Get ready for a taste sensation like no other, as Pyrmont Festival returns to Sydney in May 2023 with an explosive lineup of mouth-watering food, wine tastings, and live entertainment.
Free entry - everyone in the community is welcome
Wineries from NSW wine regions
Oyster Bar and Japanese Aburi Bar from the famous Sydney Fish Market
Local breweries and distilleries and food trucks
Free live entertainment from local musicians and artists
First date friendly
Art classes
Food and wine courses
Accessible access to all parts of the park
Kobi Shetty makes history for the Greens
(See p. 12)
When in February the former NSW Arts Minister Ben Franklin announced the compulsory acquisition of Parramatta’s Roxy Theatre it brought about a call for similar action to take place for the Metro Minerva Theatre in Potts Point.
Art in every corner at the National 4
(See p. 26)
PUBLISHED DATE 13 APRIL 2023
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The Metro Minerva is currently owned by property developers Central Element who have a development application lodged for the heritage listed building.
Central Element’s website states “Plans will see the vacant building, last occupied as an office, lovingly restored int a multi-use venue, incorporating a 5-star boutique hotel and performance spaces, for which the building is renowned.”
Despite the findings of a City of Sydney/ Create NSW feasibility study stating that the theatre could be restored as a working 1,000 seat venue, Central Element commissioned a study by Arup to state that this was impossible due to modern building standards and the degradation of the space during its conversion to a food court and later offices.
This was also despite 178 submissions from individuals, 1799 petition signatories and 21 responses from organisations being lodged against the proposal.
On 18 December 2020 the Metro Minerva was listed on the State Heritage Register and on 13 May 2021 a predevelopment meeting was held between Heritage NSW and the City of Sydney regarding the new proposal for the site.
In May last year Heritage NSW handed down its own report regarding then DA that has at least one proponent for the retention of the Metro Minerva as a theatrical venue hopeful.
Andrew Andersons is a highly awarded architect who has spent much of his working life developing Sydney’s theatrical spaces, including the Ros Packer Theatre, Angel Place Recital Hall and the restoration of the Capitol Theatre.
“The thrust of Arup’s report was that the old theatre would never comply with contemporary standards, in fact it had the most generous seating of any theatre in Sydney,” Andersons said.
“You could reinstate the old theatre as it was without any difficulties because nothing has fundamentally changed in the way that theatre designs are made.”
Heritage NSW, in section 2 of the report, supports this, stating “A joint feasibility study by Create NSW and City of Sydney found that the Minerva could house up to 1,000 patrons and therefore be financially viable as a small to medium theatre.”
and if you can’t build that you are reducing the desirability of the hotel.
“The idea of using that magnificent auditorium as a nightclub is also a really bad idea.”
The City of Sydney noted that the DA was still under consideration and that the council officers were considering all documentation lodged with the DA against relevant planning controls.
A Create NSW spokesperson said that it “noted that the Department did not agree with assertions made by Central Element that the restoration of the theatre to a 1,000 seat venue was not possible.
“The submission … confirmed that the proposal to restore the theatre to a 1,000 seat theatre is both workable and realistic.”
In Section 7 The Heritage NSW report states that the proposal should delete the demolition of the roof, the northern foyer wall and the introduction of partition walls in the auditorium.
“These are serious constraints that would really kill off the hotel, in my opinion,” Andersons said.
“The hotel is premised on building two levels of the auditorium roof, and all the best (hotel) rooms are in that section,
The report contains one glaring mistake in Section 6.2.6 when is says that there has been no “active theatre productions in the walls since the 1940s” which omits the record breaking two year run of Hair from 1969 to 1971.
“The report is encouraging to me as it is dealing with the major cultural significance of the building and its impact on the performing arts,” Andersons said. “If the state government wants to acquire then building it can negotiate a lower acquisition rate because the developer has no options to make it profitable.”
Alex Greenwich, the independent member for Sydney has said “I strongly support the compulsory acquisition of the Metro/ Minerva as a theatre as it’s the least the major parties can do for imposing the lockout laws on Kings Cross all those years ago.”
If the planned hotel development goes ahead, it will irreversibly change the look and use of the Metro Minerva, locking us out a world significant theatre space forever.
major cultural significance of the buildingAn indigenous portrayal of the Metro/Minerva Theatre in Potts Point. Credit: Artwork by Shane Smithers
Confusion over the fate of the Glebe Markets has resurfaced after the previous operators have continued to inform the public the markets are closed, despite a new company taking up operations.
An Instagram post from the official Glebe Markets website with a banner stating ‘Glebe Markets is Closed’ was posted in March, despite assurances from the Department of Education and local politicians that the markets would continue.
Under new management, markets have been held at Glebe Public School each Saturday since March 11.
The confusion stems from the trademarked name of the markets, which the new operators have not purchased. The new markets running at the Glebe Public School are not directly connected to the Glebe Markets.
The new operation is called ‘Markets at Glebe Public School’, as the operators have not purchased the trademarked name ‘Glebe Markets’ which still belongs to the previous owners, David and Naomie McCumstie.
“Glebe markets is a business and a trademark, not a location,” David McCumstie told City Hub
“We offered this trademark business to the current operators, but they chose, for whatever reason, not to purchase it.”
Waverley Council and the Bondi Junction RSL sub-branch invite you to attend our Anzac Day service on Tuesday 25 April at 7.45am at Waverley Park Cenotaph. Please join us as we pay our respects to the servicemen and women who have helped defend our freedoms so that we can live in a free and democratic society.
Waverley Council is delighted to announce that the prize money for the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award has doubled to $40,000 thanks to an ongoing multiyear commitment by the award’s principal sponsors, Sydney philanthropists, Mark and Evette Moran, founders of the Mark Moran Group. The expansion of the major prize highlights the Nib Award, now in its 22nd year, as one of the most prestigious and valuable literary awards in the country, having distributed more than $500,000 directly to authors including previous winners Tim Low, Helen Garner, Gideon Haigh, Clare
The Glebe Markets ran at Glebe Public School for 32 years during successive leases of the land from the NSW Department of Education every 5 years. Earlier this year David and Naomi McCumstie decided to retire and put the trademarked business up for sale. Organic Food Markets put their hand up to run the markets in late February, reopening for business on the ground of Glebe Public School on March 11 under the new name ‘The Markets at Glebe’.
Wright and Delia Falconer.The Nib Award celebrates excellence in research and writing and is presented annually by Waverley Council. It is judged on high literary merit, quality of research, readability and value to the community and is the only major literary award of its kind in Australia presented by a local government authority. The Moran’s ongoing support has taken the Nib Award to a whole new level and presented lifechanging opportunities for winning authors. In the spirit of supporting and encouraging Australian writers, the Council has also increased the People’s Choice Prize to $4000 and will be offering six shortlist prizes of $1,500 each. Nominations are now open for the 2023 Nib Award for written works first published between 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023. Details: waverley.nsw.gov.au/nib.
From Edinburgh Fringe award-winning kid's comedy to a Japanese-style puppet workshop, take your kids on a global culture trip this April with Waverley Council’s affordable and inclusive autumn School Holiday Program. Our school holiday program offers something for students of all ages from soccer, tennis and basketball at Margaret Whitlam Centre to LED workshops, creative writing and glass jar decorating at Waverley Library. It’s grown-up fun for younger audiences at Bondi Pavilion with the multi-award winning The Listies: Rolling on the Floor Laughter comedy show (April 19 and 20); A Little Bit of Blue puppet show by Little Wing Puppets (22 April) and the Rainbow, Mermaid, Fireworks arts and crafts program (18-21 April), among other events. Our program also includes events at the Waverley-Woollahra Art School. Our program is all about kids having fun and learning new skills along the way. Most of our school holiday events are free or offered at low-cost and
Waverley Customer Service Centre: 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction. Ph: 9083 8000
Organic Food Markets confirmed that they do not intend to purchase the trademarked name.
“We are not buying that name and we are using Markets at Glebe Public School, as instructed,” a spokesperson said.
Tony Jackson, a stallholder at the Glebe Markets for over 30 years said that the markets are running differently under the new operators. Jackson said the new markets are “looking very empty” compared to before.
“They’ve been open three weeks with the new caretakers. And it’s just got worse and worse. We’ve lost about 150 stallholders. It’s looking very empty,” Jackson said.
“David used a system where you organise the whole market a month before. Now what Organics do is you just arrive on the day and just hope that you get a spot. So it’s just pandemonium.”
Stallholders have noticed a significant increase in the price of stalls, as well as insurance.
“They have put up the prices of tables that you can rent by double and then charge them another $20 for insurance for the day. So, they’re also getting really expensive,” Jackson said.
and have been programmed by our arts and culture and library officers to ensure the content is engaging, interesting and memorable. The program also re-introduces young people and families to our newly restored Bondi Pavilion, the heart and community, culture and events in Waverley and home to the east’s newest restored theatre. See the What’s On page on our website, and the Bondi Pavilion website, to book.
Waverley Council is trialing a new Swap and Wash reusable takeaway food container program in Bondi to help reduce plastic pollution and protect its beaches and the environment. Customers can now order takeaway food in specially designed reusable mealboxes at seven participating food vendors. Once customers have purchased the mealbox they then swap the containers for hygienically cleaned ones when they next order a takeaway meal. The mealboxes are made from certified ocean bound plastic by Bondi start-up and certified B-Corporation, rePlated and manufactured on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The program had the potential to save 437 kilograms of plastic waste and avoid four tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.Participating businesses included Porch & Parlour, Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Kiosk, Orchard St., Funky Pies, SHUK Bakery, SHUK Falafel, SHUK North Bondi, The Shop & Wine Bar, Harry’s Bondi, Cali Press, The Nine, The Depot, Makuto, Bare Naked Bowls Bondi and bRu Coffee. The 12-week trial is supported by NSW Environment Protection Authority, Waste Less Recycle More initiative. To find out more, visit https://hellobondi.com.au/eco-tourism/ecobusiness/
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the City of Sydney Council updated on the issue.
Murphy suspects that exposure to toxins in water, soil and insects may have contributed to the cause of death for the ducks.
By JASMINE SIMMONSInvestigations are underway after a number of duck fatalities were reported in a park lake in Camperdown. Members of the public found large amount of the native bird species sick and dying at the inner-city Victoria Park Lake.
City of Sydney Councillor Yvonne Weldon reported over Facebook that Sydney Wildlife volunteers were first on the
scene to assess the ducks and lake environment, and investigate the cause of the deaths.
“They have recorded over 20 fatalities,” Cr Weldon said.
“The City of Sydney is working with the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Zoo, the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Department of Primary Industries to determine the cause.”
Routine water testing was conducted prior to the fatality reports and identified no risks in the lake water. Additional tests are currently taking place and will continue over the coming weeks.
“It is really sad to see these beautiful creatures suffer. I hope that we can determine the cause and act swiftly,” said Cr Weldon.
Waterbird specialist Kelly Murphy was immediately on the case and has kept
After a whirlwind time on the election campaign trail, it’s great to take a moment to reflect on everything our community has achieved since 2023 began. Together we’ve rallied for climate action and trans rights, put renters' rights at the top of the political agenda, and helped finally kick out the Liberals after over a decade of Coalition governments. And it is such an honour to be able to continue to represent our community as the Greens Member for Newtown.
Ph: (02) 9517 2800
E: newtown@parliament.nsw.gov.au
W: jennyleong.org
383 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
None of these things would have been possible without ongoing support from you: our proudly diverse, staunchly progressive, radically inclusive Newtown electorate community.
