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Everything you wanted to know about Australia’s most infamous son. By Alec Smart
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‘A story of devastation, resistance and, ultimately, survival, every Australian should know.’ – Benjamin Law
FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES NICK COOK
Fighting For Our Lives is a history of a community response to AIDS in Australia. Affected communities bravely took action to address the crisis head on, forming organisations such as ACON. Fighting For Our Lives is an inspirational story, one which took place against a backdrop of harrowing illness and death, fear and anger, hate and discrimination. It captures the high stakes drama of the darkest years of the epidemic and the stories of the people at the very centre of a life-or-death struggle. Written by journalist Nick Cook, Fighting For Our Lives has been published to commemorate ACON’s 35th anniversary. It is a gripping read, an important story, and one that must never be forgotten. Fighting For Our Lives is out now at The Bookshop Darlinghurst, Gleebooks and all other good bookstores and retailers.
OUT NOW AT BOOKSTORES & RETAILERS 2
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South-west bus lines on the block (See p.6)
HubARTS REVIEW: Crunch Time “to die without saying goodbye is unspeakably cruel.” (See p. 13)
Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Altmedia Pty Ltd. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, we take no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 52 600 903 348 Group Editor & Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons News Editor: Alec Smart Contributors: Alec Smart, John Moyle Cartoonist: Sam Mcnair Arts Editor: Jamie Apps Contributors: Erika Echternach, Irina Dunn, Madison Behringer, Mark Morellini, Olga Azar, Renee Lou Dallow, Rita Bratovich, Olga Sedneva Advertising Manager: Georgina Pengelly Cover Photo: Cara Lopez provided by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. George Gittoes’ Julian Assange Portrait Designer: Nadia Kalinitcheva Advertising: sales@altmedia.net.au Mail: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Email: news@altmedia.net.au, arts@altmedia.net.au Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Website: cityhubsydney.com.au If you have a story, or any comments you’d like to share with us: news@altmedia.net.au @CityHubSydney
HubNEWS Protest arrests at Mardi Gras By BILL WARREN wo members of the radical LGBTIQ group Pride In Protest were arrested at last weekend’s Mardi Gras parade. The arrests highlighted an odd division in Sydney’s gay community. Pride in Protest don’t like the commercialization of the annual massive parade and want to put control of it back into the hands of activists; they highlight the Liberal Party’s historical hostility to gay rights and want among other things to ban the NSW Police from participating in the parade, as well as large corporations they view as having questionable human rights agendas. It has been organizing and succeeded in placing a member of the group on the Mardi Gras board this year.
T
A renegade float
To highlight their opposition, the group created a renegade float – actually not much more than a tricycle with some balloons tied to it - spoofing the Liberal Party. Some Pride in Protest members, sporting jackets saying they were from the “Department of Homo Affairs” and wearing Scott Morrison masks, jumped into the parade in front of the Liberal Party float and temporarily stopped it (and all the floats behind it) from proceeding.
Pride in Protest made themselves heard Police pulled three protesters off the street and arrested two of them. “Pride in Protest in no uncertain terms condemns the excessive violence shown towards members of our community,” said Pride in Protest member Charlie Murphy, who sits on the Mardi Gras board. “In 1978 large numbers of LGBTQ+ people were arrested for simply being out and proud on the streets. Now, in 2020, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have made themselves complicit with a police force intimidating a grassroots LGBTQ+ protest group for wanting to make a statement against the Liberal Party, a
Sydney’s 2020 Mardi Gras Parade was marred by arrests. Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna
party with a rich and ongoing history of horrific homophobia, transphobia, and racism that continues today.”
Stabbings and brawls?!?
As a footnote, the British tabloid newspaper Daily Mail Australia ran a story on the Sydney headlined
“Stabbings, protests and violent brawls.” The “stabbings” refers to one fight police said involved two homeless men. The “violent brawls” refers to an incident involving four Paramatta bar-goers in an altercation with police that night, many kilometres away from the Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney. city hub 5 MARCH 2020
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HubNEWS
Some arty plans for Cockatoo Island BY JOHN MOYLE very Sydney-centric argument is brewing involving a prized piece of Sydney Harbour real estate, a prominent Sydney board of trustees, a group of arts aficionados and property developers, and the Federal Government … all bowing before the high altar of contemporary art. The future of Cockatoo Island is at the argument’s centre. A proposal by a group of individuals listing as the Cockatoo Island Foundation Limited want to take control of the UNESCO World Heritagelisted island under a 49-year lease to transform it into an art island.
A
Unspecified commercial uses
The Foundation want to lease the entire Island as an art gallery, cafes, restaurants and “other unspecified commercial uses,” such as a hotel. Cockatoo Island is in Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s seat of Grayndler. Somewhere in the mix is the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, formed in 2001 to protect Sydney Harbour’s former Defence sites, including Cockatoo Island, North
A group want to take control of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island under a 49-year lease to transform it into an art island with “other unspecified commercial uses’. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Head, Headland Park, the Woolwich parklands and the former submarine base Platypus.
