One staffer said it looked like a school somewhere had lost its blackboard, while a senator referred to it as a placard and asked whether it was Muldoon's revenge against the Australian people. Another senator called it an unsightly eyesore and asked for it to be removed so it could no longer intimidate senators.
Now that left our Prime Minister with the incredible cheek, chortling. He didn't like the McCahon either, but liked Fraser even less.
At the time Muldoon, who the Aussies liked to refer to as Piggy, confided that he knew that by giving them the painting, Talboy's visit would at least be on the front page of every newspaper in Australia - and he was right.
And the painting ensured that this country wouldn't be forgotten by the Australians, given that its main feature was two simple words - I AM.
The keen bidding at last night's auction, does raise questions over Muldoon's foresight, given that be once observed that Kiwis going to live in Australia increases the IQ of both countries.
This was most certainly a case of a Greek bearing a gift backfiring!