City Hub 16 May 2019

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city hub 16 MAY 2019

Are they worthy of Wentworth?

BY ALEC SMART City Hub hosted a forum at Beauchamp Hotel in Darlinghurst of the prospective candidates vying for the seat of Wentworth in the forthcoming federal election.

Those present included Matthew DrakeBrockman (Independent), Tim Murray (Labor), Dominic Wy Kanak (Greens) and incumbent MP, Dr Kerryn Phelps (Independent).

Liberal candidate Dave Sharma was notably absent.

With global warming and the building of a new local high school key topics on the agenda (all candidates support addressing climate change immediately, and likewise encourage construction of a new high school in the region), Wentworth residents had the opportunity to quiz their leaders on their parties’ policies and how they would best serve the community.

The Division of Wentworth encompasses most of Sydney’s eastern suburbs east of Woolloomooloo, from Port Jackson south to Clovelly and Randwick.

At just 38 sq. km, it is the second smallest geographical division in parliament (and allegedly the wealthiest), and was a safe Liberal seat held by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull since the 2004 election.

Kerryn Phelps is still high in the popularity polls after her resounding 20 per cent swing against the Liberal’s Dave Sharma in the October 2018 by-election. It was won by Phelps after the Liberal leadership spill in August 2018 when Turnbull subsequently resigned and vacated his electorate.

Dirty tricks Allegations of “dirty tricks” by Liberal Party supporters have resurfaced after Phelps claimed her campaign posters were again removed soon after they were put up in streets around Bondi, Rose Bay and Elizabeth Bay. A similar allegation was made prior to the October by-election when Labor and Justice Party posters were removed across the eastern suburbs

and accepted a number of international treaties and covenants that recognise protection of human rights, including freedom from homelessness.

Australia must now meet its obligations by actively implementing programs which reduce the number of persons who are, or are at risk of, experiencing homelessness. I will promote the massive government investment in quality public housing in Australia.”

Wy Kanak: “The Greens want to build 500,000 new public community homes through a federal housing trust. We want to examine renters’ rights and make sure no grounds’ evictions are removed from that policy. We want to examine the whole way that developer greed is put before community need. We want to examine all those drivers that drive a housing market more for investment rather than the human right of a home for all.”

Where’s Dave Sharma? Photo: Lawrence Gibbons

with, suspiciously, only Sharma’s left in some neighbourhoods.

Sharma denied that his campaign team were behind it.

Dr Phelps revealed on May 6 that voters in her constituency were targeted by a fifth round of “racist” emails falsely alleging she is ineligible to contest the election.

“Kerryn Phelps has been disqualified from election, she is a Jew and entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship,” the anonymous messages read.

Decent, affordable housing is a universal human right The Independent MP was also maligned during the October by-election with malicious claims she had AIDS because she is in a lesbian relationship, although Wentworth contains the fifth largest number of same-sex couples in Australia.

Questions for candidates Two important questions raised at the candidates’ forum included: What can be done to alleviate the rise in homelessness and addressing social inequality?

Phelps: “I speak to people sleeping rough around Potts Point and they all have a different story to tell… We need to coordinate between local, state and federal government so that we can assess what can be done and continue to press for more social housing.”

Murray: “The Labor Party have a policy to make 250,000 affordable houses available over the next 10 years and we’ll put $88 million into emergency housing for women escaping violence.

We will establish a Ministry of Housing and Homelessness.”

Drake-Brockman: “Decent, affordable housing is a universal human right. Australia has ratified

Can Australia look at the need for sustainable population policies that include land conservation and reversing deforestation?

Phelps: “I asked the Prime Minister in Question Time whether the Government would set up a national Environment Protection Agency and strengthen Australia’s environmental protection laws. The response?

It wasn’t taken seriously. We can also do a lot more around protesting single-use plastics and the management of waste. We also need to maintain biodiversity: we have up to a million species that are at risk of extinction.”

Murray: “There is an extinction crisis.

The Labor Party will put a billion dollars into environment policies, $100 million a year marked specifically for dealing with that extinction issue.

Wy Kanak: “The Greens have been champions on environmental issues for a long time. We’re looking at recovery plans for threatened species. We take a broad approach to working with Traditional Owners to look at what is a sustainable population for land use in an area.”

Dumb and dumber Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Production Manager: Michael Hitch Contributors: Michael Hitch, Alec Smart, Allison Hore, Mark Mordue, Merrill Witt, Andrew Woodhouse, Maire Sheehan, Rhiannon Soliman Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Supplied. Wendy Matthews Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677, Fax: 9212 5633 Website: altmedia.net.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au altmediagroup

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By Maire Sheehan Education and training used to be the great leveller, developing and empowering people to contribute to society. Then it became a commodity; bought and sold in the marketplace.

NSW held out against commodification. Then the federal government told the NSW government that TAFE had a monopoly and that must stop or NSW will not get funds.

Why did NSW hold out?

Because marketisation of TAFE in other states was a disaster. TAFE colleges closed, student numbers plummeted, millions of dollars were spent and no education and training was delivered, students were left with debts and no qualifications.

But NSW caved in. The new market system, Smart and Skilled, began; called Dumb and Dumber by those dealing with it on the front line.

Guess what? Enrolments plummeted, fees increased beyond affordability for most, courses were reduced, and confusion reigned.

In a panic, the government began throwing money around for ‘fee free’ short courses. How does that work? Split a course into three or four short courses and guess what you have three or four enrolments for each student instead of one.

The TAFE campus Ultimo. Photo: Flickr serviceindustriestac

Loan scam boil bursts Meanwhile the loan scam boil burst. The fountain of easy money closed and enrolments dropped again.

So what are candidates in the federal election promising?

Will they restore vocational education and training as the great leveller?

Advocacy group TAFE Alliance wrote to all candidates asking them three questions.

Would you support 1. increased core funding for local TAFEs? 2. winding back the contestable training market?

3. increasing investment in TAFE teachers as educational and industry experts Labor candidates answered “yes” to all using its party statements.

“We will work with the states and territories to rebalance the contestable and non-contestable funding model to ensure it delivers the outcomes that are intended.”

“Labor believes the market must find stability through a predominant public provider.”

The Liberals and Nationals sent a standard letter that did not even mention TAFE. The Greens candidates answered “yes” to all questions and emphasised abolishing contestable funding.

“The Greens believe that TAFE should be the first priority for all federal funding for Vocational Education and Training. There should be no government funding for providers that operate for private profit.”