Each day on the campaign it was a privilege to speak to members of our community and hear firsthand about the issues that matter most to you. From quick chats at train stations to longer conversations on front porches during door knocks; the housing and climate crises, widening inequality, and worries over the rise of right-wing conservatism were concerns we heard time and time again.
We know that our communities need relief from the rising cost of living, that young people face mounting anxiety over climate inaction, and that the most vulnerable among us are struggling to find secure housing in an increasingly unaffordable market and broken public housing system.
Over my next four years as the Member for Newtown I am committed to continuing to work with you to push for real, meaningful action to address each of these concerns and ensure that our community’s voice is heard in Parliament, on the streets, and beyond. Our team will continue to work alongside local activists, community groups, and policy experts to put real solutions on the table to solve the rental, cost of living and climate crises - and help build the grassroots movements needed to make these solutions a reality.
There is a real sense of hope and opportunity right now - with an incoming minority Labor Government that will need the support of Greens and progressive independents to pass legislation. Representing and serving the Newtown electorate as your local
“It seems that ducks are very susceptible to toxins that may be in the water or soil,” Murphy said.
“There have also been reports of birds that feed on insects being impacted in turn, including magpies, ravens, and butcherbirds.”
Head veterinarian at The Wild Vet in Glebe, Emma Hall, assisted the ducks and had one pacific black duck in critical care. According to Sydney Wildlife Rescue, two ducks alongside the 20 found dead were euthanised due to their state of distress.
Experts have advised locals in the area to keep animals and children away from the water until test results are determined.
member for the past eight years has been an incredible privilege, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together over the next four.
Keep up to date with our work by subscribing to updates at https://www.jennyleong.org/sign_up or scanning the QR code below:
Jenny Leong MP Greens Member for Newtown
It is really sad to see these beautiful creatures sufferSydney Councillor Yvonne Weldon (right) and Sydney Wildlife Volunteer (left) at Victoria Park Lake where over 27 ducks have died. Photo: Facebook/Yvonne Weldon This regular column is authorised by Jenny Leong MP. Funded using parliamentary entitlements
a good
To ensure you remain as healthy as possible when living with HIV, it’s important to think long-term about your health – and there’s no better time to start than now.
No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been living with HIV, being proactive and speaking to your doctor regularly can help ensure your evolving needs are met.
We’ve brought together useful tools, to help you measure your quality of life and keep the conversation going with your doctor, visit the Quality of Life Hub at ViiV Healthcare to learn more.
enough for a double pram or wheelchair. Social distancing is impossible! The bridge needs urgent maintenance,” Cr Langford explained.
Cr Langford told to council that she campaigned for upgrades to the bridge during 2021 council elections, and that it is a well-known issue in the community. Almost 2 years on, the bridge has continued to negatively impact transport for pedestrians.
“The bridge does not encourage active transport. It is slow to cross because it is so narrow. People have to make way for each other. There is no shared pathway for bikes and pedestrians,” said Cr Langford.
BY JASMINE SIMMONSResidents are calling for urgent upgrades to a dangerous bridge in Tempe. A local Tempe resident shared an image to Facebook showing a bleeding cut on her hand from a loose wire protruding out of rotting boards on the Bayview Avenue Bridge.
Inner West Councillor Justine Langford took notice of the issue and put it forward to the Inner West Council at a meeting in March.
“Many residents, especially those in Tempe, Marrickville and Earlwood, are
affected by this dangerous pathway” Cr Langford said.
“People of all ages who walk, run or cycle, or have children in a pram, dog walkers, wheelchair users or those with visual impairments are impacted,” said Cr Langford.
The council noted on the meeting agenda that the bridge is unsafe for pedestrians and needs urgent maintenance repairs.
“The main safety concerns are that the pedestrian pathway over the bridge is too narrow. It is single lane and not wide
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Transport for NSW is responsible for repairs, so Langford requested that council write to the relevant Minister for Transport about the issue.
“Ideally, Transport for NSW needs to widen pedestrian access to encourage active transport. This could involve upgrading and widening the bridge, replacing it altogether or installing a
separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, adjacent to the existing bridge,” she said.
“In the immediate term, Transport for NSW needs to ensure there is no rotten timber or wire protruding along the pedestrian access.”
City Hub reached out to Transport for NSW for comment, but did not receive a reply.
Mayor Darcy Byrne and Labor councillors voted down Cr Langford’s motion in the recent meeting. Instead, Cr Byrne put forward a foreshadowed motion that called to refer the issue to the Local Traffic and Committee for investigation, which was passed, receiving a yes vote from Langford. However, Langford said she still held concerns about the foreshadowed motion.
“I am concerned that the Mayor is moving to prohibit me from achieving any results for the community on important issues of pedestrian safety,” said Langford.
“The Bayview Avenue bridge is a State Government asset.”
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Could you be the person lovely Lia is looking for? Lia is a sensitive soul who will need time to explore at her own pace and a little extra understanding as she adjusts to her new home, but your patience and kindness will go a long way as she settles in. You are sure to feel especially blessed when she bestows her trust in you. The reward will be even sweeter once you’ve won her over and discovered Lia’s own special ways of expressing her love. This gentle girl is looking forward to spending her days in a relaxed forever home with low levels of activity where she can enjoy some tranquillity and daydream in peace and quiet. Lia would prefer to be the only feline in your life and is best suited to an indoor only forever home as her shy nature means she spooks easily.
Lia will make a loyal friend for one lucky cat-lover!
Call the Cat Protection Society of NSW on 02 9557 4818 or visit www.catprotection.org.au
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The bridge does not encourage active transportInner West Councillor Justine Langford has brought the issue of a dangerous bridge in Tempe to the council. Photo: Greens on Council
BY JUSTIN COOPER
Alocal community group is petitioning against new lighting and sports turf in Christison Park, Vaucluse.
The Save Christison Park Action Group (SCPAG) are concerned about the possible introduction of floodlights, artificial turf and fencing that could be a part of the new amenities as proposed in a draft plan by Woollahra Council.
The group says the proposal could limit the park’s open spaces and reduce dog off-leash time, as well as obstruct views. The group also noted the negative environmental impacts from flood lights and the traffic increases from additional weekly sport activities.
“SCPAG wants Christison Park’s wonderful open, natural, coastal environment just 8 kms from the city centre, protected for posterity as is Centennial Park,” a SCPAG spokesperson said.
The action group said that under the draft plan the park will become ‘sports complex’, with multiple plans by council to allow up to 60 hours of planned sports per week within the park. The current 15 hours of allocated sporting events is an acceptable amount from SCPAG “as part of sharing,” however additional increases
and infrastructure could see off-leash dog time be cut quite significantly whilst also impacting the park’s landscape and views. The spokesperson said that council is “trying, seemingly as a way of getting around objections to such lights, to embed the changes, Sports Lights, into a new POM (Plan of Management).”
“Council’s proposals for Christison Park are huge developments and will directly affect the local community and many people, not only those of Woollahra Municipality,” she said.
The plan which was made in late 2019 by Woollahra Council, Draft Plans of Management for Crown Land Reserves, suggests multiple changes to various public parks and beaches within the council area. The changes to Christison park mention the addition of “sporting facilities and/or amenities including but not limited to lighting… surface levelling and resurfacing, (and) environmental management…”
A Woollahra Council spokesperson said that the “sports and recreation facilities are a key priority for Council in creating spaces for community activity and wellbeing”.
Furthermore, council says any upgrades to the infrastructure of the park “would first be subject to a feasibility study, which would address sustainability and environmental and recreational park use benefits and issues.”
Council is aware of concerns regarding the
park’s limited space for resident’s dogs to run, however they are currently conducting a “public consultation on a LGA-Wide Review of Dog Controls”, after concerns have arisen regarding dog safety and management. It won’t be until May that the board will review public submissions and considerations to the plan. The SCPAG have started an online petition against the installation of floodlights and increase in sporting facilities.
remaining public foreshore, some within this Sydney Harbour National Park.”
According to Hughes, allowing extended vehicle access to the site and proposing packaged tourism facilities will diminish the structured cultural interventions that remain significant to Sydney Harbour.
“A Master Plan is a dangerous document to have in play,” Hughes said.
The spokesperson from the NPWS said that the master plan has been informed by the Sydney Harbour National Park Plan of Management 2012 and the South Head Conservation Management Plan 2008.
“It has been developed through extensive site investigations, analysis with community and stakeholder consultation and feedback,” the spokesperson told City Hub
“Improvements identified in the master plan will require further detailed design and financial analysis, as well as heritage, cultural and environmental assessments and approvals.”
The NPWS spokesperson also noted that there are no plans for further public vehicle access in the master plan.
BY JASMINE SIMMONSMembers of the South Head Whale Trail community group are fighting to protect wildlife and park space in the Watson’s Bay headland. The group have brought a petition to the NSW Parliament in response to a draft master plan which will increase private vehicle access and various developments in South Head National Park. The National Park is located on the Vaucluse peninsula which is bordered by rocky cliffs, harbour beaches, and is home to a significant amount of Aboriginal sites.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services gained approval for the master plan on February 10. The plan proposes a number of new developments along the peninsula, including a new plaza entry, upgrades to existing boardwalks and providing better access to the iconic Hornby Lighthouse.
“The South Head Master Plan represents a 20-year vision and approach for visitor use and park management, applicable under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 that creates a long-term vision for South Head, Gap Bluff and Green Point precincts of Sydney Harbour National Park,” a spokesperson from the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) said.
The South Head Whale Community group has identified 4 issues within the master plan that they are opposing. The group has concerns over an increase of private vehicle access with the construction of a new road, the privatisation of public
amenities, negative impacts to a wildlife corridor, and impacts on Indigenous and heritage sites within the park.
Petitioner and spokesperson for the South Head Whale organisation, Vashti Hughes, brought the petition forward to the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Hughes, on behalf of the organisation and local community, asked the House to prohibit an increase in vehicle use, access and infrastructure within South Head National Park.
Maintenance for the National Park currently has restricted vehicle access via an existing road on South Head. Included in the new plan is a duplicate light vehicle road, which petitioners claim will increase disturbance to wildlife, and increase traffic to the area.
“Extending vehicle access benefits only the leaseholder operations which will likely cause an increase in traffic beyond the threshold of acceptance,” Hughes explained.
“Constructing another roadway appears to be an unnecessary duplication of the existing road with only detrimental impacts on wildlife and visitor enjoyment.”
South Head National Park currently provides a habitat for endangered land and marine species and offers a feeding ground that is critical to bird and mammal migration.
Hughes stated that the immediate environmental impacts of the proposed plan include “habitat destruction; disruption and impact on water courses, food supply, marine debris; plus an increase in gross pollutants within the park environment.”
Further, the proposed construction for an elevated road on the Park’s headland will contribute to the effects of urbanisation.
“The long-term effects of urbanisation on marine habitat and seagrass meadows are significant and which will, in turn, negatively impact local fish stock, the marine food chain supply as well as water quality,” Hughes said.
“The master plan identifies retention of existing carparks. There are no plans to provide additional public vehicle access to the reserve.”
The Parliamentary petition currently has over 250 signatures and closes on May 2 2023.
The most current petition is the second time a case against the master plan has made it to Parliament.
Last year Sydney MP Alex Greenwich put forward a previous petition against the master plan to NSW Parliament. Greenwich’s petition was received by NSW Minster for Environment and Heritage James Griffin with over 500 signatures in support.
