Tony Abbott ‘embarrassing Australia’ with border speech at Margaret Thatcher Lecture

“VILE”, “disgusting”, “beyond belief”. Those are just some of the less profane words that have been used to describe Tony Abbott’s big speech.

Tony Abbott

FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott has been accused of “embarrassing Australia” at prestigious gathering in London, where he urged European nations to turn back refugees fleeing the war torn Middle East.

Delivering the Margaret Thatcher lecture in London on Tuesday night, Mr Abbott warned of the “catastrophic error” Europe was making in its readiness to take in refugees from war-torn countries, offering his government’s tough boat-stopping strategy as an experience that “should be studied”.

Though the conservative crowd cheered the deposed leader, Abbott’s online audience hasn’t been so kind.

Greens Senator and asylum seeker advocate Sarah Hansen-Young was one of the first to distance herself from our former PM advocating anti-immigration message abroad.

“Tony Abbott still making a fool of himself and embarrassing Australia,” she wrote on Twitter.

“His obsession with pushing people in need away is beyond belief.”

And she wasn't the only one critical of Abbott’s harsh words.

Tony Abbott still making a fool of himself and embarrassing Australia. His obsession with pushing people in need away is beyond belief.

— Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) October 27, 2015

Europe's 'catastrophic error' would be to listen to Tony Abbott #auspol

— Rachel Siewert (@SenatorSiewert) October 27, 2015

The brazen hypocrisy of Tony Abbott, an immigrant who came to Australia merely for a better life, tells Europe to reject refugees by force.

— Marion Groves (@MarionGroves) October 27, 2015

Abbott’s repetition of his government’s achievements like stopping the boats and repealing the carbon tax — phrases Australians have grown tired of hearing him rattle off — were also targeted on social media.

That's the thing about a Tony Abbott gig, no annoying stuff off the new album just the classics... #internationalBoatStopper

— Wil Anderson (@Wil_Anderson) October 27, 2015

Abbott gives Thatcher speech in London. Organisers have second thoughts #breakfastnews #auspol pic.twitter.com/V9wd7xHhL7

— Hardy World (@Garyured) October 27, 2015

Tony Abbott's speech overnight is beyond words. Recommending Europe "stop the boats" in relation to people fleeing ISIS. Just unbelievable.

— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) October 27, 2015

Mr Abbott’s uncharacteristic departure from his Christian values — namely, his criticism of other Western countries’ “love thy neighbour” approach to welcoming asylum seekers — has also angered Catholic priests.

A former Bishop told Fairfax he was astounded and appalled by Abbott’s use of Bible passages to preach such a “hard-hearted” approach to refugees.

“I’m ashamed that a former Australian PM would be putting out a message like this,” retired Bishop Pat Power said.

“People will make their own judgments but that’s completely at odds with what’s at the heart of Christianity. I’m certainly offended.”

In the interest of balance, news.com.au searched for, but struggled to find, praise of Mr Abbott’s speech in social media comments.

There was one positive comment from Melbourne-based Briton Antonia Mocham: “Only good thing about the Abbott speech is that no-one in Europe seems to have noticed it happened.”

Mr Abbott himself said delivering the lecture was “a great honour”.

only good thing about the Abbott speech is that no-one in Europe seems to have noticed it happened. Not even in Aus section of BBC app

— Antonia S. Mochan (@antoniam) October 27, 2015

A great honour to deliver this year's Thatcher Lecture in London - Margie and I are delighted to be here pic.twitter.com/s6RjoxyRf2

— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) October 27, 2015