Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown, Bilal El-Hayek, has responded to claims made by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson today that Lakemba was “unsafe”, amid widespread criticism of remarks she made earlier this week about Muslim Australians.
“I wanna say that I too love this country and I love the culture, and I am a proud immigrant who’s come to this country. This country’s given me so much. I live in Canterbury-Bankstown. I am proud to be the mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown,” El-Hayek told 2GB radio.
El-Hayek said he had extended an invitation to Hanson only yesterday to visit the Ramadan night markets in Lakemba.
Crowds at the Ramadan Night Markets in Lakemba in April last year. Wolter Peeters
“Maybe this is what sparked this, yesterday I personally invited her to come to Lakemba, I sent her a letter, to come out and experience our Lakemba Ramadan food market.”
Last year, Lakemba saw over 1 million people visit the suburb for the famous night markets.
“I am a proud Aussie and I am a proud Muslim. In reality, in Canterbury-Bankstown we’re a multicultural, multi-faith community,” El-Hayek said.
In 2023, the NSW government gave Haldon Street in Lakemba “Purple Flag” status, an internationally recognised accreditation given to precincts which meet high standards for a safe, vibrant and diverse night-time economy. Lakemba’s Purple Flag precinct is one of four in Sydney.