Does the British Media Think Australians are 'Hopeless Hicks'?

(Source: Youtube/TonyAbbottwilldestroyAustralia - username)

Prominent Australian television personality Adam Hills has criticised the British press' coverage of federal elections in Australian while casting his early vote in London's Australia House.

According to Mr Hills, the British media wanted to reinforce the view that Australians are "hopeless hicks who don't know what we're doing." Referring to funny moments and gaffes in Australian politics, he said the British press was quick to report them as news in the UK.

Mr Hills mentioned Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott's accidental reference in his speech about the "suppository of wisdom," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's fondness for taking "selfies" and former One Nation candidate Stephanie Banister dubbed as Australia's Sarah Palin for mistaking Islam for a country.

Referring to the British press' alleged view that Australians are hicks, comedian Adam Hills said that's apparently what the British thinks of politics in Australia.

Not only were the election gaffes featured in the UK, but the Australian media has covered them extensively as well. This may be the reason why Tony Abbott's Liberal party has tried to keep its candidates away from the media to avoid getting unwanted attention.

Mr Abbott, born in London, is currently holding a strong lead based on poll results against Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the upcoming elections on Sept 7.

The Liberal party has reportedly advised its candidates to not grant interviews with reporters and avoid holding campaigns in local schools. Fairfax Media reports suggested that the party was afraid of the "Jaymes Diaz effect" which was a reference to the awkward interview with a candidate of the same name in Sydney.

The Liberal candidate's television interview eventually became viral. When asked about the Liberal party's six-point plan on the asylum policy in Australia, he said the party planned to "stop the boats" but failed to remember any of the six points he was supposed to know about.

Mr Diaz was asked by the interviewer several times to repeat the points but he could only say "Well, one of the points - the key point would be stopping the boats."