CITY HUB December 2023 by Alt Media

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HubNEWS

City of Sydney reviews alcohol free zones (See p. 9)

Metro Minerva Theatre’s Final Curtain Call BY JOHN MOYLE decision by the Central Sydney Planning Committee on November 9 has delivered the biggest blow to the Potts Point, Kings Cross area since the introduction of the lockout laws that lasted from 2014 to 2021. At 5pm on a Thursday night, the Planning Committee approved the development proposed by Central Element to convert the 1,000 seat art-deco Metro Minerva Theatre to a $69 million 63-roomed boutique hotel, forever locking it out of the community and wider Sydney. Included on the Planning Committee’s panel were Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Councillors Chan and Worling from Team Clover, Abbie Galvin, State Government Architect, and Anthea Sargeant, Department of Planning. The vote for the approval was unanimous, despite over 1700 objections, numerous reports and feasibility studies in favour of restoring the theatre, including one study that was partially funded by the City of Sydney. City of Sydney Liberal Councillor Lyndon Gannon described the decision “as the final curtain call for Kings Cross.” “We knew that heritage was no longer an issue, but that didn’t mean that the social, economic and environmental impacts were irrelevant,” Andrew Woodhouse,” the President of Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Society said. “These were specifically required to be addressed, as were the objections.” “There was plenty of room to reject the DA, but Clover bulldozed it through.” The development was originally budgeted at $39 million, which meant that it would have been overseen by the Local Planning Committee but then Central Element revised the budget to over $50 million, which mean that it went before a panel that is generally regarded as prodevelopment.

A HubARTS: The magic of Circus 1903 See the giant puppet elephant and so much more. (See p.25)

PUBLISHED DATE 14 DECEMBER 2023 Published monthly and freely available throughout the Inner City. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Publisher Assistant: Mal Moody Advertising Managers: Mal Moody 0484 042 615 Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au News Editor: Grace Johnson Contributors: Grace Johnson, Justin Cooper, Abha Haval, Lauren Frost, John Moyle, Joseph O’Donoghue Arts Editor: Rita Bratovich Contributors: Rita Bratovich, John Moyle, Mark Morellini, Emmy White, Grace Johnson, Jasmine Simmons, Justin Cooper, Olga Azar Cover Photo: No War painted on Opera House sails, Circular Quay Sydney, 2003. City of Sydney Archives, Photographer: Tim Cole Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: www.cityhub.com.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au @CityHubSydney

BRINGING THE THEATRE BACK

The Metro Minerva Theatre Action Group has been at the centre of the battle to bring the theatre back to a performing arts space. Formed in August 2019 they quickly secured a meeting with Don Harwin, the arts minister in the Berejiklian government. The group was made up of theatre practitioners, business owners, journalists, publicists, architects and

The Metro Minerva Theatre Building. Photo: Metro Minerva Theatre Action Group, Facebook

local historians that met regularly to lobby government and council, created a website and held a rally that attracted 400 people in Fitzroy Gardens while collecting thousands of signatures by hand and online. Harwin made a strong public case for the state purchasing the theatre, but when Perrottet forced Berejikian from office, Harwin’s days as a power broker were numbered. “Then we had an election and neither

Despite all efforts... the Metro Minerva is not to be party wanted to comment on the Minerva, or anything else,” Warren Fahey, MMTAG committee member and historian said. “We then had a young arts minister (John Graham) who was quoted as saying that he wanted to see the Kings Cross, Potts Point area become a Covent Garden type area, and he saw the Metro Minerva a key player in this revitalisation.” “For whatever reason, maybe budgetary, he seems to have dropped the football.” After one meeting with Graham, in which he expressed the belief that the Kings Cross, Potts Point area had been unfairly treated by the lockouts, the committee was attempting to secure a further meeting when the Planning Committee decision was made. “It is a big disappointment as this was

a unique opportunity and now we are finding online all these notable theatre and music people coming out and saying what an appalling decision,” Fahey said. For more than 50 years Paul Brennan has been at the forefront of film and theatre in NSW, including being involved in the rescue of Yass’s art deco Liberty Theatre. “I regard the Metro Minerva as the equivalent in viable entertainment pop culture and theatre as Sydney’s equivalent to New York’s Radio City Music Hall,” Brennan said. “The Metro Minerva is 80 per cent intact, and the convoluted interior can be dismantled, allowing for the retention of the original 1,000 seat theatre with excellent stage facilities.” The Metro Minerva Theatre Action Group came close more than once to realising their goal, but the decision by the Central Planning Committee is now accepted, with the kicker that Central Element will be closely scrutinised in executing their plans. Despite all efforts by the local community and theatre lovers across Australia and the world, the reincarnation of the Metro Minerva is not to be, and we will never know if it could have played a role in rejuvenating the Kings Cross Potts Point area. Disclaimer: John Moyle is a member of the Metro Minerva Theatre Action Group. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

HubNEWS

Bunnings Warehouse to ban engineered stone Protests took place outside Bunnings stores across the country. Photo: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images

BY GRACE JOHNSON AND JUSTIN COOPER etail giants have responded to Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union’s (CFMEU) calls to ban engineered stone, a harmful silica-based product that leads to silicosis, a lung disease estimated to have contributed to over 10,000 deaths globally. Bunnings Warehouse recently announced that it will no longer sell engineered stone from the end of the year. Ikea soon followed suit, announcing that it will begin phasing out the product, following Safe Work Australia’s recommendation to ban the product in October. In a statement, the Ikea Australia chief executive officer and chief sustainability officer, Mirja Viinanen, said “Ikea Australia will begin the process of phasing out

engineered stone products from our local range, ahead of government action.” Engineered stone, made from crushed quartz and resin, has become a popular and more affordable option to natural stone (like marble or granite) in bathrooms and kitchens. But when cut, drilled and polished, the dust particles of the product contain crystalline silica, which can cause irreversible damage to the workers who come into contact with it.

ONGOING UNION PRESSURE

CFMEU activists and advocates have been protesting outside Bunnings stores across the country. In October, following Safe Work Australia’s release of a report saying

there was no safe use of engineered stone, CFMEU organised a march that saw thousands attend. At the time of the march, the Union’s National Secretary Zach Smith said the report left “no option for federal and state ministers” but to commit to the product ban. “Anyone who opposes a complete ban on engineered stone will have blood on their hands,” said Mr Smith at the time. Silicosis is one of the oldest known lung diseases, however it has continued to see a rise in the past 20 years. A study by Curtin University estimates that more than 275,000 mining, construction workers and tradesmen have been exposed to the high levels of carcinogenic crystalline silica.

Bunnings should be congratulated for eventually doing the right thing Speaking to the recent announcement, Mr Smith said, “Bunnings should be congratulated for eventually doing the right thing and pulling these deadly bench tops from their shelves.” The union has previously said that it would implement its own ban on members working with engineered stone if the federal government did not ban production, importation and use of the material by July 2024. The pressure continues for federal, state and territory governments to ban the material.

Waverley Council Update Mayor's message

Seasons greetings As the year comes to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish the Waverley community a merry Christmas, season's greetings, and happy Hanukkah. 2023 has been a year of highs and lows for many, so my wish for the community is that we continue to come together to support one another, to reflect and connect, and to act with kindness, compassion, and understanding for a more peaceful and brighter future. I am proud to represent a community that is committed to helping each other in times of need and showing compassion for our fellow citizens. For Council, it’s been another bumper year, and my fellow councillors and I extend our thanks to the community for engaging with us on several important projects. The Bondi Pavilion has really come into its own this year, delivering a full program of events for all ages.

We’ve also been lucky to play a part in some fantastic long running events such as Sculpture by the Sea, City2Surf and our very own Festival of the Winds at Bondi Beach. We’ve also had the privilege of delivering some important infrastructure and streetscape upgrades this year including the Bondi Junction Cycleway and Streetscape Upgrade, and streetscape upgrades along Tamarama Marine Drive, Glenayr Avenue, North Bondi and Macpherson and St Thomas streets, Bronte, as well as a refresh of Bondi Junction Mall. There’s also lots happening in Waverley during the holiday season. We invite you to join us on Wednesday 13 December from 5-8pm for Carols by the Sea at Bondi Park. Enjoy performances by the Rose Bay Secondary School jazz band, Bondi Public School choir and the School of Arts Academy of Dance, followed by Christmas tunes with Emma Pask, Cool Yule, the Australian Girls Choir, Bondi Brass and other special guests. WAYS Youth & Family is running a sausage sizzle and the Waverley Charitable trust will be selling Santa hats to raise money for charity. There will also be a visit from Santa! We also invite you to enter our Light Up Waverley festive lights competition. Light Up Waverley is open to all community members and there are six award categories to enter including best sustainable display.

Waverley Customer Service Centre: 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction. Ph: 9083 8000

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

waverley.nsw.gov.au

All you need to do is decorate your outdoor space whether it's your front yard, balcony, window, school fence or store front - for the chance to win one of six $250 gift cards. To find out more and enter, visit haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/light-waverley. Thank you to our sponsor Premium Solutions Group for helping make Light Up Waverley possible. Entries close 6pm, Sunday 10 December. And finally, Waverley Council invites you to ring in the new year at Dudley Page Reserve, Dover Heights with a live DJ, face painting and roving magicians for the kids, giant lawn games, live art, a photo booth to capture your special moments, licensed bar and food stalls. Enjoy an unforgettable family-friendly New Year's Eve experience with one of the best views of the Sydney Harbour fireworks display. Tickets start at $32.65. To book, visit https://tinyurl.com/3fcj42dx. I wish you and yours all the very best for the festive season. Have a safe and happy 2024, and I’ll be back with my next column in the new year.

Paula Masselos, Mayor of Waverley

Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe

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HubNEWS

Powerhouse Museum to shut for 3 years The announcement comes after the Minns government was heavily criticised for halving the rebuild allocation, which was originally $500 million. The rest of the funds will be going towards schools and hospitals. In addition, the museum has been caught up in almost 9 years of controversy regarding plans for its relocation, demolition and development. The former government initially planned to demolish and rebuild the museum in favour of a fashion, events and commercial precinct. The decision was reversed in 2020 due to public pressure to keep the museum and its beloved collection together.

It’s repackaging... It’s just PR with no substance

Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo. Photo: Sarah Aktag, Shutterstock

BY GRACE JOHNSON ydney’s Powerhouse Museum will be shut for 3 years as the government undertakes $250 million worth of building and conservation work. Arts Minister John Graham announced the plans on Monday 4 December and showed updated concept design plans for the science, technology, arts and design spaces in the Ultimo museum.

The museum will close its doors from February 5, 2024. Mr Graham said, “This is the next step in the process of reimagining the future of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo.” “After 9 years of divided opinions of this site, we are hopeful these new designs and a renewed focus on applied arts and sciences are more in line with the community’s expectations of this muchloved institution.”

The new Powerhouse Museum will include an outdoor space and a reoriented entrance facing the Goods Line, the walkway connecting Central Station to Haymarket. It will also showcase the heritage facades of the original power station built in 1899. The concept design also includes plans to build accomodation for regional school children in NSW to visit the museum and participate in learning programs. The government is hoping that the design

will provide improved flow of visitors and exhibition spaces, supporting increased access to the Powerhouse collection, once the museum reopens.

