The mayor of Sydney has caused an uproar, trying to avoid offending Muslims (the wire story doesn’t quite say this, but that’s what “immigrant non-Christian community” means) by “toning down” Christmas decorations: Australia’s biggest city up in arms over ‘politically correct’ Christmas.

SYDNEY (AFP) - The Lord Mayor of Sydney has sparked outrage among citizens of Australia’s largest city by decorating town hall with a single tree in a modest “generic” festive show aimed at not offending the immigrant non-Christian community.

Talkback radio programs have been inundated for two days with angry callers accusing left-leaning independent Lord Mayor Clover Moore of being a “scrooge” and pandering to political correctness by “abolishing Christmas.”

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph highlighted the ill-feeling with pictures comparing Sydney’s Christmas decor with that of London, New York and Paris and saying in a front-page banner headline: “As the great cities of the world light up, Sydney asks… WHERE’S OUR CHRISTMAS.”

As the great cities of the world sparkle with festive lights, the symbol of Sydney’s Christmas is a lonely tree perched on the balcony of Town Hall, the paper said, adding: “2004 is the year Sydney forgot Christmas and across the city, people are infuriated.”