Anti-Australian sentiment

2025-09-24T11:05:38Z

104.220.134.190: /* East Timor */Fixed typo, capitalized

{{short description|Dislike of Australia, its people or its policies}}
{{History of Australia|expanded=yes}}
[[File:Hands off Timorese Oil - Brisbane May Day 2017 parade - image 2.jpg|thumb|200px|Protesters in Brisbane protesting Australia's claim on East Timorese oil, May 2017
]]

'''Anti-Australian sentiment''' (also known as '''Australophobia''' or '''Anti-Australianism''') refers to animosity, criticism, or prejudice towards [[Australia]], its [[Culture of Australia|culture]], or [[Australians]] in general.
Anti-Australian sentiment can arise from various factors including differences in [[religion]], events outlined in the [[History of Australia]], its domestic or foreign policies or its involvement in [[List of wars involving Australia|various conflicts]] such as [[Australia in World War I|World War 1]] or [[Australia in World War II|World War 2]].

The [[antonym]] for an Australophobe is an [[Australophile]], which refers to the appreciation, love, or admiration for Australia.

== History ==
One of the earliest references to the specific phrase "Anti-Australian sentiment" occurred in 1983 in relation to anti-independence groups in [[New Caledonia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0J9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,6377780&dq=anti-australian-sentiment&hl=en|title=The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

The term "anti-Australian" also predates it by decades in that by 1949, people in parts of [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa|Africa]] and [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia|Asia]] were said to have "anti-Australian feeling" over how Australia applied its [[White Australia policy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D4sQAAAAIBAJ&pg=7382,648728&dq=anti-australian+white-australia&hl=en|title=The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

=== East Timor ===

Anti-Australian sentiment grew within [[East Timor]], during the period of the [[Timor Gap Treaty#Controversy surrounding Australia's involvement in the Indonesian invasion in East Timor|Timor Gap Treaty]] which was signed during the [[Indonesian occupation of East Timor]]. The sentiment was further intensified by the political and economic issues between [[East Timor]] and [[Australia]], particularly over oil and gas resources within the [[Timor Sea]], which sparked major protests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1775713.htm|title=AM - Anti-Australian sentiment felt in Dili|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

=== Singapore ===
In 1948, there were anti-Australian sentiments in then-[[Colony of Singapore|colonial Singapore]] by their citizens due to the treatment of one of their countrywomen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/society-and-culture/migration-and-multiculturalism/anti-australian-feeling-amongst-chinese-singapore-over-white-australia-policy |title=Anti-Australian feeling amongst Chinese in Singapore over White Australia policy |author=Massey |date=10 April 1948 |website=naa.gov.au |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref>

=== Indonesia ===
[[Indonesia]] has been alleged to have a rise in "anti-Australian sentiment" because of suggestions of Australia interfering in its internal affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/outrage-rises-on-corby-decision-20120530-1zjdr.html|title=Outrage rises on Corby decision|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=30 May 2012 |access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref> A 2003 study on Indonesian aspirants for a diplomatic position reported that 95% of them had anti-Australian sentiment.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mGDDKk_DhEIC&q=%22anti-australian%22&pg=PA77|title=Different Societies, Shared Futures|isbn=9789812303875|access-date=29 April 2016|last1=Monfries|first1=John|year=2006|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies }}</ref> The [[post-Suharto era]] period also saw anti-Australian sentiment in Indonesia over [[East Timor]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rvGZ4wINjRgC&q=%22anti-australian%22+indonesia&pg=PA19|title=Inequality, Crisis and Social Change in Indonesia|isbn=9780203401910|access-date=29 April 2016|last1=Reuter|first1=Thomas|date=18 June 2004|publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref> In Indonesia, it is related to a generalised [[anti-Western sentiment]].

