Skip to navigation

Skip to content
Help using this website - Accessibility statement
My
My
My
My

News
Clippings
Comments
Benefits

Today's Paper
Subscribe
Log in
Register
If you have trouble accessing our login form below, you can go to our
login page
.
If you have trouble accessing our login form below, you can go to our
login page
.
6:30PM Saturday Sep 19, 2015
11065 online now
Do you know more about a story?
Real Estate
Cars
Jobs
Dating
Newsletters
The Sydney Morning Herald
Federal Politics
Political News
Political Opinion
The Pulse
Breaking Politics Video
Cartoons
The Zone
The Sugar Hit
You are here: Home Federal Politics Political News
Search smh:
Search in:
Federal Politics
Tony Abbott's gifts to keep - leather suitcase from Francois, bike gear from Shi
nzo
Date
September 19, 2015 - 2:35PM
396 reading now
Matthew Raggatt
Matthew Raggatt

Reporter at The Canberra Times

View more articles from Matthew Raggatt
Follow Matthew on Twitter Follow Matthew on Google+ Email Matthew
Tweet
Pin It
submit to reddit
Email article
Print
Prime Minister Tony Abbott on an early morning bike ride past the National Diet
Building in Tokyo last year. A cycling present from the Japanese prime minister
was the most expensive gift Mr Abbott will keep from his time as national leader
.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott on an early morning bike ride past the National Diet
Building in Tokyo last year. A cycling present from the Japanese prime minister
was the most expensive gift Mr Abbott will keep from his time as national leader
. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
He may have spent his last night at Kirribilli House and will never get a look i
n the Prime Minister's suite again, but there are a few mementoes Tony Abbott ha
s decided he'll be taking with him.
From a leather suitcase from French President Francois Hollande to expensive bic
ycle gears and wheels from Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, some gifts are too good to le
ave in government hands.
Any prime minister, even one who fails to reach the two-year mark, will receive
an abundance of gifts from fellow heads of government and diverse visitors durin
g their time at the top.
Tony Abbott, pictured in the Oval Office last year, received a coloured print of
Ed Ruscha's Column with Speed Lines from US President Barack Obama, but the pri
nt will remain in the prime minister's Canberra suite. Mr Abbott will keep a set
of cufflinks received from Secretary of State John Kerry.
Tony Abbott, pictured in the Oval Office last year, received a coloured print of
Ed Ruscha's Column with Speed Lines from US President Barack Obama, but the pri
nt will remain in the prime minister's Canberra suite. Mr Abbott will keep a set
of cufflinks received from Secretary of State John Kerry. Photo: Andrew Meares
Some of it is put on display at the prime minister's Canberra, Sydney or Melbour
ne offices. Most of it, whether immediately or at the end of the leadership, is
handed over to the federal government permanently.
Mr Abbott decided to keep
and therefore pay for
only five gifts during his time
as PM, as recorded in his register of members' interests.
The first, fittingly, was cycling clothing from the Northern Sydney Cycling Club
, of which he is an honorary member. He paid $11 to keep the outfit.
Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a photograph next to
a haulage truck tyre during a tour of an iron ore mine in the Pilbara in July l
ast year. Two months earlier Mr Abbott paid nearly $2500 to keep a set of bicycl
e wheels gifted by Mr Abe.
Tony Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a photograph next to
a haulage truck tyre during a tour of an iron ore mine in the Pilbara in July l
ast year. Two months earlier Mr Abbott paid nearly $2500 to keep a set of bicycl

e wheels gifted by Mr Abe. Photo: Getty Images

In May last year
a month after negotiations on the free trade agreement with Jap
an ended the cycling fanatic declared a Shimano Dura-Ace bicycle gears and wheel
s and an assembly voucher from Mr Abe. He paid the Collector of Public Monies $2
475 to keep the gift.
The remaining three gifts that were kept were for business rather than sport: a
fountain pen ($61) and leather briefcase (value unstated) from Mr Hollande, and
a set of silver cufflinks ($52) from Secretary of State John Kerry.
In
's
an
t;

contrast, a leather briefcase from the Sultan of Brunei received in Mr Abbott

first months in the job, and sapphire and diamond cufflinks from the Sri Lank
president were all surrendered to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabine
the briefcase to be donated to charity.

