Name a bad news story about Australia that has tarnished our name overseas?

Question

There must be a few infamous news stories out there that don't exactly paint a glossy picture of Australia.
Just to re affirm, I am Aussie, love Australia.
We are having an Australia Day party and there is much discussion on the good parts, and a few on some of the bad. (yes there is both)
What is the most regretable Australian event. And don't say when white people got here.

Answer 1

Azaria Chamberlin. Dingo got my baby!

Palm Island Aboriginal discrimination

Cronulla Riots

Answer 2

Some things that made it big in overseas news were:



The Cronulla riots

Pauline Hanson

the Port Arthur Massacre

every bushfire, shark bite that's ever happened.

Steve Irwin - while he's a great Australian icon, there is a lot of people who now think Australia is ready and waiting to bite.

Paul Howard walking arm in arm with Bush

Our human rights record in regards to aborigines looks terrible (and is probably more accurate) when reported by overseas media

Paul Keating feeling up the Queen

Answer 3

I think coverage of the Cronulla riots reached many parts of the world and painted Australia in a bad light and the 'stolen generation' stories didn't do us any favours either. Taken together, those stories seem to have left an incredibly mistaken impression of Australia as a racist and intolerant country and nothing could be further from the truth.



Still thinking about the most regrettable Australian event. First that come to mind are the Vivien Solon affair and the Cronulla riots.

Answer 4

I think the news report tonight regarding Kevin Rudd and his refusal to move Australia day to another date is a pretty good candidate.



This is the Prime Minister that announced on behalf of everyone in the country that we are "SORRY" (in capital letters) for the way the Aboriginal community has been disrespected since day one. Then on the very day that should be inclusive of everyone in the country in a round of positive backslapping and barbequeing - he drops this clanger. He says unequivocally - no - to changing the date of our national day. Now all of Aboriginal Australia has to be reminded of the systematic assault on their culture and society, which began with the arrival of the first fleet on Jan 26, every 12 months. This occurred in front of the man collecting one of our most treasured awards - Australian of the Year - who happens to be both Australian and an Aboriginal.



The rest of the world will now see Australia as the biggest bunch of hipocrite's. Thankyou Mr Rudd for making it clear exactly how Sorry we really are.



post edit:



There are far more appropriate dates to celebrate Australia day than January 26. The day Captain Cook sighted Australia - 19 April, or the day our constitution was signed - July 9. As it is most Australians outside of New South Wales feel largely removed from the current date because it celebrates the start of Sydney not Australia. Remembering that the ancestors of some of our citizens discovered the place 40,000 years earlier. We need to re-think exactly what it is we are celebrating here. Most of us don't really care, and think its just another public holiday. That is the sad part.

Answer 5

The Tampa Affair.



Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.



The Jo Anne Lees case.



Those American Divers Left to die on the Barrier Reef.



Cyclone Tracy



The Canberra Bush Fires



Ash Wednesday !983

Answer 6

The football match Australia Vs. Qatar a few months ago, portrayed very badly behavior from Australians towards Qataris.

Answer 7

Just a few months ago, immigration denied entry of a doctor because he had a Downs Syndrome child...that made overseas news and didn't make Australia look good.

Answer 8

speaking as a non-American, i think of you have an identical subject concerns anybody does with conflict. infantrymen are knowledgeable to be merciless, and to kill. it extremely is the character of our activity. The horrors of conflict and the merciless reality of it blur the line of authentic/incorrect at circumstances. ultimately, there are constantly some undesirable apples. good officers and NCO's could decrease the abuse. Ergo, decrease ranks and privates should not be compliant with it. record those issues to an better Officer! Refuse unlawful orders! (torture) do no longer permit your call and your honor be used up by ability of somebody else.

Answer 9

Probably that recent incident about John Howard's accomadation in the USA where he'd booked into that house that was the traditional accomadation for the incoming president prior to their inaugeration, forcing Obama into staying a a hotel

Answer 10

The backpacker murders didn't show us in a good light and not great for tourism.

Russell Crowe and the infamous phone throwing.

Answer 11

The Port Arthur massacre was so horrific and even the overseas media seemed shocked.

Answer 12

I know what has tarnished our name in Japan - our criticism of Japanese whaling, and our support for Sea Sheppherd.



Please, no arguments here, I am not saying Japan is or isn't wrong in their whaling - I am saying that the Japanese perceive us as HYPOCRITICAL - we say they are wrong for killing whales, while we regularly gun down all our kangaroos.



Chalk and cheese for us maybe, but this IS how it's seen in Japan.

Answer 13

Cronulla Riots, bunch of flag waving idiots...

Answer 14

russell crowe (who is a fricking kiwi anyway)

south sydney rabbitohs

the wiggles

pauline hanson

john howard

crocodile dundee

kangaroo jack

nicole kidman

STEVE IRWIN!!!!!

how embarrassing to have all of them linked to our beautiful country

Answer 15

actually, i dont recall ever hearing anything bad about Australia. (: