AUSTRALIA.COM BLACK TIE GALA ANNOUNCES HARRISON FORD AND JOHN TRAVOLTA TO PRESENT TO HONOREES KYLIE MINOGUE AND PHILLIP NOYCE

LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK, January 16, 2008

WHAT:  John Travolta will present to Kylie Minogue and Harrison Ford will present to
Phillip Noyce, who will both be honored in person, at the G’Day USA: Australia Week 2008 Australia.com Black Tie Gala

Minogue, an international singing sensation known for her hits “LocoMotion” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” is a huge “Grease” fan.  Noyce directed Ford in “Patriot Games,” as well as helming accomplished films including “The Bone Collector” and “Rabbit Proof Fence.”

The event will include performances by Olivia Newton-John and the Qantas Choir and Australian food by celebrity chefs Neil Perry and Wolfgang Puck.

WHEN:  Saturday, January 19, 2008, Red Carpet Arrivals: 6pm, Media Registration: 4:30pm

WHERE:  Hollywood & Highland Grand Ballroom, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles 90028

PARKING:  All media should park within the Hollywood & Highland parking structure.  Validations will be provided.

WHY:  Australia Week’s signature event, the Australia.com Black Tie Gala, is a red carpet event that honors high profile individuals for significant contributions in their respective industries and for excellence in promoting Australia in the United States. This year’s gala will recognize Kylie Minogue and Phillip Noyce for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

Past honorees include Russell Crowe, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackson, Mel Gibson, INXS, Anthony LaPagila, and Olivia Newton-John.  In 2007, special tribute was paid to Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin.

CONTACT:   
To receive media credentials for the red carpet arrivals area, please call 213-489-8223.  All attending media must be credentialed to gain admittance to the red carpet area.  No media will be admitted to the dinner.

About G’Day USA: Australia Week 2008
G’Day USA: Australia Week 2008 will showcase the best of Australian food, wine, art, film, lifestyle, tourism and business from January 17-26, 2008. The event started in Los Angeles in 2004 and has expanded to include both national and New York events. The promotion has grown into one of the single largest foreign country promotions held annually in the United States.  Australia Week begins in Los Angeles with the Australia.com Black Tie Gala, a film premiere, the annual CEO Golf Day with Ian Baker Finch, and an Energy and Climate Change Symposium. New to Los Angeles are an Aussie Youth Festival at local college campus and fun US vs UK Hollywood Ashes cricket match. 

2008 events in New York include a Queensland Government Walk on the Wildside dinner with Terri and Bindi Irwin to benefit Wildlife Warriors, and two tourism events - the Great Aussie Auction and Australia Walkabout Planet Oz presented by Conde Nast.  The 2007 inaugural New York events established a platform for the philanthropic, fashion and financial sectors and in 2008 the momentum continues with the Australia Plays Broadway show, the Merino 200 Jacob’s Creek Australia Day Black Tie Gala, the Innovation Day, Financial Services Day, Wine Festival and Fashion Showroom. G'Day USA: Australia Week is produced by the LA & NYC offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Australia, Qantas Airways and Austrade.

Press contact: Tourism Australia, Zoë Shurgold zshurgold@tourism.australia.com
Tel 310 695 3213, Cell 310 283 9745.