City Hub 18 February 2016

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city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

Caught in crossfire:

community victims of lock out

BY LYDIA WATSON MOORE ‘We are the unintended victims who will not stand by any longer’.

This is the resounding message of the growing movement against the Sydney CBD’s controversial lock out laws.

Following Premier Mike Baird’s comments last week on social media supporting the laws, Sydneysiders have lashed back in their thousands, with many claiming the laws have destroyed Sydney’s nightlife.

Through social media, lobby groups such as Keep Sydney Open have seen a recent swell of support for their campaign against the tight alcohol and venue laws, introduced in 2014.

Campaign manager of Keep Sydney Open, Tyson Koh, told City Hub this new wave of rejection to government policy showed the public was ‘ready to have a balanced debate about the lock outs’.

“There’s a lot of disdain in the community about the damage that these laws have done. They aren’t really a proper solution to violence on our streets,” Mr Koh said.

Former owner of Potts Point restaurant Jimmy Liks, Justin Maloney told City Hub that the government had put the whole community in the cross fire.

Mr Maloney was forced to close his award-winning restaurant in December last year after 12 years of service, due to a decline in foot traffic.

“The thing the government’s not getting is that it’s just not about people who sell booze for a living, it’s about the whole community, who have been devastated up there,” Mr Maloney said.

Mr Maloney said he had seen many other local businesses forced under due to decreased revenue.

“The little mesh of fantastic bars and restaurants that were up in Kings Cross and Potts Point had a very, very fast downturn in trade.

Then they just all started going broke,” he said.

While Bar Century became another casualty to the laws this week, victims are found not only in the hospitality sector.

Burlesque performer and photographer Billy Bullseye Texas told City Hub that many entertainment promoters are giving up and performers cannot afford photography due to declining business.

He said he had witnessed the decline in Sydney’s late night culture since the lock out introduction, which had reduced his capacity to make a living.

“It saddens me to see this decline as well as worries me to think how I can maintain a career doing the things I love,” Mr Texas said.

He said that the people who just wanted to go out and dance were

boosting and giving a platform for Sydneysiders who love to dance.

Keep Sydney Open is also planning a large protest rally for the day before, February 21, which will feature speakers from musical giants The Preatures and Hoodoo Gurus and a performance from Art vs Science.

Reclaim the Streets Sydney, a group infamous for its musical protests against the ‘nanny state’, plans to keep the momentum of the backlash going into March.

The group has planned a protest festival for March 19, with scores of musical acts spanning across 11 stages.

A spokesperson for Reclaim the Streets told City Hub that while the protest could not overcome “the amount of money and power that’s against” them, it would bolster campaign momentum.

“What a protest can do is energise the movement, keep the issue in the spotlight and most importantly, create friendships between people who are willing to do the hard work and fight this long term,” the spokesperson said.

While many within the Sydney music community are gearing up to physically protest, the government has now called on people for their written commentary.

Deputy Premier Troy Grant announced on February 11 that an independent review will be conducted into the 1:30am lock out, 3am last drinks and 10pm restriction on take away liquor sales.

The inquiry is encouraging people to submit feedback about the laws to liquorlawreview@justice.nsw.gov.au.

Mr Koh told City Hub he “genuinely hoped” the review would be “comprehensive and listen to all sides of the debate”.

“We are running out of time because a lot of the venues which have survived so fare have indicated to us that they’re under a lot of financial stress,” he said.

“We’re on the verge of losing a handful of fantastic venues right now.”

Bar Century is the latest business to fall victim to the lock outs.

Photo: Christopher Harris

being punished, “as if they were the ones committing the acts of violence”.

Mr Texas’ passion for dance has inspired him to hold an ‘Footloose angry dance’ in reaction against the laws.

He told City Hub that his protest, set for February 22, is a move away from the typical ‘negative’ protests. He will focus on morale

Keep Sydney Open rally: February 21, 12:30pm, Belmore Park. Facebook page – ‘Keep Sydney Open Rally’.

Angry flash dance protest: February 22, 5:30pm, Martin Place. Facebook page – ‘A time to dance: Footloose angry dance against ban on dancing and rock music’.

Reclaim the Streets Sydney rally: March 19, 4pm, Wynyard Park. Facebook page – ‘Reclaim the Streets’.

Opinion

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BY BARBARELLA KARPINSKI I am writing this piece as a requiem to a city that once had a pulse. The 1986 Depeche Mode song, Stripped, is the backdrop to this requiem. The song from the Black Celebration album samples motorbikes revving up in slow motion.

As I read about the closure of Dreamgirls, an iconic strip club in Sydney’s notorious Kings Cross, I reckon this is the song for the funeral.

These bastions of underbelly sub-culture have now been closed, after alleged links to motor cycle gangs and revelations of private shows where the dancers were giving drugs to undercover cops and other allegedly nefarious strangers.

Sydney has been stripped of nightlife.

All that was once seedy, subterranean, underground, has now all but disappeared.

All the reminders of my misspent years have gone. The Eros Club where I danced is now a backpacker pub, the Pink Pussy Cat Club is no longer and now Dream Girls and Bada Bing are closed until further notice.

According to reports, the Kings Cross strip clubs have been closed down pending investigations.

In order to understand why the police involvement in of Kings Cross counterculture is so wrong, also the title of a Depeche Mode song, let’s head even further back to the years of black-clad Siouxsie Sioux, Spandau Ballet and the Sex Pistols, the Cross of the seventies.

The Glitta Supernova Experience promotional picture. Photo: Supplied

That’s prior to the Wood Royal Commission where an even more malevolent world lurks, more nefarious than nude dancers allegedly giving cocaine to contemporary undercover cops. In this seventies world, street based sex workers, now mature aged, tell tales of handing over their hard earned dollars to the 21st Division and the Vice Squad, no, that’s not

like Joy Division, it’s a police unit, though the original band was named after the death squads in Nazi Germany. The payoffs to cops were so workers would not be arrested. If you didn’t pay for “protection” and you were a sex worker, you would wind up in treadmill of fines, jail, and work.

Because there was so much corruption in this time of early glam and late punk, Commissioner James Wood recommended the decriminalisation of sex work in 1995.

Sex worker, Sally Ann Huckstepp blew the whistle when her boyfriend, Warren Lanfranchi, was murdered in a lane in Chippendale.

Now, you’ve got to see it as a bit unjust, that those workers who paid off the cops never got their money back, despite a royal commission and various sensationalised television series.

In the real Cross of this era - gays, lesbians, sex workers, indigenous and transgendered people stood side by side in protests and riots, most notably in June 1978 and this led to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. When police targeted them, these sub-cultures came together in solidarity and defiance.

Now, you’ve got to think its kind of spooky déjà vu, that we have undercover police hanging out in shady night clubs still, all in the name of law and order. Sex workers seem to be the underdogs of this underbelly? Surely this tax payer money may be better spent on roads, schools, hospitals?

The full version of this article is available on the Altmedia website. city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

3

Battle heats up for ‘progressive’ seat of Sydney

By ANDREW BARCLAY Marrickville councillor Sylvie Ellsmore will contest the crucial Labor seat of Sydney against popular local member Tanya Plibersek, who has withstood a sweeping change in voting preferences in inner-city areas – for now.

Ms Ellsmore will campaign largely on local issues she told City Hub, although it is expected Ms Plibersek, the deputy leader of the Opposition, will retain the seat.

“I’m looking forward to campaigning with the community to defeat WestConnex, to achieve affordable housing for our city, to implement genuine solutions for climate change, and to put an end to the heartless and inhumane treatment of refugees,” she said.

Experts say the campaign for the seat follows the national trend towards progressive inner-city voting and will be fought on federal issues.

University of Sydney political scientist Stewart Jackson said there was no doubt Labor would hold the seat, but that the contest highlights the increased competition between Labor and the Greens for inner-city voters.

Dr Jackson said federal issues including asylum seeker policy, climate change and marriage equality – not local matters -- would be key in the coming election, tipped for September or October.

“Westconnex will play a role for certain voters, but this will be mainly about federal issues,” he said.

Ms Plibersek’s personal popularity is central to Labor’s retention of Sydney, given the party has already lost former strongholds in Melbourne and the New South Wales state

Labor Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek

electorates of Balmain and Newtown and Sydney.

Traditionally a safe Labor seat, Melbourne was held by the party for 106 years from 1904 to 2010, until Greens candidate Adam Bandt secured victory over the Labor candidate.

