Oprah in Australia

[Greg Ward]

Wow. If you are worried about waste, I think you are picking on the wrong horse here, seems a little paranoid, a little petty really.

So many words about wasted funds. NSW How about 350 million on inner city failed transit plans.

How about 30 billion on the NBN (I'll allow 10 billion as perhaps the right amount to be spent)

How about 45 million Federal on soccer

We've 30+ at the moment i Mexica, 5 star junket for global warming

So we spend a bit on marketing with Oprah, he most famous women in the world,
I think Qantas is flying them for free, I'm sure most of the trip is paid for in some way or other.

This will be huge for us globally, she didn't go to Fiji, or China, or France, all of whom would pay millions more for her presence, even if they are broke (well, perhaps not China)

She is syndicated to around 100 countries.

Go and have a beer and rant to the television about something worthwhile.....
....... the cricket......

Gfeg

[Blue-deviled]

Bit harsh. To say she has no talent is a fair way of the mark. To come from poverty as a child, to a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world takes a fair bit of talent if you ask me.

In the trade, we refer to her as 'she who sells books'!

[Lignum]

Rumour is, she is either going to Philip Island to see the Penguins, or up to Sovereign hill. Hope it’s the latter as its only 3 blocks from my place and I know of a few good holes in the fence where I can get in. Would be great to say G`day and see if she wanted to come back and check my shed out.

[jimbur]

Would be great to say G`day and see if she wanted to come back and check my shed out.

Remember they speak a different language over there. Checking someone's shed out could mean an invitation to indulge in unspeakable acts.
Cheers,
Jim

[AlexS]

No sorry, on principal I'm against spending millions of dollars on uncertain and intangible returns, when the NSW government is crying poor over hospitals amongst other things. As far as I know, the money is not coming out of any tourism promotion budget, I'll bet there was no due diligence done on the expenditure versus expected return. It's just something that we're expected to wear so that those who are fans of her vacuous show can queue up to say they've seen her. Any benefit to the economy of this country from the exercise is highly speculative and impossible to quantify. It is just an excuse offered as a counter-argument to the objections raised, and a poor one at that.

I have no problem with spending millions on uncertain returns - as long as they're not my dollars. If there is going to be so much benefit for the tourism industry, let them spend their dollars. It's not the role of governments to spend our money on such chancy enterprises.

[silentC]

Indeed, although some of the money did come from the budget of Tourism Australia.

I wonder what other industries have government sponsored advertising?

[ozhunter]

I would have rather seen the dudes from OCC when they were here......yeah I know, I'm a redneck. Getting off now

[ajw]

I wonder what other industries have government sponsored advertising?

Not sure if you'd call it advertising, but Austrade is a government department set up to help exporters of all kinds, and to help people wanting to buy our goods and services. Their 2009/10 report shows they received around $200 million in direct funding, and another $200 million in grants that were issued to exporters. austrade.gov.au

The Oprah bandwagon is with us now, and it's looking like a well-orchestrated plan to me. Groups of happy visitors fanning out across the country, with positive images of Australia that will be seen in over 100 countries, and by 40 million U.S. residents.

I'm not a fan of her TV show, but I still think this is an excellent promotion for Australia.

ajw

[bluegum30]

If she does agree to take a squiz at your shed Lignum, whatever you do don't offer her a XXXX ,years ago that was the brand rain coats the Yanks use to sell.

[acmegridley]

You will all get your chance to get square come the March elections,not that she has any great opposition(the premier I am referring to)
GREAT STATE :
TRANSPORT SYSTEM STUFFED
HEALTH SYSTEM STUFFED
HOSPITAL SYSTEM STUFFED
ROAD SYSTEM STUFFED,
anything I have missed?.
Dont worry about it we'll spend a million bucks put grass on the Harbour Bridge and all have a lovely picnic.What a wank!!!
At least in WA they are spending their money wisely new infrastructure, new railway stations,new roads etc etc

[munruben]

Im so surprised. It appears im the only one here that likes her.

Not to worry mate at least it has been an interesting topic and we wont hold it against you.

[Lignum]

Not to worry mate at least it has been an interesting topic and we wont hold it against you.

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.

[Blue-deviled]

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.

Slim Oprah, or the other one?

[Toymaker Len]

One day I was selling in The Rocks Market and an american woman put an empty suitcase on my table and proceeded to fill it up with my woodwork !!! Large purchases are not unusual with wealthy americans (and lets face it if they are staying in a hotel in The Rocks they are wealthy). If they want it they can put it on the bottomless Visa and have it right now.
THATS why we are paying $3m. to get $100m. worth of free publicity in the states. If every shop/hotel/entertainment in Sydney/Bris/Perth/etc gets a few of those sort of customers...we get back (ballpark estimate) something like $200 for every $1 spent. And as much as their culture is hysterical and insane the individuals are really nice people.

[Grumpy John]

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.

That's gotta be a violation of "The Code" .