Playwright Nakkiah Lui accused the makers of Struggle Street of mocking residents

IT’S either been a week from hell or the best publicity money can’t buy. Either way, the drama drags on for SBS and the Q&A panel just couldn’t let it go.

IT SEEMS the controversy surrounding Struggle Street has failed to die down, with the SBS program the hot topic of conversation on Q&A.

While there was a lot of discussion about the impending Budget, and the effects of the unpopular child care cuts, it was the documentary that roused the most debate from the panel and the audience.

While Parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Christian Porter told the audience he “hated the show too” and Labor’s Jason Clare said he thought it “stigmatised” the area, it was playwright Nakkiah Lui (who grew up in Mt Druitt, the western Sydney suburb depicted in the show) who was the most scathing.

She described the program as a “mocking vilification” of the town's residents and failed to show a balanced view of the suburb.

“What did concern me was the misrepresentation of the working class,” she said. “The fact that you can be engaged in the workforce and still be struggling and still be caught in the poverty cycle and that there are many people working who are one step away from going into the welfare cycle.

“I think that it was quite irresponsible of the filmmakers to not include that aspect of Mt Druitt.”

Parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Christian Porter on Q&A.

Her comments were welcomed by the audience, many of whom were from the Mt Druitt area.

Among them was Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali, who last week sanctioned the staging of a garbage truck protest outside SBS headquarters,

He told the panel that he felt the show had “no depth”.

He also hit out at viewers who said the program has helped to shine a light on the issues facing residents saying “we don’t want people’s pity, we want solutions”.

Earlier, other Mt Druitt audience members called on the politicians on the panel to explain why both sides of government “bang on” about “getting kids jobs” when they cut funding to the very programs that assist young people to attain those jobs.

“There are two statements that are constantly made by the Government and Opposition; education for kids and closing the gap,” Mt Druitt resident Margaret Bell said. “Our organisation and many others are doing just that yet we are being defunded at the end of June. So I can’t see any sincerity in all of this.

“I think certainly people didn’t need to see a program that cost a million dollars for entertainment or whatever it was supposed to be. It would be an insult to call it a documentary.”

Journalist Jennifer Hewett said she thought Struggle Street was “incredibly lopsided” as well “condescending” but rejected suggestions the residents depicted in the program should have been able to control what went to air, arguing it undermined the fundamental principle of journalism.

As the program closed, one audience member told Mr Bali that he was lucky Channel Nine never produced the program, then host Tony Jones quipped, “They might have renovated all their houses.”

Man: Be grateful Ch9 didn't do #StruggleStreet "They might have renovated all their houses." Tony Jones @qanda #qanda pic.twitter.com/644zbcZuQF

— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) May 11, 2015

Maverick MP Clive Palmer was more subdued than normal, limiting his comments to attacking the Government.

He wasn’t baited into going off on a tirade about his recent court battles - unlike his appearance last year - or on the defection of now Independent Senators Jackie Lambie and Glenn Lazarus.

But he did manage to have one dig at the pair, saying, “We have got to expect some of us to buckle, but I’m not going to.”

Clive Palmer was much more subdued on Q&A.

The rest of the night was filled up with discussion on the controversial cuts to childcare payments, with Labor’s Jason Clare arguing the Government “shouldn’t have to take money off low-income families to improve childcare.”

"You shouldn't have to take money off low-income families to improve childcare." @JasonClareMP @qanda #qanda pic.twitter.com/JB0dBNLLC6

— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) May 11, 2015