The right-wing micro parties did not reply.

Independents replied and were generally supportive of TAFE. Those in regional areas were especially aware of the loss of education and training opportunities as colleges close, course offering is reduced and fees increase.

So what to make of it? All understand the market has been a disaster for education and training.

The Greens make a clear statement but will the next the government be persuaded? Can they join with cross-benchers to do a deal?

All understand the market has been a disaster for education and training Labor will start negotiating with the players in the market. Could this mean rebranding, minor changes, moving the deck chairs or maybe more?

The Libs and the Nationals are rushing around, smiling, kicking balls down the road… seriously?

Will Independents be able to negotiate, join with others to get positive results?

The political shenanigans are far from over.

Is this how Australia should treat its education and training? city hub 16 MAY 2019

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Opinion

The empire strikes back

BY ANDREW WOODHOUSE This week, the City of Sydney Council unanimously heritage-listed three individual major sites in Kings Cross.

The three sites are Kingsley Hall, 1A Elizabeth Bay Road, a ten-storey art deco block of apartments by famous architect Emil Sodersten, including its light well; the façade of the Bourbon Hotel with an eight-metre setback behind the famous white arches; and the “social significance” of the 1961 Empire Hotel at 32 Darlinghurst Road.

The heritage listings come after a massive whole block, 700-page DA was flung into the community’s face and lodged by developer, Sam Arnout’s Iris Capital, in December 2017, for 83 apartments and 101 car spaces with access from Barncleuth Lane, a narrow one-way street.

“The Bourbon is a pub that can be enjoyed by all,” he boasted.

Construction was slated to take three to four years.

Wall of blandness Small businesses were aghast at the thought of going broke during the four-year construction period because of road closures and reduced pedestrian access.

But the community fired back with more than 650 objections and a 12,612-signature petition against this “wall of blandness”.

This wasn’t NIMBY-ism (not in my backyard). It was NIMBI-ism (not in my best interests).

Attended by councillors, large rallies with bands helped coalesce the community.

Dramatically, Iris Capital withdrew the DA. They’d wasted $1.5 million on their design.

“Our [planning] changes will make sure any new development in the area respects the edgy, historic and iconic characteristics of Kings

So council invoked a new Darlinghurst Road development control plan that limited rampant development, and then exhibited their three heritage-listings.

However, council’s decision this week says, “The Empire site can be demolished … and an interpretative design be approved … representing the curved facade”. This follows Sam Arnout’s 2 May 2019 submission asking that the heritage listing for the Empire be changed from “the Empire Hotel” to “The site of the Empire Hotel (not including built fabric),” because it was “too broad and open to interpretation”.

Council acquiesced “for greater clarity,” despite its previous September 2018 report by architect Neville Gruzman AM which noted the site’s “historical and social significance”.

The site is the former Les Girls and Carousel

Will the Empire and Bourbon Hotel sites be a massive pub after all?

Bourbon stands strong. Photo: Bob Huges

Cross,” said Sydney Council Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, also opposing the developer’s scheme.

The DA was referred to the council’s high priests of planning, its Design Advisory Panel, which did not support the DA, instead recommending heritage-listing the sites.

Heritage experts agreed.

nightclubs and lounge.

Councillor Philip Thalis, Clover Moore Team, expressed concern about heritage losses and the quality of constructions, asking, “Is this the best we can do?”

So council is giving a heritage listing for something it says is not worthy of retention apart from some nebulous “re-interpretation”.

What’s the point of this nihilism?

Heritage is what we want kept for its current and future significance.

And after last-minute submissions, Graham Jahn AM, council’s Planning Director, issued a memo: “The heritage inventory sheet for Kingsley Hall currently refers to the ‘tight

but well-designed floor plan, giving natural light and ventilation to every room’ … This is considered sufficient recognition of the design of the floor plan, including the light well”.

It’s been suggested by local residents that this elastic approach to the Empire site is a bargaining chip in negotiations: it will satiate the developer’s money-motivated desires for high-rise apartments with harbour views.

Will the Empire and Bourbon Hotel sites be a massive pub after all? We’ll see.

Pubs provide good cash flow Sam Arnaout, aged 43, is no stranger to new pubs. He purchased the Steyne Hotel, Manly, for about $60 million. He owns 20 pubs across Sydney and major properties including his $22 million penthouse in the “Toaster”, Circular Quay. He purchased his Hunter Valley estate, Sweetwater, as a weekender, for about 12 million. Iris Capital is also part of Newcastle’s Hunter Street $700 million East End development.

All this despite starting Iris Capital only 14 years ago. IRIS stands for “Independently Rising in Strength,” he says.

“Pubs provide good cash flow … owners are only custodians of the property.”

We’ll soon see if he’s a man of his words.

Local resident John Moyle says “Sam is being disingenuous claiming he has [already] ‘redeveloped’ the Bourbon and the Empire.

He hasn’t. His claims to ‘know the locals’ are equally spurious. He doesn’t engage in the Cross at all.”

“The next DA for Darlinghurst Road will be met head-on by a fully engaged and informed local community. The operators have failed to understand the local environment,” Mr Moyle adds.

Amen to that.

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Rocky road to a senate majority

By ALLISON HORE With the federal election this weekend, eyes will be on the Senate to see if poll frontrunners, the Labor party, will be able to win a majority in the upper house as well as the lower house. But the road to a Senate majority will not be easy for Labor even if it wins the House of Representatives.

There are 76 senators, with 12 representing each state and two representing each territory. In a normal election, only half of the state senators and all of the territory senators are put up for election.

On May 18, 40 of the 76 total senators are up for election.

Senate control critical To control the Senate, a party would have to win 39 of the 76 seats. As it stands, the Coalition has 31 seats and Labor has 26.

In 2016, a Senate double dissolution was called, which meant all 76 senators were up for election.

Half of the state senators – the six who topped the votes in each state – were awarded six-year terms, while the following six were given three-year terms.

As a result, most of the major party senators in NSW – three Liberal and three Labor – will retain their position and are not up for re-election until 2022.

The incumbent NSW senators whose seats will be contested include One Nation, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. Only one Labor senator and two Coalition senators will have their places challenged.

Labor’s Doug Cameron, Mehreen Faruqi from the Greens, Jim Molan and John Williams from the Coalition, Duncan Spender of the Liberal Democrats and United Australia’s Brian Burston are all senators whose terms are finishing in NSW. The competition for the six seats up for grabs is crowded. On this year’s NSW Senate paper there are 35 parties listed, as well as a series of ungrouped Independents.