Bandt then retained his seat at the 2013 election.

Labor has held the seat of Sydney since its creation in 1969, and Ms Plibersek since 1998, securing a near two-thirds two-party preferred vote at the last federal election.

Dr Jackson said the Sydney electorate would only come up for contention when Ms Plibersek retires, citing Hobart.

“Like the seat of Hobart, when a longtime member retires, people reassess their affiliations,” Dr Jackson said.

The progressive nature of the seat has led Ms Plibsersek to take different positions to that of her party, including voting against opposition leader Bill Shorten on asylum seeker policy.

The issue also flared up again last week when Ms Plibersek spoke out against her party for keeping children in detention.

Ms Plibersek said her electorate wanted a progressive government who would take real action on climate change and marriage equality.

“What I want for the people of Sydney is what I want for all Australians -- a country with both a strong economy and a fair society -- where everyone can get great education and healthcare, where you can get a job, and afford to live a good life,” she told City Hub. “And that’s what I can help deliver for the local community as part of a Labor Government.”

Yet, Sydney isn’t the only inner-city seat that will see increased attention at the next election after federal redistribution changed the complexion of Grayndler. The seat gained Balmain and Rozelle while parts of Marrickville have been transferred to Barton.

The seat now covers most of two state seats currently held by the Greens, though analysis from the ABC has shown that based on 2013 Federal election results, Grayndler would remain a Labor seat and the Greens would finish third.

There had been speculation that long time Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese would move to Barton to ward off the Greens at the next election, yet that now seems unlikely.

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5

It’s a short march to Town Hall, but long road to justice

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS It was a win for justice, the organisers of the TJ Hickey March said of a last minute agreement on Friday which stopped the attempt by NSW Police to cut the march short for the second year in a row.

About 250 protestors marched from TJ Hickey Park in Waterloo to Sydney Town Hall on Sunday Feburary 14, to commemorate his death after being chased by police.

Last year, the procession of the march was stopped at the Aboriginal Tent embassy in Redfern at the request of the police.

The Police tried to stop the march short again this year.

But organiser Raul Bassi told City Hub that everyone in Redfern and Waterloo knew what happened to TJ, and that the message needed to be spread further.

“This year we said we are not going to take it, and we went to court,” he told City Hub. He said that there was a lot from TJ’s case which needed to be addressed.

“We demand compensation and an apology for the TJ Hickey Family.”

“We don’t want to reopen the inquiry, we want a new inquiry.”

Before the march went ahead, the organisers took to the Supreme Court to challenge the police’s attempt to cut the march short.

The police objected to the march on the basis that previous marches had been violent, citing one on Australia Day. Mr Canning said that these protestors were from another group and had subsequently been isolated and not included in this year’s one.

“Event organisers and NSW Police agreed on a number of conditions how this year’s rally would be conducted. These conditions were agreed without going to hearing. The adherence to these conditions by the protestors was paramount to the successful conduct of the procession.”

Ken Canning from Indigenous Social Justice Association said that he and other organisers stayed up all night to produce a case at the last minute, due to the late notice by the police.

He said he believed when their barrister presented an outline of their case to opposing council, the police commissioner rung around for approval to drop their opposition to the rally.

In a statement to City Hub, the police said that they opposed the rally on the basis of public safety.

“From time to time, police will lodge objections to aspects of an event, and in this case, it related to the proposed route of the rally, which may have impacted on public safety.”

“The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly in a safe environment,” the statement said.

“The first priority for NSW Police is public safety.”

Ken Canning said he believed the forms and agreements they made them sign following the agreement was the same as any normal rally. “It was face saving on the police’s behalf,” Mr Canning said.

Greens MPs David Shoebridge and Jenny Leong expressed serious concern at the attempts by police to shut down the protest.

“TJ Hickey died tragically as a result of a police chase in Redfern and every year since his death this action has taken place in Redfern. This latest attempt by the police to use the courts to shut this important annual event down is unacceptable,” Mr Shoebridge said.

Jenny Leong said that the right for peaceful assembly was a part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “This right needs to be upheld,” she said. “The local community and social justice activists have the right to gather peacefully to commemorate TJ Hickey’s death and to commit to keep up the fight for justice.”

Protestors on George Street.

Photo: Lawrence Gibbons

Ken Canning told City Hub that only a small handful of recommendations from the Royal Commission into deaths in custody had been implemented.

He said one recommendation, a service which notified a legal organisation when an indigenous person was taken into custody was one of the best things to come out the commission.

“In the decade since it was implemented, there was no deaths in custody.”

He said the Baird Government had since cut funding to the program. The program secured federal funding from the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the next three years.

“When you’ve got this whole situation of no deaths in custody being recorded for ten years, and

Access denied: Darling Harbour locks locals out

BY LUCAS BAIRD Community group Pyrmont Action is “enraged” with the lack of access and community consultation regarding developments in the Darling Harbour area.

Convenor of Pyrmont Action Elizabeth Elanius said there has been no government consultation, and much of the area’s development since 2012 has been carried out in “secret.”

The Darling Harbour Precinct has been under extensive development since 2012, with several new buildings and facilities currently under construction.

But residents of the area see this as a continuation of the shutting off of Darling Harbour from the rest the city, claiming that access is becoming more and more limited.

Convenor for the Pyrmont Action Group, Elizabeth Elanius, said she was going to stop participating in the government’s community consultation.

“I’m on the community liaison group, and I am so enraged by the whole thing now that I’m not going to the next meeting,” Ms Elanius told City Hub. She said that the precinct had become inaccessible from surrounding areas, which were going to get worse going into the future, particularly from Pyrmont and Ultimo.

“The previous access ways over Darling Drive have been demolished and will not be reinstated.”

“What happens now is that pedestrians and cyclists have to take a lift down to Darling Harbour and have to try and find their way out again to get to the city,” she said.

Ms Elanius said that she blamed Infrastructure NSW for the lack of access.

She claimed that Infrastructure NSW engaged in a “secret” phase of planning to develop a restrictive 6

city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

design brief for developers.

She said that the design brief was developed in secret, and that no community consultation occurred. She said with that design brief, a very limited tender went out, so as the community were kept in the dark.

“Subsequently, everything we have been asking for has been answered with ‘that is Darling Harbour has suffered from overdevelopment. Source: Adam JWC not in our design brief’.”

A spokesperson from publication. A spokesperson for the developers said Infrastructure NSW told City Hub that they have participated in extensive consultation with the local their projects will increase accessibility for the area. community since 2012.

But, Ms Elanius said she was having none of it The spokesperson said they plan to increase “When the government first came in, we were pedestrian accessibility in the near future. promised that planning powers would be returned “A new 20 metre wide pedestrian boulevard will to the people,” Ms Elanius said. run north-south through the precinct, connecting “We are powerless to change anything what so ever.” all parts of ICC Sydney and linking the Darling Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, Harbour waterfront with the south of the city and sympathised with Ms Elanius’ opinion.

Central Station.”

He said that pedestrian access is being “The urban renewal underway at Darling “undermined.”

Harbour will reinvigorate this much loved precinct, “Promises to improve pedestrian links with the opening it up and reconnecting it to surrounding city and Pyrmont/Ultimo are being undermined by areas by improving pedestrian accessibility,” the emerging towers facing the harbour with their backs spokesperson said. turned on adjacent areas and cutting residents off “New east-west connections, including visually as well,” Mr Greenwich said.

Tumbalong Place and Harbourside Place, will also “I’ve asked questions in Parliament and made connect with the western side of the city,” they said. submissions to the Department of Planning and Whilst no official response from the developers will continue to oppose overdevelopment in this of the site, Lend Lease, was received in time for precinct.”

then it is axed, of course we’re angry. Deaths in custody is such a raw issue.”

“Last year, we overtook African Americans on two abysmal statistics. We now have the most incarcerated black people per capita, and the most deaths in custody. We also overtook the final eight years of the apartheid regime for the percentage of black people in prison”.

He said that the police should stop arresting indigenous people for “trivial” things.

“In the last week there has been two more deaths in custody. We are losing count. It has gotten that bad we have state bodies forming a national body to keep an eye on national rates of deaths in custody.”

A full statement from NSW Police can be found on the City Hub website.

Darling House Proceed debate continues?

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS A former Millers Point resident has rejected claims made by some that the government should reimburse residents for improvements made in the Darling House property.

Ron Jennings, who has lived in the area since he moved to Sydney in the 1970s, said that the residents did not ask the government for money whatsoever. The money comes from the generous charity drives to fund a nursing home known as Darling House, which is due to be sold toward the end of this month.

