City Hub 28 April 2016

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APRIL 28, 2016

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KEEPIN’ IT Page 9

The battle to keep Newtown community safe and inclusive

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HARRIS ST TO HARRIS ST PYRMONT

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TO THE CITY & THE STAR

city hub 28 APRIL 2016 RTHUR

ELIZAB ETH M ACA WHAR F

Community push back against Premier Baird is getting results

BY ANDREW BARCLAY A recent backflip on the Glebe Island Bridge is proof community opposition to the Baird government’s agenda is getting results, according to Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne.

“A combination of pressure from council and community groups is having real results,” Clr. Byrne told City Hub. Councillor Byrne says the about-face is a response to a community that has “had enough of the government’s high handed-approach”.

“Baird has lost his shine.”

“People are taking another look at Baird and questioning just how modern and moderate he really is,” he said.

Mr Byrne cites the lock out laws, redevelopment of the inner west and the “criminalisation of democratic protest” as key drivers of community opposition.

“Mike Baird doesn’t give a damn about people in the inner west, so he’s having to match his rhetoric with policy reality.”

The criticism comes after Transport NSW notified Leichhardt Council the agency is considering refurbishing Glebe Island Bridge as part of the Bays Precinct.

Under the Transport and Mobility Plan, the bridge would be opened to pedestrians and cyclists after being left dormant for the past decade.

“The NSW Government is considering refurbishing Glebe Island Bridge as a walking and cycling connection between the Bays Precinct and Pyrmont,” the letter read.

The decision follows lobbying by a number of organisations, including the

Glebe Society, Bike Leichhardt, City of Sydney and Leichhardt Councils.

In 2013, Roads Minister Duncan Gay criticised his own government’s decision to protect the Glebe Island Bridge and recommended the demolition of the bridge.

Minister Gay did not respond to questions put to his office.

David Shoebridge, Greens MP and spokesperson for Local Government, says the backflip is an attempt to “claw back confidence within the community”.

“The Baird Government’s arrogance has isolated them from the community,” he told City Hub. Mr Shoebridge says another recent back down, this time on on a new stadium at Moore Park, is The Glebe Island Bridge. Source: Balmain & Glebe Heritage

Byrne

proof community opposition can achieve results.

The NSW Government had originally planned to demolish the

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Sydney Football Stadium, yet announced last week the site would be refurbished instead of rebuilt following widespread community opposition.

“There is only so long a politician can survive on a likeable voice and demeanour.”

“The problem with Baird is a lot of what he is delivering is attacking what people stand for.” Their agenda is anticommunity and people have realised this.”

Responding to the shift in community sentiment, Premier Baird recently told ABC News he acknowledged the tide has turned against his Government.

“I think that’s a natural thing: The longer you are in government the more people are going to respond, the more decisions that you’re making ... some of them not popular,” Mr Baird said.

A prolific user of social media, many have noted comments made by followers of Premier Baird have become negative.

Mr Baird says the government’s

consultation regarding council amalgamations is proof the government is listening to the community.

“Every decision you make some people will be upset, and some people will protest against it for a short time or a long time.

My hope is what people are seeing is we are governing in the majority.”

“There’s no doubt this might not be popular but it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Despite ongoing community opposition, a NSW Newspoll from January shows the Premier Mike Baird has a strong lead over the opposition leader Mr Foley Luke Foley.

Mr Foley is preferred by just 15 per cent of voters, compared with Mr Baird’s 58 per cent.

City election to be held on September 10

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS City of Sydney residents and businesses will go to the polls as normal on September 10 this year, despite the shakeup of council boundaries as part of the state government’s plan to merge NSW councils.

Local government NSW advised the election for City of Sydney will remain on its planned date later in the year, despite most other councils who will be merged having elections in 2017.

The City of Sydney must complete its eletoral roll of business that will vote in the election.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said it was in the process of preparing a nonresidential register ahead of the next local government election.

“The NSW Electoral Commission will verify the non-residential roll in early August once a draft roll, taken from the register, is supplied by the City on 1 August.”

The spokesperson said the NSW Electoral Commission will verify the nonresidential roll in early August once a draft roll, taken from the register, is supplied by the City on 1 August.

“Businesses, property owners, occupiers and rate-paying lessees of all rateable land within the City’s local government area will be able to vote.”It is expected that the business vote in council

could challenge the current makeup of the council.

The makeup could change further under if Botany Bay proposal to a merge with parts of the City of Sydney as well as Randwick.

If Botany Bay’s own submission were successful, it would mean that Waterloo and Green Square residents would have to go to the polls twice in a six month period -- in September and then March.

Botany Bay Council’s bid to create a southern Sydney super council is proceeding. Last wweek the NSW Government appointed delegate Rod Nockles wrote to City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone to discuss the proposal.

He “strongly suggested” that the council makes a submission to the proposal.

The City of Botany put forward its own submission to the Council Boundary Review, which would take up much of Randwick Council as well as 21 per cent of the City of Sydney, including suburbs such as Green Square as well as Waterloo.

The proposal would take 552 hectares of land from the City and would take 2327 hectares from Randwick, or 64 per cent of its current land area.

Botany Bay’s proposal was subject to a Land and Environment Court challenge by the council. The council wanted its submission, which was voted on at an extraordinary council meeting on

Sydney Town Hall. Source: supplied

November 16 last year, to be considered at the same time as part of IPART’s suggestion of merged councils, for which submissions have now closed and public inquiries were heard earlier in the year.

The council lost its bid in the Land and Environment Court to have its submission considered before the council was dissolved.

On April 15, the Court of Appeal upheld the Land and Environment’s Court’s decision. city hub 28 APRIL 2016

3

Uranium protesters gather at PM’s office

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Protestors gathered outside Malcolm Turnbull’s electorate office on Tuesday morning to protest the government’s recently announced plans to sell uranium to Ukraine.

The protest on Tuesday coincided with the thirty year commemoration of the Chernobyl meltdown, which left Ukraine and surrounding countries struggling with radiation exposure for years.

Kerry Laws from Uranium Free NSW said in that the waste containment issues around Chernobyl were ongoing, and that many Ukrainian reactors were past their use by date and that Australia should not be shipping uranium there.

“These issues urgently need to be addressed and it is outrageous to send more fuel to the fire. We urge the Australian government to stop all uranium exports. We have to stop this toxic cycle.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on March 30 that Australia will start selling uranium to Ukraine.

Australia holds almost one third of the world’s uranium and accounts for ten per cent of global production.

Ukraine was severley affected by the Chernobyl disaster, along with neighbouring Belarus and the Russian Federation.

Natalie Wasley from Beyond Nuclear Initiative said that the anniversary of Chernobyl should be a time for reflection.

“It is disgraceful timing for Foreign

Protestors outside PM Turnbull’s office in Edgecliff.

Affairs Minister Julie Bishop to announce a deal to sell uranium to the Ukraine,” she said.

“Post Fukushima, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for Australia to undertake a risk analysis of the uranium sector. This has not been done, showing the federal government is again ignoring concerns of the international community in pursuit of export dollars.”

“We urge PM Turnbull to invest in a renewable energy future rather than continuing to chase dirty uranium dollars.”

According to the World Health

Organisation, 116 000 people were evacuated from the area surrounding the Chernobyl reactor to non-contaminated areas in 1986. Another 230 000 were relocated in subsequent years. It estimates five million people live in areas with high levels of radioactive contamination.

47 workers died from radiation poisioning immediately after the event. A 2005 report said that it expects there to be 4,000 deaths from the disaster, including those who died immediately after and those from who may die from cancer as a result of exposure to radiation. This figure has been the subject of extensive debate.

