In sharp contrast, Maurice Henderson, the executive director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Foundation in Adelaide, argued that people had made donations in good faith and Mrs Blair and Mr Markson, her promoter - known locally as "Mr 20 Per Cent" - should be held accountable.
Mr Henderson claims his foundation was short-changed two years ago when it signed on for a speaking tour by Mr Giuliani, the former mayor of New York.
Heavyweights
"We were shown a budget from Mr Markson, the promoter, that suggested we would receive A$197,000. In the end we actually ended up with A$20,000," said Mr Henderson, who plans to cut out the middleman next time.
Mr Markson's supporters say he has raised large sums for charity and underwrites costs to ensure charities face no liabilities from a flop. "If Cherie Blair wasn't coming to Australia there wouldn't be that money raised for the children so it [the controversy] is sad, but that is the way of the world, that's the media," Mr Markson said last night. "I have an impeccable reputation in this marketplace and the Fleet Street press have a go at me for political reasons - it's a way of dragging down Tony Blair by getting at me."
The Children's Cancer Institute of Australia, which is guaranteed only £99,800 or about one-fifth of the overall proceeds from Mrs Blair's tour, backed him up. "Nobody has done anything wrong. There are always going to be associated costs in a visit like this," it said.
Speechless. Utterly speechless. 
