Hailey Turner (right) with sister Lauren. Christine Kellett
April 3, 2009 - 11:03AM Tourism Queensland has courted controversy again with a decision to grant two locals a finals berth in its Best Job in the World contest.
Queenslanders Hailey Turner, 20, and James Hill, 24, were this morning named among the final 16 contenders for the $150,000 Great Barrier Reef caretaker "job" following an online seach that attracted nearly 35,000 applicants from every corner of the globe.
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PHOTOS: Sweet 16 finalists
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The tourism body, which organised the job search as part of a marketing campaign to draw international visitors, came under fire from disgruntled applicants for shortlisting five Australians among its final 50 and for choosing mostly young, attractive candidates - many with professional media and television experience.
Ms Turner, a Brisbane business student, funded her own world tour to raise her profile and secure votes for the contest, part of which includes a popularly elected "wild card" finalist.
A Taiwanese woman named Clare won the wild card spot with 150,000 votes.
Queensland expat James Hill, who is from Shute Harbour but is currently working as a photographer and web marketer in the UK, was the only other Australian to make the final 16, which was increased from 11 because judges found it too difficult to decide.
Other finalists include a Texan television host, and Indian DJ and a German actress.
Nine of the 16 work in the media.
Last month, Tourism Queensland booted out shortlisted Russian entrant Julia after a pornographic video appeared on the internet.
The finalists will be flown to Hamilton Island for a final selection process and the winner paid $150,000 for a six-month stint as Barrier Reef "caretaker".
Queenslanders Hailey Turner, 20, and James Hill, 24, were this morning named among the final 16 contenders for the $150,000 Great Barrier Reef caretaker "job" following an online seach that attracted nearly 35,000 applicants from every corner of the globe.
-----------------------
PHOTOS: Sweet 16 finalists
-----------------------
The tourism body, which organised the job search as part of a marketing campaign to draw international visitors, came under fire from disgruntled applicants for shortlisting five Australians among its final 50 and for choosing mostly young, attractive candidates - many with professional media and television experience.
Ms Turner, a Brisbane business student, funded her own world tour to raise her profile and secure votes for the contest, part of which includes a popularly elected "wild card" finalist.
A Taiwanese woman named Clare won the wild card spot with 150,000 votes.
Queensland expat James Hill, who is from Shute Harbour but is currently working as a photographer and web marketer in the UK, was the only other Australian to make the final 16, which was increased from 11 because judges found it too difficult to decide.
Other finalists include a Texan television host, and Indian DJ and a German actress.
Nine of the 16 work in the media.
Last month, Tourism Queensland booted out shortlisted Russian entrant Julia after a pornographic video appeared on the internet.
The finalists will be flown to Hamilton Island for a final selection process and the winner paid $150,000 for a six-month stint as Barrier Reef "caretaker".