City Hub 2 June 2016

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Actress Shari Sebbens from Teenage Kicks, featuring in this year’s Sydney Film Festival

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MOORE PARK WIN Plans to build a stadium on Moore Park have been stopped. I’ve been raising this in Parliament and with ministers since information was leaked over a year ago and I thank everyone who campaigned and wrote letters to government and media.

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city hub 2 JUNE 2016

Powerhouse is being ‘shanghaied’

By Lawrence Gibbons Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum is being shanghaied by Premier Mike Baird. The Liberal government’s plan to sell the current site to property developers and relocate the museum to a riverbank in Parramatta has little to do with ensuring cultural equity for western Sydney and everything to do with transferring valuable public assets, including prime inner city real estate into the hands of a wealthy few.

Directly behind the Powerhouse Museum, massive cranes are towering skyward. Those cranes are one small part of Mike Baird’s plans to transform Sydney into the Shanghai of the South Pacific. Across the way from the newly redeveloped Goods Line, which links the Powerhouse to UTS and Broadway, large barricades have been erected behind the museum. On the other side of the fence, Lend Lease is busy building a new urban precinct on what used to be publicly owned land. Dubbed Darling Square, Baird’s developer mates are building $3.4 billion worth of high rises. Darling Square will ultimately comprise around 1500 apartments, student accommodation, 40 retail outlets, commercial offices, the new convention, exhibition and entertainment venues and a luxury hotel. Think of the billions to be made by Baird’s rich developer mates.

In order to accommodate the massive Darling Square land grab, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, an entertainment complex on publicly owned land is being bulldozed and yet another cultural asset is being shanghaied. In its brief 35 year history, more than one million people each year poured into the 8,000 seat arena and everyone from David Bowie to Elton John played there. Thanks to Mike Baird and his developer mates, music fans will no longer be able to watch world class performances in the city centre, just a short stroll from Central Station. Instead they will travel out to the suburbs, some 40 minutes away to visit Sydney’s only remaining large scale entertainment venue: the Allphones Arena out at Homebush.

And soon the Powerhouse will be shanghaied and moved westward as well. Baird will tear down Sydney’s first electrical power station dating back to 1890 and replace it with even more high rises. In the lead up to Australia’s centenary, the Ultimo Power Station was painstakingly adapted to house the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, which has had ties to Ultimo’s technical universities for over a century. More than 425,000 people each year visit the Powerhouse.

One of the many furphies put forth by the Liberal State government is that the Powerhouse must be relocated to the western suburbs in order to accommodate the many school children who visit the facility. In actual fact, one quarter of the visitors to the museum are children. Many visit the museum when their family comes to Darling Harbour or on school trips bundled with other nearby facilities such as the Australian Maritime Museum, the Australian Museum and the Sydney Observatory.

Far more visitors to the Powerhouse Museum are international, interstate and regional visitors, who make up more than one third of the visitors combined. Whether or not out of town visitors will make the hour journey

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The Powerhouse Museum. Photo: Christopher Harris

west to Parramatta after Mike Baird bulldozes a one hundred and twenty five year old heritage building and replaces it with even more forty story towering apartment complexes is debatable.

The proposal to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta, is less about providing western Sydney with a cultural asset than it is about providing the property industry with as many redevelopment opportunities as possible. In Parramatta, cranes tower over Sydney’s second central business district as well. The riverfront area is currently undergoing an $8 billion high rise boom of its own and the Powerhouse relocation is part of a major redevelopment blueprint for the area. When and if the new Powerhouse Museum is built on the site of the former David Jones carpark, you can be sure, Baird’s developer mates will get the half billion dollar publicly funded contract to build the new facility.

Baird is busy cramming tens of thousands of units into high

rise buildings all over greater Sydney. No place is exempt. From Barangaroo, to Waterloo, from the Bays Precinct to Parramatta, high rises are sprouting up like mushrooms. Soon Sydney will have densities on a scale with Hong Kong or Shanghai. With apartments flooding the market, housing values are predicted to plummet and banks are becoming more and more reluctant to lend. The only people getting wealthy are Baird’s developer mates.

It is not surprising that the most wealthy person in Australia, right at the top of this year’s BRW Rich List is a property developer. This year Harry Triguboff, the owner of the Meriton development juggernaut, has replaced Gina Rinehardt, as Australia’s most wealthy person. The fact that property developers are replacing mining magnates in terms of gross wealth, gives you an idea of just how much the transfer of public land into private ownership is enriching certain people.

Nor should it be surprising that Harry Triguboff was one of the developers who donated money to a secret Canberra-based Liberal Party slush fund, so that money could be illegally transferred back into NSW in violation of states laws forbidding donations from property developers to political campaigns. Ironically called “the Free Enterprise Foundation” the Meriam Webster Dictionary defines “free enterprise” as: “freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government beyond regulation necessary to protect public interest and keep the national economy in balance.”

If you haven’t heard of the Free Enterprise Foundation, it is understandable. The fund was so secret that the finance director and treasurer of the NSW Liberal Party, Arthur Sinodinos claimed he was unaware of who actually donated money to the fund. The secretive nature of the Free Enterprise Foundation didn’t keep Australia’s third wealthiest man on this year’s BRW list, Frank Lowy from donating as well. The multi-billion dollar property developer and shopping centre magnate happily donated $150,000 to support the State Liberal Party’s neo conservative agenda to enrich the wealthy few by selling public land to private developers.

While Mike Baird is busy transferring massive sums of public wealth into private hands, government spin doctors and the Murdoch media distract the rest of us with talk of petty cultural wars between the aesthetically disadvantaged outer suburbs and inner city elitists.

After a hard day of selling off the public’s assets to his developer mates, Mike Baird doesn’t go home to a cramped high rise apartment to live cheek by jowl with the rest of us; he retires to a four bedroom house in North Curl Curl, with sweeping ocean views. Don’t believe what the Murdoch press tells you: the battle isn’t between Sydney’s east and west. It’s between the wealthy few whose fortunes are literally going sky high and the rest of us, who will be consigned to live on top of each other in Shanghai style high rises.

Thousands rally against “casino” Mike

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Five thousand people turned out last Sunday May 29 to protest the undemocratic actions of the Baird Government.

Forced council amalgamations, the WestConnex toll road as well as lockout laws and anti-protest laws were among the suite of policy decisions the community believes has slowly derailed democracy in NSW. David Shoebridge told the crowd: “Look around you, look at how many people are out on the street today, trying to say, we want our neighbourhoods back, we want our environment back, Protestors on Sunday. Source: supplied. we want our democracy back, thousands here today.”

“This federal election counts especially if you contact your federal The protestors referenced U.S. Presidential hopeful Bernie member and ask what are they going to do to holt the $3.5 billion in Sanders to illustrate a global movement was taking place to fight federal funding on Australia’s biggest tollroad” for democracy. “It is around the state but it is around the globe too.

Tyson Koh of KeepSydneyOpen said that young people had borne There is a bloke called Bernie, who is restoring faith in democracy. the brunt of the economic impact.

This is a global movement to get our democracy back,” he said.

“Every single time a bar closes its doors, we lose precious space to WestConnex Action Group spokesperson Pauline Lockie also congregate, spend time with friends, dance. The live music scene has spoke at the March urging the crowd to contact their federal member suffered a huge blow in the last couple of years.” about funding for the WestConnex project.

“People have been put out of work, they’re losing their jobs, and “Why is this State Government so keen on more freeways. Around there is no acknowledgment that every single taxi driver in this city the world cities like Paris and New York are trying to reduce cars” takes home less pay to be able to feed their families. There is no “If freeways where so great then Los Angeles would be car heaven, acknowledgement of the fact that the people who work in these bars but they are famous for the exact opposite.” at nighttime tend to be younger people.” city hub 2 JUNE 2016

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Advocacy group critical of AEC’s involvement in prisons

BY LUCAS BAIRD In contrast, an AEC While the youth of Australia spokesperson told City Hub that they implemented couldn’t walk two feet without legislation that makes it being reminded to enroll for this compulsory for inmates to vote election; the Australian Electoral and noted that prisoners serving Commission (AEC) has virtually a sentence of more than three forgotten about prison inmates, years are ineligible to vote. according to an advocacy group.