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Christian Lobby conference heckled as Morrison speaks

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS “The reason that I wore such an incendiary outfit today …is that they started it,” said Simon Hunt to a crowd on a rainy Sydney street last Saturday, wearing a striped concentration camp costume with a pink triangle.

Mr Hunt was one of the many speakers who spokes to protestors who braved the rain outside of the Australian Christian Lobby’s annual conference on Pitt Street.

About 150 Protestors stood on the pavement listening to speakers, some of whom included members of the Uniting Church from a block down the road, as well as school children from high schools across Sydney.

They crowd reserved booing and “shame” for speakers Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, as well as Eric Metaxis, who compared the gay rights movement with the rise of the Nazi party, contending that they had stifled free speech.

Mr Hunt, who is better known as Pauline Pantsdown, whose pop songs parodied Pauline Hanson in the late 90s, said that he thought comparing the LGBTQI movement to the rise of the Nazi party was disrespectful, “at the very least”.

“They are equating the LGBTQ rights movement to the rise of the Nazis and so my point today that this is disrespectful to say the very least to the tens of thousands of victims of the holocaust and they cannot, and will not, rewrite history in that way,” Mr Hunt said to the crowd.

“In the face of the attacks of these people on the most vulnerable people in our communities, they attack people they perceive as the weakest: they attack children, they attack trans people, and the one thing I have found out through the movement against these people is that trans people and children are the strongest.”

One year twelve student who spoke at the rally said that she had been subject to hate speech at her high school. Another said the public

high school she attended on the Northern Beaches was inherently conservative. She said that gay rights at her school was proving elusive because so far it was a struggle to be allowed to wear pants rather than the mandated skirt for girls.

“Our top priority was to get pants for the students. While it’s 2016 here it is 1956 at my school and girls aren’t allowed to wear pants.”

She said with other students they had made their own “Rainbow Alliance” with goals such as adopting the Safe Schools Program at their school.

“If we get into safe schools we’ll be able to push for a more inclusive school and then we’ll be able to get our pants” She said the alliance had meant that those had come to feel less alone, citing the comments of a transgender student.

Mr Hunt remarked that Christians often targeted children and transgender people.

“They attack people they perceive as the weakest: they attack children, they attack trans people. The one thing I have found out through the movement against these people is that trans people and children are the strongest.”

Speaking to City Hub, event organiser Cat Rose said that arguments about freedom of speech from Christian groups was ironic because “they spend every day of their lives trying to curtail our freedom and our ability to express ourselves and who we are”.

“Some of the people they have got speaking inside,” gesturing to the building behind her, “they’ve got the Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the special guest speakers who they’ve thrown over from the United States, who are known for campaigning around the world to keep gay sex illegal.”

Silence at The Settlement

BY JORDAN FERMANIS The 23rd of April marked a year since the passing of Indigenous Rights activist Ray Jackson. A memorial tribute was held at The Settlement in Darlington.

The memorial was attended

by Greens MP Jenny Leong, Indigenous activists from across Sydney and the family of Ray Jackson.

Ray was a Wiradjuri (Central NSW) man who was President and co-founder of the Indigenous Social Justice Association for which he was awarded a medal for human rights in 2013 by the French government. He was co-founder of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Raul Bassi speaking on Committee from 1987 which monitored and ensured that the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody were implemented.

Ken Canning, a Murri activist from South-West Queensland, worked with Ray Jackson from the late 1980s in the Watch Committee and reminisces on Jackson’s dedication and importance to Indigenous activism in Australia.

“One of the things you’ve got to give him was the sheer dedication and hard work he was willing to put in. The amount of people he was willing to engage, and I just don’t think he got proper recognition in a lot of areas. The French government recognised him, but back in good old downtown Australia, they wouldn’t know a good citizen if they fell over them,” Canning said.

Jackson’s ability to mediate with activists groups other than those campaigning for Indigenous rights became his strength as a leader.

“His ability to get different groups to talk to each other was a great legacy. He would go and talk to groups about Refugee rights or marriage equality rights, he wasn’t singular.”

“I think part of Ray’s legacy was people could ring him up and have a clearer vision,” Canning said.

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city hub 28 APRIL 2016

The protest outside Wesley mission.

“They can talk about free speech or freedom all they want, it can’t hide the fact there the ones the ones stopping the advance for equal right for LGBTQI people” She said she was disappointed Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison had spoken at the event.

“It is outrageous he is attending this event, but not too surprising either. The Australian Christian Lobby has had close ties with government for many years now and leaders from both sides of the house have spoken at this conference for many years now, which is an absolute disgrace.”

“How many times have we had to listen to Liberal Party tell us they can’t talk about marriage equality because they’ve got more important things to be talking about. Well Scott Morrison has taken time out from the election campaign, the budget season, to give his time to this conference, they took time out to attack safe schools, to make that a priority in parliament, when it’s about quashing our rights.”

Staples sacks 45 by SMS

BY LUCAS BAIRD Staples has sacked 45 Sydney based truck drivers via text message in a dispute surrounding low pay rates and intimidation by management.

The American office supply chain is now the subject of a NSW Industrial Relations Commission after workers brought the case to the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

TWU secretary, Michael Aird labelled the company “heartless,” calling out a high bar for entry and a below par pay rate.

“In some cases drivers have put upwards of $130,000 into their business yet they are earning as little as $8 per hour - you can’t run a business on that and you certainly can’t support a family on that money,” Mr Aird said.

TWU explained that the $100 thousand was required to be payed to Staples to secure the contract and $30 thousand was used to purchase the driver’s trucks.

him and is now left wondering how he will support his family “We’re desperate – this is our businesses and our ability to support our families on the line,” Mr Manning said.

He claimed that the drivers had consistently tried to sit down with management but indicated that they were “snubbed,” every time they tried to reach a fair solution.

Mr Aird accused Staples of importing US methods of union-busting.

“The company offered some drivers a new contract on existing rates, but in a tactic straight out of the American unionbusting model, four members of the driver’s committee, two of the oldest drivers and one other have not been offered jobs back. All drivers have refused the contract,” he said.

“We know that if Staples succeeds here, other major companies likes Coles will

Saturday. Photo: Jordan Fermanis.

A year after Jackson’s passing, his visions of a unified and collective effort with other activist groups remains an important legacy. But Canning says that the fight of First Nations people must be first.

“First nations have to battle first because we were the first hit. But once we beat the colonial mechanism that is keeping our people suppressed, every suppressed group will benefit from it.”

Canning is a candidate with the Socialist Alliance party for the NSW Senate election later this year where his fight for First Nations people continues.

“If I get elected I would annoy them every day,” Mr Canning joked.

“On the serious side, I’d be asking some very serious questions everyday. I’d be asking why are the Liberal and Labor parties creating policy that is responsible for the death of Aboriginal people.”

Canning’s decision to run for the NSW Senate is another step in the long running battle for the rights of First Nations people. The anniversary of Ray Jackson’s death serves as reminder that this battle has not been won. A reminder that is expressed in Canning’s remembrance of Jackson’s legacy.

“Ray’s legacy was never stop fighting. Never stop fighting. Just keep going at it, don’t stop.”

Staples

While the $8 an hour figure was based on the single package pay of $2 and the delivery to the average amount of houses in an hour, four. Former employee, Richard Manning said it was near impossible to make ends meet on the wage that Staples was paying

take this as a green light to push down rates and conditions across their supply chains.”

Staples Australia was contacted for comment by City Hub, but did not get back intime for publication.

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7

Woollahra fights pavilion upgrade The Pavillion

BY LUCAS BAIRD Woollahra Council have decided to alert the NSW Premier, Mike Baird, about plans to upgrade the Bondi Pavilion.

