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Paul Sancya/AP/Press Association Images

Donald Trump defends his manhood as insults fly in vicious Republican debate

Trump went on the defensive after his opponents teamed up against him during the latest Republican presidential debate.

US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Donald Trump unleashed fiery rhetoric at last night’s Republican debate after enduring a day of intense criticism by party leaders, as conservatives agonise over embracing his divisive candidacy or derailing his march to the nomination.

But despite escalated attacks against Trump by his rivals on the debate state, each one of them – Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, and Ohio Governor John Kasich – acknowledged they would support the party’s eventual nominee.

With the real estate tycoon apparently on a glide path to becoming the Republican standard-bearer, some panic has set in at the prospect of Trump winning the nomination.

Other operatives and voters said it is time, for better or worse, to rally around the man leading the pack.

With the bitter rivals gathered at a pivotal moment in the campaign, the debate attacks turned deeply personal, even vulgar.

Trump made a startling if veiled reference to his genitals as he hit back against Rubio for mocking the size of Trump’s hands.

“Nobody has ever hit my hands,” Trump said as the crowd laughed and booed.

He referred to my hands. If they’re small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there is no problem.

GOP 2016 Debate Carlos Osorio Carlos Osorio

Rubio excused his own attacks by insisting it was Trump who opened the flood gates.

“Donald Trump has basically mocked everybody with personal attacks,” Rubio said.

Trump’s remarks, likely unprecedented in a US presidential debate, appeared as the nadir of a campaign season already notable for its unruly, coarse tone.

With Trump thrown on the defensive, he lashed out multiple times, at one point hurling insults and talking over his rivals.

“You’ve defrauded the people of Florida, little Marco,” he said.

Florida votes on 15 March and is Rubio’s firewall, even though Trump leads there in polls. If he can not win his home state, Rubio will find no path to the nomination.

Kasich, who is scrambling to avoid irrelevance in the fierce nomination contest, said he hoped the race could focus on important policy issues and not the “scrums” and personal debasement on display last night.

“People say wherever I go: ‘You seem to be the adult on the stage,’” Kasich said.

With time running out to stop Trump, Mitt Romney – who ran unsuccessfully against Barack Obama in 2012 – yesterday offered up some of the harshest criticism yet, lambasting Trump as unfit to be president.

Romney Speech Campaign 2016 Associated Press Associated Press

Romney said a Trump nomination would enable a Democratic victory for the party’s presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

“Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud,” Romney said in a speech in Utah, as he urged voters to support one of the remaining candidates.

Trump, Romney said, “is playing the American public for suckers”.

Trump wasted little time in striking back, calling Romney a “choke artist” and assailing him for “begging” for an endorsement, only to lose to Obama four years ago.

Romney still holds sway with certain elements of the party, but even Kasich downplayed the influence that the 2012 nominee would have on 2016.

“Mitt Romney is a great guy, but he doesn’t determine my strategy,” Kasich said at the debate.

Trump ’disaster’ 

The debate, broadcast on Fox News, took place in the largest city in Michigan, the biggest prize of the four states holding Republican primaries next Tuesday.

Whether or not Trump should carry the torch is now the crux of the GOP race, which he has dominated essentially since he jumped in eight months ago.

Cruz insisted “the stakes are too high” to let Trump be the nominee, arguing that Clinton will eat him alive ahead of the November election.

GOP 2016 Debate Paul Sancya / AP/Press Association Images Paul Sancya / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

“Is this the debate you want playing out in the general election?” Cruz asked viewers, arguing that Trump’s legal problems with his closed university and his financial contributions to Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign would spell huge trouble.

“Nominating Donald would be a disaster,” Cruz said.

Trump insisted he was the only one capable of defeating Clinton.

“I have not started on Hillary yet,” Trump said.

Believe me, I will start soon.

When Fox moderators pressed Trump on some of his changing political positions on the Iraq war and admitting Syrian refugees, Trump defended his flip-flopping.

“I have a very strong core,” he insisted, “but I’ve never seen a successful person who wasn’t flexible.”

Trump proceeded to reverse a plank of his own immigration plan, saying he now supports an increase in visas for highly skilled foreign workers.