Do we need cafes,
galleries and even hotels on Cockatoo Island? The Trust says that it has to consider the lease extension as it is facing a
$200 million cost for remediation of contamination of Cockatoo Island; a claim made without substantiation. Opposing any change to the current maximum lease of 25 years is Jill L’Estrange from the community-based Headland Preservation Group. “The Trust was never set up to be selffunding, it was not in its legislation and was not the intention,” Ms L’Estrange said. “The funds were meant to come from the Commonwealth Government
and these are not large sums of money.” The Cockatoo Island Foundation is made up of prominent business and arts’ figures Tony Berg and Danny Goldberg, who claim that they will find $80 million in funding if the Commonwealth commits to the cost of remediation. None of the international examples, such as Naoshima, MONA and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, mentioned by the Foundation as precedents involving public lands, and all have been financed by individuals. The group also includes supporters such as Committee for Sydney Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull and exOpera House CEO Michael Lynch. Foundation leader Tony Berg told City Hub that “it has been almost four years since we put the idea to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, and if the Federal Government thinks that it is a possibility I think that they would call for other submissions. “We would see the operation of the Island as an entity jointly run by the Commonwealth Government, the state government and the philanthropists selected.”
Waverley Council Update Mayor’s Message Surf safety Following the tragic drowning on 15 February at North Bondi, I urge our visitors and residents to be safe at our beaches and along our coastlines by heeding the signs. Please also listen to and respect our Lifeguards and Rangers. They are there for your safety and often put their lives at risk to protect the public, so please always follow their instructions.
Street play trial I am very excited to announce that we will be trialing a new street play initiative in Waverley. Participating streets will be closed to traffic each Sunday afternoon to allow for children and families to play and socialise safely. For more, see the news section on our website.
North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club Advanced Response Lifesaving Facility Waverley Council in partnership with North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club is building an advanced response lifesaving facility to improve volunteer surf lifesaving services at North Bondi. The new storage facility being built under the promenade at North Bondi will give surf club lifesavers direct access to the sand. The North Bondi amenities block and Council’s beach gym will remain open during construction. The promenade and showers near the surf club will be closed for the duration of construction and pedestrian detours will be in place. The nearest showers are located above North Bondi kid’s pool. It is anticipated that the project will be completed in Spring, weather permitting. For more, visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/ NBSLSCtunnel
Overnight parking We have endorsed for public exhibition a new monthly overnight parking permit fee for Waverley residents at Hollywood Avenue Car Park, Bondi Junction. Residents will soon be able to apply for a monthly pass to park in the secure car park at a discounted rate between the hours of 5pm - 9am. For more, see the news section of our website. Paula Masselos, Mayor of Waverley
Waverley Customer Service Centre: 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction Ph: 9083 8000 | waverley.nsw.gov.au | Stay in touch: waverley.nsw.gov.au/subscribe 4
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HubNEWS
16 south-east bus routes facing axe T BY ALEC SMART he NSW Govt is considering axing bus services in Sydney’s south-eastern suburbs according to a leaked Transport for NSW draft document and confirmed by the rail, tram and bus industry union, RTBU. The aim is to reduce the number of buses running through the CBD during peak periods. Existing express bus services, however, will remain in place.
eventually be extended to Little Bay to feed a massive high-rise development program, that will see the quiet seaside suburb transformed into a Gold Coast style metropolis.
Light rail at Little Bay will make it easier to lure tourists from the proposed mega cruise ship terminal at nearby Yarra Bay and take them on to the city. A spokesperson for NSW Transport Minister, Andrew Constance, said “Planning for these changes is still in the early stages and will be informed by Opal data, changed customer travel patterns, and feedback. The detailed plan has not been finalised.”
This is yet another slap in
the face for eastern suburbs commuters
Up to 16 bus routes will be affected, including services to Maroubra, Coogee and southern suburbs, to be replaced by four new bus services. Outlined as a means to ‘remove duplications’ in transport services, it appears the NSW Govt’s intention is to channel commuters onto the new CBD and Southeast Light Rail, which has been criticised for its slow running speeds and inconsistent schedules. The Labor Party member for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neill, said the cuts represented about 1600 journeys per day, or 10,000 per week.
16 bus services in Sydney’s south-east may be cut. Critics say it’s to funnel more people onto the new light rail. Photo: MDRX/Wikimedia
David Babineau, Tram and Bus Division Secretary of the RBTU, which represents over 13,000 workers across the rail and public transport industries, condemned the proposal. “It’s clear that what’s happened is that the NSW Government has realised that it needs to drive people onto the light rail in order to justify the exorbitant amount of money it has blown on the project,
and it doesn’t seem to care about the inconvenience that will cause for commuters.”
Endangered routes
Popular routes such as the 393 from Central Station to Little Bay and the 373 from Circular Quay to Coogee are facing the chop. The former suggests rumours are correct that the light rail will
However, Babineau said “It’s far too soon to even be thinking about doing this. No one yet has a full picture of how the system is going to operate. The NSW Government did this with the Metro in the North West – they axed services far too quickly and people were left stranded. It seems they haven’t learnt from their mistakes at all. “This is yet another slap in the face for eastern suburbs commuters who have already had to endure the long and costly process of construction of the light rail tracks and have the fear of bus privatisation hanging over their heads.”