However the spokesperson The prisoner lobby group failed to provide data regarding Justice Action, claims that the how many prisoners are AEC has turned a blind eye to enrolled to vote in this election. the voting rights of around 78 The information gives details per cent of Australia’s prison on how to enroll to vote in population. each state and how voting will Justice Action Coordinator, proceed in gaol.

Ben Collins, told City Hub that they were assured by the AEC Mr Collins said it was not that enrolment and eligibility only the AEC at fault, indicating information was being rolled out that Corrective Services NSW to prisons.

(CSNSW) also had to shoulder However, after a Justice some of the blame.

Action survey last week, they He said it was up to CSNSW found that this was not true. to ensure that prisoners are “Of the several people we given the opportunity to enroll talked to directly, not one and to follow up on this to make Brett Collins. Source: supplied of them had been given any sure everything went smoothly. information about enrolment and that was across several “The department of corrections has got a certain NSW gaols,” Mr Collins said. obligation. The obligation is to report to the electoral Mr Collins said it was “no mystery” why the AEC had commission and also to distribute material that the electoral failed to fulfil its obligation to ensure prisoners are registered commission gives it.” to vote.

But a CSNSW spokesperson said that the AEC material He claimed that from a management perspective, it was had been distributed to inmates around NSW and extra easier to ignore inmates and their issues. information had been provided.

“Both from a Corrective Services point of view and The AEC also explained that they supply enrollment the Electoral Commission point of view, it’s easier to do information to prisoners upon their arrival to the gaol and nothing, easier to abandon them and easier to ignore the legal pointed out that the decision not to enroll is a personal one obligations,” he said. which CSNSW are not responsible for.

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Tree of Knowledge next on the chopping block

BY JORDAN FERMANIS Plans for the removal of significant trees to pave the way for the CBD and South East Light Rail project have put the historic ‘Tree of Knowledge’ under threat.

In a Randwick Council meeting held last Tuesday the 24th May, members of the Sydney Light Rail Action Group came out in force to lobby for the protection of the historic ‘Tree of Knowledge’ which was planted in the 1860s close to UNSW. The tree is older than the university itself.

Local resident and former UNSW student Sarah Cheer said that “The Tree of Knowledge symbolises all the other trees that are being cut down. It’s so hypocritical.” The Moreton Bay fig is located on the corner of Wansey Rd and High St and according to estimates provided to council is worth $600 000.

In her address to council on behalf of the action group, Ingrid Maganov asked council to consider their ability to prevent the removal of the tree and act on the public’s behalf.

“It’s everyone’s heritage and each of you, stand at the moment in a voluntary position and have promised to be custodians of the City of Randwick and all its natural attributes.”

“There is a public outcry, a public outrage about the environmental destruction caused by the alignment of the CBD and South Eastern Light Rail route,” She said.

Helen Armstrong of the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane is critical of the light rail project saying it contributes to the Urban

The Tree of Knowledge. Source: Google Street View

Randwick boarding houses could be developer’s dream

BY JORDAN FERMANIS Boarding houses have traditionally been a refuge of the needy. inner city dwellings that allow people with low incomes access to living in the city.

However developing boarding houses has become a new avenue to reap the rewards of an inflated property market. In a Randwick City Council meeting on Tuesday 24th May statistics were provided to council that indicated a 400% increase in boarding house development in the last few years, with 30 DAs approved for boarding houses in 2015.

Boarding houses are developed under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) which is designed to increase affordable housing in NSW. A spokesperson from the Department of Planning and Environment said that: “The State Environmental Planning (Affordable Rental Housing) Policy 2009 sets construction standards for boarding houses including room size, car parking and open space. It also requires the design to be compatible with the character of the local area.

The role of the policy is to support the delivery of affordable rental housing. The rents are set by the boarding house owner.”

Dr Chris Martin of the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW says that the new boarding houses that are being developed under the SEPP are encouraged by the State government at the expense of other areas.

“SEPP tries to set some minimum standards and then it stops councils setting higher standards in other regards.

It’s supposed to encourage a certain type of boarding house known as a ‘new generation boarding house.’ I’m assuming these Randwick applications are these which the state government has been trying to encourage,” Dr. Martin said.

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city hub 2 JUNE 2016

In a rental market that is becoming more and more expensive, allowing boarding house owners to set their own rent sounds a lot more like apartments and less like a boarding house.

Dr Martin says there is no mechanism in place to ensure that boarding house owners keep rent at a fair price for tenants.

“There’s not actually anything in those requirements that says the premises have to let at a certain amount or have to be affordable for a certain person. It’s an assumption that this sort of accomodation will address a need in the market.”

“Some of them aren’t very cheap to rent. The way the government’s gone about setting these standards and restricting what council may or may not do is that its in the name of affordability,” Dr Martin said.

In Randwick City Council’s Housing Affordability Strategy of 2007 boarding houses are said to be in decline, where “returns have been insufficient to sustain continued interest in this form of housing.”

The SEPP was introduced in 2009 and since then ‘boarding houses’ have sprung up all over Sydney, Randwick council being only one of the examples.

According to statistics presented to council on the 24th May there are 71 boarding houses in Randwick City Council as of 2nd May 2016. Hometrack Australia estimates that the median price for a rental property in Randwick City Council is $875 a week, $455 higher than the median house rental for N SW. With rental prices continuing to increase it is unlikely boarding houses will be able to house the people they are designed for under the SEPP. The continued development of ‘new generation boarding houses’ plays right into the hands of developers.

Heat Island effect in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“Sydney’s SE light rail route has removed the very trees that were doing an outstanding job ameliorating climate impacts.”

“The sequester carbon is important. It will take 150 years for new trees to generate as much carbon as the existing ones”, Armstrong said.

John Bellamy from the Sydney Light Rail Action Group told City Hub that the planned removal of the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ is representative of unimaginative plans for the light rail.

“On the light rail tree plan, it’s tree number 178 and its probably one of the most beautiful trees you’ll ever cast your eyes on.”

“This project shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of creativity and I think this is the last bastion of major, beautiful, significant trees apart from the city. But in Randwick we are trying to save the last bastion of knowledge and we are approaching it in a creative way.”

“We’ve thrown knowledge out the window and with this little symbol we are trying to get it back,” Bellamy said.

Randwick City Greens Councillor Murray Matson agrees, saying that the council needs to find a different solution to the systematic removal of trees.

“If Council wishes to save these two trees it needs to work cooperatively with TfNSW to find an alternative solution involving a local adjustment of the rail or road alignment in both areas. This approach worked for the Council when it saved High Cross Park on the motion of my Greens Colleague Lindsay Shurey,” Clr Matson said.

The council moved to pass the motion to save the Tree of Knowledge. Randwick City Council will have a meeting with tfNSW on Thursday 2nd June where it will propose the eastward realignment of the light rail to preserve the tree.

Sydney ‘slum lord’ convicted and fined

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS With an elite team including former members of Scotland Yard and the Australian Military Police, “Illegal Accomodation Strikeforce” was always going to get results.

And last week it did, as the Landlord operating out of a Chippendale mini mart was convicted for renting out part of his shop, operating as an inner city hostel.

Mr Amr Hassan was fined $100,000 and ordered to pay $60,000 in legal costs.

In September last year, the City launched Illegal Accommodation Strike Force, in an effort to curb overcrowding and networks of illegal boarding houses.

In an email to constituents, the Lord Mayor said the City had ramped up efforts to shut down illegal accommodation providers.

“The team takes a multi-agency approach with NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Fair Trading, the Australian Tax Office and other relevant agencies,” she said.

One of the overcrowded units in question

In 2014, City Hub revealed a syndicate of properties were being operated out of a supermarket in Chippendale and leased to tenants illegally. Despite complaints to the City, it had failed to investigate the complaints about overcrowding from other residents.

“Illegal, dangerous accommodation networks will not be tolerated in the city, and the people who profit from them will be prosecuted.”

Other student accommodation in the City starts at $330 for a twin share room to $554 for a studio.

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city hub 2 JUNE 2016

7

Locals frustrated with subpar internet

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS There is growing concern about the ability of the copper network to acceptably house the National Broadband Network.

The area around the inner city is one of the last places in the country where the NBN will be delivered, but the severely damaged state of the existing copper network has locals worried that it will be a fruitless exercise.