COMMUNITY OPPOSITION

But Save the Powerhouse community group considers the announcement to be the same problem, just reworded and repackaged. Leaders of the group Patricia Johnson and Jean-Pierre Alexandre spoke to City Hub, saying “It’s broken promises.” “The government has announced at least three times that the Powerhouse is saved. And if you scratch that, you find that it is not saved at all. It’s the same.” “It’s repackaging. Perrottet called it renewal, now they’re calling it revitalisation.” “It’s just PR and no substance.” The state government has claimed that a temporary closure will incur less costs, reduce the disruption period, and minimise the chances of a “compromised” visitor experience. “But what is more disturbing than being closed?” questioned Mr Alexandre. “The CEO, Lisa Havilah, fails to understand the traditional and genuine meaning of the word ‘museum’,” added Ms Johnson.

Climate Activists demand action, but is the Government listening?

GET IN TOUCH IF WE CAN HELP Ph: (02) 9517 2800 E: newtown@parliament.nsw.gov.au W: jennyleong.org 383 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

Thus regular column is authorised by Jenny Leong MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements 6

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

At the tail end of the hottest year on human record, the stark reality of our climate crisis looms large. The imminent summer threatens us with extreme heat and fires, while our Pacific Island neighbors face rising sea levels and coastal communities are pummeled by flooding monsoons. The urgency of the climate crisis is no longer a specter on the horizon, it is an alarming reality we face today, and it is faced by all. Increasingly the community understands that our battles, for climate justice, First Nations justice, and workers' rights, are intertwined. An intersectional, collective movement for change - the people's movement to address the climate crisis - continues to gain momentum, yet in the face of this urgent call for action the NSW Labor Government has passed Climate laws that while an improvement on the nothing that existed before, certainly don’t deliver on what is needed for urgent and meaningful change.

Leading climate scientists, legal experts, economists, activists and environmental organisations all agree that we need to go further, faster. We do not need symbolic gestures - we need action. Our laws and the actions of Government should reflect the demands of those in our communities who are mobilising on the streets (and in the ocean!), calling on us to do more. The School Strike 4 Climate movement continues to lead the way showing us the power of the next generation. Telling schoolchildren to stay in class did not stifle their anger at the destruction of their future; instead, it fueled their resolve. The Government must take notice of the demands of students who walked out of school, we have an imperative to listen to those most impacted by climate change - our future generations. Over 3,000 activists organised by Rising Tide - the youngest just 15, and

the oldest 97 years old (and 109 of which were disgracefully arrested by NSW Police Force officers, despite the peaceful nature of the protest) - also took to the ocean on the weekend of November 25 to blockade the world’s largest coal port. This was the biggest act of peaceful, non‑violent civil disobedience for climate action in Australia's history, and rightly demanded urgent global climate action. The evidence is clear, if we are to keep global heating below 2 degrees we must achieve net zero by 2035, or 2040 at the latest, not 2050 as the recently passed laws set out. We also need to stop opening any new coal and gas mines. The Greens will continue to mobilise with the growing movement for climate action on land and sea.

Jenny Leong MP Greens Member for Newtown

HubNEWS

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CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

HubNEWS

NSW Police accused of “price gouging”

BY JUSTIN COOPER SW Police have been accused of price gouging and potentially ruining the viability of music festivals in the state, after policing fees exceeded thousands of dollars in comparison to other states. In NSW Parliament, Greens MP Cate Faehrmann revealed a music festival paid a $62,000 difference in policing fees in order to hold the event in NSW.

It’s the same number of participants and triple the cost of policing The disclosed music festival, which travelled to three states, paid $107,852 for policing fees for 16,000 attendees. However, Victoria and Queensland only paid $45,000 for policing fees for 14,000 people. “That price gouging is unique to NSW,” Ms Faehrmann told Parliament. “The user pays policing is just ridiculous.” “In terms of the impact, it’s the same number of participants and triple the cost of policing,” Faehrmann continued. The price discrepancies were revealed in a submission from the Australian Festival

Greens’ MP and Drug Law Reform & Harm Reduction spokesperson, Cate Faehrmann, at Listen Out Music Festival in September. Photo: Cate Faehrmann, Facebook

Association (AFA), showing there have been price hikes for NSW police patrolling, with one music festival being charged $67,000 for a crowd of 22,000 people. For the same show in Queensland, the cost was $37,000 for a crowd of 20,000. In Victoria, it’s only $7,500 for 30,000 people. User Pays Policing model, is a system where organisers are charged a fee for policing at their events. The scheme was introduced in 2004 and has long been

condemned by event organisers as a “shakedown” and a way of stopping music festivals from going ahead.

POLICE AND CROWD HEALTH

Ms Faehrmann also noted the increase in sniffer dog use and police presence at festivals in NSW. “We’re the only state that’s having MDMA deaths,” said Ms Faehrmann. “So you kind of need to wonder whether all of those things are linked, which the

coronial inquest into music festival deaths found that they were.” Ahead of the music festival season, there have been calls for the government to implement other methods to reduce drug harm, including pill testing and peer support education. The increased calls for pill-testing have come after two men died of a suspected drug overdose after attending the Knockout music festival in October. Ms Faehrmann further called for the end of sniffer dog use and the subsequent strip searches, which have been heavily criticised in recent times as ineffective and a waste of police resources. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham also spoke about the increase in costs for music festivals in NSW. “As I understand it, the decisions about the number of police are largely based on the risk assessment by police,” said Graham. “I accept the police have got to do their job. My concern is the burden it’s putting on the viability of music festivals, the amount they are being charged.”

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HubNEWS

City of Sydney reviews alcohol free zones

City of Sydney has overturned proposals to renew alcohol free zones. Photo: Voyagerix, Shutterstock

BY GRACE JOHNSON he City of Sydney has overturned the proposal to renew existing alcohol free zones and the NSW Police’s request to introduce new ones, setting a precedent for other councils to follow. There are currently 379 alcohol free zones in the City of Sydney. The proposal, put forward by some residents but primarily by NSW Police, was to introduce an extra 15 zones and two parks. The current zones are set to expire on December 15, 2023, but Council will now have 9 months to review all existing zones. It may be decided that some zones will be kept, or all might be abolished. Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore spoke City Hub after the motion was unanimously approved, saying “It’s an important decision, and one which I hope will influence other Councils.” In NSW, it is legal to drink in any street, park or car park unless the local council has designated that area as an alcoholfree zone (AFZ) or an alcohol-prohibited area (APA). AFZs are road-related areas like public roads, footpaths or car parks, while APAs are non-road-related places like parks. However, these zones give police extra powers to take and pour people’s alcohol out, even if they are not being disruptive or harmful. If someone refuses to pour out their alcohol, they can be given an obstruction charge and fined up to $2,200.

If someone fails to pay the $2,200 fine, they can be sent to prison, setting off a chain effect and potentially resulting in serious criminal records, despite never having caused any harm. Cr Ellsmore had previously told City Hub that the current system of fining people and increasing alcohol free zones are the wrong way to approach managing drinking in public. “We understand better now that they’re the wrong way to deal with concerns around people feeling safe in local areas and that they don’t work anyway,” said Cr Ellsmore.

They’re the wrong way to deal with concerns around people feeling safe “They give people the perception of safety but all they do primarily is they’re used to target people who aren’t causing any damage or harm,” she continued. “The police don’t need additional powers for them to move along people who aren’t doing anything wrong and aren’t intimidating or hurting anyone.” A list of 18 temporary alcohol free zones were approved for New Year’s Eve, primarily in Newtown, Glebe and Waterloo. In reviewing existing zones, Council will consult with an extensive list of

stakeholders, including local residents, communities in social housing estates, neighbourhood advisory boards, community services, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse organisations, business and relevant NSW government agencies. Council also resolved for Lord Mayor Clover Moore to write to the State Government asking for a review, which will hopefully help the NSW Government reconsider the laws on alcohol free zones altogether.

DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECTS

Alcohol free zones and alcohol prohibited areas disproportionately affect vulnerable people in the city, including Aboriginal people, young people, those experiencing homelessness, and those living in public or social housing. Currently, the biggest cluster of alcohol prohibited areas (like parks) is located in the Redfern and Waterloo precinct. The additional zones that the police requested were primarily in front of public housing estates. Community legal centres and Aboriginal groups have been lobbying to limit or remove these laws for decades because of how they impact Indigenous communities. In addition, City of Sydney is one of the few councils that must consult with the Anti-Discrimination Board

before extending alcohol free zones, due to how police have abused their powers in the area in the past. Councillor (Waskam) Emelda Davis, who put forward the motion, said while addressing council that “the purpose review will give us an opportunity to determine whether these zones are beneficial, as well as where restrictions could be lifted, and give our community the chance to have their say before any changes are made.” Speaking to council, Cr Ellsmore passed on a story that the Aboriginal Legal Service had shared with her about a girl called Alex (not her real name) as an example of how these current zones impact Aboriginal people. “Alex is a resident of the city of Sydney area. Alex was in an alcohol free zone in Waterloo, alone and drinking from a bottle in a brown paper bag. The police stopped and approached her. A verbal altercation ensued, during which Alex made it clear that she felt the police were interfering with her liberties. They issued her a move-on order because of her language and because she was drinking. “She failed to comply so they arrested her, charged her for resisting arrest, assault police, offensive language, known as the trifecta by anyone who’s worked in Aboriginal Legal Service, as well as failing to comply with a move-on direction. She defended the action in court. The police conceded that they did not have the power to issue her within move-on direction for drinking in the alcohol free zone. All charges were dismissed at court. “However, the process and the trauma experienced by that client was just one of the examples that the Aboriginal Legal Service shared with us to help us understand why their recommendation is that we do this review, because there has been a disproportionate impact in how these laws tend to be used towards Aboriginal people, who are already subject to punitive, proactive policing practices on the streets generally. And that over-policing of Aboriginal communities is one of the key things that is contributing to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody.”

SUPPORT FOR THE MOTION

Councillor Adam Worling also spoke in support of the motion. “If we put restrictions on more and more streets, are we just kicking the perceived problem down the road?” asked Cr Worling. “Are we causing further divide in our community rather than addressing key health and socials needs for connection?” “I think we should be more trusting of our residents rather than continuing such a heavy-handed approach,” he emphasised. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

HubNEWS

NSW introduces religious vilification laws

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Photo: Bianca de Marchi, AAP Image

BY GRACE JOHNSON he NSW Government has set in place new laws that prohibit vilification on the grounds of religious belief, affiliation or activity. The Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Act 2023 amends the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 to make it unlawful to, by a public act, incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or group of persons, because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity. A ‘public act’ includes any form of public communication or conduct, verbal and non-verbal. The amendments add to the existing legislation that bans vilification on the grounds of race, homosexuality, transgender status and HIV/AIDS status. Premier of NSW Chris Minns said the amendments fulfill an important election promise. “The NSW Government supports a peaceful, multicultural society in NSW,” he said. “There cannot be room for hatred which sows the seeds of mistrust and intolerance. We cannot tolerate religious vilification. This would threaten the thriving, tolerant, multi-religious and multi-ethnic heart of NSW.”

