Taxpayers fund Government consultant Goran Roos" lavish meals, fines and wines State Government adviser Goran Roos. AN economic expert who said the State Government was wasting money by supporting thousands of jobs at Holden is regularly billing the taxpayer for expensive meals and wines worth up to $124 a bottle. Former Thinker in Residence Goran Roos, now employed by the State Government as an Economic Development Board consultant, spent almost $40,000 in one two-month period and claims have included coffees, snacks and $50 tips to waiters, as well as fine dining with his wife. The expense claims have been approved as legitimate, but the Opposition has described them as "massively excessive" and it now wants a review of the government allowances system. Mr Roos, from Sweden, was the state's Thinker in Residence in 2011, when he wrote off taxpayer support for Holden, saying the car industry was uncompetitive and the Government had "to let it go"." He was hired by the Government as a manufacturing consultant and has been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees for projects investigating the defence and automotive industries. Government documents show Mr Roos successfully claimed almost $40,000 in expenses accrued in October and November last year - including accommodation, air travel, laundry, meals and $522 for a book about technology. In one week during that time, he claimed almost $1500 for four restaurant meals, including two occasions when his wife was among the guests. The Ambassador of Finland and his wife were guests of Mr Roos at one of these meals, a dinner at the award-winning Chianti Classico restaurant. The bill shows the diners enjoyed a bottle of Joseph Sparkling Red worth $123.90. Another dinner bill for Mr Roos and one guest was at the "world famous"" Vlados Restaurant in Melbourne, which came to $334, and included a $98 bottle of red believed to be a Levantine Hill Estate pinot noir 2012. He tipped the waiter $50. Twice last year, Mr Roos and his wife entertained manufacturing department senior managers, on one occasion at Stefano's restaurant in Mildura, racking up a $430 bill. At the other end of the scale, Mr Roos claimed $4.18 for a "snack"" on October 13. The Opposition, which obtained the bills, described many as "massively excessive"," especially as services are being cut and taxes raised to reduce the budget deficit. "It is particularly galling that the taxpayer was left to pick up the tab and a generous tip for very expensive meals,"" said the Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council, David Ridgway. "It's reminiscent of the Premier shouting the bar at the Old Spot Hotel with taxpayers" money and it's little wonder the Weatherill Government has racked up record levels of debt."" Mr Ridgway said he didn't understand why taxpayers should pick up the bill for a cup of coffee, dry cleaning or a book worth more than $500. "There needs to be much tighter control of the expense accounts,"" he said. Mr Roos said dinner dates were often an option for catching up with business contacts. "If someone is travelling from abroad or with a tough diary, it can be difficult to find time to meet them,"" Mr Roos said while on a business trip in Stockholm yesterday. "And frequently a meal is something you do to reward the time people make for you."" Mr Roos said his wife joined him when his guest brought their partner but that this was not a regular event. The Government did not reveal how much Mr Roos has earned as its consultant or the total cost of his expenses. "This is petty payback from the Liberal Party for Professor Roos publicly advocating for the Federal Government to fulfil its election promise and to continue to build submarines in South Australia,"" a Government spokesman said. Mr Marshall and the Liberal opposition have until now made glowing statements about Mr Roos, his expertise and the role he plays. Welfare agencies said most householders would be shocked at the size of the meal bills, but that they were common in the corporate world. But the SA Council of Social Service and Uniting Communities backed calls for a review of allowances, if they included those available to state MPs.