If LA were to pick up the bill for those things, and you assume Australian
travel costs about $600 on average, and international travel about $2000,
that's 2x$2000 + 7x$600 + 20*$600 + 7x$2000 = $4,000 + $4,200 + $12,000 +
$14,000 = $34,200, less if some of those can be done by car, or combined,
or similar. For comparison, the grant scheme has a budget of $12,000 a
year, and uses up probably $6k-$8k. Is an international speaker for each
major LUG worth a similar amount? How about having some good non-local
speakers at smaller regional usergroups?
Go on, tell me how it's a stupid idea and what would be better :)