“A MISSED OPPORTUNITY”

Speaking to City Hub, Lydia Shelly, President of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) described the amendments as “a missed opportunity”. 10

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

She expressed her belief that everyone should be afforded protection from any kind of vilification. “We are very disappointed that the government has rammed through the amendments to essentially protect, or favour, religious vilification over other forms of vilification, and it will still leave people essentially unprotected.” “For example, trans people, people with intersex variations, sex workers. This potentially allows a pathway for religious institutions to potentially discriminate against people from the queer community.”

We are very disappointed that the government has rammed through the amendments The Anti-Discrimination (Religious Vilification) Bill was introduced on June 28, 2023. Greens member Jenny Leong MP released a statement that said the anti-discrimination act needed a “full and independent review.” “Under this bill, the NSW Labor Government will further embolden conservative religious organisations, groups and commentators by introducing broad protections for ‘religious activity’ - which is not clearly defined,” the statement reads. Ms Shelly told City Hub, “I think it’s horrific that the government has cultivated a

political environment where people of faith need to feel that the only way to secure their rights and liberties and protections is at the expense of other people in the community.”

Two men were recently infringed for ripping down parts of an installation along Bondi Beach of blue and white towels and thongs accompanied by posters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas.

“These amendments have been in the pipeline for a long time, but I certainly think that the fact that they’ve come about at a time where we’re seeing an increase in both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, is really quite important. Again, people of faith deserve to be protected from vilification, but it’s my view that it doesn’t take away the fact that these amendments fundamentally do not ensure that everybody is protected from harm and vilification. And that’s incredibly disappointing.”

Since the initial attack, over 17,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,600 children, have been killed in Israeli retaliatory attacks, according to Gazan health authorities. Several councils across Sydney have refused to acknowledge the Palestinian struggle. Waverley Council, for example, removed Councillor Ludovico Fabiano from his position as Deputy Mayor for wanting to do so. Attorney General Michael Daley said the amendments to the legislation reflect our changing society. “No one, and no group of people, should have to encounter hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity,” he said. “The make-up of our society has changed since the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 became law and we have enacted legislation that reflects and protects our modern society.” Complaints will go to Anti-Discrimination NSW, to be dealt with through conciliation. Complaints can also go to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in certain circumstances, and if a complaint is substantiated, the tribunal may order an apology or damages of up to $100,000.

Ms Shelly shared her concern for the government overlooking queer communities and their right to be protected, not just in this round of amendments but in the last decade especially.

RISING TENSIONS ACROSS SYDNEY

Religious vilification has been a rising concern as Israeli attacks in Gaza continue, and tensions between religious groups mount in Sydney. Pro-Palestine demonstrations have continued, with hundreds of protestors gathering at Port Botany recently to block the arrival of Israeli cargo ships. The rally was the sixth to be held in Sydney since the Hamas attack on October 7. The initial attack saw around 1,200 Israelis die, a figure recently revised down from 1,400 by Israel’s foreign ministry.

The new laws came into effect on Sunday 12 November.

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NSWCCL affirms students’ rights to protest

TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

COST OF LIVING RELIEF The Albanese Government understands Australians are under pressure from the costs of living. We have a $23 billion ten-point plan to take some of the pressure off, including:

High Schoolers For Palestine demonstration in Sydney, Friday, November 24. Photo: Dan Himbrechts, AAP Image

BY ABHA HAVAL s hundreds of students took to the streets of Sydney in support of Palestine, despite the government’s attempts to discourage them from doing so, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) has affirmed the rights of the students to protest. The NSW Premier Chris Minns, State Education Minister Prue Car, and Federal Education Minister had called on students to stay in school ahead of the class. “If you want to change the world, get an education,” Mr Minns said. Ms Car said the protest was “not a reason to be wagging school.” In spite of the government’s discouragement, hundreds of students skipped class and staged walkouts. Ahead of the rally, NSWCCL affirmed the rights of the public and expressed their solidarity with these young people, supporting their right to engage in protests despite the political intimidation and criticism directed at them. NSW Council for Civil Liberties President Lydia Shelly expressed her disappointment with the Minns Government and her support for the students who wish to participate in public protests. She said, “It is appalling that the Minns Government seems to be targeting young protesters, undermining our young people from engaging in public and political spaces. Our Premier appears completely disconnected from the issues that concern the youth.” City Hub spoke to Hannah and Lani, Palestinian twins aged 15 who attended the protest.

Hannah said, “We weren’t advised to leave school, but this issue was really important to us.” “It felt a bit wrong, but I knew I was standing up for the right thing.” Lani said their parents were proud of them and supported them going to the protest.

THE RIGHT TO PROTEST

The strike was called in solidarity with the students of Gaza who have seen the school year cancelled amid Israel’s bombardment. One rally speaker said she joined the protest “to use my voice for those children in Gaza who are not able to pursue their education, and whose basic human rights have been stolen from them.” Throughout the rally, the Premier was especially criticised for his comments made earlier in the week to urge students to stay in school.

I knew I was standing up for the right thing Ms Shelly said, “In an environment where politicians of the day are afforded such power and privilege, the irony of demonising and critiquing young people for speaking out about important issues directly impacting their future, is not lost on the broader community.” “NSW has some of the most draconian anti-protest laws in our country and it is a poor reflection of our current political leadership that they are not taking active steps to repeal these laws,” she continued. “We have been defending the right to protest since 1963 and we will continue to do so.”

• • • • • • • • • •

Electricity bill relief Cheaper child care Increased rent assistance More Medicare bulk billing Cheaper medicines Boosting income support payments Fee-free TAFE training Building more affordable homes Expanding paid parental leave and Creating jobs and getting wages moving again

We’ve done all this at the same time as delivering the first budget surplus in 15 years, seeing wages grow the fastest in years while generating over 624,000 jobs since coming to office. It’s a record for a new government. Please scan the QR code for a Cost of Living Kit which has lots of tips for making your dollars go further.

You can also collect a printed copy from my office.

SEASONS GREETINGS As Christmas approaches I want to thank you for your continued support. All the very best to you and yours for a wonderful 2024.

TANYA PLIBERSEK MP 1A Great Buckingham St Redfern NSW 2016

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Activists demand stronger protections for sex workers “Having sex work specific legislation treats sex work as an industry that needs special treatment and drives stigma and discrimination; whereas the evidence is clear that sex workers have better access to our rights when our work is treated like and other work,” said Pony. “Additionally [the Equality Bill] would provide anti-discrimination protections for sex workers in NSW so we have access to mechanisms of redress if discrimination occurs,” they continued.

Scarlet Alliance at a Mardi Gras parade in Sydney. Photo: Scarlet Alliance - Australian Sex Workers Association, Facebook

BY JUSTIN COOPER ex work advocates are calling for better protections for sex workers against discrimination, pushing for reforms to decriminalise the industry recently tabled to the NSW Government. On Friday November 13, the Scarlet Alliance, Sex Worker Outreach Program and Pride in Protest organisations rallied in Newtown’s Pride Square, calling for reforms under NSW Anti-Discrimination laws. During the rally, speakers highlighted the current prejudice experienced by sex

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

workers and highlighted the significance of the tabled Equality Bill. The Equality Legislation Amendment: LGBTQIA+ Bill was introduced to parliament by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in August, and aims to implement multiple reforms to anti-discrimination legislation. One of the amendments to the Summary Offences Act, seeks to remove offences related to prostitution. Scarlet Alliance CEO Mish Pony said the Bill’s amendments would regulate sex work “like any other job,” supporting the rights of workers within the industry.

CONTINUED DISCRIMINATION

In 2020, Scarlet Alliance conducted research in partnership with the Centre for Social Research in Health at UNSW, which surveyed 647 sex workers. 96 per cent of participants reported experiencing stigma and discrimination related to their sex work. Pony expressed that sex workers continue to experience discrimination “in all areas” of life. They said that if someone lists their occupation as a sex worker, they can experience major barriers in accessing housing, accommodation, banking and healthcare. Furthermore, they note marginalised groups, especially workers of Asian

background, experience higher rates of discrimination within the industry. Pony said Asian sex workers are “routinely targeted by immigration and/or ‘antitrafficking’ enforcement” due to racist and sexist narratives.

Having sex work specific legislation...drives stigma and discrimination According to Scarlet Alliances’ 202122 Annual Report, there has been an increase in the arrest, harassment and deportation of Asian sex workers due to these “destructive” stereotypes. “Nationally, [Scarlet Alliance] are seeking an end to the raids and targeting of Asian migrant sex workers and workplaces, access to migration pathways, and resourcing for Asian migrant sex worker peer education and advocacy,” Pony continued. The Scarlett Alliance is the Australia’s peak body for sex workers. The sex workers association is made up of multiple organisations and individual sex workers, advocating for the human rights of workers who supply sexual services.

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Bringing Joy home to East Sydney BY GRACE JOHNSON or a brief 18-month period in the 1990s, a statue of a woman in a short skirt lazily holding a cigarette stood at the corner of Stanley and Yurong Streets in Darlinghurst. Named Joy, the sculpture was created by Loui Fraser as a tribute to women and to the history of East Sydney. She was, in fact, the world’s first statue of a sex worker on public display. The statue also pays homage to NSW, which was the first state in the world to decriminalise sex work. In 2000, Joy was relocated to Macquarie University, where she resides still. In a recent City of Sydney council meeting, Councillor Linda Scott brought forward a motion titled ‘Bring Joy Home,’ which asks that a copy of the original statue be made and installed at the original location.

original is not suitable for a permanent piece of art. The cost would also be much higher to restore Joy in her original position than proceeding with the recommended bronze cast. In the 18 months that Joy stood in East Sydney, the statue was vandalised to the point of needing serious repairs three times. Lord Mayor Clover Moore later said that unfortunately, much of the associated activity that surrounded sex work led to a distressed community, perhaps leading them to vandalising art. She emphasised that though she did not endorse these actions in the slight, vandalism can indicate that the community is distraught and not feeling listened to. The Lord Mayor said that despite the overwhelming community support so far, the community currently living in East Sydney should be further consulted. Councillor Adam Worling brought forth amendments and expressed that he would still like to enquire with Macquarie University “on an official level if the statue is available to come back to its original place.” His amendments included requesting consultation with the City’s local East Sydney community and Public Art Advisory Panel on reinstating the statue of Joy or a replica.

The motion also requested that council note that NSW was the world’s first jurisdiction to decriminalise sex work, under former NSW Labor Premier Bob Carr, allowing for stronger health and safety outcomes for professionals in the sex work industry and protecting against illegal sex trafficking. Addressing council, Councillor Scott said, “Joy is an important part of the history of our city, just as the sex workers that she represents are an important part of the history of East Sydney.” Councillor Scott said it was the determined advocacy and strength of sex workers in their campaigning that has led to changed legislation. “Joy represents that strength and the women who fought for their safety and their dignity and their rights at a time when they were heavily stigmatised for their work,” she said. “Restoring Joy is deserved by the women past and present who played such an important role in creating Sydney’s history and for fighting for better rights for sex workers.” During the meeting, Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore also noted that sex workers played a pivotal role in exposing the corruption in the police force, and at great personal cost.

