...And rather than being an exercise in voyeurism, or a fleeting judgmental report, this extended insight into the lives of our subjects will – we hope – provoke not just a change in public perception, but a debate about the direction of public policy as wellThe series received strong criticism from local governments, with the Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali labelling it as 'poverty porn'.
[7] Locals attempted to boycott the series by establishing a blockade of garbage trucks outside the SBS headquarters in Artarmon.
[8] The series aired as planned, winning its timeslot nationally and was the most watched program on television that night in Sydney, with the controversy claimed for the record ratings.
[citation needed] Western Sydney locals are contemplating legal action against the producers to seek damages for defamation.
[9] SBS chief content officer Helen Kellie defended the program, stating that "We are confident that Struggle Street is a fair and accurate portrayal of events that occurred during filming...further, we believe the series fairly reflects the program description contained in participant release forms".