The upgrade - which passed through Waverley Council last week - has seen immense community backlash and culminated in the Waverly Mayor, Sally Betts, receiving death threats.

Greens Councillor, Matthew Robertson introduced the item at Tuesday’s council meeting. The motion requested that the Premier investigate whether the plan complies with local government decision making protocol during the merger process.

Clr Robertson told City Hub that it was “unfair,” that the new council would be burdened by Waverley council’s decision.

“There can be no guarantee that Woollahra council’s money won’t be used to plug the financial black hole that Sally Betts is driving the pavilion into.” Clr Robertson said.

He also said that the upgrade was directly contravening with state government protocols that

restricted council decision making during the merger process.

The Local Government office released a set of guidelines last year which outlined several restrictions on the current councils due to the impending merger process.

The document said that councils should avoid, “making significant and/or ongoing financial commitments that will be binding on a new council.”

Friends of Bondi Pavilion spokesperson, Kilty O’Brien was positive about the interest Woollahra was taking in the issue and told City Hub she hoped that the state government would take this issue seriously.

But she claimed to have several other courses of action if the nothing comes of Woollahra council’s referral.

“We will be planning public events, we are seeking our own legal advice and we will continue to work across the community to ensure they are not locked out of their own community centre,” Ms O’Brien said.

WestConnex protesters decry New M5 approval

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Protestors filled the office of NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes last Thursday as he approved a new M5 tollroad, another splice of the WestConnex.

Protestors occupied the office because despite receiving 13,000 submissions, the contractor for the toll road had informed residents at information sessions in January that they expected the new M5 would be approved around this time. Last week they confirmed the specific date.

According to WestCONnex action group spokesperson Pauline Lockie said that the processes around the tollroad were “completely corrupted.”

“For them to have known in January that it would be approved and to then pretend that process is open and transparent, and they’ve taken submissions into consideration beggars belief,” she said.

She said that construction contracts were awarded before the approval for the project

The New M5 runs from Beverly Hills to St Peters, where it emerges in a spaghetti style interchange.

Locals fear the interchange will cause congestion on local streets, as well as prevent the development of a public transport system. There are also serious concerns about the funding of the tollroad – it is unknown if funding for the project can be secured.

The project relies heavily on a user pays model, which would see those from Western Sydney paying for tolls every time they use the roads.

Rick Williams, a St Peters resident at the protest said that the unsecured funding for the final stage of the project meant that it was all very much up in the air.

“The whole process has been a series of backroom deals, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Baird is doing a deal with Mr Turnbull. The process has not been clear and transparent from the beginning so why would it be that way now.”

The approval of the tollway spurred Greens MP Jenny Leong to urge those concerned to engage

Protestors on Thursday. Photo: Chris Nash

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was granted. Ms Lockie also said that the Environmental Impact Statement, one which the approval was based, was “incompetent”.

“Having started to look at the conditions put on the approval we can see that community campaigns have had an impact. We remain concerned about planning department to enforce those conditions, but they are far more stringent than the M4 East.”

“This is still a process that the community was largely shut out from at the beginning, it wasn’t consultation. It was a case of we are going to force it upon you,” Police and security came to the department of planning offices to deal with the less than ten mature aged protestors.

“What was really shocking about Thursday, one was grabbed and shoved out of the way, by a security official employed by the department of planning. There are questions over whether or not this is reasonable force.”

Protest is never resident’s first port of call. All of them have plenty of other things they could be doing, like working.

“The new m5 contractors were telling residents that the approval would be handed down around that date.”

in civil disobedience to put a stop to the tollway “disaster.”

“The Baird government’s approval of this next stage of WestConnex is a slap in the face for the community who has tried to engage in good faith with the planning process but have been ignored at every turn,” she said in a statement.

“The time for civil disobedience to stop WestConnex is now.”

She said she would be holding a people’s inquiry in NSW Parliament on the 6th May “The Baird Government may be trying to hide the evidence that this project won’t work behind hundreds of difficult to access pdf files on the NSW Planning site, but we will bring them to light.

“Given that the project is still reliant on federal government money, this isn’t just a problem for NSW. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten must make their position on this polluting tollroad clear.

No further funds should be released to enable this shame infrastructure project.”

As of going to press, the demolition of Heritage houses in Haberfield has not begun but Sydney Motorway Corporation has distributed to some residents a notice stating that it will begin in April.

FEATURE

Keepin’ it weird in Newtown

By JORDAN FERMANIS “Don’t just take pictures, come and join us!” protesters implored to onlookers as the ‘Keep Newtown Weird & Safe’ Reclaim the Streets rally marched down King Street on a dark Saturday afternoon. A mix of beards, dresses and dreadlocks paraded as mobile speakers blasting tunes kept the rally in step.

The rally was a retaliation to the bashing Isaac Keatinge suffered whilst wearing a dress and makeup on the street in Newtown. The incident resulted in fifteen stitches in his head.

Many believe that the bashing is symptomatic of a wider issue invading the Newtown community.

Spokesperson from Reclaim the Streets James Loch draws a connection between Sydney’s lockout laws and the rise in homophobic violence.

“Half of the issue is the lockout laws have made Newtown into the ideal party destination for violent outsiders and it’s clashing with the area’s LGBTI community,” Loch said.

Newtown MP Jenny Leong says that rallies like Keep Newtown Weird & Safe are a sign of solidarity from the community.

“I know the local community has been shocked and saddened by the recent attack. People who live in our local area feel strongly about keeping our local suburbs safe and welcoming spaces. It is fantastic to see initiatives like the Reclaim the Streets rally to keep Newtown ‘Weird & Safe’. Events like that show that our community stands together against transphobia, homophobia, and any kind of violence,” Leong said.

In June last year, transgender woman Stephanie McCarthy was bashed at the Town Hall Hotel on King Street after facing transphobic insults.

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre CEO Liz Yeo says that homophobic and transphobic incidents are contrary to what Newtown’s community represents.

“Obviously those incidents are very out of line with the community we think we have here, which is a very inclusive community of people. Everyone should

Scenes from the Keep Newtown Weird & Safe Rally. Photo: Jordan Fermanis

be safe and accepted here and that’s what has always been so special about this place,” said Yeo. “There’s no doubt that in general terms a lot of the community would draw a link saying that there’s more incidents due to the lockout laws,” she added.

Statistics from the NSW Police have indicated that alcohol-related assaults were down 40 per cent in Newtown in January compared to the year before.

Additionally the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported that non-domestic assaults in Newtown had remained stable compared to before the lock out laws had been introduced.

However this data fails to capture incidents that go unreported. Liz Yeo says that the Neighbourhood Centre is working on trying to get a more complete picture of how the community feels.

“We think there’s a place for trying to capture more of those anecdotal things that are occurring before the most terrible thing happens,” said Yeo.

Reclaim the Streets’ James Loch says that gentrification of the Inner West is also to blame for the new set of community challenges in Newtown.

“We saw the rent hikes coming a mile away and always assumed as a community we’d naturally just get pushed one suburb outwards at a time,” said Loch. “However the rents rose just as fast in Marrickville, Stanmore, Petersham and Leichhardt.

This has left much of Newtown’s once visible ‘weird’ community either scattered among the outer suburbs, or migrating to Melbourne or Berlin.”

“Those left behind no longer have the comfort of concentrated colour to feel at ease in. Their isolation also makes it easier for the influx of bullies to single them out,” said Loch.

According to ABS data, the median household rent in Newtown has doubled since 2006 to $600 per week.

57 per cent of residents in Newtown rent, almost double the NSW average of 30 per cent.

Liz Yeo says that housing affordability and homelessness are the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s prime concerns.

