- SYDNEY -- Australia is becoming
a nation of thugs and boors, the prime minister, John Howard said yesterday
in a policy speech ahead of the forthcoming general election.
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- Road rage, random violence and the predatory behaviour
of some of the country's top sportsmen were among the symptoms of a "coarsening"
of Australian society, he said.
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- Mr Howard was worried about a growing culture of aggression,
particularly among young men.
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- "We all should reflect on what this means for Australian
society," he told an audience in Adelaide. He cited the example of
David Hookes, 48, the former cricketer who played in 23 Tests for Australia.
He died after being allegedly punched by a bouncer in a fight outside a
pub in Melbourne in January.
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- Mr Howard also alluded to a string of sex scandals which
have recently caused a crisis in Australian rugby league and Australian
rules football. Players have been accused of offences ranging from gang
rape to lewd and drunken behaviour.
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- The nation's cricketers have also been accused of using
racist abuse to unnerve opponents from countries such as India and Sri
Lanka.
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