taxpayers as serfs:

‘AS the Oprah Winfrey show rolls into Melbourne, Australians have been told details of the taxpayer-financed tour are none of their business.
…..Security is touted as the main reason for the secrecy surrounding the trip, despite a Victorian police source confirming there was “no credible security threat to Ms Winfrey” while she is in Australia.
………….Australian taxpayers have contributed $4 million to the trip, including $500,000 from the Victorian Government.
A spokesman for federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said the Government had not signed a confidentiality agreement, but it was not at liberty to provide details about the tour because “they are here to make a show for Oprah, not for Australia“.