Baz Luhrmann's first interview on completed "Australia"

SYDNEY - THE most expensive Australian film ever made is due out in weeks - and as of today it's finally finished.

The longest shoot in 20th Century Fox’s formidable history of movie-making. The most expensive Australian film ever made. Featuring some of the highest paid Australian actors ever - Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

With an estimated budget of $130 million and rising, if Australia runs close to the 170 minutes that has been reported in the media, Luhrmann’s production company Bazmark will have spent roughly three-quarters of a million dollars of other people’s money for every minute of screen time.

So, how does Baz feel that he has actually finished and has the film in the can? Waylon Smithers of It's All Lies had an exclusive phone interview with Baz Luhrmann earlier today.

IAL : Hello Baz. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

BAZ: Always a pleasure.

IAL : Have we spoken before?

BAZ : It's an expression.

IAL : Oh. Now there have been rumours that the production of Australia had gotten out of contorl and was never going to be finished. How do you feel to finally have it in the can?

BAZ : Umm, what?

IAL : How does it feel to have the film finished and ready to be shown in the cinemas?

BAZ : Who told you that?

IAL : You did?

BAZ : I did?

IAL : Yes, you did.

BAZ : I did?

IAL : Yes.

BAZ : Really?

IAL : Yes.

BAZ : When did I say that?

IAL : When we arranged the interview last night at that NIDA function launching Alex Broun's web site. I was the guy standing next to Peter Garrett.

BAZ : Was that before or after I told you that the Heath Ledger scenes in the film were incredible.

IAL : About the same time, I recall.

BAZ : Oh.

IAL : What's that?

BAZ : You do realise that Heath Ledger was never in the film.

IAL : No.

BAZ : So maybe I was not quite telling the truth about the film

IAL blank stare down the phone

BAZ : Telling a porkie pie. Pulling your pud'. Etal etal.

IAL : So Australia isn't finished?

BAZ : No.

IAL : Why?

BAZ : I'm too busy giving exclusive interviews about the fact it isn't finished to prats like you and Christine Jackman at The Australian to spend time on the film.

IAL : The Australian?

BAZ : Yes.

IAL : Was that the Saturday edition?

BAZ : Yes. They had a story about Howard making three of the biggest decisions of his term as Prime Minister without any cabinet involvement.

IAL : And the Ruth Ostrow article about finding strength in your flaws?

BAZ : Yes.

IAL : There was a lot of truth in what she said.

BAZ : I meant to read it, but I haven't had time.

IAL : What's been keeping you busy?

Line goes dead

IAL : Baz?

End

Heath Ledger death investigation breakthrough

THE AUSTRALIAN - John Olsen OA, Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles, creator of the G'day USA campaign and father of the Olsen twins, was today accused of going 'one step to far' when it was revealed he was behind the death of Heath Ledger.

The G'day USA campaign was started by John Olsen five years ago to raise the profile of Australia overseas. Although the last four years had been successful with high profile events run over a fortnight in January, there was immense pressure on Mr Olsen to pick up the momentum.

It was this need for momentum that led to the organisation arranging the death of Australian actor Heath Ledger as a focus point for the G'day USA week in Los Angeles.

"We've had a lot of big names involved in the past - Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Hugo Weaving, Baz Luhrmann, Kylie Minogue, " said a G'day USA campaign spokesperson, "but we really needed something that would never be forgotten."

Discussions within the organisation identified the longevity of dead starts Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis Presley.

"When we saw how well Australia Zoo were doing after Steve Irwin's 'accident', we thought that could be the angle to really push."

It was this need to publicise the organisation that led to the discovery by Federal Bureau of Investigations Famous Person Suicide Investigations Team.

"After the unfortunate death of Heath Ledger", said a FBI spokesperson who preferred to remain suited and wearing glasses, "there was a spike in googling of his name. One of our agents noticed that alongside the google results there were ads for G'day USA that gave us the clue we were looking for to hone in on the activities of that organisation.

"Soon enough, by going undercover as Stephen Spielberg wanting to produce a movie in Australia, we were able to discovered the link between John Olsen and Heath Ledger's death in the New York apartment owned by one of Mr Olsen's twin daughters Mary-Kate and Ashley."

G'Day USA has closed while John Olsen, his twin daughters and company associates are due to appear in New York Criminal Courts at 11.15 EST pleading guilty to a series of yet to be determined charges.