The Australian intervention in [[East Timor]] still made the Indonesian government upset and led to it taking revenge on Australia by undermining the Australian interest in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/caught-pincer | title=Caught in a pincer }}</ref>

A 2012 public opinion poll conducted by the [[Lowy Institute]], an Australian foreign relations think tank, found that Indonesians rated their views towards Indonesia as 62 degrees, on a scale between 0 and 100 degrees ranging from "very unfavourable" to "very warm".<ref name="Lowy Institute Poll 2012">{{cite web |last=Hanson |first=Fergus |title=The Lowy Institute Poll 2012: Public Opinion and Foreign Policy |url=http://lowyinstitute.cachefly.net/files/lowy_poll_2012_web3.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114202005/http://lowyinstitute.cachefly.net/files/lowy_poll_2012_web3.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2012 |access-date=7 January 2013 |publisher=Lowy Institute |page=16}}</ref> This polling also found that just under a third of Indonesians saw Australia as a potential threat to their country.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bernard |date=20 March 2012 |title=Indonesians 'warmer' to Australians now |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/indonesians-warmer-to-australians-now/story-fn59nm2j-1226304605608 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514172513/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/indonesians-warmer-to-australians-now/story-fn59nm2j-1226304605608 |archive-date=14 May 2012 |access-date=7 January 2013 |newspaper=The Australian}}</ref>

==== 2002 Bali bombings ====
The [[2002 Bali bombings]], which killed 202 people, including 88 [[Australians]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 June 2024 |title=2002 Bali bombings {{!}} Australian Federal Police |url=https://www.afp.gov.au/about-us/history/unique-stories/2002-bali-bombings#:~:text=Two%20blasts,%2045%20seconds%20apart&text=A%20total%20of%20202%20people,the%20US%20consulate%20in%20Denpasar. |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=[[Australian Federal Police]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-10-09 |title=The 12 October 2002 Bali bombing plot |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19881138 |access-date=2025-03-09 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> and injured at least a further 75 Australians,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Notaras |first=Len |date=2019-02-25 |title=From Bali to Sulawesi: the importance of northern Australia's regional response capability |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/from-bali-to-sulawesi-the-importance-of-northern-australias-regional-response-capability/#:~:text=The%20decision%20in%202002%20to,attack%20was%20a%20strategic%20success. |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=The Strategist |language=en-AU}}</ref> were in direct retaliation for [[Australia and the Indonesian occupation of East Timor|Australia's role]] in the [[1999 East Timorese independence referendum|liberation]] of [[Timor-Leste]] and United States' support of the [[war on terror]].<ref name="Bin Laden">{{Cite web |date=14 November 2002 |title='Bin Laden' voices new threat to Australia |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/bin-laden-voices-new-threat-to-australia-20021114-gdusbw.html |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=[[The Age]] |language=en}}</ref>

==== Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta ====
On 9 September 2004, the [[Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta|Australian Embassy in Jakarta was bombed]], killing 10 people and injuring 200 others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=AFP marks 20 years since major terror attack {{!}} Australian Federal Police |url=https://afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-marks-20-years-major-terror-attack |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=[[Australian Federal Police]] |language=en}}</ref> The perpetrators [[Jemaah Islamiyah]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Ressa |first=Maria |date=9 September 2004 |title=JI 'claims Jakarta car bombing' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/09/09/indonesia.blast/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830195002/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/09/09/indonesia.blast/ |archive-date=30 August 2007 |access-date=3 June 2008 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> an organisation which has also claimed responsibility for multiple other attacks against Australians including the [[2002 Bali bombings]], carried out the attack because of their hatred towards Australians living in Indonesia and the Australian government's [[Australia in the Iraq War|deployment of troops]] in the [[Iraq War]]. An Islamist web site, www.islamic-minbar.com, posted a statement by Jemaah Islamiyah saying:{{Blockquote|We decided to settle accounts with Australia, one of the worst enemies of God and Islam, ... and a Mujahadeen brother succeeded in carrying out a martyr operation with a car bomb against the Australian embassy...