THE BLACK SORROWS motor ace tim rogers cass eager
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Coffin Ed’s NAKED CITY
Revenge Of The Pangolin
W
hen we think of animals that are trafficked globally, often to be used in Chinese medicines and other natural remedies, it’s tigers, elephants and rhinos that immediately come to mind. Yet in recent years the most hijacked animal in the world has been a prehistoric looking, scaly mammal, prized for both its meat and the medicinal value of its scales. The pangolin is found in both Asia and Africa and it’s estimated between 2000 and 2013, over one million were taken from the wild. Needless to say it’s now highly endangered although thousands still find their way into markets, particularly in China. They are relatively easy to hunt down and catch with World Animal Protection stating, “The pangolin is repeatedly bludgeoned with a machete until it can barely move. While bleeding, it is then thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, where its tragic struggle comes to an end.” Up until a few months ago the plight of the pangolin was not high on the list of endangered animals but perhaps that is all about to change. Whilst it’s still very much a theory, a number of well respected scientists believe that the pangolin was the intermediary that originally passed the corona virus from bats to human beings. Pangolin meat and scales were certainly on sale in the markets of Wuhan although given
THAT SNEAKY RABBIT
the recent revelations it’s unlikely they remain a hot ticket item. The more this theory is circulated the better. Yes, pangolins are carriers of disease, namely Covid-19 and it’s a very bad idea to eat them or use their scales to brew up a variety of ‘natural’ medicines. Whilst the pangolin is not related to the armadillo it’s common knowledge that the latter is a carrier of leprosy and you won’t find them on any road kill menu in Texas. Ironically being labelled a carrier of a serious virus could be the saviour of the pangolin Meanwhile in Sydney last week we witnessed the extraordinary sight of
three baboons roaming the surrounds of Royal Prince Alfred, with the male of the trio supposedly booked into the hospital for a vasectomy. Whilst the episode produced much mirth in the media it did reveal the previously well guarded secret that there is a ‘troop’ of up to 150 baboons housed in a medical research establishment in Wallacia. Using any animal for medical research is a highly contentious and emotionally charged issue. Horror stories abound as to the way chimps were used in the US by the biomedical community and it’s only in recent years that many of these surviving primates have been moved
By Sam Mcnair
#thatsneakyrabbit
to sanctuaries such as the celebrated Chimphaven. It’s obviously all hush hush in Australia when it comes to using animals such as baboons as the guinea pigs of medical exploration. The Sydney Morning Herald reported figures last week from Humane Research Australia that some 272 primates were used for medical research in Australia in 2017. These included marmosets and macaques bred in Gippsland in Victoria. The Wallacia facility has obviously been a well kept secret with virtually no information supplied as to how the animals are tested and what the mortality rate there is. The 15 year old baboon who had the vasectomy at RPA was supposedly being retired from breeding duties by the National Health And Medical Research Council who operate the facility. Whether their somewhat ingenious escape from their transport at RPA was a cry for help may seem a bit farfetched but it was certainly an embarrassment for the Research Council. We can only hope we don’t get a Planet Of The Apes-like movie scenario with a mass breakout from the Wallacia compound with up to 150 marauding baboons terrorising men, women and children all over Sydney. Judging by the polite, non-threatening behaviour exhibited by the RPA threesome, we don’t have a lot to fear. Let’s hope we finally reach a day when primates are no longer needed for medical research and pangolin meat is off the table once and forever. Whilst the former is likely to continue, there’s a distinct possibility the latter might eventuate and become possibly the only good thing that a pandemic might bring to the world.
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The Assange How did Manning smuggle the sensitive material out? On 5 Jan 2010 Manning downloaded 400,000 documents that upon release became known as the Iraq War Logs. On 8 Jan she downloaded 91,000 documents known later as the Afghan War Logs. She saved the copied data – including other sensitive material she lifted - on a CD disc and smuggled it through security by labelling it “Lady Gaga.” She then transferred it via her personal laptop computer to an SD card, which she inserted into her camera, enabling her to take it back to the USA undetected when she was on leave from Iraq. Manning told a friend she’d leaked the data; the friend notified authorities. Manning was arrested in May 2010 and eventually convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the US Espionage Act and other offenses.
BY ALEC SMART ho exactly is Julian Assange? Is he a journalist - or an opportunist? A hero – or a traitor? And what about those rape charges? As Assange, now in prison in Britain, faces extradition to the US to face espionage charges, here are some answers.