“I have only handed out material endorsed

by Liberal candidates,” he told AAP in a statement.

To make matters more confusing for voters, there has also been a series of party defections and Senate disqualifications which have disrupted the senator’s terms. Mr Burston, for example, won his NSW Senate seat on a One Nation ticket but stepped down from the party in May last year to join Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.

Pundits predict Labor may pick up a second Senate seat, on top of the seat they already hold, possibly at the expense of the Coalition.

In 2013, the Greens didn’t win a NSW Senate seat, and if there were only six seats up for election in 2016 it would have been hard for them to win a seat then too. But with Dr Faruqi replacing Lee Rhiannon in 2018 after Ms Rhiannon’s resignation, it could bring new energy to the campaign.

Australia Parliament House, Canberra. Photo: Allison Hore

For this election, the Nationals decided against running on a separate ticket to the Liberal party in NSW. This is a risky move because Mr Williams’ retirement means the Nationals may end up with no senators in the state. The replacement Nationals candidate, Perin Davey, appears third on the ticket, beneath two Liberal candidates. The Coalition would have to win three seats for the Nationals to retain a seat.

Incumbent Liberal senator Mr Molan also risks losing his seat. His name appears fourth on the ticket.

Earlier this month, he faced criticism from within his party after his supporters distributed how to vote cards which preferenced the Nationals’ candidate fourth, a move that goes against party agreement.

“It is an absolute risk for the Nationals in what Jim Molan is doing,” Ms Davey told the AAP. “It goes against the Coalition agreement that we had. It also goes against the intent of the agreement that we had.”

Dr Faruqi could bring new energy to the [Greens] campaign Mr Molan distanced himself from the campaign, saying it was his supporters behind it and not him.

Standing up to the far-right The Pakistan-born engineer served on the NSW Legislative Council before filling Ms Rhiannon’s vacancy last year. She hopes to retain her seat to see action on climate change and to prevent far-right minor parties from having the balance of power.

Last week, she addressed protesters at a rally against One Nation’s Mark Latham and Rod Roberts’ on their first day sitting in the NSW Legislative Council.

“The far-right are actively organising to extend their reach in politics. We must actively organise to stand up to the far-right,” she said.

Whether Labor or the Coalition will be able to pull together enough seats to win a Senate majority remains to be seen.

But one thing is for certain; the road to that majority looks to be a bumpy one.

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Faruqi’s voice for nature PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING MOBILE PHONE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES IN SYDNEY Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) plans to upgrade the telecommunications services in Surry Hills, Sydney, Darlinghurst and Newtown with the introduction of new equipment to improve coverage in these areas.

The proposed existing telecommunications to be upgraded are listed below: 124-140 Chalmers Street SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 (RFNSA #2010009) • The replacement of three antennas with three new antennas on existing mounts at 34.6m (antenna centreline) 61 Phillip Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 (RFNSA #2000444) • The replacement of two (2) antennas with two (2) new antennas on existing mounts at 67.86m (antenna centreline) 47-61 Marlborough St SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 (RFNSA #2010004 • The replacement of three (3) antennas with three (3) new antennas on existing mounts at 38.2m and 30m (antenna centreline) Claridge Apartments - 28-30 Flinders Street DARLINGHURST NSW 2010 (RFNSA #2010001) • The replacement of three (3) antennas with three (3) new antennas at 28m (antenna centreline) 88 King Street NEWTOWN NSW 2042 (RFNSA # 2042007) • The replacement and installation of new Remote Radio Units (RRUs) on mounts All the above sites along involve the following installation: • The replacement and installation of new Remote Radio Units (RRUs) to be attached to existing and proposed mounts at the existing subject site; • Associated and necessary ancillary works to ensure the proper functioning of the telecommunications facility including cabling, earthing, signage, safe access, electrical works and replacement or strengthening of the existing tower.

The proposed works are defined as “Exempt Development” pursuant to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 or “Low-impact Facilities” in accordance with the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 and “maintenance activity” as defined in Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. The proposed infrastructure complies with the ACMA EMR regulatory arrangements.

Further information can be obtained from Emma Lachlan on (02) 9363 3815 or email to info@commplan.com.au or from www.rfnsa.com.au using the RFNSA Reference No. as listed above.

Written submissions on the proposals should be addressed to VHA C/- CommPlan Pty Ltd, PO Box 267, Edgecliff NSW 2027 and received by 30th May 2019.

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city hub 16 MAY 2019

Mehreen Farqui. Photo: Supplied

BY MERRILL WITT Last year, at a meeting to discuss NSW’s dwindling koala population, the Greens Senator for NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi explained that in the early 2000s she moved to the Port Macquarie area with her husband and two young children to become Manager of Natural Resources and Catchments for the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. The area surrounding their home was idyllic and sometimes they even spotted koalas in their leafy backyard.

On returning to the region in recent years, she’s been struck by the continuing loss of koala habitat. Also jarring is the proliferation of the one-metre high, flamboyantly coloured fibreglass koalas, which dot the town’s coastal parks and are now a local tourist attraction.

Using koalas, whether plastic or real, to promote tourism is, in Dr Faruqi’s opinion, hypocritical given how the current state government “is knowingly destroying their environment”.

A ticking time bomb Standing up for the rights of nature has been a core focus of Dr Faruqi’s work as a parliamentarian. Prior to taking up her Senate seat in August of last year, Dr Faruqi was a Greens Member in the Legislative Council from 2013 to 2018. Her term in office coincided with a heated battle to prevent the watering down of NSW’s hard-won environmental protection laws.

Dr Faruqi was at the forefront of a statewide community campaign to stop the Liberal National Government’s proposed rewrite of existing laws to protect biodiversity, native animals and vegetation. She spoke at dozens of rallies and community forums, and even launched an online open letter Biodiversity is Life, which was signed by academics, land carers, ecologists, nature conservation groups and thousands of everyday people from all over the state.

The Biodiversity and Conservation Act 2016 was finally passed in the Upper House without the incorporation of any of the 63 amendments Dr Faruqi proposed to soften its environmental blows. On the eve of the debate about the Bill, she told the parliament that “Premier Berejiklian was sitting on a ticking time bomb”.

