The caffeine-fuelled engine of Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie's office has been restored, with a mystery coffee machine reappearing after an eight-month absence.
The Great Coffee Machine Disappearance
Staff working for the crossbench senator can finally breathe a sigh of relief after locating their small Breville Nespresso coffee machine this week. The device had been officially reported as missing back in March, sparking a minor parliamentary mystery.
The machine's disappearance came to public attention after The West Australian revealed it was among numerous items politicians had recorded as lost or missing during the first half of the year. Senator Lambie's office had formally filed a report with the Finance Department stating the appliance couldn't be located.
An Unexpected History Revealed
Paperwork from the investigation revealed an interesting backstory. A departmental officer who searched for the machine in April noted it had originally been purchased by former Liberal senator Eric Abetz years ago.
Mr Abetz, now well established in the Tasmanian State Parliament, apparently left the machine behind when he vacated the office. The bureaucrat's notes simply stated: Not in office now regarding Mr Abetz's whereabouts.
The Sweet Resolution
Happily, the mystery reached a satisfying conclusion this week. Senator Lambie's spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the coffee machine had been rediscovered.
Apparently, the machine had been used when Senator Lambie first took office but was eventually packed away due to concerns about overconsumption of caffeine and frothy milk. It had been stored in its original box at the back of a cupboard and forgotten for several years.
The Finance Department has been officially notified about the rediscovery, and all relevant paperwork has been updated to reflect the machine's safe return.
While the coffee machine saga has ended, it highlights the broader issue of missing parliamentary property. Digital cameras were the most commonly lost items, with fourteen cameras valued at approximately $16,000 reported lost or stolen in the first part of the year alone.
