One of Australia's most senior bureaucrats has revealed some unusual savings measures he has embraced to save his department money.
Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary Michael Pezzullo, appearing before a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, was quizzed about the price tag attached to fixture and fitting upgrades at his offices.
Under questioning from Labor senator Kim Carr, Mr Pezzullo said the $78,000 was spent on items including alarms and reinforced doors.
"The only enhancements that I can recall are security features to allow more highly classified material to be stored in my office," he told senators.
Mr Pezzullo then let slip some of the austerity measures he has personally embraced while at the helm.
"From memory, I think I even brought my chair over from my former headquarters in Sydney," he said.
And his border force commissioner Roman Quaedvleig refused an en-suite bathroom when the immigration and border protection departments were merged.
"I even - in the bathroom I have - take the towels home to wash them myself," Mr Pezzullo said.
"I'm trying to save as much as we can."
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