Greenwich stated in the petition that “the proposed building leases threaten the existing walking trail and wildlife corridor, as their plan requires integration of an emergency access/egress road into the urban road network.”
In addition to negative environmental impacts, the petition was established following concerns for historical and cultural aspects of the National Park and South Head Region.
“The master plan fails to recognise the single most valuable infrastructure asset, the continuity of the overland track and wildlife corridor, that extends beyond the boundary of the National Park itself,” Hughes said.
“This overland track, pre-European settlement, still exists following the contour lines around the last piece of
The walking trail and corridor link the Macquarie lighthouse to Hornsby lighthouse, two iconic features of South Head Point.
In response to Greenwich’s petition, Griffin said that “the draft Master Plan aims to increase the habitat for native plants and animals and improve pedestrian access through the site.”
“Feedback received on the draft Master Plan, and this petition, will be considered by the NPWS project team and inform the final Master Plan.”
increase in gross pollutants within the park environment
The Prince of Wales Hospital is a major publicly owned 440 bed health and teaching facility located in Randwick and has operated from its present site since 1870. In 2018 it entered into a deal with the University of New South Wales to increase its teaching facilities, patient and emergency department.
Critical to these plans is the $782.8 million 10 level Acute Services Building housing around 20 departments crucial to the overall expansion of the campus.
Commenting on the leaks they replied “On 9th February, during a significant storm, the temporary construction interface between the main building and the UNSW Eastern Extension experienced leaks.”
It is understood that there have also been serious issues with the public walkway, which has been closed to staff access since December 23.
Internal documents given to City Hub state that the information desk and community management centre were meant to be in situ by Monday February 27.
By Tuesday March 7 respiratory and infectious disease was to move to level 7 North and a day later haematology and oncology were to move into level 4 North.
As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.
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The premises were due to open in September 2022, which was pushed out to January 2023.
It was originally planned to take two weeks to move everyone into their new locations. This was delayed again until Monday 27th February, and then cancelled.
The public were invited to tour the premises on February the 9th, but were only given access to selected areas and with little fanfare.
City Hub can now report that the reasons for this was due to major leaks in the area of the rooftop helipad and the new emergency department.
When approached for comment the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, speaking for the Prince of Wales replied “Major construction works were completed and handed over to South Eastern Sydney Local Health District in late 2022.”
Lendlease were approached to comment on six questions, including ones relating to the helipad, emergency department and public walkway leaks.
Another question asked about if the project was on time and on budget. Lendlease replied stating “We understand that a similar enquiry has been submitted to Health NSW who will respond to you directly.”
These issues are not the first to plague the new Prince of Wales development. Back in 2018, when Dominic Perottet was treasurer and Brad Hazzard health minister, there was controversy over the manner in which the compulsory acquisition of houses in the area were conducted.
Throughout the project the Prince of Wales and the University of New South Wales have cited the public good over any criticism of how they have conducted themselves.
My office can arrange messages of congratulations for people who live in my electorate and are celebrating their golden (50th) and diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries; and 90th and subsequent birthdays. Please allow for 6-8 weeks for congratulatory messages from dignatories.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a media conference, wrote a letter to voters and actively campaigned in Balmain. Jenny Leong accused Labor of misrepresenting the facts, saying that Greens had categorically committed to supporting a minority Labor government. Large signs were erected near Leichhardt Townhall, Kegworth School and other polling booths with a final warning message for unsure voters.
Although Albanese and Plibersek hold the Federal seats of Grayndler and Sydney respectively with healthy margins against the Greens, Federal Labor may fear it will battle to hold the seats in the future. Shetty won the primary vote with 41.4 % of the vote, only a small 1.3 % swing away from Jamie Parker’s 2019 vote of 42.7 %. The rest of Labor’s 7.2% swing came from the Liberals, Keep Sydney Open (which no longer exists) and other minor parties.
Currently on a two-party preferred margin of about 3%, a relieved Shetty attributed her win to “running a positive and clean campaign”. She said that the Balmain community wanted an MP who would “keep the Labor party on track in the new parliament: stand up for integrity, support action on climate and gambling reform – a committed member who is answerable to them not factions and special interests.”
BY ERIN MODAROAs Labor emerged as NSW’s victors in the March state election, several key battles occurred within Sydney’s city limits. All parties managed to retain their seats this election in the electorates of Sydney, Vaucluse, Heffron, Maroubra, Newtown, Balmain and Coogee.
Now that the final vote counts are in, Labor has been left 2 seats short of a majority government, with Minns recently announcing his new cabinet, half of which are women in a first for NSW. Minns and his cabinet will have to cooperate with the crossbench, comprised of Independents and Greens. This election brought historic wins for the Greens, with three MPs retaining seats and Kobi Shetty hanging onto Balmain for the Greens in the wake of Jamie Parker’s retirement.
In Sydney’s inner-city, Labor mainly had to contend with Greens and Independent competition, as the metropolitan areas around the CBD are more progressive and have not been held by Labor since 2011. Heffron, which encapsulates suburbs to the south of the CBD including the fast expanding hubs of Waterloo and Zetland, was Labor’s safest seat in the
inner-city. Heffron proved steadfast for the ALP, with the party leading with an 8.3% swing to Labor.
Incumbent Ron Hoenig will continue to hold the seat.
Labor gained a slightly narrower majority in Coogee, a historically marginal seat which swings between the major parties. Labor had a chance to miss this seat this election but pulled through, and Coogee was retained by Marjorie O’Neill.
Further South along the coast, incumbent Michael Daley has held onto Maroubra for Labor, with a 10.3% swing over the Liberals. Daley will serve as Attorney-General in Minns’ cabinet. For Independents in the inner-city this election, it came as no surprise that Sydney’s Alex Greenwich retained his seat with a strong lead. He will serve his fourth term as MP for Sydney, with an influential position on the crossbench.
In neighbouring Vaucluse, teal Independent Karen Freyer put up a fight against Liberal newcomer Kellie Sloane, but couldn’t contend with the Liberal’s hold on the seat.
However, Freyer won an 8.4% swing from the Liberals, meaning the seat could continue to be contested by teals in the coming years.
Jenny Leong is the first Greens MP in any jurisdiction in Australia to win an election on primary votes, gaining a massive 56% of the vote in March’s state election. This is a significant step forward for the Greens. In Balmain, Kobi Shetty fought off a strong challenge from Labor to win after long serving Jamie Parker retired from NSW Parliament. Shetty described her win as a “Historic victory...This is the first time that the Greens have successfully had a Greens MP elected after the retirement of a sitting Greens member. It’s an exciting win.” Jamie Parker was elected as the first Greens MP in NSW in 2011 after serving as a Councillor for 12 years on Leichhardt Council.
Leong won 32 of 33 election day booths including two previously Labor ones in Alexandria and Lewisham that were added to Newtown in a redistribution. She improved her margin from 46% of the primary vote in 2019 to 56%. Her vote was partly assisted by the short-lived Keep Sydney Open party not running in this election. She has increased her two-party preferred margin from 9.3% in 2015 to 13.8% in 2023.
Labor threw large resources into Balmain in a determined attempt to win the seat. Over the last two weeks of the campaign, thousands of leaflets were distributed, large signs, text and voice messages sent, including from the Federal Environment Minister and MP for Sydney Tanya Plibersek, warning voters that that those voting Greens were risking an LNP Perrottet government.
Leong said that Greens had always made it clear that they would support a Labor government but that whatever the result, “it’s not winner takes all. It’s a historically large cross bench. We saw when the previous LNP government lost their majority in the lower house, all of a sudden the possibility to pass through reforms and amendments changed. What we saw was a commitment to work collaboratively across the cross bench.” “The Greens have an agenda and we are going to push that. The other thing to remember is sadly the corruption and the dodgy deals that happen in NSW do not change just because there is a change of government … We have seen many members over the last decade put to the cross bench or removed from the parliament. The numbers are tight. A change in the numbers, even slightly, can affect the power balance. The situation is not set for the next four years,” Leong said.
A change in the numbers, even slightly, can affect the power balanceLabor has achieved a victory over the LNP. Photo: Labor leader Chris Minns. AAP/Dean Lewins
The United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) has cancelled its visit to Australia after NSW, Victoria and Queensland have failed to implement mechanisms of oversight over torture and abuse in prisons.
Under Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, Australia ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), which required every state and territory to have a ‘National Protective Mechanism’ to ensure oversight over police and prison cells to protect against torture, mistreatment, abuse and systemic failings.
(from more than 80 visits to over 60 countries) to Rwanda.
The Human Rights Law Centre said that Australia is now “in danger of being included on a UN list of countries whose lack of OPCAT compliance is concerning”.
“Despite the good cooperation the Subcommittee has with the Australian Federal Authorities following our initial mission, there is no alternative but to terminate the visit as the issue of unrestricted access to all places of deprivation of liberty in two states has not yet been resolved,” said Suzanne Jabbour, the newly re-elected Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.
The visit’s cancellation comes after the SPT’s visit was suspended last year after the committee’s team of independent experts was denied access to detention centres in NSW and mental health wards in Queensland. The United Nations anti-torture watchdog expressed “serious concern” at Australia’s failure to establish independent monitoring mechanisms across all jurisdictions.
A Four Corners episode released in November last year showed incarcerated children being subject to forcible restraining, solitary confinement and prolonged lockdowns – which Attorney General Mark Dreyfus described to The Guardian as “deeply disturbing, though frustratingly all too familiar”.
Since its establishment in 2008, the UN SPT has only terminated one other visit
Caitlin Reiger, CEO at the Human Rights Law Centre said Australia is “in the midst of a mass imprisonment crisis where human rights abuses are allowed to thrive behind bars”.
“We must shine a light on human rights abuses wherever they occur and end the use of cruel and degrading practices – like routine strip searching and solitary confinement – once and for all,” she said.
Amala Ramarathinam, Acting Managing Lawyer at the Human Rights Centre said the terminated visit was a “stain on Australia’s human rights record.”
“Governments have known for decades that robust and independent oversight of all places of detention is sorely needed. Their continued failure to implement anti-torture mechanisms is a callous and dangerous disregard of the rights and lives of people behind bars.”
She called on the government to come to a funding agreement, saying “there is no excuse for a delay on these grounds when spending on prisons is at an all-time high”.
Having a 30% affordable housing target certainly isn’t a novel premise and in fact, this policy came under fire by Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes for this reason.
“Labor’s target of 30 per cent affordable and diverse housing on land around train stations is something the Perrottet Government is already doing,” Stokes stated in a NSW Liberal news article in December last year.
The Liberal National Government committed to 30 per cent affordable and diverse housing in the Eastern Harbour City at urban renewal projects near Central Station, Redfern Station and Rozelle Bay. They also endorsed a Greater Cities Commission recommendation for 30 per cent social and affordable housing on Governmentowned land.
BY LAUREN FROSTLabor’s recent win in the state election has left many wondering what the implications could be for public housing in Sydney, particularly in the inner-city.
John Engeler, CEO of peak housing advocacy group Shelter NSW, said that the new government represents “not just a fresh start, but the opportunity for fresh eyes”.
As the housing crisis continues to impact Australians, the previous government has been criticised by opposing parties and housing advocates for the demolition and sell-offs of large swaths of public housing. In Sydney’s inner-city, large public and social housing blocks in Redfern, Waterloo and Eveleigh have been sold to private developers to be turned into high-density housing with an average of 30% retained for social housing options.
