Taxpayers fork out $200k for Abbott trip

Taxpayers forked out more than $200,000 for Tony Abbott's trip to the Torres Strait, including a $37,000 payout to a hotel for cancelled bookings.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed the five-day tour of the region cost $179,077, with $24,327 alone spent on a visit to the resting place of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo.

Thursday Island's Jardine Motel was compensated when the department cancelled bookings for 33 rooms at the last minute.

Senior departmental official Caroline Edwards confirmed to a Senate estimates hearing on Friday that the department had overestimated the number of staff travelling to the island. She admitted the hotel was given notice "very late".

A senior officer from the department was appointed to come to a "reasonable accommodation" with angry hotel owner Steve Mills.

The department weighed up the disadvantage experienced by the hotel with the "prudent" use of public funds in determining the compensation figure.

"That was a lot less than the accommodation would have cost," Ms Edwards said, adding that it was reasonable in the circumstances.

However, the department maintains no formal bookings were made throughout the reservation process.

"But an expectation had arisen," Ms Edwards said.

Ms Edwards said the feedback from the trip - which was part of Mr Abbott's commitment to spend one week each year in a remote community - had been positive.

Locals were "very excited" to have around eight ministers and the prime minister in the region to attend events and meetings.

In addition, several issues were raised that were now "front and centre" for policy development and the trip to Mer Island to visit Mabo's grave was a "huge" event.

"It was an extremely important ceremonial event in the history of the nation," Ms Edwards told the hearing.