CITY HUB May 2024

PYRMONT FESTIVAL

18-19 May 2024

PIRRAMA PARK, PIRRAMA ROAD, PYRMONT

FOOD . WINE . BEER . GIN . LIVE MUSIC

Get ready for a taste sensation like no other, as the Pyrmont Festival returns to Sydney in May 2024 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 sourced from the Sydney Fish Market

Local breweries, distilleries and food trucks

Free live entertainment from local musicians

First date friendly

Art classes & exhibitions

Accessible access to all parts of the park

WIN THE PINNACLE FOOD, WINE & EXPERIENCE PRIZE (Worth $2,600)

SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT THE WEBSITE

From USyd to the Sea (See p.

HubARTS: Vivid Music

An incredible music program at Carriageworks for Vivid Sydney.

(See p.27)

Calls for aerial shooting of brumbies to stop

BY NAZMUN NAHER SHISHIR AND GRACE JOHNSON

Animal welfare groups and concerned citizens are demanding for the aerial shooting of wild horses at Kosciuszko National Park to stop.

The government’s decision to re-authorise aerial shooting for the first time in twenty years was deeply controversial. Other methods at the time included passive trapping, aerial and ground mustering, rehoming, shooting in trap yards, tranquillising, ground shooting and removal to a knackery.

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Contributors: Grace Johnson, Nazmun Naher Shishir, Lalrohlui, Raquel Blankevoort, Christine Lai, Wendy Bacon, Hope Pratt, Lalyne Paisi Hickie, John Moyle

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The practice resumed following a spike in feral horse numbers during a period where rehoming was favoured, estimated to be close to 17,390 in October last year. Aerial culling was then added to the 2021 Kosciuszko National Park wild horse management plan, which requires numbers to be reduced to 3,000 by June 2027.

Animal welfare groups are now campaigning for the government to look at alternative methods of reducing the horse population.

In a statement released by Animal Liberation, the group said, “Imagine the psychological fear and trauma experienced by these horses, including pregnant mares and young foals, as they are chased by a loud helicopter, often on uneven terrain, separated, trying to escape the rapid fire of deadly bullets from the sky.”

“We know it’s not a single bullet or an immediate death, either.”

When the decision to re-authorise aerial culling was first announced in October last year, the Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “Aerial shooting, when carried out by highly trained personnel in accordance with rigorous standards, delivers the best possible animal welfare outcomes.”

But RSPCA NSW’s ‘Observation Trial’ report from November 2023 confirms that during the 7-8 November 2023 aerial shooting, between 3 to 15 shots were fired at each horse, with multiple horses, including two one-week-old foals being shot.

In addition the report states: “The median time elapsed between the final shot being fired at an animal and when it was inspected was 3 minutes and 27 seconds”.

The report also confirms: “Characterisation of the fate of all bullets was not possible

due to the large numbers of intersecting bullet wound tracts in inspected animals”.

IMPACTS OF WILD HORSES

Ecologists say numbers must be quickly reduced to prevent the extinction of threatened native species.

The Environment Minister also said effective control of wild horses could be the difference between survival and extinction for up to a dozen threatened species found only in the Australian Alps. “There are simply too many wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park,” said Sharpe in October.

“Threatened native species are in danger of extinction and the entire ecosystem is under threat. We must take action.”

Wild horses, being large and heavy hardhoofed animals, can cause significant damage to riverbeds, streams, natural bogs, wetlands and soil structures when they feed or look for water.

Alpine and subalpine environments are particularly sensitive to overgrazing and land degradation. Plants are also slow to grow.

Wild horses can also spread weeds as they carry seeds in their tails, manes and dung, which can then overgrow native vegetation.

During a NSW parliamentary inquiry hearing in March, National Parks and Wildlife Service head Atticus Fleming said those who were calling for an end to aerial culling were essentially calling for the park to be surrendered to invasive species.

Nationals MP Wes Fang called for the practice to end until it could be properly recorded while Animal Justice Party’s MP’s Emma Hurst supports non-lethal control measures such as contraception and capture and rehoming of horses.

Speaking to City Hub, Hurst said, “Aerial

shooting is cruel and inhumane – it will lead to animals suffering slow and painful deaths, including young foals who risk becoming separated from their families and dying of starvation or predation.”

And though the government asked the RSPCA for feedback on the operating procedures for aerial killing, much of this feedback was ignored, including avoiding killing during foaling season, and maximum helicopter chase times, she continued.

Hurst also raised serious doubts about the estimated number of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park, saying there was a lack of accuracy and transparency around the methodology used by the NSW Government to produce population estimates.

 Aerial shooting is cruel and inhumane – it will lead to animals suffering slow and painful deaths

“Independent community brumby counts, including on foot and using drones, have continually shown that the number of brumbies in the Park is likely much lower than the Government has suggested,” said Hurst.

“Meanwhile, while brumbies are being shot and vilified, the greatest impacts on the Park, including human over development, climate change, and diseases such as chytrid fungus, are being overlooked and ignored by the NSW Government. The priorities are all wrong.”

Her online petition calling on the government to look at non-lethal humane alternatives to all aerial killing has almost 8,000 signatures at the time of publication.

Brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park.

Photo: AAP Image/Pool, Alex Ellinghausen

Prime Minister slammed for lying at rally

BY LALROHLUI

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed for lying on a national scale after he attended the No More rally in Canberra, where he claimed that he and the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, had asked to speak but had been told by organisers that it was not possible.

Footage of the speech shows rally organiser Sarah Williams from What Were You Wearing (WWYW) say, “That’s a lie. That’s a full out lie”.

In a statement posted to Instagram that evening (Sunday, April 28), Williams said Albanese’s office told her he was interested in walking, but not speaking. “Myself and WWYW never denied him from speaking. He never asked to speak.” “For him to not only demand he speak because he was being heckled, but lie was disgraceful.”

When questioned on Channel Nine’s Today Program about his alleged statement to Williams, “I’m the Prime Minister of the country, I run this country,” Albanese brushed off claims that he lied. He said it was “an emotional day” and insisted that the focus remain on combatting violence against women.

During Williams’ 40-minute speech, she asked Albanese and Gallagher to signal thumbs up or down if they would agree to the five demands of the organisation: to declare a national emergency; to block the media from identifying victims for 48 hours, mandatory victim blaming prevention training; alternative reporting options for violence victims;

and increased, more sustainable funding.

They did not respond to this request.

Albanese said during his unplanned speech at the rally, “We need to change the culture and we need to change attitudes. We need to change the legal system.”

“We need to change the approach by all governments because it is not enough to support victims, we need to focus on the perpetrators and focus on prevention.”

The prime minister’s speech was frequently interrupted by jeers, with one protestor yelling “it’s not enough” when he listed some of the actions his government had taken to address the problem, including the introduction of domestic violence payments.

 You walked to that stage and listed your achievements to try to save yourself

Williams said, “You walked to that stage and listed your achievements to try to save yourself.”

As of April 23, 25 women have died of gender-based violence, 11 more than last year.

In 2022, 17 had women died by the same time in April, 14 in 2021 and 2020.

The ‘No More’ rallies across Australia’s capital cities saw thousands attend. A national strike has been planned for May 20.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a rally calling for action to end violence against women.

Photo: AAP Image, Mick Tsikas

TANYA PLIBERSEK

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

The Albanese Labor Government has been working to restore integrity in government. We’ve been busy implementing our election commitments and achieving much more.

Justice

Delivered on our commitment to create a powerful, transparent and independent National AntiCorruption Commission. Operations began on 1 July, 2023 with 15 corruption investigations now underway.

Delivered on our commitment to protect whistleblowers by strengthening the Public Interest Disclosure Act. We are now publicly consulting on a second round of public sector whistle-blower protections.

Established Australia’s first federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner to support victims and survivors of modern slavery and to help business to address risks of modern slavery practices in their operations and supply chains.

Created laws to make it easier to prosecute companies and individuals that engage in foreign bribery. Companies can no longer wilfully ignore employees’ and associates’ misconduct. Reduced legal barriers to taking action for discrimination in the Federal Court. The Respect@Work report found applicants were often deterred from taking court action for sexual harassment because of the risk of having to pay a respondent’s costs.

Delivered on our commitment to establish the Robodebt Royal Commission. Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC described it as having “served the purpose of bringing into the open an extraordinary saga, illustrating a myriad of ways that things can go wrong through venality, incompetence and cowardice”.

Work rights

Created new laws to protect migrant workers from mistreatment by employers. Those who exploit a worker’s visa status will now face prison time and tougher penalties including being banned from hiring workers on temporary visas.

Closed legal loopholes undermining workers’ wages and conditions by: criminalising wage theft, properly defining casual work, establishing minimum standards for gig workers, creating a right to disconnect and stopping businesses from using labour hire to undercut pay and conditions.

Fairness

Presented draft laws to make multinationals pay their fair share of tax in Australia in a package that also requires companies to be more transparent about where they pay taxes globally.

Introduced tougher penalties for businesses that impose unfair contracts on consumers and small businesses.

Over 90% of NSW shark net catches were non-targets

BY LALROHLUI AND GRACE JOHNSON

In a startling revelation, more than 90 per cent of marine animals caught in shark nets off the coast of New South Wales over the summer were non-target species.

According to new data, released by the Humane Society International (HSI) Australia, 208 non-target wildlife have been ensnared and 134 found dead in shark nets in NSW waters.

On Eastern Suburb beaches - Bondi, Bronte, Maroubra, Coogee - a total of 17 non-target animals were caught this

season, with 12 found dead. None of the shark nets in these beaches caught target sharks.

