Leader visits cost Aust more than $600,000

Taxpayers forked out more than $600,000 for Australia to host a swathe of foreign leaders over the past year.

Figures released to a Senate estimates committee show the visit by French President Francois Hollande in November after the G20 summit was the most expensive, costing $98,466.

This included transport, hospitality and catering, interpreters and flags.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit came a close second, costing $98,459.

Eleven tenders for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit cost $83,521.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's July 2014 visit cost $56,670, including transport, accommodation and associated costs.

And British Prime Minister David Cameron's two-day tour cost $56,042, with more than half going to catering, venue hire, flowers and entertainment.

The government replied to the committee that the costs were "consistent with long-standing practices of former governments".

They varied depending on the level of the visitor, length of visit, size of the delegation and range of program elements.