Nothing like pulling out the classic Crocodile Dundee lines to announce that Tourism Australia has "cut" the agencies competing for the global account down to two finalists.

Saatchi and Saatchi to battle it out with DDB Worldwide in the final showdown. Incumbent M&C Saatchi was canned, along with Publicis Mojo, Singleton Ogilvy & Mather and Whybin TBWA.

Clemenger BBDO withdrew from the pitch-process earlier following a review of its own resources.

In the grand style that is ad pitches these days, he final round of pitches will include presentations in Australia and meetings in Tourism Australia’s key regional offices in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and China (lots of free trips for those conducting the review.)

Incumbent Carat and Media Planning Group continue to battle it out for the body's media planning and buying business. The current contracts with both the ad & media accounts come to an end on June 30th.