migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Simply WOW, You've have to laugh this one off but seriously casual racism (tick), not at all stunned that a minister makes such a statement (tick) but for the love of God does nobody screen press releases at the "Liberal" party to stop such a gaff?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226240522173

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226240326959

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226240552125


TTFN, off to buy the extra soap!


Alex

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Brilliant faux pas! Crikey - how many chins does that woman need !

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Stay classy, Liberals.

She's a Liberal, so she'll have one for everyday wear, one for evenings, one for press releases, and one for Sunday best.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Christ, she looks like a female Hermann Goering . . . "Ve hev vays of making you vosh!"

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Give her a break, she suffers from cake retention.

She's been so used shovelling everything into her mouth she obviously forgot to stop at her feet.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Typical neauvau riche... Throwing on every chin she owns just for show.... Just one would have sufficed....

Same with jewellary... A Simple single strand of pearls at afternoon tea darling, never your tiarra.... Thats what my Granny always used to say.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

I'm not going to defend this woman, but I can understand where she's coming from. While living in the Middle East, we had to develop coping mechanisms for surviving the stench after the workers left from their daily maintenance trips to our villa, we also learnt how to stand side by side in lines so that the indian and local kids didn't push past us to get to the front of the queue. There's nothing that pisses you off more as a parent than making your kids stand nicely in line for their turn and being pushed further and further back in the queue by rude little bastards whose parents say nothing. Since coming back to Australia, I have noticed that these traits are not left at home when they move here.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Quite a few natives need the classes as well. Hallitosis is rife in Australia, took me a few months to satisfy myself it wasn't me.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

As usual, these things are blown out of proportion and the press cherrypick the sensational bits for headlines. I heard her on the radio this morning and she had some good points in helping migrants to assimilate and integrate. Wearing deodorant on public transport is the done thing in the west and many migrants from non-western countries may not be aware that smelly body odour is not cool in public.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

The biggest deodorant issues in Australia are certainly not those of migrants. Take a walk through K Mart in Alice Springs and catch a whiff!

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

But do the offenders in Alice head off to the workplace every day - it probably only applies on cheque day.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Discussing it on the radio now.... Someone mentioned the Poms LOL ! Which is a bit strange as all our visitors OD on the deoderant IMO.

I think a brief introduction into things that can be considered offensive could be an idea.

I actually had a go at a new Migrant at work recently as he wasn't saying Please or at least Thank you when collecting mail from me and my Co workers.... unlike 99.99 pct of the other Workers. Including the White collar professionals from head office in the city we had helping us over Xmas. I've noticed this trait amongst a certain group now and I reckon it comes down to them feeling uppity. He has changed his ways and the good manners seem to have spread amongst his recently group appointed compatriates. Twas a fresh of the boat Indian. Strange as I seem to recall them as being very polite in the UK. :confused: Maybe it's an aberration ? For some strange reason I suspected him of having a class issue,

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Aussie Politician Competency - Remedial Class

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

It's no use OD'ing on deodorant if the pits are not clean to start with. Sweating is natural, to a certain extent healthy, and should not stink.

I've heard it said by Asians that we Caucs smell of cheese :lol:

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

My first supervisor when I came here was a lady and a true blue aussie, not only did she stink, but you could see dirty collars on her white blouses. I was a bit surprised, I was naive to expect a lot more from a westerner. Personal hygiene can not be stereotyped, this MP raises a valid point, but lacks form and comes off as racist.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

I can assure you that it is not a class issue at all. Most of us Indians are not used to saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Its not something that is reinforced in school, or taught at homes. We think it's too formal. I won't say that we are rude as a community, but I think it's just a cultural thing.

The best way to deal with this issue is just to explain them these cultural differences. Sometimes a quick word in a friendly way goes a long way in avoiding such misunderstandings. As you said , he has changed his ways. Everyone needs to do his / her own bit in making Australia a culturally diverse country where everyone is mindful of others.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Pommy Politician Competency - Remedial Class:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...?newsfeed=true

Doh!

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Nah. It's not the same league at all. There's errors, gaffs, faux pas and then there's the Aussies.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

So who amongst us migrants, posting on here, was offended by what she said? Anybody?

