Obama Makes Headlines in Australia for All the Wrong Reasons
SYDNEY—It was clear this week in the streets of Sydney that someone very important was in town—with extended traffic jams, increased police presence and sirens raging across the city serving to herald the arrival of former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as they embarked on a speaking tour.
But the increased delays were only the beginning of a trip plagued by headlines that seemed to dog the Obamas throughout their stay down under. They were accused of insulting a high-profile indigenous woman, angering the country’s Wurundjeri indigenous community for a “lack of understanding and respect,” while paparazzi caught the couple failing to use safety equipment while sightseeing on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Even before his arrival, the buzz over Obama’s Australian tour was palpable, with reports of a $1 million payday for a highly anticipated series of talks with former Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop raising eyebrows among conservative critics. Tickets for the events were sold for up to an eye-popping $900.