A combination of the high density of residents, and the age of the copper network have lead some locals to believe that the NBN will not increase internet speeds.

Last week City Hub reported on similar problems with the copper network as the NBN was rolled out in the suburbs of Newcastle. The suburb of Mayfield had received the NBN a couple of years prior, under Labor’s Fibre to the Premises connection.

Federal Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek told City Hub it was difficult to believe in the largest city in the country, many people couldn’t get a decent internet connection.

“It is extraordinary that Malcolm Turnbull, who likes people to think that he invented the internet, has got it so very wrong on the NBN.” “The whole thing will cost more, the whole project has blown out in delivery time, the internet itself will be slower and more expensive.”

“I think people are really angry about it for a few reasons. First of all, so much business and entertainment relies on good internet connection.”

“When the internet goes down, or the speeds are very slow, it really affects their capacity to make a living.”

“When he took over he said it would cost $28.5 billion; it is actually going to cost $56 billion, on the most recent projections, he said the whole country would be hooked up by the end of 2016, the end of this year, there is no way that would happen – they have now revised that till 2020 and I would be frankly surprised at the rate it is going if it will be done by 2020, the connections will be slower and more expensive.”

Copper wire pit in Alexandria. Source: supplied.

The NBN is set to become an election issue this year, with a seeming unending tirade of complaints on social media about the speed of the supposedly faster NBN. Co convenor of Alexandria Residents Action Group Ben Aveling said that internet service in the suburb had not been up to scratch for some time.

He said that one of the main reasons people had experienced difficulty was the fact that the copper wires in the ground were old because they dated from when the area received phone lines in the middle of last century.

To receive internet, residents must be able to get a “copper pair” to the home. With the suburb becoming increasingly dense, more apartments being built, and more people signing up to internet services, the task of finding a copper pair has become increasingly difficult.

“The copper is deteriorated, it is getting denser,

its gets harder and harder to find good copper,” Mr Aveling said.

He said the increase in internet traffic could also be responsible for slow internet speeds.

“A bad join, a bad wire, can reduce the quality of connection. The more noise there is, the slower it has to run. It is like having a good road versus a dirt road. You have slow down.”

He said that the distance from the exchange, a cylindrical casement with a dome top, can affect the speed.

“Distance matters too, the further you are from the exchange, the slower your connection is going to be. Even on a good wire, you’ll get a faster connection over a short distance.

While the NBN is not expected to arrive until 2017, residents in Alexandria are frustrated that they will be getting a replacement copper network that has caused so many problems.

Another resident told City Hub he had been talking with Telcos for the past three years about his internet and the state of the copper network in Alexandria. He said the pits (trenches in the ground which house the copper wires) had been “degraded substantially”.

He said this was due to the pit covers being broken, the movement of tree roots, as well as water and soil getting into the pits. He said that changes to the wires had a big impact on other residents. At one stage, after experiencing internet speeds of 0.05mb per second, he discovered a neighbour further down the road had installed new internet. He said other times the internet had simply dropped out due to unknown complications with the copper network.

Maintenance on the network is not always done by telecommunications companies. Maintenance is outsourced to third parties, who don’t know the history of the local network. Thre resident said he believed this was what caused so many outages as so many people have been tinkering with the network.

Instead of upgrading the copper network before installing the NBN, some residents believe it would be more cost effective to install a fibre to the premises connection.

Ben Aveling said he believed that it would cost about $200 more per person to install fibre rather than copper.

A spokesperson for the NBN said the rollout allowed the company to deliver “fast broadband in a timely and cost effective manner.”

“This involves using and upgrading existing infrastructure where it makes sense to do so.

“The government has asked nbn to use this approach to provide a minimum 25 Mbps to all homes and businesses and at least 50 Mbps to 90 per cent of the premises in the fixed-line footprint.

If the current condition of the infrastructure means that we cannot achieve these speeds, we will carry out remediation works or employ a different technology.

Labor woes after weasel Goodbye to dream girls words on WestConnex and Swedish models

BY CH RI STOH E R HARRI S The WestConnex tollway project has made major headlines this week after Local member Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten appeared to clash on support for WestConnex.

Bill Shorten told media that the project would be supported under a Labor Government and that all existing contracts and agreements would be honored. That was a different message to the one Anthony Albanese sent two weeks beforehand at a community meeting in Balmain, where he said there would be “not a dollar more” for the WestConnex project.

Local anger in the inner west community is at an new high over the project following the expulsion of inner west councils. Marrickville, Leichhardt and Ashfield, all of whom opposed the project were replaced by an administrator.

About five thousand people turned out to a protest in the CB D on Sunday, with several criticizing the $16.8 billion WestConnex Project.

Growing pressure on shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese burst this week, following months of confusing statements on the project. A fortnight ago, Albanese said that Federal funding for the project had been handed over already, and that any remaining funding was very minor compared to the $3.5 billion already given by the Commonwealth to N SW in the form of grants and loans.

When subsequently questioned by the media, Mr Albanese said he would honour funding commitments to the project. Disapointing many anti WestConnex campaigners who had been 8

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heartened by his statement that he would stop the funding.

Earlier this year, Labor has stated publicly that all the Federal funding has been handed over to the State government. But the Department of infrastructure Investment told a City Hub reporter that as of the end of April $700 million grant moneys had not been paid over and a $ 2 billion loan agreement had not been paid over at all.

At a press conference on Tuesday Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, “Mr Albanese has tried to walk both sides of the road, saying one thing to an audience that he thinks don’t like the project, while at the same time he stays solidly really with his party’s position. And now his own leader, Mr Shorten, has outed his attempts to walk both sides of the road.”

Senator Rhiannon said that she and Greens Transport spokesperson Senator Janet Rice had “written to Treasurer Scott Morrison and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester to request that any future grant and loan payments are suspended” until a inn Australian National Audit office investigation into the financing of WestConnex is finished in early 2017.

“We don’t see any reason why the Labor Party cannot support us on this, if their concern about the project’s funding, planning and construction is genuine.

“While Anthony Albanese is telling the community “not one dollar from the federal Labor government” will go towards WestConnex, Shorten’s message yesterday was clear as day: Labor support WestConnex and won’t ‘repudiate any contracts, full stop’,” she said.

BY BARBARELLA KARPINSKI It’s been a busy month for sex workers but today is a day of celebration. It’s International Sex Workers Day. Each year sex workers celebrate the occupation of Église SaintNizier in Lyon, France, on 2 June 1975 to protest police abuse and unfair laws and poor working conditions. In Germany, it is known as Hurentag (Whore’s Day). Germany has a regulated system of sex work.

Despite such French liberty, ironically only a month ago, France introduced the Swedish model.

The Swedish model is not a pop-diva that resembles Freda and Agnetha from Abba or even a tall, tanned Scandinavian Eurovision song contestant.

No, it’s something far more pernicious and a lot less sexy. It can’t even sing. It’s a legislative model of regulating sex work where clients are prosecuted for paying sex workers and sex workers have no freedom to work though they don’t get sent to jail. In April 2016, France followed Sweden, Norway and Northern Ireland, to name but a few of the countries that have introduced the Swedish model. But in NSW, there is cause for celebration today as The Brothel Enquiry of 2015/2016 has come out in favour of decriminalisation as a legislative framework where it has been in force since 1995.

The problem with the Swedish legislative model, according to pro-sex work campaigners, is that it makes sex work unsafe for workers, clients and the general

public. This is because clients get paranoid, fear prosecution, and may insist on meeting in hidden locations where it’s harder to enforce safe sex and safety in general. It also makes it unlikely that convictions for assault will be enforced by “victims” meaning that the minority of clients who are in fact violent, will have impunity and be free to repeat offend.

Cameron Cox, CEO of Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP), a peer based support organisation comments: “It’s great to see common sense win through and for the N SW government to decide so emphatically to retain the current regulatory framework of decriminalised sex work in N SW. Not only does a decriminalised sex industry produce the optimal benefits for sex worker health and safety, it is also the most cost efficient and effective regulatory system available.”

Scarlet Alliance CEO, Jules Kim said, “it is a relief to see good sense has prevailed.”

