UPDATE: Plans to film the second series of reality television program Struggle Street in Braybrook have been quashed after Maribyrnong Council rejected the producer’s application to film in the area.
Production company Keo Films Australia sought permission to film the second series of the controversial SBS program in the socially disadvantaged suburb, after filming the first series in Mount Druitt in Sydney’s west.
The Sydney-based producers were hoping it would be third time lucky after being rejected by Brimbank Council for filming in Sunshine and Hume Council for filming in Broadmeadows.
Maribyrnong Council chief executive Stephen Wall said the permit was denied due to the negative portrayal of suburbs, residents and disadvantage in the first series.
“While the producers may claim that they ‘shine a light on social and economic disadvantage’, Council does not see it in the same way,” he said.
“We don’t believe that it will encourage forward progression, rather that it will serve to do the exact opposite.”
Maribyrnong councillor Sarah Carter said there was no way the council could support the “poverty porn” taking advantage of the Braybrook community.
“I can’t put it strongly enough, I think it’s absolutely exploitation, they do nothing for the betterment of those individuals portrayed,” she said.
“I’m worried less about the portrayal of the area and more about the impact on the individuals, I think it’s unethical to capitalise on their misfortune.”
Cr Carter said the first series of Struggle Street displayed a bias in the portrayals that plays on sensationalisation.
“We know there is disadvantage in Braybrook and we are working hard to address that,” she said.
Inaccurate stereotypes
“I look at a ‘do no harm’ principle and I have a strong sense the vast majority of people in Braybrook would be against this.”
SBS has commissioned a second season of the show, which looks at the social and economic hardships facing people across the country.
The new series will be filmed in Queensland and Victoria.
The Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA), the peak body representing public housing tenants in Victoria, has written to Maribyrnong Council urging them to reject the application.
Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said he is wary the series will be used to exaggerate inaccurate stereotypes about the local community.
“Increased media and public attention to the complex nature of economic disadvantage, and what we can do as a society to address it, is welcome,” he said.
“However, we will not welcome any attempts to simplify or sensationalise these challenges for ratings or public attention.”
In rejecting filming in Broadmeadows, Hume mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou last week said the suburb should not be “made fun of”.
Brimbank council chair of administrators John Watson refused permission for filming in Sunshine, adding the council was “extremely disappointed” Film Victoria and Screen Australia were funding the program which would not “accurately reflect our community”, based on previous editions.
“We are also very concerned about the potential for vulnerable community members being taken advantage of for the sake of television ratings,” he said.
Giving a voice
Keo Film Australia’s website claims the show is not “an exercise in voyeurism”, but rather aims to “give a voice to a neglected community”.
The producers have referred questions to SBS.
An SBS spokesperson said Struggle Street is not a series about specific areas of the country.
“First and foremost this is a series about the issues of hardship that people and communities can find themselves in for a whole range of reasons,” she said.
“The issues faced by these people and communities are representative of issues faced by people and communities across Australia.”
“The areas that we will film in are areas where challenges reflect universal socio-economic issues and where we can get first-hand stories that help audiences to engage with the broader issues.”
The series is scheduled to air in late 2017.
