Government paying minor celebrities hundreds of thousands in taxpayers money to motivate staff

The federal government is wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars hiring minor celebrities to give motivational talks to government staff.

The Daily Telegraph has revealed, the Home Affairs department wasted more than $63,000 of taxpayer money on just five speakers.

Among the speakers was former Australian Idol contestant Casey Donovan, who was paid $11,250 to speak for National Reconciliation Week. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, who was paid $13,200 to deliver a motivational message for ‘innovation month.’

Others speakers include Layne Beachley who was paid just over $12,860, Naomi Simson who cost $13,903, and David Lourdes who was paid $11,896.54.

According to The Telegraph, the Australian Taxation Office has spent almost $50,000 in just two years for inspirational messages from Dr Jordan Nguyen, Layne Beachley, director of Telstra Steve Vamos, and Naomi Simson.