Steve Ciobo’s awkward ‘elocution lesson’ for LA Mayor

AFTER a flawless speech, the last thing LA Mayor Eric Garcetti was expecting from his Aussie guests was an elocution lesson. But he got one anyway.

FEDERAL Trade and Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo has delivered a cringe-worthy correction to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti at the opening of Qantas’ new A380 facility at Los Angeles Airport.

Opening with “good day”, Mayor Garcetti made a passionate speech about LA’s close relationship with Australia, wowing those in the audience.

“I’m just overcome that we have such great representatives, Minister Bishop I want to thank you for being here and Minister Ciobo,” he said.

“It’s a real vote of confidence in what we’re doing here.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at the opening of Qantas's A380 hangar at LAX. Picture: Matt Sayles.

“We’ve always felt that any Angeleno who goes to Australia feels like an honorary Aussie and then so many Aussies who come here for the first time feel like they’re home because the west coast of the United States has the same openness, the same pluralism, the same values of innovation and rethinking ourselves. It’s an incredible relationship.”

Mayor Garcetti was followed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who also delivered a warm speech, and then it was Mr Ciobo’s turn.

“There are so many great aspects about the US-Australia relationship and one of the aspects I just thought I’d touch upon very quickly is a lesson of elocution,” Minister Ciobo said to guests’ surprise.

“When you say G’Day it’s not “good day” run together. It’s G’Day — just G apostrophe day, just as Y’all is not “you all” it’s Y apostrophe all.”

The Aussie contingency ... (from left) Trade and Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. Picture: Matt Sayles.

The quip was followed by polite laughter among the crowd that included Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey, Los Angeles Airport CEO Deborah Flint and Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes and his wife Christine.

Many of the guests will also attend tomorrow night’s G’Day USA gala dinner — considered the culmination of the Australian trade and tourism initiative conducted in LA each year.

The A380 hangar is the largest commercial hangar in North America, with the ability to accommodate four of the super jumbos at a time.

“Indeed it is the only A380 maintenance facility in the US,” said Ms Flint.

“That’s significant to LAX because LAX has the most number of A380 operations of any US airport so the efficiency in the market that provides us here is certainly something to be recognised”.

Originally published as Steve Ciobo’s awkward ‘elocution lesson’ for LA Mayor