“Licensing and the re-introduction of the police as regulators would have been a significant step backwards. This is a happy occasion where the overwhelming evidence has triumphed.”

Given that many clients have disabilities, one could only imagine a person in a wheel chair being told in such a re-education programme that they now must stop paying the person who consensually gave them pleasure and should trawl the dating sites looking for true romance.

FEATURE

Sydney Film Festival 2016

BY MARK MORELLINI This prestigious film festival, which is regarded as one of the most prominent in the world amongst filmmakers, celebrates its 63rd presentation and audiences should be mesmerised by the alluring program showcasing 244 films from 60 countries.

This culturally diverse film festival boasts 25 world premieres (of which five are Australian), 139 Australian premieres and three international premieres.There are also 12 films in competition for the illustrious Sydney Film Prize, which includes the Australian produced Goldstone.

The popularity of this iconic event is exemplified by the expansion in venues, with newly added locations at the University of New South Wales and Carriageworks.

New to the festival for 2016 is Beyond Cinema, a free event where audiences can interact with three unique filmmaking technologies and techniques. Enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience nine virtual reality works in Down the Rabbit Hole:Virtual Reality, or walk inside one of two experimental films and even find themselves at the intersection of an Iranian bazaar.

For the first time teenagers will be permitted to attend screenings at the festival with a selection of 93 feature films receiving a 15+ classification.There’s also an array of family orientated films including the premiere of blockbuster comedy Ice Age: Collision Course and Spielberg’s highly anticipated The BFG. Many other events including the gala opening and closing nights, Q&A’s, red carpet premieres, meet the filmmaker talks and gourmet cinema packages highlighting the ever-growing variety of entertainment available to festivalgoers..

Australian produced Goldstone opens the S.F.F and director/screenwriter Ivan Sen is honoured that his follow-up to 2013 film Mystery Road was selected.

“This is a great platform for all filmmakers regardless whether they’re experienced or up and coming. It’s a step up for the talent and their films as they’re noticed nationally and internationally,” explained Sen. “Goldstone is a spinoff from Mystery Road.The only connection between the two films is they share the same character, indigenous detective Jay Swan, a role portrayed

by Aaron Pederson. Mystery Road was more of a ‘whodunit’ whereas Goldstone is a drama-driven thriller”.

Sen says that when he penned Mystery Road he wrote the role specifically for Aaron Pedersen. “It was always going to be him. We became close on the set of this film and it was actually Aaron who was keen to do another film – he was the spark,” continued Sen. “It was also quite a coup getting Jacki Weaver on board. She’s a busy actress who returns to Australia for Aussie productions – she has presence and I would have been disappointed if I couldn’t get her.”

As to a third film in the series? An enthused Sen replied, “Never say never.”

Graig Boreham is an award-winning filmmaker whose short films have been screened in over 200 international film festivals. His directorial and screenwriting debut in feature films has been rewarded with his coming-of-age drama Teenage Kicks being selected for a world premiere screening at the S.F.F. Shot entirely in Sydney over a five-week period on a shoestring budget, this film revolves around a teenager who is approaching adulthood and feels responsible for the death of his brother. Feelings of guilt and shame are compounded by the confusion over his own sexual identity.

“The idea for this film came from when I used to work with homeless queer kids at a housing refuge.

They were a great bunch of kids but the stories I heard were sad and horrible,” explained Boreham.

“The tagline of the film is ‘how do we deal with things that life throws at us’?”

Goldstone

Coconut Hero

Actress Shari Sebbens and director Craig Boreham from Teenage Kicks Photo: Chris Peken

Mustang

“The predominantly young cast were fantastic to work with. They were keen to throw themselves into the project. Miles Szanto and Daniel Webber bounced off each other – they just clicked. Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires) and Charlotte Best were wonderful - they both have such an amazing screen presence”.

Boreham compares his relationship with producer Annmaree J Bell to a marriage.“We’ve developed a trust and a great working relationship. She’s a wonderful producer and we have a great collaboration – something you keep in this industry”.

Boreham says it was hard filming on a limited budget and stresses that when you’ve never made a film before it’s very difficult to receive funding.

“It’s a massive privilege having my film selected to screen at the festival and also to present it to an audience. It’s not an easy feat for a small film to make a dent in the market. Critical acclaim at the S.F.F is a great accolade for us and it’ll now make funding the next project much easier,” Boreham concluded.

S emotional story of a troubled drag queen living in Cuba who wants to K C steal the spotlight from divas at a local club.

Viva (Ireland) – Popular in film festivals worldwide, this is the

P

TO

On Richard’s Side (Australia) – The third documentary in the series about a PI mother’s concern as to how she will care for her intellectually disabled son as he grows older.

Coconut Hero (Canada) – A quirky, warm-hearted, coming-of-age family film centring on an eccentric teenager whose preoccupation with death leads to an ironic and unexpected chain of events which gives him a new outlook on life.

Cuckold

A Good Wife (Serbia) – A compelling myster y develops when a lady discovers her husband was once involved in war crimes. Should she stand by her husband or ensure that justice prevails?

Cuckold (South Africa) – An unusual love-triangle develops when an adulteress returns to her husband and also connects with his friend.

Mustang – (Turkey) – Five vivacious young sisters are transformed into home prisoners by their parents when their behaviour with local boys is deemed as undignified. Loss of childhood is explored in this award-winning film.

Jun 8–19. State Theatre & several other venues. $19 -$155 (10 films). Tickets & info: sff.org.au city hub 2 JUNE 2016

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Review: Far From The Madding Crowd Based on the much loved literary classic by Thomas Hardy, his fourth novel, Far from the Madding Crowd (1874) is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Nicole Harwood), who attracts the attention of three very different prospective husbands: Gabriel Oak (Ben Dewstow), a humble, down to earth sheep farmer; Frank Troy (Louis Cummings), an untrustworthy, reckless soldier; and William Boldwood (Bobby Babin), a rich, mature landlord.This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love – as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. It was made into a popular movie in 2015, and now we finally see the Sydney premiere of the stage adaptation by Mark Healy.

The Genesian Theatre production features original music for the folk

Tony and Grammy award winning In the Heights is making it’s way down under. Playing in Sydney for a limited time only, it follows a community living and working in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and focuses on how their cultural heritage impacts on their lives.

Actor Julian Kuo is playing Benny, the outsider in the community. Kuo describes him as “the only non-Latino character, [who] desperately wants to be accepted for who he is and not for his ability (or lack thereof) to speak Spanish.”

“Most of all, I love the music,” explained Kuo.“It’s an absolutely pulsating score that hits hard and covers genres of music that aren’t often used in Musical Theatre.”

“It’s filled with Hip Hop, R&B and salsa so audiences who sometimes struggle with traditional musical theatre can definitely find something to enjoy!”

“As a first generation Australian, I also love the focus on cultural diversity and the way that it shows the good that can come from being open to ideas and cultures different to your own.”

Kuo says what you can expect from this performance is some big dance routines, soaring vocals and serious music.

“We have an absolutely epic band made up of some of the best musicians in Australia so if you like a good horn line, you’re going to love this show!”

In The Heights was written and composed by the highly praised Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose current hit Hamilton is tearing up Broadway. (AMal) June 4–12, various show times. John Painter Hall, Australian Institute of Music, Surry Hills. $25-$30.

Tickets & info: stks.be/in-the-heights

Stolen

Nearly 20 years after its first serve as a reminder performance Jane Harrison’s of how not to act. acclaimed play, Stolen, will “I think that if return to the stage this June. audiences come The National Theatre of away with a Parramatta has enlisted the heightened sense help of renowned Indigenous of empathy and performance maker Vicki Van compassion, we Hout to bring the will have received conversation back to the a measure of issues that have so greatly success,” she said. impacted Aboriginal families “To sit through a and the history of the nation. subject as Stolen tells the story of five uncomfortable as Aboriginal children ripped this, to reflect from their families and tracks upon the their journey from the harsh ramifications and children’s home to a life of to know this segregation. work represents “It is important that works a non-fiction is Kerri Simpso. like Stolen, which reveal a almost enough in Photo: Amanda James social atrocity, remain in the itself,” she public realm because they act continued. as reminders to behave with kindness and Theatregoers are encouraged to remember integrity,” said Van Hout. and reflect at Riverside Theatres in While there can be no single story or Parramatta. (CB) representation for the Stolen Generations, June 2–17. Riverside Theatres, Cnr Harrison’s text remains contextually and Church & Market Streets, Parramatta. historically important in the decades since. $35-$49. Tickets & info: Van Hout also hopes the play will continue to riversideparramatta.com.au

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10 STAGE 12 SCENE 13 Sounds 14 SCREEN

Julian Kuo and Anne-Marie Cavaco.