According to the ‘catch’ data for NSW’s Shark Meshing Program from 1 September 2023 until 11 April 2024, which HSI Australia was able to attain under a Freedom of Information process, a staggering 93 per cent of marine animals caught in shark nets this season were non-target species, including whales, turtles, dolphins, rays and smaller or non-aggressive sharks.

Among the 134 dead animals found during the summer included five critically

endangered grey nurse sharks, four endangered leatherback turtles and an endangered loggerhead turtle, a devastating blow to already imperilled species.

Of the non-target animals caught, only 36 per cent were released alive (74 animals).

 NSW beachside communities are fed up with these wildlife death traps

The new data came as the shark nets were due to be removed from beaches in preparation for winter.

Calls are now mounting for the NSW Government to ensure that they don’t return.

OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY

“Shark nets don’t discriminate,” said Lawrence Chlebeck, Marine Biologist and Campaigner at HSI Australia.

“Year after year nine out of 10 of the animals caught in the nets are nontarget species, and without providing any benefit to public safety. It’s why NSW beachside communities are fed up with these wildlife death traps,” he continued.

“The Minns Government inherited this outdated technology that has been used since the 1930s. But they don’t need to stick with it. There has been over $85 million committed to modern shark management which is now fully operational on our beaches and much more effective at keeping us safe.

“NSW has the best-funded and most advanced shark risk strategy in the world, so it’s time the Minns Government retired the ineffective and destructive nets.”

Shark nets, installed at 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong, have been in place for nearly a century. However, modern alternatives, such as SMART ( Shark-Management-Alert-In-RealTime) drumlines, drone surveillance, and alert systems, have proven to be far more effective in reducing the risk of shark bites while minimising harm to marine life.

Dr Leonardo Guida, shark scientist at the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), supported the calls to use modern alternatives to nets, adding that they in use at every beach where there is a net, “minus the horrific bycatch numbers.”

“Public sentiment and the science are in alignment - let’s keep the nets out and the drones up,” he said.

Greens move to ensure affordable housing remains affordable

As the Minns NSW Labor government touts wholesale rezoning and new supply as the solutions to the housing crisis, particular emphasis has been placed on delivering “affordable housing” as part of new developments across the state.

But contrary to what the term suggests, affordable housing is not necessarily always affordable, and significant reforms are needed to ensure that it actually meets community needs.

Under current planning rules, affordable housing must be managed by a registered community housing provider and rented out at no more than 80% of market rent. But 80% of record-high market rent is still far from affordable for many people, particularly those on low incomes. For affordable housing to be genuinely affordable, rents must be capped at a proportion of tenant income and not of market rent.

Affordable housing rules also need to be tightened to ensure that all housing meeting this definition remains affordable forever. Currently, affordable housing only needs to be rented out at a discount for a minimum of 15 years, after which it can be returned to the private rental market and rented out for any price. What’s more, because there is no centralised affordable housing database in NSW, there’s no way of knowing how much and where affordable housing is actually being built.

Our communities need far more than time-limited housing solutions that don’t actually guarantee affordability. That’s why at the next Parliamentary sitting in May I’ll be introducing a Greens Bill to reform the rules around affordable housing. Our Bill would cap affordable housing rents at 30% of tenant income, require affordable housing to remain as such forever, and establish a NSW Affordable Housing

Register to keep track of affordable housing across the state.

Together with our Greens Bill to finally end unfair no grounds evictions for renters, this Bill could make a significant difference to people in our community facing housing insecurity and unaffordability.

Tell the NSW Premier to support the Greens’ plan to tackle the housing crisis by signing our petition: jennyleong.org/housing2024

Jenny Leong MP Greens Member for Newtown

Shark net in northern beaches, Sydney.

Photo: Supplied by Humane Society International (HSI) Australia

Calls for greater mental health services after Bondi attack

BY NAZMUN NAHER SHISHIR

Following the horrific stabbing attack at Bondi Junction, psychologists and mental health groups have called for collective calm and for greater mental health services after the news that the perpetrator may have had schizophrenia.

Placing the blame on the perpetrator’s mental health is not only inaccurate but can be distressing and harmful for those living with similar health conditions, said SANE in a statement, the national organisation representing Australians impacted by complex mental health.

CEO Rachel Green said, “Persistent, negative portrayal of mental illness reinforces shame and reduces the likelihood that someone will seek help. It contributes to social isolation, poorer health outcomes and increased suicide risk.”

 We’re calling on governments to take action to ensure this situation doesn’t happen again

The organisation was reportedly “inundated” with calls and emails from members of the community who were “horrified to think they’re seen in the same light as the person who has committed this terrible crime.”

Joel Cauchi, the 40-year-old perpetrator of Bondi Junction’s horrific events, first experienced mental health problems as a child.

Queensland police said he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17. In his parents’ initial statement, they said he had “battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager”. Speaking to media, Cauchi’s mother, Michele, said her son had had his illness under control with medication and had

so his doctors allowed him to gradually reduce his dosage.

GAPS IN THE SYSTEM

Though homicide of strangers by people with severe mental illness is extremely rare (about 1 in 14 million per year), ongoing media focus on Cauchi’s mental condition has caused widespread fear about the danger of people with complex mental illness in our community.

Ms Green from SANE said early intervention, ongoing treatment and psychosocial support can enable people with complex mental ill health to “live healthy, productive and meaningful lives,” but pointed to severe gaps in the mental health system.

“Our current mental health system is filled with gaps and people have and continue to fall through and sometimes with devastating consequences”.

“We’re calling on governments to take action to ensure this situation doesn’t happen again.”

President of Australian Psychological Society (APS) Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe told City Hub that while the investigation of the Bondi Junction attack is ongoing, people should not jump to conclusions about the attacker’s motives.

“People with complex mental health issues need our compassion and support, not assumptions and stigma,” she said.

She echoed SANE’s calls for the government to invest further in mental health services, saying the demand across Australia far outstrips the supply.

“Governments need to realise that wellfunded mental health services are vital for individual health and community safety.

“Addressing the ‘missing middle’ would be a significant step forward in preventing people with moderate or severe mental health issues into more complex illness.”

been doing well,

Bondi Junction killer Joel Cauchi.

Photo: Facebook

Palestine solidarity encampments are staying put

BY RAQUEL BLANKEVOORT

On Tuesday April 23, students from the University of Sydney (USyd) began their encampment on university grounds, gathering in solidarity and support of Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza. With 40-60 students gathered on the Quadrangle lawn each night, they have inspired students across the nation to join them, calling forthe Australian Government and Universities to be held accountable for supporting their ties with the Israeli Trade.

The Students Against War have vowed to keep protesting until their demands are met, which are to cut ties with weapon manufacturers, as well as with Israeli universities, and for Minns to drop the charges on pro-Palestinian protestors at Port Botany and to scrap the draconian anti-protest laws.

The calls come in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The nearly seven-month war began on October 7th after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people at a music festival and taking 250 people hostage.

Israel’s retaliatory attacks have had a devastating impact on Gaza’s residents. According to health authorities, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are women and children. At the time of publication, more than 75 per cent of the population has been displaced.

Students at the university have repeatedly expressed their outrage over USyd maintaining ties with the US Department of Defense, Israeli universities and weapons companies - companies such as Safran, Thales, and Lockheed Martin all have active partnerships with USyd, who is helping them develop technology and weapons to aid Israel.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Students Against War said, “We are part of a fight at universities across the country.”

“Students Against War has local campaigns calling for ANU, UNSW, UTS, and USYD to cut ties with all institutions complicit with genocide, including Israeli universities and arms companies.”

HIND’S HALL:

PROTESTS AT COLUMBIA

Sydney students were inspired to pitch their tents on campus after news spread of similar encampments at

the prestigious Ivy League Columbia University in New York City on April 17th. Columbia students began posting daily on social media platforms with universities and colleagues across the country establishing encampments of their own, all with the same goal: for their respective universities to end their support of Israeli forces and demand a ceasefire.

 There are no universities left in Gaza. And our university is directly involved in that

At Columbia, pro-Israeli protests have since commenced directly opposite the encampments, with universities threatening suspension or outright expulsion of any students associated with the pro-Palestinian encampments. Tensions reached a breaking point on Tuesday April 30, when over than 280 students were arrested for occupying Hamilton Hall.

Students had broken into the hall in a move reminiscent of the 1968 protests against the Vietnam war and of the 1985 protests, when students demanded that Columbia divest from companies with financial interests in apartheid South Africa.

During those protests, students renamed Hamilton Hall “Mandela Hall” after the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela.

This time, students renamed the hall “Hind’s Hall”, in memory of a Palestinian girl aged 6 who was killed by the Israeli military in January while trapped in a car.

“WE

ARE HERE INDEFINITELY”

Jake Stubley, a Political Economy and Sociology student studying at USyd, has been involved Students Against War since day one, helping them set up camp. He spoke to City Hub about the motivation behind the encampment.

“There are no universities left in Gaza. And our university is directly involved in that. And as a student here, I could not be more angry about it,” he said.

“But I do think it gives us a very clear target of, okay, this is what we can do as students, this is our the small part that we can do to actually strike a blow against the entire system globally.”

The response from students and the community at large has been impressive, he continues, adding that people have been dropping off food for those in tents.

Students have also done class announcements during lectures and tutorials, and printed out leaflets, all with the intention to encourage conversation.

The university has largely ignored the group, and security guards are reportedly friendly with the protestors.

“Security response has been really chill and really nice to us, security is often very nice. Cops are much more complicated,

they have not been called on campus for us,” he said.

“The most abrasive elements that have come against us have been the Student Liberal Party, harassing us and driving past playing loud music from their cars and waving the Israeli flag.”

