By Belinda Luscombe

CLAUDIA'S DEFLATION

Her figure is one thing, but something seems to be wrong with CLAUDIA SCHIFFER's figures--either that, or nasty Australians are lying about her. When the supermodel was visiting the country last month to see fiance David Copperfield perform, local current-affairs show Witness sought an interview. Her Australian agent asked holiday rates: $30,000 for one hour. That's Witness's story. Ken Smith, proprietor of Schiffer's Australian agency, dismisses it as a "pie-in-the-sky rumor." So no interview--but Melbourne businessman Jean Mazloun says he struck a $280,000 deal with Schiffer's New York management for her to appear at the Australian designer-collections parade. "And it was worth every cent," says Mazloun. Schiffer's New York agent, like his Aussie counterpart, swears the model's fee was nowhere near the quoted figure. "I wish," says Aline Souliers. "My cut would be fantastic."

WILL SUE FOR FOOD

The fate of the nonfamous ex-spouse of a big star is, as LARRY FORTENSKY has found, a bitter one, especially when you've signed a prenup agreeing to get zip. Frustrated by the slow pace of his divorce from LIZ TAYLOR, Fortensky has filed for more spousal support and access to Taylor's records. "We're surprised and disappointed," says Neil Papiano, Taylor's lawyer. Counters Raoul Felder, for Fortensky: "We've gotten lots of charm, but it's going nowhere."

SEEN & HEARD

Johnny Mathis, the make-out maestro of MTV? It looked as if it could happen when, almost 39 years after Wonderful! Wonderful! hit the charts, Mathis' new album debuted at 119 on the Billboard 200. Alas, it charted for only a week. Not that Mathis, 60, cares. "Music is like food or sex," he says. "You like it or you don't."

He already has the jewels, the Lamborghini and the capes (yes, capes), so it seems logical that Deion ("Prime Time") Sanders' next career move will be Hollywood-ward. The Dallas Cowboy has signed a $2 million deal to star in an action pic, Variety reports. Maybe he should change his nickname to "Big Box Office."

GEORGE MEANY LITE

It has been hard for KATHIE LEE GIFFORD to stay perky recently. Having recovered from the embarrassing disclosure that her Wal-Mart clothing line was made in Honduran sweatshops, she was told that one item, a faux-antique blouse, was manufactured in a New York City plant where workers were grossly underpaid. Gifford didn't hesitate. She dispatched her husband, TV sports presenter Frank, to hand out envelopes containing $300 each to some of the workers--accompanied by a publicist, natch.