NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and health officials referred to the multi-cultural background of the community as a contributing factor to the spread of the virus.
This announcement sparked widespread rejection and concerns from community leaders and the broader community, who feel that southwest Sydney has been singled out by the government, despite the outbreak originating in Bondi.
"we are the working west, not the wild west".
The way the message was delivered to the people of NSW created so much anger and was rejected by the people of concerned areas.
Residents of South West Sydney went on social media posting their anger about the way the message was delivered to the Australian public.
Fairfield Show Ground as vaccination hub Source: FCC.jog
Mayor of Fairfield Mr Frank Carbone in his interview with Today show on Channel 9 expressed his frustration from NSW health official and the premier Gladys Berejiklian for the way the people of Fairfield were portrayed.
Mayor Carbone told Channel 9 that "the NSW Government is blaming the residents of South West Sydney LGA, because these areas are of multicultural background".
Fairfield Mayor said when Prime Minister Scott Morrison resettled twelve thousand refugees from Syria and Iraq in Fairfield, we welcomed them and they are part of the community. But since their arrival in 2015, I haven't seen the Immigration Minister visiting them even once.
The state government blames the multicultural Fairfield for the spread of the disease, then what has the government done to help the community?. They might not speak well English, but I tell you, I speak English and I will speak up to them every way I can". Mr Carbone said to SBS Assyrian.
Mr Carbone in Fairfield Source: SBS
He said that the Premier never consulted us about this issue and went along with the chief medical officer declaring our area as a red zone.
He said if the authorities want to bring the police to the area, then they must bring with them, doctors and nurses.
He says that this is not a crime crisis, this a health crisis. we need doctors, nurses and vaccination hubs.
Mr Carbone said the council has already closed the swimming pools, libraries and other council facilities to the public. But he said the parks will be open because people need to relax and get out of the lockdown, as long as they abide by the lockdown rules.
Finally, mayor Frank Carbone asked SBS listeners to be patient and said "we have got through this before and we will get through it again".
Find information about COVID-19 in your language on
