expenditure on flowers has been cut by over 25 per cent (from 2008-09) to a current average of around $400 per week, per property," deputy official secretary to the Governor-General Mark Fraser said.
"Flowers used throughout both properties to support official functions are sourced from the gardens and grounds and through external suppliers."The Governor-General has accommodated several heads of state and members of royal families at these residences."
Revelations of Ms Bryce's expenditure follow recent reports that war veterans complained after being invited to her official residence that tea would be served but no biscuits or sandwiches, because of budget restrictions.
Florists who have worked at Government House in Canberra told The Sunday Telegraph it had a refrigerated flower room.
When Ms Bryce swore in Prime Minister Julia Gillard, she decorated the tables of Government House with arrangements of purple sweet peas and yellow roses, white orchids and ranunculus.
A visit by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Canberra in March, 2010 was adorned with a large arrangement of orange lilies, red anthuriums and kangaroo paws that had been ordered in.
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