how Prince Harry spends our money - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bundy · 09-21-2003, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Prince Harry heads to Australia

September 21, 2003

When Harry Wales goes through customs at Sydney airport on Monday, he will attract a lot more attention than the average English schoolkid out to earn his stripes in Australia.

Prince Harry is one of the 10,000 British school leavers living out their dream of partying and tasting freedom in Australia this year before they embark on work, university or, in Harry's case, military academy.

The third in line to Britain's throne is expected to spend at least four months in Australia with an emphasis on playing polo, watching England at the rugby World Cup and reportedly working on a sheep farm and even at Kerry Packer's polo stables.

Harry, 18, will be introduced to the Australian media at a photo opportunity in Sydney on Tuesday when some details of his trip will be revealed.

Officials at Clarence House, where his father the Prince of Wales now lives, stress his trip is private and have not confirmed any details of the post-school sabbatical, which has become as fashionable among Britain's youth as Harry's carefully manicured unkempt hair.

It may be his first trip overseas without his father or any other member of the royal family, but it's not as if he's branching out alone after finishing school in June.

A team of 12 royal security officers costing STG25,000 ($A60,768) a week will be a few steps behind him, trying to keep tabs on the young prince whose healthy teenage appetite for a good time has seen him give his minders the slip more than once in the past to drink with friends and smoke marijuana.

He may even be tagged with a microchip so his overworked security men can keep track of him.

Australia has agreed to spend more than $A600,000 on local back-up, including a crack special forces unit.

And people he is expected to meet along the way have been thoroughly checked.

It's a hefty step up from the security in Patagonia in Chile in 2000 for his more subdued brother Prince William who only had two officers at a cost of about STG100,000 ($A243,072).

But the measures are not just to protect Harry from himself.

British and Australian police and palace officials fear he could be a terrorist target and are worried about his plans to enter big crowds in exposed areas at the rugby, on the beach and in the pubs and bars of Sydney.

"Patagonia is a far cry from Australia," a palace source has been quoted as saying.

"The place Prince William went to was very isolated and very easy to police.

©2003 AAP

LINK

so, let me get this straight...

Prince Harry (whose own personal net worth is over $A200mil) wants to have an extended trip down under... so we (Australians) get to pay $A600,000 on him.

hurrah.

thats more than half a million we get to spend on an unwanted royal holiday rather than on improving our healthcare system or something else thats in need.

even his own security guards are complaining about the trip.... more info here

i´ve got to say, no one down here would give a hoot if he was a terrorist target.

but that microchip does sound amusing... wonder if the corgies are chipped as well??

tinfoil · 09-21-2003, 06:19 PM

*sigh*

I could go on, but I won't. It would be useless to rant about the waste of money and resources better put elsewhere.

However, what the hell is a corgie?

bundy · 09-21-2003, 06:27 PM

sorry, i spelt it incorrectly, its corgi.

its a small, Welsh breed of dog.
its the Queens preferred breed, and shes usually got a couple running around.

hotzot · 09-21-2003, 06:29 PM

it's a puppy dog!!!

vermin · 09-21-2003, 06:44 PM

If you look at the size of a wealthy western nation's budget, $600,000 is a drop in an ocean. I don't know much about Australia's government spending, but in the U.S. gov'mnt they toss around hundreds of millions and billions. $600,000 is barely worth keeping track of to a government. Funny how politicians can toss around sums that are essentially meaningless to them, but would mean I'd never have to go to work again if it was mine. Assholes.

tinfoil · 09-21-2003, 07:27 PM

$600,000 would work wonders in various charities or social programs, yet it's being spent on a spoiled little kid who won't have to *work* a day in his life.

Nice.

slimshaydee · 09-21-2003, 08:23 PM

With Harry coming here to Australia, wouldnt that create media interest and tourism and stuff thus bringing in more money into our economy?

Semi-Normal · 09-21-2003, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slimshaydee
With Harry coming here to Australia, wouldnt that create media interest and tourism and stuff thus bringing in more money into our economy?

Yeah I'm planning a trip to Australia to see him right now!

Mephisto2 · 09-21-2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Semi-Normal
Yeah I'm planning a trip to Australia to see him right now!

ROFL

Now THAT was funny.

