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Check out of this Hilton

Tim Costello is chief executive of World Vision and a well-regarded commentator on social issues in Australia.

He writes about the visit - mercifully short - of Paris Hilton to Australia and what it says about our values and priorities in an op-ed piece in The Age "Hilton stunt leaves society limping":

"How is it possible that Paris Hilton visits Melbourne for one day to go shopping and makes front-page news? How is it possible that the next day acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Premier John Brumby both meekly thank her for shopping?

As it turned out, Paris bought very little and her shopping spree was a PR stunt. Boutiques were only too happy to hand over as much as she wanted simply for the publicity thrill of having her, her large sunglasses and her entourage cross their threshold.

Rather than bringing money into our recessed economy, it is clear that Hilton will leave Australia taking much more with her than she spent — a million-dollar appearance fee at a Sydney New Year's Eve bash is rumoured. So how did we all fall for this PR trick?

First, it is clear the media need and feed off Hilton as much as she needs them. Her story and picture dominated the front page of Melbourne's tabloid newspaper on a day when 370 Palestinians died in Gaza and Australia was poised to lose the MCG Test to South Africa."

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