From "Bush barbie cost $25,000-plus", via News Interactive (Australia).

Taxpayers will pay more than $25,000 for the private barbecue lunch for US President George W Bush during his one-day visit to Australia.

Officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet today confirmed the cost of the invitation-only lunch, which included sport and media stars, politicians and business leaders.

Officials told a Senate estimates committee that the informal lunch was organised at The Lodge by Prime Minister John Howard's office.

Among the costs, departmental officials said the Government paid $19,000 to hire a marquee, chairs and equipment for the function.

Another $4500 was spent on food for the event, where about 70 guests dined on prawns, beef fillet and lamb cutlets and a desert of macadamia pavlova roulade with passionfruit ice cream.

Damn that Bush and his extravagant barbies.