“It’s been very performative and very strange,” he continued. “We’ve also had a bunch of adults and Zionist come up and try and start a fight with us but we have a camp rule of no engagement with antagonistic behaviour, so we just leave them and refuse to engage with them.”

“We are just not interested.”

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) have also expressed their support of the Gaza Solidarity Encampments.

In a statement released on Thursday May 2, President Lydia Shelly said, “We stand in solidarity with the student activists within the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and support their calls for the Australian Government to show meaningful leadership with respect to Palestine.”

“History will show that our Government was on the wrong side of humanity and that the students demonstrated leadership when their government failed to do so.”

Their statement includes commentary from a myriad of leadership individuals from the Greens Party, Muslim Women Australia, Palestine Justice Movement Sydney, and Jews Against Occupation 1948, all stating their support of the student-led encampments.

The NSW Greens Party Room commented on the importance of protest, saying, “When our Governments fail, protest provides one of the most foundational tools citizens in a healthy democracy are able to wield.”

Australian National Imams Council also expressed their support, saying “The protest action by students at the university is an important exercise of a democratic and civic right to highlight the aggression and conduct of Israel being inflicted on a civilian population.”

Protests and encampments across the country continue to be co-ordinated as students stand against their educational institutions, and will remain camped until real change has been made.

Jake confirmed this, telling City Hub, “Our camp’s current official stance is we are here indefinitely until our demands are met.”

“But the more of us there are here, the hotter it becomes and the harder it becomes to repress us.”

A pro-Palestinian protester demonstrates at the University of Sydney. Photo: AP Photo, Mark Baker

STAR CITY MEDICAL CENTRE PUTS PATIENT CARE FIRST

Star City Medical Centre (SCMC) is the oldest medical practice in Pyrmont, operating since 1996. They have been carefully treating and caring for the local community for over two decades and will continue to do so in the many years to come. All of the friendly staff at Star City are fully trained and treat all clients with the utmost professionalism. The team of qualified and accredited doctors, GPs, and health practitioners are here to assist in any way possible.

The practice values their existing clients and considers themselves part of the local community, with regular clients well known to the GPs and staff. New patients are always welcome, and the Star staff are on hand to answer any questions, queries, and explain all information in further detail.

SCMC is a multi-disciplined medical centre that offers allied health services and specialises in physio, skin checks, cosmetic consults, podiatry and dietary. Other services include flu and COVID-19 vaccines, telehealth appointments, women’s health, children’s health, men’s

health, and Clinical Labs pathology. Star City’s mission is to provide an extensive range of services to Pyrmont and the surrounding community with the best possible clinical care.

The health professionals and staff at SCMC pride themselves on providing help, assistance, and knowledge with genuine care, dignity and respect for everyone. Regardless of age, gender, cultural background, and health status, all patients receive the care and

attention that they require and deserve. SCMC strives to create a friendly and inclusive environment to ensure that their patients feel comfortable and cared for at all times. Confidentiality is highly respected and patient information is kept safe in the hands of Star City GPs and health professionals. Star City’s clients and their families play an active role in decision making to improve the health of everyone involved. The team values the need for prompt and efficient

attention to attend to every patient as quickly as possible, particularly in the case of sudden emergencies. At SCMC, no one is left behind or unattended to, and every opinion, request, and piece of feedback is taken on board.

The fully computerised practice works in accordance with the latest RACGP standards and is equipped with the latest technology. All of SCMC’s policies and procedures comply with RACGP standards, establishing themselves as a highly trustworthy medical centre.

If you or a loved one are in need of a reliable GP, pay a visit to Star City Medical Centre in Pyrmont. The practice is open seven days a week with appointments preferred. Do not hesitate to contact the friendly team at Star City, they are happy to take care of you.

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Plibersek’s broken promise spurs climate protests

BY WENDY BACON

Climate action groups on Monday, April 28 began 12 days of action aimed at stopping new coal and gas projects by delivering hundreds of postcards to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Redfern office.

The protest was the first of 50 actions across Australia organised by a new coalition of climate action groups including Move Beyond Coal, 350.org, Rising Tide, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), GetUp!, Lock The Gate, Extinction Rebellion Drum Rebellion, and Knitting Nannas.

Already frustrated by the Albanese government’s failure to stop new fossil fuel projects, climate activists were bitterly disappointed when Plibersek made it clearthe week before that she had indefinitely delayed reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. She had previously promised to pass new legislation by the end of 2023. The reforms were expected to introduce a ‘climate trigger’ and other changes that would help prevent further fossil fuel project approvals and species extinction. The current EPBC laws, created by the conservative Howard government, make no mention of climate change, and outsource federal responsibilities to the states and territories.

If Plibersek and her advisors hoped that the announcement of two new agencies, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Information Australia, would deflect from her decision to delay these more fundamental reforms, they were wrong. Within two days of Plibersek’s announcement, more than 100 environment groups

had signed an open letter calling on the Federal government to stick to its election promise to reform the EPBC act.

The progressive thinktank The Australia Institute accused Plibersek of leaving an open door for at least 30 new fossil fuel projects to be approved under existing law. These projects represent 17 billion tonnes of emissions (or 30 years of Australia’s total annual emissions) and include 25 new coal projects plus Woodside’s Burrup Hub expansion that would release over 5 billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

 It’s not so much a matter of listening to different interest groups as taking heed of physics

Australia is already the world’s largest exporter of coal. It is the third biggest exporter of fossil fuels and export emissions dwarf those produced domestically.

While welcoming the two new agencies, the Environmental Defenders’ Office (EDO) advised that they would not be sufficient to stop extinctions. “These are necessary elements of a functioning regulatory scheme, but will they alone save honeyeaters, curlews and skates? No. Without a comprehensive overhaul of the EPBC Act, the new institutions will simply be monitoring and regulating broken laws,” the EDO wrote on its website.

Patti Burton, Move Beyond Coal’s spokesperson at the rally accused Plibersek of caving to pressure from the fossil fuel lobby to delay environmental law reform. “The Albanese Labor government promised that they would

fix our broken environment laws but they don’t have the guts to stand up to the coal and gas bullies. This is not good enough. This broken promise only fuels more dangerous climate change. It will allow more coal and gas projects to get through and could lead to the extinction of koalas and the annihilation of places like the Great Barrier Reef.”

“The Albanese government still has a choice to make – continue to be on the side of big coal and gas companies and create further delays and worsening climate change impacts seen over the chaotic summer that we’ve just had or stand with communities and deliver on the environmental laws that they promised at the [2022] election,” she told the protest. Recently, the Financial Review revealed that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook had lobbied both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Plibersek urging them to delay the reforms which he argues will disproportionately impact Western Australian businesses. Cook said he had received assurances from Albanese and Plibersek that the consultation process would engage stakeholders on both sides and that laws would only be introduced “when they are ready.”

Plibersek says she wants to “get it right” with “sensible updates” but has not explained how her approach fits with warnings by leading climate scientists that decisive action is urgent and that the window may have already closed to hold warming to 1.5 degrees. 2023 was the hottest year on record and the Great Barrier Reef has suffered its worst mass bleaching this year, the fifth bleaching event in eight years.

To climate protesters Plibersek’s approach sounds not so much “sensible” as dangerous appeasement with the

fossil fuel industry. It’s not so much a matter of listening to different interest groups as taking heed of physics.

In March 2023, about when the draft bill to reform the EPBC act should have been ready, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued what was called a “final warning” before global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius. It made it clear that no new fossil fuel projects could be opened if warming was to remain within that limit. Already at 1.1 degree warming, heatwaves, bushfires, storms and droughts are increasing.

Hitting 1.5C will escalate these extreme events. 3.6 billion people are already considered highly vulnerable. Many more people will die or have their lives destroyed by disasters, and species and natural systems that have existed for millennia will become extinct.

In this context, we can expect that more Australians are likely to decide that ‘science’ rather than ‘pragmatic’ politics should guide their decisions and join peaceful direct action movements.

Grassroots movement Rising Tide was present at the protest. It was responsible for hundreds of protesters on kayaks shutting down the world’s biggest coal port at Newcastle for 32 hours last November. Thousands from all states of Australia attended. 109 protesters were arrested. Those arrested were mostly placed on bonds with no conviction recorded by a magistrate who understood their reasons for taking action. Rising Tide are already planning a much longer and bigger direct action this year to support their goal of shutting down the world’s biggest coal export port by 2030. Wendy Bacon is a retired Professor of Journalism who supported the 2023 Rising Tide protest.

Outside Tanya Plibersek MP’s office in Redfern. Photo: Rigmor Berg

Travel concession policy won’t

BY CHRISTINE LAI

NSW Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, has issued a statement in response to the ‘Fair Fares’ petition, indicating that the government’s stance on concession cards for part-time and international students will remain unchanged.

Earlier this year, The University of Sydney Student Representative Council and Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) launched a petition in collaboration with the City of Sydney and various state MPs which urged the New South Wales Legislative Assembly to extend transport concessions to all students in NSW, including part-time and international students

Currently, only full-time domestic students enrolled in accredited studies with higher education providers or Vocational Education and Training courses qualify for concession fares in NSW.

The petition garnered 20,000 signatures in March this year and was lodged in the Legislative Assembly in March by Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong.

MP Leong wrote in her submission:

“Part-time and international students are ineligible for travel concessions in New South Wales. This represents a glaring inequity for tertiary students; all students deserve travel concessions.”

DISPARITY IN CONCESSION POLICIES

New South Wales is the only state in Australia that does not provide travel concessions to international students. In contrast, in Victoria, international undergraduate students have the option to purchase a Travel Pass, potentially saving up to $1,034 annually, as stated by Public Transport Victoria.

