A controversial mural on the Bondi sea wall has been painted over in the middle of the night after the council voted to keep it there for a couple more weeks.

Artist Luke Cornish has been accused of politicising the world-famous beach with the mural, which portrays 24 Australian Border Force officers along with the words “not welcome to Bondi”.

He says the artwork is a comment on Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luke Cornish (@e.l.k) on Aug 6, 2019 at 8:21pm PDT

It has caused its fair share of debate with 900 signatures on a petition opposing the mural and 1,900 supporting it.

Waverley Council voted to remove the mural in eight weeks, while they searched for alternative artwork to replace it.

Mayor John Wakefield tells Ben Fordham it is a difficult process.

“When you have responsibilities as a mayor you have to balance and judge the different competing interests that are out there.

“Politicians should not be involved in the selection process of artworks because they will then inevitably embed their political position into the artwork.”

Click PLAY to hear the full interview

Councillor Leon Goltsman tells Steve Price the council waited too long to act.

“This council had a responsibility to address it but everybody stayed silent and it just made matters a lot worse.”

Click PLAY to hear the full interview

RELATED

Should this ‘violent and offensive’ Bondi Beach mural be removed?