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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/24/luke-foley-defends-white-flight-comment-but-denies-dog-whistling
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| Luke Foley apologises for 'white flight' comment, saying he now knows it's offensive | Luke Foley apologises for 'white flight' comment, saying he now knows it's offensive |
| (17 days later) | |
| The New South Wales opposition leader, Luke Foley, has apologised for using the term “white flight” to describe the shifting demographics in western Sydney, saying he’s now aware that it was offensive. | The New South Wales opposition leader, Luke Foley, has apologised for using the term “white flight” to describe the shifting demographics in western Sydney, saying he’s now aware that it was offensive. |
| Speaking to Ten Eyewitness News, he said: “I won’t use that term again. Some people find it offensive, so I apologise. I want the entire focus to be on growing jobs and building better schools and Tafes in these suburbs.” | Speaking to Ten Eyewitness News, he said: “I won’t use that term again. Some people find it offensive, so I apologise. I want the entire focus to be on growing jobs and building better schools and Tafes in these suburbs.” |
| Foley had been forced to defend comments made an interview with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, which appeared on its front page under the headline “Stop White Flight”. | Foley had been forced to defend comments made an interview with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, which appeared on its front page under the headline “Stop White Flight”. |
| The Telegraph reported that Foley had said a “white flight” was occurring across western Sydney with “many Anglo families” being forced to move out of middle ring suburbs with high migrant populations. | The Telegraph reported that Foley had said a “white flight” was occurring across western Sydney with “many Anglo families” being forced to move out of middle ring suburbs with high migrant populations. |
| While Foley used those words, he did not say migrants were “forcing out” longer term residents. | While Foley used those words, he did not say migrants were “forcing out” longer term residents. |
| He said was simply referring to the “international phenomenon [where] older, established residents leave certain communities and new residents move in.” | He said was simply referring to the “international phenomenon [where] older, established residents leave certain communities and new residents move in.” |
| “I meant no offence, but some people have told me today that they find the term pretty unpalatable, so I certainly won’t use it again, and I apologise.” | “I meant no offence, but some people have told me today that they find the term pretty unpalatable, so I certainly won’t use it again, and I apologise.” |
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| The Refugee Council of Australia had earlier described the term as “offensive” and “unhelpful”. | The Refugee Council of Australia had earlier described the term as “offensive” and “unhelpful”. |
| “This type of term doesn’t have any place in describing the western suburbs of Sydney,” said the Refugee Council’s policy officer, Shakufa Tahiri. “It’s an American term. It’s not relevant to western Sydney,” she said. | “This type of term doesn’t have any place in describing the western suburbs of Sydney,” said the Refugee Council’s policy officer, Shakufa Tahiri. “It’s an American term. It’s not relevant to western Sydney,” she said. |
| In an interview with the ABC, Foley said the Telegraph had “put their spin” on his comments. | In an interview with the ABC, Foley said the Telegraph had “put their spin” on his comments. |
| While he agreed he used the term to the reporter, he said it was an academic phrase and he was referring to the world-wide phenomenon of older residents moving out as new migrants arrived. | While he agreed he used the term to the reporter, he said it was an academic phrase and he was referring to the world-wide phenomenon of older residents moving out as new migrants arrived. |
| “This is a class issue more than a race issue. he said. | “This is a class issue more than a race issue. he said. |
| “I was and I am a supporter of the Syria and Iraq refugee intake. These people are being slaughtered by ISIS. We can afford to be generous. We are a rich country,” he said. | “I was and I am a supporter of the Syria and Iraq refugee intake. These people are being slaughtered by ISIS. We can afford to be generous. We are a rich country,” he said. |
| Linda Burney admits interview transcript left out call for offshore detention time limit | Linda Burney admits interview transcript left out call for offshore detention time limit |
| Australia has agreed to take a special intake of 10,000 refugees from Syria in the wake of the civil war there. | Australia has agreed to take a special intake of 10,000 refugees from Syria in the wake of the civil war there. |
| “I did a 30-minute interview on western Sydney,” Foley told the Guardian. “One point I made was that the suburbs in the middle ring are struggling. They have a large migrant population. They are shouldering a big load and they want more support for their communities.” | “I did a 30-minute interview on western Sydney,” Foley told the Guardian. “One point I made was that the suburbs in the middle ring are struggling. They have a large migrant population. They are shouldering a big load and they want more support for their communities.” |
| He denied he was “dog whistling” or trying to court the One Nation vote. | He denied he was “dog whistling” or trying to court the One Nation vote. |
| “I am the only leader in NSW to have has said I will not deal with Pauline Hanson,” he said. | “I am the only leader in NSW to have has said I will not deal with Pauline Hanson,” he said. |
| “I don’t care if they are descendants of the first fleet or arrived a month ago,” he said. “My point was that every community deserves good schools and TAFEs and most importantly jobs,” he said. | “I don’t care if they are descendants of the first fleet or arrived a month ago,” he said. “My point was that every community deserves good schools and TAFEs and most importantly jobs,” he said. |
| Tahiri said there was a reason why migrants gravitated to certain suburbs of Sydney. Fairfield had been a strong migrant community for 70 years, beginning with migrants from southern and eastern Europe, she said. | Tahiri said there was a reason why migrants gravitated to certain suburbs of Sydney. Fairfield had been a strong migrant community for 70 years, beginning with migrants from southern and eastern Europe, she said. |
| “Fairfield was a prime location because it is close to migrant hostels. As they leave the hostels, they move to local suburbs. When they get on their own feet they then tend to move out,” she said. | “Fairfield was a prime location because it is close to migrant hostels. As they leave the hostels, they move to local suburbs. When they get on their own feet they then tend to move out,” she said. |
| It’s no surprise that Fairfield’s demographic is how it is,” she said. | It’s no surprise that Fairfield’s demographic is how it is,” she said. |
| “White flight is very offensive,” she said. | “White flight is very offensive,” she said. |
| Foley’s own seat of Auburn, in Sydney’s middle ring, is one of the most multicultural in Sydney. | Foley’s own seat of Auburn, in Sydney’s middle ring, is one of the most multicultural in Sydney. |
| He said he did not believe his comments would damage his own electoral standing. | He said he did not believe his comments would damage his own electoral standing. |
| “No, the community know me and know that I am a champion of community support services,” he said. | “No, the community know me and know that I am a champion of community support services,” he said. |
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