Her grim prediction is proving true. According to a report recently released by the NSW Environment Protection Agency, approved land clearing has skyrocketed 244 per cent in the last two years. As Dr Faruqi explained in our recent interview: “In NSW, our iconic koalas are facing extinction by 2050. With the terrible, destructive land-clearing laws brought in by the Liberal National government, 99 per cent of koala habitat can now be legally cleared. This is the harsh reality we are grappling with”.

Despite the sobering news, Dr Faruqi is still an

optimist at heart. She is confident that steps can be taken at the federal level to save the koalas, especially if the government changes hands at Saturday’s election.

Buoyed by Labor’s promise to create a federal Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in its first term, Dr Faruqi notes that the idea was part of the Greens’ policy platform in 2016, “so it is good to see Labor finally come on board”.

She believes the “national EPA should oversee a new generation of stronger environmental laws and include national parks, habitat protection, land clearing and greenhouse gas emissions from development proposals”.

Enshrining the rights of nature into law is another novel Greens’ idea that Dr Faruqi first flagged in her Senate inaugural speech. Seen as an effective way to guarantee legal standing and strong environmental protection for natural assets, it is already being implemented in several other countries.

Enshrining the rights of nature into law is a Greens’ idea In 2017, for example, New Zealand’s Whanganui River, which is sacred to the Maori Iwi people of the North Island, was granted legal personhood by the country’s parliament.

The landmark legislation established a fully funded trust to restore the river’s health and legally recognised the rights of the Indigenous community to have a say over its future.

Dr Faruqi believes a similar model should be used to “protect natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling river system from greedy exploitation”.

The “climate change election” The trusts would “explicitly defend the rights of the natural entity” and guarantee the “recognition of Indigenous peoples and their worldview”.

In her farewell speech to her colleagues in the Legislative Council, Dr Faruqi observed that “making positive change comes from collective power” and the “real momentum and spark lie outside these walls”.

Public momentum for meaningful environmental reforms, at least at the national level, does seem to be building. Commentators have dubbed the upcoming election the “climate change election” due to voters citing as one of their chief concerns the lack of action to combat it.

Fortunately, voters can feel confident that a vote for this Greens Senator will guarantee a strong voice for nature in the next parliament.

Dominic’s Green policy for Wentworth

BY VANESSA LIM Greens candidate for Wentworth and Deputy Mayor of Waverley Council Dominic Wy Kanak has propelled his federal campaign by labelling the federal election, a “climate action election”.

The Greens’ campaign launch for the upcoming federal election has focused on taking action against climate change.

Mr Wy Kanak emphasised that climate change has to be tackled through renewable energy.

The Greens’ renewable targets are to reach at least 90 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Mr Wy Kanak said, “It’s more than a vote for me or the Greens.

It’s to make sure that they no longer have a political system in place that supports unsustainable policies, and supports extractive industries.

Saving our community “This election is about saving our community and saving our planet,” he says.

By listening to the community voices of Wentworth, Mr Wy Kanak said it became apparent that many were against climate change and environmental threats such as the Adani Coal Mine.

Max Griffiths, a 31-year-old Bronte local, agreed climate change was the biggest issue that needed to be addressed in the federal election.

Mr Griffiths said, “I believe [climate action] is the most important issue humanity faces.”

He denounced the way the environment has been treated and referred to excessive use of coal,

drilling near the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Australian Bight as a few examples of harm to the environment.

“I hope they move away from coal as soon as possible, invest more in green energy and make Australia the world leaders in solar power. We live on the driest, sunniest continent on Earth,” he says.

An Indigenous Boondi Boondi man, Mr Wy Kanak revealed his first motivation to join politics was due to the 10-Point Plan.

“Prime Minister John Howard thought to dismantle parts of the Native Title Act. It allowed Native Title owners and traditional owners to negotiate what happened on the country,” he says.

“I took that as an opportunity to join the voices against those sorts of actions and I tried to run against him in the federal election in his seat of Bennelong.”

of public education in the eastern suburbs has led to overcrowding in schools such as Rose Bay Secondary College.

Mr Wy Kanak says, “The Greens believe in a world-class public education. We are looking at making sure public schools are properly funded.”

Australia is one of the few countries in the world to fund the private school sector.

“We are looking at reducing or shifting the funding that goes to the private school system and to make sure that the public school system is supported,” he says.

Greens policy has also looked at a free TAFE and university system, as well as increasing Youth Allowance.

Planning and infrastructure have also been an issue locals have dealt with. Examples include the planned development of the twin towers which will cause overshadowing on Dominic is genuinely Centennial Park and has catalysed protests against the development. trying to do the best for The previous plans under the Waverley Liberal Council to privatise the future the Bondi Pavilion also attracted strong local opposition to it.

As a Waverley Councillor, Mr Mr Wy Kanak says, “We feel that Wy Kanak says he was working the Liberals at the local level had with state and federal governments abandoned the community by taking on a continuous basis to further the town hall and community cultural Indigenous rights, such as having a centre and trying to turn it into an “pathway to treaties” and “recognition over-commercialised restaurant”. for the unceded sovereignty of first The Liberal state governments have nations people” in Australia. also changed the planning approval Education was another important process which has silenced the local topic the Greens had plans for. A lack council.

Dominic Wy Kanak speaking at the #ClimateElection National Day of Climate Action at the Bondi Pavilion. Photo: Dominic Wy Kanak

Abandoning the community Mr Wy Kanak says, “In NSW, the parliament has abandoned the community by allowing planning policies that no longer involve elected local councillors in the development area an approval process. Those policies have similarly allowed overdevelopment across the state and in Wentworth”.

Including community voices in the planning process has been welcoming news to locals such as Greens supporter Sam Collins.

Mr Collins says, “Dominic is all about the community, he is not into making as much money as possible for the council and he was a big supporter for keeping the Bondi Pavilion for the locals”.

Mr Collins says Mr Wy Kanak’s care for the community showed during their interaction when they met.

“Something that Dominic doesn’t have that some other politicians do is ego. He is genuinely trying to do the best for the future,” Mr Collins says.

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Barred out

BY RHIANNON SOLIMAN With the bright lights of Sydney’s once-bustling Oxford St dimming in recent years, one part of the LGBTQ+ community has been hit the hardest.

Bars and clubs that cater specifically to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are far and few, with many iconic lesbian bars across the country having shut their doors for good.

“Queer men could step inside any venue on Oxford Street on most nights of the week and have a great night, but that doesn’t apply for queer women in Sydney,” said Xander Ryu, who founded Empire Girls Party, a regular nightclub event that caters specifically to women attracted to other women.