Mr Jennings, who is 86, said that there would not be many people who contributed to fund raising today.

“You’re going back to the 1970s and there are very few of those people around today.

People who care about Millers Point in general, it is only if the unthinkable happens and they do consider, what was an enormous effort, the people of Millers Point never asked for a cent” “It was quite evident that no residents thought the government owes them anything, just because we raised all that money.

“I have been so lucky, I feel that I owe Millers Point a lot, because I don’t have a relation outside of South Australia.”

Mr Jennings said that he didn’t think the government would give the money back to residents, but said if they did, it should be given to charity.

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7

Where there’s land and water there’s fire

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS A newly formed community group, Friends of Moore Park, has formed in an effort to protect the green space from what they see as the continual threat from the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, who wants to obtain more land.

Convenor Michael Waterhouse said that it was vital to protect the land, as a quarter of the park has been lost since it was opened in 1888.

The past few weeks has seen Sports Minister Stuart Ayres agitate for a new stadium on the site, sparking fear in the local community that green space will be sacrificed in the Moore Park vicinity.

Mr Waterhouse said that the new group had no political affiliation, but was simply the community wanting to protect the park, because “once it is lost we won’t get it back” He said that the focus of the group was to build a registrar of supporters of our objectives, which include preserving Moore Park from intrusions from the SCG trust, including not using it for parking, and not resdistribution of boundaries.

“If the stadium is rebuilt, we want to see a proper business case. But there clearly isn’t a need, the The sculpture by Diana Hunt on Kippax Lake recognises the contribution average number of attendees at an NRL game at of Australian sportswomen. Photo: J Bar Allianz is only 14,000.”

He said it was important that the government heard the system, as well as its importance to the local environment. community’s concerns, because of the ongoing threat of the The lake is contains eels among other invertebrates, as well SCG Trust to public space. as being a nesting place for several native birds.

He said that the SCG Trust was not accountable to the “As one of the only two remaining original features of the public.

Sydney Common, Kippax Lake has high heritage value, and “The SCG trust are exempt under their act from is referenced on the Register of the National Estate listing for Environmental Planning Assessment Act, which means that Centennial Parklands,” the website states.The lake was used they can do what they want. They don’t need approval to cut from 1919 as a place to sail model yachts, and in 1931 was down trees, so we are obviously concerned about that.” used for a model seaplane competition.

Sports Minister Stuarty Ayres sparked controversy when he A scultpture of a female athlete designed by Diana Hunt in suggested building a stadium on Kippax Lake in Moore Park.

1967 after a competition held by the Sydney City Council to Management of the Centennial Parklands responded to the design an art piece to recognise Australian Sportswomen.

Minister’s idea earlier this month to post a history of the lakeAgain on Monday, Minister for Major Events Stuart Ayres from its days as a swamp to the heyday of model boating. advocated for a new 55,000 capacity stadium for the CBD and The post from the management of the parklands also contains eastern suburbs, although the minister had said that it would information of the importance of the lake to the stormwater not be built on Centennial Park land.

Q: Why did the light rail cross the road?

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS The Greens have called on the government to stop work on the light rail east project, and says it should answer questions as to why the route was changed following a development application for a hotel.

The Greens say the planned hotel on Alison Road is situated where the previous planned route for the light rail is located. Moving the route has meant that hundreds of old trees will be cut down as well as transferred, sparking community backlash against the government.

Hundreds of locals gathered last Sunday to further protest the removal of the trees.

“This whole process stinks and is full of irregularities. How can a forty-four volume planning document identify the Southern side of Alison Road as the optimum location then one month after a development application for a hotel is received, be overturned by flimsy reasons in a modification document,” Dr Faruqi said.

“The Government has never adequately explained why it changed the route, a decision that is leading to the loss of so many majestic trees, including one hundred year old Moreton Bay figs. If they changed the route purely so the racecourse could build their hotel at the expense of the community and the environment then they need to come clean.”

“The realignment makes no transport sense and will result in a

sub-optimal outcome for commuters and the environment “ She said that the DA for the hotel was approved in late 2014, but a modification report moving the route show that the previous alignment would have impacted on the proposed hotel.

The original EIS said the route meant “good inbound bus and light rail interchange opportunities immediately adjacent to the proposed Royal Randwick racecourse stop.”

The Modification report said it would have had “potential impacts to the bus interchange area at the Alison Road entrance to Royal Randwick Racecourse.”

A Transport NSW spokesperson said “The revised location of the Alison Road alignment improves access for customers living north of Alison Road and those travelling to and from local educational facilities and Centennial Park.

“It prioritises ‘every day access’ to the area ahead of casual event access and also offers improved pedestrian safety during special events by providing a new fully signalised pedestrian crossing opposite Gate 1 of the Racecourse. This ensures safety and minimises conflicts between pedestrians, special event bus services and general road traffic.

“The alignment was changed after further consultation was carried out with the community and stakeholders in 2014 following the release of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).”

Environmentalists slam “Baird’s war on trees”

BY KENJI SATO A proposed overhaul of NSW’s biosecurity laws has been labelled a “war on trees” by Sydney environmentalist groups, who fear the changes will threaten native vegetation and animal habitats throughout Sydney.

The fears were raised at a meeting in Maroubra last Thursday, where local councillors, residents, environmentalists, and state MPs discussed the Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review, which recommends sweeping changes to biodiversity laws and policy throughout the state.

The NSW government has signalled that it intends to push all 43 of the review’s recommendations through parliament, and a draft legislation bill is due for public exhibition in early March 2016.

The review proposes to introduce a more “flexible” offset policy, which will allow developers to remove trees and “offset” the biodiversity loss by planting trees elsewhere or paying into an offset fund that will be spent on biodiversity projects.

Under current laws, offsets must satisfy a strict like-for-like test, where developers must show that that the offsets are of an equivalent type and in a nearby location for construction to be approved.

Campaign Coordinator for the Nature Conservation Council for NSW Corinne Fisher, who arranged the Maroubra meeting, told City Hub that the new offset policy would hurt metropolitan areas most.

“There is very little vegetation left across Sydney. So when you remove vegetation, it has a huge impact on communities because there is nothing much else around to counteract this removal of native vegetation and it’s difficult to plant equivalent trees. There’s just no room and there’s no suitable nearby offsets.”

“People are very sensitive to the issue, especially in the inner city in the face of considerable development and infrastructure going ahead.

People are realising how important green sanctuaries and trees are to the liveability of their neighbourhoods.”

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city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

A Tawny Frogmouth. Source: Wikicommons

Ms Fisher told City Hub that strict like-for-like tests were needed to preserve native vegetation in cities and areas of high development.

“In western Sydney, for example, there are very precious remnants of endangered ecological communities such as Cumberland plane woodlands where you cannot find equivalent offsets. They just don’t exist anymore. So you’re looking at a developer proposing to clear an endangered ecological community and protecting an offset which is not located anywhere near western Sydney.”

“Those kinds of offsets which are not like-for-like are exactly the type of policy that we’re going to see applied on a mandatory level across NSW if those biodiversity changes go through.”

Dr Leigh Martin, ecologist from the Total Environment Centre, told City Hub that much of the vegetation in Sydney was irreplaceable, and that any offsets would be “apples and oranges, or in some cases apples and cash”.

“When you’re talking about the metropolitan area, you’re talking about remnant habitat. There’s simply no way to offset that because it’s by definition remnant. It’s the last vestiges of what was there. There’s nothing left nearby to offset against,” Dr Martin said.

Dr Martin told City Hub that he feared the new offset policy would give developers free rein to demolish native vegetation in the city.

“If this legislation goes through, then we will see significant loss of vegetation, and there will be very little way for councils or for other planning authorities to say no to a development. Under the new system it’s hard to see when the answer to any development would ever be no.”

But The Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review’s final report stated that the new laws would promote overall biodiversity across the state and boost economic growth.

“Ultimately our goal must be to minimise future losses of native biodiversity…. We believe that this can be done at the same time as reducing regulation and improving social and economic outcomes.”

The report also stated that the government could not preserve biodiversity on its own, and that the new policies would shift some of the responsibility to private landowners and developers.

“We are not aware of anywhere in the world where long-term conservation of historical, cultural or biophysical resources has been successfully achieved solely through exerting the coercive powers of government. Educational, suasive and incentive measures are invariably an important part of successful regimes – we believe that these mechanisms should be used more in NSW.” The Office of Heritage and Environment did not respond to City Hub’s request for comment in time for publication.

