Anti-Australian sentiment
Anti-Australian sentiment refers to animosity, criticism, or prejudice towards Australia, its 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 various conflicts such as World War 1 or 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.The term "anti-Australian" also predates it by decades in that by 1949, people in parts of Africa and Asia were said to have "anti-Australian feeling" over how Australia applied its White Australia policy.
East Timor
Anti-Australian sentiment grew within East Timor, during the period of the 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.Singapore
In 1948, there were anti-Australian sentiments in then-colonial Singapore by their citizens due to the treatment of one of their countrywomen.Indonesia
Indonesia has been alleged to have a rise in "anti-Australian sentiment" because of suggestions of Australia interfering in its internal affairs. A 2003 study on Indonesian aspirants for a diplomatic position reported that 95% of them had anti-Australian sentiment. The post-Suharto era period also saw anti-Australian sentiment in Indonesia over East Timor. 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.
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". This polling also found that just under a third of Indonesians saw Australia as a potential threat to their country.