Oxford St has been a hallmark of LGBTQ+ culture since the 1960s, with one of the first women-only venues, Ruby Reds, opening in 1976.

A safe and inclusive space Although more than 40 years have passed since then, the reason for opening these places remains the same: the need for a safe and inclusive space.

“When I was in high school, being the only gay kid, the only thing I really looked forward to was to go to a queer girls’ nightclub when I finished school so I could meet people like me,” said Xander.

We’re very inclusive and we encourage people to be themselves “However, this dream was quickly ruined when I noticed the lack of diversity and inclusiveness within those spaces. As a South Korean lesbian, it was extremely hard to navigate the social circles.”

A recent survey by Sydney magazine Lesbians on the Loose found that 54.8 per cent of lesbians felt disconnected from Mardi Gras, and according to LOTL’s editor-in-chief, Silke Bader, Sydney’s nightlife is no different.

“I can’t even say… whether there is a vibrant

A site for sore eyes at Empire Girls Party as queer spaces for women become far and few. Photo: @iamyungboi on Instagram (Xander Ryu)

pub scene out there. My gut feeling is there is not,” she said.

“We still love women’s only bars and clubs, but if you don’t support them, they won’t be around very long.”

Although a handful of Sydney’s lesbian events remain open such as Birdcage, Empire and Girlthing, popular haunts such as the Cricketers Arms Hotel, Zorba’s nightclub, and Ruby’s have either shut their doors, or are no longer as strongly associated with lesbian culture.

According to Rachael Cosgrove-White, who has grown up around Sydney’s gay club scene, a

change in attitudes is one of the reasons why.

“I think the lesbian community has gone through a shift,” she said.

“The introduction of social media means that those [aged] 30 and under don’t need to frequent these establishments to meet likeminded friends.”

However, she also stressed the importance of such spaces for LGBTQ+ women, particularly for those who are older.

“I would love to see a club that invites not just the young ones, but us [over] 40 who still love a good night out that doesn’t have to start at 11pm,” she said.

“Most of the clubs very much cater to the lads ... I’d still love to see a comeback of the old lesbian bars.”

Despite this, since Empire’s opening in 2017, it’s only grown more popular. “There’s never been a quiet night,” Xander said.

“I think it’s because we provide them with something other events have not in the past… we’re very inclusive and we encourage people to be themselves.

“Sydney’s nightlife has been under attack for quite a few years now…I’m proud to be part of a movement in the community that is trying to replenish and revive the city,” she said.

Help

An exceptionAl Young MAn in tHe pHilippines WitH A BAttle AgAinst BrAin cAncer Unlike Australia there is no real free public health system in the Philippines.

Australia leads the world in the treatment of a whole range of cancers but in the Philippines fighting the disease, without medical insurance, is extremely costly. Leomar Sultio is a twenty three old man with stage 2 brain cancer – a budding writer and social activist. A group of friends in Australia have rallied behind him but much more financial support is needed.

There are many people in the Philippines and the world at large who need urgent help like Leomar.

You can’t help everybody but you can effectively help at least one.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for Leomar at: https://www.gofundme.com/help-a-young-man-from-the-philippines You can also read his story there 10

city hub 16 MAY 2019

85 Enmore Road Newtown t 9516 2072 www.catprotection.org.au

By Rita Bratovich The 1960s were one of the most impactful decades in modern history: pivotal, subversive, expressive, transcendent. It was a time when artists superseded politicians as the influencers of collective ideas - and no artist effected this more than Bob Dylan. His lyrics and music were the voice and soundtrack of revolution, free thought, social introspection, and counter-culture. He was considered the leader of the rebellion, the mouthpiece for an anti-establishment movement.

Dylan’s opus includes reflective songs that have become anthems: Blowing In The Wind,The Times, They Are A-Changin’, A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall, Mr Tambourine Man, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, to name a mere handful. But while he is inextricably tied to protest and social commentary, Dylan also reveals a very tender, vulnerable side in love songs that often serve as personal tributes: Lay Lady Lay, Just Like A Woman.As with all great songwriters, Dylan has been and continues to be covered by a diverse range of artists.While he still writes and performs today, it is through fresh, innovative interpretations of his best songs by other artists that Dylan’s name and work are delivered to new generations - Bob Dylan Revisited is a show that does just that.

Bringing together five of Australia’s premier performers - John Waters, Glenn Shorrock, Wendy Mathews, Doug Parkinson and Wes Carr - the show will illuminate classic Dylan tracks from a variety of angles.

“We are definitely making them our own,” says Wendy Matthews, eager to point this out. “This is not a tribute show. Nobody is trying to sound anywhere near like Dylan. […] it’s everybody’s very different takes on the songs.”

Matthews is the only female in the line-up and while she admits it’s a “point of interest” she

doesn’t see any other significance in it. She has known Glen Shorrock since she was 17 and is familiar with the work of the other performers.

Dylan’s music was introduced to her at a very young age when her father would bring home the latest album.

“There’s nothing like a song or a smell to transport you to a specific second in time,” says Matthews, recalling the memory. “So that’s what Dylan does for me.”

She admits that Dylan’s delivery style never really appealed to her,“I love him, but you cannot say that Bob Dylan is a singer!” Rather Matthews was drawn more to the content and poetry of his lyrics.

“For me, what this [show] has done for me - I’ve rediscovered his poetry and the depth of it. Bob Dylan was, as far as I’m concerned, the most reluctant speaker and voice for the 60s and change. I mean, he really did not want to lead the fight, but simply by his content, that was who he was.”

Having said that, however, she was amazed at the melodic beauty of Forever Young, one of the songs she’ll be performing on the night. It’s a deceptively simple yet exquisite melody she is able to explore with her own voice, that she would never have discovered through Dylan’s “speaking” style delivery.

For the show, each performer will sing a selection of songs on their own as well as singing some numbers in various combinations of the group and as a full ensemble.

“We were asked to submit 10 of our faves that we’d really like to do...they were all divvied up.

And a few of us have asked another to join them on a song,” explains Matthews. They’ll also chat briefly about what Dylan and the song means to them. It’s still all coming together, but Matthews is very enthused.

Wendy Matthews. Photo: Supplied

Doug Parkinson. Photo: Supplied

Forever Young

FEATURE

“It’s a fantastic band, which is a treat!… The whole thing will unfold for everyone and that’s part of the excitement.”

Doug Parkinson echoes that sentiment.