FEATURE

There is more to love Inside the world of polyamory

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Is monogamy really the best way? Am I destined to be married to someone for the rest of my life? Is that going to make me happy? Will I meet the one this year?

Members of the world of polyamory, those who engage in multiple romantic relationships with the consent of all the people involved, will be asking slightly different questions.

What will my relationship structure look like? How will my relationship(s) change this year?

While it is by no means a new idea (the Greeks and the Romans practiced similar things; ‘swinging’ has been going on for decades), it is having a renaissance of sorts. In January, dating website Okaycupid added “in an open relationship” option, and the online community of polyamorists has grown.

But is society ready to spin even further away from the nuclear family?

Is polyamory ready to enter the societal mainstream?

Simon Hildebrand thinks it is possible.

The facilitator of the Sydney Polyamory Facebook page, says people are looking to different models to get away from the dishonesty he thinks is implicit in traditional monogamous relationships.

Hildebrand works in IT and speaks openly and confidently about his experiences in the world of polyamory.

With lush hair and clear skin, he has a wholesome air.

Hildebrand first got involved in the poly community when he lived in Melbourne, and again when he moved to Sydney. “In Melbourne, there seems to be more stable long-term partnerships, and so people are interested in more established things, such as talking about getting recognition of poly relationships, and other questions, such as ‘how can I tell the school that one of three parents can pick me up from school?’ and, ‘How can I tell the hospital I have more than one partner?’”

In Sydney, he finds people are more interested in primary questions like jealousy and coming out.

“Not only is jealousy one of the first things people ask about, but it is also the topic of just about every second discussion group we have,” Hildebrand says.

According to him, jealousy is a common problem that can be managed. Another is the barrier to entry.

Polyamory, no matter how normal and rational

The models in these photos are not necessarily in polygamous relationships Hildebrand makes it seem, is still outside of the norm. “Ninety per cent of the group are interested in the idea, but frightened of jumping in, because it seems like jumping over a threshold of honesty and openness.”

Hildebrand jumped over the threshold when he was 24 and had just ended another relationship. A friend told him that “this serial monogamy thing” didn’t seem to be working for him and introduced him to the polyamorous community. He met Rebecca and James, a newly married couple. He would sleep with Rebecca on weekends while James was exploring bisexual tendencies and dating other men. He said the relationship worked because he was able to have a platonic friendship with James (who was also a

“geek”) and offer Rebecca something completely different to the “stable home life,” she had with her husband mid-week.

After the relationship ended, he remained on good terms with the couple. “I was incredibly privileged to be part of that: they were so generous bringing me in.”

At their 20th wedding anniversary, Hildebrand played the guitar while James serenaded Rebecca with his rendition of the song “This Old Love.”

While Hildebrand might have been an early adapter, according to counselor Frances Amaroux, who specialises in polyamorous and “alternative” relationships, having relations with more than one other person is increasingly popular among

heterosexual people. She puts this down to the development of the women’s rights movement, the emergance of female agency and sexual empowerment.

However, in her experience the trend, which has been around for the past ten years, has proven to be complex.

The reason for the complexity is quite simple: it’s a numbers game. “When you add more people, the relationship problems multiply.”

She says that when a typical emotion like jealousy arises in a polyamorous relationship, because there are more people it can be more intense (think of a ven diagram of overlapping circles, Amaroux instructs). .

The forms polyamory take are many and nothing is typical, she says.

According to her, society is in freefall.

“People are questioning the whole thing of monogamy, constructed by religion to keep people together.”

For Tatiana, 48, polyamory was a way of getting away from constrictive stereotypes.

“I think marriage is romanticised. I have been around long enough to see a lot of people not that happy. Men question their roles, and if that doesn’t make them happy, they might want to look at other options. Some people can find all they want in one person, but for others, they might need to find some sexual adventure or friendship bond.

Life is messy. “ “I have had sex in a group and have had relationships in a group. I’ve had threesomes because I liked men and women. And I had to buy a bigger bed,” she says.

She says relationships with several people don’t always have such a simple solution.

“It is not for the faint-hearted. It is difficult for other people, and people tend to pathologise it.

“It can lead to sadness, because you are never acknowledged as being in a ’real’ relationship.”

“On the positive side, it has allowed me to avoid wasting a lot of time, and not feel anxious and restricted. It takes that stress out of my life.”

Is it the beginning of a sexual renaissance? Is it going to revolutionize relationships? Or is it the end of civil society as we know it? The possibilities for polyamory, like its relationships, are infinite.

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chris@altmedia.net.au city hub 11 FEBRUARY 2016

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Jewels of Kyoto

The Japan Foundation in Sydney will be hosting a special Geisha performance, Jewels of Kyoto, for one night only. There are a lot of common misconceptions about Geisha culture due to western society

romanticising them in books, movies and TV shows.

Geisha are professional female artists who commit to mastering a variety of traditional Japanese arts such as music, dance and tea ceremony. They are seen as unique embodiments of high culture in Japanese classical arts. Geisha culture in Kyoto is the most robust and rigorous where they are referred to as gieko and their teenage apprentices are known as maiko.

This single performance will give the audience a glimpse into the world of geisha. The visiting geiko and maiko will perform traditional dance and song, offer a glimpse into their lives and host a lesson on the gentle and refined dialect of Kyoto, known as Kyokotoba.

Nao Endo, Director of the Japan Foundation explained this is an ageold tradition not to be missed by those who enjoy Japanese culture.

“A geisha’s path is a living tradition that embodies centuries-old Japanese culture and values,” he said.

“I highly recommend fans of Japan and lovers of the arts to enjoy this unique experience that no words can encapsulate.” (AMal) Feb 23, 6.30–8pm. Monkey Baa Theatre, Darling Quarter, Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney. $10.

Tickets & info: jpf.org.au

A gleefully gruesome musical horror comedy receives a 21st century update as Little Shop of Horrors comes to The Hayes Theatre to launch an Australian tour. Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions, who together brought us the multi-award-winning Sweet Charity in 2014, have teamed up to make this possible.

In this cult classic, a struggling flower shop in the rough part of town is prepared to shut it its doors for good, when timid and downtrodden employee Seymour Krelborn (Brent Hill) discovers a tremendous little plant that changes everything. His aim is also to impress the beautiful Audrey (Esther Hannaford).

“The business is really bad… the plant attracts customers and business starts booming, but the plant gets dangerous and hungry, it gets a life of its own and all hell breaks loose…” explained Tyler Coppin, who plays opportunistic shop owner Mr Mushnik.

With an upbeat Motown score and some serious puppet wizardry, this production brings together a talented crop of seasoned and fresh performers and behind the scenes creatives.

“The audience won’t see a puppet, they’re going to see a freakin’ plant that eats people!”

Coppin exclaimed.

We caught up with Coppin in the thick of rehearsals, where he and the other actors (many of them unexperienced with puppets) were learning to perform with the giant, maneating plant known as Audrey II. According to Coppin, when master puppet makers Erth were approached to create Audrey II for this production,“they said ‘we’ve been waiting thirty years for someone to ask us to make this puppet!’”

“It’s no throwaway little ditty our production, we

Photo: Jeff Busby

look at the human elements behind it, the soulful connections we make, [and] the reasons behind every action we take,” added Coppin.

This production promises to be the full package, and should delight fans of the original production, the 1960 or 1986 film adaptions, and lovers of musical horror everywhere. (AM) Feb 18–Mar 19. Hayes Theatre Company, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point. $74.90-$84.90.

Tickets & info: hayestheatre.com.au

Hats Off! For Harmony Hats Off! Is back for its 19th year for a night of spectacular entertainment – and most importantly, to raise money and awareness for the fight against HIV/AIDS. Hats Off! Was created in 1997 by Oz Showbiz Cares and Equity Fight AIDS, with many of this group of musical theatre performers directly affected by HIV/AIDS. During the 90’s a number of people in the entertainment community had been diagnosed with HIV and unfortunately passed away.

Hats Off! Producer Bali Padda said this showcase of entertainment became an opportunity to raise money for this issue that affects them so dearly.

“It is a charity benefit concert where members of the performing arts community come together to put on a fabulous show to raise awareness and funds for ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation,” he said.

“During the last 19 years millions of dollars have been

raised and thousands of people have taken part in OSC/ EFA activities.”

