I doubt we will know what really happened for a few days...

Nope still a dumb, ignorant "here be dragons" statement. By any measure Australia is one of the most multicultural and tolerant countries in the world. And by "one of the most" I mean vying for the top spot not better than average. At various times we have been the most, or second most multicultural country and are ridiculously tolerant, measured 6th most tolerant recently by the Social Progress Imperative.

It's sort of like calling Sweden an intolerant country because some people there complain about muslims. You know what countries don't have people complaining about immigrants? Ones that have no immigration and racial diversity.
You don't measure a country by it's reactionary conservative blowhards otherwise America is a racist black-people-cop-target-practice and Rush Limbaugh country and Canada with it's right wing government, treatment of first nations peoples, KKK, Western Guard sexual assaulting radio hosts is a cesspool of intolerance as well. Don't get me started on Britain.

There are no countries that can lecture Australia on cultural diversity and tolerance, even frigging Iceland and the nordic countries.

From Wiki.
"The Social Progress Index measures the extent to which countries provide for the social and environmental needs of their citizens. Fifty-two indicators in the areas of basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity to progress show the relative performance of nations. The SPI measures the well-being of a society by observing social and environmental outcomes directly rather than the economic factors. The social and environmental factors include personal safety, ecosystem sustainability, health and wellness, shelter, sanitation, equity and inclusion and personal freedom and choice."
Congratulations on the ranking.

I am talking about the news of politicians and their talking points of if you don't like it get out. I actually applaud Australia for picking a line in the sand and saying this is an acceptable level of behaviour. IF you can exist within these boundaries then you are welcome. If you can't get out.

I wish Canada were more like that. I think our desire to be too politically correct and open is going to lead to a downfall very soon. No one is calling your country racist. Just I hope I never see Australia tolerate Sharia Law popping up or Sharia zones popping up in the middle of Brisbane or something.

Two hostages dead and the gunman is dead.

The lunatic who did this was an Iranian immigrant who came here after seeking political asylum.

Man Haron Monis was found guilty of sending inflammatory and degrading letters to the families of deceased soldiers. He was later charged with more than 40 counts of serious sexual assault and charged for being an accessory before and after the murder of his ex wife who was killed by his new partner Amirah Droudis.

Man Haron Monis took a machete, a shot gun and a backpack to the Lindt Cafe yesterday morning and took his hostages, forcing them to hold up a black flag which was nothing more than a testament of Islamic faith. He later, through Facebook posts made by hostages at gunpoint, asked for an ISIL flag.

If this criminal nutcase had not been on bail then this tragedy would not have happened.

I think 'if' is a word we will be hearing a lot - Hindsight is a wonderful thing...

This was destined to end badly with dead innocent hostages. What did this nutcase expect? Australia would surrender to one terrorist?

This was not Jihad, this was a crime of hate and cowardice. Throw his body to the dingos, wrap the bones in pigskin and never speak his name again to the end of time.

Australia is a moderate country with a few nutcases.

Even while most of Australia thought an Islamic terrorist was holding these people hostage, hundreds of Australians offered to ride public transport with people wearing religious clothing so they would feel safe being themselves.

#Illridewithyou was an example of the tolerant, decent society that Australia is. We have our extremists on all sides but they are few compared to the majority who are respectful, tolerant, diverse and multicultural. Australia is the great country it is because of the good old Aussie fair go.

I agree - This Guy had fucked up big time - He was a rapist and possibly a murderer and his life was falling apart - His muslim 'friends' had disowned him and he was a sad case...

He decided to go out with a bang - I would guess at this point he hated muslims as much as he hated everyone else - Just another sad and lonely nutter, not even a terrorist.....

Social Progress Index != Social Progress Imperative which is a group that amongst other things measured tolerance etc across all countries.

I honestly don't know what you're talking about. No one here has picked a line of behavior, no one is not welcome here. There have been a handful of people banned, Irving, the holocaust denier.. Snoop Dog (once, and probably due to feminists complaining about his misogyny) and a couple of terrorist preachers.

If we have jews operating under jewish/talmudic law and erecting eruvs around whole suburbs here we can't exactly stop muslims operating under sharia law where it doesn't conflict with Australian law (ie the barbaric parts of any religious laws).

You seem to think Australian culture is markedly different and less PC than Canadian culture. We both colonized a native people from England, dig shit out of the ground and sell it and have multicultural tolerant societies that culturally follow both America with a side serve of English.

If you came here thinking we're a tough crowd of line-in-sand-drawers I think you would be disappointed. It makes the fucking NEWS when someone is racially/religiously intolerant on public transport and they're tracked down and punished. A few bogans wearing "fuck off we're full" shirts doesn't change what it's like to actually function as a part of the society here. This motherfucker was out on BAIL after murdering his wife, 40 counts of sexual assault and writing nasty letters to soldiers wives. Yeah we're a tough bunch.. really screwing the lid tight on behavior we don't approve of lol.

A couple of right wing politicians doing badly in the polls dog whistling to racists (and I honestly don't even know what you're referring to, probably something Tony Abbott said) doesn't exactly colour the culture of the country any more than taking something Bush or Obama or Harper says as a significant cultural identifier.

I would rather talk about the two hostages who lost their lives by trying to protect/save their fellow hostages rather than putting the spotlight on that loser of a hostage taker.

My thoughts exactly. :2 cents: - It's a nice distraction from the CIA report and Cheney's rah-rah on Sunday supporting torture. He must be back in the Golan personally sucking the resources from the ground...

So, it was a show by Australia to take the heat from Cheney?..

I need an emergency face palm pic:helpme:helpme:helpme.....

They do jihad all the way. Muslim jihad is the way to go.

You, sir! *slow clap*

Well said. :thumbsup

/:2 cents:

agreed, a shame to hear the manager died, just doing a normal every day job, a barrister, having her morning coffee. We should treasure our lives :thumbsup

Have to say, what an appalling entry the Australian tactical team used. They we're all falling over each other because so many went in & the amount of bullets used, single shots & double taps should only be used in house clearance rather than spraying the place.

Wonder if those bullets in the hostages are that of the gun man or that of the police :Oh crap

You have no idea who shot the barrister