Photo: Amelia Dowd

Burlesque: Strip, Strip, Hooray!

Finally bringing her internationally acclaimed show Strip, Strip, Hooray! to Australia in June, the International Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese will be touching ground down under for a decadent spectacle showcasing why she has captured global imaginations as the consummate burlesque performer.

Affiliated with the Australian Burlesque Festival and Perth International Burlesque Festival, the show will treat audiences to four of Von Teese’s beloved performances, including an updated version of her iconic “Martini Glass” routine, featuring an art-deco cocktail glass encrusted with over 250,000 Swarovski crystals.

“I am excited to bring Strip, Strip, Hooray! to Australia for the first time ever,” said Von Teese.“Strip, Strip, Hooray! showcases my most extravagant acts, along with a show-stopping support cast of the crème de la crème of modern burlesque.”

Joining Von Teese for this fantastical show are Murray Hill, legendary NYC comedian and host; and Jett Adore, the so-called Prince of Burlesque; as well as four other striptease virtuosos. Catherine D’Lish, who holds over Photo: Albert Sanchez & Pedro Zalba

In The Heights

songs and choreography for the country dances.There are some lovely folk song and dance scenes including a maypole dance along with plenty of nostalgic illustrations, capturing the essence of what life was like in an 1800’s English rural village.Very much a historical period piece, we are transported back in time to a traditional simple life on the farm and a society where status and social standing was of prime importance.The powerful female role of estate owner Bathsheba Everdene, who has the difficult job of managing the farm and its numerous staff within a male dominated society, is played admirably by Harwood and it’s a sweet but predictable ending when she ultimately finds true love. (MS) Until Jun 25 (Fri + Sat 8pm, Sun 4.30pm). Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney. $25-$30.Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au

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

thirty titles, is reputed as the best burlesque costume designer and creative director in the business.

Famed for her incredible athletic ability, Perle Noire the Black Pearl, is a firecracker onstage, while Ginger Valentine has earnt a spot on 21st Century Magazine’s Top 25 Industry figures for five consecutive years. Finally, handpicked by Von Teese herself, Natasha Estrada has graced European stages ever since her coronation as ‘Miss Viva Las Vegas’ in 2007.

“Don’t miss us for an unforgettable night of sophisticated striptease and riotous comedy!” said Von Teese. (ES) June 4–5, Big Top Luna Park, 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point.

June 28, Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown. For more info: stripstriphooray.com or wearenice.com.au

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

Review: Is It Time Photo: Thomas Adams

Is It Time, a work by Australian actor, writer, and musician Martin Ashley Jones, premiered at King Street Theatre this month. It ambitiously attempts to cover a wide range of issues related to love, ageing and death with varying levels of success.

The plot centres on an elderly couple, Eva and Jim Rogers, played by Sylvia White and Ross Scott, as together they face the prospect of certain death in the guise of terminal illness.

Jones clumsily handles the female experience of ageing throughout the play. Eva unknowingly farts after dozing off to the embarrassment of the men in the scene, while fellow aged care facility resident Jessie, played by Eva Kitching, becomes hysterical upon touching the skin of the young Rosie, played by Lauren J. Jones, rocking as she cries “I remember this”.

It is widely discussed by the more coherent characters in the play that Jessie “hasn’t been the same” since the passing of her husband, making the point that women lose their purpose and identity without a man to anchor it.

Jones also has his characters perform lengthy,

Shakespearean-like monologues, full of poetic language and poetic thoughts.While these speeches could have been powerful, the actors fail at delivering them with natural pace and rhythm, so that they never don’t sound like lines being read off a piece of paper.

The last third of the play turns into a political statement on the subject of euthanasia without any prefacing or depth to the dialogue. It almost feels as though the audience were lured in under a pretense, only to be tricked into being a part of the writer’s political motivations.

Is It Time would have been more successful if it had focused on one or two of the themes and allowed time for them to develop organically. It also requires a more dignified and sophisticated approach to ageing to be a more authentic representation. (CB) Until Jun 5,Tue 6.30pm,Tue-Sat 7.30pm and Sun 5pm. King Street Theatre, 644 King St (Cnr Bray St) Newtown. $27-$35.

Tickets & info: kingstreettheatre.com.au

Smudge What happens when the birth of your first child isn’t all that you thought it would be?

What happens when all the inspirational quotes your friends and family have been pumping you up with all fall flat in the face of strange and dark circumstances?

Smudge is a controversial dark comedy about Nick and Colby; a couple expecting a perfect baby to complete their picture perfect lives.

But when the baby arrives it’s severely disfigured and deformed, sending Colby into a spiral of denial and leaving Nick alone in his own deluded thoughts.

“The play sets the modern family in a place that many will not tread,” explained director Stephen Lloyd-Coombs. “Those of us raised on Disney believe in happy endings until we grow up and realise life is not that simple. It is neither black nor white; just a constant grey.

This is the essence of Smudge.”

It’s a bit cabaret, a bit vaudeville, a bit burlesque and totally sensational! The Thailand Ladyboy Superstars is a hand-selected troupe of the best female impersonators from Thailand’s competitive and illustrious circuit.

Director Damian Syred was so impressed by the performances he saw in Thailand that he decided to create an all-star line-up and bring it to Australia. “I myself had never seen a show like this before going to Thailand,” he said. “I went to the different shows and there were key performers who stood out at each.”

Touring with a group of twenty four dancers, over 400 fabulous costumes, elaborate sets and a small army of crew is precisely as difficult as it sounds.

“The Thais don’t think they will ever leave Thailand. A lot of the performers didn’t have passports and there was a language barrier,” said Syred. But it all came together: “They all loved it when they saw their first kangaroo!”

There’s a lot of sewing and last minute alterations in dressing rooms; 200 of the costumes are used in the shows and the rest, which are not quite as intricate, are used for street promotions and publicity.

AWAY Sport for Jove theatre company is staging Michael Gow’s defining Australian play, marking the 30th anniversary of Away with an inventive new production. Michael Gow’s epic and intimate story of family renewal, death and awakening is brought to life with an exceptional ensemble cast.The coming of age story of Tom and Meg and their families celebrates a lost time and place in 1960s Australia that still expresses our deepest national, social and personal anxieties today. (AM) Jun 2–5, Riverside Theatre, Parramatta & Jun 22-25, Seymour Centre, Chippendale. $25-$42.

Tickets & info: sportforjove.com.au DISGRACED A high-flying lawyer in a prominent Jewish law firm,Amir (Sachin Joab) is happily married to artist Emily (Sophie Ross).To climb this ladder,Amir

has renounced his Islamic heritage.As the play unfolds, his internal cracks become more and more evident.A brave and troubling play, pushing past the cliché’s of political correctness and probing the flaws in what we would like to call our ‘tolerant, liberal, multi-faith’ western democracy. (GW) Until Jun 4, various show times.

Sydney Theatre Company,Wharf 1 Theatre,The Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay. $69-$116.

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

BAD JEWS The beloved family patriarch has passed away and the grandchildren assemble in a compressed Manhattan apartment. Up for grabs is a treasured family heirloom, grandfather’s chai necklace. Is it a symbol of a holocaust survivor? Or does it point

Smudge divided audiences when it was first staged in the US in 2010, winning critical acclaim while also drawing criticism from various groups over its representation of disability.

The mind of Emmy Award-winning writer Rachel Axler (The Daily Show, Parks & Recreation, Veep) has brought us this imaginative script that throws away preconceived ideas of parenthood and asks the question: if something isn’t normal, does that make it unwanted?

With just three actors on stage, independent theatre company The King’s Fools bring this daring production to the intimate Kings Cross Theatre. (AM) Until Jun 11, Tues-Sat 8pm, Sun 4.30pm.