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Who is Julian Assange? Assange is an Australian editor, publisher and activist. He was born Julian Paul Hawkins on July 3, 1971, in Townsville, Queensland. A computer whiz, in 1993, Assange gave technical advice to the Victoria Police Child Exploitation Unit that assisted in prosecutions of online paedophiles. He was also involved in starting one of the first public internet service providers in Australia. What did he do in the years before he came to public attention? Between 1987 and 1994, from the age of 16, Assange used his computer skills to hack into company mainframes under the name Mendax, along with a hacking group called the International Subversives. In September 1991, at the age of 20, Assange was traced by Australian Federal Police via his phone line modem after he was discovered hacking into the master terminal of Canadian telecommunications corporation Nortel. His home was raided the following month and he eventually pleaded guilty to 24 charges of hacking and related offence. In December 1996 he was ordered to pay reparations of $2,100 and released on a good behaviour bond. The relatively light sentence was due to the perceived absence of malicious or mercenary intent. What is WikiLeaks? Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006. It is designed to be a secure online disclosure portal where restricted or unobtainable documents from the world of intelligence-gathering and corporate secrecy can be shared anonymously. His intent was to encourage “whistleblowers.” Initially borrowing from the
Everything you wanted to know about Australia’s most infamous son Wikipedia template, wherein unpaid contributors could post material anonymously, the open-editing aspect was abandoned so hosts could maintain control of the material published. However, the administrators still accepted anonymous submissions and published those they felt should be in the public domain. The webpage came to international attention in 2010 when it published a series of leaks provided by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, now Chelsea Manning. Who is Bradley/Chelsea Manning? Bradley, who now identifies as a woman and has changed her name to Chelsea, is a former United States Army intelligence analyst. She was assigned to a US Army unit in Iraq in 2009 but after
a series of bullying incidents, followed by interactions with data hackers, Manning decided to leak classified information about America’s military activities in the Middle East. Did Assange encourage Manning to steal secrets? US Army investigators found 15 pages of encrypted conversation between Manning and someone believed to be Assange on Manning’s laptop. In any case, she released to WikiLeaks nearly 750,000 military and diplomatic documents ranging from “classified” to “unclassified but sensitive.” Between April 2010 and April 2011, Wikileaks released this vast archive, most notoriously including a video that showed US Army helicopters gunning down civilians in Baghdad, Iraq.
Didn’t she serve her time? Yes and no. In 2017 her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama to seven years of confinement dating from her arrest in May 2010. But on March 8, 2019, Manning was held in contempt of court by a US District Court judge for refusing to testify to a federal grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. She was returned to custody and has remained incarcerated since. What did Manning copy and what did WikiLeaks publish? The documents embarrassed the US government in many ways. They included: • The Iraq War Logs - These documents specifically examined civilian deaths in Iraq. Documents describe how US troops killed almost 700 civilians for coming too close to army checkpoints, including pregnant women and the mentally ill. • The Collateral Damage Video aka Baghdad Airstrike – This was cockpit video footage from July 12, 2007, showing US helicopters shooting a group of 10 men in the Amin District of Baghdad, including two camera-carrying (Continued next page) city hub 5 MARCH 2020
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reporters from Reuters news agency. The voice recordings included US pilots laughing and saying, “Oh yeah, look at those dead bastards!” The helicopters also fired repeatedly into a van that stopped to help wounded members of the first group they fired upon. Two children in the van were wounded and their father was killed. • Cablegate - Over 250,000 State Department diplomatic cables revealing messages written between December 1966 and February 2010 from 271 American embassies and consulates in 180 countries. The cables contained diplomatic analysis from world leaders, and the diplomats’ assessment of host countries and their officials, a fair number of them embarrassing to the US or the people involved, like pressure from the US not to use the word ‘genocide’ in relation to Serbian massacres in the former Yugoslavian wars. • Guantánamo Bay files 779 formerly secret documents relating to detainees at the United States-run Guantánamo Bay Naval Base Detention Camp in Cuba. • Granai Airstrike Massacre - The 4 May 2009 killing of over 140 civilians by a US Air Force B1 bomber in Granai, Afghanistan. • Afghan War Logs - The logs consist of over 91,000 Afghan War documents, mostly labelled secret, covering the period January 2004 to Dec 2009. Did Assange put people in danger? A key government witness during the Chelsea Manning trial, Brigadier General Robert Carr, testified under oath that no one was hurt by Manning’s revelations. Defense Secretary Robert M Gates added that the leaks were “awkward” and “embarrassing” but the consequences for US foreign policy were “fairly modest.” But didn’t he reveal the names of agents? Assange redacted names from the WikiLeaks releases. Later, a pair of
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could compel him to take a test for any sexually transmitted diseases. Police passed her statements to a prosecutor. Within hours the police opened a rape investigation. The media then ran stories saying Assange was being sought for the “rape of two women.” The second woman soon afterward said she “did not want to accuse” Assange “for anything” and it was the “police who made up the charges” – and declined to cooperate further with Swedish police. Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, found the Swedish police altered SW’s statement.
Wall mural of Julian Assange at the Abode of Chaos contemporary art museum, Lyon, France. Photo: Thierry Ehrmann
Guardian journalists, David Luke and Leigh Harding, published passphrases in a book allowing unrestricted online access to the unredacted files that WikiLeaks did not publish. As a result, the US Government had to relocate multiple agents from foreign assignments for their protection.
