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.

"What does "British people who did that were from another country" mean?"

It was "another century" not "another country".

struggling to understand cote - what do you mean?

OP You are being racist. It makes you appear as ignorant as you stereo type Aussies to be. Massive fail.

Whilst I don't agree with the approach to asylum seeker processing that Australia is taking, you do need to get your facts straight:

• wiping out most of the east coast aboriginal tribes was done by the British
• terra nullius was declared by the British
• arguably, racism against people who aren't white is a very British trait that Australia has inherited as a primarily British-origin country. Birmingham riots or UKIP for example. Ask the average immigrant in Britain whether they've experienced bigotry and see how many say no. I have friends who've experienced horrible racism, as in many countries in the world.

Ah, that makes more sense Neo

As I said before, grave past injustices have a way of carrying conflicts across centuries. Just like what we are seeing between Israel & Palestinians.

What is it you don't understand, ivy? Let me know and I will explain as best I can.

Massive Fail doesn't really mean much when I'm looking at such actions Momsnets. I just think that saying they seem to be a country of Rednecks is a fine way to describe a country which has done this.

so due to the convicts having a grave past - their descendents have stopped taking in refugees?

"Momsnets"? Is this your first day on MN?

You really can't see how sweeping a statement that is and makes your complaint about Australia redundant?! Ok then.

I don't think it's racist to say a country must collectively take responsibility for its government's actions, on some level. But to call it a "country of rednecks" is not defensible, and is only going to get people's hackles up, OP.

No Cote, is it yours?

australia - not Australians

Cote has been here years and years

No, ivy, obviously that is not what I meant.

I was replying to vivizone's "That country has a ugly ugly history", which should be obvious if you read my post below:

CoteDAzur Thu 16-May-13 17:57:42
Didn't Australia start out as a British prison colony? Didn't British authority sell Australia bit by bit to British settlers and throw natives out of their land?
Whose fault is Australia's ugly history, I wonder?

I'm also Australian and am completely horrified by this latest development. It really upsets me that my own country can be so dismissive of people's basic human rights. I was brought up in a multicultural neighbourhood and was taught in absolute racial equality (including for indigenous Australians). It really upsets me when I see this not being carried out by my fellow citizens.

However I take exception to some of the comments generalising about Australians. Yes some are 'rednecks', but I'm not and neither are any of my family or friends. Vivizone I found your remarks particularly offensive.

Cote I think you need to slow down and read more carefully! she's talking to the poster MomsNetCurtains....

I lived there for two years, I'm not surprised.

I am Aussie. I have been here 15 years, so have spent nearly as much time here as I did there - I left when I was 21.

There is more "racism" or at least "bigotry" there than there is here. Considering also the population there, this is worrying. However, without justifying it, they only got rid of the "white Australia policy" in the 1950's, there have been all sorts of problems and social issues surrounding the indigenous peoples, the economy has been fragile, etc, all which have contributed to it.

Not justifying it at all.

We are all just one natural disaster away from being refugees.

I am saddened by this. There has been a "boat people" thing happening since before I moved here. It does sadden me. I'm not necessarily a Guardian Reading Leftie Socialist but nor am I a redneck, nor are many. Not sure what's gone wrong...to out of touch. But Julia Gillard and anyone else in power needs to live with this decision.

I think this is really terrible. Rich countries claim they can't afford to take in refugees. How do they expect 3rd world countries to manage it?! It just results in the rich and privileged of the world turning their backs on the most vulnerable because helping them survive might mean a few less luxuries.

It is not helpful or accurate to compare Australia to Israel

What actually happens in the process of processing people? Is it likely that these refugees will be only be there temporarily?

I don't see the problem with processing people offshore. I wish we could do the same, then we wouldn't have so many people unaccounted for with no real idea of how many people are actually in our country. The problem is with the conditions people are kept in. I don't think a lack of doors for privacy is a huge issue, but people do need to be protected from the elements.

HollyBerry makes a valid point. Refugees are supposed to claim asylum in the first safe country, not the country that they like the idea of living in the most.

I was quoting OP who said "Momsnets". It looked like she was trying to say "MumsNetters"

I'm unlikely to be more focused before DC go to bed, unfortunately.

I had read that post cote - and thought you were blaming the British with the comment, sorry still confused but possibly me not being with it - as you were

Ok I am sorry for saying Rednecks. I never thought it through. Not a nice expression at all and I wouldn't use it in RL so I shouldn't here just because I am angry.

I'm Australian, and this is deeply embarrassing. Unfortunately, a load of people will now mistakenly believe that all Australians are racist....

I have lived abroad for 10 years. While I have concerns about a very vocal racist element, this kind of thing is just perpetuated by the federal government. I know lots of very lovely Australians who are not at all racist.

It is true that the only 'successful' example of genocide was committed against the Tasmanian aboriginals. The treatment of the aboriginal people is a stain on 'modern' australian history. On the other hand, in my hometown of Melbourne, waves of immigrants from Greece, Italy and Vietnam; among others; have added to the diversity of the town and give the city part of its character.

I wish the government was more accepting of people fleeing appalling conditions and seeking a new life. There used of be more of a 'fair go' culture in Australia. However, we are not all racist rednecks. That's just the Federal government .