Mr Mephisto

PS - As an Irishman, a citizen of a republic and a republican by political slant, I'm unhappy with my Australian taxes being spent this way. But then again, I'm unhappy with my Australian taxes being spent on mandatory detention of assylum seekers (including children), on lame 'anti-terrorist' media campaigns, on repairing broken Collins class submarines, on sending Australian troops to Iraq, on... on... erm... on just about anything the Howard Government spends a cent on.

bundy · 09-21-2003, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Mephisto
PS - As an Irishman, a citizen of a republic and a republican by political slant, I'm unhappy with my Australian taxes being spent this way. But then again, I'm unhappy with my Australian taxes being spent on mandatory detention of assylum seekers (including children), on lame 'anti-terrorist' media campaigns, on repairing broken Collins class submarines, on sending Australian troops to Iraq, on... on... erm... on just about anything the Howard Government spends a cent on.

well said.
all of those issues have been, imo, a complete disgrace.

i´m still failing to see any logical argument as to why we have to pay for this little brat to enjoy time on Kerry Packers ´ranch´... if he wants the true Aussie experience, then he should leave the security detail at home, book a hostel in Coogee or Kings Cross and get ready for a really really nasty sunburn.

Battlefield · 09-21-2003, 11:56 PM

just plain disgusting....glad I'm not Australian

bermuDa · 09-22-2003, 08:19 AM

so australia isn't its own sovereign nation? are you guys still a penal colony or something? why are you still paying taxes to the brits?

I say rebel. worked for america.

castex · 09-22-2003, 10:56 AM

It's not his fault we live in a time when any anglo-saxon with such a high profile has to be protected to such an extent.

You Aussies ought to feel proud that Harry's coming over to find himself, or whatever it is he has planned. He does seem like such a nice young man, so get down the shop for your commemorative mugs. Hurrah!

rodgerd · 09-22-2003, 11:41 AM

Hey, you had your vote for a republic, and the sheeple went royalist. Giving money to the worthless younger sons of the inbred Greco-Germans who nominally head up the country is part of the deal...

manalone · 09-22-2003, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bermuDa
so australia isn't its own sovereign nation? are you guys still a penal colony or something? why are you still paying taxes to the brits?

I say rebel. worked for america.

One Empire or another... what's the difference?

The Australians seem to prefer being in the Commonwealth. I say good luck

CrazySaturn · 09-22-2003, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by castex
It's not his fault we live in a time when any anglo-saxon with such a high profile has to be protected to such an extent.

You Aussies ought to feel proud that Harry's coming over to find himself, or whatever it is he has planned. He does seem like such a nice young man, so get down the shop for your commemorative mugs. Hurrah!

I reaaaaaly hope you're being sarcastic.

a2k · 09-22-2003, 01:54 PM

Come on, Aussies! Dump a bunch of tea in the ocean and declare yourselves rid of the oppressive monarchy! Spending this much of your precious tax dollars so some spoiled inbred can come smoke some australian weed and hit on chicks with cool accents should not be tolerated.

(We yanks have decided to save our $$$ for more interesting things like bombing the F$#% out of other countries and then rebuilding their governments)

homerhop · 09-22-2003, 02:09 PM

Muaaaahhhahahahaha the joys of being a colony. ye had your chance and blew it.

fuzzix · 09-22-2003, 06:14 PM

Pah, a terrorist target, everyone's so bloody jumpy about terrorism over here now, it's far more likely he'd be a kidnap and ransom target if anything. Own personal net worth over a$200 mill eh... *finds ski mask...*

etla · 09-22-2003, 07:16 PM

Alot of that 200 million is tied up in land and other stuff that while technically his he can't realistically sell.

tinger · 09-22-2003, 07:51 PM

Imagine a government spending hundreds of thousands on something that trivial...

Sleepyjack · 09-23-2003, 02:41 AM

The Australian government does not equal the Austrailan people.
Please don't say i am glad i am not australian, just cause of this stupid shit. Its like me saying i am glad i am not American cause of President Bush.

That said, it would be interesting to meet him, but without any of those fucking security gaurds, just one on one as 2 normal people

Thats not gonna happen though. OUt of all the royal family i don't mind harry, probably mainly cause he looks a bit like me

mattevil · 09-23-2003, 08:13 AM

what could the young prince with a "healthy teenage appetite" want ona sheep farm?

bundy · 09-23-2003, 06:55 PM

first, i have to make an apology to Kerry Packer... Harry is not on his property, Harry is on the property of a royal family friend.

sorry KP. please employ me.

secondly. mattevil - hey hey hey, this is NOT NZ thank you (sorry, j/k).

i think it would be interesing to meet him as well, Jack.. perhaps that could assuage some of my disgust at this waste of money.

Quote:

Originally posted by bermuDa
so australia isn't its own sovereign nation? are you guys still a penal colony or something? why are you still paying taxes to the brits?

no, we don´t pay taxes to the Brits, but we do still have their Queen as our head of state, as we are still part of the Commonwealth/

we did have a referendum not so long ago where most of Australia decided to retain our position as part of the Commonwealth rather than declaring Australia as a republic.
i just couldn´t understand how so many Australians could be so unwilling to change.
but, part of the reason as to why some people voted for the Queen was that they disagreed with the style of republic that was on offer.

from what i heard, not even Prince Charles could believe that Australia would vote to keep the Queen as our head of state.