It is the first of a series of attacks. ... We advise Australians in Indonesia to leave this country or else we will transform it into a cemetery for them.

We advise the Australian government to withdraw its troops from Iraq. If our demand is not satisfied, we will deal them many painful blows. The lines of booby-trapped cars will have no end.

Our jihad (holy war) will continue until the liberation of the land of Muslims.

Jemaah Islamiah in eastern Asia – department of information – Indonesia.|Jemaah Islamiyah|''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''<ref>{{cite news |title=JI claims responsibility for blast |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Anti-Terror-Watch/JI-claims-responsibility-for-blast-report/2004/09/10/1094530799415.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=10 September 2004 |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref>}}

==== Espionage allegations ====
{{Main|Australia–Indonesia spying scandal}}
In October 2013, Indonesians protested the [[Australian Signals Directorate]]'s alleged 2009 attempt to monitor the phone calls of senior Indonesian officials, including President [[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono|Susilo Bambang Yudhiyono]] and his wife [[Ani Yudhoyono]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=George |title=Spying row: Indonesia gives Tony Abbott two days to respond to claims SBY's phone tapped |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-19/indonesia-gives-australia-two-days-to-explain-spying-row/5101050 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119111018/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-19/indonesia-gives-australia-two-days-to-explain-spying-row/5101050 |archive-date=19 November 2013 |access-date=19 November 2013 |newspaper=ABC News}}</ref> this included burnings of the [[flag of Australia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indonesian protesters burn Australian flags |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/indonesian-protesters-burn-australian-flags-201311219231626798.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092146/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/indonesian-protesters-burn-australian-flags-201311219231626798.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Protests intensified as Australian Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] refused to apologise,<ref>{{cite news |title=Tony Abbott refuses to apologise for Indonesian spying program |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-refuses-to-apologise-for-indonesian-spying-program-20131119-2xsn4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113222504/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-refuses-to-apologise-for-indonesian-spying-program-20131119-2xsn4.html |archive-date=13 November 2016 |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> leading to further anti-Australia rhetoric. Indonesia froze ties with Australia as a result<ref>{{cite web |title=Indonesia freezes ties with Australia |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/indonesia-freezes-cooperation-with-australia-2013112084236857470.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225172810/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/indonesia-freezes-cooperation-with-australia-2013112084236857470.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> and recalled the Indonesian ambassador [[Nadjib Riphat Kesoema]] to Jakarta between November 2013 and May 2014.

=== Turkey ===
After the [[Christchurch mosque shootings]] in 2019 (which were carried out by an Australian), [[President of Turkey|Turkish President]] [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] warned that if [[Australians]] and [[New Zealand]]ers with anti-[[Muslim]] and anti-[[Turkey|Turkish]] views try to enter Turkey, they will be "sent back home in coffins like their grandfathers", referring to the [[Australia in World War I#Gallipoli|Australian Landings on Gallipoli against Turkish Forces]] in [[World War I]]. Many [[Australians]] and [[New Zealanders]] were highly offended by these comments and accused Erdoğan of anti-Australianism. Australian [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[Scott Morrison]] and New Zealand [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Jacinda Ardern]] described these comments as "appalling" and "highly insensitive".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/turkey-s-envoy-hauled-in-over-deeply-offensive-massacre-comments-20190320-p515oh | title=Row deepens over Turkey's 'deeply offensive' comments | date=20 March 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-pacific-middle-east-ap-top-news-religion-5c0c6625dc6e4267aa4e7c1119b9bb83 | title=Turkey's Erdogan sparks spat with Australia, New Zealand | website=[[Associated Press]] | date=20 April 2021 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia}}
*[[Foreign relations of Australia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Anti-national sentiments}}
[[Category:1983 neologisms]]
[[Category:Anti-Australian sentiment| ]]
[[Category:Anti-national sentiment|Australian]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Australia]]

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Anti-Australian sentiment