FED:PM Gillard defends cup bid

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2010
FED:PM Gillard defends cup bid

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD says she's disappointed Australia lost its bid for the
World Cup .. but is defending the 45.6-million dollar campaign.

Australia received only one vote in the first round of the FIFA vote .. with Qatar
taking out the honours to host the world's biggest sporting event in 2022.

Indigenous welfare advocate SAM WATSON says the bid was a waste of public money that
would have been better spent on Aboriginal health and education programs.

But Ms GILLARD denies it was a waste of taxpayers' money .. saying FRANK LOWY and the
bid team did a remarkable job .. and there were two unsuccessful bids before Sydney attracted
the Olympics in 2000.

Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT says he shares the disappointment .. that plenty of people
will be coming forward to say the bid was wrong .. but that he thinks it deserved a better
reception from FIFA.

AAP RTV pjo/sb/jkl

KEYWORD: WC22 FEDERAL (CANBERRA)

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