I listened with great disappointment to the comments regarding Maltese/Australians while watching the edition of Illejla on TVM on Monday, May 28. After being asked her opinion on the Maltese/Australians residing in Australia, Nirvana Azzopardi made two statements suggesting that those living in the suburbs seemed to be stuck in a "time warp" while those living in the city seemed more in keeping with the times and "us travellers".

Imagine classifying the entire Maltese/Australian population of Australia in accordance with their residential location. What a generalisation and what an insult to all of those courageous, hard working, enterprising and successful Maltese/Australians who have, for decades, contributed so much to building the great multi-cultural nation that is Australia while simultaneously putting Malta on the map and ensuring that precious Maltese traditions, culture and language are preserved and passed on to future generations.

I am an Australian born of Maltese parents who still live in Australia (in the city of Melbourne if that makes a difference!) and I can tell Ms Azzopardi that the stereotyped image portrayed of Maltese/Australians is further reinforced by comments such as those made by her on national television. I can only surmise that her experience of this great continent and its inhabitants must be very limited.