Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she’s disappointed Australia lost its bid for the World Cup, but stands by the $45.6 million campaign.
Australia received only one vote in the first round of the FIFA vote, with Qatar taking out the honours to host the world’s biggest sporting event in 2022.
Ms Gillard said the bid had not been a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“I think everybody is disappointed and those who worked so hard on what was a great bid was very disappointed,” Ms Gillard told reporters in Brisbane.
“I believe Frank Lowy and his team have done a remarkable job.”
She said there had been two unsuccessful bids before Sydney attracted the Olympics in 2000, which were described as the “best ever”.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he shared the disappointment.
“I’m aware that there will be plenty of people coming forward today to say what went wrong and what could have been better,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“I think our bid deserved a better reception (from FIFA) than what it was given.”
But indigenous welfare advocate Sam Watson said it was a waste of public money.
“As an Aboriginal person I would have rather seen $45 million go to Aboriginal health care across Australia, and Aboriginal education, housing and food programs – so $45 million is a luxury that this nation really can’t afford,” Mr Watson told AAP.
“Aboriginal people are among the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in the community.”
Football Federation Australia said the event would have delivered a $5.3 billion boost to gross domestic product and 74,000 jobs.
Mr Watson said it was an “absolute falsehood” to claim the economic spinoffs from major events benefited all Australians.
He was also critical of the official bid video, which featured Aboriginal cultural elements such as the didgeridoo.
“They will deny Aboriginal people the true value of our culture at home, but as soon as they go to the international stage to curry favour they will show themselves as the Aboriginal peoples’ best friend,” he said.
Ms Gillard told reporters in Brisbane the video brought “iconic Australian personalities and iconic Australian scenes together with a story with some humour to promote Australia”.
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