Who is Julian Assange? What is WikiLeaks? And how did he wind up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London? Didn’t he go to Russia? No, that’s another leaker, Edward Snowden. Assange was in London, in the Ecuadorian Embassy. Oh, right. How did he end up there? Assange, worried that he would be arrested by British authorities and
extradited to the US, sought sanctuary in the embassy in Aug 2012 and was granted political asylum by Ecuador’s thenpresident, Raffael Correa. He was unable to leave for Ecuador due to permanent British police stationed outside. There were also unrelated rape charges from Sweden. Wait, rape? In Aug 2010 Assange was accused of rape in Sweden based on the testimony of two women. Both women had consensual sex with Assange; in both cases aspects of the relations had given them pause. One woman said she’d asked Assange to use a condom. She said he had “done something” with the condom so that it ripped during intercourse. Also whilst in Sweden, Assange engaged in sexual relations with another woman. The two women later spoke to each other, and upon realising they’d both had sexual relations with Assange, one of the women decided to seek advice from Stockholm Police on whether they
So was Assange in the UK on the run from Sweden? No. He remained in Sweden for 5 weeks for questioning. On 25 Aug 2010, Assange was cleared of the suspicion of rape by the Stockholm prosecutor Eva Finne, who stated she “made the assessment that the evidence did not disclose any offence of rape.” In September he was told he was free to leave; he went to London. Then what happened? Then in November 2010, Swedish government prosecutor Marianne Ny again ordered his arrest, on suspicion of rape, three cases of sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. The Stockholm District Court granted a domestic warrant; instead Ny issued a European Arrest Warrant. In London, Assange sparred with authorities over whether he would be questioned further about the case in UK, or in Sweden. On 20 Nov 2019 Swedish authorities announced they were discontinuing their investigations into the rape allegation, the third time they’ve been dropped. So why was Assange hiding in the embassy? He was worried about the US espionage case against him. Assange entered the Ecuadorian embassy in London in Aug 2012 and applied for asylum, and was granted it. He ended up staying there for 6 years and 7 months.
Why did the Ecuadorians turf Assange out after so long? On March 28, 2019 Moreno revoked Assange’s citizenship after Ecuador entered a new military alliance with the USA. The following week Moreno blamed WikiLeaks after photos appeared on the internet linking the president to a corruption scandal. WikiLeaks then posted on Twitter that that they’d been tipped off to expect Assange’s expulsion from the embassy, and although Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry denied it, on 11 April they invited British police to enter the premises and arrest Assange. Moreno has since referred to Assange as a “spoiled brat” and a “miserable hacker.”
will or won’t find that his work was protected under the First Amendment isn’t clear. Interestingly, while the US judiciary, and particularly its Supreme Court, has had a conservative bent of late, on First Amendment issues the Court has been expansive. Given Assange’s notoriety, his case may test that commitment.
How did he end up in London’s Belmarsh Prison? Assange was found guilty of breaching the Bail Act and on May 1, 2019, he was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison in the United Kingdom.
What did WikiLeaks reveal? What about those rape charges? And where is he now? Wasn’t he supposed to be dying recently? More than 60 leading doctors signed a joint letter, supported by organisations like Amnesty International, voicing concerns for Assange’s ailing health, questioning why he was kept in solitary confinement in a prison meant for murderers, terrorists and other ‘Category A’ serious criminals. What is his legal predicament now? Most importantly, Assange faces 17 charges of espionage in the USA, which can theoretically earn him a prison sentence totalling 175 years. The Espionage Act bans the publication of US Government secrets, including any revelations by the media. The Act is 102 years old but this will be a landmark
Image courtesy of Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Photo: Cara Lopez
George Gittoes’ portrait of Julian Assange, which was unveiled at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) last week, will go on public display in the CPAC foyer in August. Following the initial display of the portrait of Assange, a wider exhibition of Gittoes’ works will go on display at CPAC beginning in late September. Sep 26 - Nov 18. CPAC, 1 Powerhouse Rd, Casula. FREE. Info: www.casulapowerhouse.com case as no US Government has yet prosecuted a journalist under the laws.
in difficulty with the law, they face the judicial systems of those countries.”