Kings Cross Theatre, Level 2, Kings Cross Hotel, 244-248 William St, Kings Cross. $22-$28. Tickets & info: trybooking.com/LJFI

They also have a resident Thai chef who cooks for the cast as well as providing the menu at the shows.

The shows include dance, lip sync and comedy.

There is a traditional Thai song featuring stunning traditional outfits and pop power hits from artists such as Tina Turner and Kylie Minogue. The comedy includes (believe it or not) a scene from The Titanic, with performers interacting with members of the audience.

The show was designed for an adult audience but Syred said people do sometimes bring children: “There’s no nudity or anything, so there’s no reason why not.”

Syred says the response so far has been overwhelming – “People get blown away by the costumes and a lot of people say they’ll come and see it again.” (RB) Until Jun 19 (Tues–Fri 8pm, Sat 8pm + 4.30pm, Sun 1.30pm + 5pm).The Big Top, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. $49-$109.

Tickets & info: ladyboycabaret.com.au towards a brighter future? Who will get hold of it? Joshua Harmond’s dark comedy comes to Sydney after sell-out seasons in Broadway. (GW) Until Jun 4;Tues–Sat 8pm, Sat 3pm, Sun 5pm. Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale. $49–$71.

Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com or 02 9351 7940 REEFER MADNESS Remember the NSW Government’s ‘stoner sloth’ campaign from late last year? Well authorities have long been struggling to hit the right notes when producing antiweed propaganda. Rockdale Musical Society brings us Reefer Madness, an allsinging, all-dancing musical satire based on a much-mocked 1936 instructional film seen in American classrooms, which was intended to warn teenagers of the

dangers of marijuana (and wild parties fuelled by jazz music?). (AM) Until Jun 5, various show times.The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $29-$32.Tickets & info: rockdalemusicalsociety.com or 0423 566 393 HOWIE THE ROOKIE Two men, two chairs, two monologues that interweave a dark and complex story.

Andrew Henry and Sean Hawkins bring Howie The Rookie to the stage in an exciting minimalist production.The plot centres around two unfortunate young men living outside Dublin whose messy underworld lives overlap within a tumultuous 48-hour period.A haunting story of vengeance.This production returns after both actors won Sydney Theatre awards last year. (RB) Until Jun 11;Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sun

5pm. Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street (Cnr Cathedral Street), Woolloomooloo. $28-$38.Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com/howie XANADU Fans of the Olivia NewtonJohn movie Xanadu should be in for a treat with stage spoof of the 80’s rollerdisco film.The story follows Kira (Jaime Hadwen), a Greek muse who comes to Earth to aid a disheartened young artist called Sonny (Ainsley Melham) in realising his dream of opening the first roller-disco.The stage version embraces the original music and lyrics by Jeff Lyne and John Farrar, and audiences will be toe-tapping to favourites including ‘Magic’ and ‘Alive’. (MMo) Until Jun 12. Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $54$60.Tickets & info: hayestheatre. com.au or 8065-7337

THE EVENTS Claire (Catherine McClements) is a mélange of identities. She is a Reverend, a feminist, a lesbian and the director of a choir.

The choir is a microcosm of society, full of people from all walks of life, that is blown apart when a disaffected young man enters the hall and opens fire. The Events is performed with a different community choir from a different part of Sydney at each performance, who are also seeing it for the very first time. In the wake of multiple terrorist attacks in Europe, the themes of The Events have unfortunately never been more relevant. (CB) Until Jun 12, various show times.

Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $37-$72.

Tickets & info: belvoir.com.au or 02 9699 3444 city hub 2 JUNE 2016

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THE NAKED CITY

Quizmania Rules!

These days most Sydney quizzes offer moderate prizes like bar tabs and modest cash jackpots so the touts are infrequent. They generally cater to the local neighbourhood crowd and teams of regular players who socialise on a weekly basis. Whilst winning is always a bonus, just participating and testing your knowledge of all things trivial is often the common incentive.

together we can find new ideas and new narratives that will shape our world and future.”

Two very special guests will be at the event this week, the first being Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar, who has been criticised by the Malaysian police and authorities for his provocative cartoons that lampoon issues of highlevel abuse of government power.

The second big guest is visual artist and filmmaker George Dittoes who has Art can come in many shapes and formats, each captured conflicts around the world for the past 45 of with their own intrinsic values and benefits which can help to convey an idea or greater social years. Gittoes has twice been awarded the Blake meaning to the audience. This weekend the Carnival Prize for Religious Art and in 2014, awarded the Sydney Peace Prize. of the Bold brings together a range of different artistic pursuits – whether that be cartoon, hip-hop, Other artists presenting and performing on the night include MC Trey, an Australian Fijian hip hop spoken word, writing, film or visual arts to bring artist, Bindi Cole Chocka, an Indigenous visual artist important issues into the mainstream agenda and and curator, Abdul Abdullah, an up and coming awaken greater public consciousness to create visual artist, and Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, a Spoken deeper engagement with social causes.

Word artist. (JA) As carnival co-founder Zara Choy explained: Jun 4. Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland St and “Artists bring interesting and unique perspectives City Rd, Chippendale. $20-$28. to the mix, and engage audiences in new and Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com different ways. Through Carnival of the Bold, 20TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY There’s not much time left to head out and explore the Biennale! In this milestone year, the festival and all its associated art works follow a topical theme: “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed”. Official Biennale sites – The MCA, Cockatoo Island and Carriageworks – have been rebranded as several different ‘Embassies of Thought’.The most revolutionary works however exist in public locations, the ‘In-Between’ Spaces.

Although these works differ greatly, each casts a new light on its location. City Hub recommends heading to Redfern to check out ‘We Built This City’ and ‘Making History’ before swinging around to Newtown to see ‘Fade Away, Fade Away, Fade Away’ in Camperdown Cemetery. (AM) Until June 5. Various locations. Free. Full program: 20bos.com HOBIE PORTER – UNNATURAL HISTORY: THE TOWER HILL PROJECT This evocative new series of paintings explores the fraught and fractured 12

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Whilst the more mainstream quizzes concentrate on subjects like popular music, TV shows, movies, geography and sport, others (like our own Texas Chainsaw Trivia at the Darlo Bar) often seek out the bizarre and the totally weird. The question often arises “what makes a good trivia question” and perhaps there is no definitive answer. The opportunity to make a calculated guess is always an attraction with multiple choice a common option. Getting players to think laterally or well outside of the square is always a challenge, especially as the night wears on and brains are numbed by another round of schooners.

Here are just a few of our own favourite trivia stumpers (answers below – don’t peek!). Take the challenge and if they tickle your fancy, maybe it’s time you hit the trivia trail on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.

1. Complete the phrase “A noisy noise annoys a noisy WHAT?” 2. True or false – Klaus Barbie invented the Barbie Doll?

3. What well known American once said “If Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her?”

4. Which former British colony did Prince Charles once described as “Chinese Takeaway”?

5. Romanian communist leader Nicolai Ceaucescu broke into what song just prior to his execution by firing squad in 1989? (a) Always Look On The Bright Side (b) The Internationale (c) Moon River.

(Answers – 1. “oyster” 2. Definitely false 3. Donald Trump. 4. Hong Kong 5. (b))

With Coffin Ed, Jay Katz and Miss Death Before we begin, we should immediately disclose our interest. The Naked City crew run a long running pub quiz in Sydney – one of hundreds which now fill numerous mid-week nights in pubs and clubs all over the metropolitan area. Just about everybody it seems loves trivia – be it your standard geography, history and sport, or some slightly more specialised and esoteric topics.

Pub quizzes are said to have originated sometime during the 70s in the UK, a country that now boasts some 20,000 plus quiz nights a week.

These days it’s a worldwide phenomenon, fuelled by parlour games such as Trivial Pursuit, the endless stream of TV quiz shows, and that primeval communal instinct to join a group of your friends over a few drinks and common purpose.

Compared with other pub style entertainment like snooker and darts nights, noisy bands, dj’s and singer-songwriters, your average quiz night is positively benign. The consumption of alcohol is generally restrained although competition is often intense. This occasionally leads to some devious punters Googling the answers on mobiles (under the table or in the toilets) although a spirit of honesty normally prevails. Some trivia quizzes, especially those who offer large cash jackpot prizes, are targeted by professional touts – know-all, walking encyclopaedias who wait until the jackpot builds up and then descend, blowing the average player away.