“Everyone’s tremendously excited and putting in 110%. It’s going to be terrific!” It’s also going to be a challenge, adds Parkinson, “There’s a lot of lyrics to learn - as you know, he’s a wordsmith.

Every song has got seven or eight or nine or 10 verses!”

That obstacle aside, Parkinson is looking forward to being on stage with four very diverse artists, all five of them bringing their own particular taste and perspective.

For Parkinson, it’s the romantic streak in Dylan that appeals.

“Back in the 60s when he first emerged, and I was obviously a much younger man full of dreams and ideals, a couple of his songs were very important to me and I grabbed them immediately,” he says.

One song that has a special place in his heart is Lay Lady Lay, which he will dedicate to his wife of many years.

“That was one of our anthems, one of our love songs, so that means a lot to me.”

It doesn’t surprise Parkinson that Dylan was able to tap into a broad spectrum of emotions.

He likens Dylan to Shakespeare: an observer and commentator on life and human nature; a modern bard who happened to appear at the right time and place.

“I think he was very much an opportunist, in my humble opinion, because he was Johnny On The Spot and he was aware of what was going on. I think the awareness thing was amazing. And of course the times, the times they were a-changing!”

Parkinson is really looking forward to playing around with arrangements, especially given the incredible backing orchestra they’ll have on the night. He believes Dylan’s simple melodies and minimalist delivery leaves a huge scope for new, creative ideas.

“Some of the melodies are quite predictable in terms of construction, but that’s fun to be able to have a bit of license to fiddle around with them,” he says. “And of course - no one will admit it, but I’m telling you right now - there’s always just a little bit of competition amongst the performers!”

Friendly rivalry, of course.

May 24. State Theatre, 49 Market St, Sydney. $91.90-$119.90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.statetheatre.com.au city hub 16 MAY 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Frocking Hilarious

BARE - The Musical

Lane Cove Theatre Company’s LGBT pop-rock musical BARE follows the journey of a group of high school students at a strict Catholic boarding school. BARE focuses on themes such as identity, sexuality and adolescence, and is presented by a cast and production team that are intrinsically familiar with these.

Young Australian performer and comedian Edan McGovern plays lead woman Ivy and spoke with City Hub about the musical and its importance.

“The show is incredible. It follows the story of two boys who have a secret relationship. It looks at the people who support them, the people who condemn them and the people who are just indifferent, and the effect that all those things have.”

Edan shared how important it is for the cast and creative team to be putting such critical themes on stage, saying: “It’s incredibly important because it’s a showcase of the queer experience by a cast that includes a lot of LGBT people and it kind of delves into what can happen if you do just stand by.”

BARE features a cast of mainly young Australians, all grappling with the themes presented in the musical themselves.

“It’s been a really highly emotional experience,” Edan said before continuing, “the audience can definitely expect a really… honest portrayal of an experience that a lot of Until May 25.The Performance Space at St people might have gone through. In saying that, Aidan’s, 1 Christina Street, Longueville. $20it also doesn’t just look at the struggles but also $27+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.trybooking.com/ at the highlights of what it is to be queer.” (MB) ZFCV

Jay Pharoah Judith Lucy

ActionAid’s flagship comedy gala will return to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre this May with an all-new instalment of Frocking Hilarious. The one-night-only event will raise funds for the national and international work that ActionAid are undertaking to support women’s rights and their campaign against injustice. The line-up of comedians on the night will include Judith Lucy as MC and a stunning line-up of Australian female comedians including Effie, Nikki Britton and many more.

Executive Director of Frocking Hilarious Michelle Higelin spoke with us about the event.

“It’s an all-women line-up of Australia’s funniest female comedians and the goal is to unleash the power of laughter for women’s rights.”

Michelle also spoke about the importance of the event to the work ActionAid is currently embarking on by saying, “This funding from Frocking Hilarious will really help us make a greater impact globally. Particularly, supporting women to be able to strengthen efforts to protect themselves from violence and to influence policies and decisions that affect their lives.”

The night itself is set to be a big one, with 800 audience members braving wild weather to attend the event in Brisbane in March.

“It’s definitely a great girl’s night out, whether it’s groups of women from workplaces or friends coming together,” Michelle said of the event, continuing, “it’s a wonderful night to get out and be in solidarity with women around the world and also to have a hilarious night. I promise that people will be in stitches!” (MB) May 17. Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown. $45+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.ticketek.com.au

a&e

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On his debut Australian tour, Saturday Night Live alumni, stand-up comedian, actor, rapper and impressionist Jay Pharoah will be heading to Sydney’s Factory Theatre as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Bringing his brand new show with him, Jay Pharoah’s stand-up performances are set to take the comedy festival by storm.

After six huge seasons as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live, Jay has mastered his celebrity impressions, and in 2015,

he was honoured by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 55th greatest Saturday Night Live cast member in the history of the show.

“I try to find what really makes me laugh uncontrollably whether it’s a noise, a current event, or just me freestyle writing whatever comes to mind,” Jay said when

talking about his creative process. He went on to say, “then I try to build the punchlines around the premise of the joke.”

With this tour marking his first visit to Australia, Jay filled us in on his main objective when checking the country out, saying, “I’m going to see some wildlife, National

Geographic ain’t enough for me.”

With his shows featuring impressions of Justin Bieber, Barack Obama, Kanye West, Drake, Nicolas Cage, Stewie Griffin and endless others, Jay’s Sydney Comedy Festival liveshow will be electric.

“Just expect to have one of the best times at a show you’ve experienced and I’ll take it from there,” said the comedian. (MB) May 16-17. Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville. $54.90+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au

Made To Measure

How do people manage their inner voices when they find themselves the victims of bias?

What happens to a person when they feel judged? These are questions Alana Valentine,

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award-winning Australian playwright, asked herself when writing her new play, Made To Measure, which examines internalised discrimination and “flippant social attitudes” around the subject of weight.

The main character, Ashleigh, about to marry, finds herself in a dilemma when searching for a wedding dress. She is overweight and nothing seems to fit. There is nothing for it but to find a tailor, who can make the dress, in her size. So begins a relationship between client and stylist, in which different aspects of weight and weight management are explored.

In her research, Valentine interviewed couturiers on the issues of styling and fitting clothes to different shapes and sizes and, with further scientific research, found that biology is not the same across all human beings and that ‘different bodies deal with fat in different ways.’