Moreover, full-time international students pursuing studies in Queensland are eligible for a 50% concession fare.

In a statement provided to City Hub, Ms Leong criticised the lack of action by the current NSW Labor Government regarding travel concessions for international students.

She described it as “disgraceful” that even 17 years after an NSW Labor Government failed to address the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal’s ruling that excluding international students from travel concessions amounted to racial discrimination, no progress has been made.

“We know international students aren’t the only ones impacted by this bad policy: people who study part-time because they have caring responsibilities, accessibility needs,

or who need to support themselves through more hours of work also cannot access concessions,” she said.

She expressed concerns about the rising cost of living and the severe housing affordability crisis during the first year of the Minns NSW Labor Government.

“We know many international students are working multiple jobs in addition to their studies to keep food on the table and lights on - travel concessions would provide them with huge relief from mounting financial pressures”, said Ms Leong.

RECENT CITY OF SYDNEY SUPPORT

Councillor HY William Chan, who is also Deputy Chair of Transport, Heritage and Planning at the City of Sydney recently brought forth a motion to endorse the petition. It was passed unanimously.

He told City Hub it was “shameful” that the state government “continues to discriminate against international students based on their citizenship and nationality.”

“Lower transport costs for all students will be a lifeline to urgently help with the cost-of-living and housing crisis in Sydney, with students being forced to live further away from inner-city campuses,” he continued.

“Having spoken to student representatives, extending the

concessions applicability to part-time students is not only feasible but also imperative.”

“Part-time students often rely on concession programs the most, yet they are unjustly restricted from accessing them due to their enrolment status.”

The state government’s refusal to allow international and part-time students travel concessions will risk undermining Sydney’s standing “as a hospital and inclusive destination for the best and brighter scholars worldwide,” he continued, agreeing with prominent business chambers across the city.

The move would also stimulate economic activity across the education, accommodation and hospitality sectors by attracting the brightest minds to Sydney, he said.

MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT REJECTS PETITION FOR CONCESSION TRAVEL

However, the minister for transport responded to the petition on April 16, maintaining that “under NSW law, full fee-paying overseas students are not eligible to receive concession travel.”

Haylen declared that visa applicants must demonstrate their ability to cover living expenses in Australia. She highlighted that Study Fare and exemptions for students with specific federal government scholarships or

disabilities apply to both international and part-time students.

Haylen further explains that other part-time students are excluded from concession cards due to their perceived increased opportunities for employment.

 This represents a glaring inequity for tertiary students; all students deserve travel concessions

“Any student that is ineligible for a concession fare can access the Study Fare on regional rail which provides a 15% discount on the seasonal adult fare.

“The Study Fare is available to international, interstate and full feepaying overseas students. Across the Opal enabled network, the weekly fare cap of $50 for Adult Opal tickets also applies to these students”, she wrote.

SUPRA Disabilities Officer Gemma Lucy Smart informed City Hub that they were seeking clarification on the minister’s statement regarding part-time disabled students.

“At present, no consistent or transparent systems exist across the state to access concessions for this group, if they are

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Photo: AAP Image, Bianca De Marchi

change, despite petition

available as claimed. I welcome the possibility of improving bureaucratic processes to make sure fair fares are possible for all disabled students across NSW’, Smart said.

SUPRA’S PUSH FOR CONCESSION REFORM

City Hub spoke with Weihong Liang, President of SUPRA, regarding the government’s decision to maintain its policy of denying concession cards to part-time and international students. Liang stated they were actively advocating for a change in the law to ensure that international students are included among those eligible for concessional travel.

“While migration law, which is under Commonwealth jurisdiction, requires all international students in Australia to prove financial stability, this requirement does not preclude them from receiving travel concessions in other states.

“These concessions are not seen as contradictory to the financial requirements of their visas. Instead, our argument for providing concessions centres on achieving parity and fairness

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through a standardised national system that does not discriminate against international students in terms of access to travel benefits”, Liang said.

Liang also emphasised that the government’s oversight extended to parttime students, many of whom identify primarily as students and include individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and those working part-time for financial reasons.

“To rectify this, it’s crucial to implement technical measures such as age or employment status to determine eligibility, ensuring that genuine students receive the necessary support for their educational endeavours”, Liang added. According to Liang, this year represents a significant milestone, with their petition attaining 20,000 signatures and endorsement from the New South Wales Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NSWVCC) and formal support from NSW NETU. Liang plans to lead a group of over students to a public hearing on May 9 and continue their dialogue with key stakeholders to “bridge this communication gap and achieve a favourable resolution.”

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Weihong Liang (USyd SUPRA President), Councillor HY William Chan, Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO, Aashish Neupane (WSU International Student Association President) and Raghav Motani (UTS SRC International Student Officer). Photo: Supplied

NSW Police want tougher knife crime penalties

BY GRACE JOHNSON

NSW Police have asked for tougher knife crime penalties, including introducing new laws that would create criminal offences for the parents of minors found with weapons.

While the data shows the overall crime rate involving blades has steadily fallen over the last decade, Sydney’s recent week of horror has intensified calls for tougher measures and more proactive ways to combat knife crime.

Speaking to reporters, Premier Chris Minns said, “Given these very serious criminal attacks in the past week, of course, a responsible government would look at existing legislation and see if potential changes could help prevent a similar attack,” he said.

“I don’t want to pre-judge it, to ensure that whatever legislative and policy changes we make, that they make a difference and that will take a little bit of time.”

Police have urged the government to increase penalties for parents who knowingly allow their children to have knives by making it an indictable rather than summary offence.

Indictable offences are a more serious category of crime, attracting higher sentences and potential prison terms.

Police also called for a separate category of offences for people caught carrying knives on public transport,

calling it a “high risk” activity in the high concentration of people in these areas.

“OUT OF TOUCH” WITH THE COMMUNITY

But several have opposed introducing tougher knife crime penalties, saying the government should instead invest in the public mental health care system, public mental health supports and resources, including in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Communities.

 The position of NSW police demonstrates just how out of touch they are

NSW Council for Civil Liberties has asserted that the police’s position does not reflect the current research on the prevention of crime.

President Lydia Shelly said, “The position of NSW police demonstrates just how out of touch they are with the communities they are tasked to police. Charging parents on the basis that their child has committed an offence oversimplifies the intricate circumstances surrounding children who have contact with the criminal justice system.”

This stance also poses significant risks to children, she continued.

“Parents facing criminal charges and a

Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows 131 were convicted for knife possession or wielding offences. Between October and December last year, most offenders received fines, with only one receiving a jail sentence.

Under the Summary Offences Act during the same period in 2022, there were 960 people convicted for the same crimes. 15 of those received custodial sentences.

In 2010, there were 1034 assault and robbery charges in NSW involving a knife. By 2023, that figure dropped to 545.

The number of children who committed assaults using a knife went from 96 in 2010 to 37 in 2023.

Still, the government is facing increased pressure to prevent further attacks.

One option before the government at the moment is “wanding” laws, which would allow police officers to use hand-held metal detectors to search people without a warrant on public transport and at some night spots

These laws were introduced in Queensland after 17-year-old Jack Beasley was fatally stabbed outside a Surfers Paradise convenience store. They have also come to be known as “Jack’s Law”.

possible conviction may jeopardise their employment opportunities, destabilise their housing situation, and potentially disrupt their ability to maintain custody of their children.”

“The Government’s primary focus should be to strengthen families, not push for laws that will fracture communities. These antiquated ideas ignore the complex circumstances of families where children have had contact with the criminal justice system.”

“It ignores the known vulnerabilities contributing to youth crime including exposure to drug use and poor mental health.”

DECREASING KNIFE CRIME RATE

Following the fatal stabbing of a paramedic last year, in June the NSW Government passed legislation which doubled penalties for some knife offences.

The maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a public place or school doubled to four years in prison, a $4400 fine, or both.

At the time, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said to Parliament, “While the numbers [of knife crime] are not going up, they’re not going down — that is what worries me”.

In the first few months of the new penalties being enacted, data from the

Jack’s parents have since called for NSW to follow Queensland’s lead. Brett Beasley, his father, told ABC Radio Sydney that prior to last week’s attacks, he had spoken to NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley about bringing “Jack’s Law” to the state.

“I can guarantee you that in the first six months, the police find hundreds and hundreds of weapons,” he said.

When asked on April 18, the police minister echoed the premier and said that every option would be considered.

“We will not close the door on anything,” Catley said.

Sydney has been rocked by the sudden onslaught of knife attacks.

Within the space of four days, there were five unrelated stabbings across Sydney last week, leaving seven dead.

Six of those died at the hands of Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old man from Queensland who began a stabbing rampage at Bondi Junction on a Saturday afternoon.

Two days later, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed several times in the head and body while giving a sermon on live-stream in Sydney’s west.

Elsewhere in Sydney were three other stabbings that received considerably less coverage. The day before the Bondi Junction attack, a woman was attacked on Bondi Beach. That night, two people were stabbed in Doonside, leaving one dead and another in hospital. The next night, a stabbing at a house party in the city’s south-west landed two teenagers in hospital.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Karen Webb.

Photo: AAP, Dean Lewins

City of Sydney backs ALGA anti-vilification law

BY HOPE PRATT

In response to a nationwide spike in anti-trans hate, the City of Sydney will endorse the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) antivilification laws submission to the Federal Government.

Labor Councillor Linda Scott, the acting President of ALGA, put forward the motion of endorsement at Monday’s council meeting. It was passed unanimously.

Councillor Scott said in light of the Fuelling Hate Report results, which showed a sharp increase in anti-trans hate across Australia, action needs to be taken.