Why isn’t the Australian Government helping him? They prefer to leave the matter to the British and Americans. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Assange is “not going to be given special treatment ... It has got nothing to do with us, it is a matter for the US, and there is a range of judicial matters. When Australians travel overseas and find themselves
Is Julian Assange a journalist? The label has of course been used in many different ways in recent years, as so many writers online have broadened the job and its implications. Certainly, seen one way, Assange gathered information and disseminated it; seen another, he’s more of a middle man, connecting sources to traditional news organizations. Whether a US court
Isn’t Assange a Hillary Clinton hater? Didn’t he release the hacked Democratic Party emails to help Putin and Trump? On June 12, Assange announced “We have upcoming leaks in relation to Hillary Clinton... We have emails pending publication.” The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said a few days later that the Russian intelligence service, GRU, had hacked into the email accounts of Clinton’s campaign team and would release them through WikiLeaks. On Oct. 7, 2016, WikiLeaks began releasing the emails. Where the emails came from, whether they were actual the product of a Russian campaign to discredit Clinton or not, has been occluded. Assange and his partisans deny it, as does Putin and Donald Trump. US intelligence agencies take it as a given, saying that Russia was manipulating public opinion via fake Facebook accounts and other means to support Donald Trump, Representatives of the Trump campaign, including lobbyist and self-proclaimed ‘dirty trickster’ Roger Stone, a former Nixon aide, were in contact with WikiLeaks about the release of the emails.. Assange has said he thinks Hillary Clinton is a “sadistic sociopath.” However, most US political analysts agree the hacked email story contributed to Clinton’s defeat. What’s next? The first week of the Julian Assange extradition trial in London has concluded and will be resumed in May.
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A heart-wrenching tale of postpartum depression & the trauma of sexual assault (See p.15 )
The Bridges Of Madison County J ason Robert Brown’s Tony Award winning musical The Bridges Of Madison County will make its Australian premiere this week at Hayes Theatre Co. Directed by Neil Gooding and produced by Matthew Henderson, the musical, originally based on the novel by Robert James Waller will star Helpmann Award-winning actor Kate Maree Hoolihan in the role of Francesca and Helpmann Awardnominee Martin Crewes in the role of Robert. The Bridges Of Madison County tells the iconic story of two lovers, their respective marriages and the blurred lines of life and love. Hoolihan shared the difficulties of telling the story of an affair, “It’s quite a difficult story to tell, because it’s an affair. You want to hate them because they’re cheating, but you have to make sure that you tell the story in a way that’s understandable.” Despite this, Hoolihan says her character Francesca is an incredible role to play, “She’s an incredible character, she’s so wonderful and warm and there are so many beautiful characteristics about her. She’s had to survive a lot of things.” The Bridges Of Madison County is a beautiful and reflective production. Says Kate Maree: “I really hope that seeing the show will challenge the audience to reflect on their own
REVIEW
Crunch Time
Kate Maree Hoolihan & Ian Stenlake. Photo: Grant Leslie
lives. This story tells of several moments in your life that change the trajectory of your story, and we all have that.” “The story also challenges your own morality… love is not black and white. Life is not black and white,” Kate Maree said, continuing, “there are no real right or wrong answers to many situations in life and at the end of the day being human and being kind and generous and loving people, is probably the most important lesson we can take.” (MB) Mar 6-Apr 5. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $62-$69+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.hayestheatre.com.au
Diane Craig & John Wood. Photo: Prudence Upton
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fter an extremely successful career spanning 50 years, playwright David Williamson has announced his retirement, leaving audiences with his final theatrical production, an engaging story of family relationships. Veteran actor John Wood is Steve, a headstrong and insensitive father of two sons who “has won an incredibly unlucky lottery” and is dying of cancer. He desperately needs to reconcile with his estranged son Luke, whom he hasn’t seen in eight years. His wife, astutely portrayed by Diane Craig, urges her son to visit his terminally ill father iterating that Luke is at war with his father but are his grievances justified? Themes of family division, sibling rivalry, the favourite child syndrome, forgiveness, divorce, love, and
death emerge, many of which may be relatable to audiences. Laced with humour, comedy accelerates in the second half and subplots of marital indiscretions and romantic entanglements should have audiences laughing profusely. Euthanasia, which is currently quite topical in public debate, is a major element in the second half of the play and humorously allures the storyline of drug-trafficking.
The heart-warming conclusion to this dramatic and very funny play should leave audiences tearful, but many may ponder over the message resonated; should we forget the past and concentrate on what’s happening now? A must-see for all theatregoers. (MMo) Until Apr 9. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli. $38-$82+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.ensemble.com.au
Hamlet
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resented as Bell Shakespeare’s first work of 2020, Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy Hamlet is now showing at the Sydney Opera House. Directed by Artistic Director Peter Evans and featuring a cast of acclaimed Australian actors, Hamlet will be set in 1960s Denmark spotlighting a family torn apart by murder, betrayal and revenge. Multi-award winning Australian actor Lisa McCune will play the role of Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and the lead role of Hamlet will be played by Harriet GordonAnderson. Gordon-Anderson spoke with City Hub about what it’s been like taking on the role of Hamlet as a woman, saying, “It’s not been difficult to play Hamlet to be honest. I really quickly realised in the rehearsal room that there’s no benefit to me affecting male characteristics. It doesn’t add anything. I don’t think we’re asking the audience to forget that I’m a female actor.” When working in rehearsals, Harriet shared that it was quickly decided there would be no benefit to changing the gender of Hamlet to a woman within the text, “We concluded pretty quickly that we would be losing a really important element of the text which is Hamlet’s attitude to women as a man.” Bell Shakespeare are celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2020 and Hamlet was the first production ever produced by the company. Peter Evans said, “We decided to do Hamlet in 2020 because it’s Bell Shakespeare’s 30th anniversary. It was the first work Bell Shakespeare ever staged, and what better time to revisit what is arguably Shakespeare’s most famous play?” Gordon-Anderson is looking forward to sharing the magic of the piece with audiences, “I think this production is really beautiful. There’s some really beautiful visual poetry. As much as there’s activity to this production there’s also a lot of beauty and a lot of sadness and a lot of empathy.” (MB) Until Apr 4.Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point,Sydney. $37.50-$97.50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com city hub 5 MARCH 2020
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HubARTS REVIEW
Our Blood Runs In The Street
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tories of brutal historical gay hate crimes perpetrated in Sydney in the closing decades of the 20th century, and their dismissal by law enforcement of NSW, are slowly trickling into mainstream media. Murders once put aside as muggings, suicides and misadventure are now being revisited via an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into those crimes. Directed by Shane Anthony with an ensemble cast, the documentary theatre piece Our Blood Runs In The Street, which showcases some of these tales, never quite gains the momentum to deliver the impact the stories demand.