The night will be hosted by Tom Sharah and Gillian Cosgriff with performances by Queenie van de Zandt, Amy Lehpamer, Phil Scott, Michael Cormick, Monique Montez, Andy Dexterity and the casts of The Sound of Music and Heathers plus many more acts. Edward Grey will be director with musical direction by Anne-Maree McDonald.

Padda said they raised $45,000 last year and hopes to raise even more in 2016.

“Ticket sales are our biggest fundraiser, but we also sell raffle tickets on the night for an exceptional selection of donated prizes,” he added. (AMal) Feb 22, 8pm. York Theatre, Seymour Centre, cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St,The University of Sydney. $35-$95.Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com

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10 STAGE 12 SCENE 13 Sounds 14 SCREEN

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

Contributors: Brendan Modini, Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Alicia Sim, Nyssa Booth, Lauren Edwards, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Lauren Bell, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Matthew Bernard, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Olga Azar, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Sinead McLaughlin, Siri Williams, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Anvi Sharma, Emily Shen, Silvia Cheung, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn.

Review: Year Of The Family

Presented by Tooth and Sinew in association with Bakehouse Theatre,Anthony Neilson’s play is a clever examination of what constitutes a family, and he definitely does not land on the side of convention.

His family is stitched together from a ragbag of unlikely and not very likeable characters, at least not likeable initially.

There’s Claire (Brooke Ryan), who’s sleeping with the nice older man Dickie (David Woodland) while also having torrid sex with his son Sid (PeterWilliam Jamieson).

And there’s Claire’s detested half-sister Felicity, or Flis, played by Nicole Wineberg, who has kidnapped and held hostage a homeless man (Brendan Miles) whom she believes is her long-lost father and whom she is training for the role.

From this simple scenario arises incidents in which these characters brush up against one another in sometimes uncomfortable, often amusing, and always challenging ways.

Nicole Wineberg alternately cajoles and bullies her hostage into thinking and behaving as her missing father had all those years ago and, to our astonishment, he begins to respond to her tuition.

While the writing has its weaknesses in the first act, especially in the scenes between Claire and Sid, it evolves very satisfyingly in the second with a nice twist in the “family” Christmas gathering that unites the characters in momentary reconciliation and, dare I say it, love?

Director Richard Hilliar made the most of a mostly good script, while Ash Bel (Design),Tegan Nicholls (Sound) and Liam O’Keefe (Lighting) did wonders with the limited space of this off-off-offoff Hickson Road theatre. (ID) Until Feb 20 (Tues-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm).The Kings Cross Theatre, level 2, Kings Cross Hotel, 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross. $25-$29.

Tickets & info: toothandsinew.com/current

THE SECRET RIVER Adapted from the novel by Kate Grenville, this play tracks the story of the conflict between transported convict William Thornhill and the Dharug people, on whose land by the Hawkesbury River he attempts to settle. Joshua Brennan plays Dan Oldfield, another convict taken on by Thornhill to help work his land.

Oldfield struggles between Thornhill’s dubious morality and the grim treatment of the local indigenous culture. A dark period in Australian history portrayed with respect for both sides. (GW) Until Feb 20. Sydney Theatre Company, Roslyn Packer Theatre, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $69-$116.

Tickets & info: sydneytheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1777

The co-creators and performers are making their way in the industry. Robinson’s appearing in Australian film Downriver that will open in March, and Natt interestingly has a background in archaeology and literature (that explains her wordsmanship).

Especially moving towards the end of the performance, Natt waxes lyrically about being dead and buried, soulfully accentuating a smouldering sensuality, whilst painted in gold – mesmerizing to watch. (MS) Until Feb 20 (Tues-Sat 10.15pm, Sun 7.45pm).The Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $25.

Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com/alpha

PERCH A woman puts an ad in the paper for someone to watch over her while she sleeps, so she can feel secure…

Fundamentally, Perch is about what people do in order to feel safe.An ambiguous one-man play with two entirely possible scenarios, Mardi Gras audiences in particular will connect with it on a deeper level. (MS) Until Feb 21, various show times.

Downstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $25-$40.Tickets & info: belvoir.com. au/events/perch/ or 02 9699 3444 THE RITZ On the run from his murderous bother-in-law, a balding, middle-aged businessman finds himself hiding out at a steamy Manhattan bathhouse running rampant with the frivolities of the gay sexual revolution.The

It was a full house for the premiere of David Williamson’s fiftieth play, Jack of Hearts, at Australia’s longest running professional theatre company.

Williamson himself directed this witty comedy of manners, in which his sophisticated 30-somethings agonise over unsatisfactory marriages in their search for fulfilment.

Williamson asked two performer/writers from The Chaser’s War on Everything to play the young husbands and they agreed: Chris Taylor plays Jack, a disillusioned lawyer turned comedian (that’s worth a laugh in itself!), and Craig Reucassel takes on the role of Stu, the sleazy real estate agent.

Their long-suffering wives, cast perfectly in Paige Gardiner as Emma and Brooke Satchwell as Denys, contribute their own comedic style in the expectations they have of their affluent lifestyles.

Isabella Tannock’s broad Aussie accent as Stu’s latest extra-matrimonial squeeze is hilarious, while Christa Nicola as Kelli, the resort owner, is perfect as the uptight business woman.

Having ditched her husband as a loser, Emma takes on a new man, Carl Mochrie, who plays the unscrupulous television anchor for all its worth.

As we expect from comedy, all’s well that ends

Brooke Satchwell as Denys and Craig Reucassel as Stu. Photo by Clare Hawley

well, but not exactly in the way we expected.

If I have any quibbles, it is that Williamson’s women lack the depth of his male characters, and that Jack’s forays into comedy performance should have been restricted to two sessions at most, and should have been as funny as Williamson’s dialogue elsewhere in the play.

For all that, Williamson’s latest work is a hoot that’s not to be missed. (ID) Until Apr 2. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli. $25-$69.

Tickets & info: ensemble.com.au or 02 9929 0644

Review: Luisa Miller

Review: Alpha “Germaine [Greer] doing push ups in Beyoncé’s shorts,” now that’s a line from an original new piece Alpha that pushes the boundaries of sensibility.

A charming love poetry performance piece is showing late at the great venue Old Fitz Hotel, which has become a beacon for fresh and innovative works. The show is comprised of young dynamic male and female duo act Sebastian Robinson and Tamara Natt, with musical accompaniment provided by lead guitarist on electric Fender Strat – it’s 50 minutes of confident easy delivery or amusing ranting and rhyming with fluid dance/movement and pop.

Having come to the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras festival program after successful sold out performances at the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival, Alpha instils gay pride through an exploration of the identity politics of love, aspiration and change, pulling the audience together with a sense of community as we laugh along to their black humour and clever wit.You don’t have to be gay to to enjoy the poetry in Alpha.

The work is a celebration of language and it revels in the wonder of the spoken word, as a way to entertain us, provoke us, and move us.

Review: Jack Of Hearts

New Theatre presents this madcap farce with their most adventurous set to date, a cast of 15 (most of them only in towels) and several wild choreographed musical numbers.Audiences will leave with huge smiles! (AM) Until Mar 5,Tues–Sun, v arious show times. New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $17-$22.

Tickets & info: newtheatre.org.au THE PUNTER’S SIREN A whacky comedy about people’s inner thoughts, fears and desires set in the 60’s.The socially awkward Helen (Jacqui Robson) turns up to Randwick Racecourse alone to be swept off her feet by the vivacious Linda (Laura Viskovich), but this blonde bombshell has an ulterior motive. Set in a time when homosexuality was more fraught with difficulties, this enigmatic play

Luisa Miller is a coup for Opera Australia, which along with its partner Opéra de Lausanne, is staging this rarely seen production in Australia for the first time.

It is also a triumph for Nicole Car, who takes on the exacting title role and carries it off spectacularly.

From her first aria ‘Lo vidi e ‘l primo palpito’, she shows her command of the complex bel canto style required of this role, while in the second act, four of the Diego Torre (Rodolfo) and Nicole Car (Luisa) performers must sing an extended a Photo: Prudence Upton capella aria and be pitch perfect when the orchestra finally rejoins the singers. dramatic intensity to the unfolding tragedy.

The black and white colour theme and the Eva Kong gives a touching performance as stark minimalist set (designed by William Laura the village girl, Sian Pendry is magnificent Orlandi) have the effect of severing the story as Rodolfo’s cousin Federica, and Daniel Sumegi from its nineteenth century setting and placing is predictably excellent as Count Walter’s in a timeless zone of human passions. steward, the menacing Wurm.

