Described as “woke virtue signalling,” Cumberland Council has voted to remove ‘#RacismNotWelcome’ signs three years after they were first installed.
The 50 anti-racism signs located across the Cumberland Local Government Area will now be removed, after the controversial Council broke out into another debate at the latest meeting.
Local Mohamed Hassan told the Council many in the community experience racism.
“One of the biggest challenges we have is racism and I think a lot of people can tell that,” he said.
“Take for example the Chinese community, which was unfairly blamed for bringing Covid-19. Some of my own friends were harassed and even physically assaulted simply because they were just Chinese.”
Hassan said the signs serve as a reminder for people to speak kindly to each other – the same way a cop car would remind people to drive to the speed limit. He urged all the Councillors to vote against removal of the signs.
The motion was moved by Our Local Community Councillors Paul Garrard and Helen Hughes.
Garrard acknowledged racism exists, but said it only comes from a very small minority of people within the Cumberland community.
“I don’t believe that as a city, [which] is so diverse, needs to be putting our values on telegraph poles,” he said.
“Probably, what’s a bigger issue is not racism, racism’s not the issue, the wider issue in communities is probably discrimination. Discrimination does exist, it’s a major concern – but not racism.”
Hughes said the signs aren’t a good reflection of the Cumberland community.
“Personally, I think this sort of signage only could encourage [racism] but, equally then, why is it only in one language? And other people have said that to me and they didn’t have an Aussie background,” she said.
“Aside from anything, it is not a good advertisement for the areas that we have got and for the decency of people that we have in our areas.”
Libertarian Councillor Steve Christou also supported the motion, calling for the signs to be put in the garbage can.
“There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that we need #RacismNotWelcome signs polluting our Local Government Area,” he added.
“I’ll emphasise this: they are a garbage stain on our Local Government Area. People are fed up that they have them in their streets, they are complaining it devalues their houses, prospective new buyers coming into the street are questioning whether there’s racism occurring in their streets.”
However, Labor Councillor Suman Saha said he had received no complaints regarding the signs.
“Removing these signs now could suggest either racism does not exist or that it is acceptable here in Cumberland,” he said.
“Why should Council resources be used to remove these signs that have caused no issue and continue to promote a positive message of inclusion and respect?”
The Council’s General Manager also confirmed he was “not aware” of any requests from residents calling for the signs removal.
Independent Councillor Eddy Sarkis said he was never in favour of the signs going up in the first place, but spoke against the motion due to concerns over how much it would cost to take them down.
“The signs are up, and now we’re talking about spending more money to pull the signs down. I’d rather use that money to go somewhere that’s going to improve the area,” he added.
The signs cost $5,000 to install.
It’s not known how much it will cost to remove said signs.
Ultimately the motion was won eight votes to six.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.