Two rugs, two swords and a necklace, to mention just a few, were some of the oth
er gear handed over to his department.
And it isn't just Turnbull and co. who will do well out of Monday's events, with
the end of Abbott's time in office activating promises to donate many goods to
charities. A stylish surfboard to the disabled surfers association, an "ocean mo
on" watch to Carers Australia and boxing gloves from Danny Green.
As for Mrs Abbott? After two years of charity and patron events, Margie kept jus
t one declared physical gift
a $203 set of cycling gear.
WHAT THE FORMER PM KEPT
Cycling clothing from a Sydney cycling club ($11)
Shimano bicycle gears, wheels and voucher from Japanese PM ($2475)
Leather briefcase and fountain pen from French President
Silver cufflinks from US Secretary of State ($61)
SOME OF WHAT HE HANDED OVER
Necklace and watch from Indian PM
Boxing gloves from Danny Green
Handmade chair from Marty Teare
Swords from Indonesian president and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Tweet
Pin It
submit to reddit
Email article
Print
Most popular
1 Tony Abbott greets former schoolmates from Riverview Old Ignatians for their 4
0th anniversary celebrations at Kirribilli House. Tony Abbott and his old boys p
arty at Kirribilli ...
Contains:
2 A file photo of the then Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's advance team, Richard
Dowdy during a visit to the Cadbury factory during the 2013 federal election ca
mpaign. Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who ...
Contains:
3 Treasurer Joe Hockey appears likely to retain a spot in cabinet under new Prim
e Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to ...
Contains:
4 Malcolm Turnbull was accompanied by his deputy Julie Bishop (pictured) and wif

e Lucy, having just delivered his first press conference as Prime Minister, when
he had the insult hurled at him. Tony Abbott staffer welcomes new Prime Ministe
r ...
Contains:
5 Social Services Minister Scott Morrison during a radio interview in the press
gallery at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 7 September 2015. Photo: Alex
Ellinghausen Scott Morrison: 1. Ray Hadley: 0. And God? We're ...
Contains:
HuffPost Australia
headline
Why Mike Baird And Julie Bishop Rule Social Media HuffPost Australia external si
te
headline
Hockey To Survive Cabinet Shakeup, Others Not So Lucky HuffPost Australia extern
al site
LATEST VIDEO
Federal Politics Videos
More video
Scott Morrison: 'judge my policies but not my faith'
Broadcaster Ray Hadley grills Social Services Minister Scott Morrison over h
is role in the downfall of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. (Courtesy of ABC N
ews 24).
null Click to play video
Joe Hockey's last hurrah? "
null Click to play video
Nationals MP: voters may punish Liberals"
null Click to play video
Labor questions Turnbull's conviction "
Follow Us
Featured advertisers
Special offers
Credit card, savings and loan rates by Mozo
Real Estate
apartment-therapy
Renovate your lounge on a budget
Domain.com.au
Buy real estate
Snap and send to win $10,000
Investor Hints & Tips
Jobs
Adzuna Icon
Find your perfect job today
Adzuna.com.au
What is Adzuna?
Where are all the jobs?
Jobs blog
Horse Racing
WizardOfOdds_banner_172x115
The Ultimate Horse Racing Form Guide