The libretto gives us a Romeo and Juliet type I have some minor quibbles with director story, complete with star-crossed lovers Luisa Giancarlo del Monaco, but conductor Andrea and Rodolfo, sung by Diego Torre, the tenor Licata wrings maximum intensity from the score with the unfalteringly big voice. to make this a truly memorable production. (ID) Their feuding parents — Luisa’s father sung by Until Feb 29. Joan Sutherland Theatre, baritone Dalibor Jenis and Count Walter sung Sydney Opera House. $44-$330. by bass Raymond Aceto — add plenty of Tickets & info: opera.org.au

also pays tribute to the fashions and the fancies of the decade. (AM) Until Mar 5. Blood Moon Theatre, The World Bar, 24 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross. $21.89-$32.34.

Tickets & info: eventbrite.com.au or theworldbar.com THE PRIDE An emotional and poetic reflection on gay identity and sexual liberation, celebrating authenticity, empathy and understanding.The Pride jumps between two parallel love stories – one set in the repressive past, 1958, and the other in the more liberated present day.Through wicked humour and raw emotion,The Pride will get under your skin, exploring the ever changing attitudes to love and sexuality.

After receiving incredible reviews in the UK, this highly topical play is one that

will leave the audience talking for days.

(NB) Until Mar 6. Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $38-$45.

Tickets & info: darlinghursttheatre.com THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – REIMAGINED Expect a completely new view on an Oscar Wilde classic, quite controversial in its time.

Nathan Farrow, an Australian playwright/ actor, adapts the play; it’s a drama and a comedy with horrors and dark secrets.

Wilde is well known for his wit and sharp jabs against society, and his characters have clever quips that make you think about what’s happening in society today. (MS) Until Mar 19. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30.

Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au

LADIES DAY Written by Alana Valentine, this play focuses on a female writer in Broome and her experience and conversations with gay men in the community. All of these stories are based on real life interviews and heavy research.

Valentine is seeking to express ideas and themes that normally aren’t publicly known or discussed with the community, regarding the LGBTQ experience in regional Australia. Darren Yap is the director of this evocative play, with a large musical portion by Max Lambert.

(AMal) Until Mar 26, various show times.

SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross. $20-$55. Tickets & info: griffintheatre.com.au city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

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THE NAKED CITY

LIVE VERSUS LOCKOUT! With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death Back in the 1980s the Graphic Arts Club in Regent Street Chippendale ran as a largely weekend music venue that often attracted crowds of around five hundred each night. Despite an enthusiastic consumption of alcohol on the part of patrons and gigs that often ended way past midnight, there was almost a complete absence of any argy bargy – either in the club itself or with punters leaving the venue.

There were no heavy-set bouncers on the door or inside patrolling the crowd, no security cameras, almost no ejections and despite the inevitable drunkenness the only person ever to end up in hospital was a member of Adelaide metal band Escape, Tony the Brute who separated the top of his finger whilst setting up some on-stage pyrotechnics.

Meanwhile, just up the road at the Trade Union Club, sometimes referred to as the “bastard son of the Grapho”, the security was of the 120kg-plus, no nonsense, man-mountain variety. Even allowing for the more rambunctious nature of both bands and punters who frequented the ‘Trade’, there were frequent ejections, countless ‘headlocks’ and a litany of somewhat notorious bashings.

As the debate ranges regarding the current lockout laws, and the movement swells to have them overturned, it’s interesting to look back at a bygone time and perhaps some of the lessons that can be learnt. It maybe spurious to compare different eras, but there’s a lot to be said for ‘live’ music, as opposed to DJ culture, when it comes to

Nic Nyx – Black White Drips & Trips

In the creative industry it’s all about “thinking outside the box”, or so we’ve been told anyway. Local artist Nic Nyx may just be pushing innovative boundaries by staying inside it at her current exhibition, Black White Drips & Trips, for 36 hours.

Beginning Friday February 19 at midday and ending Saturday at midnight, Nyx will be contained to a small box and commence live painting with no colours other than black and white.

For Nyx, her elongated period inside the box is more about a challenge than anything else, an experiment to see what she can achieve without the aid of technology.

“I really like challenges and that was the biggest one. When I create I’ve got a lot of external stimulation, I’ve got a documentary playing on my computer, I’m always fiddling on my phone and seeing if I’ve got any reference images and stuff like that. I wanted to see what PAPUNYA TJUIPI ARTS 2016 Honey Ant Gallery is showcasing the immense talent of artists from central Australia’s most enduring remote arts hub – Papunya, the home of the Western Desert dot-painting movement.This exhibition is dominated by the talents of the women painters of Papunya, many of them descendants of the founding members of the art movement.With individual styles they capture ancestral stories on canvas and record them for future generations and the prosperity of country. (AM) Until Feb 28.Weds–Sun,10am-4pm.

The Incinerator Art Space, 2 Small Street, Willoughby. Free. Info: honeyantgallery.com IAN GRIEG A new series of paintings by Sydney-based artist Ian Greig drawing upon the natural environment, but not rooted in the outward material landscape.A soothing fluidity 12

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The current 1.30am lockout ban has been flagged for another year, but perhaps once that has expired, it might be time to experiment.Venues that feature a large component of live music could be given extended licences and encouraged to employ a more punter friendly style of door enforcer, as opposed to an army of steroid-fuelled blockheads. Three or four bands could play throughout the evening with the venue encouraged to turn over the house rather than keep punters drinking for hours. DJs would no doubt object, claiming that it’s not the music that creates aggression or anti-social behaviour.

Maybe it’s not, but you would have to argue that predominantly live music venues around town – like the Metro, Oxford Art Factory, the Basement and Newtown Social Club – encounter and generate a lot less potentially violent patrons than their dance club counterparts. Given that most of the violence occurs in the streets, you could also argue that there lies the problem, not in the venues themselves. But given the current stalemate between the club/DJ lobby v the police and casualty departments, surely any kind of cultural change is worth a punt.

creating a more sociable environment – chemical stimulants excluded.

Unlike the 80s and 90s there’s almost no live music in the Cross these days and only a couple of venues that cater for bands in the new Golden Mile of Newtown. When live music did thrive in KC, music fans went to the various clubs with a common purpose, to enjoy their favourite band at a prescribed time, wallow in the experience and then invariably bugger off home.

Binge drinking was more confined to the band breaks than the non-stop consumption that occurs at DJ only clubs, where the pace is invariably a lot more frenetic. In the 80s and 90s patrons at venues such as the legendary Kardomah Café could even step outside with a passout to grab a cup of coffee or a delicious snack at the Yummy Yummy food bar.

I could create if I took all that away.”

Nyx’s work has a sinister tinge to it, which is something that she credits to her unconscious self as she recovers from a creative days work.

“My work is really dark and creepy, most of that is because I get really bad nightmares.”

Modest by nature, Nyx’s strengths lay within her character and her willingness to push herself, and the results are an art form in themselves.

“In this exhibition I’ve got descriptions of all the work, why I did them and stuff, and they’re really honest. I just wanted to do it with no bullsh*t, I wanted to give the real reasons why I created them.” (AH) Feb 18–22. M2 gallery, 4/450 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. Free (bring your smartphone and a pair of headphones for the audio guide). Info: m2gallery.com.au

is created through the bleeding rich colours and vibrant tones of the paintings, which seemingly seep into each other, generating a sense of calmness which captures the delicate tangle of light and shadows. (SH) Until Feb 20. Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. Info: arthousegallery.com.au CHEN QIULIN – ONE HUNDRED NAMES This exhibition includes over a decade of photographic and video work focusing on the central issues of migration, displacement, ancestry, urban development and its disruption of traditional culture and way of life. Qiulin’s favourite piece is the installation ‘One Hundred Names for Kwong Wah Chong’, the latest iteration of her ongoing video works documenting the decaying process of one hundred common Chinese family names

CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade CUSP: Designing into the only Sub Mass, questioning our Next Decade makes a social structure in the process welcome return to our (more details to come). shores this month. Seen by “To me the hierarchy of the over 50,000 people around orchestra is very much like the the country, this travelling hierarchies in society, you have national creative program is some people who call the shots sure to be an experience [who are] the conductors, you that broadens the mind. have people that follow, [and] The exhibition highlights you have people that try to get the works of Floyd Mueller, into social structure and fail – Greg More, Leah Heiss, they never pass the audition.