The words of Our Blood Runs In The Street have been gathered from police reports, victim statements, interviews with survivors and other sources, assembled to create a picture of the times. The experiences and the terrible circumstances that led to the LGBTQ+ community, already targeted as deviant expendables, forced this community to distrust any avenue of justice. In the first part of the performance, much energy is devoted to stylised movements that serve to distract from the powerful spoken words, then seem to fade out. The words are strong enough alone and don’t
need the jerky motions, although other choreography works better such as in a scene of violence. This show points to much-awaited change, and had the participation of some people associated with the NSW police. At a recent after-show Q&A it was encouraging to see LGBTQ+ and police on the panel, and people featured in the show in the audience. It is important to remember and honour those victims; Our Blood Runs In The Street is more of a work of performance activism and for that it can’t be faulted. (OA)
Until Mar 21. The Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. $35-$45+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.redlineproductions.com.au
U.S. Girls Heavy Light By Jamie Apps race Petrie’s music has an unmistakable activist slant but her immense talent and unique takes on life, love and politics have won her an army of loyal fans across the alternative, folk, political and comedy scenes worldwide. Ahead of her upcoming back to back tours of Australia, one focusing on her music and one alongside the Guilty Feminist Podcast, Petrie sat down with City Hub. While Petrie is often described as a folk singer-songwriter and activist she finds it difficult to separate the two. “I would never say that I’m more of an activist than I am an artist or vice versa because the two are inextricably intertwined for me.” Politics only began to bubble away inside Petrie and her music 10 years ago, and as such music will always have a slight edge in her heart, “my main goal is always to entertain people and write good songs.” Once Petrie began to incorporate these political messages into her music her popularity began to skyrocket. Something which she credits to simply being able to “put chords to how a lot of people felt and continue to feel today.” According to
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Grace Petrie Petrie the hardest part of writing politically charged music is doing so in such a way that it remains timeless. “Political music has a real shelf life,” Petrie explained before going into more detail. “The songs often come very, very quickly in response to a political issue of the day, but the challenge is trying to write them in such a way that they’ll still make sense in two weeks time.” From this perspective, Petrie joked that “Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving from a political songwriter’s perspective.” Another area which has helped Petrie’s music connect with the audience, especially in the live setting, are her experiences working alongside several comedians. In recent years Petrie has collaborated with Hannah Gadsby and to this day continues to work with the team behind the Guilty Feminist Podcast. When asked how comedy has influenced her performance Petrie said, “If you go out there and say I’m a lesbian, socialist, protest singer people can be a little put off by that because they think I’m just
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going to yell at them all night... You’re never going to reach somebody’s heart or soul if they are uncomfortable to begin with. So by having a few comedy numbers and the tricks of comedy stagecraft that I’ve learned from my friends it has really helped me put an audience at ease.” With this tour being her first time in Australia Petrie is “over the moon” and wants to tell people, “If you like stamping your feet and singing along to make the world a better place this will be the night for you.” Mar 12. Marrickville Bowling Club, 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville. $22.19+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.marrickvillebowlingclub.com.au
Museum, each artist’s work explores clothing as more than something frivolous, as a way to build a sense of community. Local artist Leila el he HI VIS exhibition explores the fabulous forms Rayes exhibits her 2017 work V&V (Vulnerability of dress and dance to captivate an audience’s and Volatility), with video work which features her attention and compel them to engage in complex performing a feminine dance in a metal chain and political ideas. knife skirt to the sounds of an Arabian drum; the Exhibition curator, Luke Letourneau says “HI video is then accompanied by a display of the dress. VIS comes from the high visibility vests worn by “The nature of the knives means it could also construction workers outside Casula Powerhouse, damage her, making her vulnerable and it’s not focussed on the vests but in how exposed to unexpected risks. It’s about familiar clothes are, and seeing it so what it means to be a brown heightened that it captivates an woman, the beauty and dangers audience” of that,” says Letournea. Cang Xin. Consubstantiality 2009 At the Casula Powerhouse
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n their latest album Heavy Light, U.S. Girls presents songs about relevant topics wrapped in songs that sound like they were ripped from another decade. A mesmerising mix of sounds, instruments, languages, and even three short spoken interludes, Heavy Light engages every facet of listeners’ minds with its funky 70s-esque beats. In addition to powerful honesty and catchy tunes, the album has the courage to be vulnerable and raw, addressing weighty themes such as addiction and verbal abuse. The song Woodstock ‘99 is particularly haunting, as well as the emotionally-laden music video for Overtime. (EE) WWW
