Crikey alerts us to this story in the Daily Telegraph.

BOB Carr has embarrassed his former State Government colleagues by racking up a new record of $438,683 for expenses billed by a retired premier.

The huge cost to NSW taxpayers of keeping Mr Carr in his first year of retirement includes a $4287 bill for unspecified "books and periodicals".

Nevertheless, this morning his successor Morris Iemma defended the spree.

The bills were incurred while Mr Carr took on a controversial new job as an adviser with Macquarie Bank, an appointment rumoured to be worth $500,000 a year.

The itemised costs do not include his indexed pension, rumoured to be about $130,000 a year.

Then there's another ex-ALP Leader in NSW - who was markedly less successful.

The standout exception is Barrie Unsworth, who costs taxpayers not one cent and chooses to use public transport at his own expense. . .

It is understood Mr Unsworth has made a principled decision not to submit claims despite his eligibility to do so.

A spokesman for Mr Iemma confirmed that Mr Unsworth did not lodge any claims, even refusing a vehicle.

"As far as I know, he lives on the Northern Beaches and catches Forest Coachlines to work with other commuters," the spokesman said.

"I think he's just an all-round good bloke and does not want to charge anything to taxpayers."

Mr Unsworth's jobs in retirement include chairman of State Transit.

John Fahey is also a low cost former premier.

His bills in 2005-06 came to just $27,912.