Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Australia's latest bid to lure back tourists earned mixed reviews on Tuesday, with many viewers cringing at its Crocodile Dundee-style themes while experts said it may strike a chord with foreigners.
The TV advert, under the new slogan "There is nothing like Australia" and backed by a catchy song, features broad-accented Aussies and smiling visitors enjoying well-known attractions such as beaches and the giant red rock Uluru.
Reviewers were quick to jump on the dated feel of the ad, which ignores campaigns of recent years and harks back to the 1980s "shrimp on the barbie" commercials fronted by actor Paul Hogan.
"A wonderful piece of creative from 1987," said one comment on the Mumbrella (www.mumbrella.com.au) media site.
"Why do we have to portray ourselves as a nation of backward bogans (hicks) stuck in a timewarp on the global stage?" said another comment, while the Sydney Morning Herald called the ad an "ocker (unsophisticated) shocker".
"Stone the crows, are they fair dinkum (genuine) about this flamin' ad?" asked the newspaper, parodying Australian speech. "What the bloody hell were they thinking?"
However, academics believe the advert may be popular with tourists, whose numbers have dwindled after record highs in the 1990s.
"I think it probably will work," cultural historian Tony Moore told the Herald.
Australian tourism initiatives have struggled in recent years, with 2006's "So where the bloody hell are you?" campaign deemed offensive by some.
Director Baz Luhrmann's 2008 movie "Australia", which tourism officials hoped would draw in foreign visitors, also proved a miss with critics.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments