Last week Leeton Shire Council put the call out for residents to come forward with any information they may have following the attacks on some of the town’s welcome signs. These have not been isolated incidents. 

Signage welcoming “new settlers, migrants and refugees” have been tarnished with black spray paint, while a Wiradjuri sign was damaged and another had a swastika painted on it. Council has always had a $2000 reward policy in place for information that leads to a conviction in relation to vandalism and graffiti acts. 

However, so far there has been no reports of information that could help in arresting an offender. Council’s tourism and marketing co-ordinator Brent Lawrence was also concerned about what it would mean for the town’s image. 

“I do think this can have damage on a town’s reputation and it can leave a bad impression if we’re not seen to be inclusive,” he said. 

If a potential visitor was looking up Leeton, Mr Lawrence was hopeful they would look past that behaviour and come see what makes the shire a great place to work, live and play. Following council’s push to have an arrest, social media erupted with debate on the issue last week.

Many sided with council’s decision, while others said it was people’s choice to have an opinion on the issue, but it could have been put to the public in a different manner. Jarred Newlyn called on residents to remember everyone came from different backgrounds. 

“(We would) do well to remember this ... I bet you don't mind a Scottish bloke working in a bar?” he said.

“Our local New Zealanders that run hard in our union and other football teams? Our doctors that are of all cultures. Our teachers, community workers and our local council.

“All come from different back grounds. No one gets that our town is filled with the people already. Before judging someone else's culture or even how they became an Australian (non-citizen) or not it doesn't matter.”