“We would have on average around ten people a day who would present at the Neighbourhood Centre looking for some information or advice on housing affordability and homelessness… That’s a key thing we have noticed that has changed,” said Yeo. “We haven’t been able to keep pace with that demand.”

Yeo chairs the Newtown Vibe Roundtable, which works with the City of Sydney and Marrickville councils, local police, the Newtown Business Association and local member Jenny Leong. The Roundtable is part of an approach of empowering Newtown’s community and preventing the homogenisation of the inner city precinct.

James Loch believes a solution may lie in adapting Newtown’s night economy. “We can reduce violence by increasing the diversity of business and people on the streets at night.

Cafes and Restaurants should be allowed to operate late into the night,” he offered.

“King Street should be blocked off to traffic between 8pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights with markets and live entertainment booked. These measures will drastically increase the number of eyes on the street at night, increasing the area’s ability to self-regulate. Even hardened delinquents are less likely to throw the first punch when their grandma is watching,” said Loch.

Jenny Leong warns that a night economy built without an understanding and respect of Newtown’s vibrant community is not welcome.

Leong concluded: “We want Newtown to continue to be a place that people love visiting for a night out, but we want people coming to Newtown to be respectful of the vibe here. Our community won’t tolerate sexism, racism, homophobia or general drunken dickhead behavior.”

Public Exhibition Car Sharing Policy The City invites your feedback on our updated Car Sharing Policy.

cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au Sydney2030/Green/Global/Connected

VISIT BROADWAY.COM.AU TO FIND OUR MORE, OR HEAD UP TO OUR VOTING STATION ON LEVEL 3 TO CAST YOUR VOTE.

Car sharing has grown dramatically since the policy was adopted in 2011, and one in 10 of the City’s drivers now use car sharing. The amendments to the policy will help manage further growth.

Compared with regular car ownership, car sharing has significant environmental, transport and economic benefits. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, pressure on parking, and transport costs for residents and businesses.

Updates to the 2011 policy include: • Allocating spaces to car sharing operators until 2020; • Ensuring these spaces cannot be sold or transferred to new operators; • Levying a yearly fee to cover administration costs; and • Establishing minimum use criteria for new car share spaces.

Please provide your comments in writing by 5pm on Monday 20 June 2016.

We will consider all submissions and report the results to Council.

You can view the documents and give your feedback on sydneyyoursay.com.au Printed copies are available for inspection at: • Glebe Neighbourhood • One Stop Shop (CBD) Level 2, Town Hall House, Service Centre 456 Kent Street, Sydney 186 Glebe Point Road Monday to Friday: 8am–6pm (cnr Wigram Road), Glebe • Redfern Neighbourhood Monday to Friday: 9am–5pm Service Centre 158 Redfern Street, Redfern • Kings Cross Neighbourhood Monday to Friday: 9am–5pm Service Centre Saturday: 9am–noon 50–52 Darlinghurst Road, • Green Square Neighbourhood Kings Cross Service Centre Monday to Friday: 9am–5pm 100 Joynton Avenue, Zetland Monday to Friday: 10am–6pm Saturday: 9am–noon Feedback can also be emailed to carsharing@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or marked ‘Car Sharing Policy’ and posted to: Chief Executive Officer, Attention: City Access and Transport, City of Sydney, GPO Box 1591, Sydney NSW 2001.

For more information call 02 9265 9333 or email council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Pennsylvania Avenue

Theatre enthusiasts who were enchanted by the musical production of Songs For Nobodies five years ago should be delighted by Bernadette Robinson’s return in another one-woman show, once again in collaboration with renowned playwright Joanna Murray-Smith and director Simon Phillips.

The show tells of a White House aide, who on the eve of her departure reflects over her 40 years of service, as political history was being made. The show blends political history with music, showcasing the many entertainers who sang for the president including Barbara Streisand, Marilyn Monroe and Diana Ross.

Bernadette said it was an absolute pleasure working with Joanna Murray-Smith and Simon Phillips again.

“We worked so well together on Songs For Nobodies, which went over the roof, so we decided that we had to do another show, one which was completely different,” explained Robinson. “They are both extremely talented – Joanna writes beautifully, her lines are funny and moving and I love saying her words.

Nobody else gets the lines – they’re all mine!” enthused Robinson.

“It was heaven working with Simon. He makes it fun and makes you feel special. It’s a party in there – he’s wonderful!”

Robinson plays 33 different characters in a 90-minute show with no interval, and says it’s quite exhausting performing on stage in a one-woman show.

“It’s an adrenaline rush and moments before each performance I feel scared and sick and I pace backwards and forwards offstage. It’s always there – how can it not be? There are no breaks or refreshments, but it quickly goes when I’m on stage.”

The show is poignant, uplifting and funny with ambitious sets. It’s about love, loss and shame and concerns sexism and racism. They’re true stories which reflect what went on in the times. It’s educational – a musical history lesson.

“This show is very mainstream and should appeal to all demographics. I was approached by a woman who had just seen the show and she was in tears. Every woman can relate to the show, it’s overwhelming, but men love it too!” concluded Robinson. (MMo) Apr 28–May 22. Playhouse Theatre, Opera House, Bennelong Point. $65-$109.

Tickets & info: sydneyoperahouse.com

The Peasant Prince is a child friendly adaption from Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cinxini, an autobiographical rags to riches story about a child who is born and raised in rural China. Through chance and luck, the boy makes his way to some of the highest ballet circles in the world. The play uses a lot of imagery from Cinxini’s picture book, also titled The Peasant Prince, based on his memoirs.

“A lot of the dialogue six years old and up should be able to understand quite clearly, however adults very much enjoy the show as well. They find it very moving and engaging.

They’ve done a fabulous job with the sets and lighting, there are movement sequences and choreography. It’s written in such a way you’ll find layers of meaning. We’d love school groups to come and see the show,” said John Gomez Goodway, who plays Li Cinxin.

“Tim McGarry, the director, got in contact with Cinxin... and asked if Monkey Baa [the production company] could adapt it. Towards the end of the writing period [Cinxin] came down and worked the script with them. He

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Photo: Marnya Roth

Goldschlag was only eighteen when war broke out.

Aryan in appearance – blonde hair, blue eyes – she was still Jewish, so she was not spared the Gestapo’s excesses. Living illegally in war torn Berlin she was persecuted, incarcerated and tortured. In order to save herself, she took to being a ‘greifer’ or catcher, informing on other Jews in hiding and so became complicit in the holocaust. The human survival instinct runs deep – what would you do?

Following a sellout season at the Old Fitz, Belinda Giblin brings Goldshlag’s story to the stage once again in Blonde Poison. “We played to absolutely full houses and with people sitting on the stage,” said Giblin, such was the play’s critical and popular acclaim. Transporting the show to The Studio at the Sydney Opera House maintains the intimate feel – like sitting in Goldschlag’s living room and being drawn into a life so complex that it is difficult to fathom.

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

was very much on board with the process,” explained Goodway.

“The personal challenges have been playing a real person, to do it respectfully and maintain integrity with his life story, portraying him in a way that he would approve of, so he would give me the nod and say, ‘yes you got it’, which thankfully he did,” Goodway revealed.

Cinxin was away from his family from the age of 11 and supported them while they were living in poverty, but he was very lonely. He overcame such hurdles while he was going up the ranks, working hard to achieve his dream.

Stories like that can change you and make you think. The Peasant Prince will be sure to inspire audiences across Australia as they embark on quite an extensive tour. (MS) Patron’s Advice: Ideal for 6–12 year olds.

This performance features smoke and fog effects.