Valentine was mentored by Alex Buzo and has written many award-winning plays,

Arts Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

including Parramatta Girls, about orphaned and abused girls fostered by The Parramatta Girls Home. Valentine is also well known for her plays Shahanna And Aunt Sarrinah, a companion to Buzo’s Norm And Ahmed, which deals with generational change, prejudice and, wearing the hijab. Both are on the NSW school drama syllabus. Valentine has won three AWGIE awards including The David Williamson Award, a BBC radio award for best play and even The International Writing Fellowship Award at Shakespeare’s Globe London. She is a serious playwright focusing her theatrical voice on some very serious issues.

Made To Measure aims for social awareness and the need for change. Starring Megan Wilding, Tracey Mann, Sam Osullivan and, directed by Tim Jones. (RLD) Until Jun 1.The Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland Street, Chippendale. $37-$46+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

Contributors: Irina Dunn, Mark Morellini, Olga Azar, Rita Bratovich, Erika Echternach, Joseph Rana, Madison Behringer, Allison Hore, Renee Lou Dallow, Alannah Maher.

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Jump First, Ask Later Dauntless Movement Crew (DMC) is a troupe of young performers who will challenge what you thought you knew about gravity, physics, and human capabilities. They began as a small group of disenfranchised but determined young people in Fairfield who used their combined skills in dance and gymnastics as well as a unique fusion of parkour, breakdance, acrobatics and circus skills to create performance pieces that are utterly jaw-dropping. The group has flourished into a world-renowned, award-

Photo: Sameed Khan

winning organisation that tours entertainment circuits, performs in schools, provides workshops, and even did a TEDx talk.

Adding narrative and context to their physical performance, six founding members have devised an exciting show called Jump First, Ask Later, which will have a limited run at Riverside Theatres.

Through electrifying choreography, the performers will reveal elements of their personal stories, elements that include violence, migration, redemption, and

ultimate independence and freedom. It’s an awe-inspiring experience for kids of all ages as well as adults. A free workshop is also being held on May 22 for Jump First, Ask Later ticket holders but numbers are strictly limited so book early.

Come and see this amazing young team of performers - you’ll be bouncing off the walls afterwards! (RB) May 23. Riverside Theatres, Cnr Church & Market Streets, Parramatta. $21-$32+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

With Coffin Ed Amidst the controversy that still simmers over footballer Israel Folau’s fire and brimstone Instagram post, one important aspect remains relatively undiscussed.

Champions of free speech Alan Jones and Mark Latham have leapt to Folau’s defence with libertarian flair but what about another long-running issue – the misinterpretation or selective interpretation of the Bible itself.

Folau lists ‘drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters’ as those destined for the fire pits of hell, but makes no mention of ‘enslavers’ – the subjugators of men, women and children who have practised their evil since the year dot.

Slavery in all its many forms has been a monstrous blight on human civilisation and continues to be so even in 2019 where workers in third world countries are paid a mere pittance for their labour. Whilst the Bible has been well-thumbed to come up with quotations that apparently denounce homosexuality and support those who see it as a sin, what does it say about slavery?

Basically, bugger all!

When it comes to outright condemnation in both the Old and New Testaments – the answer is virtually nothing. When it comes to both tacit support and outright endorsement then try: “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5).

And you might also consider:

“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners since he is the one who broke the contract with her.”

(Exodus 21:7-11 NLT) The simple historical facts are that slavery in biblical times was the accepted norm. Whether the Bible refers to them as ‘servants’, ‘bondservants’ or ‘manservants’ they were all slaves – there to do all the hard yakka, the menial tasks, provide sexual favours and play an integral part in the economy.

Whilst there is no evidence of Jesus ever campaigning against slavery, some defensive Christians will point to the fact that in the Old Testament, Israelite regulations freed slaves every seven years and ordered the death penalty for man stealing – however, not exactly what you would call abolition.

Throughout history, the enslavers have regularly pointed to the Bible’s almost total lack of opposition to slavery to support their own slave holdings. This was often the case in America prior to emancipation where preachers held the good book high as a sign of God’s support for the inhuman trade and bondage. Somewhat ironically

African slaves were introduced to Christianity by their white masters as a form of placation although they were often told that heaven was reserved entirely for the Caucasian.

In fairness, there are millions of modern day Christians who don’t accept a literal interpretation of the Bible and are prepared to read between the historical lines to draw their spiritual guidance and inspiration. On the other hand there are still millions more conservative Christians who view every word as the absolute truth, particularly those who subscribe to a creationist view – like the Australian born preacher Ken Ham who runs the Creationist Museum in Kentucky, believes the world is only 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs roamed during the Old Testament (Hey, I fact checked the Bible and couldn’t find one mention of a Stegosaurus).

Perhaps the Bible could do with a bit of updating and revision and some contemporary input from some of today’s more enlightened religious scholars. I tend to think that Jesus, given his empathy for the poor and down trodden, would have viewed slavery as vile and abhorrent. Maybe the status quo at the time and those that compiled and edited the Bible chose to conceal that concern to protect their own vested interests.

Hundreds of years later slave masters in America issued a special ‘Slave Bible’ to their African captives, deliberately censored to remove any suggestion of the promotion of freedom or lack of obedience. Needless to say, history and religion go hand in hand when it comes to repeating themselves – ad nauseam!

Factfulness Factfulness, the ground-breaking book described by Bill Gates as “one of the most important books I’ve ever read,” challenges reader’s views and notions on the state of the world, and encourages them to look past their biases and see everything more “factfully.” An instant New York Times best-seller, Factfulness is written by Swedish physician, academic, data visionary, public speaker and global TED phenomenon, Professor Hans Rosling, together with his long-term collaborators, son Ola Rosling and daughter-in-law Anna Rosling Rönnlund. Published only months after his death, Professor Hans Rosling’s final book has become a ground-breaking global phenomenon.

UNSW’s Centre For Ideas will be offering an Australian-first opportunity to hear from Factfulness co-authors Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Rönnlund at Sydney Town Hall on May 20. The award-winning pair are co-founders of Sweden’s Gap minder

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city hub 16 MAY 2019

Foundation and creators of the revolutionary ‘Trendalyzer’ information visualisation software. At the event, the couple will reveal the ‘ten instincts that distort our perspective’.

In his final published work, Hans Rosling takes this legacy a step further, teaching us how to put aside drama and opinion, look beyond our own instincts and assumptions, and see the world as it really is.

Factfulness at UNSW Centre For Ideas will offer a unique opportunity to engage with the co-authors of the book, and expand your worldview on what is important – and perhaps what is not.

