Taxpayers forked out more than $8500 for former treasurer Joe Hockey’s budget night drinks last year.

Ministers, staff and public servants attended the Parliament House party last May, which new figures – released under Senate estimates – showed cost $8568.

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Treasury also said former small business minister Bruce Billson spent $3240 on two budget night “stakeholder” events at Parliament House.

Mr Billson played a key role in last year’s budget, which included a package of small business measures.

The department declined to itemise the drinks and food served at the party as it would have been “an unreasonable diversion of departmental resources”.

No entertainment was provided at the events, it said.

Mr Hockey also hosted a lunch for up to 20 guests when visiting G20-host Turkey in September last year, with Treasury’s portion of the Istanbul restaurant bill coming to $1635.