Hansard debates

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (14:11:13) — The need for a City Deal for Melbourne's north and for a Smart Cities and Suburbs collaboration for its designated capital, Broadmeadows, will again be highlighted this week with the second series of the TV program Struggle Street. A City Deal for a region that has four times the population of Geelong and that within two decades will match the current population of Adelaide is in the national interest. Converting some of our poorest communities confronting deindustrialisation into smart suburbs through technology is vital and urgent, and it is in the public interest. Given more than 1 million Australians are categorised as working poor, I hope Struggle Street helps change the federal government's view of Melbourne's north, which echoes the Thatcher government's managed decline strategy on England's north that led to social catastrophe.

According to a spokesman for the Special Broadcasting Service, Struggle Street profiles three residents in Broadmeadows and the daily trials people face confronting poverty and unemployment. While SBS claims its series is trying to counter negative stereotypes about poverty and unemployment, unfortunately it has stigmatised hardworking families in Broadmeadows. The statement SBS described as a throwaway line has become a headline. It is a false generalisation that SBS could not substantiate when challenged. It is wrong, sensational and unnecessary. My call is for an immediate remedy that is accurate, fair and balanced, not simply a panel discussion after the damage has been done.

I want to highlight that the Andrews government has established a new ministry for suburban development to take care of these sorts of issues.