{
  "id": 10515797,
  "title": "Mayor defends cocktails, AirPods, steaks, KFC credit card spend",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/mayor-defends-cocktails-airpods-steaks-kfc-credit-card-spend",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T19:07:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-29/launceston-mayor-matthew-garwood-credit-card-spending/107203030"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood has defended his spending on a work-issued credit card, which totaled over $17,000 over three years. Items covered include Apple AirPods, Tommy Hilfiger shirts, Uber Eats purchases, a night out at a Launceston bar, a steak dinner at a Canberra restaurant, and a KFC delivery in Japan. Some of the larger charges included $1,750 spent on cocktails at Midnight Rambler in December 2023, and $415.08 on a steak, four cocktails, and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon in November 2024. A spokesperson for the City of Launceston stated that the council has reviewed and strengthened its governance framework regarding credit card use and expenses, and that any questions about transactions will result in further information being sought.",
  "summary": "A Tasmanian mayor defends items bought with a work-issued credit card that racked up more than $17,000 across three years.",
  "key_points": [
    "Mayor Matthew Garwood spent $17,000 on work credit card over three years.",
    "Expenses included AirPods, steaks, KFC, and Apple AirPods.",
    "City of Launceston reviewed governance framework for credit card use."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}