Staffers of the former Howard government's shadow communication unit left their office in a "pigsty" that took four days to clean up, a committee has heard.
Labor senator Robert Ray said the suite occupied by the Government Members Secretariat (GMS), a small unit which coordinated the government's communication strategy, was smeared in food and damaged by repeated games of indoor cricket.
When cleaners raised objections with GMS staff about the state of the suite, they were told to "pee off", Senator Ray said.
"Is it true it took the cleaners four days to clean up that pigsty of leftover stale food and muck?" Senator Ray asked Department of Parliamentary Services assistant secretary John Nakkan.
"It was left in an absolutely disgraceful state.
"I want to know what the repair bill was to that set of suites from the playing of indoor cricket, because I have 55 photos of the damage that was done."
Mr Nakkan said he was not aware of any damage because responsibility for ministerial wing suites lay with the Department of Finance and Administration.
He said he would check with the cleaners.
Senator Ray said he could not only provide photos, but also had the bat and ball in his office.
"And what's more, I've got the stumps in my office, which happens to be a Mark Vaile poster. So much for parliamentary solidarity," Senator Ray said.
Front page
RSS Feed