I give up, honestly, I fucking give up...More than $3 million will be spent by the federal and NSW governments bringing Oprah Winfrey to Sydney - but Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson says it is money well spent.
Announcing the coup in Sydney today, Mr Ferguson said Winfrey's show had a weekly following of 40 million American viewers and was screened in 145 countries.
"This truly represents an amazing opportunity to showcase Australia, the warmth and hospitality of our people and the depth and breadth of everything our country has to offer visitors from around the world," he said.
"Tourism Australia is finally getting it together.
"We as a nation will win as a result of this coup."
The trip, carried out in conjunction with Qantas, will be partly financed with $1.5 million from Tourism Australia's current financial year marketing budget.
"I think it's money well spent," Mr Ferguson said.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally said the state government would contribute between $1 million and $2 million.
"We're absolutely delighted the most successful talk show, probably ever, is coming to Australia, coming to Sydney," she said, adding that it had been in the planning stages for the past year.
Ms Keneally paid tribute to those in the state government who kept it confidential.
"In the NSW government, we dubbed it Project O," she said.
Former federal tourism minister John Brown made an impromptu speech in which he implored the media not to be "cynical about the cost".
"We spent hundreds of millions of dollars over 30 years without much effect, I must say that honestly," he said.
"The publicity that Oprah will bring to Australia around the world is something you couldn't buy."
About 3000 of Winfrey's Australian fans will be invited to sit in the audience at Sydney Opera House.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/taxpayers-to- ... utostart=1
Oprah at the Opera
Oprah at the Opera
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Oprah at the Opera
Hey, she's the most powerful woman in America*, that counts as a State Official, donnit?
*more so than Madonna!
*more so than Madonna!
Re: Oprah at the Opera
Seconded.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”