“I changed my tune,” Trump said.

“There’s a difference between flexibility, and telling people whatever you need to get them to… do,” Rubio interjected.

© – AFP, 2016

Read: Panic stations for the Republicans as Mitt Romney takes a major pop at Donald Trump

Read: Hillary celebrates sweeping win over Bernie in South Carolina primary

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:00 AM

    Australia have every right not to land anyone on their shores that they do not want.

    If only we had the balls – we send the bloody Navy halfway round the world to pick them up!

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @CeannairBlue: Actually they don’t hence the lawsuit and them losing. They broke international and their own national laws

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Kal Ipers: Then I’ll rephrase. THEY BLOODY WELL SHOULD DO!

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:15 AM

    @CeannairBlue: So you are fine with when countries refused to allow a ship with refugees fleeing the holocaust during WWII? They eventually returned to the Nazis and were killed in concentration camps. You think the agreements and laws brought in to never allow that to happen again should be scrapped?

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:26 AM

    @Kal Ipers: Ah the old Godwin’s Law, where would the intellectually challenged be without it.

    No, I wouldn’t have been okay with that. But I’m okay with this and the knobheads legging from Syria and leaving their wives and kids behind because “THEY’RE NOT FLEEING A HOLOCAUST”.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:30 AM

    @CeannairBlue: quoting the relevant laws is not Godwins Law.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:34 AM

    @CeannairBlue: Hard not to mention the Nazis when they are the reason for the laws. Many of these people were fleeing certain death if they stayed.
    Do you know anything about the people and how they were treated? The suicide rate in Naru camps is shocking. Do you think these people killed themselves for a laugh?

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    Mute Marie Agnew
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:52 AM

    @CeannairBlue: so the millions that left Ireland because of the famine should have been abandoned as well huh!! Short memories eh!

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:53 AM

    @Marie Agnew: abandoned? Abandoned would be preferable to internment

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:56 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Did I say it was ? Invoking the Holocaust is.

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Marie Agnew: We also weren’t leaving the country to sponge off the nearest country – we went there because a third of the country were dying of starvation.
    One in those places, we bloody well went to work.

    Honestly I used to be a left wing socialist but ffs the “left” nowadays want a slap.

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Clever Jake: The Pope is a better man than I am. Thank God.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:00 AM

    So how does this effect their refugee status ??

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:12 AM

    @CeannairBlue: I think this issue was dealt with at Nuremberg. All people have human rights which should not be subject to artificial borders arbitrarily drawn for political reasons.

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    Mute Robert Preston
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Marie Agnew: Read a history book and educate yourself how can you compare the irish leaving to go to america and the rest of the world with whats going on now .

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:24 AM

    @Kal Ipers: I doubt they even care about that . . They protected their borders and sent a message out and it stopped the boats arriving illegally. .

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:52 AM

    @CeannairBlue: The law around this issue was created because of the legal grey area that existed on people fleeing the threat of concentration camps. To call mentioning where the law originated Godwin’s Law shows your absolute lack of understanding of the issue and human rights laws.

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: No, you would like it to. Nice try.

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    Mute Gordon McCabe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:08 PM

    @CeannairBlue: I think you seriously need to look into what’s actually happening in countries like Syria.

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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 3:10 PM

    @Kal Ipers:if they were fleeing certain death why did they go so far ? im sure there were nearer countrys they could go to, but hold on they probably wouldnt have been allowed in and would not of got any support or special treatment, would it not make more sence to stay at home and fight for your country….

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    Mute SteveW
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:10 AM

    Even sovereign countries have no control over their own borders and rules.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:26 AM

    @SteveW: Not when they sign agreements saying they will take in refugees and then don’t. They actually broke their own rules. Their own courts and laws are what is being enforced.

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:46 AM

    @SteveW: History will look harshly upon Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers, a continent pillaged by Europeans.

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: Such an appropriate screen name with a comment like that.

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:16 PM

    @CeannairBlue: In how far is it incorrect that she mentioned that Australia was pillaged by Europeans?

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:06 PM

    @CeannairBlue: It’s an historically accurate statement so bully you!