The first Sea of Hands appeared in front of Parliament House in Canberra in 1997. This year, ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) is creating another in the shadows of a Sydney landmark, the Harbour Bridge.

Barangaroo was a major figure in early colonial history, and the park that bears her name will host 16,000 hands representing justice, rights and respect for indigenous people. The site resonates with symbolism. The Opera House is situated on a point named after Barangaroo’s husband, Bennelong, and the bridge was the location of the largest demonstration in our country’s history, the Reconciliation Walk of 2000.

Artist Brenda L Croft, from the Gurindji/Malngin/ Mudpurra peoples of the Northern Territory, has created an innovative version of the iconic installation. It has been inspired by early paintings of Eora men and features the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags.

Spectators are invited to participate by planting a hand. By doing so, they join over 300,000 others who support recognition and support of the indigenous population.

The interactive exhibit is designed to be the biggest one of its kind this century.

relationship between modern civilisation and the natural environment. Porter employs his characteristic photorealist aesthetics to a project which commemorates 160 years since since Australian artist Eugene von Guérard painted Tower Hill (1855). Porter alludes to the complexities of the impact of colonization and the varying success of the restoration program which attempted to rejuvenate the area that have been cleared since Guérard painted his series. (AM) Until Jun 11; Tues–Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Darlinghurst.

Info: arthousegallery.com.au

many thousands of individual Lego bricks, these pieces are technical marvels. The exhibition pays tribute to the biggest heroes and villains of the DC (Superman, Batman, The Joker, etc.) but Sawaya also pays equal care and attention to more marginalised characters.You don’t necessarily need to be a DC fanatic to get a kick out of this exhibition; it will still ‘inspire the hero within’. (AM) Until Jun 13, 10am–5pm (last entry 3.30pm). Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. $16.60-$26 (family passes available).Tickets & info: maas.museum or ticketek.com.au (or on the door)

THE ART OF THE BRICK: DC COMICS An exhibition built from Lego and based around comic book characters may seem juvenile in nature, but ‘Lego artist’ Nathan Sawaya’s sculptures are nothing short of mesmerizing. Comprised of

THE MNEMONIC MIRROR Generated as a response to the comprehensive downfall of linear memory among the minds of tomorrow, The Mnemonic Mirror is an artist led project. The exhibition looks hypothetically at how certain types of

Visitors who wish to learn more about the Aboriginal history of the area can find information at the ANTaR booth or book a cultural tour. The artist and organisers welcome everybody’s involvement in this important event, which will be a potent demonstration of unity and hope for the city and the nation. (LR) Until Jun 5, 10am–4pm. Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo. Free.

Info: antar.org.au or barangaroo.com

thinking have been replaced by other methods and technologies.Very simply, this exhibition is about the way we use our minds and how that has changed over generations, for better or worse. (AH) Until Jul 1; Mon–Fri 12-6pm, Sat 12-4pm.

UTS Gallery, 702 Harris Street, Ultimo.

Info: art.uts.edu.au CODE IN THE PARK This free event for VIVID Ideas is all about inspiring everyone to learn the basics of coding, and to transform thinkers into creators. Head along for an afternoon full of music, art, projections, installations, inspirational panels, talks, interactive demos and a coding lesson for beginners from Australia’s leaders in tech, creativity and innovation. Encouraging diversity, this event is for everyone, regardless of skill level or experience. RSVP is essential. (AM) Jun 18, 2–5.30pm. aMBUSH Gallery, Level 3, Central Park, 28 Broadway,

Chippendale. Free. Bookings & info: ga.co/events or 0432 233 384 HEAVY ARTILLERY Prominent themes in this group show are identity and tradition and the modernist impact on both.

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

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

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

Info: whiterabbitcollection.org

into the bands’ distinctive, engaging, and ever-evolving aesthetic.

Sat, Jun 4,The Record Crate DANCEetc x Vivid Music: As part of the Vivid celebrations Taylor’s Rooftop bar and DANCEetc have teamed up to bring Sydney a series of feel good Autumn music evenings.This week the party vibes are being brought to you by Yolanda Be Cool, Baytek,Avon Stringer and Acaddamy.

Sat, Jun 4,Taylor’s Rooftop Forever Ends Here: This group of four Sydney pop-rockers are on the fast track to their musical prime.

Having dropped their new single ‘Search The Night’ without warning to fans in May, they are now set to tour the country.

Sun, Jun 5,The Lair Barb Jungr: British singer Barb Jungr is often referred to as the greatest interpreter of Bob Dylan’s material, and will this week perform her interpretation of his six most politically hard-hitting songs along with five of Leonard Cohen’s most impassioned songs.

Tue, Jun 7,The Basement Shining Bird: After revealing their new single ‘Helluva Lot’ from upcoming second album Black Opal, Shining Bird are now hitting the road to further cement their status as one of Australia’s most exciting and unique outfits.

Wed, Jun 8, Newtown Social Club

By Jamie Apps Tasmania may not be all that far away in terms of physical distance, but for a rising band “that little bit of water” can be quite the imposing obstacle.

As Tyler Richardson from Luca Brasi explained, “it was definitely hard at first [to make a break in mainland Australia], because it’s not cheap when you’re just starting out and it was a lot harder for us because before we go anywhere we’ve got to go that extra distance first.”

Although this mindset may sound slightly negative, Richardson was quick to point out that this isolation also came with benefits for their song writing.

“A lot of the themes lyrically come back to being away from home, and anywhere we go outside Tasmania is quite a long way away, so it’s definitely shaped who we are and the way we feel about certain things,” Richardson said.

Having lived and learned from these

Photo: Ian Laidlaw

experiences, Luca Brasi were determined as a group to give something back to the Tasmanian punk music community who had helped them early on by creating their own mini festival.

“Not a lot of stuff was happening so we thought if we don’t do anything about it it’s not going to change,” explained Richardson. “There

Drown This City - False Idols

When listening to the debut EP from Melbourne’s newest post-hardcore band there are two main features that stand out. Initially the listener is hit with a wall of electronic synths, which was totally unexpected from a hardcore release, but the group manages to seamlessly weave these elements with traditional hardcore breakdowns throughout the EP. The second element that is perhaps the more striking and resounding, even after finishing the EP, are the striking vocals by front woman Alexandra Reade.The hardcore genre is very much a boys club when it comes to vocals, so it is a refreshing change to hear a female with a powerful voice fronting these tracks. Reade manages to transition from soaring clean vocals into powerful hardcore shouts without losing the beauty of her voice.

Don’t be shocked if this is a band you hear much of in the not too distant future.

(JA) WWW

Stu Hunter: the migration

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are some rad bands down here [TAS] and I was stoked with it and I’m sure we’ll do it again.”

Luca Brasi are now about to take to roads and stages around the country with friends and label mates The Smith Street Band. While Luca Brasi will be joyously showing off their new album If This Is All We’re Going Te Be, The Smith Street Band will be giving their album Throw Me In The River a farewell tour of sorts.

After touring their album both around the country and the globe the boys from Melbourne want to give their album one last hoorah around the country before they head back into the studio to work on the follow up.

Both bands are extremely excited for the shows, which Richardson described as “just a lot of fun, hot, sweaty, boozy action.”

Jun 3. Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney. $33.90+b.f. Tickets & info: metrotheatre.com.au

Mark Wilkinson – Come With Me Tonight

Mark Wilkinson’s EP Come With Me Tonight falls on the heavier side of the emotional scale.

First hitting the listener with a hard dose of the drama only a piano can bring, letting the instrument take control of the listener, then only lifting ever so slightly in the following tracks.

If music allows our emotions to be free and understood, listeners will want to be careful with this powerful boost to their psyche.The EP goes deep into the quagmire that normally holds onto these strong feelings, briefly and without warning.

Wilkinson lifts, there is a little pleasant in this predominantly emotive group of songs. Manipulating the piano and drum sections with rhythms that are a little easier to take.

Handle with care. Listeners will get through this short eternity if they don’t forget to breathe. (SP) WW1/2

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Alys Ffion: At just 20-years-old Alys may not be a musician you immediately recognise, but she is certainly on the rise. Her passion grew from literally sitting on the beach strumming a guitar and in just a few short years she was supporting the likes of Tina Arena, Reece Mastin and Missy Higgins.

