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G’Day USA is the key marketing event for Australia in the US. It’s sponsored by Qantas, Tourism Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, all of whom are keen to keep people, capital and goodwill moving between the two countries.
Mr Turnbull ensured that festivities got underway in fine style, attending a party by the illuminated pool at the W Hotel in Hollywood.
He did everything a statesman should: mingled with guests, praised the wine, marvelled at the lamb chops, reflected on the long friendship between the US and Australia, and then, when talk turned to the leadership of his party, turned and hurried out, citing another pressing engagement.
“On that note, goodnight!” he said.
Turnbull will address the California Club tomorrow, where he is due to speak about “Australia’s experience with home-grown terrorism in the wake of the (Sydney Lindt) cafe siege, and an earlier plot by ISIS sympathisers to behead random civilians in the country.”
Speaking at G’Day USA, he said he had been following news of the inquest on the net.
One of the victims, Katrina Dawson, lived in Malcolm’s electorate, and he knew the family.
He also knows Tori Johnson‘s father, who once painted a portrait for his wife, Lucy.
“It was a shattering experience for the whole city, it was a tragic 36 hours,” he said. “It was horrible that two such wonderful young people would be killed in that way.”
Mr Turnbull is due to remain in the US until at least the end of the week.
The G’Day USA program will culminate in a gala ball on Saturday night, with presenters including Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Chris Hemsworth, Rachel Griffiths, Poppy Montgomery, John Travolta, Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, Ryan Kwanten, Angus Sampson, Elizabeth Debicki, Tim Minchin, Xavier Samuel, Russell Hitchcock, Philip Noyce, Cameron Daddo, Emilie de Ravin and Jesse Spencer.
Chair of Tourism Australia Geoff Dixon will speak at the Tourism Summit tomorrow, and on Friday, guests will hear from Rowen Craigie of Crown Resorts.
Serving up the grub? Neil Perry. Those American guests are in for a treat.