“A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases.” – Barack Obama on Factfulness. (MB) May 20. Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall. $15-$30+b.f.

Tickets & Info: www.centreforideas.com

Hans Rosling. Photo: JÂrgen Hildebrandt

By Jamie Apps One year ago City Hub spoke with Alice Ivy, who told us she had two major goals to achieve over the course of 12 months. Those goals were to complete her next album and also to begin exporting herself internationally. When City Hub had the opportunity to once again sit down with Ivy we discussed whether she had achieved those goals before then looking to the future once again.

Upon reflection, on the goals mentioned last year, Ivy said she had achieved both of them. Something which she described as “pretty amazing” because she “absolutely didn’t think they would both be possible. To now be able to look back and realise that she has achieved the goals she initially set down for 2018 Ivy says it is a real “confidence booster” moving forward in 2019.

However, before setting her goals for 2019 Ivy was quick to point out that the Australian festival circuit played a pivotal, but underappreciated, role in her being able to achieve both of her 2018 goals.

“Being able to have backstage or

Alice Ivy

green room time to meet different people is crucial because the friends you make on tour is a friendship you can rely on and always look back to as a bond you share.”

This bonding time at Falls Festival was particularly important for Ivy

because it allowed her to form a friendship with Detroit’s Flint Eastwood, an artist Ivy would go on to collaborate with heavily on her upcoming second album.

Having formed a bond with Eastwood over their similar “approach to live performances”

Me And My Left Brain This charming romantic comedy is more observational than physical. A cross between an episode of Seinfeld and a session on the analyst’s couch, although the latter is what the main character, Arthur, is trying to avoid.

Instead, he protests that he is actually, “Happy being miserable.” Essentially the film, written and directed by Alex Lykos, who also stars, is

about dealing with middle age, missing out on the property ladder and getting over the break up of a relationship that was supposed to last the distance.

The film features some fab Sydney locations including Newtown, Glebe and our beautiful Hyde Park. Superbly edited by Mariana Marusic (The Castle) and with, a very cool

Peterloo

As occasional cannon fire explodes around him in the final moments of the battle of Waterloo, a young, British soldier looks blankly around him and blows his bugle, clearly shell-shocked.This opening scene is echoed at the end of the film when the same soldier stands perplexed in St Peter’s Field in the midst of an inexplicable massacre. It’s one of the neat details that make this such a thoughtful and coherent work by Mike Leigh.The massacre, given the name Peterloo, is the climax of the film, and its inevitability generates tension throughout, but it’s really a plot driven by characters.

Leigh has created a Dickensian cast, from absurd, eccentric dignitaries to vociferous activists to unassuming, poor but loving families, all with wonderful dialogue to match. It’s beautifully photographed and the intricate sets suggest a deference to authenticity.The storytelling is logical and well-paced, and the lengthy two and half hour running time passes painlessly.

Though not especially graphic in terms of blood and gore, the final scenes are very confronting and sadly reminiscent of more recent historical atrocities. (RB) WWWW

Ivy was invited to travel to Eastwood’s studio in Detroit, thus helping to complete one of her goals.

As Ivy now embarks on an extensive national tour to promote the first single, Close To You, which is the first taste of the upcoming album she said she is amazed at how far she has come in a short space of time.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be headlining some of these venues.

Two years ago I opened for Billie Eilish at The Lansdowne, which is pretty nuts looking at where she is now, but now I’m headlining!”

Following the tour, Ivy is once again using City Hub as a marker to hold her accountable by setting two more goals for the next year.

“In terms of my goals this year, I would love to focus on Europe.

We’ve toured the [United] States a few times so I would absolutely love to go on a European headline tour. Lastly, I’d also love to have a gold record this year!”

May 25. Lansdowne Hotel, 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale. $23.44+b.f.Tickets & Info: www.thelansdownepub.com.au

Carly Rae Jepsen Dedicated

When first encountering the latest album from Carly Rae Jepsen you quickly begin to ponder who or what this record could be ‘dedicated’ too, upon listening the answer quickly becomes apparent.

Throughout its 15 track journey, Dedicated takes the listener on an emotional ride throughout the entirety of a relationship. From the initial early sparks and desires right through to the realisation that “we were over” and the first step in the new journey as a Party For One. Dedicated is a sugary pop filled record, that has a big heart at the core of its lyrics. Carly Rae Jepsen has certainly come a long way from the days of Call Me Maybe. (JA) WWW1/2

jazz score by Cezary Skubiszewski (Red Dog, The Sapphires) this small independent film has some very big things to offer. With a fine cast, an honest writer/director, a great crew and an all Australian production team, Me And My Left Brain, has much to offer. No glitz and glamour.

Just real, down to earth and very tender. (RLD) WWW

German Film Festival This year’s German Film Festival won’t disappoint, with an alluring program of quality dramas, comedies and documentaries which should ensure there’s something for all tastes.

The opening night film (which is followed by an afterparty) is Balloon, a thriller set in 1979 and based on true events surrounding two East German families who escape to West Germany in a homemade hot air balloon.

“It’s a very spectacular story about one of the most daring escapes in the skies,” explained Bettina Kinski, the Festival Coordinator. “It’s just one story of thousands of people who have tried to escape to the west. This year is the 30th anniversary that the Berlin wall came down and we thought this was a very appropriate film to open the film festival.”

This is a family-friendly

film festival with a special program called Kino For Kids, specially formulated for children and teenagers.

There are two family films screening on weekends and four films screening for school children during weekdays.

“This film festival is a meeting point for people to communicate about values, traditions, culture and perspectives, and the best starting point to learn to speak German is to watch a German film.”

(MMo)

Balloon

KINSKI’S HOT PICKS THE CAPTAIN - A powerful black and white anti-war film which details the true story of war criminal Willi Herold who assumed the identity of a German officer and organised the killing of prisoners at one of the Emslandlager concentration camps.

STYX - Story of a woman who embarks on a solo voyage across the Atlantic on a yacht and comes across a sinking boat with refugees.

Minimal dialogue and the absence of a musical score heightens the impact of this story about the refugee crisis.

GUNDERMANN – A biopic/ drama by multi-award-winning director Andreas Dresen which presents an endearing portrait of esteemed East German folk singer and songwriter Gerhard Gundermann.

May 21 – Jun 9. Palace Norton Street & Chauvel Cinema. $18-$22+b.f..Tickets & Info: www.germanfilmfestival.com.au city hub 16 MAY 2019

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