GREATER FEMALE REPRESENTATION

Councillor Scott has advocated for more balanced gender representation in the city’s statues for months. In March, she moved a motion to create a public art advisory panel that would guide the process of delivering at least three new artworks “celebrating, commemorating or depicting women.” It was passed by the majority of councillors. In the City of Sydney, there are only

Our city needs more statues of women. Especially ordinary, hardworking women

“Joy” by Loui Fraser in the original location in East Sydney. Photo: Linda Scott’s website, www.lindascott.org.au/statue-of-joy

6 statues of women, including two of Queen Victoria, and one of Saint Mary MacKillop, compared to approximately 30 statues of men. Even the statues of birds far outnumber the statues of women - there are over 60 bronze statues of birds throughout the city, placed by one artist alone, Tracey Emin. The shortage of female statues in the city has become a focus in recent years, with global movements including Statues for Equality, an initiative started by British and Australian artists Gillie and Marc that pushes for more women to be publicly celebrated.

As part of her campaign to bring Joy home, Councillor Scott has said, “Our city needs more statues of women. Especially ordinary, hard-working women.” The campaign has received strong support from sex workers, their allies, and representative body Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP) NSW.

DISAPPOINTING AMENDMENTS

It was noted in the meeting that the artist wished for the reproduction of Joy to be cast in bronze, saying that the concrete and marble dust of the

Another amendment requested that council note that “once installed, the statue continued to be contentious and divisive, with residents, including those of a nearby retirement home, petitioning Council to remove it, while other residents supported it.” The Lord Mayor’s amendments saw the action points of Councillor Scott’s original motion taken out. Instead, there will be further consultation with the community before any action is taken. Councillors Ellsmore, Jarrett, Scott and Weldon were against the amendments, but the amended motion was unanimously carried. Councillor Scott told City Hub, “I’m disappointed the Lord Mayor opposed the wishes of more than 500 City residents who have signed our petition to see the historic statue of Joy restored. I’m absolutely committed to continuing to fight to see more statues of women, and to restore Joy to her home in East Sydney permanently.” CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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Activists Rally on Trans Day Of Resistance BY JUSTIN COOPER ctivists recently rallied in Sydney’s Inner West for the Trans Day of Resistance, a national day of action for transgender and genderdiverse communities. On Saturday November 25, grassroots organisation Pride in Protest (PiP) led a march and rally at Newtown’s Pride Square from 1pm. Participants made a unified call for the end of discrimination against trans and gender-diverse people. Speaking with City Hub, PiP spokesperson Jamie Bridge explained the significance of the rally in showing a strong force of resistance for trans communities. “We called the Trans Day of Resistance National Day of Action because visibility without resistance makes trans people nothing more than easier targets,” said Jamie. “We are rallying around the five demands of [keeping] queer kids safe in school, no right to discriminate, no barrier to transition, cops out of the community, and decriminalise & destigmatise sex work.” “We are seeing unions increasingly striking for gender-affirmation leave, a call Labor refused to bindingly agree

to at the Local Government NSW conference,” said Jamie. “Across the continent, discrimination and financial barriers make transition unattainable for so many people, both at work and at school.”

No one is free until we’re all free PiP has been pushing for the NSW Government to swiftly implement the Equality Bill, which was tabled by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in August. The bill includes various reforms to help antidiscrimination laws for queer people within schools and workplaces. It will aim to adequately decriminalise sex work.

‘COLLECTIVE LIBERATION’

Bridge also brought awareness to the ongoing war in Gaza, saying the impact of “Zionist forces” has led to thousands of deaths, including “queer and nonqueer Palestinians” lives. Furthermore, they noted the “ongoing police brutality… systemic discrimination and land theft” that Indigenous people continue to face.

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LGBT Activist during a protest in Sydney, August 2023. Photo: Justin Cooper

“The struggle for queer liberation must include queer Palestinians and queer Blak people, because no one is free until we’re all free,” Bridge continued. “Ultimately, it is only by taking to the streets and organising our workplaces that we can achieve our collective liberation.” Union groups also supported the rally in bringing awareness to the workplace discrimination faced by trans people. Spokesperson for United Workers Union Mel Gatfield told City Hub that they

stand “with our trans siblings in what is a shared struggle.” “We know that the perpetrators of violence against the trans community are the same people who seek to limit our right to protest and unionise, who wish to control women’s bodies, and who put profits before people,” Gatfeild continued. “We have a very diverse membership, bound by solidarity, and we are proud to rally alongside the LGBTQIA+ community.”

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Inner West moves for women’s economic equality BY LAUREN FROST motion calling to support the advancement of women’s economic quality and increased wages in feminised industries was recently carried by Inner West Council. The motion, put forward by Councillor Liz Atkins, asked that Council acknowledge the importance of recommendations made by the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, a body established to advance women’s economic equality. Its report, a 10-year plan to unleash the full capacity and contribution of women to the Australian economy 2023 – 2033, was delivered on 23 August 2023.

“Council has a key role to play in this,” they continued, “and the greater the collaboration between all levels of government, the greater the impact for women and children.” The motion asked for a meeting between the Premier, the Minister for Local Government, the Minister for Early Learning, Inner West Councillors, and representatives of early childhood educators in the United Services Union. Greater collaboration in early education with the state government would mean greater support for Council’s work in early education and would aid Council in implementing these recommendations in the LGA.

Cooling centres in Sydney’s Inner West Temperatures are expected to soar this summer. Photo: Marc Bruxelle, Shutterstock

BY LAUREN FROST ooling centres are to be established in Sydney’s Inner West in preparation for unprecedented heat spikes this summer. In helping residents prepare for the summer, Inner West Council will identify then publicise a list of cooling centres for each suburb between December 2023 and February 2024. The motion was brought forward to Council by Councillor Philippa Scott in the last Inner West Council meeting, just as temperatures began to spike. The motion was passed in globo. The cooling centres will be publicly accessible, free, air-conditioned and climate-controlled buildings including shopping centres, Council community centres, and libraries. Advertisement will be amplified on days above 40 degrees Celsius or when Air Quality Indicator is ‘poor’ or ‘worse’. In the event of a severe or extreme heatwave, the motion also called for the late-night opening of Council building cooling centres.

Lower pay rates for traditionally feminised industries can cost women with children more than $2 million across their lifetime. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

These recommendations included the need for an increase in the award for early childhood educators, the universalisation of early childhood education and care for families, paid placements for feminised industries like health and education, and employment targets for women and minorities.

Australia’s workforce is amongst the most gendersegregated workforces in the OECD Lower pay rates for traditionally feminised industries can cost women with children more than $2 million across their lifetime, contributing to a gender pay gap of 28 per cent, with First Nations, migrant and refugee women often carrying the brunt of this financial burden. Cr Atkins told City Hub that “quality early childhood education is important to give children a great start, and for women’s workforce participation and economic security.”

Cr Atkins also noted that economic inequality was particularly “harsh” on those from refugee, migrant and First Nations families. Council needs further support from State Government to deliver these services, especially to more vulnerable families. Australia’s workforce is amongst the most gender-segregated workforces in the OECD, largely due to a lack of access to early childhood education and care.

LABOR AMENDMENTS

However, an amendment put forward by Labor Councillors Mat Howard and Philippa Scott instead called for the Council to merely write to the NSW Government and Commonwealth Government. Acting Mayor Chloe Smith used her casting vote to carry the amendment. Disappointed by this outcome, Cr Atkins said they “believe it would have been a much stronger outcome for Council to get in a room with the people who can actually make things happen.” “We need to put the Premier and Ministers on the spot.”

DIY remedies are not always enough to stay safe in the heat Air quality will reportedly be a particular concern this summer, as air pollution from bushfires and controlled burning might pass into the cities. Indoor respite will thus be paramount. Many people are expected to suffer heat-related illnesses, particularly with this upcoming summer. Those who live in substandard housing or without airconditioning are especially vulnerable, as are people with medical conditions, infants and young children, people over 65, people who work outdoors, pregnant people, those who live alone, and homeless or socially isolated people.

But heat-related illnesses can affect anyone. Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, warned that “Hot weather puts a lot of strain on the body, including dehydration, and can make underlying health conditions worse.” “It is important for people to know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and take precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones cool,” Dr McAnulty continued. “If they can, they should also take the time to check on vulnerable and elderly neighbours and family to ensure their safety in the heat.”

WARNING SIGNS

Although the NSW Department of Health has provided advice and educational resources online, many of those who need it most are unable or unlikely to access these digital resources. Moreover, DIY remedies are not always enough to stay safe in the heat, making accessible cooling centres even more crucial in the upcoming months. Signs to look out for include dizziness, tiredness, irritability, thirst, fainting, muscle pains or cramps, heavy sweating, shallow breathing and vomiting. Aside from cooling centres, precautions to take in the event of a heat event include:  Avoiding being outdoors  Using air-conditioning or electric fans  Closing doors, windows, blinds and curtains before it gets hot  Limiting physical activity to early in the morning when it’s coolest  Staying hydrated by drinking water regularly, before you are thirsty  Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat when outdoors CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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Opinion

Mookhey’s misconceptions on housing density Aerial view of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Photo: Taras Vyshnya, Shutterstock

BY JOSEPH O’DONOGHUE

ast week, the NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey called for higher density living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. He claimed that had apartment blocks built in the east between 2017 and 2022 been ten storeys high, rather than the current average of seven – rents would have been reduced. The east was not taking on its fair share, he said. So, I found myself scratching my head. Had the treasurer even been for a drive through this part of Sydney? Sure, there are some big properties owned by Sydney’s wealthy. However, far from being a kingdom of omnipresent mansions and rollicking private lawns, the Eastern Suburbs already has one of the highest population densities in the country. In fact, three of the top ten population density rankings in NSW are held by Eastern Suburbs LGAs. Waverley is second only to the City of Sydney (which includes Potts Point). Woollahra Council comes in at seventh, just behind CanterburyBankstown. Randwick Council ranks ninth. Bondi Road, Bronte Road, Clovelly Road and Coogee Bay Road are basically all apartment blocks from top to bottom. Even when you step off the high streets in the east, apartments dominate. Bondi Junction, Edgecliff and Darling Point are awash with high-rise residential towers. Rose Bay, Double Bay and Bondi are nearly all apartment-style living. Even Point Piper and Bellevue Hill have at least one apartment complex on most streets. 18

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And despite the fact that Waverley’s population density is over five times that of Blacktown, the treasurer still feels these “wealthy” suburbs are not doing enough. With only 7000 new dwellings built in the east over the past ten years versus five times that amount in Blacktown, the east is apparently letting the side down. This sort of rhetoric is enabling a debate that is quickly becoming populist. Parochial selfishness makes for an electric headline. Such powerful clickbait allows the government to drive a binary narrative of housing affordability obedience or disobedience – a storyline that is easy to control. If anything, though, the Eastern Suburbs provide Sydney with a rearview mirror perspective on how not to do high density – a compelling looking glass into how poor urban planning, bad council decisions and cheap development can combine together to drive short-term fixes and profits, while leaving behind long-term blight.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE

During the 1960s, 70s and 80s, coastal cottages and federation homes were knocked down to accommodate a population spike. The community accepted this change because the need outweighed the want. However, there’s no denying that plenty of the poorly built blocks that replaced yesterday’s gems have aged horribly. Coogee is just one example of an eastern suburb that carries such scars. There are

some brilliant blocks in Coogee, but there are also some blinders – blocks built on the cheap with little to no architectural consideration. Bedrooms built peering into the brick wall of the block next door. Soundproofing between floors if you’re lucky. Cheap fittings designed not to last, that look like they’re from another age.

