TAXPAYERS will spend nearly $2 million to entertain the Queen, world leaders and delegates attending the opening ceremony of the CHOGM talks later this month.
Government tender documents confirm Australians have already been handed a bill for $21 million to stage the talks, a cost expected to nearly triple to $58 million.
The Great Big Events company, which produced the Sydney Olympics, has secured the contract for the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Perth later this month.
A further $500,000 will be paid to Globecast Australia to organise broadcast services.
Luxury hotels in Perth will secure a $10 million payday. But the majority of that money will eventually be reimbursed to Australian taxpayers by member states attending the talks.
Leaders from 54 nations including British Prime Minister David Cameron will fly into Australia for the meeting which will run from October 28 to 30.
While the government will foot the accommodation bill for world leaders, foreign ministers and one senior official to attend the talks, member states will be asked to reimburse taxpayers for the cost for additional delegatesREAD ON:
Royals Visit Australia: Queen to Get a $2m Aussie Party
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