Engeler warned that as this new government takes power, NSW’s social housing stock is falling below the safety net of 5%.
“This is a failure of public policy,” Engeler said. “We call on the incoming NSW Government to urgently turn this around.”
In this vein, Shelter NSW has released 5 proposals for the new Labor Government. These are to:
Retain valuable land in public hands, protect, expand, and improve the current stock of public housing (renovate don’t detonate), protect and support the thousands of public housing tenants currently living there (be a great landlord, NSW Government),
ensure long-standing local Aboriginal communities are able to remain, and create an exemplar community – a great place to live regardless of your income, age, physical ability, or cultural heritage. The specifics of Labor’s plan and whether or not these proposals will be adequately addressed won’t be fully realised until Ministerial portfolios are finalised. However, Labor did release a Housing plan as part of their election campaign revealing their policies on the matter.
MLC Rose Jackson has been named in Minns’ cabinet as Housing Minister, after serving as Shadow Housing Minister.
In the lead up to the recent state election, Labor brought forward a promise of reformation for housing in NSW. As the housing waitlist comes to staggering highs (over 51,000 people), Labor announced a plan to merge social housing agencies under one roof, combining social housing construction, maintenance and tenant management into Homes NSW.
Labor would hence abolish the Land and Housing Corporation and the Department of Communities and Justice, which currently manage social and public housing in NSW. The intention of this merge is to deliver more housing options and limit the incidence of tenants needing to seek out several different departments for the resolution of simple issues that often fall through the cracks.
The currently overly bureaucratic process of relocation, repairs and management of public housing has been extensively criticised by tenants.
The lack of infrastructure to support increased housing and population growth has long been a contested issue in the inner-city and was a hot button topic in the recent state election. In fact, the newly elected MP for Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane, made this a primary focus of her campaign.
“I have been a strong and consistent voice for protecting our community against inappropriate development” Sloane told City Hub ahead of the election.
Whilst this policy may help to increase the amount of public housing available, it does not address the existing stock of public housing that is often under threat of redevelopment, leaving many tenants evicted. This includes the Waterloo Estate and public housing in Eveleigh and Redfern.
At best, this policy only partially addresses Shelter NSW’s second proposal for the new state government.
Further, Shelter NSW’s fourth proposal includes the need to ensure existing long-standing local Aboriginal communities can remain in the inner city. One must hope that by merging Aboriginal Housing into Homes NSW, the needs of local Aboriginal communities are not going to fall to the wayside but instead be adequately represented in the agency.
“We need to keep pace with population growth; however, we already have one of the highest density populations in NSW,” she said.
Labor’s solution is to “Charge the Greater Cities Commission to review and rebalance population and housing growth by setting new housing targets matched to infrastructure, especially around Metro lines”.
Although, where exactly the line is drawn in terms of infrastructure and development remains uncertain under the newly elected state government and MPs.
Another major policy Labor listed in their Housing Pan was to “Introduce a mandatory requirement for 30 per cent of all homes built on surplus government land to be set aside for social, affordable and universal housing.”
So far, not much is known about the fate of existing public housing in Waterloo, Eveleigh, and Redfern, although there seems to be a sense of cautious optimism amongst housing activist groups.
Karyn Brown, Waterloo Estate resident and member of Action for Public Housing told City Hub that, “It seems that the Waterloo Estate is safe under the new Labor government, although there has been no concrete guarantee.”
However, Brown also mentions rumours of “partial demolition and therefore evictions”.
“I am also painfully aware that a future Liberal government will again set about destroying our neighbourhood.”
Perhaps the Labor government will do more for public housing in the inner city than the previous Liberal government, but the question still remains as to whether this will be enough.
not just a fresh start, but the opportunity for fresh eyesNSW Labor Housing Minster Rose Jackson. Photo: Facebook/Rose Jackson
ACity of Sydney Councillor has flagged the increasingly complex process of applying for council grants as an issue for community events. The amount of grants given out each year by the City of Sydney for community events has decreased in 2023.
“Community applicants have advised me that the City’s grants and acquittal process for past and current applicants have become burdensome with red tape,” City of Sydney Councillor Shauna Jarrett explained.
Christmas in Pyrmont, one of many community events run in Sydney, has been affected by the increasing complexity of application processes.
According with Cr Jarrett, this year the Christmas in Pyrmont event committee will not be applying for a community grant for the first time in 10 years due to the current complex and time-consuming nature of the acquittal process for not-for-profits groups. Held as an annual fair in Pyrmont since 2013, Christmas in Pyrmont has received a $15,000 community grant each year for the past decade.
The community grants aided with the preparation of the decade-long event. Run
by volunteers, it includes a market, live music and children’s activities and has raised over $700,000 for local charities through multiple fundraising events.
Jarrett cited “needless questions and unnecessarily long application forms” as the main problem for grant applications. Often times non-for-profits and community organisation who need access to council grants don’t have the resources to fill out long applications or hire support for grant writing.
“A number of community groups who have put their own time, energy and expertise into community events have told me they are considering not applying in the future as the process for funding seems to be targeted at larger commercial events,” Cr Jarrett said.
Cr Jarrett put forward notice of motion at an April council meeting to urge the Chief Executive Officer to remove
unnecessary complexity in the grants’ acquittal process for events that contribute to the social and economic life of the community.
“Community events such as Christmas in Pyrmont are the heart of the City of Sydney,” Jarrett said.
“They enable people to come together, support many local businesses, bolster community spirit and contribute to Sydney being the best City in the world to live, work and stay.”
City Hub reached out to Christmas in Pyrmont for comment.
Rooftop Facility, 209-211 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Optus Vodafone Ref: S0969, www.rfnsa.com.au/2009003
1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows:
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.81m long)
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.1m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.83m long)
• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts
• Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within the equipment shelter
• The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the overall scale of the facility
Rooftop Facility, 48 Chippen Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
Optus Vodafone Ref: S2145, www.rfnsa.com.au/2008003
2. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows:
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long)
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (1.35m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.69m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.1m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.68m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.5m long)
• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts
• Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within the equipment shelter
• The antennas are at rooftop level and there is a slight increase in the overall scale of the facility
Rooftop Facility, 134-138 William Street, Wooloomooloo NSW 2011
Optus Vodafone Ref: S8901, www.rfnsa.com.au/2011002
3. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new 5G equipment and associated works as follows:
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (0.75m long)
• Installation of three (3) new 5G panel antennas (1.35m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (1.83m long)
• Replacement of three (3) existing 4G panel antennas (2.53m long) with three new 4G panel antennas (2.78m long)
• New ancillary equipment including remote radio units, cabling and antenna mounts
• Reconfiguration of existing equipment on the facility and within the equipment shelter
4. Optus and
Electric distributor Ausgrid has continued to dole out significant fines to candidates who have attached campaign posters to power poles within the local Waverley local government area.
Ausgrid has reportedly collected approximately $160,000 in candidate and party fines for putting up corflutes on restricted areas.
During the Federal election in May last year, almost 2500 corflutes were removed from power poles and other infrastructure, with candidates being issued fines and strict warnings for the future.
“It’s too dangerous and not worth the risk,” Ausgrid Chief Customer Officer Rob
from the fines, it would be a kind and appropriate gesture for Ausgrid to donate that money back into the community,” Cr Nemesh said.
Nemesh said the notification to candidates and parties informed them that “placement of election posters (‘conflutes’) was in breach of the law.”
Furthermore, he called out “Predominantly candidates from the Greens, Labor and some independents” having been caught within Coogee and Vaucluse for in-proper placement of posters.
BY ABHA HAVAL
The City of Sydney Council has proposed a new two-way separated cycleway and improved paths for people walking and cycling between Glebe and Ultimo.
As per the proposal, the cycleways will run along Kelly Street, Mary Ann Street, and Wattle Street, connecting riders and people from inner city areas of Glebe to the Goods Line in Ultimo, Darling Harbour, Haymarket, and expanding towards the network of cycleways in the city.
The project also aims to install a new pedestrian and bike crossing on Mary Ann Street at Jones Street. The crossing will aid the students of TAFE NWS and UTS in getting around safely.
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said that “Having a better connected network of cycleways is great for our city because it gives people another safe transport option.
“When someone rides, they take a car off the road and free up space on public transport; and given that public transport is the second largest contributor to carbon emissions in our area, these projects are good for the climate too”.
Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW said, “It’s good to hear that there is a community that is advancing to create a better infrastructure.”
“60% of the people avoid using a bicycle because they feel unsafe. Intersections and crossings are areas that are more accident prone” he said.
“It’s not just about transporting people, but there are more benefits such as using the spaces more efficiently, and connecting more people in the community”, he said.
A local resident of Forest Lodge who commutes almost every day in the city through Glebe and Ultimo expressed his concerns about the cycle routes.
“There are numerous disconnections in the cycleways that are proving to be dangerous during peak hours and heavy traffic. It would immensely help the riders if there are more dedicated cycleways along the road”, he said.
“Due to the lack of infrastructure, cyclists have to drive on roads instead of a dedicated cycleway which is the reason for many people opting to not use cycles to go around the city.”
The construction of the cycleways and footpath improvements are set to begin in early 2024, after the construction in areas such as Oxford Street, Liverpool Street and Castlereagh Street.
The up-and-coming changes will include retaining 85 of the 117 existing parking spots along Ultimo and Glebe streets, and the shared paths along Mary Ann Street will be replaced by a safer separated cycleway along with more space for people walking, and wider footpaths.
Amphlett Lewis said in a statement in January.
On March 21, a notice of motion put forward by Liberals Councillors Sally Betts and Will Nemesh requested that Waverley Council warn state election candidates about displaying campaign posters on power poles.
Participants in the NSW election were advised by Ausgrid about the illegitimacy of hanging posters or cornflakes on power poles. The motion stated, “Some candidates have ignored Ausgrid’s request for election posters to not be displayed on Ausgrid ‘poles and wires,” within Coogee and Vaucluse.
The motion requested that Waverley Council appeal to Ausgrid to donate the money from the fines to local charity organisations. It’s also noted that the legal capacity and choice to donate the collected amount from such fines is a “matter for Ausgrid”.
“Given the number of signs which have been removed and the money generated
However during Waverley Council’s discussions on the motion, Labor Councillor Tim Murray announced his vote against the motion as it would be hypocritical.
“My image has been on many Ausgrid poles over many campaigns,” Murray said.
The motion was ultimately defeated, with only Councillors Betts, Nemesh, Tony Kay, and Leon Goltsmans in support.
In January Ausgrid released a statement reminding election candidates to “put safety first ahead of the NSW election campaign.”
The reminder which noted the removal and disposal of any election campaign material would also include a fine to the “offending candidate up to $150 for each poster removed”.
Ausgrid said they will continue to enforce these rules throughout the state election and onwards.
It’s too dangerous and not worth the risk
connecting more people in the community
Apopular inner-city pub is hanging on by a thread after the City of Sydney imposed restrictions due to noise complaints from neighbours. The council first tried to address the noise complaints through voluntary action, however found the mitigation attempts unsuccessful so eventually enforced restrictions on live music and trading hours at the pub.
On January 27, the City of Sydney Council gave the hotel a warning call, which led to the staff emphasising that, “it directly threatens our ability to operate in the future”, and rejecting the city’s proposals for noise mitigations.
For the past year, the hotel has been a ‘victim’ of noise complaints from neighbouring residents, which the hotel says are unfair and unfounded. In response, the hotel started an online petition against the council restrictions after complying for the past year.