“The Fuelling Hate Report presents alarming statistics of discrimination experienced by members of the trans community that need to be addressed immediately,” she said.

The motion was seconded by Independent Councillor Adam Worling, who said the results of the survey were both “sad and equally frustrating to hear.”

He also noted that NSW has fallen short when seeking LGBTQIA+ law reform.

According to motion for submission by ALGA, the anti-vilification laws should act to “protect the community from hate and ensure that every individual in Australia

feels safe and protected under law irrespective of their age, disability, gender identity, intersex status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.”

RESULTS OF THE FUELLING HATE REPORT

In 2023, the Trans Justice Project and Victorian Pride Lobby conducted the largest investigation into anti-trans hate in Australia.

The survey received over 3,099 responses, including 1,309 responses from people in the trans community.

The survey covered both in-person and online incidents of anti-trans abuse, harassment, or vilification, witnessed or experienced in the last 12 months.

 NSW has fallen short when seeking LGBTQIA+ law reform

The report found that 94 per cent of participants had witnessed anti-trans hate online and 54 per cent had witnessed it in-person.

49 per cent of trans participants experienced online anti-trans hate online,

with 47 per cent of them experiencing it in-person.

These numbers have increased since 2020, with 85 per cent of all participants having witnessed a rise of online hate directed towards trans people.

40 per cent of trans participants were subject to significantly more online anti-trans hate online, with 34 per cent experiencing more in-person abuse.

The survey found that in 2 months leading up to the survey, experiences of anti-trans hate increased.

This coincided with the presence of anti-trans lobbyist Kellie Jay-Keen and her Melbourne rally that was attended by a group of Neo-Nazis.

The recommendations outlined by the study were to implement antivilification laws at both State and Federal levels.

The study also recommended working towards greater accountability for social media sites and news outlets that spread anti-trans disinformation and support anti-trans hate groups.

Labor Councillor Linda Scott.

Photo: AAP Image, Joel Carrett

Public outcry after huge slashes to public school budgets

BY CHRISTINE LAI

The NSW Department of Education has sparked outcry after announcing a slash to public school budgets by 1.25 per cent.

This decision follows the Department’s plan to encourage teachers to return to classrooms amid declining enrolment rates and a previous deal to make NSW public school teachers the highest paid in the country.

Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar notified school principals of funding cuts on Tuesday, April 9. In addition, thousands of deputy and assistant principals will be forced back into teaching roles.

The NSW Department of Education secretary stated that spending across the education support teams has been reduced by $1.4 billion over the next 4 years.

“We have reduced spending on advertising and removed more than 600 contractors,” Dizdar said.

Concerned parents, educators, and advocacy groups have expressed their opposition, citing the detrimental ramifications this move could have on the quality of education state-wide.

In an interview with City Hub, an assistant principal at a primary school, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared insights on the future of public education post the significant funding reduction.

The assistant principal strongly criticised the announcement of the funding cuts, emphasising that this was just the beginning of numerous challenges and not something they had anticipated.

They also spoke about the immediate effects the funding cuts would have on their school, pointing to their need to withdraw the provision of Learning and Support programs to children.

The secondary school is currently aiming to teach the new English and Maths curriculum but is financially strapped and cannot afford the resources to “complement the units of work”.

BUDGET CUTS THREATEN TO WIDEN EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES

There are concerns that the budget cuts may widen the gap in educational opportunities, particularly impacting disadvantaged communities.

NSW Education Minister Prue Car informed principals on April 9 of a decision to slash the School Budget Allocation Report (SBAR) by 1.25 per cent.

The SBAR provides government funding for public schools which assists in paying for teacher salaries and running maintenance costs.

“Upgrading school infrastructures will be heavily compounded as so many aspects of our schools need to be repaired or replaced. Building works, school halls, playground areas, logs and mulch for the safety of our students”, the assistant principal said.

“Playground equipment to provide stimulating outdoor exercise are always needing to be replaced. Hiring of temporary staff and providing Professional Learning experiences will be hugely impacted,” they added.

DECLINING ENROLMENT FIGURES PLAGUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

New figures released by the NSW Department of Education revealed public school enrolment rates across NSW had fallen for a fourth year in row.

There has been an increase in households moving to private, religious and independent schools.

Total enrolment across government schools have dropped by more than 24,000 since COVID. Despite an overall rise in student enrolments across the state, the figure peaked at 810,705 in 2020, only to decline to 786,434 in 2023.

Critics of the NSW Department of Education’s announcement have argued that such austerity measures are bound to result in larger class sizes, reduced resources for students, and decreased support for teachers.

afford to pay those additional teachers. Craig Petersen highlighted, “The worst case means schools may not be able to employ some of the teachers in the programs they were running”.

City Hub asked the assistant principal on whether there were strategies to mitigate the effects of these funding reductions, to which they replied, “At this moment our principal has not had the time to address these issues in detail as it’s the 2nd last day of term and we are just keeping our heads above water.”

The assistant principal emphasised that their school would now need to direct their attention to “thinking about alternatives and priorities to the cuts.”

“Not a great way to start a new term.

Another educator who preferred to remain anonymous described the consequences of reducing funding for public education as a significant setback.

“Teaching is already a demanding profession with expensive and often scarce resources along with high demands and responsibilities. To then cut funding further to a sector that is already underrepresented, understaffed, and facing impacts such as outdated infrastructure is going to have longer lasting consequences on schools, teachers, and the students and their families,” they stated.

The educator also highlighted the high demand for substitute and casual teachers, given the diverse range of students requiring support and the persistent shortage of teachers.

“Cutting funding will have an effect on hiring of these assets and significantly impact the learning of students”, they stated.

NSW Principals’ Council President Craig Petersen said the degree to which schools would be affected would vary, according to size of their student body, and whether they receive additional flexible funding if they have students with disabilities, refugees or Aboriginal students.

Schools that have exceeded their allocated staff quota may be unable to

Staff morale is already low - the demands on teachers are extraordinary and this will have a huge impact on our social and emotional stability,” they asserted.

The funding reduction will impact all schools, except for small schools, Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) catering to students with intellectual disabilities and other significant learning and support needs, as well as Intensive English Centres.

The government has assured that the funding reform will not touch P & C funds, community funds, spending from schools’ allocated budgets, or previously transferred funds.

As pressure builds on authorities, there’s a growing call for a re-evaluation of their position and a renewed focus on prioritising the welfare of both students and educators.

NSW Department of Education secretary Murat Dizdar. Photo: AAP, Bianca de Marchi

Public review of anti-protest laws announced

BY GRACE JOHNSON AND LALYNE PAISI HICKIE

The NSW Government confirmed on April 5 that there will be a public review into the state’s anti-protest laws after overwhelming public pressure.

That week, 37 organisations and over 1000 individuals signed an open letter and petition demanding the review.

Now that it has been declared public, the review will provide greater transparency and the opportunity for public scrutiny.

In April 2022, the NSW Government passed legislation to prevent ‘illegal protesting’ on major roads, bridges, tunnels, public transport and infrastructure facilities.

The new legislation amends section 144G the Roads Act 1993 which criminalises causing serious disruption by entering, remaining on or trespassing on prescribed major bridges and tunnels, to now include all “main roads”.

Offences carry a maximum penalty of $22,000 or two years in gaol, or both. These laws are scheduled to be reviewed after the 1st of April by the Department of Roads and Attorney-General’s Department.

The government had previously refused to commit to an open and transparent review, with the NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) saying at the time, “The right to protest cannot and should not be scheduled merely for a “departmental” review.”

President Lydia Shelly said, “Today we are living in some of the darkest times that our members have seen for protestors in a very long time.”

 We are living in some of the darkest times that our members have seen for protestors

“The right to protest has already been eroded enough in this State and politicians should not be given licence to erode it further on the basis of there being ‘good’ and ‘bad’ protest causes,” she continued.

“Protest itself ought to be celebrated as enriching our democracy.”

JUSTIFICATION OF POLICE VIOLENCE

The laws have most recently been used as a justification of police violence during

peaceful protests, as seen at Port Botany recently and in November.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson described the laws as “an attack on democracy and were supported by both Liberals and Labor to function as a direct suppression on the implied right to political expression in NSW”.

The open letter, sent to the Premier, included organisations like Young Labor, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, the Jewish Council of Australia, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, and the Greens NSW.

As a result of the overwhelming pressure from civil society and trade

unions gathered within a day’s time, the government has bowed to the public’s wishes.

President Shelly said that although this was a huge win, and “worth a pause to celebrate”, they have not yet overturned the laws.

“The fight is not yet over,” said Ms Shelly. “NSWCCL condemns this legislation in totality. Protest should not be confined to back roads. We especially condemn the lack of proportionality of the punishment that can be imposed for offences committed by protesters. We look forward to this public review.”

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NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Photo: Bianca de Marchi, AAP Image

The Varroa mite outbreak

BY JOHN MOYLE

This story concerns the fight between some of Australia’s most experienced beekeepers and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the right to keep the county pest free, but at what cost?

In 2022 when the Varroa mite was found in bee hives in Northern NSW, the DPI announced a Bio Security Emergency order.

It is thought that the mite may have entered Australia through the port of Newcastle via smuggled queen bees.

The mite is a tiny red-brown external parasite on which the adult mite feeds on the adult honey bee, but not native bees.

The Varroa destructor, the species in question, is suspected of having originated in Siberia before escaping into European and later North and South American and Asian hives.

Little data is available before 2000 but Russian hives have co-existed with the mite since the 1930s.

THE DPI’S REACTION

The DPI reacted with a find and destroy operation for the infected area.