Local artist JD Reforma’s new video work MISS ANTHROPY 2020, displayed on a large screen, was inspired by the orange beaded evening gown of former Miss Philippine Catriona Gray’s gown in reference to the recent eruptions in Philippines. In his work, the artist is shown wearing a facemask next to the volcano. The face mask is a raw reminder of the recent bushfires and later in the video, he removes it to cover the volcano to symbolise our relationship with nature and how we can care more. (KC) Until Mar 15. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 1 Powerhouse Rd, Casula. FREE. Info: www.casulapowerhouse.com
HubARTS
Key Assets Foster Care H
ave you ever considered becoming a foster carer? If so, Key Assets are a great first point of call. Key Assets provide carers with on-going training, 24/7 support, a dedicated social worker and an allowance. They also hold regular events and connect carers with other carers for extra support. It’s also important to recognise that it’s never to late to become a foster carer. Take Key Assets foster carer Henry for example. Henry first became a carer under the Key Assets banner two years ago at 42 years old, and remains a key member today caring for 13 year old Sam. “Seeing Sam improve and make solid progress really keeps me going. Sometimes when I step
back and look at how far he has come, it makes me feel really proud. It’s nice hearing Sam talk about the future living with me, asking me if I can teach him to drive when he gets older and asking if I will help him buy his first car. “Sharing a safe, loving and warm environment with a child in need is the best feeling. Watching them grow, develop and thrive, and enjoy enriching experiences is such a reward,” said Henry, before then explaining to City Hub that the learning process is a two way street. “I’ve learned a lot from Sam too. This whole experience has allowed me to develop new skills and insights as an individual. I also didn’t expect to receive so much support from our friends and family, our
employers, Key Assets and from other carers as well.” Contact Key Assets & apply to become a carer at www.keyassets.com.au
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Dark Waters
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n this big-business-vs.- the-little-guy legal drama, Mark Ruffalo plays Rob Bilott, a corporate lawyer who switches allegiances when he discovers a decades-long dark secret in the waters of West Virginia. Dark Waters is a procedural and straightforward true story based upon Nathaniel Rich’s New York Times article, The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare. The film surrounds Billot, a rising star in the world of corporate law. West Virginian farmer Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp), an acquaintance of Billot’s grandmother, shows up to Billot’s offices distraught because his cows are dying en masse due to what he believes to be poisoning by chemical maker DuPont, Billot is persuaded to investigate further. From there a
long, drawn-out investigation over the course of many years places pressure on the lives, marriages and jobs of Tennant and Billot. Dark Waters is a slow-burning film which accumulates weight over time, much like the chemical found to be seeping into the water supply of West Virginia. The film lingers on the minutia of the case, from the mountains of documents to the heated boardroom meetings and crafty courtroom strategies. The performances are great, particularly that of Bill Camp, and the message against corporate environmental pollution is poignant. However, because the means of delivery is slow and methodical this film won’t be for everyone. (JA) WWW
iranda Nation’s first venture into film writing and directing is a heart-wrenching tale of postpartum depression fused with the trauma of sexual assault. Undertow revolves around photojournalist Clair (Laura Gordon) and pregnant teen Angie (Olivia De Jonge). When these two women initially cross paths it is unbeknownst to them that their lives have been inextricably linked through motherhood. While Clair is still coming to terms with the loss of her unborn child and the lingering effect of postpartum depression when she first lays eyes on Angie. From that moment forward Clair is drawn to the teenager, who we all later learn is pregnant following a traumatic sexual assault at the hands of a group of football players. Undertow is obviously inspired by the multitude of football sex scandals over the past five to ten years. Although late to the party the film is still
incredibly poignant as it reflects on the so-called “boys club” culture that seems to envelop professional sport. A special psychological thriller that is difficult at times but worth the uncomfortable journey. (JA) WWW1/2
Short+Sweet:
Licensed to thriLL! ToM Mann TheaTre 136 ChalMers sT, surry hills
More info and bookings: www.shortandsweet.org/sydney e: tickets@shortandsweet.org
13 feb- 26 apr Thurs-saT 7.30pm sun 1pm and 6.00pm city hub 5 MARCH 2020
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SERVING CHILDREN, FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES
Could you be a Foster Carer? We want to work with you to make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of children in your community. As a Key Assets foster carer we’ll provide you with 24/7 support, a dedicated social worker and on-going training. If you’re looking to provide love, safety and care for a child we’d love to hear from you.
1800 WE CARE | www.keyassets.com.au 16
city hub 5 MARCH 2020