Photo: Jessica Lindsay Stephen Mushin and Super You have very delineated roles Critical Mass. that you’re meant to take in life.”

Born out of an aversion to the blinkered shackles They’ve set some objectives and have a left wing of instrumentalists and composers, Super Critical solution that might not be for everyone, but it’s Mass in particular are pushing the boundaries of sure to be an intriguing spectacle. what’s possible in their arena.

“What we’re trying to do is address those given “I myself became a little bit frustrated as ‘just a hierarchies and flatten them all out and, through composer’, feeling like I had to think about my art sound, create a different kind of social grouping as only operating on a stage with a set arrangement where everyone has equal input.” (AH) of the audience, or through radio broadcasts, or Until Apr 28.Tues–Fri, 11am-4pm. through audio recordings,” explained co-director Australian Design Centre, Julian Day. 101-115 William Street, Darlinghurst. Free.

They will attempt to use design to change the Info: cusp-design.com or way we listen and will be presenting a one-nightaustraliandesigncentre.com

carved from tofu. (AMal) Until Feb 27. 11am-6pm.

4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 181-187 Hay Street, Sydney.

Info: 4a.com.au LUMINOUS WORLD An exciting new exhibition brings together a selection of 61 different paintings, photographs and ceremonial objects by some of Australia and New Zealand’s most significant contemporary artists.

Collected from artists such as Paddy Bedford, Rosalie Gascoigne, Bill Henson, John Mawurndjul and Lena Yarinkura – the works all carry with them a message built around the theme of ‘light’, which carries with it a symbolic resonance. (JA) Until Feb 27, 11am-5pm, Mon-Sat. National Art School Gallery, Forbes St, Darlinghurst.

Info: nas.edu.au/NASGallery

STEFAN DUNLOP & ADRIAN COOMBS Galerie Pompom starts off their new year with two new exhibitions, Stefan Dunlop’s ‘I like your old stuff better than your new stuff’ and Adrian Hobbs’ ‘Parental Guidance Recommended’. Dunlop focuses on the romanticising of natural landscapes, some within historical moments – candy and pastel colours juxtapose his themes. For Hobbs, research of chaos through mathematics, science, history and philosophy has allowed him to develop a certain understanding of chaos, which he has recreated through a visual element of object paintings.

(AMal) Until Feb 28,Wed-Sat 11am-5pm & Sun 1-5pm. Galerie Pompom, 2/39 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. Free entry. Info: galeriepompom.com

DAMMERSCHLAF Exploring the liminal states of creative practice and the processes of translation involved in the making and interpretation of art, this exhibition showcases site-specific work of three of the inaugural Artspace One Year Resident Studio Artists – Nick Dorey, Mikala Dwyer and Clare Milledge.

Collaboratively creating an immersive experience, the artists address perceptions of reality, alternate spiritualties and the supernatural. The use of organic materials and an interest in the processes of alchemy and natural flora unite the three practices.

(SH) Until Feb 28. Artspace 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo.

Free. Info: artspace.org.au

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps Tim Draxl: Internationally award-winning cabaret artists come to Sydney as part of Mardi Gras celebrations for a one night only intimate performance about memory, passion and yearning.

Thu, Feb 18, Slide Lounge The Peep Tempel: Before the Melbourne trio resign themselves to the studio to work on new material, The Peep Tempel will perform their final show in Sydney tomorrow night.

Known for their riotous live shows and fun-filled rock and roll, this show is bound to get your weekend off to a great start.

Fri, Feb 19,The Factory Floor John Paul Young & The Allstar Band: The 60s, 70s and 80s all had a distinct soundtrack for Australians and one mans fingerprints were all over said soundtrack, that man being John Paul Young.This show will take the audience on a journey through the music of those decades, with songs from The Easybeats,AC/DC and Grace Jones to name a few, with some behind the scenes stories from Young himself.

Sat, Feb 20, Enmore Theatre Saviour: Merely two weeks ago this Perth metal core group released their first single since returning to the scene.

Prior to calling it a day the group was hailed as one of Australia’s finest prospects in the genre, but a sudden breakup left fans devastated. Now that they are back and more invigorated than ever, they arrive in Sydney to cement their return.

Sun, Feb 21, Bald Faced Stag Leftfield: Touring Australia for the first time since 2011 to celebrate the release of their third album, British electronic outfit Leftfield are happy to be able to fulfil a commitment they made to fans early on, but which fell through due to circumstances out of the artists control. With their loud impactful sound they have become one of Britain’s most talked about acts.

Mon, Feb 22, Metro Theatre Sufjan Stevens: Celebrating his 2015 album Carrie & Lowell will see Stevens embark on a full Australian tour playing the entire album along with a selection of tracks from his back catalogue with a full band and immersive lighting experience to back it up.

Tue, Feb 23, State Theatre Feki: One of the Australian electronic music scene’s biggest success stories of 2015 comes to Sydney this week for a dreamy mid-week party. At only 19 years old the young producer has already played alongside the likes of What So Not and Golden Features. While also garnering a huge following of his own with his new single Quiet Minds, currently clocking over 380K plays on Soundcloud and previous single Remember breaking the 505K mark.

With his smooth, dreamy beats this will be a wonderful way to cap off your hump day on Wednesday.

Wed, Feb 24,The Wall - World Bar

By Jamie Apps 2015 was a milestone year for the twin musical duo of Cosmo and Patrick Liney, now 2016 looks to be taking that newfound momentum and perhaps even accelerating. Last year the release of their new EP Moments saw the duo rocket to the number two slot on the iTunes charts, only being beat out by the juggernaut that is Chet Faker, and amassing over six million plays online.

Riding off this wave of success the boys have just last week embarked on a national tour that will see them take a pit stop in Sydney this weekend.This tour marks the end of the mini-vacation for Patrick, who explained how he had been enjoying the break and reenergising before the tour.“It’s always so hectic leading up to an EP release with all the logistical stuff to take care of, so it’s nice to have a little bit of downtime relaxing, going to the beach and writing new stuff before we go on tour,” he said.

For this show, which is filled with Cosmo’s Midnight original tracks, the duo has completely reconfigured their live set up.

Previously they had simply used an APC40 to

Cosmo’s Midnight

play their music live to audiences, whereas now they have also implemented an SPD-SX drum machine and a MPK25 keyboard. Patrick elaborated on the thought process behind the change by saying “since there’s two of us on stage we felt like we needed to bring a bit more, if we’re having more fun on stage then the crowd will end up having more fun too.”

Obviously with these new elements introduced

Riley Pearce – Outside The Lines

It only seems fitting that this past weekend we celebrated Valentine’s Day, because as soon as I listened to Outside The Lines I fell in love with Riley Pearce and his mesmerising voice.

Despite his youth, Pearce’s music conveys the emotions of a much older soul with his smooth harmonies helping to create a sullen yet simultaneously upbeat and hopeful vibe.

Pearce has a presence which demands your attention throughout the EP and regardless of your mood at the time I am certain you will be captivated and touched by at least one of the tracks on here.

The only track I could do without is the instrumental ‘406’ but otherwise this album is highly recommended for your daily commute, in the office or just to jam to at home on the weekend. (JA) WWWW

mardi gras film festival

into the set, Cosmo and Patrick had to go back through the set and reconfigure some elements.

“We went through song by song to decide which parts we wanted to play live from each one, then took them all apart, rewrote the synths and loaded what we needed onto the instruments,” said Patrick. Along with having to rework all of the tracks for the live performance the added hardware can increase the stress levels on tour.

Patrick explained,“It takes a while to setup each show and because there are so many bits of hardware that can go wrong it can be really stressful, but I think it’s worth it because it’s so much more gratifying.”

Looking ahead to after these shows, the pair plan on expanding their vision abroad with a tour of the United Sates in March.“Since we started we’ve been mainly confined to Australia, with only a couple of shows in Japan and Indonesia, so this year is going to be the year we take our music abroad properly into a new frontier,” said Patrick, very excitedly.

Feb 20. Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $20.

Tickets & info: oxfordartfactory.com

Dr. Dog – Psychedelic Swamp

From the moment the listener presses play a wave of fuzzy joyful warmth fills up the body cavity, existing without any concept of any other feeling.

Playing through the thirteen tracks it is a constant among the beats and the philosophical lyrics, lurking very pleasantly and pushing out all the past and future and how unpleasant they can be.