Apr 27–30, various show times. Glen Street Theatre, corner Glen Street and Blackbutts Road, Belrose. $21 ($75 family pass).Tickets & info: glenstreet.com.au or 9975 1455

Stories of the Jewish/Nazi experience can often become polarised, beset by characters of either great evil or virtue, yet Giblin’s portrayal is more ambiguous and conflicted. “She is such a mix of evil and vulnerability,” said Giblin. “I ask myself, is she straight evil? Is she a narcissistic psychopath? A young girl so persecuted that she had no choice but to act as she did? She is all of these things.”

Although the show’s subject matter is challenging, director Jennifer Hagan can’t hide her excitement: “You will see the most astonishing story unfold.

You will see Belinda as you’ve never seen her before, reaching such depths of emotion. It’s a fabulous play and wonderfully performed.” (GW) Apr 28–May 12,Tues–Sat 7pm, Wed + Sat 1:30pm.The Studio, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $49.90-$74.90.

Tickets & info: sydneyoperahouse.com.au or 02 9250 7777

Contributors: Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Alicia Sim, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Emily Shen, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn, Cindy Aravena, Jacob Aguilar, Caitlin Burns.

Dirty People may speak some harsh truths to any Gen Y members sitting in the audience. It’s bad enough hearing our parents say we are self-centred, entitled narcissists with our noses pressed up to our phone screens 23 hours a day – but it stings even more when it’s coming from one of our own.

Writer, actor and not-so-proud Gen Y member Charlie Faulkner has brought these issues to light on stage in a play inspired by a torturous weekend of dogsitting.

“I realised after completing the final draft that I had named [the main characters] after two… difficult dogs that I had the pleasure of looking after for a weekend,” said Faulkner.

Part-time scam artists and part-time no-hopers, James and Lucy find themselves amid a scene of chaos as a night in a dingy dive bar unravels into near-murder. The more we learn about their story, the dirtier it gets.

This duo reflects our generation’s trademark bad personalities – “self-obsessed, neurotic and entitled”. Charlie, who also plays James, wrote the character with the worst parts of his personality in mind and is glad to be able to play it exactly as he wanted. “It was hard letting go of the script initially and letting [the director] push it in a different way, but… it’s so much better now.”

Dirty People is more than an exercise in self-awareness; it is a snapshot of our generation. Switch your phone to silent and enjoy a night of “spitting, drinking and hopefully some comedy”. (CB) May 4–8, Wed–Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm.

The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $22-$32.Tickets & info: thedepottheatre.com

ATYP presents: Spring Awakening The Musical An electrifying fusion of rebellion, sexual awakening and rock and roll – The Australian Theatre for Young People delivers Spring Awakening The Musical to Sydney audiences for a limited two week run.

This rock ‘n’ roll musical with a folk-infused score tells the story of teenagers in late 19th Century Germany who find themselves thrust into the tumultuous nature of teenage sexuality while they are simultaneously frustrated by the unwillingness of any of the adults around them to teach them anything substantial about ‘the facts of life’.

The musical reached Broadway fame in 2006 (with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik), but Spring Awakening first came to life as a stage play penned by German dramatist Frank Wedekind in the 1890s.

ATYP alumnus and award-winning director Mitchell Butel returns to direct a young cast billed as “the musical theatre stars of tomorrow”. No strangers to the sexually charged subject matter, this will be ATYP’s third production of Spring Awakening and the first in its musical form (the earlier productions taking place in the 80s).

Since its inception Spring Awakening has often been banned and censored due to its controversial subject matter, it criticises the sexually oppressive culture of its day and the musical adaption only heightens the vivid dramatization of erotic fantastic bred by that oppression.

Will audiences in 2016 be as shocked and appalled as the original critics by the revelation that teenagers are sexual beings? There still are many institutions

Photo: Amelia J Dowd

Dirty People

today that would rather insist on abstinence over a healthy sexual education for young people, so who knows… (AM) Recommended for audiences aged 14+.

Apr 27–May 14, various show times.

ATYP Studio 1, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road,Walsh Bay. $35.

Tickets & info: atyp.com.au or 02 9270 2400

Drew Livingston,Tara Morice, Jane Phegan and Gael Ballantyne Photo: Clare Hawley

Margaret is a ‘southie’ – South Boston to be exact, the wrong side of the tracks. Trapped in a cycle of urban poverty and with a disabled daughter, she has little to show for life and few prospects – though she does have bingo.

When she loses her meagre job on the checkout at the ‘dollar-store’, there is no money for rent and eviction beckons.

No, this is not the thread of a Springsteen song – it is the Ensemble’s production of the multi-award winning Good People – and it is an endlessly rewarding piece of theatre.

Tara Morice is completely enthralling as Margaret, driving the play relentlessly forward. Her comic timing is impeccable and she makes you really care about her character – so lovably floored and often out of control.

Chris Stollery is Mike, an old flame who was once a ‘southie’ but has made it out. He’s a reproductive KING CHARLES III The Queen is dead and for Charles the throne beckons, but he is no pushover.Taking all the tropes of Shakespeare’s historic tragedies, Mike Bartlett has applied them to the modern day House of Windsor and the finished work is completely enthralling. Sure, it asks questions about the place of the monarchy today, but pushing deeper, this is a very human story – a grand family tragedy with real flesh and blood characters. British stage icon Robert Powell is warm and absorbing as the tragic yet principled Charles. (GW) Until Apr 30, various show times.

Sydney Theatre Company, Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $69-$116.Tickets & info: sydneytheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1777.

THE BEST BROTHERS A black comedy about an estranged family who haven’t kept close, centered on two feuding brothers.What the brothers

endocrinologist and married to the much younger Kate, but has he forgotten his roots? Or does he just wish he had? Margaret looks him up, figuring he might be able to give her a job – or at least some contacts – but instead she sees what her life could have been like with a bit of luck and opportunity.

Margaret knows how to push Mike’s buttons and she can’t really help herself, but her inner conflicts begin to emerge. The beginning of Act Two in Mike and Kate’s living room is breathtakingly funny and achingly sad.

From Mark Kilmurry’s deft direction right through the ensemble cast, there’s genuine chemistry here. It’s not a play about ‘good’ people or ‘bad’ people – just ‘real’ people. (GW) Until May 21, various show times. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli. $65-$69.Tickets & info: ensemble.com.au or 02 9929 0644.

find important in life differs, and sibling rivalry comes about when they are forced to deal with a family death together, with conflict arising around how they each perceive the other to be handling the situation. (MS) Until Apr 30,Tues-Sat 8pm. Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza Street, Newtown. $25-$35.Tickets & info: old505theatre.com THE TRAGEDY OF ANTIGONE A battle of wills that will take you back to the times of Ancient Greece.

Kreon, ruler of Thebes, has announced that Antigone’s brother, Polynikes, is to be denied a proper burial and Antigone defies this decree.

The play explores the role of burial in ancient society and brings up questions concerning laws of mankind and laws of the gods. (AMal) Until Apr 30, Wed-Sat 7pm. PACT Theatre, 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville. $25-$33.Tickets & info: ninefoldensemble.com

SAVAGES Four men embark on a cruise that doesn’t quite go to plan.This play explores multiple personalities the Aussie male can portray.Actor Josef Ber, who plays the character Rabbit, describes Savages as a “relentless, energising and pulsating play that explores the darker side of manhood”. If you’re in the mood to watch a reflective piece of theatre that discusses Australian masculinity, this play is a safe bet. (AMal) Until May 1, various show times.

Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. $30-$45.Tickets & info: darlinghursttheatre.com A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR An absurdist comedy taking an alternative approach to exploring certain characters we meet in a bar.Two people from very different worlds who share a romantic past are meeting for the first time on what would have been their wedding day.Their meet up becomes a battle and they use jokes as

their arsenal. Expect the unexpected (AMal) Until May 7,Wed–Sat 7.30pm, Sat+Sun 3.30pm. Blood Moon Theatre,World Bar, 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross. $20-$30.Tickets & info: offtheavenue.com.au THE DETECTIVE’S HANDBOOK The first show from the New Musicals Australia program, The Detective’s Handbook is a complex new work – intelligent and witty, with lots of rapid fire spoken/ sung beat poetry. With a cast of six and a five-piece live band, this is a very ensemble like piece with film noir vibes and some good old standard jazz musical numbers which are catchy yet evocative of a smoky 50s bar. (MS) Until May 7, various show times.

Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $45-$50.Tickets & info: hayestheatre.com.au or 02 8065 7337

BELLEVILLE A young married couple, Abbey and Zack move from Baltimore, USA, to Belleville, a very bohemian, hip, cool suburb on the outskirts of Paris. Zack, a doctor, has adjusted to Paris, but yoga teacher Abbey hasn’t, and their relationship begins to form cracks. Belleville is about love, relationships and how love takes many forms. (MS) Until May 7,Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm. Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street (Cnr Cathedral Street), Woolloomooloo. $28-$38.Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com/belleville NOTHING PERSONAL A typical David Williamson middle class family crisis, but unlike most of his plays, the male characters get little focus. In fact one of the best things about Nothing Personal is the strong presence of women. A comedy first and foremost, the play is set around office politics in the publishing industry, and is about women coming to terms with losing

their power as they grow older in the workplace. (MS) Until May 7. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30.

Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au REPLAY As a child, John saw his brother die. His other brother saw it too, but remembers things quite differently. They are forced to dredge up their competing pasts in search of a common truth – yielding terrifying, unexpected consequences. The past is what you make it in this newly devised Australian play by Griffin Theatre and forthcoming playwright Phillip Kavanagh, who pushes the theme of memory to its extreme through often funny and relatable encounters. (AM) Until May 7, Mon–Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm + 7pm. SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross.

Tickets & info: griffintheatre.com.au city hub 28 APRIL 2016

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THE NAKED CITY

THE MORMON THE MERRIER!

With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death We have to ask – is Wolloomooloo currently the target of an onslaught of Mormom missionaries, or is the ‘proselytizing’ just a Sydney wide phenomenon, a bit like the occasional invasion of Bogong moths. No disrespect to the Church of the Latter-day Saints, but our friends in the ‘Loo report some feverish door knocking in recent weeks, with many of the young missionaries refusing to take “no” for an answer.

The kind of “no” when they buzz you early in the morning and ask to engage in a few minutes of spiritual (foot in the door) dialogue even though you reply that you are a committed atheist, a member of the local Raelian chapter or a recent convert to the Russian Orthodox Church – and not even Russian. It’s no secret that the LDS Church has somewhere around 100,000 missionaries currently buzzing and banging their way around the world. It’s seen as a rite of passage for many young Mormons who often devote up to two years of their life to the evangelist cause, abiding by a strict code of dress and behavioural conduct.

Regardless of your religious convictions, there is something about old style evangelism that strikes both a nostalgic and philosophically awakening note. In the modern technological world it’s almost completely disappeared from our city streets and the landscape at large.These days it’s the pentecostals and Hillsong who are pulling in the masses with their slick multi-media and highly choreographed Church services.

Back in 1959 Australians flocked in their hundreds of thousands to hear American Baptist evangelist Billy Graham deliver his fire and

brimstone sermons on a fifteen week ‘crusade’ around the country – capturing our hearts, minds and wallets. There have been visiting American evangelists since, and some large scale congregations but nothing to match the almost rock arena fervour of the Graham crusades. The firebrand TV spruiker Jimmy Swaggart even opened a bookshop in the Sydney CBD, back in the 1980s, a short lived venture that eventually took the full brunt of his numerous prostitution scandals and ultimate defrocking by the Assemblies Of God.

Signspotting One of the most interesting things about travelling overseas is witnessing things that aren’t native to your home at all. Travel writer Doug Lansky began taking photos of the weird signs he would see when he would go overseas.

When he came home and showed them to his friends everyone would get enjoyment from looking at them, so he decided to continue taking pictures of odd signs whenever he travelled.

Lansky definitely has some favourites from over the years, one is from Hawaii and the other South Africa.

“I like this one in Hawaii where it says ‘Bottomless Pit: 30 feet deep’,” he said.

“There’s another of a stick figure in a wheelchair that is rolling down a hill, right into a crocodile with an open mouth. It’s a real sign from a croc farm in South Africa...

What I’m wondering is, how many cute little grandmothers rolled down the hill to their tragic and violent death before someone finally said: ‘You know, we ought to put up a warning sign.’”

FINDERS KEEPERS MARKETS AW16 If you’re a maniac for markets with an eye for art and design, a penchant for food trucks and/ or an ear for live music – you definitely ought to be pencilling the latest rendition of Sydney’s Finders Keepers Markets into your diary.

Keeping with their savvy reputation, Finders’ have released a free smartphone app, featuring a full directory of participating stallholders, just in time for their latest gathering (find it in the app store). Many hours can be spent lost amongst the various knick-knacks, from unique jewellery to elegant stationary, from carefully suspended succulents to bold art prints. (AM) Apr 29 (6pm-10pm), Apr 30 (10am-6pm) + May 1 (10am-5pm).

Exhibition Hall, Locomotive Hall, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh (entry via Henderson Road, Bay 8). $2 entry.

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Lansky has created five books all with 250 signs in total. Over the years he has had 50,000 images sent to him and is still open for submissions. These images are on display in a free outdoor installation style exhibition at Darling Harbour. (AMal) Until May 1. Cockle Bay Wharf South, Darling Harbour. Any Time. Free. Info: signspotting.com

ANTHONY BARTOK – NEW WORK Bartok’s creations are quirky and pointed comments on contemporary society. He creates minimalist sketches which incorporate text to wittily pinpoint the foibles and contradictions of modern life. These screen prints range from the political to the poignant. For example, a black and white outline of Australia with a hastily drawn fence is a pointed barb at racist attitudes. In another scene, a multicoloured crowd queue under the ubiquitous Apple logo, the caption reads, “Everyone is very excited about the new phone. It is slightly different from the old phone.”

(LR) Until May 1. MOP Projects, 2/39 Abercrombie St Chippendale.

Admission Free. Info: mop.org.au

But what about the good old style street preachers, Salvation Army bands and elderly women thrusting biblical text into your hands as you scurried down the Wynyard ramp during peak hour. They have all but disappeared from the mean streets of Sydney, although occasionally we witness an old style prayer meeting, complete with music from a Cassio keyboard, outside Woollies at Town Hall.

There is something about a furious religious zealot, standing on a milk crate in George Street, bellowing to all and sundry that “the end is near”. To some it might be amusing, to others a possible wakeup call – but to most of us it’s a distraction (albeit welcome) from the humdrum and monotony of urban survival.

Yes we need evangelists and proselytizers to brighten up the City.And if the Council is listening, here’s just another means of raking in some easy dollars. Unlike buskers, street evangelists don’t currently require a special permit.Why not licence them all? – the doomsayers, the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and even the Scientologists that scout their bogus personality tests on the corner of Park and Castlereagh.

The Council could even erect dedicated proselytizing stands, dotted all over the city, rented out to prospective preachers for $50 an hour.

Once a month the Pitt Street Mall could be thrown open to every religious missionary and (sorry that word again) proselytizer in Sydney erupting in a cacophony of biblical incantation not witnessed since the days of the Billy Graham rampage.