The recent restrictions outline that outdoor seating be reduced to a maximum of 6 people on two tables until 8pm, changed from what was previously set to be 8 people until 8pm. Additionally, the side windows and door are to be shut to avoid noise.
The Eveleigh Hotel is a decade old, gambling free, family friendly community hub on the corner of Abercrombie Street in Eveleigh.
The petition gained over 3000 signatures within 2 weeks.
“The Council’s actions have caused great damage on the essential character of the Eveleigh Hotel,” the petition reads.
“At immense cost and personal effort, our management and staff have responded to the restrictions despite the fact that we do not believe the restrictions to be found upon reasonable judgement or sound empirical evidence”.
The hotel staff feels that, “they are ‘constantly on edge’ due to the everanticipated complainant”. The staff has described experiencing “anxious atmosphere resulting in an actual stressrelated physical illness for which an ambulance was called in during a shift”.
A hotel staff member told City Hub that, “As a result of these restrictions, we have to deal with the police and authorities, and it is very frustrating to do the same thing again every week”.
“We have to be constantly aware of the surrounding as some people don’t comply with the restrictions”.
“When a group of 4 people come in the hotel, we have to tell them that they cannot sit outside. It’s ridiculous. People should be allowed to sit outside,” he said.
The hotel has also had to limit the amount of live music being played.
“This is a community driven place and the hotel has had no live music performances on Saturdays for a month now”.
The City of Sydney said they are proactively working with the venue and staff to support live music along with addressing the noise complaints. A council spokesperson said, “We have made it clear to the venue that the live music can continue and there will be no enforcement action while we work together to resolve noise issues regarding the amplified music in their dining area”.
can continue while the city assists the hotel with providing feedbacks and advice.
As per the Liquor and Gaming Authority’s report from June 2020 regarding the complaints made against the Eveleigh Hotel, staff received a complaint from a local resident in May of 2019, that was signed and verified by four other residents in the neighbourhood.
The complaint lists disturbances such as overuse of footpath for outdoor seating, ‘loud, foul mouthed, and intoxicated’ patrons siting only a few meters away from the nearest residence, tobacco smoke emanating from the area, and hotel patrons smoking and loitering in front of neighbouring properties.
refer the live music decline over to the state government.
Cr Chan’s amendment called for the Lord Mayor to write to “relevant incoming Ministers requesting urgent action to address the loss of live music and performance venues and to implement those outstanding Live Music and Performance Action Plan actions which are the responsibility of the NSW Government.” The amended motion was passed narrowly, with a split council broken by the Lord Mayor Moore’s vote in favour of the amendment.
Cr Scott was critical of this vote, and said that, “Lord Mayor Moore has governed over decades of declining live music venues, and communities are signing out for change”.
“The Eveleigh hotel converted a quiet storeroom that shares a wall with the residential property into a dining room with amplified music”.
“Our attempts to resolve the noise issue voluntarily over the last six months have only been partially successful. Hence, the city advised the hotel that more formal actions might be taken,” the spokesperson said.
Council assured that no orders have been given to ban the live music at the Eveleigh Hotel. City staff has confirmed again this week that the live music performances
Council received a total of 11 complaints against the hotel, among which 3 of them required further actions. After reviewing the complaint and careful investigation along with proper evidence from the complainant, a warning was issued to the hotel.
Cr Scott put forward a motion at a March 13 council meeting recognising the impact that the restrictions have had on the Eveleigh Hotel, and noting the drop in live music across the Sydney LGA. An amended motion put forward by Councillor HY Willian Chan was then moved, which recommended that council
“The community will be disappointed to see the Lord Mayor using her casting vote to oppose my motion urging the city to do everything we can to preserve live music at the Eveleigh Hotel”.
“There’s not a single surrounding resident who opposes live music at the Eveleigh Hotel, but what’s needed is good neighbour policies, support for soundproofing, and a range of reforms recommended to the Council by our very own Live Music Taskforce that remain unfunded or unresolved,” Scott said.
“As a Labor Councillor, I’m excited to see State and Federal Labor Governments supporting and funding live music and culture”.
great damage on the essential character of the Eveleigh Hotel
of people seeking their services, on the fringe of homelessness. Women over 55 are the group most likely to be unhoused these days…There is no stability, no security, no power, enough is enough,” she said.
UNSW student Theo Mongos criticised the dire rental situation which has left him paying $100 more a week in rent for his share house than he was this time last year.
New data has found that people seeking to rent within five kilometres of Sydney’s CBD need to earn a salary minimum of six figures, or face housing stress. Housing stress is defined as lowerincome households spending 30% or more of income on housing costs. Business NSW conducted a study which looked at over 200 postcodes across NSW, and found that the median salary that people would need to make to live “comfortably” was over $100 000.
BY CHRISTINE LAIStudents from the GET A ROOM: Students for Affordable Housing campaign held a ‘rally swarm’ in the CBD last month, demanding an end to the housing crisis.
Greens candidate for Summer Hill
Izabella Antoniou addressed the event attendees, condemning the million-dollar profits that landlords have accumulated
throughout the housing crisis while renters like herself were having to pay hiked rents and fees.
Antoniou criticised the “dodgy landlords and big property developers reigning supreme” over NSW, while the rest of the population were experiencing a “crisis point”.
“Over the past two years, community organisations have seen a 45% increase
“There are single-bedroom apartments going for $600 a week. Rents in Sydney have gone up by an average of 30% in the last year meanwhile corporations are having a profitable bonanza, with the big 4 banks earning $28 billion in profits last year,” Mongos said.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, vacancy rates have gone below 1 per cent (at its lowest point on record in January at 0.8 per cent) while rents have risen to the highest point over the past decade.
Suburbs like Manly, Fairlight, Coogee and Barangaroo would require an income between $140 000- $150 000 in a single-person household in order to avoid housing stress.
Business NSW CEO Dan Hunter described the housing affordability crisis as affecting workers who faced extended commute times or being threatened with having to change careers because they faced high housing stress and costs. “We have childcare centres in northern Sydney that can’t get staff because workers say it’s simply too expensive to commute from Western Sydney and unaffordable to live near work.”
ANewcastle based non-for-profit is appealing to NSW Parliament for bars and nightclubs to undergo mandatory training for staff and security members on drink spiking and sexual assault.
The petition was launched by the nonfor-profit organisation urging the NSW Government to implement training programs for drink spiking and sexual violence prevention to raise awareness against such crimes.
(WWYW) is an advocacy group for survivors of sexual violence with several successful campaigns since its foundation in 2021. WWYW fights for the rights of victims and protests to raise awareness and bring changes to these issues.
WWYW aims to collaborate with local night clubs and venues regarding drink spiking, and reduce the stigma placed on victims of sexual assault with mandatory trauma informed training to
ensure that the signs and symptoms of spiking are not ignored.
According to Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), one-third of the drink spiking incidents result in sexual assault, with less than one-sixth of such cases being reported to the police.
The petition requires 20,000 signatures by May 25 to make it on the table for debate at the Legislative Assembly.
WWYW founder Sarah Williams said, “The training program for drink spiking
and sexual violence prevention, response, and reporting will be developed in consultation with industry stakeholders, and experts in the field, as well as survivors.
“I believe it’s a matter of high importance. We cannot ignore the serious and growing problem of drink spiking and sexual violence in those premises”.
Williams believes that this a critical step towards creating safer and more inclusive communities for all.
“These incidents are not only having a devastating impact on the individuals involved, but also have wider implications for public safety and community well-being,” she said.
The Crime prevention command has launched a ‘Drink Safe’ campaign in collaboration with the NSW Police Force with an introduction of new drink covers and coasters to support the cause and promote safe drinking at licensed venues. Drink spiking is a criminal offence and carries a sentence of maximum two years of imprisonment and/or a $11,000 fine in NSW.
Corporate sponsor for Alcohol-related crime, Assistant Commissioner Brent Mcfadden said, “In cases where a drink is spiked and another indictable offence occurs, such as sexual assault, the offence carries a much higher penalty”. The NSW Police say that they have seen an increase in reports on drink spiking, although, the number of actual incidents on drink spiking remain low. Police advise anyone who suspects their drink has been spiked to seek immediate medical attention, and in life-threatening situations, to contact Triple Zero.
on the fringe of homelessnessUniversity of Sydney students holding signs at housing crisis rally. Photo: Christine Lai.
We cannot ignore the serious and growing problemWhat Were You Wearing? Australia Founder Sarah Williams. Photo: Facebook/University of Newcastle
It’s a Saturday night and you are surfing through the usual trash that the free-to-air TV stations throw up. You land on SBS and to your shock and horror they are devoting a great slab of their prime time space to a piece of monarchist propaganda titled Our King. The title itself is enough to send you into apoplexy, especially if you believe Australia should have severed any links with the grotesque British Royal Family years ago.
You only need to watch about five minutes of the marathon two hour program to get the gist before you decide to vent your fury with a letter of complaint. Let me make it immediately clear, I have nothing but general admiration for SBS and their choice of programming but in this case they needed a strong verbal slap. I was exercising my democratic right of protest, which their website encourages. I began by writing:
“I can’t believe that SBS, who supposedly cater to a large multi-cultural audience, many of them relatively new arrivals, would devote a prime time spot on a Saturday night to Britain’s new king - i.e. the bumptious, adulterous buffoon know
as King Charles. The title was entirely presumptive – Our New King - sorry, not my new King and not the King of many of my friends, a large number from different ethnic backgrounds. I have lived in Australia for over 60 years and I certainly don’t recognise the parasitic British monarchy in any form - nor do they”. Not wanting to sound like a complete nark I decided to throw a bit of satire and humour into the mix and as the
SBS were quick to acknowledge my protest but simply referred me to their code of practice, also noting “Your comments have been shared with our management team and included in our Daily Audience Feedback Report that is widely distributed within SBS.” I fired back my disappointment at their response noting:
“If it was a program that objectively examined the role and legacy of the monarchy, fair enough. Instead it was essentially a pro monarchist puff piece centred around the very questionable ‘King Charles’ - the man who described the handing back of Hong Kong to China as ‘Chinese Takeaway’.”
screening was on April 1, I wrote: “I could, of course, be way off the mark, and the real reason you screened some two hours of this nauseating garbage was an elaborate April Fool’s Day joke - more intended to promote the cause of Republicanism with viewers realising what a total twat Charles really is. If so, my apologies for any hostility and criticism above - and good on you for taking the piss.”
I then received an email asking me “How would you rate the support you received? - Good, I’m satisfied - Bad, I’m unsatisfied”.
This is pretty much the way complaints are handled by TV stations today – in a polite and seemingly diplomatic way but seldom taken seriously unless they have really overstepped the mark. Maybe I should not have signed my emails Guido Fawkes, a name which sailed well over the heads of the good folks in the SBS complaints department!
1. The proposal on the existing monopole consists of:
• The replacement of the headframe (of similar size or smaller)
• Removal of (6) panel antennas
• Installation of (6) panel antennas 2.533m long and (3) AIR antennas 0.827m long on new mounts
• Ancillary works including installation of (3) tower mast amplifiers, replacement of (3) remote radio units. Internal works in the existing equipment shelter.
2. Telstra regards the proposed installation as Low-impact Facilities under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.
