Decision details

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Chung –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          Sydney is an international city which prides itself on inclusivity and multiculturalism;

(ii)         visitors from Asia represent the fastest growing sector of inbound tourism to Australia, and Sydney in particular. These Asian tourism markets are important to Australia's economic growth;

(iii)        Haymarket is one of Sydney's most linguistically and culturally diverse suburbs:

(a)        according to the 2016 Census, only 12.7 per cent of the population in Haymarket speak only English at home. The most common languages spoken in Haymarket include: Thai, Mandarin, Korean, Indonesian and Cantonese; and

(b)        Thai has surpassed Mandarin as the most spoken language in Haymarket as of 2018, at 20.4 per cent, partially due to the international student population now being included in the census;

(iv)       the City can further support local businesses in Haymarket that form our diverse offerings in Chinatown, Koreatown, and Thaitown by ensuring that constituents and tourists alike can still find their way easily;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          prepare a report which:

(a)     details where the key Chinese, Korean and Thai cultural hubs exist within the Haymarket and CBD areas; and

(b)     explores the possibility of installing multilingual signs in Thai, Chinese, Korean and English directing visitors to Chinatown, Koreatown, and Thaitown from the main transport hubs, (e.g. Central, Town Hall and Museum stations);

(ii)         report findings and recommendations back to Council for further action.

Foreshadowed motion. Councillor Kok foreshadowed that, should the motion moved by Councillor Phelps be lost, he would move an alternative motion.

A show of hands on the motion resulted in an equality of voting as follows –

Ayes (5)          Councillors Chung, Forster, Phelps, Scott and Vithoulkas

Noes (5)          The Lord Mayor, Councillors Kok, Miller, Scully and Thalis.

The Chair (the Lord Mayor) exercised her casting vote against the motion.

Motion lost.

Councillor Kok then moved his foreshadowed motion, seconded by Councillor Scully, as follows:

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          Sydney is an international city which prides itself on inclusivity and multiculturalism;

(ii)         visitors from Asia represent the fastest growing sector of inbound tourism to Australia, and Sydney in particular. These Asian tourism markets are important to Australia’s economic growth;

(iii)        Haymarket is one of Sydney’s most linguistically and culturally diverse suburbs:

(a)        according to the 2016 Census, only 12.7 per cent of the population in Haymarket speak only English at home. The most common languages spoken in Haymarket include: Thai, Mandarin, Korean, Indonesian and Cantonese; and

(b)        Thai has surpassed Mandarin as the most spoken language in Haymarket as of 2018, at 20.4 per cent, partially due to the international student population now being included in the Census;

(iv)       Haymarket has historically been the home of Sydney’s Chinatown; and

(v)         Haymarket’s increasingly diverse population and business mix has seen the emergence of areas readily identified as Koreatown and Thai Town;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          consult with relevant community, business and tourism organisations in the Haymarket; and

(ii)         seek the advice of the new Global City and Multicultural Expert Panel on further action to support the development of Thai Town and Koreatown, while recognising the Haymarket’s significant social, economic and cultural history.

Carried unanimously.

S129263