Thu, Jun 2, Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar Poliça: An electronic experiment that resulted from the unlikely pairing of folk singer Channy Leaneagh and soft-rock producer Ryan Olsen, this five piece synth-driven group has become an acclaimed voice in modern protest music.

Fri, Jun 3, Sydney Opera House Minh Le Hoang: As a part of the award winning guitar quartet Trek, Minh Le Hoang has toured extensively around the world.

Now as a soloist he is returning to Sydney to showcase his prodigious talents and prove why he won first prize at the 50th Tokyo International Guitar Competition.

Sat, Jun 4, Mosman Art Gallery Forenzics: Sydney’s improvisational quartet will be performing an afternoon of experimental, psychedelia and soundscapes. Every performance is entirely unique, yet the sonic instincts and improvisation styles of each player transform the varied influences of post-rock, noise, jazz and electronic music

Luca Brasi & The Smith Street Band

Licence No. 173676c

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps

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“Transcendent brilliance. Hunter has assembled one of the great horn sections in Australian music history.”

The Sydney Morning Herald.

Premiered at the Sydney Festival, rising star Stu Hunter’s the migration is hard-grooving, soul searching music direct from the exhilarating frontier of modern Australian jazz. Performed by a masterful ten piece band, this show is not to be missed!

BOOK NOW at www.sima.org.au or 02 9351 7940 Coming up at SIMA 25 June: Sandy Evans’ Kapture 9 July: Mike Nock & Roger Manins Album Launch city hub 2 JUNE 2016

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God Willing Audiences should be delighted by this awardwinning smash-hit comedy which opened last year’s Lavazza Italian Film Festival, as the conceited and judgemental “non-believer in God” meets the non-stereotyped and very hip “man-of-the-cloth”.

When surgeon Tommaso (Marco Giallini) discovers his son plans on joining the priesthood, he goes undercover to learn more about Father Don Pietro (Alessandro Gassman), the ex-crim priest who he claims has “brainwashed” his son. A friendship develops and Tommaso ultimately becomes a better person, attempting to salvage every

aspect in his life that he has tarnished.

This is an enjoyable film which expresses the fundamental virtues of religion, but not in the classic sense. Comedy surrounds this story concerning the glory in discovering God, also touching on gay themes, marriage breakdown and the importance of love and family.

Beautifully filmed in Rome, the film suffers slightly from missed opportunities in generating added laughter, through wonderfully set up farcical sequences that should have been lengthened and scripted to their full potential.

(MMo) WWW

Is This The Real World

A schoolyard and coming of age film which centres on a rebellious 17-year-old boy who, on the verge of manhood, has difficulties finding his place in the real world.

Mark Blazey (Sean Keenan) throws away a scholarship at a private school and moves with his troubled family to a coastal town. He attends a new school and tries hard to fit in and keep out of trouble, but continues breaking the rules amidst first love.

This low-budget and simplistic Australian film deals with real issues which confront today’s youth in a world full of high expectations which are hard to realise.

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE A comedy out of New Zealand written and directed by Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords). Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a Maori boy who has been in and out of foster homes his whole life until he finally winds with Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and Hector (Sam Neill).

The film transpires into a police chase to capture Ricky and Hector as the fugitives navigate the Kiwi bush. Dry, dark humour pervades most of the film – however the heartwarming friendship between Ricky and Hector is hard to ignore. (JF) WWW DROWN A dark and controversial Australian film centering on competitive-lifesaving culture, this film follows one young man’s tortured path to self-discovery, 14

city hub 2 JUNE 2016

Sean Keenan, who is supported by a fine cast including Julia Blake and Suzie Porter, is enthralling as the teenager who continues taking backward steps in life, citing: “I’m young – I make mistakes” as the reason for his continuing downfall.

The tragedy in this film is not the dysfunctionality within the family unit or troubled youth, but primarily the pivotal storyline of school staff who seem to condone bullying and the unlawful manhandling of students as exemplified in the affecting and haunting finale. (MMo) WWW

whose inability to accept his own sexuality leads to tragedy. This story of distorted mateship and troubled youth cleverly unfolds through flashbacks and an unashamed journey through gay haunts fuelled by drug and alcohol abuse. The ensemble cast are electrifying, notably Matt Levett’s angst-filled performance. Ultimately audiences will question whether this film is mandatory viewing or an example of undignified and perverse filmmaking. (MMo) WWW HARRY & SNOWMAN An insightful documentary which details the remarkable story of a man’s dream to become a professional horseman, and the reputation and respect which he garnered from a doomed horse.

Harry deLeyer, an 85-year-old Dutch immigrant to America,

recounts the story of Snowman, a horse destined for the glue factory.

Snowman became a star in postwar years. Fascinating interviews with family and friends, vintage photos and home-made films assist in following the horse’s rise to fame and the tragedy that ensued. (MMo) WWW1/2 THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE Probably the first genuinely great movie of the year in my opinion, The Angry Birds Movie is a laugh riot with a conscience. With the singular failing of being predictable (after all it’s meant for kids and is based on an App), Angry Birds tells the story of Red (Jason Sudeikis), a different bird with a mind of his own and some anger issues. It’s full of humour, warmth and subtle messages of friendship, acceptance and colonisation. (JR) WWWW1/2

Money Monster

This is one of the most controversial and thoughtprovoking thrillers in recent years, and should encourage audiences to question the validity of financial advisors.

Lee Gates (George Clooney) is the host of an unconventional finance program called Money Monster, which informs viewers about preferred investment possibilities.

When an alleged “glitch” in the share markets causes an investment firm to lose $800 million, affecting all the investors, one man who loses $60,000 holds Gates responsible.

Televised to millions of viewers, he takes the studio crew hostage, which becomes the catalyst to an onair investigation led by the producer (Julia Roberts).

THE FIRST MONDAY IN MAY This documentary follows Vogue Editor Anna Wintour and Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton as they orchestrate the Met Ball and bring to life one of the biggest fashion exhibitions the Met has ever run, ‘China:Through The Looking Glass’.

From the first discussions, to interviews with designers and fashion creatives, and the night that launches the whole event, it is a glimpse at what it takes to produce something that brings art and fashion together. (LS) WWWW FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS Only a versatile actress of Meryl Streep’s calibre could successfully portray 1940’s New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, a unique lady who pondered the pleasure derived from enchanting audiences through singing.Attempting to realize her dream, she hired a singing coach and

Was this unprecedented financial crisis a logarithm malfunction or a human manipulation?

Momentum builds rapidly in this extremely unnerving and topical film arising from a stirring script, skilful editing and steadfast direction by Jodie Foster.

Clooney and Roberts work well together but the standout performance from Jack O’Connell (Unbroken), as the angst-driven man desperate for answers, is what heightens the intensity.

This story of accountability and the search for truth and justice holds many surprises and an unpredictable but realistic conclusion which may anger many viewers.

(MMo) WWW1/2

piano accompanist and performed for the public – but she was justifiably labelled “the worst goddam singer in the world”. Based on a true story, this is an extremely funny film and the laughs abound. Inspiring and cleverly written, audiences will deliberate whether Jenkins was delusional. (MMo) WWW1/2 KNEW INFINITY Based on true events, this film tells the remarkable story of the mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. Having lived in Madras, India, his whole life, Ramanujan (Dev Patel) has his world upended when he is invited by Professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) to Cambridge University to further analyse his bold new theorems. Patel and Irons do well to highlight the complex relationship between the two men, combined with excellent cinematography and attention to historical detail, The Man Who

Knew Infinity does justice to the important work they accomplished.

(ASim) WWW1/2 PAWNO On an unassuming day in a dusty old pawnbroker’s store, world weary owner Les (John Brumpton) and his reserved employee Danny (Damian Hill) watch on as the very best and worst of human experiences collide and tangle around them. A love letter to the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Pawno is a seemingly endless tapestry of scenery and people of all creeds and colours (including blue).

While Danny’s bumbling, fledgling romance serves as the through line for this film, the peripheral love stories and heartbreaks provide a great, stewing depth of emotion. This is an unpolished gem of independent Australian cinema. (AM) WWWW

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