3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564: 2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Emily Wardlaw on behalf of Telstra, 0422 685 472, consultation@acquirecomm.com.au by Monday 8th May 2023 Further information can also be obtained from https://www.rfnsa.com.au/2015003
There’s nothing more merry in the month of May than to sit with a glistening glass of wine under an Autumn sun, snacking on delicious fare to the beat of soft jazz and looking out across an aquamarine harbour. And there is nowhere else you can do all this and more than at Sydney’s favourite food and wine event, Pyrmont Festival.
For more than a decade, the stunning foreshore of Pirrama Park has been the setting for this huge, family-friendly cultural festival, and the 2023 edition promises to be bigger and better.
“The Star has been a proud supporter of the Pyrmont Wine & Food Festival for over a decade. As this year’s platinum partner and stallholder, we are excited to showcase some of the local produce our fabulous chefs use every day,” says Jason Alcock, The Star Sydney’s General Manager of Food & Beverage.
Pyrmont Festival brings the very best in produce and culinary offerings from businesses throughout the precinct together with boutique wine, beer, and spirit makers around the state in an harmonious celebration of country and city.
“We’ve got 15 wineries and wine selectors this year - more than at any other previous festival. There are three major wine regions from around NSW being represented - Orange, Mudgee, and Hunter Valley,” says Alex Gibbs, Pyrmont Festival Director. “They’re all going to bring wine that you can taste and
buy, and what’s really great is you can talk to the actual wine makers and ask questions and get advice.”
Among the wineries is Savannah Estate, named after Savannah Peterson of the famous Peterson wine family. The Petersons are legendary in the Hunter Valley, making wine since 1982, and passing the skill down through generations. Savannah is the daughter of Colin Peterson who, together with
his parents Ian and Shirley founded Peterson’s Wines which is now renowned not only for its wines, but as a destination.
Savannah was introduced to the magic of squeezing nectar of the Gods out of a grape while she was still very young and she grew to embrace the craft with a passion. After a few years living in Ireland, Savannah returned to Australia and though she now lives in Sydney, she is still very much part of the
family business. An integral part of the newly formed events team, Savannah introduces the Hunter Valley experience of her wines to Sydney-siders at food and wine events.
“The Pyrmont Festival is one of the cornerstone events for us as a business”, says Savannah. “It’s such a beautiful, picturesque location, and with so much great food, drink and entertainment on offer, it is a great way for us to engage with our followers and have them tasting our latest releases along with old favourites. We can’t wait to see as many new and familiar faces as possible down at Pirrama Park.”
In addition to the 15 wineries there will be three breweries pouring their bespoke brews inside the popular beer garden. Willie The Boatman, The Grifter Brewing Co and Yulli’s Brews will all have their kegs and taps, bottle and tinnies behind the bar.
The fabulous Pyrmont Festival is a celebration of all the things that matterfood, wine, art, fun with friends, and life.
Round out the palate afterwards with a sharp, spicy spirit from Brookie’s Byron Gin. This Byron Bay distiller is clearing some shelf-space for itself in the gin market with some delicious and unique blends.
Wine, beer and spirit all go best with food and the best food will be available at Pyrmont Festival. Sydney Fish Market will be hosting the ever-popular Cheeky Naked Oyster Bar serving freshly shucked oysters and juicy prawns. They’ll also host the Japanese Aburi Bar where you can pick up mouth-watering blow-torched cheesy scallops.
Eleven different food trucks and stands will be stationed in the park, offering a variety of cuisines and types of meals including paella, yum cha, pizza, fried chicken, gozleme, burgers and more, as well as yummy desserts and coffee.
You can also pick up gourmet deli produce to take home: hand-made salami, biltong, cheeses, conserves and sauces, olives, tea, and a whole lot more.
Kids, of course, are welcome and there’ll be plenty to keep them entertained including a jumping castle, oversized games, face painting, and the magnificently decadent Build A Brownie
Bar (where there will no doubt be quite a few “big kids”).
As ever, the Pyrmont Art Prize entries will be on display in a pop-up gallery. The popular prize, hosted by TAP Gallery, attracts loads of participants each yearprofessionals, beginners and everyone in between.
If you want to test your skills with a brush or just want to have an outdoor wine and canvas experience, take one of the fun
Painting in the Park classes led by TAP Gallery’s own Lesley Dimmick. Popular Pyrmont artist, Jane Bennett will be exhibiting and selling her gorgeous paintings of local industrial and historical scenes from around Pyrmont. Apart from the buzz emanating from the excited crowds, there’ll be a vibrant soundtrack of soul, blues and sweet tunes care of a curated line-up of local talent. Jo Fabro (soul and blues), Polymics
(rock’n’roll), Pyrmont Sings (community choir), Gabriel Showren, Jessica and Aidan (urban folk), and Crown Jewel (RnB, soul) will play on either of the two stages at opposite ends of the park: the Harbour View Stage and the Sunset Stage. The two-day festival in Pirrama Park is accessible to all and very easy to get to by public transport. Four-footed friends are welcome if they’re on leads. Best of all, entry to the event is FREE.
what’s great is you can talk to the actual wine makersPhoto: Savannah Estate
La Cage Aux Folles – the musical –will make a brief but spectacular appearance on stage at the State Theatre this month with two of Australia’s shiniest stars in the lead roles: Paul Capsis and Michael Cormick.
Capsis is a multi-Helpmann Award winning theatre performer and one of this country’s leading exponents of cabaret. Cormick’s luminous career reflects a more classic, traditional style and includes leads in major musicals, large stadium gigs and numerous TV shows.
“The combination has been quite beautiful and so many people have commented on that already – the combination of the two styles really meld well together,” says Cormick.
The Australian Ballet’s new production of Don Quixote pays homage to the 1973 film version co-directed by Rudolf Nureyev and Robert Helpmann.
The famous Ludwig Minkus ballet was re-imagined for the screen by Nureyev and Helpmann with new orchestration and added music. Their vision, in turn, has informed this lavish new production of Don Quixote, which is replete with richly textured Spanish-inspired costume and design and a cinematic ambience.
The performers will dance the choreography originally created by Nureyev, infusing it with modern energy. The story of Don Quixote comes from the 17th century novel by Miguel de Cervantes.
Don Quixote is an ageing knight obsessed with a fantasy woman, Dulcinea, and always on the hunt for brave adventure.
Cormick plays Georges, the owner of a successful Saint Tropez nightclub, La Cage Aux Folles, that features drag entertainment. His partner, Albin, played by Capsis, is the star performer, a drag queen named Zaza. They have an adult son, Jean-Michel, whose fiance is the daughter of extremely conservative parents. Chaos ensues when it’s time for the two families to meet.
“But I like to think of it really, as a love story,” says Cormick. “The love story underneath it is the basis and the heart of the show.”
While it’s not a production on the scale of many recent shows, this mounting of La Cage Aux Folles certainly won’t disappoint.
“It looks beautiful and it’s very sparkly and shiny, so it’s a very 2020 version
He hears of the plight of Basilio, a humble barber, who has fallen in love with Kitri. Kitri’s father has betrothed her to a rich nobleman but she wants to be with Basilio.
When Kitri and Basilio run away to elope, her father and the spurned nobleman go after them, and Don Quixote and his trusty side-kick, Sancho Panza follow, intent on allowing true love to prevail.
It’s a tale of chivalry, love, defiance, and adventure with all the swash-buckling flair of Renaissance Spain.
This production by the Australian Ballet will feature some of the best dancers in the country in principle roles, and an exquisite attention to detail in the set design and costumes.
April 8 – 25, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point australianballet.com.au
yet keeping its classic style of the ‘80s, really…it’s not a huge technical production but still it actually looks a million dollars,” assures Cormick who credits the young but very talented director, Riley Spadaro.
Cormick is impressed with the level of talent involved as well. Zoë Ventoura, known more for TV drama, is incredibly funny as Marie Dindon. Anthony Brandon Wong is an absolute scream
When Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave her misogyny speech in parliament in 2012, she had the entire chamber transfixed. So too, does Justine Clarke have the auditorium in her thrall, not just during her delivery of that same speech, but throughout her solo performance in Julia Clarke is mesmerising on stage, using every physical tool she owns – voice, facial expression, gestures, body - in a role that demands a great deal of insight, empathy, and intelligence as well as first class acting chops. The play is a loose memoir, told by Clarke alternately as Gillard and as other people in Gillard’s life: her father and mother (whose Welsh accents are a delight); a teacher, and some of the vile men whom she had to endure including Alan Jones and Tony Abbott.
as the maid/butler, Jacob. And Lucia Mastrantone is brilliant as Jacqueline. “I’ve never met Lucia before but she’s a comic genius. That one is really hysterical in the show,” says Cormick. The choreography is stunning – as are the dancers, and it is just a lot of fun. “It really is joyous, you know, you leave and you can’t help but smile.”
Apr 19 – 23, State Theatre, 49 Market St, Sydney, lacage.com.au
Clarke slides seamlessly from one persona to another, absolutely nailing the idiosyncrasies and voices. In one scene, she slowly transforms her expression into the Cheshire cat grin of Tony Abbott, so convincing it garners applause.
Equally, Clarke’s imitation of Gillard’s unmistakable vocal intonation is spot on without being parody.
Sarah Goodes, who has directed previous plays by Murray-Smith, inherently understands the mood and intention of Julia. Using a bare stage surrounded by mirrored walls, she allows Murray-Smith’s rich, layered text to fill the space.
Jessica Bentley floats in and around scenes, being part stage-hand, part a sort of spiritual alter ego.
Until May 20, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, sydneytheatre.com.au
When German director, Fritz Lang’s surrealist sci-fi film, Metropolis was released in 1927 it stunned audiences. No one had seen a film quite like this before. The effects and the story were ground-breaking and the film became a seminal work in the art of film-making.
Lang’s film was based on the novel written by his wife, Thea von Harbou. It is from this classic 1925 novel that Julia Robertson has created the book and lyrics to a new musical adaptation of Metropolis
“I think Metropolis has been relevant for a long time and it just sort of continues to become more so - which is a little bit terrifying,” says Robertson about delivering this story to a modern audience.
Metropolis is set in a future city that is highly mechanised and which has a manifest disparity between classes. The wealthy class resides in a modern city with every convenience, whereas the poor occupy a subterranean world where they are slaves. An unlikely romance develops between the son of the city’s overlord and an idealistic woman from the underworld. Rebellion,
deception, and a life-like robotic imposter shake the foundations of the false utopia. It is uncannily prescient in many ways.
Robertson is the artistic director of Little Eggs Collective which was invited by Hayes Theatre to create a new musical. She and composer, Zara Stanton already had sketches for Metropolis so this was a timely opportunity.
“What we really pride ourselves on is world building in small spaces and making them seem far bigger than they are,” says Robertson, alluding to the intimate size of the Hayes Theatre and the grand scale of Metropolis
The set will feature abstract imagery to help create a sense of grandeur. It will retain the original art deco, industrial, expressionistic styling of the novel and film, which will give the production a mixed sense of nostalgia and futurism. The android that is at the centre of the narrative and is iconic in Metropolis marketing imagery, will be rendered in the form of a life-sized puppet, controlled on stage by three people. Musically, Robertson wanted composer, Stanton to move away from the current trend of pop tunes and towards something more classical.
“She’s [Stanton] very, very clever with big choral sounds and detailed harmony work and I knew that for the epic nature of something like Metropolis within a small space, I really wanted that big sound,” explains Robertson. On stage will be a very small band consisting of a keyboard player, trumpeter, cellist and a violin played by one of the cast. This will be embellished by track music, and by ambient
machinery soundscape and effects created by sound designer, Christine Pan.
