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Post by gallito on Oct 19, 2015 16:46:08 GMT -5
Mr Ryan also told the committee that DPS staff were blocked from accessing the room and inspecting the damage for two days. An email between DPS staff about the damage was provided to the committee. "It is understood that the table may have been damaged by a person standing or dancing upon it," the email said. MP takes a tumble PHOTO: Jamie Briggs in a wheelchair the morning after Tony Abbott was ousted (AAP: Sam Mooy) "Anecdotally we have been advised that pieces of the table top were present on the floor Tuesday morning and more pieces have since been seen in ministerial offices." When the table was purchased in the late 1980s, it cost $590. Quotes for a replacement have been delayed by the fact it is made of Italian marble. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi suggested the table could be better described as "damaged" rather than "smashed", and said it was wrong to speculate what caused the damage. He said it was possible there was a natural fault in the marble. Senator Wong suggested Minister for Cities Jamie Briggs could shed some light on what happened that night. He was seen in a wheelchair the day after, but denied his injury happened during the party, taking to Twitter to state he was not dancing on a table and stated: "I didn't, I've done an ACL, running." www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-19/marble-table-a-casualty-of-rowdy-abbott-party/6865510
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Post by gallito on Oct 19, 2015 16:50:21 GMT -5
News Flash....
Tony Abbott has announced he will pay for a marble table smashed during a party he held after being toppled as prime minister.
Mr Abbott held the spill night send-off for staff and colleagues after Malcolm Turnbull claimed the Liberal leadership last month.
Parliamentary officials believe the table "may have been damaged by a person standing or dancing upon it".
"During this event, a coffee table was damaged," Mr Abbott said in a statement.
"I have asked my office to have the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) invoice me for the value of the table.
"It was my event so I take responsibility for it."
Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott in Parliament
PHOTO: Tony Abbott, who today sat quietly on the backbench with Joe Hockey, has taken full responsibility for the broken table. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)
The broken piece of furniture was found just outside the "Cabinet ante-room" where the party was held.
"I'm relieved this sordid affair has come to an end — I'm disappointed it's taken a month to get to the bottom of it," Labor's 'Waste Watch' spokesman Pat Conroy said.
"I'm disappointed about the damage to the public property because all politicians need to be very conscious of their use of the public purse."
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