Outrage over British YouTuber's comment to Aboriginal man during street interview
- YouTuber visited Western Australia's mining capital
- Mayor criticised heartbreaking interview with an Indigenous man
- READ MORE: Aussie locals blast 'secretive' 8,000sq km Aboriginal land grab
A West Australian mayor has hit out at a British YouTuber over the portrayal of his city's First Nations community after an interview with an Indigenous man.
YouTuber @WendallExplores visited Kalgoorlie, about 600km northeast of Perth, and recorded a 26-minute video titled Drunk In Australia's Roughest Outback Town.
In the footage, Wendall explored the regional city and interacted with several locals, including an Indigenous man called Jeff.
The video's description reads: 'Known as a wild place where miners risk it all to make their fortune in the goldfields of the area, it is also a place where the streets are unpredictable and wild.
'Aboriginal communities make the long trip from faraway remote places to visit the town to access vital services, crime and homelessness is rife and scantily clad ladies serve cold pints.
'I met the locals and visitors and enjoyed a few cold ones myself.'
Speaking to Jeff, Wendall asked: 'What's Kalgoorlie like? People say it's a wild town, a dangerous town. Is that true?'
Jeff agreed that it could be 'rough at night' before revealing he had been an alcoholic since he was 18.
British YouTuber Wendall interviewed Indigenous man Jeff in a 26-minute video titled Drunk In Australia's Roughest Outback Town
'How do you spend your days?' Wendall asked.
'Sometimes I have a quiet day, sometimes just too much on the drink … There's nothing much to do round (sic) here. Only thing is just that,' Jeff said.
In the exchange, the Indigenous man revealed he had been sleeping on the streets 'for two years'.
'You've got to try and drink less, mate,' Wendall said. 'I know it's hard … are you drunk already today?'
'I'll be going soon,' Jeff said.
The city has an Indigenous population of about 4,397 and 29,109 non-Indigenous residents.
Glenn Wilson, who has been the mayor of Kalgoorlie since October 2023, criticised the depiction of the city.
'While the questions raised and the intent behind the video may have been well-meaning, the way the footage was captured and presented lacked cultural awareness,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
Kalgoorlie mayor Glenn Wilson (left) slammed the depiction of the city. He's pictured with Federal Member for O'Connor, Rick Wilson (right)
Kalgoorlie is west Australia's mining capital, located about 600km northeast of Perth
'When someone shares footage of First Nations community members, without the right cultural understanding or context, it can be counterproductive.
'It's not just about asking permission - it's about understanding the broader impacts and making sure that people are treated with respect and dignity.
'It can also reinforce negative perceptions rather than contributing to understanding.'
Wilson said content that is not 'balanced with local voices or cultural insight' can 'easily perpetuate harmful stereotypes'.
He added: 'While it's important to acknowledge challenges, it's equally important to recognise the resilience and strength of our community. Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a community that takes care of each other.'
Wendall, who had previously visited Kalgoorlie on a few occasions, told news.com.au he was 'genuinely interested in trying to learn from the stories of everyone I speak to in my videos'.
He said he wanted to understand the town better and enjoyed his conversation with Jeff, who he described as a 'very sweet and calm man'.
'I think it would take 100 visits to even scratch the surface of what is actually going on in the town with regard to (substance and mental health issues in the Indigenous community),' he added.
'I think I more simply showcased the individual situations of the people I spoke to rather than uncovered some societal truths.'
According to the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in every Australian jurisdiction except for the Northern Territory, the proportion of First Nations people who consumed more than 10 alcoholic standard drinks per week, or more than four standard drinks in a single day at least once a month declined from 48 per cent in 2010 to 33 per cent in 2023.
The gap in the disease burden between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians decreased between 2003 and 2018.
A range of factors is responsible for the gap including disconnection to culture, traditions and country, social exclusion, discrimination and isolation, trauma, poverty, and lack of adequate access to services.
Alcohol use was the second largest contributor to the total disease burden in 2018.
Wendall and Mr Wilson have been contacted for comment.
