To think Australia have really gone and done it now?? Shocked and disgusted.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Australia have removed themselves from the UN Refugee Convention.

here...this happened only today

They've basically decided that ANY refugee coming to Australia on a boat will now be "processed" on one of their offshore facilities....like Manus Island where there have been numerous suicide attempts and conditions are DREADFUl with people slepeing in places with no doors or in metal storage containers...this is in HIGH heat.

I am shocked. And disappointed... we are talking about refugees here. People already traumatised and lost. The places they're being sent to now are already under investigation for their disgusting conditions.

MidniteScribblerFri 17-May-13 00:50:40

By the way, this legislation was passed by a Prime Minister who is a 'ten pound pom'. If you'd like her back, there are many, many voters who would be happy to chip in the cost to put her on a leaky boat and shove her in your general direction.

YES! YES! YES!!!

Yes, she is Welsh by descent isn't she? But speaks like a Bogan so it is all good.

I am not saying Australia does not have issues with racism of course we do, as does every other country. I am saying it is deeply offensive to write off an entire nation based on one new law.

The 'boat people' problem is a conundrum. Because if we open the doors many more people will die. The 'offshore processing' is supposed to put people off attempting the incredibly dangerous journey run by complete bastards. How many boats do we just not hear about? How many just sink and no-one knows?

Personally, I think we should take more refugees, but I do not think encouraging people to get on a leaky boat, run by a pirate in Indonesia and attempt to cross very rough seas to get to the edge of a desert is a very good plan. There are plenty of people languishing in crappy camps around the world. We should be pulling people out of there. We need fresh blood, we need clever people who are survivors.

We don't need to line the pockets of Indonesian gangs.

You should also remember that the majority of Australian families have borne the brunt of crappy government policies in the past, both here and in former European countries, and not a few were practically refugees from former UK countries/Europe themselves. There are still a lot of hurt feelings from those experiences .... If anything, these policies are coming from people who view themselves as more culturally British (and superior) to the average Aussie. They are the ones nervous about immigration - because they know that we don't really like them, not the immigrants they brought in for various reasons - cheap labour, to fund universities etc, to make up for dramatic birthrate declines.

kungfu I guess what I meant to say that is not right to compare this refugee situation to Israel and the aboriginal situation is a bit closer to that of the Palestinians than that of a refugee. Not exactly the same of course and no one disputes a continuous Jewish presence in Israel.

The Refugee Council in Australia has suggested that their government agree a new category of refugee status for people fleeing the effects of climate change. They are predicting a mass influx of people fleeing from lowlying islands. Looks like the government have taken on board the information, but not used it in a good way.

Fri 17-May-13 04:08:59

"David Cameron and his stooges are far from perfect, this does not leave me inclined to brand the UK universally useless."

Exactly.

Claudia you don't think the appropriation of a racist term by a miniority group is an indication of their ongoing status? in much the same way that there are deep problems with the treatment and perception of black people in America?

What is annoying me here is the attitude of those who insist that I am insulting ALL Australians. I'm not insulting anyone...I am just pointing out what the government are doing.

Ok - your government are punishing disabled people by charging them for spare bedrooms. Clearly as they are your government and therefore democratically elected by you, you are disabling and generally not a nice person.

Is that better?

Disablist

Oh and BTW - you did insult all Australians by calling us rednecks. Have you shown your DH this thread. How would he like it that you're attacking his country? (and then moaning when people get defensive! FFS,)

They aren't being racist, they are being (allegedly) xenophobic

Judging by UKIPs recent poll successes, many British people also think Australia is on the right track.

I'm also not Briitish, and do get tired of the British middle class trying to take the splinters out of others' eyes while ignoring the beams in their own.

squoosh when criticising other countries and their comedians, please could you take a look at yours first?

Are you proud of what Russell Brand and Joanathan Ross said the Andrew Sachs' granddaughter? No? That was a Pre-recorded show that was aired on BBC radio! No a minstrel show would not make it onto British TV (and it shouldn't have been on Australian TV either) but can we stop pretending like the UK is totally and wholly innocent here?

Pissing myself at the suggestion by MrRected that Australians will have the opportunity to elect a humane government. :o

That would be the gormless, right-wing Catholic twat Tony Abbott. A man who's such liability to his own party, they won't let the swivel-eyed chimp speak. Oh, except when he agrees with Julia Gillard.

Spaghettio, a couple of "blacked up" comedians (who both happen to be very popular in the UK) DID make it onto British TV as I linked (or attempted to link) upthread. These offensive acts should, of course, not be on TV anywhere but some like to state it only ever happens in Australia.

I won't even begin to get into the political stuff....too scary. All I will say is my Italian husband is quite happy to identify as a wog (we are in Australia)
squoosh I seem to remember a British comedy "love thy neighbour" that wasn't particularly complimentary in the way they spoke about either of the races portrayed.
I will now back out of this thread quickly before someone attacks.

Australia is about 40 years behind the UK in terms of racism and bigotry. I know people who have been and said that casual racism is rife over there. Even the most xenophobic Brit wouldn't come out with with the racist bile that some Aussie's spout.

Sydney is liberal like most big internist on cities, but everywhere is backward and insular.

You 'know people who have been' Celtic? So you know the country is racist? I lived in Australia for a few years, and it was one of the most liberal, tolerant, relaxed, welcoming places I have ever been. I am not from the UK (in fact, am a migrant) and I can say hand on heart I have experienced more casual racism here than I ever did in Australia.

FWIW I lived in Melbourne, Sydney and a small country town about 4 hours outside of Melbourne.

Spaghettie you are attacking and attacking me. I retracted my rednecks comment...I don't care if you accept that or not...I only care about the people being held in terrible conditions. It is an embarrassment to the people of Australia and if they would stop being so defensive, they might begin to see.

Slim it IS forward thinking in many ways...I love the place and the people in general but there are some attitudes which reek. I am glad you never saw the rotten side of the place but many of us here have.

"Australia is about 40 years behind the UK in terms of racism and bigotry. I know people who have been...."

Priceless.

Hermit is that right? So they want to call anyone who has been flooded out a "refugee" too? Oh that makes sense...then they can turn entire families away...displaced and homeless will all end up on those detention islands too. Nice.

All countries have some degree of racism. This recent study shows that actually countries like Australia and the UK are the least racist. The most racist countries according to the study were India, Jordan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh. The human rights abuses of Australia pale in comparison to these 4 countries and many others that never get discussed on forums such as Mumsnet. I wonder how the 4 countries listed treat their asylum seekers?

news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/05/17/14/37/survey-reveals-most-racist-countries

I saw some ugly sides of course, but that is true anywhere. Damn right it is true here too. I was also there when the entire country stopped, literally stopped for the long long overdue apologies to the Aboriginals. I stood in the town square of this small country town with what appeared to be the whole town coming out, with big screens up, with people standing still in silence shoulder to shoulder and weeping while the Australian government apologised for the sins committed. That was a very special moment.

It is the blanket statement that some on this thread have made that Australians are racist which is so utterly offensive. SOME Australians are racist. Some people in this country are racist too. Some people from my own country are racist. (In fact, famously so). But some is not all.

The thing is Orwellian, Australia is meant to be an educated and forward thinking country...part of the Western world so to speak. They are not behaving in a manner which befits that status and by "they" I mean those in power.