Though time is filled up it is for less than forty minutes and though the vibe is strong it will pass in linear time and the listener is still where they were, in reality.A place and a time that may now seem unfamiliar after the psychedelic tones reverberating away into the dark recesses of the brain, a murky blurry place called memory.

It is hard to know that it exists, this wonderful joy, unless it’s playing. Keep the music going, use that repeat button for all its worth. (SP) WWWW

feb 18 - mar 3 2016

festival on now

DEPARTURE

STARTING FROM… NOW!

THAT’S NOT US

MIXED SHORTS

SUN 28 FEB 8PM

TUE 1 MAR 7.30PM

WED 2 MAR 7PM

SUN 28 FEB 5.30PM

Beatrice (Juliet Stevenson) and her son Elliot flee to their French holiday house where Elliot encounters a jawdroppingly gorgeous Parisian boy and falls in love.

This hit online drama follows the tangled and increasingly complicated lives of four inner-city Sydney lesbians. Join us for the world premiere of the fourth season.

Three couples — one gay, one lesbian, one straight — go on a weekend away at a beach house on Fire Island, New York. The film is a breath of fresh air.

A collection of the year’s best lesbian, gay and transgender short films. Highlights include Vessels and Pearl of Africa (pictured).

Ticketing and more info at

queerscreen.org.au city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

13

Concussion

Concussion casts Will Smith in the lead role as the Nigerian forensic pathologist Dr Bennet Omalu, who was responsible for discovering chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in NFL players and thus triggered a long fight with the league and American society.

Unfortunately for the film this battle is portrayed rather poorly, constantly jumping forward large time spans, without making it overtly obvious, and only showing brief glimpses of the backlash directed towards Omalu. Some of the examples of this backlash are one rude phone call and an insinuation that the NFL was able to influence the FBI into investigating Omalu’s place of work.

Trumbo

The film also has a poorly implemented love story sub-plot, which serves little to the main story other than to subtly flesh out Omalu’s personal life but every time this is done it halts all momentum the main plot was gaining.

The film is much better when it focuses on the difficulties former players are suffering through as they experience the symptoms of CTE, which include rage, forgetfulness and depression.

Smith is fantastic in his portrayal of Omalu, although the Nigerian accent may be off putting for some.

(JA) WW1/2

45 Years

A wedding anniversary should be a happy occasion, especially when it’s been a solid and long-lasting marriage. Kate (Charlotte Rampling) and Geoff Mercer (Tom Courtenay) are about to celebrate their 45th anniversary with a big party when a letter arrives for Geoff that upends their world.

The news haunts Geoff and he is consumed with memories of his past life and love. This in turn isolates and infuriates Kate who finds it more and

WORLD SQUARE SILENT CINEMA The World Square is hosting its free outdoor cinema and it will be difficult to find a better way to spend those lazy summer evenings than just taking a seat back and relaxing as you get to enjoy the classics: favourites like The Holiday and Love Actually and cult-classics such as Muriel’s Wedding, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Romeo & Juliet will ensure that audiences are glued to the headphones and deckhairs provided by the organisers. (JR) Until Mar 16, 7pm Weds. World Square, 680 George Street, Sydney.

Free. Info: ticketpro.com.au or worldsquare.com.au THE CHOICE Based on the romantic novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Choice examines the power of love from a couple’s rocky beginnings to their life-long romance. The movie is painfully cliché and predictable.

Typical of a Sparks film, The Choice felt awkward – cramped with every romantic sub-plot you could ever 14

city hub 18 FEBRUARY 2016

think of. For me, the only redeeming quality of The Choice was the inclusion of overly cute puppies – but unfortunately they didn’t get much screen time. Disappointing. (NB) W1/2 BRROKLYN Audiences who enjoy quality cinema won’t be disappointed in this highly crafted historical drama, exquisitely filmed with memorable performances from a sublime cast. This captivating story of a young lady who migrates from Ireland to Brooklyn in the early 1950’s, details the hardships endured for new beginnings. Oscar nominated Saoirse Ronan is outstanding as Eilis Lacey and leads a strong cast. This film is complemented by an intense script, a beautifully composed musical score and the incredible replication of the era. Some needlessly melodramatic moments are evident, but ultimately this is a stylish and endearing film. (MMo) WWWW

Bryan Cranston gives a flawless performance in this Jay Roach film based on the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Fighting for workers’ rights and membership of the Communist Party in the 1950s results in an appearance before the House of UnAmerican Activities and a prison sentence for contempt of Congress.

Loyalties are tested, and upon release, he is branded a traitor and blacklisted. But Dalton’s tenacity, courage and sheer talent, together with the support of his longsuffering family, sees him skilfully circumnavigate the ban. He earns himself

THE DANISH GIRL This poignant biopic drama set in Copenhagen in the 1920’s is inspired by the extraordinary true story of Danish painters Einar and Gerda Wegener, and details their mental anguish upon the realization that Einar was in fact a transgender woman. Eddie Redmayne delivers another astonishing and moving performance as Einar/Lily, he convincingly brings the alluring Lily to life.Alicia Vikander shines as his loving wife Gerda, the catalyst to Lily’s emergence. Mature audiences should connect emotionally with Lily and be inspired by the lady who inadvertently gave birth to the transgender movement. (MMo) WWWW STEVE JOBS In another biopic of the late, great co-founder of Apple, director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin provide an update for the Steve Jobs story. Michael Fassbender is suitably intimidating as the inventor with a passion for perfection. His performance is fierce

and compelling, and Kate Winslet is beautiful as Jobs’s emotional conscience and confidante, Joanna.

Although an intimate endeavour, Steve Jobs focuses more on his career highs and lows, moving his personal life to the background.The technique and subtle artistry involved in creating this film are mirrored in the life of the subject. (LL) WWW1/2 DIRTY GRANDPA The aptly named Dick (Robert De Niro) takes his grandson Jason (Zac Efron) away from his control-freak fiancé for the weekend, aiming to get laid in the land of Spring Break.Apart from the strangely hypnotic banter Dick shares with college girl Lenore (Aubrey Plaza), there is little of interest. De Niro has shown a talent for selfparody in recent years;The Intern showed he could do it with a touch of class.What this movie shows is more than most of us would like to see.

(CCov) W

and his friends a modest living whilst at the same time anonymously creating some of Hollywood’s best-loved films.

His fight to be recognized however, will rely upon the movers and shakers of Hollywood being prepared to not just side-step, but to finally defy those who would manipulate us.

Strong performances abound, including Louis C.K., John Goodman, and a deliciously nasty Helen Mirren. This is an extraordinary film about an extraordinary period of America’s entertainment history.

(CCov) WWWW

more difficult to relate to her husband and to maintain a normal facade in front of their friends.

45 Years details the week from Geoff receiving the letter to the day of the party. Everyday mundane activities are interspersed with the couple’s intense exchanges. It’s slow and heavy going at times, however the realistic portrayal of this marriage in crisis and its unresolved ending keeps you wondering long afterward. (ASim) WWW1/2

ROOM A film essentially in two halves – the first exploring the horrifying circumstances as captives in a 10 by 10 windowless room that Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his Ma (Brie Larson) live in before escaping.This is where the second half of the film kicks in, as Jack and Ma adjust to the outside world in very contrasting ways. Due to this structure the film does feel a touch disjointed, but thankfully the performances by Tremblay and Larson are outstanding. Both actors perfectly capture the emotions one would feel being so suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar environment. (JA) WWWW1/2 SPOTLIGHT The story of the investigative journalism team from the Boston Globe who uncovered the atrocities committed by a remarkably large number of Catholic Priests, firstly in Boston and then later around the world.This film could easily have become slow, plodding and depressing – but it masterfully avoids those pitfalls by mixing the overarching story of the

Catholic Church with the day-to-day research and personal lives of the four journalists. Spotlight is a masterpiece in that it manages to perfectly balance all of these separate yet intertwined stories, and ensure each piece of the puzzle seems just as relevant as the last. (JA) WWWW1/2 LOOKING FOR GRACE A teenage girl is on the run, her panicked parents are in pursuit, and a large sum of cash is missing in this suspenseful, fragmented film.Writer/ director Sue Brooks is definitely more infatuated with the small moments than the overall plot. Unexpected characters and twists are continually introduced, a bread crumb trail of clues reveals dark secrets of greed and passion, amusing anecdotes, pure moments of human connection and all eventually taking a much darker turn than you would have foreseen. Patient viewers should find pleasure in this remarkably packaged Australian film. (AM) WWW1/2

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