“Shopping”?…”Talking to our great sporting identities”??… “Enjoying the beautiful Victorian weather”??? That’s it, Prime Minister? Is that really the best you can do when asked to name some of the activities Secretary of State Hilary Clinton might wish to enjoy on her visit to Melbourne (link to video moment here, at 1.13, via The Age and Channel 10 news)? Well, she’s a lady and all that, so SURELY she loves to shop, right? What woman doesn’t? Please. So, she’ll squeeze  a little ‘shopping’ in between the “top level talks about defence and trade”? Somewhere in there, we’ll work in a few be-medalled sports stars and a healthy level of exposure to our wonderful spring sunshine, and there you have it – the picture-perfect Melbourne experience.

Would it have been too big an ask to pop a little mention of Melbourne’s art and culture into that screen grab? “Oh, we’ll be zipping over to Fed Square to take a peek at the Indigenous Collection at the NGV”, or “We’re taking a tour of some of the City of Melbourne’s world-renowned street and public art zones”. But no. Shopping, sport and sunshine. Don’t get me wrong – I love many of our great sporting traditions. And Melbourne in spring? Sublime. But, really – what happened to celebrating our diverse and exciting culture?

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi. Cue: heavy sigh.

(image via The Sydney Morning Herald

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