(Pop Singer)Dannii fumes about 'Asian' street signs

SMH ^ | November 28 2002 | aap

[smpc]

Australian pop singer Dannii Minogue has complained about the influx of Asians in Queensland and the liberal policies of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a bizarre interview with men's magazine GQ.

Minogue, the younger sister of the more famous Kylie, was interviewed by newspaper editor Simon Kelner over a £172 ($478) dinner at a French restaurant in London decorated with stuffed animals.

Kelner described Les Trois Garcons - Minogue's choice of venue - as possibly the worst restaurant in the western world and the evening as an experience of epic awfulness, although he said that was not because of the company.

"She may have somewhat controversial political views but at least she has the defence of being Australian," he said.

Kelner said the evening had already taken a bad turn when the London-based Minogue started talking politics.

First she complained about the number of Asians in Queensland: "Even some of the street signs are in Asian!"

Then Tony Blair came in for a lashing.

"This country is in an appalling state with the muggings and the carjackings," Minogue said.

"I feel sorry for people that live in suburbs, who are afraid to let their children walk down the street. Tony Blair has to be tougher."

Minogue added that she could see why far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen was popular in France: "I think he struck a chord with people."

She said gypsies, asylum seekers and council-estate dwellers had made the streets unsafe around her south London home and rejected Kelner's suggestion that rising crime levels might be the result of poverty.

"These aren't poor people," she said.

"They have satellite dishes, they go to football games, they wear Nike trainers. I have been to countries where there are poor people, believe me."

Minogue talked about her relationship with her sister and denied she was jealous of Kylie's success.

"Not at all," she said.

"You have to remember that I have been a household name in Australia since the age of 10, when I was on a children's TV program.

"It was only after we invited Kylie on the show that her career took off. She was always known as Dannii's sister."

She admitted to having had botox injections to smooth out wrinkles but refused to comment on whether she has had a breast enlargement.

"I don't discuss my boobs with a stranger," she said.

[smpc]

Well yeah she is,but like with Kylie and Dannii,you'd have to go to London to see her.Due to our low population most Aussie singers have to go to England to make the $$$,just as Aussie actors have to go to the US.

[Sparta]

Is it true you Aussies occasionally elect conservatives to something down under.

[The Pheonix]

Roadsigns in Japanese language in Queensland , is like signboards in Japanese language in shop-windows along Rodeo Drive, L.A. Calif, USA

It has to do with the mighty Tourist-dollars, ie the mega-bucks billions dollar tourist industry

And Chinese, Japanese are the largest number of tourists going to Australia. its about $$$$$$$$$$ incomes for Aussie shops, hotels, golf-courses. Maybe Dannii doesn't need the money ( after all, there are lots of guys willing to slurge on her ), but a lot of Aussies sure need their jobs to survive

IATA forcasts China will sending out 100 million tourists to the world's tourist destinations by 2020

[blam]

Holly Valance

[Sabertooth]

If only I was a carousel horse...

[smpc]

Current government is slightly to the right of the Bush admin.On most matters 'cept guns that is>:(.Theyve been stripping back most of the socialist damage of the 70s for a fair few years now.The conservatives are hugely popular and the labour party(sorta like your dems)has little to no chance of getting elected anytime in the forseeable future.

[Sabertooth]

She looks better than the older sister and she's probably smarter too.

Who cares?

[general_re]

Bad kitty! You're going to get me in trouble! ;)

[smpc]

Cheers:D

[Teacher317]

Holly Valance

[Sparta]

I love how your country handles the Muslims.(Kicks 'em right on out of the country.)

[Britton J Wingfield]

Natalie Imbruglia is a lot better than a poke in the eye as well.

[Sparta]

May I ask who that is? Is that Natalie Imbruglia(sp)?

[Sabertooth]

Dannii as a brunette.

[smpc]

Agreed for the most part.It took quite a while for Asians to stop thinking of Australia as one big KKK meeting place.But if she were talking about Asian roadsigns in non-tourist areas....that would be a different story.

[Sparta]

I'm from Louisiana. We have Britney(100% pure silicon), Ali(former Miss USA), Ashley Scott(WB's "Birds of Prey"), and I can't think of any others. Help me here.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Don't forget Senator Brown-roots. :-P

[Sparta]

You mean ex-Senator Brown Roots :)

[fieldmarshaldj]

I stand corrected. Soon-to-be Sen. Terrell's daughters more than help the lovely "scenery" in LA... :-)

[TheMole]

I read through the "interview" twice. With the possible exception of the "Asian street signs", everything she says is perfectly reasonable. It's the writer who's eccentric.