Un-Australian
Encyclopedia
Un-Australian is an increasingly pejorative
term used in Australia
. In modern usage, it has similar connotations to the US term un-American
, however the Australian term is somewhat older, being used as early as 1855 to describe an aspect of the landscape that was similar to that of Britain
. Its modern usage was popularised during the 1990s by Prime Minister
John Howard
and One Nation Party founder Pauline Hanson
; however, Stanley Bruce
used it in reference to striking workers in 1925 and Joseph Lyons
during the 1930s to decry communists
and migrants from non-British backgrounds. In recent times, the word has been overused to the point of being a particular favourite of humourists and satirists. It is used in a humorous TV advertising campaign by Meat and Livestock Australia, in which ex-AFL
footballer Sam Kekovich
declares that not including lamb in one's diet is "un-Australian".
Judith Ireland, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald notes John Howard is perhaps most responsible for the proliferation of the word, having used it in the 1980s to describe the proposed Australia Card
legislation. During his term as Prime Minister, Howard repeatedly used the term "un-Australian" to describe striking workers, anti-globalisation and anti-war protestors and Opposition proposals to withdraw the country's military from Iraq
. Millionaire businessman, philanthropist and human rights
campaigner Dick Smith
also described the Howard Government's policies towards convicted terrorism supporter David Hicks
and asylum seekers as "un-Australian".
In a more vernacular sense, the word is also often used in a jocular form for anything that could be considered not in accordance with the wider Australian community. In 2006, the Cultural Studies
Association of Australasia convened its annual conference under the title 'UnAustralia' at the University of Canberra
with Keynote speeches at Parliament House Also in 2006, Melbourne
artist, Azlan McLennan
burned an Australian flag to coincide with Australia Day
. The artwork, "Proudly UnAustralian" was controversially removed from its public billboard display by local authorities, prompting much debate about free speech versus police powers.
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
term used in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In modern usage, it has similar connotations to the US term un-American
Un-American
Un-American is a pejorative term of US political discourse which is applied to people or institutions in the United States seen as deviating from US norms....
, however the Australian term is somewhat older, being used as early as 1855 to describe an aspect of the landscape that was similar to that of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Its modern usage was popularised during the 1990s by Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
and One Nation Party founder Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Lee Hanson is an Australian politician and former leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a political party with a populist and anti-multiculturalism platform...
; however, Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created...
used it in reference to striking workers in 1925 and Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
during the 1930s to decry communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and migrants from non-British backgrounds. In recent times, the word has been overused to the point of being a particular favourite of humourists and satirists. It is used in a humorous TV advertising campaign by Meat and Livestock Australia, in which ex-AFL
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
footballer Sam Kekovich
Sam Kekovich
Sam Kekovich is an Australian media personality, sports commentator and former Australian rules football player.He is well known for his controversial behaviour, both on and off the field, and most recently for his series of satirical advertisements as the spokesman for Meat and Livestock...
declares that not including lamb in one's diet is "un-Australian".
Modern usage
While the origins of the term go back to the 1850s, the term "un-Australian" has risen in popularity since the mid-1990s. The definition of the word has changed from simply defining something, particularly art or literature, as not Australian in character to a broader, more negative connotation suggesting an activity, behaviour, belief or policy that is seen to be violating Australian cultural norms. In this sense, then, its usage is generally subjectively applied according to the user's beliefs. Furthermore, usage of the word in political campaigning is with the intention of sparking Nationalistic ideals in the general public in order to increase and grow political support.Judith Ireland, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald notes John Howard is perhaps most responsible for the proliferation of the word, having used it in the 1980s to describe the proposed Australia Card
Australia Card
The Australia Card was a controversial proposal for a national identification card for Australian citizens and resident foreigners. The proposal was made in 1985, and abandoned in 1987....
legislation. During his term as Prime Minister, Howard repeatedly used the term "un-Australian" to describe striking workers, anti-globalisation and anti-war protestors and Opposition proposals to withdraw the country's military from Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Millionaire businessman, philanthropist and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
campaigner Dick Smith
Dick Smith (entrepreneur)
Dick Smith, AO is an Australian entrepreneur, businessman, aviator, and political activist. He is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic, and was selected as the 1986 Australian of the Year.-Electronics:In 1968, Dick Smith founded electronics retailer...
also described the Howard Government's policies towards convicted terrorism supporter David Hicks
David Hicks
David Matthew Hicks is an Australian who was convicted by the United States of America Guantanamo Military Commission under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, on charges of providing material support for terrorism...
and asylum seekers as "un-Australian".
In a more vernacular sense, the word is also often used in a jocular form for anything that could be considered not in accordance with the wider Australian community. In 2006, the Cultural Studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
Association of Australasia convened its annual conference under the title 'UnAustralia' at the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
with Keynote speeches at Parliament House Also in 2006, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
artist, Azlan McLennan
Azlan McLennan
Azlan McLennan is a visual artist and socialist activist based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts...
burned an Australian flag to coincide with Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
. The artwork, "Proudly UnAustralian" was controversially removed from its public billboard display by local authorities, prompting much debate about free speech versus police powers.