Radio host demands to know ‘why Australia is paying for Barack Obama’s police protection’ – when he’s here with his own secret service making nearly $4 million from speeches
- Ray Hadley said Obama should have paid for his own protection
- Australian police tried to shift responsibility onto whoever paid
A radio host has criticized the apparent cost to the taxpayer of police protection for Barack Obama’s Australian-speaking tour, saying it should come out of his own $1 million payday.
Sydney’s Radio 2GB’s Ray Hadley asked ‘why are we making fun of the bill’ to protect the former US president when he already travels everywhere with his own Secret Service security detail.
In recent days, Obama and his security agent have been driving around Sydney in a motorcade escorted by local police – with all relevant authorities and the promoters of the 44th US president refusing to answer questions about who pays for the use of government funds.
“I can’t understand this,” Hadley said.
Barack Obama is a welcome guest in our country, just like his wife Michelle. They are people of international stature.’
A radio host has criticized the cost of police protection for Barack Obama’s Australian-speaking tour, saying it should have come out of his own $1 million payday. Obama is pictured in the center, with Australian police and Secret Service agents surrounding him to his left
But he added that the huge price of tickets to see Obama speak in Sydney and Melbourne – ranging from $200 to $895 – meant that Australian taxpayers would not have to bear the cost of local police protection.
“Before factoring in fees and expenses, organizers estimate a minimum take-up of up to $1.8 million for each speech. More than enough to cover (Obama’s) speaking costs which are expected to reach $500,000 per lecture,” Hadley said.
“Secret Service agents follow him everywhere. But why are we bearing the cost of AFP and NSW (and Victoria) police following him everywhere?
“He’s making a million dollars here, and good luck to him. I wish I could make a million dollars for a few nights’ work.”
Hadley pointed out that Obama is in Australia in a personal capacity to make money, it is not a political visit.
“He’s not on a state tour, he hasn’t been invited here by the Prime Minister – even though he’s met the Prime Minister – or the Prime Ministers of NSW or Victoria, so why are we drafting the bill?
“I imagine those who make money off of it, and he would be, have to fend for themselves,” he said.
As a former US president, the Secret Service will protect Mr. and Mrs. Obama well into the future.
“He’s got the Secret Service with him anyway,” Hadley said. “But I don’t quite understand why the NSW government is using police resources…
“Why we use our limited resources to follow him and his wife around town while he has food in Balmoral or the Spit or somewhere else. I do not get it. I just don’t get it.’
He said while Mr Obama is ‘an international superstar in the political arena…I don’t see why we are footing the bill for you coming to Australia.
“I don’t think it makes any sense.”
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama leaves the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The Obamas are protected by US Secret Service officers, such as the man to her left
Former US President Barack Obama is surrounded by Secret Service agents in Sydney
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Growth Faculty – the promoter of Obama’s speaking tour – and the Victorian, NSW and Australian Federal Police (AFP) for comment.
The AFP said it would be contacting NSW Police. NSW Police said they are filing a freedom of information request.
Victorian police said they would be contacting the Victorian government, and promoter Growth Faculty declined to comment.
The NSW and Victoria governments have also been contacted.