the Eastern Suburbs already has one of the highest population densities in the country The East is facing an infrastructure shortfall too. A single train station (Bondi Junction) services all of the eastern beaches. Buses (privatised and reduced by the Libs) overflow at peak hour. There is only a single residential stop (Alison Road) on the light rail. Mornings are a traffic logjam, especially during school drop off. Parking on weekends is like finding hens’ teeth. And when it comes to schools, there hasn’t been a new one built here in decades. There have been some growing calls from powerful voices to correct this. But still no budget has been allocated for one, even if the treasurer himself holds the purse strings. So, it seems the talking points provided by the treasurer’s modelling don’t align with the story on the ground. If ten storey apartment blocks are the answer, rather

than seven – what does the government have in mind? To tear down the existing blocks only to have them built taller? The only winners in this scenario would be the developers. I don’t blame the developers for wanting to snap up such prized Sydney real estate. These suburbs are close to the beach and often have views. It would be money for jam to redevelop this area, even if it would be terrible for Sydneysiders looking for something more affordable. After all, the development industry is not a charity and that is fair enough. New builds and upgrades demand a profit to be made – otherwise, what’s the point. This would mean new price tags. The government reckons that developers will be required to offer 15-30% of new builds at affordable prices. But this means that 70-85% will therefore be unaffordable. How is this going to improve things? The full picture is important, not just the bits that suit the story. Words matter, facts matter, tone matters. At the moment, the government seems to think that consultation with the community on housing affordability can be done via headlines. However, the increased use of labels and convenient sound bites for political expediency is not only disappointing, it is divisive – and Sydney deserves a much better discussion than this. Joseph O’Donoghue is a freelance writer and was co-founder of the Keep Sydney Open political party. He lived in Clovelly for 5 years and ran as a candidate for Coogee at the 2019 state election.

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BUILT ON A RICH HISTORY OF TRADITION, CULTURE AND QUALITY

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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Balmain stuck in a traffic ‘nightmare’

Traffic chaos following the completion of WestConnex. Photo: Darcy Byrne, Facebook

BY JUSTIN COOPER t has been weeks of traffic chaos for motorists going through the Inner West, with the opening of the Rozelle Interchange causing thousands of people grief. On Sunday, November 21, the intricate underground roadways were opened to the public. The project is a part of the $4.6 billion WestConnex upgrades, meant to ease congestion and travel times for drivers from the M4 and the City West Link to the Sydney CBD. However, it’s had the opposite effect, with the labyrinth of tunnels and path changes resulting in heavy congestion and long traffic queues stretching across Balmain and Rozelle. After waiting almost 4 years for the Interchange to be completed, Inner West Council and Members of Parliament are calling on the Minns’ Government to resolve the issues immediately.

ROZELLE INTERCHANGE CHAOS

Since the road madness, Greens MP and Inner West Councillor Kobi Shetty has voiced concerns from residents and urged the government to take immediate action. Speaking to City Hub, Cr Shetty said the traffic congestion has become “completely untenable” with people to be unable to get to work and leaving kids unable to access safe travel routes to school. 20

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

“It’s been a nightmare for everyone,” said Cr Shetty. She notes many students have been left waiting along Victoria Road and Darling Street trying to get to Rozelle Public School. With buses stuck in traffic, some kids have been “forced to weave their way through the cars” when travelling to school. Motorists on the City West Link and Victoria Road trying to get on the Anzac Bridge are now caught in the “bottleneck” of traffic, due to new traffic lights and increasing congestion from the Rozelle Interchange.

It’s been a nightmare for everyone Cr Shetty has received reports from residents saying they have been waiting from 45 minutes up to an hour stuck in the traffic. “Considering that everyone’s already been through four years of major disruption with this, promised some sort of improvement at the end, for everyone around here to be hit with this is horrific,” she said. Cr Shetty says she has been trying to contact the Minister for Roads to “urgently do whatever it takes to get this situation resolved.” As the Member for Balmain, Cr Shetty is petitioning for the Minister for Roads to “act now [and] to address concerns with traffic safety and congestion” resulting from the Interchange.

Following Cr Shetty’s petition, Inner West Council is planning to hold a public meeting for residents to voice their concerns and propose strategies to help resolve issues. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne announced the meeting will be held at Balmain Town Hall, on December 7. “The traffic chaos caused by the completion of Westconnex and the opening of the Rozelle Interchange is exactly what we have predicted would occur and must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” said Mayor Byrne. Noting the former government’s claim that the interchange would reduce traffic flow on Victoria Road by 50 per cent is now “laughable”, the mayor is still disappointed at the lack of “reconfiguration” on the road. “Council is instead calling for the complete and transparent disclosure of the traffic data for Victoria Road and the City West Link and an immediate review of the lane configurations,” Mayor Byrne continued. The Inner West Council is now calling for the government to be transparent with traffic data and travel times along the affected roads. They are also requesting a review of the lane configurations and funding towards improvements to traffic infrastructure.

QUESTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT

Ministers and councillors have been requesting the Minns government to act

quickly upon the chaos resulting from the Interchange. Whilst the government warned motorists of the potential congestion before its opening, providing virtual reality videos to help guide drivers through the interchange, the mounting traffic has been a shock for many. Deputy Premier Prue Car quoted experts’ advice during the NSW Parliament sitting, saying it will take “6 months till the network settles and motorists adapt to the new conditions.” City Hub reached out to both the Deputy Premier and Minister for Roads for comment on the situation but did not receive a response at the time of publication. For many relying on public transport, a spokesperson from Transport NSW told City Hub that the end of the week saw improvements “in bus journey times… and were running as per timetable.” Transport NSW and police have since been working to ensure allocated bus lanes are being complied by motorists. “We thank motorists for their patience and understanding as travellers adjust to the changes in the road network,” said the Transport NSW spokesperson. “As with the opening of any new major infrastructure project, it takes motorists time to fully adapt to new conditions,” they continued. Transport NSW is urging drivers to “plan ahead, don’t panic and follow the signs.”

COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

WRESTLEMANIA OF THE MIND

n the bible the word ‘wrestling’ speaks very much of a spiritual engagement with God and an invitation to receive his blessing. In the book of Genesis the wrestling becomes quite physical as Jacob grapples with the angel. These days the word is often used in phrases such as “wrestling with your conscience” or a government “wrestling with economic problems”. In mass culture however, it’s more likely to describe a couple of big burly fellas slamming the daylights out of each other in a boxing ring. Whilst it’s not as popular as it once was, commercial wrestling has a long history in Australia going right back to the late 1800s. Stadiums around the country staged regular bouts, often attended by thousands with both local and imported stars. It was television in the early ‘60s that really propelled its popularity, with World Championship Wrestling running every Saturday and Sunday on the Nine network. Wrestlers like André the Giant, Killer Kowalski, Spiros Arion, Haystacks Calhoun and Brute Bernard were amongst hundreds who soon became

TV wrestling but with a distinct political and social agenda. There are plenty of issues today that divide the population, with the more extreme views often spread by shock jocks and podcasters. There are plenty of big boppers on the right who could be coaxed into lycra and given a crash course in theatrical wrestling. Finding their combatants on the left might be slightly more difficult, and professional actors could be employed as the so called “voices of reason”. Wrestlemania 2016. Photo: Richard W. Rodriguez

household names. They were invariably cast as good guys or villains with hyped up controversy, payback and the odd chair smashed over a head - all part of the entertainment. By the late ‘70s, the public was obviously looking for something a bit less primal, the TV telecasts were axed and the popularity of local wrestling took a dive. More recently ABC TV broke new ground with their Epic series, a season of musicals that highlighted legendary

33rd International Short Film Festival

and infamous events in Australian history, such as Johnny Depp’s Pistol and Boo saga with Barnaby Joyce, and Schapelle Corby’s boogie board bust. It demonstrated that just about anything can be turned into a musical these days. It also indicated that the media, television in particular, needs to look at new ways of presenting what might have been a rather run-of-the mill documentary, news report or Q&A style forum. What I’m suggesting is a revival of the golden days of Aussie

Commercial wrestling has always been about good guys and bad guys and it would be up to the audience as for whom they cheered. Well-known politicians would be invited to sit ringside, screaming slogans of encouragement or disdain. Some might even have a spiritual engagement with God as they wrestle with their conscience. The original biblical connotation might seem spurious in the light of what’s currently happening in the world, but the detached reality of a wrestling ring, albeit metaphorical, could well be a better solution than the current wars and deaths of civilians plaguing the planet.

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CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

THEATRE OF WAR:

FREE SPEECH, THE ARTS, AND SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE In a time of deep political divide, it is more important than ever to retain the right to free speech. Communities have stood up in support of Palestine, and artists have used their own platforms to express solidarity. BY GRACE JOHNSON, RITA BRATOVICH undreds of rallies have taken place across Australia in response to the worsening situation in Gaza. Since the initial Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1200 people at a music festival, the relentless retaliatory attacks on civilians in Gaza have had devastating effects. Civilians are dying each day, with the death toll now reaching 18,000, according to Gazan health authorities. In recent weeks, we’ve seen draconian responses to peaceful protests across Sydney. NSW Police were heavily criticised for their “scare tactics” in the days leading up to a pro-Palestine rally, launching ‘Operation Shelter’ and considering using “extraordinary” powers to search and identify those participating in the protest. Activist from Palestine Action Group Dalia Al-Haj Qasem told City Hub, “We have seen an outrageous infringement on the right to free speech. We affirm our right to gather and protest in defense of Palestine. This is an inalienable moral right as much as it is a legal and democratic one.” But to be anti-Zionist is not to be anti-Semitic, just as protesting the indiscriminate killing of thousands of Palestinian civilians is not justifying the violent agenda of Hamas. A democratic society should allow for conflicting political arguments to take place without suppressing one side or the other. Calls for the Australia government to urge for a humanitarian ceasefire have increased but gone unanswered. Only on the morning of Wednesday 13 December was it that Australia joined 152 other countries in the UN General Assembly in voting for a ceasefire, breaking with the US and the UK. In late October, Australia abstained from a vote because the resolution did not

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

Pro-Palestine rally in Sydney. Photo: Palestine Action Group Sydney, Facebook

recognise Hamas’ responsibility for the October 7 attack. While members of the community rally weekly for Palestine, councils across the city have taken their own stands, but to differing outcomes.

There is a long and honourable and important tradition of artists being engaged in the world they inhabit In October, Councillor Ludovico Fabiano from Waverley Council got sacked from his position as Deputy Mayor for wanting to acknowledge Palestinian deaths. Fellow Greens Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak was removed from

several committees for supporting Cr Fabiano. With five Liberal councillors, two Greens, four Labor councillors, including Mayor Paula Masselos, and one Independent, this anti-democratic decision could have next election’s mayor drawn out of a hat. Randwick City Council passed a motion not to fly the Palestinian flag on November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Addressing council at that meeting, Dr Max Parasol, a lawyer and research fellow, said, “In the absence of an Israeli flag next to it, you might as well fly a Hamas flag, legitimising the offence of October 7. If you truly care about peace, you cannot fly a Palestinian flag on its own.” Most recently, on Monday 11 December, City of Sydney approved a motion to call for a ceasefire. But, to the outrage of many in the community, Inner West Labor unanimously voted down a similar motion at a council meeting on Tuesday 22 November. Labor councillors claimed that

foreign affairs is the responsibility of the Commonwealth, not of local government. A motion from a Sydney council won’t stop the war in the Middle East. Nor will it stop conflict in our own city, as incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia continue to rise. But it does start to raise the question of where, when, how, and by whom social and political issues can, or should, be debated. In the arts sphere, a recent furore broke out after three actors from the Sydney Theatre Company, including Harry Greenwood, Hollywood star Hugo Weaving’s son, donned traditional Palestinian scarves known as keffiyehs during a curtain call. The move sparked a frenzy of condemnation from members of the Jewish community, resignations from the STC board, and withdrawal of donor support. The theatre company hastily apologised for “any distress caused” to the audience but soon after released an official statement, saying “We

Sydney Opera House with a paint roller and a tin of red paint. Wearing Dunlop Volleys, activists Dave Burgess and Will Saunders painted ‘No War’ in block letters on the iconic sails. Twenty years later, the sails of the Opera House lit up with the colours of the Israeli flag. Earlier in the year, the Ukrainian flag colours illuminated the sails.