Metropolis is a critical, perceptive examination of human nature, society, politics, and power that still, sadly, has currency in today’s increasing dystopia. April 21 - May 21, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point hayestheatre.com.au
There have been quite a few new musicals written by Australians in recent years, a significant number of them by women. It’s no mean feat getting a musical staged, and it’s even harder for women to get a show produced thanks to a gender-bias that still considers them a bigger financial risk.
Despite that, female writers have been responsible for many of the fresh new musicals we’ve seen recently. Metropolis, which is just about to debut at The Hayes Theatre, is a new work from Julia Robertson (book and lyrics) and Zara Stanton (music) [see separate article]. Robertson is an actor, director, musician and artistic director of Little Eggs Collective. Stanton is a musical director, composer, musician, and has been involved in varying capacities with several recent musicals including Fan Girls, Bonnie & Clyde, The Deb, Boomkak Panto, to name a few.
Lucy Matthews is a writer and composer who has written and directed three musicals: The Last Time (2016), Ophelia’s Shadow (2018) and Ugly Love (2021). Matthews is also an actor and burlesque artist. Ugly Love, her most recent work, played at Flight Path Theatre
to enthusiastic audience and critical reception.
Megan Washington and Hannah Reilly joined forces to write The Deb, a tale of teenage angst in an outback, droughtstricken town. Washington, of course, is well known in the pop industry and brings a lot of that sensibility to the songs in this musical. Reilly is crazy and funny and talented.
One of the biggest new musicals of the past few years, Fan Girls, was written by Yve Blake, based on her book by the same title. Within successive seasons, Fan Girls went from the intimate stage of the Belvoir to a larger auditorium in the Seymour, to the “we’ve made it” Sydney Opera House.
Laura Murphy is someone to keep an eye on. Her first musical, The Lovers, whose plot is derived from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, debuted at the Opera House after having the rare distinction of being the first musical taken on by Bell Shakespeare. It enjoyed an incredibly successful season. Murphy is currently working on a new musical, The Dismissal, with the unlikely subject of the infamous ousting of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975. It will premier in August this year.
BY IRINA DUNN
Who would have thought to ever hear the strains of Puccini’s glorious “Nessun dorma” soaring above the clatter and chatter of a pub?
Well, recently the crowd in the upstairs bar of the Harold Park Hotel (The Harold) heard tenor Peter-John Layton give his all in this famous operatic aria. This was part of the first concert of a series at The Harold that will see opera performed monthly on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm by the lively quartet that comprise Opera Bites. Aptly titled, Celebrated Highlights from
the World’s Favourite Operas, with beloved arias that included “O mio babbino caro” (Gianni Schicchi – Puccini) sung plaintively by lively Rae Levien, “Un bel di” (Madama Butterfly – Puccini) also sung plaintively by the elegant Eliane Morel, and “La calunnia” (The Barber of Seville – Rossini) sung with great wit by bass/baritone Murray Dahm, who doubled as MC.
The ensemble pieces, such as the Rigoletto quartet, were really well done and easy on the ear.
The costumes added to the atmosphere, as did the cast members’ easy
TheatreSports will once again bring a climactic close to the Sydney Comedy Festival with an all-star gala at the Enmore Theatre.
The popular and highly competitive event pits the wits of comedians and actors against each other and the clock in a frenzy of improvisation. With just a vague word or concept as their trigger, teams have to spontaneously create a brief scenario, sketch, or even musical number.
It’s fast, it’s insane and it’s utterly hilarious. Team members only have a few props, their talents, their bodies and each other to produce a few moments of sheer glory.
This year’s show is being directed by Julie Dunsmore with virtuoso musical improvisation by Benny Davis (Axis of
Awesome). A huge line-up of comedy heavyweights has been confirmed with more names to be announced.
So far, there’s: Ryan Atkins, Bridie Connell, David Callan, Ewan Campbell, Jestika Chand, Daniel Cordeaux, Jeromaia Detto, Jordan Gregory-Dunsmore, John Knowles, Jeff Mesina, Murray Fahey, Nicola Parry, Jioji Ravulo, Lisa Ricketts, Adam Spencer, Amy Tustian, Linette Voller, Jane Watt & Kate Wilkins.
The Sydney Comedy Festival is one of the most popular and prestigious on the international comedy circuit and the Enmore Theatre is one of its premium venues. TheatreSports Allstars will be the first course for the massive Gala Night finale.
May 21, 4pm – 5:30pm, Enmore Theatre, 118 Enmore Rd, Newtown
interactions with audience members as they circulated among them.
The music was provided Nathaniel Kong, who did a great job of substituting his little keyboard for an entire orchestra. If you’ve been too frightened to go to
opera at the big house, this is a fabulous way to ease yourself into this enduring and endearing artform.
Next show: May 2, 7:30pm, The Harold, 70A Ross St, Forest Lodge operabites.com.au
The National 4 brings together the curative expertise and unique spaces of four of Sydney’s foremost institutions: the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Campbelltown Arts Centre (C-A-C), Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia). Together, they will deliver more 48 new artist projects involving over 80 artists from across Country, generations and communities. As part of the program, the various institutions will hold a number of events including workshops, kids and family visits, live performances, film screenings, tours, and sessions catering to people with disabilities and special needs.
The exhibition is accompanied by a publication featuring full-colour reproductions, essays by the exhibition curators, profiles on each of the exhibiting artists and texts by
Jennifer Higgie and Ellen van Neerven (Mununjali Yugambeh). The publication is available to purchase from each participating institution.
“Collectively the artists in The National 4 contribute to broader conversations across a range of critical ideas, including intergenerational learning, community and social interconnectedness, the role of language, and personal narratives that acknowledge broader social and political issues,” the curators said in a joint statement.
The National 4: Australian Art Now is a free exhibition across four Sydney cultural institutions:
Art Gallery of New South Wales until 23 July; Campbelltown Arts Centre until 25 June; Carriageworks until 25 June; Museum of Contemporary Art Australia until 9 July
For more information: the-national.com.au
Aretha Franklin’s influence has and continues to be pervasive; her music is evergreen. That music will find new interpretation for a new audience when The Sydney Opera House in association with Peter Rix presents ARETHA: A Love Letter to the Queen of Soul
Part tribute show, part biopic, ARETHA will present the personal story of Aretha Franklin, from the early impressions she made singing gospel in the church where her father was minister, to a career that began in her teens and soared into the stratosphere only burning out when she died in 2018.
The talented and charismatic Jada Alberts, who is directing this show, will also play narrator, telling Franklin’s story through prose and song. Joe Accaria, who was recently turntable and dial master on the hit ‘70s inspired show, Velvet Rewired, will take the musical controls for ARETHA.
The City Recital Hall reverberated to Afrobeats from Nigerian musical royalty Femi Kuti and his 12 piece Positive Force band during their recent Sydney show.
Despite the whole band suffering from jet lag having arrived in Australia the previous day Kuti was all about
the genre that is the music of the western African diaspora. The music is embellished by three energetic female singers and dancers who provide colour and displays of twerking that leave Beyonce in the shade.
Coming from a family who have long been engaged in activism Kuti comes
The featured performers who will undertake the mammoth task of honouring Franklins vocals include:
Emma Donovan – legendary ARIA-nominated, award-winning, Gumbaynggirr and Yamatji singer/ songwriter; Montaigne – celebrated singer/songwriter and unique art pop musician; Thandi Phoenix – a vocal powerhouse with a unique tone, magnetic energy and commanding stage presence; THNDO – actor and singer/ songwriter, considered Australia’s ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’; and Ursula Yovich – multi award-winning actor, singer and writer.
They’ll perform 32 songs immortalised by Franklin and marking significant points in her life and career. A concert for all lovers of music.
June 17 & 18, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point www.sydneyoperahouse.com
business from the first number. Strutting the stage, Kuti stared down the audience before picking up his saxophone and giving it a blast that made you know that this was Afrobeats with a difference.
The musical line up of four horns, keyboards, drums, percussion, guitar, bass is more reminiscent of a classical soul review than the bands fronted by Kuti’s famous father, and what comes out is his own take on
with messages on climate change, corruption and political engagement that he manages to deliver without breaking the momentum. If there is any criticism, it is that the horns were held back in the mix and the spot lights were directed at the audience for the first few numbers. For those lucky enough to be at the Blues Festival this weekend be sure to see this travelling carnival of beats and grooves.
BY RITA BRATOVICH
Madeleine Easton, one of Australia’s most accomplished musicians and a virtuoso violinist has been invited to play at King Charles III’s coronation which takes place this May in London. Easton is the founder and director of Bach Akademie Australia, a musical ensemble dedicated to sharing the music of JS Bach. She has played with orchestras and musicians all over the globe and has received the highest acclaim. For the coronation, Easton
will perform with the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir directed by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, her long-time mentor and patron.
“I cannot tell you what it means to me personally to be part of this historic moment in time. To be a small part of such a great and long-standing tradition dating back to 1066 is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am also greatly honoured to be representing Australia – in my own small way,” say Easton. The coronation of King Charles III will be the first such event
since 1953 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England. The ceremony on May 6 is symbolic; Charles was proclaimed King of England immediately after the death of his mother last year. It is an extraordinary honour for Madeleine Easton to be asked to play at the coronation. A select group of musicians, directors and composers has been assembled for the occasion, with the programme having been personally overseen by King Charles himself.
and artistic destinations around the neighbourhood.
For aspiring architects, the Play Design competition invites participants to design and make a portable, easyto-assemble play item that can be transported between locations and conveniently stored when not in use. These will be displayed, played with, and judged at the Play Day extravaganza that concludes the festival on Sunday 30 April.
For Play Day, Shannon Reserve will be transformed into a family and fur-babyfriendly carnival overflowing with free events, such as a beginner’s yoga workshop, an ‘80s-style aerobic class with Retrosweat, performances and workshops from Brolga Dance Academy and music by Vegetable Plot and DJ Pete.
Dogs and their owners will take to the catwalk for an interspecies fashion parade. There are also E-bike test rides, free bike tune-ups, a Kids Makers Market run by children selling their handmade wares and SURRYTOPIA in collaboration
BY RITA BRATOVICHThe Surry Hills @Play festival, funded by a City of Sydney Precinct Activation Grant, aims to spark community participation and business regeneration through a diverse program of activities, including pop-up picnics, live music, free bike tours, art installations, a scavenger hunt, school holiday workshops and more.
“We think play is for everybody,” says Susie Rugg, the Creative Producer of Surry Hills @Play festival. “Surry Hills has always been a playground for artists. That spirit of creativity is still very much alive and we wanted to showcase and celebrate that with this festival.”
Adding a splash of colour to the streets, the Perfect Match shopfront window activation program, curated by Pip Hall, matches eight contemporary artists with local businesses.
“These incredible artists have really thought about the context of their work and created art that speaks to and complements each individual business,” Rugg says.
Orlando and Nicola Reindoft, owners of The Standard Store, were paired with artist Jodie Whalen. In a nod to the retailer’s high-fashion aesthetic, Whalen covered the front steps in a psychedelic pearlescent vinyl wrap.
Another artist, Jason Phu, teamed up
with boutique bottle shop Native Drops, creating two miniature sculptures representing the god of dark spirits and god of light spirits that stare out the window at passers-by.
