B_B_J
Banned
- Joined
- May 22, 2009
- Messages
- 248
- Gender
- Male
- HSC
- 1998
Thats heavy shit right there.Angry reaction to Trujillo's racism accusations
Former Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo has been accused of sour grapes after labeling Australia "racist" and "backward". Mr Trujillo, who was dubbed one of the 'three amigos' along with fellow US Telstra executives Phil Burgess and Greg Winn, told the BBC that he had experienced racism during his four years as Telstra CEO.
He claimed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's comment when he left the country was racist. When asked for comment on Trujillo's departure in February, Mr Rudd said simply: "adios".
"I think by definition [it was racism] - there were even columnists who wrote stories that said it was," Mr Trujillo said.
"But my point is that [racism] does exist and it's got to change because the world is full of a lot of people and most economies have to take advantage - including Australia - of a diverse set of people."
Victorian premier John Brumby said Trujillo was just being bitter.
"I think there was a bit of sour grapes in them actually," Mr Brumby told reporters.
"He came here from overseas and he had a great job, he was awarded that job, there was no discrimination or prejudice against him."
A spokeperson for Mr Rudd called Mr Trujillo's comments "ridiculous".
There was also an angry reaction on social networking site Twitter, with many correspondents outraged at Mr Trujillo's comments. As CEO of Telstra he earned more than $30 million, despite the telco's share price losing nearly 40 percent of its value during his watch.
Mr Trujillo added that Australia's immigration policies are out of step with the modern world and that coming to Australia is like "stepping back in time".
"Just simply because some of the policies, some of the laws, or more recent, when you think of immigration policies that weren't changed until 30 years ago or so, which were very restrictive," the ABC reported him as saying.
He also claimed that Australians had apologised to him personally for the reception he was given. "Many Australians have come up to me and they've apologised, because they're embarrassed by that kind of behaviour," Mr Trujillo said.
Mr Trujillo cut a controversial figure during his time at Telstra, frequently clashing with both the Howard and Rudd Governments culminating with the telco being locked out of the government's National Broadband Network.
Speaking earlier this month, Mr Trujillo said he doubted whether the network would ever be built.
"I haven't (commented on the proposal) and I won't," Mr Trujillo said.
"I'll comment in four or five years. Let's see if it ever happens. We'll draw a conclusion if it happens."
He left Telstra last week, one month earlier than planned and is already making waves in the US where shareholders in the retail giant Target are being urged to vote him off the company's board of directors.
Angry reaction to Trujillo's racism accusations
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