No doubt she's going to be crucified by the 'professionally offended'.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

You're right it's not in the same league, Abbott's comments were worse.

And then there's the JAWP point of view.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

And then Ed Miliband took it to the next level with 'Blackbusters.'

For some good laughs, check out: #EdMilibandgameshows

There's errors, gaffs, faux pas and then there's British Labour.

:rofl:

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Shark sighting at Manly ruins Tony Abbott's media antics
A cold blooded, dead eyed, much hated scavenger of the depths ..... meets a shark. The shark survives the encounter.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Miliband looks and acts like a lefty student and not the potential PM of a G20 country.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

CF=0

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

So tired of the 'whinging Pom' combo - in fact the word 'Pom' is desperately witless and overused anyway. Show some imagination Amazulu

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

That article's got so many spelling errors in it I thought it was a spoof.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

I will when you stop sounding like a stuck record, open your mind to different viewpoints and realise that it's not all doom and gloom here.

Show some imagination TE.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

In Queensland there is a general lack of politeness when driving and interacting in many aspects of society. Adults and children alike have no concept of queuing, waiting in line or taking turns something that should be taught and reinforced in kindergarten / Prep. Nothing annoys me more than people pushing in while I wait to get served.

I think the concept of hygiene classes fuels racisim and is politically ill advised. All the migrant students I have taught ( from very diverse countries) have always been very clean and well looked after. This was not my experience in the UK where I encountered students who for want of a better word smelt.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Well he thinks his endless repetitive tripe is funny or he thinks it makes people angry to whatever, he just ends up looking stupid.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

People everywhere can and do stink, it makes no difference whether you are a migrant or an Aussie and it is incredibly offensive to make the statement but coming from a politician I expect no better.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

That's a remarkable racist comment from somebody suggesting the politician was racist.....

As I said earlier, it's just the those who go out of their way to be offended/to find something offensive, usually on behalf of somebody else they think has/should been offended.

It's all just a load of bollocks.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

You are beginning to sound a bit like you're stuck in a feedback loop.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Possibly but no different from many others on BE

I'm bored

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Yeah, but they always sounded like that.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

fair enough

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

I find this a little bit odd as I had plenty of exposure to Indians in the UK, I cant recall them acting like this there back in the 70's. Maybe they had already had this conversation. It also indicates a lack of observation of local culture on their part IMO, plus a willingness to keep themselves in an enclave type enviornment even in a workplace.

Strange that this would be an issue to me in more laid back Aus than the slightly more Formal UK. I would have thought they would have found it odd to come up to us night sorters in a workplace and just say a round number to us without any other interaction. That shows incredibly poor local cultural observation skills. . It's "Fresh of the boat" assimilation. I think they need classes myself. As little things like this will really cause some minor issues that could cause them to isolate themselves even more.

Do more integrated Indians advise them on issues like this... Possibly at those big dances in Cheltenham that the Indian club runs ?

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Asking migrants to assimilate is one thing. Telling them they smell is another.

And decent people know the difference:thumbup:

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

The Federal Government should earmark budget for free samples. Should boost the profits of Procter & Gamble and Unilever etc.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Perhaps include the advice in a package to be given to all would be migrants about social and cultural issues- similar to the no spitting one they include?

But having said that, people do have odours- as a teacher I noticed that young tweens/teens often smelled: this was their hormones kicking into overdrive, and it didn't matter how much washing/deodorant they put on (when they discovered it)- by the end of the day in summer, the classroom stank. For some people, the hormones never truly settle, and poor dental hygeine added to the odour. For those that have no idea if their breath is bad, lick the inside of your wrist and wait 30 seconds, then sniff it. That is what your breath is like, or if you floss, smell the floss.

And without being racist, different foods give different cultures a variety of smells- dairy products make the consumers smell different to the spice eaters or those that like onion and garlic. People are often not aware of how they smell to others- especially smokers. If you live with the smell you learn to ignore/not notice it. Similarly for those who have dogs or ferrets or other animals.

Re: migrant hygiene classes!!
 

Well, she is a Liberal ...