Palestine speaks to many countries and many issues

When Family is the Only Shelter, by Palestinian artist Malak Mattar, whose art depicts the life of women in her homeland

understand the actions at the curtain call and our immediate response has hurt many in our community. For this, we are deeply sorry.” “We support individual freedom of expression but believe that the right to free speech does not supersede our responsibility to create safe workplaces and theatres,” the statement continues. Some of the outrage in reaction to the actors’ political statement could be summarised as such: Keep politics out of art. Art is for entertainment. Artists have no right to comment on social or political matters. Talking about this event in an ABC interview, Louise Adler, an Australian publisher of Jewish heritage, said “Actors, artists and writers have always had political views. The history is long of artists being part of the world that they live in, and bringing that world into the work they make.” “There is a long and honourable and important tradition of artists being engaged in the world they inhabit.” Even the theatre’s statement acknowledged that artists do not exist nor work in a void, saying “Theatre is a place for exploring ideas with complexity and context. We recognise that artists bring their whole selves to our stages and in doing so, they bring a rich diversity of views and lived experience.” Art, in all its forms, is a representation of the human experience in all its forms. You can’t dictate rules and set limitations for art because art is, by definition, freedom of expression. Whether it’s painted on a canvas or on a street, art has been used throughout

history to spread awareness, incite action, rebel, force change, as much as it is there to reinforce, comfort, amuse, unite. Art can be the springboard of political discussion, and political dissent often takes place through art. In our own city, one of the most beloved centres of arts and culture has also been the site of political expression. In 2003, as Australia was on the brink of going to war in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition, anti-war activists scaled the

But there’s been a perceptible difference in responses to symbols of Palestine. A keffiyeh at a curtain call is threatening; demonstrators at Port Botany protesting the arrival of Israeli cargo ships warrant force by the police. And despite ever-increasing cries from the Australian public for the government and corporate organisations to demonstrate humanitarian support for Palestine, and acknowledge the atrocities being perpetrated by Israel daily, the government responded only with a chilling silence. There is, however, a comfort in seeing the solidarity not only across this country, but in many others. The worsening situation in Gaza speaks to many, it seems. Ireland, for instance, has shown particularly strong support for Palestine,

perhaps remembering through Gaza their own history of oppression under British rule. What’s happening now can evoke for people from war-torn backgrounds their own traumatic memories. Dr Susan Rees, a professor in the School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, and researcher and trauma expert in psychiatry, spoke to City Hub about the impact of the current conflict on those in Australia. “People who arrived as refugees, or have come to Australia from a conflict or trauma background, are having a reemergence of traumatic memories and/ or feelings of mental distress,” she said. “This includes, for example, Vietnamese, Sudanese, Tamil Sri Lankan, Iraqi, people from Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Syria, as well as people who lived through the Holocaust or are their family members impacted by intergenerational trauma.” After the mass resignation of the Multicultural Advisory Committee following Inner West Labor’s decision, City Hub sat down with its members. Wael Sabri, a member of Palestinian background, said, “As I often say to my colleagues and my friends, Palestine is not just for the Palestinians. It’s a lot more because it triggers lots of issues.” “Palestine speaks to many countries and many issues – poverty, humanitarian issues, politics, oppression, racism.” “Palestine is a whole representation of that, for many people, everywhere.”

Actors from Sydney Theatre Company wearing keffiyehs at a curtain call. Photo: Instagram CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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THE KRANSKY SISTERS ARE COMING TO TOWN

A multi-talented sibling trio who play kitchenware and sing (See p.29)

TRIPLE THREAT - THE LEWIS TRILOGY AT GRIFFIN THEATRE BY JOHN MOYLE n the early 2000s the Griffin Theatre Company staged playwright Louis Nowra’s Boyce Trilogy, loosely based on the tribulations of a powerful and dysfunctional Sydney family. Almost twenty years later, Nowra returns to the Griffin with The Lewis Trilogy, the most audacious staging of his work yet in his long and successful career. Marking the temporary closure of the Griffin’s Craigend Street premises for renovations, the three plays Summer of the Aliens, Cosi and This Much Is True will be performed by an ensemble cast of eight, staged individually over week

nights and twice a week as three plays in one day. “It’s monumental for any theatre company, but for Griffin it is monumental and very brave,” Louis Nowra, playwright said. For Nowra this is also a leap of faith as it is the first time that he has worked with Griffin artistic director and CEO Declan Green, who will direct all three productions. Summer of the Aliens was one of Nowra’s earlier plays and is still performed around Australia today. In Aliens, Lewis, the trilogy’s unifying character, is a young man growing up

on a housing estate, set against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis. Cosi is possibly Nowra’s most famous play, being performed regularly in Australia and around the world, and in 1996 was made into a film featuring Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths and Davis Wenham. Cosi sees Lewis after graduation working in a mental hospital directing the patients in a production of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, as he becomes intwined in their lives. This Much is True draws from characters Nowra knew or observed at his local pub in Woolloomooloo, where Toby Schmitz

ROUSING NEW MUSICAL, PARADE, ANNOUNCED FOR SYDNEY 2024

REVIEW

BY JASMINE SIMMONS he Tony-Award winning musical by Jason Robert Brown, Parade, is coming to Sydney in May next year. The engagement follows the musical’s success in the Broadway Revival in 2023 and a sell-out season in Melbourne. Parade is a moving production that explores one of the darkest chapters of America’s history and follows an unsolved murder that divided a nation. The original book by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry has been adapted for the stage by Brown to deliver the narrative through a colourful and haunting score. The musical is set in early 20th century Atlanta, Georgia and follows the story of a Brooklyn-raised Jew named Leo Frank who is convicted of murdering 13-yearold Mary Phagan. Frank is demonised in the press through common anti-Semitic tropes and religious paranoia. Incorrect facts, evidence, and a false testimony determine Frank’s fate, and his only defenders are a governor at risk of being politically ostracised and his Southern Jewish wife.

MIDNIGHT MURDER AT HAMLINGTON HALL

BY RITA BRATOVICH fter a lengthy national tour, Bell Opening night at the Ensemble was a disaster for brand new play, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall. Six cast members called in sick at the last minute, the remaining actors and a ring-in performed like amateurs. Thankfully, it was all part of the show. Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall is a farcical parody of the fraught, fly-bythe-seat-of-your-pants nature of amateur theatre. Written by Mark Kilmurry (who also directs) and Jamie Oxenbould (who also performs), the self-reflexive show realises the worst nightmare of any actor or theatre worker. The fictional Middling Cove Players are an amateur acting company who take themselves very seriously. Oxenbould plays Barney, a pretentious wannabe whose

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

directed the 2017 Red Line Production at the Old Fitz Theatre. The Lewis Trilogy will be performed as separate plays during the week and on the weekends as an epic full day experience across its ten week run starting 9 February 2024. “It was a big operation and it was interesting to look back at these plays and reconstitute them,” Nowra said. To date Paul Capsis, Nikki Vivica, Thomas Campbell, Philip Lynch, and William Zappa have been confirmed as cast members. February 9 – April 21, 2024, Griffin Theatre, Craigend Street, Darlinghurst

braggadocio leads him to over-commit and under-deliver and handle it all by swigging repeatedly from a hip flask. Sam O’Sullivan is Shane, the director. He is intense and a little obsequious. It is his own play that is being debuted tonight. Not only that, but he has been made aware that several local councillors and the mayor will be in the audience, using this performance to assess whether its worth continuing to fund a local theatre. Determined that the show must go on, Shane volunteers to perform and recruits the stage manager. They all then distribute the 13 or so characters among themselves. It is, of course, complete mayhem and jolly good fun. Until January 14, Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli www.ensemble.com.au

Portraying Leo Frank in Parade next year will be Sydney-based actor Aaron Robuck. “As a Jewish actor, I feel incredibly privileged to be able to be part of the important conversation that this show initiates. I see the ripples of Leo’s story, now 110 years after his death, in my own story and in the world around me,” said Roebuck. From 9th May, 2024 Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, Cnr City Road &, Cleveland St, Chippendale seymourcentre.com

Australian Cast of Parade. Photo: Matthew Chen

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IT’S A GREEN LIGHT FOR GATSBY SHOW

Photo: Tom Oldham

BY RITA BRATOVICH Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal novel, The Great Gatsby, is the backdrop for GATSBY at the Greenlight, a new hybrid show being staged at the Opera House this summer.

GATSBY at the Greenlight is a cabaret/ dance/circus/burlesque show created by Craig Ilott and Stuart Couzens, the luminaries behind L’Hôtel . It features an impressive troupe of world-class artists who will sing, swing, balance,

juggle, strip, spin and do endless truly amazing things. The show also includes an optional premium experience designed by Couzens, that gives you a ringside table, with a delicious bespoke menu and cocktails delivered to you by performing waiters. For director, Ilott, GATSBY at the Greenlight, putting together the bones of the show came naturally. His discoinspired, phenomenally successful hit show, Velvet Rewired is a kind of template for GATSBY at the Greenlight. Ilott and Couzens were actually commissioned by the Sydney Opera House who suggested the Gatsby theme. Ilott remembers mulling it over in his mind before deciding on how they could honour the book without retelling the story. “The key seemed to us to be distilling just an essence of that original work… how much of this can we incorporate? And really, we chose to concentrate on the enduring love story of Gatsby and Daisy,” Ilott explains. In the novel, Gatsby threw wild parties at his waterfront mansion to attract the attention of Daisy, who lived across the bay in a house identifiable

by its green dock light. That scenario is the basis for show’s concept - a speakeasy run by Gatsby. The setting and costumes reference the 1920s but are not strictly period. The music is contemporary. Ilott collaborated with Kim Moyes of The Presets to create a soundtrack that feature lots of modern club hits but has some sneaky call backs to the Gatsby era. The show is variety style, a series of individual acts similar to Vaudeville. The crucial ingredient is entertainment. “The audiences that come to these things, they’re after a good time and it’s our job to give it to them,” Ilott says. Adding a hospitality element to the show makes it much more immersive, especially since all the wait staff are also performers who might break out into a juggling act after delivering your cocktail. “What we’re trying to offer is not just the show, we really are trying to offer an experience.” December 16 — February 25, The Studio, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point www.sydneyoperahouse.com