Whoops – have to go – the Mormons are knocking!

Colin Pennock – Modern Recluse Known for his production of emotionally driven landscapes, Irish-born artist Colin Pennock presents a new sequence of vigorous paintings to be on show at Arthouse gallery.

Pennock’s latest works come with an immense link to the sensationalism and dissemination that the major news corporations thrive on, and the vulnerability that the artist is feeling within a world that he is struggling to comprehend.

“There’s some recent events that have guided my latest work. We’ve had a bit of loss with loved ones recently. I’m only using what’s vital because I feel that reflects my mood and how important the essential people in your life are,” Pennock explained.

Not driven by money or success, Pennock’s ambition has always been to have freedom, something that he has achieved with his current setup in the Noosa Hinterlands, which is attainment in itself.

WHEN SILENCE FALLS Providing a voice for those who have been silenced, this exhibition encompasses painting, video and sculpture; presenting the work of contemporary Aboriginal artists alongside contemporary international artists. It considers the violence and loss of often-unacknowledged historical events – cultural displacement, political oppression, ethnic cleansing and massacres. Featuring a new major acquisition

by Australian Indigenous artist Judy Watson, as well as significant loans from Naomi Milgrom, Ben Quilty, and Gene and Brian Sherman; this exhibition speaks strongly of conflict, but does not look to blame. (AM) Until May 1. 10am–5pm daily,Weds until 10pm. Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road,The Domain, Sydney.

Free (exhibition catalogue $16.95).

Info: artgallery.nsw.gov.au

“There’s lots of negatives of being an artist.

But one of the positives is that you can work where you want as long as you’re able to send work to the galleries.”

Whilst his contemporary surroundings are a big influence, Pennock admits that he always needs to look back in order to move forward with his work.

“There’s a continuity in how I make work.

There’s a mixture of what you’ve experienced in the past and what you’re surrounded by now.”

Pennock’s outlook on life and his current feelings go a long way to explaining the name given to his latest body of work, Modern Recluse.

“I feel like I want to reflect on the beauty of life, and I have to get away from it to do that.” (AH) Apr 28–May 14.Tues–Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Ave, Darlinghurst.

Info: arthousegallery.com.au

20TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY In this milestone year, the Biennale and all its associated art works follow a topical theme: “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed”. Official Biennale sites – The MCA, Cockatoo Island and Carriageworks – have been rebranded as several different ‘Embassies of Thought’. The most revolutionary works however exist in public locations, the ‘In-Between’ Spaces. Although these works differ greatly, each casts a new light on its location. City Hub recommends heading to Redfern to check out ‘We Built This City’ and ‘Making History’ before swinging around to Newtown to see ‘Fade Away, Fade Away, Fade Away’ in Camperdown Cemetery. (AM) Until June 5.Various locations. Free.

Full program: 20bos.com

HEAVY ARTILLERY Prominent themes in this group show are identity and tradition and the modernist impact on both.

Furthermore (with all artists hailing from China and Taiwan) the restrictive atmosphere in which Chinese artists live results in work which is subtly subversive and intricately planned. For example: He Xiangyu’s contribution, ‘Tank Project’ (2011– 2013), is a life sized leather replica of a Chinese tank – the creator sneaked into an army base to obtain accurate dimensions.

Heavy Artillery showcases the craft, the cunning and the imagination of artists who need to navigate the perils of political indoctrination and censorship. (LR) Until Aug 7 (10am-5pm,Wed-Sun).

White Rabbit Gallery, 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale. Admission Free.

Info: whiterabbitcollection.org

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps

Luca Brasi – If This Is All We’re Going To Be

Colour’s Dallas Green taught her some extremely valuable lessons, not only professionally but also personally.

“You never know when you’re going to meet your idols or what they’re going to be like, but meeting him was really refreshing to know that no matter how successful you get you can always be the same appreciative down to earth person,” she reflected.

Not only did performing in these sideshows allow

Hannah and band mates Liz and Annie to meet and learn from their idols but it also allowed them to fine tune their own live show and work out some of the kinks.When asked about one such hiccup during the first Sydney show on the support tour, Hannah explained her philosophy to addressing technical problems.“I think it’s best to acknowledge them and be natural about it instead of freaking out and not being honest with the audience,” she said, to which she added while laughing sheepishly,“I would prefer that not to happen again.”

Hannah’s excitement ahead of the tour was palpable when she was describing what to expect.

“I think it’s going to be much better than our last tour, not that the last tour was bad, I just think we’ve improved as a whole band in our live performance and confidence,” she enthused.“We’re thinking a lot more dynamically in relation to our performances.

We want to give everyone a really fun performance because our music can be a little depressing at times, so you shouldn’t expect it to be all tears, we mix it up and have a bit of fun banter with the audience.”

May 6. Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney. $25.90+b.f.Tickets & info: metrotheatre.com.au

Justin Martin – Hello Clouds

By simply looking at the cover art for Justin Martin’s new album Hello Clouds you’re given the sense that the concept of this album was to fuse the dark club house sounds with a more colourful, romantic and inviting element.Almost immediately after pressing play on the album you realise that Martin has managed to achieve what he set out to do.

Throughout the 13 track offering your ears are met with the sounds of bass and synth elements that wouldn’t be out of place in dark sweaty nightclubs.

However at the same time the melodic vocals and piano elements give the tracks a much more soothing or romantic vibe which would see them more suited to a candle lit bedroom.

This is a really nice outing from the producer, who has been rising through the ranks rapidly. (JA) WWW1/2

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While listening to this Tasmanian band’s third album, you could easily be forgiven for thinking this record was released during the heyday of punk-pop in the late nineties and early noughties.

The first two records from this group were certainly more experimental than If This Is All We’re Going To Be, but overall this new album is a much better offering, as they have now distilled their sound to the essential elements.

These elements include gripping vocals which are easy to sing along to while also remaining poignant and insightful.

The only drawback for this record however is their unwillingness to explore different tempos.As such it becomes a little over excitable and fails to allow the listener a moment to breathe and take it all in during a sole listen. (JA) WWWW

We Load • Deceased Estates

• Small Demolition

The Brave: Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and Underoath, these Brisbane natives have been slowly crafting meaningful, melodic heavy music on their own terms for some time before being noticed by one of the biggest labels for that style in Australia and being added to the roster at Easter.

Sat, Apr 30, Chippendale Hotel Katie Noonan: Having just completed a collaboration with the esteemed Brodsky Quartet (UK) to create With Love and Fury, Sunshine coast girl Katie Noonan is now excited to perform with them in Sydney as part of their national tour.

Mon, May 2, City Recital Hall Danny Brown: The Detroit legend has become synonymous with genre bending, avant-garde style hip-hop. In 2012 Brown was hailed as an emerging star and has since gone on to prove those predictions right.

Tue, May 3, Enmore Theatre Francesca Prihasti: One of Sydney’s most promising musical acts will be launching her new album Evolving this week. In her own words the album is a “transformative journey which expresses the emotion of serenity and hope amidst uncertainty, faith for what the future holds, and the courage to embrace change in life.”

Wed, May 4, Foundry616

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Jimmy Watts Band: Tonight Brisbane’s Jimmy Watts and his band kick off the NSW leg of their national tour for their new EP February’s Drought. In the past they have been described as a hybrid combination of Xavier Rudd, Tom Waits & Ash Grunwald –so you’re in for a wonderful atmosphere here.

Thu, Apr 28, Frankie’s Pizza The Baker Suite: Adelaide’s quintessential jazz-folk ensemble arrive in Sydney tonight to commemorate the release of their fifth studio album, Still Life.

Masterfully weaving signature folk/ pop sounds into smooth blues and finally onto acoustic bosa-noa influences, this group are perennial favourites in South Australia.

