Bushbasher you said it all in one sentence. A Pope and Co trying to impress how Christian they are, what a laugh.

Pericles,
I certainly agree. An expensive disruption to everyday life so politicians could big note themselves. There never was any chance of us making anything out of it. Another $160million blown.

Like the Sydney Olympics, we will never be told what that cost us. I reckon NSW financial problems started because of that.

That proposed car race at Homebush will be another case of money wasted.

Get over it people.

"Oh, it disrupted my daily routine"...Well boohoo, too bad for you. Why not show some tolerance and consideration for other people and just PUT UP WITH IT! Instead of whinging. Geez, what a me me me attitude. Are you toddlers, or adults?

World Youth Day was a cultural event- a significant portion of the Australia population identify as Catholics- and an event which brought plenty of tourism to Australia, in addition to the media coverage associated with having the event in Sydney.

I might add that I'm not Catholic and I'd be lucky if I'd stepped foot in a Catholic church more than once or twice in my entire life. But unlike some of the other posters on here I'm happy for such a cultural event to be staged in the country, and I've got the necessary level of tolerance and acceptance to say "OK, despite the fact that this is of no interest to ME, I'm happy for it to take place".

I'm not trying to sound holier-than-thou or self righteous here, but perhaps some others could benefit from taking up a similar attitude. If not for yourself, then please do that for the rest of us who don't want to put up with your whinging.

Trav,
I don't live in Sydney so there was no personal inconvience to me about the WYD, but there was to a lot of people that live and work there.

What appalls me is that millions are disrupted and millions of taxpayers dollars wasted simply so some politicians can grandstand. The politicians lie to the NSW people and throw our money away. It was the same with the OLympics, a total waste of money. The polys would be bragging if we made a cent out of it.

I pay tax and I'm sick of seeing money being wasted on stupid projects. The Motor race proposal for Homebush is another waste and we spend enough already on our top line athletes,which is being pushed again.

What about spending the money on the Pacific Highway where many lives could be saved or what about a facility where country relatives, of patients that are in major hospitals, can stay.

Let us get back to more practical thinking. Oh, I dont use the Pacific Highway so that does not effect me.

This article was, apparently, about whether WYD can be determined and quantified as an unfair and improper impost on the State purse.

The question of whether WYD (Olympics, World Rugby Cup etc) should have received funding and should have appropriate financial reporting is legitimate and should be answered.

The bile from posters is, unfortunately, typical and misses the point - unless OLO is actually all about attacking the people and not addressing the issues.

The Queensland Government has locked up contractual arrangements for a freeway or the like for 50 years, so the lack of transparency has more to do with hiding embaraasing arrangements (such as with the AJC about the racetrack and not using the Olympic Park precinct as tyhe Church wanted to).

Anyway, give the Church and all those young people a good bashing if it makes you feel better, but the transparency issue needs following up both intra and extra-Church.