John Aquilina got a rude shock, by all accounts, when he was forced to leave his $200,000 a year NSW Speaker’s job in April in favour of the independent MP Richard Torbay.

But there was one small compensation. Despite his removal, Mr Aquilina and his wife did not have to give up attending an array of glittering functions around town. In May the honorary secretary-general of the Sydney Consular Corps, Paul Wenham, a non-diplomat who used to be the Finnish consul, sent a message to all consulates.

In it he said that “with a number of changes occurring within the Consular Corps it is considered important if the numbers permit that the following and their partners be invited to national day functions”.

On the list were the Premier, Morris Iemma, the Speaker, Mr Torbay, and Mr Aquilina, who had already been compensated by Mr Iemma with the $143,000 job of government leader of the House.

So Mr Aquilina continues to go to all national day functions around town, offering toasts and taking refreshments.

Yesterday, Mr Aquilina, fresh from recent appearances at Slovenian, Croatian and Italian national day functions and preparing for the American Independence Day, protested: “It’s an extra duty I’ve got.”

Questioned about the free food and drink he consumed at the functions, Mr Aquilina said: “Big deal. Give me a night at home.”

However, not all on the diplomatic circuit are happy with Mr Aquilina’s heavy involvement at functions. The former consul for Trinidad and Tobago, Mike Agostini, said: “Mr Aquilina (always) gave me the impression that he desired to be a part of the Consular Corps circuit in Sydney. After becoming Speaker Mr Aquilina had attended many consular events,” he said.

The dean of the Consular Corps, Joanna Pisani of Malta, said she had seen Mr Aquilina at every reception this year as the Premier’s representative and it was “up to the decision of (each diplomatic) mission whether to invite him”.