Federal bureaucrats accepted 1,026 gifts with a total value of $540,000 last year

Gift givers include foreign governments, corporations and lobbyists — as well as AI companies such as OpenAI, which hosted several dinners for senior government officials.

Sean Johnson19 February 2026

Senior officials in federal government departments accepted 1,026 gifts and benefits from external parties in 2025, including dinners, sports and conference tickets, airline lounge memberships, transport and flight upgrades.

Secretaries and other heads of Australian Public Service (APS) agencies are required every three months to disclose any gifts and benefits that they and their spouses and children receive with an estimated value over $100, excluding GST. APSC guidance also advises heads to disclose gifts received by their staff.

An analysis of department gift and benefit registers shows secretaries and other officials from 16 federal departments received 1,026 freebies with a total value of $540,000 in 2025.

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