Sleepyjack · 09-24-2003, 01:00 AM

yeah it was the nature/setup of the republic that most people didn't want to vote for it.
Although i was too young to vote at the time (i think it was 1999 i was about 15)

09-21-2003, 06:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	sigh I could go on, but I won't. It would be useless to rant about the waste of money and resources better put elsewhere. However, what the hell is a corgie? __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

09-21-2003, 06:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	sorry, i spelt it incorrectly, its corgi. its a small, Welsh breed of dog. its the Queens preferred breed, and shes usually got a couple running around. __________________ Ohayo!!!

09-21-2003, 06:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
hotzot We're having potato pancakes! Location: stalag 13	it's a puppy dog!!! __________________ The Bully Boys are here!

09-21-2003, 06:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
vermin Indifferent to anti-matter Location: Tucson, AZ	If you look at the size of a wealthy western nation's budget, $600,000 is a drop in an ocean. I don't know much about Australia's government spending, but in the U.S. gov'mnt they toss around hundreds of millions and billions. $600,000 is barely worth keeping track of to a government. Funny how politicians can toss around sums that are essentially meaningless to them, but would mean I'd never have to go to work again if it was mine. Assholes. __________________ If puns were sausages, this would be the wurst.

09-21-2003, 07:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	$600,000 would work wonders in various charities or social programs, yet it's being spent on a spoiled little kid who won't have to work a day in his life. Nice. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

09-21-2003, 08:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
slimshaydee If you've read this, PM me and say so Location: Sitting on my ass, and you?	With Harry coming here to Australia, wouldnt that create media interest and tourism and stuff thus bringing in more money into our economy?

09-21-2003, 11:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Battlefield Crazy	just plain disgusting....glad I'm not Australian

09-22-2003, 08:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	so australia isn't its own sovereign nation? are you guys still a penal colony or something? why are you still paying taxes to the brits? I say rebel. worked for america. __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

09-22-2003, 10:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
castex Psycho Location: france	It's not his fault we live in a time when any anglo-saxon with such a high profile has to be protected to such an extent. You Aussies ought to feel proud that Harry's coming over to find himself, or whatever it is he has planned. He does seem like such a nice young man, so get down the shop for your commemorative mugs. Hurrah!

09-22-2003, 11:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
rodgerd Psycho Location: Wellington, New Zealand	Hey, you had your vote for a republic, and the sheeple went royalist. Giving money to the worthless younger sons of the inbred Greco-Germans who nominally head up the country is part of the deal...

09-22-2003, 01:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
a2k Crazy Location: Seattle	Come on, Aussies! Dump a bunch of tea in the ocean and declare yourselves rid of the oppressive monarchy! Spending this much of your precious tax dollars so some spoiled inbred can come smoke some australian weed and hit on chicks with cool accents should not be tolerated. (We yanks have decided to save our $$$ for more interesting things like bombing the F$#% out of other countries and then rebuilding their governments)

09-22-2003, 02:09 PM	#18 (permalink)
homerhop Insane Location: ÉIRE	Muaaaahhhahahahaha the joys of being a colony. ye had your chance and blew it. __________________ its evolution baby

09-22-2003, 06:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
fuzzix Psycho Location: Australia	Pah, a terrorist target, everyone's so bloody jumpy about terrorism over here now, it's far more likely he'd be a kidnap and ransom target if anything. Own personal net worth over a$200 mill eh... finds ski mask... __________________ I'm most definately not 'lovin' it'.

09-22-2003, 07:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
etla Junkie Location: Canada eh?	Alot of that 200 million is tied up in land and other stuff that while technically his he can't realistically sell. __________________ Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

09-22-2003, 07:51 PM	#21 (permalink)
tinger Tilted	Imagine a government spending hundreds of thousands on something that trivial...

09-23-2003, 02:41 AM	#22 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	The Australian government does not equal the Austrailan people. Please don't say i am glad i am not australian, just cause of this stupid shit. Its like me saying i am glad i am not American cause of President Bush. That said, it would be interesting to meet him, but without any of those fucking security gaurds, just one on one as 2 normal people Thats not gonna happen though. OUt of all the royal family i don't mind harry, probably mainly cause he looks a bit like me

09-23-2003, 08:13 AM	#23 (permalink)
mattevil Addict Location: Virginia	what could the young prince with a "healthy teenage appetite" want ona sheep farm?

09-24-2003, 01:00 AM	#25 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	yeah it was the nature/setup of the republic that most people didn't want to vote for it. Although i was too young to vote at the time (i think it was 1999 i was about 15)