Russell Crowe says Australia 'looks like *ssholes' when it comes to refugees

"The world is watching."
 By 
Johnny Lieu
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Russell Crowe is so frustrated at the response to asylum seekers left in the lurch in Australia, that he's putting his money where his mouth is.

Last week, the actor made an offer via Twitter to house and find work for six refugees who have been left behind on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island, an incident he called "disgraceful."

"I believe I could house and find jobs for six. I'm sure there'd be other Australians who would do the same," Crowe wrote in response to a tweet criticising him.

Australia's government permanently closed of an offshore detention centre last Tuesday at 5 p.m., withdrawing all personnel, while cutting off water and other supplies to the centre.

This resulted in 600 men in the centre being told to leave. The men have opted to stay and barricade themselves in the compound, fearing they would be attacked by local police and people if they left.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has offered to take in 150 asylum seekers, which was rejected by Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday.

Turnbull said his government is "prioritising" an arrangement to resettle refugees in the U.S., which of course, caused quite the rift with Trump earlier this year.

Nearly one week later from Crowe's offer, little has been been done for the asylum seekers in limbo, despite condemnation from the United Nations human rights office.

"The world is watching Australia and we look like assholes," he wrote.

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Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com

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