“All activities of the response, including tracing and containment active ties, were based on scientific data collected from decades of national and International experience, including those from the United States and New Zealand,” a spokesperson from the NSW Department of Primary Industries said.

“Over the course of the initial 15-month eradication plan the Varroa Mite Emergency Response, led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, helped

contain and limit the spread of the destructive mite, which in turn helped minimise and mitigate financial impact on Australia’s $264 million honey and pollination dependent industries.”

The response from many of the affected beekeepers in the infected areas accuses the department, not the mites for being destructive, to the point that at one stage some were considering a $140 million class action against the DPI.

“I have calculated $300-600 million in damages across NSW,” beekeeper Dolfi Benesh said.

“The government has gone into a problem in full force, done all the mistakes possible.

“No intention was made for compensation as part of the eradication plan, to the extent that it’s hard to tell what is to be eradicated, the beekeepers?”

“UNNECESSARY” DESTRUCTION OF HIVES

Steve Fuller, along with brother Wayne, operates Bee Services, one of the state’s largest pollination services in Northern NSW and sits on numerous industry organisations.

Fuller claims that many countries around the world have learned to live with the Varroa mite and that the destruction of 30,000 hives was unnecessary.

He also said that the action cost him between $1.5 to $2 million and left him unable to service local orchards and berry farms.

“People have been living with Varroa around the world since 1971 and the reaction of the DPI was in-proportional and not professional,” Fuller said.

“There were scientists here, New Zealand and America and they did not want to listen.”

Many would know Simon Mulvany from his Save the Bees community posts and is a beekeeper who has an ongoing campaign against honey giant Capilano for using imported honey and honey substitutes.

 It’s hard to tell what is to be eradicated, the beekeepers?

“What the DPI did was that they went on a killing spree and simultaneously allowed hive movements, “Simon Mulvany, bee activist said.

“What bee keepers in Australia are furious about is that the DPI allowed hives from areas like Kempsey, a high risk area, to cross the Victorian border, and while they were killing bees in NSW, they allowed all of the beekeepers in Queensland a special permit when they returned from

the almonds, even though they might have been exposed to the mite.”

Mulvany also claims that the has been contacted from people overseas saying, “Don’t use chemicals to control the mite because the mite gets resistance really quickly and then it is a never ending race.”

They were referring to chemicals including Apistan which clams to kill 99 per cent of the Varroa mite but is not harmful to the bees.

Another claim levelled at the DPI is the way in which DPI appointed officers interacted wth the beekeepers.

“They came with unsterilised cars and equipment and I felt that I am dealing with a gang that were over-powered by unlimited power to do whatever they wanted,” Benesh said.

“Where are the limits to the DPI and what is the control mechanism on the DPI?

“The government has gone into problem with full force, and done all the mistakes possible.

“Varroa has been on the radar in NSW since the early 2000s, and we had a plan in place around 2011 but (DPI) they didn’t listen.”

Benesh also claims that the DPI did nothing about feral hives which could have been infected.

While the DPI does a lot of good work it is also obvious that they need to deal with any infestations with better sensitivity and learn to also take onboard scientific advise that may be contrary to their current mindset.

After all, we also have the cane toad, fire ants, carp, rabbits, foxes, feral deer, feral horses, feral cats, feral dogs and feral pigs to deal with.

Verroa destructor mites. Photo: Kuttelvaserova Stuchelova, Shutterstock

A honeybee collecting nectar with a varroa mite on its back. Photo: Efisko Aleksandr, Shutterstock

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT HCF BUILDING 399-411 GEORGE ST SYDNEY NSW 2000 INCLUDING 5G

The proposed 5G upgrade will consist of:

• Installation of new antenna mounts on building facade

• Installation of four (4) new shared Optus/Vodafone 4G panel antennas (each no longer than 2.8m)

• Installation of five (5) new Optus 5G panel antennas (each no longer than 1.0m)

• Installation of four (4) new Vodafone 5G panel antennas (each no longer than 1.0m)

• Replacement of eighteen (18) existing Remote Radio units (RRUs) with twenty-seven (27) new RRUs

• Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment including antenna mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment, and

• Works within the existing equipment shelter.

Optus & Vodafone regard the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 based on the description above. The proposed infrastructure will comply with ACMA EME regulatory arrangements.

In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code 2020, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal.

Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Sophie Deng at Service Stream Limited, 0427 459 605, Optus.Submissions@servicestream.com.au or Zenith Tower B, Level 3 821 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood NSW 2067 by 5pm, Monday 27 May 2024

If you would like to know more about this site, further information can be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/2000257.

Temporary lane closures and traffic changes on Park, Pitt and Castlereagh streets, Sydney on 11 May to 12 May 2024

To enable the safe removal of a tower crane supporting construction work on the Gadigal Station North site, a temporary weekend lane closure and bus stop relocation will occur on Park Street, and traffic changes will be required on Pitt Street and Castlereagh Street. Weather permitting, these changes will take place between 6am and 6pm on Saturday 11 May, and Sunday 12 May; alternatively - 6am to 6pm on Saturday 18 May and Sunday 19 May.

During the lane closure, traffic controllers will be in attendance to facilitate smooth pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

For more information please contact Hubavina Barbolova, Senior Advisor Stakeholder and Community Relations on 1800 171 386.

Contact us

 1800 171 386 Community information line open 24 hours

 PittStreetMeltro@transport.nsw.gov.au

 Sydney Metro City & Southwest, PO Box K659, Haymarket NSW 1240

 If you need an interpreter, contact TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call 1800 171 386

sydneymetro.info

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE TELSTRA MOBILE PHONE

BASE STATION AT BALMAIN

Telstra plans to upgrade an existing telecommunications facility located at 440-442 Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041 www.rfnsa.com.au/2041003

1. Telstra are currently upgrading existing mobile network facilities to introduce 5G to its network. As part of this network upgrade, Telstra proposes the installation of LTE700,LTE1800, LTE2100, NR850, NR3500, NR/LTE2600 and WCDMA850 at BALMAIN. Proposed works at the above site will involve the Removal of four (4) existing panel antennas, installation of three (3) new panel antennas (each no longer than 2.8m), Installation of three (3) new 5G antennas (each no longer than 2.8m), Installation of three (3) new RRUs, Proposed shroud and recovery of existing shroud, antenna mounts and associated steelwork, and Installation of associated ancillary equipment at the existing facility and within the three (3) new ODUs.

2. To improve Telstra’s mobile phone network.

3. The proposed installation is regarded as “Exempt Development” in accordance with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 and does not require Local or State Government Approval.

4. 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 or written submissions should be directed to Ryan Wong, BMM Group via email to: submissions@bmmgroup.com.au or 1300 260 834 by 24th May, 2024.

Temporary lane closures and traffic changes on Pitt, Liverpool and Bathurst streets, Sydney between 31 May and 2 June 2024

To enable the safe removal of a tower crane supporting construction work at the Gadigal Station South site, a temporary weekend road and lane closures will occur on Pitt Street, with traffic changes on Pitt, Liverpool and Bathurst streets. Weather permitting, these changes will take place between 10pm on Friday 31 May to 7pm on Sunday 2 June Contingency dates are reserved for three following weeks, 7-9 June, 14-16 June and 21-23 June 2024.

During the closures, traffic controllers will be in attendance to facilitate smooth pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Pick-up/drop-off and taxis area on Pitt Street will remain closed for the duration of work.

For more information please contact Hubavina Barbolova, Senior Advisor Stakeholder and Community Relations on 1800 171 386.

Contact us

 1800 171 386 Community information line open 24 hours

 PittStreetMeltro@transport.nsw.gov.au

 Sydney Metro City & Southwest, PO Box K659, Haymarket NSW 1240

 If you need an interpreter, contact TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call 1800 171 386

sydneymetro.info

EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AT THIS YEAR’S PYRMONT FESTIVAL

Undoubtedly one of Sydney’s most popular and anticipated cultural festivals, the annual Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Beer, Food, and Art will enliven the Pyrmont peninsula again this May.

Photos: Tim Pascoe

BY RITA BRATOVICH

In this, its twelfth iteration, Pyrmont Festival promises many of its signature features, plus a few new surprises. The whole enterprise began as a collaboration between wine regions in NSW and artisan food and goods producers in Sydney in a celebration of country meets city.

“This year we have welcomed winemakers, brewers and distillers from across NSW. This includes producers from Orange, Mudgee, Murrumbateman and the Hunter Valley,” says Alex Gibbs, Pyrmont Festival Director. The two-day headline event takes place in beautiful Pirrama Park on May 18 and 19. This flat, open park is the perfect setting for an outdoor festival, with shady trees, walking paths, lots of nearby amenities, and the picturesque Sydney Harbour as a backdrop.

Pyrmont Festival takes up the full length of the park, with the large Harbour Stage at one end and the slightly smaller Sunset Stage at the other, each showcasing a fantastic line-up of local entertainers. This year sees the return of crowd favourites, Crown Jewel Band, as well as As Seen On TV, and headliner, Jo Fabro, who is featured on our cover.

It’s Fabro’s fourth year at Pyrmont Festival. With a blend of jazz, blues, soul, pop and

her own distinct sound, Fabro has become a favourite with the Pyrmont Festival crowds as well as having a following in the Sydney music scene. She plays intimate clubs as well as larger outdoor venues.

“We really enjoy playing down there. It’s such a beautiful event to play at,” says Fabro. “And this one’s interesting because this is a food and wine festival, and so people are going there primarily for the food and wine, but they’re sort of pleasantly surprised when they find music,” says Fabro. “There are deck chairs in front of the stage and people always take a seat, they come with their wine and their food and they enjoy themselves while they’re experiencing all of the produce, which is great.”

