Let the shopping spree begin
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to give U.S. President Barack Obama an iPod of Australian music speaks volumes about the ongoing evolution of the strong relationship between Australia and the United States. While successive leaders have demonstrated their warm commitment to the international relationship, it is hard to imagine John Howard, or even Kevin Rudd, offering such a gift. But the Prime Minister’s choice of gift raises a number of big questions. First there is the controversy over whether she should have included some AC/DC. Second, how can anyone chose only one Nick Cave song for a compilation album? And finally, but most significantly, did the Australian taxpayer pay up to $2.19 for songs downloaded from the Australian iTunes site or did the PM’s staff wait until they got to America so that they paid only 99 cents for access to exactly the same songs?
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Giving our consumer watchdog more teeth to tackle companies gouging shoppers
Australians know they’re being ripped off at the supermarket checkout.
Former Ministers Smith and Street best foreign aid records over last 40 years
The new report Charity ends at home: The decline of foreign aid in Australia examines the history of Australia’s Official Development Assistance scheme – known as foreign aid. The research by The Australia Institute, in collaboration with Jubilee Australia Research Centre, outlines that the former Labor Minister, Stephen Smith, and Liberal Minister from the 70’s,
AUSFTA: A bad deal then. Even worse now.
Australian consumers paid a high price for John Howard’s determination to sign a ‘Free Trade Agreement’ with the US.