Theage.com.au
Horse Racing News
Latest Sport News
Cricket News
Essential Baby
celeb
Is this the worst baby celeb name yet?
Essentialbaby.com.au
Due Date Calculator
Baby names
Ovulation calculator
Dating
Couple in a piggyback pose
Australia's Favourite Dating Site
Rsvp.com.au
Meet someone special on RSVP
Get started for free!
Singles events for all ages
Compare and Save
Skip to:
Best Deals
Mobile
Broadband
Home Loans
Credit Cards
Low Rate Cards
Rewards Cards
Savings Accts
Money Deals
Loans
Check out today's best deals
Low Rate Home Loans
Rates as low as 3.99% p.a + free 100% offset account
More Info
40,000 Bonus Points
Plus 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 15 months
Check it Out
Earn Velocity Points
Earn up to 100,000 Velocity Points, limited time only!
Find Out More
Best Phone Plans
GUIDE Our Top 5 picks of mobile plans
Phone Plans
On Optus Network

Deals from big and small carriers including Optus

Phone Plans
Readers' most viewed
Most viewed articles on Brisbane Times
Top 5 Federal Politics articles
Tony Abbott and his old boys party at Kirribilli House
What will happen to Peta Credlin and Brian Loughnane, Liberal power couple?
Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to be sacked, Joe Hockey to sur
vive
Tony Abbott staffer welcomes new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a four
-letter expletive
Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who flung c-word at Malcolm Turn
bull
Most viewed articles on WA Today
Top 5 Federal Politics articles
Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who flung c-word at Malcolm Turn
bull
Tony Abbott and his old boys party at Kirribilli House
Canning byelection: Andrew Hastie ruffled by journo Geof Parry's questions
Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to be sacked, Joe Hockey to sur
vive
Canning byelection: Bill Shorten hits back at Andrew Hastie over Afghanistan
remarks
Most viewed articles on The Age
Top 5 Federal Politics articles
Tony Abbott and his old boys party at Kirribilli House
Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to be sacked, Joe Hockey to sur
vive
Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who flung c-word at Malcolm Turn
bull
Tony Abbott staffer welcomes new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a four
-letter expletive
Canning byelection: Bill Shorten hits back at Andrew Hastie over Afghanistan
remarks
Most viewed articles on Canberra Times
Top 5 Federal Politics articles
Tony Abbott's gifts to keep - leather suitcase from Francois, bike gear from
Shinzo
Tony Abbott and his old boys party at Kirribilli House
Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to be sacked, Joe Hockey to sur
vive
Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who flung c-word at Malcolm Turn
bull
Tony Abbott staffer welcomes new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a four
-letter expletive
Most viewed articles on The Sydney Morning Herald
Top 5 Federal Politics articles
Tony Abbott and his old boys party at Kirribilli House
Tony Abbott's gifts to keep - leather suitcase from Francois, bike gear from

Shinzo
Judgment day has ministers on edge with some to be sacked, Joe Hockey to sur
vive
Tony Abbott staffer welcomes new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with a four
-letter expletive
Meet Richard Dowdy, the Tony Abbott staffer who flung c-word at Malcolm Turn
bull
SMH Home NSW Politics World National Environment Business Digital Life Enter
tainment Life & Style Travel Cars Exec Style Sport Weather
Sydney Morning Herald
Sitemap
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise with Us
AM Today
Last 8 days
Text Version
Site Accessibility Guide
Connect
Mobile Site
SMH for iPad
Digital Edition
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Products & Services
Subscribe
Manage My Subscription
My Benefits
Good Food Guide
SMH Shop
Newsletters
Cracka Wines
Classifieds
Place an Ad
Accommodation
Cars
Dating
Jobs
Property Price Data
Real Estate
Buy and Sell
Tributes
Celebrations
Special Reports
Fairfax Media
Member Centre
Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
News Store Archive
Photo Sales
Purchase Front Pages
Fairfax Syndication

Fairfax Events
Fairfax Careers
Press Council
Feedback Form
Fairfax Media
Our Sites
The Sydney Morning Herald The Age Adzuna Domain Drive RSVP Essential Baby In
vestSMART APM Stayz Weatherzone TheVine
Our Partners
Buy & Sell Cruises Lawyers Credit Cards Business Mechanics Electricians Fitn
ess Hair Salons Weddings Home Builder Cracker
Copyright 2015 Fairfax Media