Thu, Apr 28, Venue505 Lanks: A product of the burgeoning Melbourne indieelectronica producer scene, Lanks has rapidly established himself as one to watch out for. Closing out his east coast tour in Sydney tomorrow, this will have a serious party atmosphere.

Fri, Apr 29, Brighton Up Bar Lyall Moloney: This man has two loves in his life, dogs and parties.

Tomorrow night he gets to enjoy the latter as he fills the Oxford Art Factory, one of his biggest venues to date, with his distinctive disco hip-hop fusion sound.

Fri, Apr 29, Oxford Art Factory

By Jamie Apps Usually when a band releases an album, they will spend a few weeks or months touring around their home country, showing the new music off to their local fan base before heading abroad. For Australian band Little May however, they have chosen to turn this model on its head by doing the world tour first and now they return home to tour Australia.

“There is a part of me that would have loved to have done an Australian tour straight after the release, because I’m a bit of a homebody,” reflected vocalist Hannah Field, before adding “It was definitely out of our comfort zone, travelling the world not knowing the response we were going to get, but in the end it was really quite successful.”

Having completed a world tour, the ladies could have easily taken a break from performing but instead they chose to take the stage again supporting City & Colour during their Australian tour.“We were really lucky to get the support [slot] because City & Colour are amazing, but also because it gave us a lot of time to prepare and strengthen up the live show,” Hannah explained.

During that run of shows Hannah says City &

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The Man Who Knew Infinity Based on true events, The Man Who Knew Infinity tells the remarkable story of the mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Despite no formal training, Ramanujan made valuable contributions to the field of mathematics, many of which are still used and applied today.

Having lived in Madras, India, his whole life, Ramanujan (Dev Patel) has his world upended when he is invited by Professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) to Cambridge University to further analyse his bold new theorems.

Patel and Irons do well to highlight the complex relationship between the two men, at times productive and touching, and other times fractious and insensitive. The immense sacrifices Ramanujan made in bringing his work to the West is also well portrayed.

Combined with excellent cinematography and attention to historical detail, The Man Who Knew Infinity does justice to Ramanujan, Hardy and the important work they accomplished. (ASim) WWW1/2

A Month of Sundays

From Japan comes this extraordinary film, which not only delights through its simplistic and morally-binding story, but also through the warmth and likeability of the central characters.

Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) runs a non-profitable bakery, selling dorayakis (pancakes with sweet red bean paste – “an”) when Tokue (Kirin Kiki), a 76-year-old lady with crippled hands, applies for a part time job. Upon tasting her exquisite “an” he employs her and business booms until rumours emerge that she is suffering from leprosy.

The significance of elderly people passing their PAWNO On an unassuming day in a dusty old pawnbroker’s store, world weary owner Les (John Brumpton) and his reserved employee Danny (Damian Hill) watch on as the very best and worst of human experiences collide and tangle around them.A love letter to the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Pawno is a seemingly endless tapestry of scenery and people of all creeds and colours (including blue).While Danny’s bumbling, fledgling romance serves as the through line for this film, the peripheral love stories and heartbreaks provide a great, stewing depth of emotion.This is an unpolished gem of independent Australian cinema. (AM) WWWW MARGUERITE A wealthy woman with a lifelong passion for music sponsors and performs regularly in 14

city hub 28 APRIL 2016

wisdom onto the younger generation resonates in this visually stunning and beautifully written film, which deals with isolation, disillusionment, honour and the crushing effect of ignorance and gossip.

Endearing and poignant, this film also touches on the inevitability of change in Japan, a country proud of its culture and traditions.

Movie-goers who enjoy cooking should also be mesmerised by the detailed segments which demonstrate the traditional process of making “an”. (MMo) WWW1/2

exclusive salons to rapturous applause and admiration.The trouble is – she is the only person unaware of her complete inability to hold a tune.A figure of ridicule to most and pity to some, she plans a public performance after receiving encouragement from a dubiously favorable newspaper review.

Inspired by the life of American Florence Foster Jenkins this touching film is set in 1920’s France. (CCov) WWW MIDNIGHT SPECIAL A tension filled chase movie come sci-fi thriller. Centred around the cross country odyssey of Alton (Jaeden Lieberher), his father Roy (Michael Shannon) and their loyal companion Lucas (Joel Edgerton) as they evade the clutches of a mysterious military task force and strange cult leader. As the

action unfolds, we’re shown glimpses of Alton’s special abilities.As the film draws to a close a majority of the threads come together whilst many are left unraveled and unanswered. One worth seeing for sci-fi fans looking for a film which tells it’s story in a new unique way. (JA) WWW1/2 THE BLUE ROOM Audiences who enjoy erotic thrillers won’t be disappointed in this stylish and highly-crafted French film.The alluring story of Julien (Mathier Amalric), a married man who has an affair with exgirlfriend Esther (Stephanie Cleau), spins a web of deceit and murder and is an intelligent study of the dark side of human nature. Mystery and suspense is superbly created in true Hitchcockian tradition by director Mathier Amalric,

Anthony LaPaglia returns to the big screen in this Australian comedy about a real estate agent whose life has stagnated. Fate intervenes when he receives a call from a lady (Julia Blake) who claims to be his mother (who has passed on) which leads to an unlikely but therapeutic friendship.

This is quintessentially a film which accentuates that an established cast doesn’t necessarily translate to quality cinematic viewing, as there are many evident flaws which disappoint.

Veteran actress Julia Blake is undeniably the highlight of the film, radiating brilliance in every scene she appears in, and is the reason the blossoming friendship between her and La Paglia’s who also stars in and co-wrote the film.

(MMo) WWWW WIDE OPEN SKY A documentary film about Moorambilla Voices, a project which brings song to people living in remote areas of NSW. Michelle Leonard’s mission is to create a choir from the children of these places. It is an aspiration which confuses yet inspires them. Many have never heard classical compositions and the scenario challenges them to investigate new horizons. This is a magical exploration of how creativity can raise hope and opportunity in the most unlikely places.

(LR) WWWW

character is welcoming and believable.

Adversely the film seems contrived, lacks substance and moves at a laborious pace bordering on tedious. Extremely mild on laughs, the annoying narration and jazzy musical score also downgrade the film.

All these factors lead to a somewhat unmoving audience response to the potentially emotionally charged scenes in the finale.

The conclusion to a sub-plot involving a couple who desperately want to purchase a home is uplifting and one of the few high points of the film.

(MMo) WW1/2

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT The third installment in the popular Divergent series franchise,Allegiant tells the latest story of Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) as they venture into a new world, far more dangerous than ever before. Nicely done action scenes make this one a fun joy ride as the target audience should gulp it up! The story is has a few holes, but hey, cinema is for entertainment. (JA/JR) WWW RAMS From Iceland comes this inspirational fable-like drama. Gemmi and Kiddi are two elderly brothers who raise sheep on neighbouring properties and have been estranged over 40 years.

A virus leads to the mandatory slaughter of all the animals in the valley, the catalyst which reconnects theses

siblings.This slow-moving film unveils the exhilarating wintry locations of Iceland.An abrupt ending may detract, but ultimately this alternate cinematic experience is ideal for audiences who are tired of the monotonous Hollywood blockbusters. (MMo) WWW1/2 OBSERVANCE This psychological horror follows Parker (Lindsay Farris) who has taken a mysterious job spying on a young woman from a dreary, decrepit apartment building following a difficult run in his own personal life. If you are a moviegoer who likes every plot thread to end in a neat little bow, Observance is certainly not the film for you. If however, you like to spend your time pondering the story, this is your style of film. (JA) WW

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