The federal budget will cost families thousands of dollars in tax increases, rising medical costs and reduced benefits, but the Liberal Party will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from budget-related fund-raising events.
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On Friday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott flew to Melbourne for an evening fund-raiser for two senior cabinet colleagues that could raise up to $50,000. The event followed a ''budget briefing'' breakfast with Treasurer Joe Hockey and former treasurer Peter Costello in Melbourne's ritzy Crown Palladium room on Friday morning, which could have raised up to $150,000.
But the traditional round of post-budget dinners on Tuesday night in Parliament House's Great Hall and Mural Hall - which featured Mr Abbott, Mr Hockey and other senior ministers - will likely prove to be the most lucrative, potentially raising up to $500,000.
The Labor Party has not missed out on the fund-raising bonanza either, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten attending an event after his Thursday night budget reply speech that could have raised up to $80,000.
Mr Abbott joined Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Small Business Minister Bruce Billson for a fund-raising dinner at the Mornington Racing Club on Friday night.
The dinner cost Liberal Party members $95 a head, while non-members were charged $125 a head. A two-course dinner was included in the package.
If the 500-person dining room was fully booked, Mr Hunt and Mr Billson's federal electorates conferences would raise about $50,000 - though the net figure is likely to be lower after costs such as catering and facility hire are factored in.
The breakfast event addressed by Mr Hockey on Friday was organised by the Higgins 200 Club, which supports Higgins MP Kelly O'Dwyer.
A table of 10 at the event cost club members $1200, while non-members were charged $1350. Premium corporate tables, which entitle a company's logo to be acknowledged in an audiovisual display, cost $2500.
If the event was fully subscribed, 130 tables at the lowest rate of $1200 a table would raise $156,000, though that figure does not include the cost of venue hire and catering.
Tuesday night's round of post-budget fund-raisers in Parliament House's Great Hall and Mural Hall cost between $200 and $1000 per person, or $10,000 a table.
The Great Hall can comfortably accommodate about 600 people, so if all tickets were charged at the lowest rate of $200 per person, the event would raise $120,000. At the highest rate of $1000 per person, the event would raise $600,000.
One flyer advertising a related post-budget event in the Mural Hall, which seats at least 100 people and which was sent out by NSW MP Paul Fletcher, requested a $500 donation and touted a dinner that would be addressed by senior ministers.
Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane declined to comment about how much money was raised.
Fairfax Media has spoken to people who attended the budget night Great Hall dinner and one attendee confirmed it had been ''absolutely chockers, it was full to the boot''.
