While in Lakemba for the Ramadan food festival, Labor frontbencher and federal member for Watson, Tony Burke spoke out about those who used their platforms to generate fear and hate towards people in his electorate. In addition to critcising Pauline Hanson, who had recently visited Lakemba with a Channel Nine film crew in tow to try and create alarm over the suburb's large Muslim population, Mr Burke also took aim at members in his own party.
When asked by SBS Arabic24 over New South Wales opposition leader Luke Foley's recent “white flight” comments about Western Sydney, the member for Watson said he had taken issue with the opinion held by his ALP peer.
“Those words are not my sense of Australia,” Mr Burke said.
Mr Foley attracted widespread criticism last week for saying that “white” Australians are leaving Western Sydney neighbourhoods en mass because of an influx of migrants and refugees.
During his visit to Lakemba on Saturday to attend the Haldon Street Ramadan food festival, the Labor MP said that many Australian lives involve an immigration story, himself included.
“My family immigrated from Ireland more than a century ago,” Mr Burke said.
"If one person come here for the wrong reasons, I wanted to see thousands of people coming here for the right reasons.”
The Member for Watson encouraged all Australians to travel to Lakemba for the food festival being held over Ramadan to meet community members and see what life is like in Sydney's western suburbs for themselves.
“The Islamic community has always had a sense of invitation. They always invited people to share Iftar, and to share the blessings of their holy month," he said.
Mr Burke also took the opportunity to hit out at those trying to incite fear or panic against Muslim residents and the Lakemba community. He recalled One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's recent visit to Lakemba with Channel Nine's A Current Affair program in March, telling SBS Arabic24: “I was alarmed when Pauline Hanson came to Lakemba".
“She was looking for trouble,” He said.
“Then she got upset because she could not find any trouble. So if one person comes here for the wrong reasons, I want to see thousands of people coming here for the right reasons.”
