Blacktown counters ridicule by showing it is eighth dole bludger hotspot, not second, based on population

MAYOR Stephen Bali and state MP John Robertson have accused the Federal Government of “vilifying” Blacktown with their “view from Vaucluse”.

Mayor Stephen Bali (with locals) has slammed the government for the “heartless vilification” of Blacktown.

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BLACKTOWN Mayor Stephen Bali and Blacktown state Labor MP John Robertson have accused the Federal Government of “vilifying” the western suburb with their “view from Vaucluse”.

A “list of shame” released by the Daily Telegraph reveals the 10 suburbs and towns with the highest jobseeker noncompliance numbers.

Blacktown was listed as the top bludger hotspot in NSW and second in the country with 333 people constantly failing to turn up to job interviews.

But according to Blacktown Council, the data when compared to the population ranks Blacktown as number eight in the country.

Sitting at 0.77 per cent, it comes second in the state after Liverpool, which is at 0.90 per cent, and in front of Dubbo, close behind at 0.76 per cent.

Data released by Blacktown Council places Blacktown as eighth in the country and second in the state.

Mr Robertson said he was “disgusted” by the “lowest form of political opportunism" by the Turnbull Government.

“As a resident and a member for Blacktown I’m absolutely disgusted and appalled by what we’ve seen this government do today ... this is in no way going to solve the problem,” he said.

Mr Robertson said it will have a “detrimental effect” on people trying to look for a job.

“This from a Federal Government that regularly uses the catch cry of ‘class warfare’ when it suits them, but today they have shown how shallow they really are,” he said.

“This is a disgraceful act from the Federal Government and the people of Blacktown deserve an apology from Malcolm Turnbull and should accept nothing less.

“It’s the view from Vaucluse ... if you’re the Prime Minister and live in Vaucluse you take a typical stereotypical view of the rest of Sydney and in particular western Sydney.”

Blacktown MP John Robertson.

Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali.

Cr Bali also slammed the statistics.

“I was angry and devastated because this is just another vilification of a suburb where people are working so hard to achieve a quality of life out there,” he said.

“It doesn’t talk about the 15.6 billion economy that Blacktown makes up, larger than 85 nations in the world.

“It doesn’t talk about the 123,000 jobs that are in Blacktown, it doesn’t talk about the thousands of people crowding on trains and going on to roads to go to work and yet picks out 333 people, which we don’t even know the backgrounds and what the issues are for them, and tries to vilify them and the suburbs across Australia – it’s ridiculous.”

Cr Bali has since asked for an apology from Human Services Minister Alan Tudge.

“I don’t believe it was his primary concern to attack Blacktown but it has and I believe he should unreservedly apologise for his actions,” he said.

Andina Giallonardo, of Blacktown, was appalled by the news Blacktown was shamed as a result of 333 people.

Andina Giallonardo said she was disheartened by the government shaming Blacktown.

Kiyage Rademeyer speaks out against the stats of Blacktown dole bludgers.

“(I’m) very very sad, it’s not at all how it is, not everyone is a dole bludger because people do work,” she said.

The 47-year-old, who works at Blacktown City child care centre, said the Federal Government should not single out suburbs and damage the reputation of an area because people fail to work everywhere.

“Just because it’s Blacktown doesn’t mean it’s not a place … it’s damaging the reputation and then people won’t want to come here,” she said.