THE MAGIC OF CIRCUS 1903 BY RITA BRATOVICH ake the charm, the authenticity, the sawdust-in-the-veins dedication of the old world circus and combine it with imaginative, leading edge production and you get Circus 1903. The show that debuted in 2016 to wild acclaim around the world, returns to Sydney for a much appreciated encore. Chris Milford was there at the inception of Circus 1903, originally coming on board as a puppeteer for Queenie, the life-sized elephant and unofficial mascot. Milford is still working Queenie but he is now also the resident director of the show. “I can honestly, honestly say I haven’t been in a room full of so much talent ever in my career,” says Milford, explaining what he loves about Circus 1903. “These are really world class athletes and it’s inspiring to be in a group of people that constantly train — religiously every single day. But they don’t just train at the same level, they are constantly trying something new.” Circus 1903 attracts some of the world’s top circus acts, with many more lining up outside the tent door. What singles

Photo: Ken Leanfore

Circus 1903 out is that, unlike in many similar shows, the artists aren’t expected to rotate through several acts. “In Circus 1903, everyone’s only expected to do their one act, their most profound act. They’re not expected to do their secondary act…so then you have

a larger cast…you’re getting everyone’s best, you’re getting everyone’s premiere performance,” explains Milford. That’s what makes Circus 1903 such a dazzling and thrilling show to experience. “And of course, David Williamson, who is the most incredible entertainer I’ve ever

worked with. He’s a master, he’s just a master,” adds Milford, referring to the show’s charismatic and witty ringmaster. Also very popular are the two resident circus animals: Queenie, the mother elephant mentioned earlier, and Peanut, a baby elephant. Queenie was built by Mervin Miller and Tracy Waller, who were also responsible for building the incredible horse in the stage production, War Horse. In terms of craftsmanship, Queenie is a masterpiece. “Any replica I’ve seen hasn’t come close to the quality that Mervin Miller and Tracy Waller have created. It’s truly amazing, from a puppetry perspective, what they’ve built and what they’ve made possible for puppeteers as well, considering the size of the puppet.” Milford and the entire troupe are very excited about returning to Australia where it all began, and to be playing in a world-renowned venue like the Sydney Opera House. December 21 - 29, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point www.sydneyoperahouse.com

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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LIFTING THE LID ON RAMSES T BY JOHN MOYLE he Australian Museum will present a staggering array of Gateway to Egypt: public programs covering almost every topic possible to embellish the blockbuster Ramses exhibition. Three series of Saturday lectures, Exploring Ancient Egypt, taking participants deep into all things ancient and Egyptian, will run until the end of January. Another series, Egypt in Conversation, comprised of talks hosted by journalists, is running every second Wednesday of the month until mid-

February, while Tomb Talks will include canapes, drinks and a Q&A with an Egypt expert to be held every second Tuesday of the month. Other programs announced will include ABC broadcaster Simon Marnie talking with Egyptologist Professor Martin Bommas about what it really takes to be an Indiana Jones and to discover, excavate and restore a tomb. Archeologist Dr Craig Barker will take us on a journey to ancient Egypt via Hollywood and look at how it has been represented and just how much of it is real?

For those interested in the more colourful and often terrifying aspects of ancient Egyptian religious practices, Dr Anna Latifa Mourad-Cizek will explore the spells and beliefs of the people as they prepared for death and rebirth in the afterlife.

Of particular interest to many will be the Nile High Club: Drinking, Drugs and the Divine explained by Mary Hartley as she takes us, with drink in hand, to the gateway of the divine, accompanied by a VIP tour. australian.museum/exhibition/ ramses

STARTED OUT JUST DRINKING BEER – MENTAL AS ANYTHING EXPOSED

BY JOHN MOYLE tuart Lloyd’s Started Out Just Drinking Beer is about the rise and fall of seminal Aussie band, Mental as Anything. Mentals may not have been the biggest band in Australian music, but during their long run up until the death of front man Greedy Smith in 2019, they put a smile on faces across Australia and around the globe. In that time the band clocked up 154 recorded tracks and played 6,500 gigs, a record hard to eclipse. “I was at Pennant Hills High School and Mentals played an all-ages gig, and that would have been in 1979,” Stuart Lloyd, author said. “I just loved the way that they looked on stage and they were very engaging, and I was hooked.” Lloyd was hooked to the point to writing a 253-page book that chronicles the band with forensic detail.

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

“Their legacy is that they were at the vanguard of reversing the cultural cringe, and we have video clips of Victa lawnmowers and Hills Hoists and people drinking beer at the beach, and they were holding Australia up to a mirror, and in particular, suburban Australia,” Lloyd said. Lloyd has gone the hard yards to ensure that recollections over many years from numerous interviewees are as accurate as possible. During the relentless rounds of publicity that Lloyd and various band members have been doing, he has been buoyed by the way in which the band has come together, despite the fractures that occurred along the long journey. Started Out Just Drinking Beer by Stuart Lloyd Publishers: Puncher and Wattman, available through book retailers

ARTSPACE REOPENS WITH A BANG IN THE GUNNERY

BY RITA BRATOVICH fter almost three years and $19.2 million, the renovations of heritage building, The Gunnery, in Woolloomooloo have been completed and Artspace can finally return to its home. The wonderful new, custom-designed, multi-purpose gallery includes a larger ground floor exhibition area; ten artist studios which are available to NSWbased artists rent-free; an entire floor offering education, outreach, digital broadcast, performance, production and public program spaces. With better accessibility and a new frontage on Forbes Street Plaza, Artspace will feel like a true community venue. Its location brings it into harmony with the nearby vibrant Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf and the Art Gallery of NSW — very inspirational surrounds for an artist.

Artspace began in 1983 when a collective of local artists decided they needed an independent, artist-run gallery that would showcase the works of new and emerging artists. It had a temporary space in Surry Hills until 1993 when it moved into the sandstone, heritage-listed, ex-naval building known as The Gunnery. In 2020, then NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin, approved a grant for a makeover of the building that would affirm its status as an arts and culture hub. The inaugural exhibition is by Wiradyuri and Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones: Jonathan Jones: untitled (transcriptions of country). Debra Philips and Dennis Golding are other artists who will exhibit. Artspace, The Gunnery, 43 - 51 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo, www.artspace.org.au

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COLOURFUL ITALY IN BLACK AND WHITE

your interpretation of an image and you miss things like shade, shadows and shades of dark and light, whereas in black and white you’re much more aware of the shapes, much more aware of shadows, much more aware of the contrast between light and dark.” Tedeschi has had solo exhibitions and been included in group exhibitions around the world. His photographs hang in galleries, museums and public buildings as well as in private

BY RITA BRATOVICH ward-winning Australian photographer, barrister and former NSW Senior Crown Prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, will launch his new book, Decoding The Image, at the State Library of NSW this Tuesday. The book is a collection of photographs taken by Tedeschi when he was Northern Italy recently. It features everyday people frozen in scenes of daily life. Each image is accompanied by a short piece of text — written in English and Italian — that describes some aspect

of the photograph: how and why it was taken or something about the place it was taken or a personal reflection or experience Tedeschi had in taking the photo. He has also given each photo a short title summing up the sentiment in it, however, Tedeschi emphatically points out that these are his own feelings and should in no way preclude the viewer from having their own response. “It’s me decoding the images with my background, my history, my interpretation, acknowledging that other people might decode those

images quite differently,” he says. Tedeschi chose Italy as his canvas because he found the locals there are much less resistant to having their photo taken “In Italy, people exhibit their emotions more in public areas than they do here in Australia.” He had very few objections from subjects, or even interrogations about what he was doing. That said, he always tried to be quick and stealthy when photographing. “I shoot first and answer questions later.” He also has Italian heritage; his father was born in Turin, coming to Australia just prior to World War II. The photos in Decoding The Image are all in black and white, a style Tedeschi is particularly drawn to. He spent his first 20 years as a photographer using only black and white film. “I think colour is such an overwhelming sensation that it completely dominates

collections. He has published articles on photography, law, and horticulture and written four books on true crime. His passion, however, is photography. “I think photography is a very valid form of artistic expression and what I’m hoping to show with the images is just how expressive it can be.” Decoding The Image by Mark Tedeschi, published by The Beagle Press Available from book retailers and online marktedeschi.com

THE WONDERFULLY, TERRIBLE CHRISTINE IBRAHIM BY RITA BRATOVICH t’s been a very busy 12 months for multi-talented artist and creative entrepreneur, Christine Ibrahim; it’s also been very challenging. “This year had me almost wanting to give up the show. I had a run of a few crappy things.” Ibrahim is a musician, writer, aerialist, singer, goddess and creator of Wonderfully Terrible Things, a deliciously naughty circus cabaret. Earlier this year, Wonderfully Terrible Things had attained a 6 month residency at the newly renovated 5 Eliza in Newtown. It would have meant five shows a week, but alas, before they were even midway through the tenure the venue was sold. The bad luck followed Ibrahim to the next gig. Ten days before the scheduled performance, she cancelled the show after being publicly and aggressively verbally abused by a venue staff member. “As a female producer in the industry it’s not easy to have a six foot man screaming at you in front of a group of people,” said Ibrahim who was shellshocked by the incident. “It cost me a

lot of money, it cost a few performers work…it was quite a kick in the guts for the show and just not something pleasant to have to deal with.” It’s unfortunately not the first time Ibrahim has had to deal with a belligerent man in her line of work. She’s found there is still a distinct power imbalance between men and women. “It’s quite troubling to me, especially with my show [which is] very much about feeling safe as a woman. The raison d’etre of the show is to feel safe and seen and heard.” Thankfully it hasn’t been all bad. Wonderfully Terrible Things has a great relationship with The Vanguard in Newtown where they have performed several times, and with venues like the Sydney Spiegeltent. Ibrahim is currently performing in Rouge at the Spiegeltent and will be back in January with her WTT troupe. “I’m very excited to be playing the show in such an iconic venue,” says Ibrahim. The Spiegeltent suits the aesthetic of WTT to a T. The show is sexy, irreverent, funny, awe-inspiring and a little rowdy.

The upcoming show will feature new talent discoveries by Ibrahim as well as some core performers. “We’re elevating a couple of the existing acts, so you’ll see them but they’ll be levelled up a little bit. A little bit more fire, a little bit more danger, a little bit more naughtiness. And we are going to

have some guest performers, people you’ve never seen before in Wonderfully Terrible Things.” Prepare to be amazed. January 17 - 21, Sydney Spiegeltent, The Showring, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park sydneyspiegeltent.com/wtt CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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THE MASTERS OF A CAPPELLA RETURN – THE KING’S SINGERS

REVIEW

BY JUSTIN COOPER rammy award-winning a cappella group, The King’s Singers return to Australia for their Back In Harmony Tour, after six years of entertaining audiences around the world. Founded in 1968 at King’s College, Cambridge, The King’s Singers remains one of the best vocal groups in the world, winning many accolades including an Emmy, two Grammys and induction in to the Gramophone Hall of Fame. Some of their most recent albums feature incredible renditions of iconic songs from a variety of genres, including “Strange Fruit” (Billie Holiday), “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” (Judy Garland) and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” (Elton John). The group is comprised of two countertenors, two baritones, a bass, and a tenor, which is the same formation after 56 years since they

Bach Akademie, City Recital Hall, 2023. Photo: Noni Carroll Photograph

BACH AKADEMIE: MUSIC IN THE CASTLE OF HEAVEN BY GRACE JOHNSON he Bach Akademie Australia’s Music in the Castle of Heaven, conducted by Artistic Director Madeleine Easton, celebrates three hundred years since JS Bach’s appointment as Kantor in Leipzig, a position which would see music changed forever. The concert began with the chorale prelude In Dulci Jublio (In Sweet Rejoicing) BWV 729, a Christmas carol from the Middle Ages. Keyboardist, Nathan Cox delivered a tranquil and moving performance, playing the chords of the chorale in a slower tempo than usual. But the real spirit of festivity began the cantata Unser mund sei voll Lachens (May our mouth be full of laughter) BWV 110, described as “music of pure joy.”