The spacious interiors of cult yogurt bar, Yo Chi proved the perfect creative space for Rosie Deacon, who adorned the ceiling with a giant beaded necklace inspired by the friendship trinkets of her childhood in the 1980s and ‘90s.
The Carrington Hotel, a favourite haunt of the neighbourhood’s pooches, joined forces with renowned pet photographer Annabel Osborne, who selected a group of four-legged patrons to be her models. Their portraits are on display at the pub for the month of April. “Annabel went allout on this one,” Rugg says. “She even hired a wind machine. Her portraits present these dogs as superheroes, each with their own special superpower for us humans.”
The portraits have also been made into sticker decals and hidden along a circuit through Surry Hills as part of a scavenger hunt. Kids can pick up a map from the Surry Hills Library or download one from the Surry Hills @ Play website, then follow clues to help them find all the decals.
Offers for successful scavengers include a free Messina gelato scoop, two for one at Flave burgers, free chips when they buy a wrap at Henrietta, a
free yoga class, a dog meal at The Carrington Hotel and children’s meal at The Clock hotel.
Rugg says Surry Hills @Play was designed around three basic pillars: kids, dogs and bikes. “We looked at kids because I think kids are very often overlooked in inner-city festival programs. And then we looked at dogs, because Surry Hills is famous for its love of dogs and they are also the kids of Surry Hills! And then we looked at bicycles and supporting active and sustainable lifestyles.”
Viewing the festival highlights on two wheels is encouraged. There’s also a free bike tour that takes in historical
with the cardboard legends Box Wars.
“SURRYTOPIA is basically a section of the park where kids get to take over and build, in cardboard, their very own vision of what Surry Hills should look like,” Rugg says. “They get to make the rules. They get to build the buildings. They decide who lives there.”
Festival organisers hope Surry Hills @Play will ignite a spark for similar events and collaborations in the future.
“We’re trying to build programs and relationships that will have a legacy beyond the month of April,” Rugg says.
“Whenever you visit Surry Hills this month, there’ll be something exciting to see and do.”
Surry Hills’ famously creative spirit has been turbocharged for the month of April with a new feel-good festival that celebrates the neighbourhood’s artists, creatives and community connections.Box Wars YO Chi Native Drops, Jason Phu
The 2023 Sydney Writers’ Festival boasts an extensive program of over 200 events held in venues across Sydney and its outer fringes. It has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1997 when it was held almost exclusively inside the State
The 2023 Sydney Writers’ Festival boasts an extensive program of over 200 events held in venues across Sydney and its outer fringes. It has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1997 when it was held almost exclusively inside the State Library of NSW with a handful of events and crowds roughly the size of those attracted by a good outdoor busker.
esteemed journalist Kerry O’Brien will speak with Torres Strait Islander and community leader, Thomas Mayo about their co-authored guide book, The Voice to Parliament: All the Detail You Need. It’s a discussion that will hopefully address many of the questions that surround the upcoming referendum.
Library of NSW with a handful of events and crowds roughly the size of those attracted by a good outdoor busker. It was easy to be spontaneous in those early days and just pop in on a whim to catch a session or two. Now the event requires a fair bit of planning and, in many cases, pre-booking. Thankfully, the program is so extensive that most people will get to see several of their chosen events, and even if they miss out
on attending in person, they can catch a lot of the highlights via the Sydney Writers’ Festival podcast and Youtube channel.
Again, back in the early days a lot of the discussion was around new or recently released novels and around the business of getting published. It’s a much more eclectic conversation now and considers “word” in various deliveries beyond just written in print.
The festival program includes sessions on books, TV and film scripts, podcasts, spoken word, theatre and more with subjects ranging across technology, food, young adult, LGBTQI+, feminism, First Nations and much, much more. The program always reflects hot topics of the day and there are none more sizzling at the moment than The Voice to Parliament and Artificial Intelligence. In a special just-added session,
As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly narrows the gap between science fiction and reality, trepidation and misconception about what it will all mean grows. World-leading expert on AI, and author of the book, Machines Behaving Badly: the Morality of AI, Toby Walsh, will address issues around the trustworthiness and ethical use of AI. Sydney Writers’ Festival, May 22 - 28, swf.org.au
The Pope’s Exorcist stars Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, a chirpy member of the inner Vatican circle who’s on the outs with the ruling body due to his exorcisms. He’s summoned to an abbey in Spain inherited by an American family after the death of their patriarch in a car accident a year previous. The mother Julia, veteran horror movie actress Alex Essoe, surly teenage daughter Amy (Laurel Marsden) and young son Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) plan to renovate and sell it.
A workman breaks through a wall and allows pure evil to escape, latching onto young Henry who spews blood and bile (and a gruesome internal organ). The terrified local priest calls on Father Amorth who hops on his motor-scooter and travels 16-hours to exorcise the flame-throwing, body slamming and growlingly possessed Henry.
Russell Crowe plays the exorcist with his usual terrific acting chops in a fruity Italian accent.
In cinemas now
Anew and welcome addition to Sydney’s film festival calendar, the Inner West Film Festival was recently held across venues including the Marrickville Golf Club, Dendy Cinemas Newtown and Palace Norton Street. The festival offered a host of intriguing independent Australian films such as the controversial, Shit, from codirectors Trudy Hellier and Susie Dee; the world premiere of The Red Shoes: Next Step, partly shot in Marrickville; and the illuminating documentary on the Sydney and Melbourne Filmmaker Co-ops, Senses Of Cinema, directed
and produced by John Hughes and Tom Zubrycki.
Opening the festival was a free outdoor screening of Sweet As, from co-writer/ director Jub Clerc, at the Marrickville Golf Club.
In addition to an eclectic line-up of Australian and international features, the festival hosted a pitching competition with the winner receiving mentorship from Breathless Films.
Inner West design company, Carnival Studio, also held a movie poster art exhibition with work from some of the most important Australian films of the last decade and beyond.
In 1975, five Australian journalists were murdered by Indonesian soldiers in the small town of Balibò, East Timor. They were reporting on the impending invasion of East Timor by Indonesia. A full investigation was never mounted and Australian government leaders have successively remained silent on the matter.
Shirley Shackleton, however, has not. Shackleton’s husband, Greg, was one of the five reporters killed. From the time she received the news about his death, until her own death in January
this year, Shackleton has advocated for the truth to be uncovered. Her book, The Circle of Silence, published in 2010, earned Shackleton a Walkley Award and inspired a new documentary film.
The film uncovers new evidence and includes interviews and historical footage.
An exclusive screening of the film is being held at the Randwick Ritz on May 4, 6:30pm, followed by a filmed Q&A with the filmmakers. For tickets and info visit: tickets.demand.film
The Innocent is at once a crime caper and a rom-com, a French film that satisfies on every level.
The story begins when widowed Abel (played by writer/director Louis Garrel) reluctantly attends the wedding of his mother Sylvie to a bank robber she’s been teaching drama to in gaol. His worst fears are confirmed when, despite his mother’s protestations, Abel begins to suspect that the nowreleased Michel hasn’t changed his ways as he claims. So begins a cloakand-dagger operation where Abel and
best-friend Clémence tail Michel across Lyons to prove to his mother the flower shop he and Sylvie have opened has been financed by Michel’s criminal connections.
Inspired by events in the director’s real life (his mother conducted theatre workshops in prison and directed a feature film based on this), Garrel’s film is a homage to the French New Wave and a well-crafted, brilliantly acted film full of curvy plotlines and a rewarding ending.
In cinemas April 13 (NSW / VIC / ACT / WA / TAS), April 20 (QLD) April 27 (SA)
The German Film Festival returns this year and the program is one of the strongest presented in recent years. Film festival enthusiasts have the opportunity to attend screenings, absorbing the German culture whilst indulging in several special events.
BY MARK MORELLINIThe opening night movie is A Thousand Lines , a new drama from director Michael ‘Bully’ Herbig, whose previous offering, Balloon , proved a huge hit at the 2019 German Film Festival. Intrigue and scandals in the world of journalism are explored in this real-life 2018 fake news scandal involving Der Spiegel journalist Claas Relotius. Drinks and delicacies complement the event.
teenagers. There are five movies to choose from. One which should prove quite popular with the ‘middle years’ children is Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos! Exciting nights and disasters await a group of children as they embark on a class trip to the Baltic Sea. A family comedy must! The retrospective program has five films for discerning viewers who enjoy revisiting the classics on the big screen. Wings of Desire is the
The fifth incarnation of the Cinema
Reborn Film Festival is being held at Randwick Ritz, with a mouth-watering program of retro classics for true cinephiles.
This year’s selection includes films from Senegal, Italy, France, Australia, South Korea, Germany, UK, USA. Genres range across madcap comedy, historical epic, suspense, drama, romance.
Over and Out is the closing night movie about four women who follow through on a pact which they made 26 years earlier – to celebrate their weddings together. They must endure a road trip through Italy; but what unexpected encounters await them? Enjoy a cocktail while watching what promises to be a crowd pleaser.
The Teacher’s Lounge is the centrepiece presentation that transports audiences to a school which is experiencing a series of thefts. How a female teacher handles this problematic issue provides tense and dramatic viewing. Stars Leonie Benesch.
Kino For Kids is a program of German language movies and returns once again to provide pleasurable screenings for younger children and
1987 hit which stars Bruno Ganz and surrounds two angels who, through rays of hope, aid the needy in Berlin. Remastered in 4K, Christiane F. is essential viewing for enthusiasts of cult classic cinema. The true story of a 14 year old girl who discovers the drug scene in Berlin in the ’70s stars David Bowie as himself.
There are comedies, dramas, and documentaries many of which are Australian premieres, and a special program which focuses on female directors should also be of interest.
“We are happy to continue our successful co-operation with Palace for the German Film Festival 2023 and we hope that our Australian viewers will appreciate these great movies,” Simone Baumann, Managing Director of German Films said. May 2 – 24. Screening at all Palace Cinemas. germanfilmfestival.com.au
The annual festival is the passion project of a collective of cinema enthusiasts, programmers, filmmakers, screen historians and critics. They are dedicated to finding films that have been given new life through faithful restoration, and showing them as truly as they can in the way the filmmaker intended.
Scouring archives around the world, the Cinema Reborn team have discovered treasures dating back to the crinkly early black and white days of a fledgling art form, through to more recent classics. Many of the films were ground-breaking at the time (and even now) for their content and style; some were even banned.
Apart from their own narrative, the films tell a collective story of the development of the industry across time. In each of the programs from the five festivals from 2018 to this year, the selection of films are evidence of the zeitgeist at their time of making. They show the development of techniques and technology and how that informed filmmaking. They also show the shifting power of women with more female directors and female-led storytelling.
Among the highlights is the opening night film, Shoeshine/ Sciusciá , 1946, Italy, directed by Vittorio de Sica. It is a heart-warming story about two young boys in post-war Rome, trying to earn money by shining the shoes of American soldiers.
Another highlight is the beautiful restored, mutli-Oscar winning 1987 epic, The Last Emperor directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Also on the program is the charming German musical comedy, I By Day You By Night/Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht . Made in 1932, at the brink of Nazi domination of Germany, the film barely saw release before it had to be hidden away due to the number of Jewish cast and crew who worked on it. It took almost nine decades before the film saw light again.
Ieoh Island (1977 ) is a South Korean film that pushed boundaries and conventions. A thriller with sexual undercurrent, environmental message, and a very strong feminist theme.
April 26 - May 2, Ritz Randwick, 45 St Pauls St, Randwick, ritzcinemas.com.au
