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Australian bricklayer employment ad says “No Irish” need apply

Employer defends ad as Australian Embassy condemns racism

KATE HICKEY,

IrishCentral Editor

Published Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:20 AM

Updated Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 7:27 AM

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Gumtree ad, Australian construction company say "No Irish" need apply

Photo by Gumtree

The Australian Embassy in Ireland has blasted a racist advert seeking a bricklayer in Perth which stated that “no Irish” would be accepted for the job.

However, the perosn who placed the ad is standing by it saying too many Irish make up fake credential for jobs.

The ad, published on the classified website Gumtree, stated “Bricklayer needed ASAP. $250 a day, no part-time workers and NO IRISH”

A spokesman for the Embassy said the Australian Government has no tolerance for racism and discrimination and this is reflected in a broad range of anti-discrimination legislation in Australia.

He added, “The Government has an unwavering commitment to a multicultural Australia and greatly welcomes the contribution made by people of all backgrounds, regardless of origin, gender, or color, to Australia's culture, society, and prosperity.”

The man who placed the ad, who gave the name Simon, spoke to the Irish Independent. He defended the ad saying that he had added this instruction because he was sick of Irish people applying for jobs with no experience in the field.

He said “I have no trouble with Irish people…But I’ve had to fire a number of people. I’ve had lots of Irish people say they have experience bricklaying but come over and have no clue how to lay bricks.
“I’m very busy and don’t have time to be watching over them.”

He refused to give his full name or company name to the newspaper and said he was fully aware of the anti-discriminatory legislation set down in Australia.

The Irish on Twitter and other social networks have made their feelings about Simon’s advert very clear.

Irish Times journalist Conor Pope tweeted “This is genuinely outrageous and most likely illegal.”

Reacting to the advert, via the Irish Time’s Generation Emigration section “Caroline” called for Simon to be brought to court for incitement to hatred and to be called a racist.

Captain Liberte said, “It wouldn’t be the first time we were discriminated against. Look at old Punch magazines where we were depicted as simian, aggressive alcoholics. Or in the US when we were treated appallingly on arrival in the 19th century. Or in the UK, “No blacks, no dogs, no Irish”.”

The language in the advert is reminiscent of that used in British cities during the 1950s and early in the United States during the Great Famine, and onwards. More recently, just two years ago, “No Irish need apply” signs were seen on Polish building sites. It was said that these signs were to take revenge on unscrupulous Irish builders who had treated their Polish staff badly.

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57 Comments

15 - 57 | See all comments

Lokelani | Oct 08, 2012, 06:53 AM EDT

This simon could have said "inexperienced" need not apply; not make it an out & out attack on the whole Irish race because of a chose few is ignorant & hateful. This simone guy probably is a "colonized brit", still trying to put the Irish in their place; there's a lot of British influence in Aus; look at their court systems; it's like still being back in Englan with their wigs & always with their rules. Tell simon to go back to jolly Old England if he doesn't fancy the Irish in Australia. Here's another spin on the whole story; how about Australia becoming an Independant country, free of the Queen's rule and then we'll see more equality. It almost passed before, maybe it will next time. But it won't happen as long as there is so many ole poms hanging on & trying to enforce their ways/rules on the Irish. And for those of you that don't know what "pom" means, it's an Australian abbreviaton for: "Prisoners of Mother England" and there is still a lot of strife in Aus between the English & the Irish.

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Lokelani | Oct 08, 2012, 06:22 AM EDT

Australia's population makes up over 1/3 Irish, so the "pommie" gits need to get a clue, the Irish have every right to be there! And then the Poles have the nerve to say "No Irish allowed"; I guess they have short memories; most of their relatives are settling in droves in Ireland and on the dole, no less!

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lightslights | Sep 13, 2012, 02:14 AM EDT

@jondaly what Australians are you talking about ? most Aussies would laugh at the fact you calling them just like the British.

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johndaly | Aug 06, 2012, 02:56 PM EDT

f**k the aussies WEST BRITS they have lost the run of themselfs there would'nt be an Australia without the IRISH

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Springfield9 | Jun 13, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT

When the poor man passes away, perhaps the mortician will put a brick where he'll think about it forever.

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seanomelb | Mar 16, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT

At least Ciara and I could have a meaningful conversation.Go tilt at another windmill Don Coyote George.

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MCCOLGAN1492 | Mar 15, 2012, 05:56 PM EDT

King Georgie the Wanker Wacker is refering to himself as normal...... There are Asylums filled with normal people like you!

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antoman | Mar 15, 2012, 04:26 PM EDT

By the way. I'm convinced georgyboy is not right upstairs. Not the full shilling like.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 15, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT

ciaradildo: "Nothing wrong with being a pervert". Maybe not, but don't defile our web site with your obsessions about dildos etc. Why don't you and seanomel just write spicy e-mails to each other, and leave the rest of us normal people out of it?

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 15, 2012, 03:21 PM EDT

MichaelCollins--Maybe you've been too busy sucking up to Lady Lavery. I have stated often on this site that I hold dual nationality--USA and Ireland. I actually could take out an Italian passport also, but haven't done so yet, even tho I am a lover of tutto italiano. In any case, as you've probably noticed, my dual nationality gives me unique insights into both Ireland and USA. As regards ciaradildo's stupid point, there haven't been protests against the EU screwing of Ireland either--does this goof want us to think that means the Irish people like getting screwed by Germany? COme on ciaradildo, how come Mass Immigration has never been put to a vote? Are you telling us that the majority of Irish people would vote in favor of their replacement by foreign migrants? What an insane racist oaf you are!

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michaelcollins | Mar 15, 2012, 05:01 AM EDT

hey george can you not answer a simple question?......what country are you from?

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seanomelb | Mar 14, 2012, 07:19 PM EDT

I don't have to prove my Irishness to an arm-dragging ingrate like you. Don't forget to lock the trailer on your way out you anti Irish racist moron.

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ciaradexy | Mar 14, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT

Mr Dildo writes-''There is not one vote or survey which shows that the Irish people supported the mass settlement of their country by foreigners.'' Have you ever seen or heard of a protest AGAINST migration into Ireland?

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ciaradexy | Mar 14, 2012, 05:29 PM EDT

Nothing wrong with being a pervert George, we are ok with whatever it is that youre into. Racist? moi? Youre the one who complains about migrants coming to a country you are neither form not live in. You repeatedly make yourself look like a nazi over and over again.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 14, 2012, 05:24 PM EDT

ciaradexy: " I AM the indogenous people of Ireland!" I think you mean indigenous. But you're only one person, you idiot, you don't speak for the six million Irish. There is not one vote or survey which shows that the Irish people supported the mass settlement of their country by foreigners. Don't be such a fool.

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