It was more than three months ago that Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove impressed foodies everywhere with an intention to buy a Thermomix for the kitchen at Yarralumla.
But it seems bureaucracy has gotten in the way.
Appearing at Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday, the Governor-General's official secretary Mark Fraser revealed the purchase of the must-have mixer was stalled as an "internal tender evaluation panel" scrutinised the $2000 procurement.
Perhaps rattled by the publicity in February, staff are now evaluating the merits of Thermomix compared to rival whitegood, the HotMix Pro.
Senator Cory Bernardi, who chairs the Finance and Public Administration Committee, was clearly bemused with the apparent hold up with the purchase.
"This is kitchen equipment that families purchase in a decisive manner Mr Fraser," he said.
Liberal Senator Dean Smith was similarly perplexed.
"Mr Fraser you could not accuse Government House of being a compulsive shopper. At the last estimates hearing we heard about the Thermomix, which I thought was rather low-brow compared to the other things we could have been talking about," he said.
"I think the story is now how has it taken so long to buy what are really basic kitchen equipment."
Mr Fraser said the panel was scrutinising the benefits but would likely not take up the offer of a Thermomix demonstration offered by the company.
"We have an internal panel that will be reviewing and evaluating all those goods and determining the level of expenditure and the items that will be procured," he said.
Earlier, Mr Fraser was grilled about the latest building works at Government House and the Governor-General's Sydney residence, Admiralty House.
A further $7.9 million over four years was allocated in the latest budget to keep the heritage-listed buildings in order and free of rising damp, asbestos and termites. There are 20 individual buildings between Yarralumla and Admiralty House at Kirribilli, which sits on Sydney Harbour.
That brings the total spend over 14 years to almost $27 million.
Labor Senator Penny Wong pulled up Mr Fraser after he described the capital works budget on the two properties as a "drop in the ocean" of what could be spent.
"Let's not pretend it's not a substantial amount," she said.
Mr Fraser said previous plans to upgrade the pool and tennis court – at a reported cost of $5 million – would not be going ahead in the "current climate".
Some $70,000 was recently spent on Wi-Fi upgrades at Governor-General properties in Canberra and Sydney.