Here, the orchestra’s exuberantly played dotted rhythms evoked the sound of laughter, also masterfully captured by the choir. But the highlight here was hearing the Akademie’s excellent soloists for the first time, with soprano Susannah Lawergren, tenor Timothy Reynolds, alto Hannah Fraser and bass Andrew O’Connor all featuring in the arias, recitatives and duets. The concert ended majestically with one of Bach’s most mature and popular cantatas, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, calls the voice to us) BWV140. The full-bodied sound in the closing chorale tied up a night full of richness with the final line“ewig in dulci jubilo” (forever in sweet rejoicing), ending as we began. www.bachakademieaustralia.com.au

first formed. Whilst keeping to their classic vocal grouping, they have collaborated with ensembles and individuals around the world, helping educate through workshops on their unique singing approaches. On this new tour, audiences will witness almost 500 years of music history in one amazing show. Performing songs from mediaeval to contemporary, folk and pop songs, their skill and repertoire are unrivalled. From London’s Albert Hall to New York’s Carnegie Hall, they performed at some of the most well-known stages across the globe. The group are excited to return to Australia to showcase their latest work, and for audiences to hear an a cappella performance like no other. March 18, City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney www.cityrecitalhall.com

Photo: Supplied

KRAFTWERK - ELECTRO MUSIC PIONEERS BY JASMINE SIMMONS egendary German electronic band, Kraftwerk, completed a worldwide tour this year, including an innovative show in Sydney featuring electronic music and computer animations. The band’s compositions use contemporary techniques, computerised rhythms, and synthetic voices to form their unique sound. Kraftwerk have also had an international influence across multiple music genres such as electro, hip hop, synth pop, and techno. The founder of Kraftwerk, Ralf Hutter, and the rest of the team acknowledge their uses of both man and machine in their performances. These exciting and inventive practices have continued to win them new fans across the globe. The last time Kraftwerk toured in Australia was in

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

2013 when they performed live at Vivid. At that concert, they performed a range of tunes from their hit albums, including Autobahn (1974), The Man Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), and their most recent album Tour de France (2003). Since their last album, Kraftwerk have released various remixes and live recordings of their songs from worldwide tours. Kraftwerk was established as a multimedia project in 1970 by Ralf Hutter and the late Florian Schneider. Soon after, the two set up their studio in Dusseldorf, Germany, where they began the production of all Kraftwerk albums. Now, the band has made a name for themselves by transforming ordinary sounds into techno masterpieces. kraftwerk.com

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THE KRANSKY SISTERS

ARE COMING TO TOWN

BY RITA BRATOVICH t wouldn’t be an Aussie Christmas without cicadas, sunburn, cricket and the special annual Christmas show by the Kransky Sisters. This year, A Cracker Kransky Christmas promises to surpass every Christmas spectacular that has gone before – by the Kranskys or anyone else. Mourne, Eve, and Dawn Kransky are a performing musical trio consisting of two and a half sisters (Dawn being a sister from another mister). Their talent is extraordinary, each being proficient on several instruments, and their vocal acuity is exquisite. “Well I play the keyboard, and the guitar, and I play the rice-shaker, kitchen pot, and tambourine,” says Mourne, the eldest of the sisters and

was a success and from there they started touring the countryside and beyond. By another stroke of luck, they were performing in Brisbane when an influential lady heard them and said they should play at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. “And we looked at each other and thought: “A comedy festival? That’s interesting.” And we discovered after we started playing at the comedy festival, sometimes, when you don’t mean to be funny people laugh.” It was then that The Kransky Sisters had arrived. They had gigs all over the nation and even overseas. They were, of course, thrilled, though success brought its challenges.

HOW WILL AI AFFECT THE QUALITY OF JOURNALISM? BY EMMY WHITE he release of Open AI’s ChatGPT in November 2022 brought with it a whirlwind of excitement, possibilities, fears, and ethical debates. While some have labelled it a blessing, others claim it removes the humanity and creativity from many professions, including copywriting, scriptwriting, art, and journalism. Many have also expressed concern about the quality of the content written by AI, and whether the quality of news content will continue to decline as more and more publications succumb to this form of journalism. The positives AI generated content can increase the speed at which news articles are written and released. As the quality of AI generated content improves, journalists can work alongside it, using it as a tool to deliver more articles to their readership. Thorough research is essential to providing readers with accurate and ethical news coverage, but it is also time consuming. AI has the potential to help journalists perform in-depth research, speeding up the news-writing process. The negatives However, AI language models like ChatGPT are notorious for making errors. Despite their ability to help perform background research, the information they generate still needs to

unchallenged leader of the group. The forming of the sister act came about organically. “You see, we used to just play in our lounge-room by the fireplace, so we grew up playing the music together, because Eve was gifted our father’s saw and a violin bow and Eve and I would play and practice the music together. And then when Dawn got her education on the tuba, she wanted to join us as well, and so we let her play with us as she sounded very good.” There was never any intention to perform publicly. It was by chance that one night, the man who owned the local RSL was walking his Rottweiler past the house and heard the sisters practising. He suggested they play at the RSL. They did. It

The Christmas show at Riverside Theatres promises to be a treat, with a mix of modern songs the sisters learned from listening to the wireless, and classic Christmas tunes. It’s a veritable box of bonbons, from Glen Campbell to Britney Spears, AC/DC to Santa. The Kranskys will also be following their tradition of bringing an item from home and sharing a story about it. If you’ve never heard a Kransky Sister story — or song, for that matter — then you’d best get on the telephone and book your seats now. December 16, 2:30pm and 7:30pm Riverside Theatres, cnr Market and Church Sts, Parramatta www.thekranskysisters.com

be fact checked by journalists. AI also has the potential to generate content that is prejudiced, discriminatory, or holds a specific political bias. For publications that pride themselves on remaining neutral and factual, AI generated content may require a significant amount of human intervention to ensure the publication meets this goal. AI language models like ChatGPT have a tendency to follow the same sentence structure, which can appear robotic and affect the flow of the piece. AI is also notorious for writing repetitive content, repeating the same words and phrases over and over again. AI language models like ChatGPT have limited knowledge of current events, and may not be able to generate content about breaking news or situations that can change very suddenly, such as escalating conflicts. The verdict AI generated content is cheaper, faster, and requires fewer employees, but still requires human intervention to ensure it is accurate, free of factual, spelling, and grammatical errors, and doesn’t contain political or cultural prejudices and biases. At the moment, many who support the use of AI in journalism predict that the future will involve journalists working alongside AI programs to guide them to produce high-quality, accurate, and engaging content. CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

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REVIEW

REVENGE: OUR DAD THE NAZI KILLER BY OLGA AZAR hat happens when you recognise an old enemy while trying to forget the past? Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer is an exploration of that inescapable dilemma, and of generational memory. Using archival footage and interviews, the documentary presents the three Green brothers: Jack, a 53-year-old physician, significantly younger than his brothers Sam (68), a musician, and Jon (70), a rabbi. Their Lithuanian father, Boris, is a former partisan fighter in Belarus who came to Australia in 1949 with wife Chana, and, with his brother, Femi, settled in Melbourne as a family and business man. He travelled often to Sydney for work, and many, many years later, Jack

is troubled by half-remembered family rumours of a body found in the city’s Parramatta River. Rather than bury the potential painful details of the past, as his brothers seem to prefer, Jack hires a retired senior detective. Director Danny Ben-Moshe keeps the documentary unembellished, using Super-8 footage taken by Boris and his family, as well as contemporaneous photos and archival research from the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and the State Library of New South Wales, among others institutions, to create an intimate, tender portrayal of the struggle to confront the past while existing in the present.

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In cinemas December 7

REVIEW

CITY HUB DECEMBER 2023

BY MARK MORELLINI ong Kong based legendary action director John Woo returns to directing an American movie after a 20 year absence, and his latest offering is strangely a dialogue-free Christmas revenge movie ironically titled Silent Night. The synopsis is simplistic. When a stray bullet from gang warfare kills an innocent young child on Christmas Eve his father plans to avenge the death. He gives himself 12 months to strengthen up, to improve his driving skills and handling of firearms as he’s aware these criminals are experienced in these areas and will deliver a good fight. Octane-charged car chases, gunfights and graphic blood-soaked murderous

sequences which leave nothing to the imagination keep the adrenalin pumping, hauntingly to a soundtrack of Christmas carols. The concept of a dialogue-free action thriller works surprisingly well. The story is easy to follow without the dialogue. The musical score plays a significant role in telling the story and enhancing the atmosphere on all emotional levels. Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman portrays the father and Catalina Sandino Moreno his wife, both well cast. There are many heart wrenching scenes in the movie as the child’s death is slowly revealed through flashbacks and when the parents cry, so will the most sensitive of moviegoers.

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In Cinemas December 7

THE ROYAL HOTEL

THE OLD OAK BY RITA BRATOVICH en Loach has been making films for a very long time. Now, at age 87, he has released his final film, The Old Oak, and it is a fitting coda to a commendable career. The Old Oak is set in a small village in county Durham in the north of England. The story centres around a pub, The Old Oak, which stands as one of few surviving businesses in a once thriving mining town that is now ghostly quiet. When a bus-load of Syrian refugees is brought to the town for resettlement, many of the residents, who are themselves struggling on welfare, take

SILENT NIGHT

umbrage. One Syrian women, Yari (Ebla Mari) has her camera broken by a hooligan as she steps off the bus. TJ, the owner of the pub, is present and offers to help her get the camera fixed and from there they form a bond. It’s a slow-burn film with the ambience of a British television drama and a cinéma-vérité style. There’s not a lot of nuance and at times it can be cringingly heavy-handed, but the characters and messaging ultimately still feel authentic and worthwhile.

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In cinemas now

BY MARK MORELLINI wo young women arrive in Sydney from overseas and want to travel, expecting an adventure. They’ve run out of money so accept a job working at The Royal Hotel, a pub outside a mining town in the outback which is frequented by rowdy men. Oddly described as a ‘thriller’ this Australian movie lacks all the elements of a thriller. The movie fails to ignite, the story lacks substance. The pace picks up in the second half, but unfortunately it’s too little too late and the finales is one of the most lacklustre ever seen in an Australian thriller. Hugo Weaving plays the role of Billy, the

REVIEW

unlikeable owner of the hotel and Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick portray the young women. Their performances are satisfactory, but they could only do so much with the unremarkable script which they were given to work with. The Royal Hotel is definitely not one of the best Australian movies ever produced. However, some moviegoers may enjoy it purely for the cinematography which is absolutely stunning, and also the soundtrack which has some good tracks from the ’80’s, including some early hits from Kylie Minogue.

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In cinemas now

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