Blacktown on the TV, Aussie Struggle Street

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/sbs-accused-of-showing-warts-only-view-of-struggling-western-sydney-in-new-tv-series/story-fn8yvfst-1227336541890

DRUGS, alcohol, foul language and a woman calling her cat a “slut” show a colourful side of Sydney not featured in the tourist brochures.

This is Mt Druitt, in western Sydney.

The area features in an SBS documentary series titled Struggle Street.

The broadcaster told those taking part that the series would present a balanced view of life for people living 45km west of the big smoke. But after a sneak-peak at episode one, Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali said it “totally destroys the characters that are in there”.

And he’s not the only critic. Residents, and even its garbos have slammed the program as “publicly funded poverty porn”.

The first of three episodes will screen tomorrow night. The series profiles 10 participants over a six-month period.

“They made out to be their best friends,” Mr Bali told ABC radio yesterday, denying SBS claims the program presented a balanced view of life for Mount Druitt residents.

“It’s a warts view, not a warts and all. It’s an unethical representation of those involved and a total misrepresentation of the struggle faced by those in western Sydney.

“It should be a balanced documentary all the way through. This is just like a Blair Witch experiment with better camera angles.”

Mr Bali said the show’s producers compared Sydney’s east — home to Bondi Beach — and Mt Druitt, describing them as “heaven and hell”.

“Every area has it’s underbelly,” Mr Bali said “(but this is) publicly-funded poverty porn”.

To make clear his opposition to the series, the Mayor endorsed a garbage truck “blockade” of SBS’s lower north shore headquarters on Tuesday morning. A dozen trucks from Blacktown Council were expected to stage a noisy protest outside the Artarmon office block.

veya_victaous wrote:@Rising Sun
in many parts of Sydney being from Blacktown in looked down upon so we are used to fighting the wankers.
we elect mayors that are one of us....

Also We are winning the Cultural war, we are the real multicultural Australia. we take the most refugees and has some of the least racial tension. And the wealth in Blacktown is growing dramatically, mainly because Indians aren't so worried about he beach and if you are not worried about the beach Blacktown is the best place in Sydney. also has largest Sikh temple in the southern hemisphere, several mosques and Hindu centers which is probably an attraction for them.