BurakuminDes comments

Without bi-lateral political support, every referendum in Australia is doomed to fail historically. The Conservatives have opposed this proposed change, as they did in the Republic referendum 25 years ago.

To be honest, it is doubtful that an unelected "Voice" to parliament would achieve much other than lining the pockets of some in Canberra instead of building hospitals and police stations where they are needed for the indigenous.

Most Aussies couldn't care less for the first people of their land, and anyone who has visited Australia would know this first hand. 

Patently untrue. Most Aussies do want the gap to close between black and white - but many believe this change is not the answer. As for the "respect" of non-indigenous New Zealanders toward Māori and other Pacific Islanders, I have heard plenty using pejorative terms to describe them over the years. There will be a percentage of bigots everywhere. And I'd remind you there is a very big gap between indigenous and white New Zealanders in terms of income, unemployment, incarceration etc.

@ Yoshisan - perhaps you dont watch Ch 7? It's been all over their network, as well as social media.

1 million tix already snapped up here in Aus. Been trying to get tix to a Matildas game with no luck.

It's a pretty big vibe for the Matildas v Ireland opener tomorrow. Hope the game lives up to it!

John San -

It's not going to happen legally in Japan.

It will happen - like many things, Japan takes a while to catch up. Probably a decade or so down the track is my guess.

Times change - society changes, attitudes change and even constitutions change.

Public polls are indicating support for same sex marriage. Whether you call it abnormal or not is irrelevant. You'll likely be gone when it does take effect.

Kishida good job! Kick out these dirty people from your country. Let them to get married somewhere in scruffy West.

How can gay Japanese people be kicked out of their own country? And calling them dirty says everything about the type of nasty bigot you are.

Japan is poised to become the most visited country in the world

Big advocate of J-tourism - but this statement simply isn't true.

I would love to get money from the government for something that happened to my great-grandparents. Where do I sign up?

Why? Did anything actually happen to your great-grandparents - like the crimes against Japanese-Americans and Afro-Americans - to actually warrant reparations?

Failures Truss, Morrison and some Belgian guy. Not exactly the heavy hitters the region needs to speak out against China.

Good move, symbolic really and that's all.

Cash only made up 7% of transactions in Australia (2022) and is tipped by some to be close to extinct by 2025. I don't even remember the last time I even saw a $5 note except for this picture!

South Korea has slums?

Not sure if you have travelled too much, but every massive city in the world - even the "richest" - has areas where homeless people live. Be that in parks, hostels, tunnels, or sadly even on the street.

I hope these poor people are found accommodation.

Interesting to see many here who would struggle to locate NZ on a map suddenly being experts on NZ policy and politics, calling Ardern a witch, a Communist and so on.

I agree with Strangerland - she will be remembered as an exceptional leader who kept her nation pumping, the rugby stadiums full and pubs and restaurants packed, while the rest of us were under some type of restrictions.

A definite contender for UN Secretary General if she plays her cards right and those cards fall her way. Bravo, Ms Ardern.

Japan wants foreign workers. It doesn't want foreign people.

Here's the thing : workers have babies.

It would be a positive thing to look after these pregnant workers. Babies are the workforce (and taxpayers) of the future.

ok and so what?

Some people come across as really childish.

This section is "World news". Not interested? Don't read and comment.

Rudd is a good appointment for Australia.

So basically New Zealand will get an automatic birth and Australia has to go play a bunch of Asia teams to qualify?

Yep. NZ will essentially be playing against amateur teams in the lead up like Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga etc and scoring goals for fun - with no challenge. Hard to prepare for a World Cup playing teams like that.

Australia getting to play the likes of South Korea, Japan, Saudi etc over the 4 year cycle definitely raises their standard.

It's not like Aussies can tell what area each other are from based on their accent, whereas people in the UK (mostly) can.

Regional accents in Australia are far more subtle than in the UK (where I can identify around 10) but are there if you listen. As an Aussie I can easily pick a Queensland or WA accent, and a Victorian one based on pronunciation of selected words. Even in this city, Sydney, there is a distinct Western Sydney accent as compared to North of the bridge.

Never having been to Canada I'd have no hope of discerning a Toronto vs Vancouver accent. If I spent a few years there I probably could.

Languages are far more interesting with accents!

Can anyone tell me why this happens so often in soccer - having violent (& racist) fans - in so many countries on different continents?

It doesn’t happen with other sports with rabid fans like MLB, NFL, NBA, rugby or cricket.

This stuff is unheard of in the biggest codes here - Australian Football, Rugby League and Cricket apart from the odd moron. Indeed, rival fans commonly sit together. Soccer just seems to attract violent, angry anti-social males with a pack mentality for some reason.

Sadly incidents like this will prevent soccer ever becoming as popular as it could be here in Australia.

But I thought all the Australians were disarmed - how is this possible?

All Australianns? It probably pays to do a little research before commenting. We are talking about rural Australia - where many farmers require firearms to euthanise animals and kill predators.

There is also the possibility the weapons were illegally obtained. Illegal weapons are available in every country for a price.

Fortunately multiple gun deaths are incredibly rare in Australia.

Rest in Peace to the police killed in such a cowardly manner, and the innocent neighbour.

How's that New Capitalism™️ going, by the way?

Leave them on. What is Xmas without the lights?!

Well, they do still have a commonwealth that gives them total control over the democratically elected governments of many countries including Canada, Australia, NZ to name a few.

The UK has "total control" over Australia, Canada and NZ?

I'm sure that comes as a shock to the citizens there. Australia has been independent for 121 years and I'd imagine Canada longer.

The Commonwealth of Nations is an organisation nations voluntarily join. It has no "control" over them.

Let’s not forget the whole “Beautiful Country” thing or that he essentially smothered a rape investigation of one of his compromise either.

I also remember the "we will make Japan a place where women shine" hilarity.

A nice, rare junket for halfwit Tony Abbott, and the angry geriatric, little Johnny Howard.

Surely the current PM attending would be sufficient.

Doesnt exactly sound random.

Even if one disagreed with his politics, it is a truly sad and horrible day for Japan. No one deserves to die like that. Friday, July 8, 2022 will be an infamous and tragic day in this nation's history.

Rest in Peace, Abe Shinzo.

Condolences to wife, children 

Children?

Quick! Blame all the foreigners on those group tours!

Australia part of Asia,

Try saying that to a guy of European descent, you'll get a bloody nose

As a white Aussie I respectfully disagree. I certainly know of no Aussie of a European background who would violently disagree.

Australia may be a separate continent, but we are now part of Asia - and getting closer all the time. Minister Wong is spot on.

@ Desert Tortoise - reading again, you were spot on, my mistake. $7 is a steal! Wish i could partake!

$7 for a lunch buffet is cheap, cheap, cheap

The buffet went up by ₩9000 ($7), which was a 10% rise. Very pricey lunch buffet.

yet another sad result of the Biden administration pushing open borders.

What is sad is that some cannot resist the chance to play party politics over an unfolding human tragedy.

Rest in Peace to all who perished.

Decrepit, horrible old man.