First off, Robin Williams has had 4 vessel heart bypass, and heart disease brought on by his chronic use of cocaine and alcohol. Other than being an excellent mimic, his knowledge of “rednecks” is without basis, but a simple place to go to make fun of working people... which he has never been. A redneck as a term has always been a proud one in the South. In 1891 it referred to working people and rural folks, farmers, who got necks red from the sun. A term of pride of place and hard work. Only a bigot like Williams could come up with this description of Australians. Australians were sent there as punishment- Van Deemans land. And they are way tougher than most Brits, period, and our most loyal allies for decades.
The term “redneck” was also used in The West Virginia Coal Miners March (1921) in the Battle of Blair Mountain when the coal miners wore red bandannas around their necks to identify themselves as seeking the opportunity to unionize. There was no derogatory implication at all, and the federal government sent US troops with machine guns and aircraft dropping bombs to kill hundreds of them, and help the mine owners, political friends of Warren G. Harding and the criminal sheriff of Mingo County, WV. In this part of the world, redneck is very much a term of great pride. Neither Williams or Rudd would know that, and both are aholes.