There will be over 20 wineries, breweries and distilleries, including, for the first time, a Canberra District winery — McKellar Ridge Wines from Murrumbateman. A rural area 20 minutes outside of Canberra, the elevated Murrumbateman was established as a wine region in the 1970s. Its rich volcanic soil and cool climate conditions produce grapes that express elegant fruit flavours, high natural acidity and moderate tannins. They are versatile food companions and great for cellaring.

John and Marina Sekoranja of McKellar Ridge Wines are excited about being the first winery from Murrumbateman to show

at Pyrmont Festival. They’ll be bringing new vintages of Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and two styles of Shiraz. They’re also offering visitors deals on wine purchases and visits to their cellar door. Visit them at the festival to find out more.

On the gastronomical side, the now legendary pop-up Cheeky Naked Oyster Bar will set up alongside the shoreline and serve delicious freshly shucked oysters and juicy prawns straight from Sydney Seafood Markets. Enjoy blow-torched cheesy scallops, baby octopus skewers and other ocean delicacies from the famous Aburi Bar Beyond the mouth-watering oysters and seafood delights, you can treat your tastebuds to exciting new gourmet cheeses from The Really Stuffed Olive Company; delectable and dynamic Asian street food inspired by Asia’s vibrant street food scene at The Star’s Fat Noodle stand; German food truck, Knuckles 2 You; the unique taste of African fast food at its finest with the Pharaoh BBQ food truck; Chef Luca Ciano selling his delicious sauces; plus literally dozens more gourmet products and international cuisines.

“I’m a massive foodie, I think most people in Sydney are,” says Fabro. “I really love the food trucks...there’s always a bespoke beef jerky guy. There’s always people who

have stalls that sell these really interesting foods. NSW has so much to offer. Being such a huge geographical area, you don’t always get to go and explore these places, so the benefit of a festival like this is that it all comes to you. You get to experience the best a region has to offer, but you can catch a tram there instead of having to drive, and you can make a day of it.”

Each year, Pyrmont Festival presents a range of unique artisan, hand-crafted products by independent vendors, and this year is definitely no exception. Here’s a few to look out for.

Loveshak makes a beautiful range of beer, wine, and champagne soaps and skin care products. The alcohol content is removed prior, but the inherent beneficial properties are retained. These include antioxidants, proteins, and elements that promote skin toning and anti-aging. For fragrance and enhanced benefits, the products are blended with ingredients such as olive and coconut oils, herbs, spices, clays, charcoal, dried fruits and botanicals.

Team Tofu is a mother and daughter team who make bespoke t-shirts promoting love, fun, health and local pride. Their tees are

simple and comfy, sturdy, and made from cotton, in a wide range of colours. Each one has a terrific original design with vegan, running and Pyrmont themes. They’re great!

Winestoppers Australia If someone tells you to put a cork in it, you can dazzle them with one of these exquisite, bejewelled stoppers. The stoppers are gorgeously decorated in coloured diamantes and come in an equally gorgeous silk or velvet pouch. The range now also includes diamante studded can coolers, wine cooler bags, and very handy wine glass coolers with a sling that allows you to walk around hands — and spill — free.

Chase Park Candles are made from high quality soy wax and fragrant oils presented in an elegant glass receptacle. The candles burn slowly and come in a range of scents including coconut and lime, pineapple and frangipani, Australian bush, and champagne and strawberries. Also available are diffusers consisting of a vintage pharmacy style clear bottle and pure white reeds, and handy little tinned candles.

Stalwart of the festival is artistic ambassador for Pyrmont, Jane Bennett who will have a collection of her glorious, vivid artworks depicting landmarks around the Pyrmont, Ultimo and inner west precincts.

Also on the artistic front, TAP Gallery, who has been part of the festival virtually from the beginning, will present a pop-up gallery featuring entries to this year’s annual Pyrmont Prize.

Face painting, art classes, rides, and much more at the two-day festival in Pirrama Park.

“I think this festivals is great because it’s got a little bit of something for everyone,” says Fabro. “I see groups of adults go, but I also see a lot of people make a day of it with their families. Pirrama Park is so lovely and there’s so much space.”

The extended program, running throughout May includes Walking Food Tours, a Day at Sea on the Tall Ship James Craig, and the Tasty Trivia x Petersons Wine Challenge at the Terminus Hotel — just a small selection of the busy program of events.

Loveshak

Winestoppers Australia

Team Tofu

Chase Park Candles

Jo Fabro

McKellar Ridge Vineyard

COFFIN ED’S NAKED CITY

WHY THE CIRCUS NEEDS TO COME TO TOWN

Australians love to gamble. We’ll bet on just about anything from racehorses, sporting events, lotteries, pokies and even the results of a federal election - just a few of the ways we choose to blow our hard-earned. Somewhat strangely, when it comes to casinos — the Taj Mahals of the gambling dollar — we seem to be less enthusiastic. Our history of these gaudy places of disappointment is very much a chequered one.

From the 1960s through to the late 1980s, Sydney was awash with illegal casinos, relatively small intimate establishments with discreet entrances and a well-screened clientele. Every taxi driver knew where they were as did most of the NSW Police Force, but rampant corruption enabled them to flourish with only the occasional bust. They turned over billions annually with not one cent of that going in government taxes but a good amount in the pockets of corrupt police and a number of politicians. Whilst many were run by hardcore gangsters, they kept a relatively low profile. The general public regarded

them as a bit of harmless clandestine fun rather than a threat to morality and the law of the land.

The illegal dives aside, we still subscribed to the romantic vision of casinos as either the sophisticated night clubs of Monte Carlo or the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. Rather surprisingly it was Tasmania, a state then regarded as one of our least cosmopolitan, that got the jump on the rest of the country when it

established our first legal casino, Wrest Point, in 1973.

Remarkably, Sydney had to wait another two decades or so before we got our first casino in 1995, the Sydney Harbour Casino which soon changed to Star City Casino. Promoted more as a centre of entertainment and fine dining than a venue for suckers to lose their money, it was seen as a sign of Sydney expanding its international wings.

Let’s forget about The Star, which is more suburban shopping mall than casino, and its recent high end neighbour, Crown at Barangaroo. Sydneysiders still long for a Vegas style environment, as witnessed when the Rugby League kicked off its 2024 season there to much hoorah. What we need is our own version of the Las Vegas institution Circus Circus. Naturally our own version of Circus Circus would have a distinct Australiana theme with massive oversized animatronic fauna, gaming attendants dressed appropriately as Ned Kelly, and roving musicians playing wobble boards and gum leafs. It would be a genuine family affair but rather than encouraging children to gamble there would be a junior casino where the under eighteens could experience the trauma of losing all of their complimentary play money, putting them off gambling for life.

Unfortunately the name Circus Oz is already taken, but might I suggest a very Australian sounding name for Sydney’s newest touring attraction: ‘THE GOLDEN GALAH’. You’re probably going to lose a motza and feel like a total drongo afterwards, so why not do it with a smile!

HubARTS

WRITERS AFTER DARK

Exciting night time sessions at Sydney Writers’ Festival (See p.29)

COLLABORATORA WORK IN PROGRESS

BY RITA BRATOVICH

Daniel Kitson is emphatic about his distaste for audience participation. He finds the concept loathsome, unimaginative, confronting, and an insult to audiences. In the same breath, however, he describes his very popular, very elastic performance piece, Collaborator - A Work in Progress, as a work with 200 or so parts; it has the redolence of audience participation wafting off it.

Kitson is a British comedian, writer, and performer who, despite his protestations, loves to engage with and invite input from

his audience. His career in comedy began when he was just 16 years old and by the time Kitson was in his early twenties, he had garnered a steady fanbase and was appearing regularly on the fringe and comedy festival circuits.

Kitson’s humour is raw and candid and feels unpolished, though he clearly knows exactly how to get a crowd eating out of his hand. Abrasively self-deprecating, Kitson often makes himself the butt of the joke, but it’s always good-natured, not self-pitying. He involves audience members in a nonthreatening, non-confronting way, creating a relaxed atmosphere that builds congeniality.

BY RITA BRATOVICH

The Front Page is a dark, sardonic, briskly paced play about the cut-throat quest for a headline.

It’s 1930s Chicago. “In a newsroom in the Chicago Criminal Courts Building, a motley bunch of bored reporters are playing cards. A window overlooks the courtyard where a gallows is being prepared for the impending execution of social agitator, Earl Williams, sentenced to hang for the murder of a black police officer. In walks star reporter from the tabloid rag, The Examiner, Hildy Johnson, announcing she has quit the newspaper business and is getting married. Her resolution is tested when the prisoner, Earl Williams, escapes and goes on the run.

In the past 20 or so years, Kitson has toured shows in the UK, the US, and Australia. His routines are a hybrid of stand-up comedy and story-telling vaguely riffing on a theme, but not always focused. Past shows have had quirky titles like: It’s Always Right Now, Until it’s Later; It’s the Fireworks Talking; A Variety of Things in a Room; A Short Series of Disagreements Presented Here in Chronological Order.

Kitson will present his newest show, Collaborator - A Work in Progress at Carriageworks.” “Work in Progress” is a type of genre on the comedy circuit, similar to open mic, in which comedians test out material and refine their shows. Kitson has already given Collaborator a few trial runs and audience responses have been extremely enthusiastic.

This show represents an expansion of Carriageworks offerings into the theatre space, and is bound to be a highlight of Carriageworks program.

May 30 - June 8, Bay 20, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh carriageworks.com.au

THE FRONT PAGE

INCREDIBILIA –FILLED WITH IMAGINATION

BY JOHN MOYLE

KIt’s a huge story, and each successive detail and event that follows only makes it more sensational. Meanwhile, Hildy is also being harassed by her now ex-boss, Walter Burns who is pleading for her to change her mind and stay, and, it seems, not just because he admires her journalistic prowess.

