And, in the wake of the Struggle Street controversy, leading regional advocacy group the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue (WSLD), could not agree more.
Both Mayor Mannoun and WSLD have written to Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, calling for the multicultural broadcaster to move its North Shore offices to Western Sydney.
But, while WSLD’s reasons are tied into the broadcaster’s perceived derogatory documentary on a struggling Mt Druitt family, Clr Mannoun wants “smart” jobs for his constituency.
“We need high-quality jobs for the future, not just any jobs, and we could have a creative hub in Liverpool, with SBS part of that,” Clr Mannoun said on Richard Glover’s ABC Radio’s Drivetime program on May 18.
He said Liverpool’s high multicultural mix of 140 different languages made his city an ideal home for SBS - and the ABC as well.
Glover asked Clr Mannoun if he was not simply reacting to the Struggle Street documentary that offended Western Sydney, but the mayor said he thought that SBS should be relocated to Liverpool as Multicultural NSW planned to do.
Clr Mannoun was backing up a statement he made earlier, in support for WSLD calling for the relocation, albeit for different reasons.
“Mt Druitt needs jobs, not patronising and degrading TV shows, so SBS should put its taxpayer money where its mouth is,” WSLD chairman Christopher Brown said in a statement.
“The Federal Government should sell its SBS office in leafy Artarmon and use the proceeds to establish a new premise in the multicultural west.”
In a statement, Clr Mannoun said it made sense for the broadcaster that champions and supports different ethnicities to relocate to a city that does the same.
“A possible relocation plan would also help in executing Liverpool Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2013 – 2018, which encourages prospective and existing local employers to create local employment and self-employment opportunities for youth and culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” he said.
“What a great outcome it would be for SBS and Multicultural NSW if we had these two great organisations working side-by-side in the same building in Liverpool.”