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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Jun 14th 2017, 4:30 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: sure the Aussies are worried

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    Mute Carl Ingalls
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:15 AM

    Irish Right’s groups will be licking their lips as we speak.

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    Mute Coles
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:14 AM

    @Clever Jake: Best to ignore them. Everybody else does.

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    Mute Polly Dolan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:21 AM

    @Clever Jake: block them!!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:14 PM

    @Carl Ingalls: the horror of not helping people who weren’t lucky enough to be born in a free society. If you had your way we’d be back in far-right paradise with human rights very restricted. No thanks.

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    Mute Alex
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:02 AM

    Go home

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:47 AM

    @Alex: The colonists?

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    Mute Trevor W
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:41 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: it’s a pity the originals didn’t send them packing centuries ago.

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:08 PM

    @Trevor W: So true, they have treated the aboriginals disgracefully and now asylum seekers, one set of rules for the white man and another for anyone of colour.

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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:41 PM

    simple answer send them back from whever they came from, no asylum….

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:10 PM

    @Peter donnelly: The Europeans? We’d have no room for all those descendants of Irish convicts.

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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:56 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: slight problem there the irish who were forced onto death ships god knows how long age were forced to go they diddnt chose to go, and when they finished their sentance they worked for a living not expecting any one to feed and house them any irish who emmigrated went to work and try to better themselves but unfortunatly not all of them made it….

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:35 AM

    I’d say a lot of Australians will consider that money well spent.

    32
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:10 AM

    As there will be a flood of people saying how this is riddiculious I suggest you read up on what they did to these people. Also read what Australia did to Naru and to the captain of a boat who rescued people from a sinking boat.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:34 AM

    @CeannairBlue: *can’t

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:43 AM

    @CeannairBlue: You can’t be bothered reading, yet comment here, venting your faux outrage about refugees having a right to be treated humanely, the sure sign of a hypocrite and troll

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:00 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Difference between hitting the wrong key and the inability to spell. Troll.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:57 AM

    @CeannairBlue: best not to make a mistake when correcting others, makes you look ridiculous. Ha, troll. Says the moron that has no idea why most laws around concentration camps and many about refugees seem to have been agreed upon in the 40′s.

    9
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    Mute Mumpsimus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:05 PM

    Why don’t all the lefties move to all their countries and make it better for them so they don’t have to leave. Problem solved

    27
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:22 PM

    @Mumpsimus: why don’t all righties F off to their own country? Oh yeah they still want to get a woman!!!

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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Jun 14th 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Mumpsimus: keyboard warriors

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:19 AM

    Who let all of the white Caucasian Christian immigrants into Australia? The place is overrun with them.

    The Aboriginal people should not have let all of the white foreigners in.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:21 AM

    Who all entered legally into the country ….

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:57 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: no, they did not.

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    Mute Greg Cavey
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:20 PM

    @Tony Daly: and look how prosperous the country is all these decades later. Germany decided to let in 500,000+ migrants into their country and they stab 5 year old boys, assault and women and plough through innocent people shopping at a Christmas market. Infact lets compare east Europe to west europe. West lets in migrants = dramatic increase in terror attacks. East stands firmly against letting in migrants = virtually no terror attacks to my knowledge. Coincidence?

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Time to revisit your primary school history books.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:19 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: they weren’t the migrants I was referring to

    6
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: who were you referring to then?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:33 AM

    You can’t put refugees in a concentration camp? Who knew!

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    Mute just readin
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:33 PM

    Australians should stop messing about and deport all immigrants and their families who arrived since 1606

    16
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    Mute Rodney Monaghan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 5:41 PM

    I hope they have the decency now to repay the Australian taxpayers, for the cost incurred by them, for the provision of their refugee accommodation…
    Regardless of the level of accommodation, the burden of its cost shouldn’t now be borne by Australia, given these people’s new found wealth!

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    Mute Trevor W
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:48 PM

    It’s a small justice. As multi-cultural as it is in Oz it is seriously racist in many ways.

    Read up on the Tampa affair. Will explain a lot for the keyboard warriors on here.

    10
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