Abbott's G20 costs embarrassing: Labor

Labor says the costs for staging the G20 meeting in Australia have grown substantially when the prime minister said he would cut back on spending.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (left) with Jimbelung the koala, while Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on. (AAP Image/Andrew Taylor, G20 Australia) Source: G20 AUSTRALIA

Federal Labor says Prime Minister Tony Abbott should be embarrassed about allowing the costs for staging the Group of 20 meeting in Australia last year to blow out when he promised to cut "frivolous spending".

Labor's spokesman for waste Pat Conroy said hotel bills have blown out to around three times the amount budgeted for and a taxi bill 12 times the price originally planned, while $9.6 million was spent on upgrading buildings and $24,000 to "cuddle a koala" with the prime minister.

"For a man who bragged about reducing G20 costs, Mr Abbott has embarrassed himself and his government," Mr Conroy said in a statement on Sunday.