Though written nearly 100 years ago, and very indicative of its time, The Front Page has themes that still resonate today. There are some confronting ideas and comments in this play, but it is selfaware. It is also still very, very funny and clever.

Until May 18, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown newtheatre.org.au/the-front-page

im Carpenter will return to Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres this month with his new production Incredibilia

Known for creating theatre that incorporates a strong and distinctive visual style, Carpenter is also unique in that since the late eighties, his focus has been on creating theatre for children and their families.

Incredibilia brings to life 19 stories by famed Australian multi-award-winning children’s author, Libby Hathorn.

“They are picture books, so each story is fairly simple, and they have common themes knitted together with an overarching story of two friends who go on a journey,” Carpenter said.

“They travel to all these exotic places from deserts to cities, to forests and gardens, and it is a rites of passage story.

By the end of the story they have shared these experiences together and have forged a lasting friendship.”

The visual input is through objects manipulated by two versatile actors who sing and dance and bring the set and props to life.

“The nature of the objects is that they are all made from recognisable things that we see in every day life, but they are used in a way that a spring becomes a caterpillar and a pair of secateurs becomes a bird,” Carpenter said.

“The two actors have a great chemistry and the music and songs by Peter Kennard (who plays all instruments himself) really drive the show along.”

June 1, 11am, 1pm, Riverside Theatres, Cnr Church and Market Sts, Parramatta riversideparramatta.com.au/whatson/incredibilia

Photo: Chris Lundie

Photo: Joy Lai, State Library of NSW

Daniel Kitson

THE PRESIDENT

BY JOHN MOYLE

This production of The President is a first time collaboration between Dublin’s Gate Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company, and shares two theatrical giants: Ireland’s Olwen Fouere and Australia’s Hugo Weaving.

Written in 1975 by Austrian novelist and playwright Thomas Bernhard, often referred to as one of the most significant German-language authors in the latter 20th century, this is the first Englishlanguage production of the work.

Set in an unnamed country, possibly eastern Europe, at an unknown time, the play deals with the final days of a dictatorship of a small country.

The President examines the mechanisms of power and how it is manipulated by personalities driven by ego, hubris, neurosis and paranoia.

We open with the first lady (Olwen Fouere) in her room as she prepares for another day of turmoil outside the palace gates. She is distracted by the dress chosen by her dresser, Miss Frolick (Julie Forsyth), while the president is receiving a massage off set.

The first lady takes out her growing paranoia and self obsession on Miss

Frolick, explaining she fears her son is a member of the anarchists who are systematically killing members of the ruler’s closest circle.

Towards the end of the first half, the president (Hugo Weaving) appears briefly for a cold exchange with his wife.

The next we see him he is in a luxury hotel in Portugal with a young actress. Back at the Presidential Palace, the atmosphere is at breaking point; assassinations continue and the president fears he is next in line.

When the end comes, it comes as a shock, even though we were expecting it.

The President is not an easy play. While it offers many laughs, it is not a warm and fuzzy text and it deals with two unlikeable main characters.

Essentially two monologues, the lead characters are surrounded by satellites that provide much relief with various amounts of sight gags.

The President takes time to absorb and will be spoken about for weeks, especially the end scene, one of the most impactful moments on a Sydney stage, ever.

Until May 19, Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay www.sydneytheatre.com.au

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY

BY JASMINE SIMMONS

At the intimate Hayes Theatre Co in Potts Point, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical masterpiece is brought to life.

Tell Me on a Sunday, with lyrics by Don Black, is a stand-out one-woman show that makes the small space feel extraordinarily large.

The stunning and amazingly talented Erin Clare takes on the role of The Girl

Erin Clare radiates confidence and passion in all the right moments on stage, forming a deep connection with her character. The funky jazz orchestra, with some musicians playing multiple instruments interchangeably, perfectly compliment Clare’s stage presence. The upbeat tempo of various instrumental segments sees audiences thoroughly engaging with the story and

and guides the audience through a journey of self discovery. The young English girl moves to New York and navigates her way through a series of relationships and all the anxieties and heartbreak that come with these experiences.

After being with different partners and circling back to the same, painful situations, she ponders over the true meaning of love and the validation she is desperately craving.

BY HOPE PRATT

following along with The Girl’s on-the-go lifestyle.

The most wow-factor element this production is Clare’s outstanding singing ability. The strength of her vocals remains consistent throughout the production and the star quality is evident. Clare hits every single note and looks amazing doing it.

Until 12 May, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point hayestheatre.com.au

The Laramie Project will return to Sydney on May 14 to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia as well as the 25th Anniversary of the play’s development. Written by Moisés Kaufman and first performed in 1999, the production explores the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. The play is based on a series of interviews the Tectonic Theatre Project conducted in Laramie after the horrific murder and tells the story of a small-town community grappling with a heinous hate crime and the subsequent media fallout.

Led by award winning director Dean Bryant, the one-off Sydney performance will feature a cast from New York’s Tectonic

Theatre Project as well as Aussie all-stars Tony Sheldon, Casey Donovan, Lyndon Watts, Benjamin Law, Zindzi Okenyo, and Nicholas Brown. And for the first time in Australia, Dennis Shepard, the father of Matthew, will star as himself and deliver the courtroom address he made in Wyoming 25 years ago.

The evening performance will be followed by a Q&A session about the role of arts in social justice movements and advocacy.

The panel will feature Dennis Shepard and the project’s Creative Team.

The production is a collaboration between the American Australian Association and the Tectonic Theatre Project, The Matthew Shepard Foundation, and the US State Department.

May 14, City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place, Sydney, www.cityrecitalhall.com

Photo: Daniel Boud

Photo: John McRae

VIVID MUSIC AT CARRIAGEWORKS

BY RITA BRATOVICH

Carriageworks will explode with light and music when its Vivid Sydney program unleashes an incredible spectrum of local and international acts. With a diverse range of exciting contemporary genres resonating throughout the unique spaces of the precinct, Carriageworks will be alive and kicking.

With the glitter of Eurovision just starting to settle around them, dance duo, Electric Fields will be on a camp high when they bring their esoteric blend of electro-pop and Indigenous language to Carriageworks. Keyboard player and producer Michael Ross brings rich, multilayered dance melodies, while beguiling singer, Zaachariaha Fielding floats an ephemeral vocal line over the top in Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and English. A very popular act with a huge fan base. Perth band, Pond, have a retro-psychedelic rock sound that is both hypnotic and galvanising. Their wall-of-sound, synth and guitar filled mega riffs are paired with infectious melodies that fill a room with nostalgia and good times.

Fully escape into the rhythm with the edgy, frenetic trance sound of X CLUB

This disc-spinning duo from Brisbane is all about concentrated beats and mesmerising electronica. X CLUB. will perform in Bay 22-24, Carriageworks’ largest venue.

Stunningly talented Aboriginal singer/songwriter, Emma Donovan is a must-see for fans of gospel, reggae, soul, country and fans of extraordinary vocal mastery. Donovan has sung with Australia’s elite, been nominated for a multitude of awards and has just released her fifth album, Til My Song Is Done

and cultural engagement. He has an impressive back catalogue and a career that includes working alongside some of the biggest names in hip hop as well as acting in popular films and TV shows. Fans and newcomers to his music have two opportunities to see Yasiin Bey during the Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks program. On one night, he will perform a tribute show for legendary MC MF DOOM, who died in 2020. For his second show, he’ll celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Ecstatic, his universally acclaimed album. For something smoother and more seductive, you might like Tirzah’s gig.

The British singersongwriter has lush, rich vocals over broad, anthemic, melodies. She will transport you to another dimension. Even more otherworldly is American genre-defying artist, Yves Tumor. With their own distinctive sound

— a mix of rock, psychedelia, and fantasy — as well as wild wardrobe and make-up, Yves Tumor is as much an event as they are a performer.

Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), is one of America’s most prominent rap artists and very pro-active in the sphere of social commentary, activism,

Also from the US, Montell Fish is a soulsinger in the most illustrative sense. With visceral passion, Montell Fish takes the listener with him across an emotional and spiritual landscape. He brings a unique brand of new age gospel injected with electronica and sung with utter conviction. Take everything you love about Vivid Sydney — the lights, the music, the projections, the amazing ambience — mix it together and distil it down to its purest essence and you have Synthony. This event is like nothing else: a twentynine piece orchestra plays iconic dance anthems while awe-inspiring vocalists sing, DJs spin, visuals are projected onto a screen and the lights explode like fireworks. This will be one of the most talked-about events at Vivid Sydney.

For more info on Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks visit carriageworks.com.au

Montell Fish

Emma Donovan

Photo: Ian Laidlaw Yves Tumor

Tirzah

Bay 22-24, Carriageworks

XCLUB.

Electric Fields

Synthony

BANGING ON WITH MYF AND ZAN

BY RITA BRATOVICH

M

yf Warhurst and Zan Rowe have been besties for two decades, and it shows. They harmonise easily in conversation and clearly have a lot of respect for each other’s thoughts and opinions. They can also riff hilariously on just about any topic — or on nothing at all.

When podcasting became a thing, it seemed a no-brainer that these two should have a show; they were both au fait with popular culture, had plenty of radio experience between them, and, as Rowe points out, could string a sentence together.

which is just beautiful. And even gifts for our pets. I’ve got an amazing pair of pyjamas for my dog,” says Warhurst.

Bang On is a weekly podcast, just under an hour long, in which Warhurst and Rowe talk about subjects in the social and cultural zeitgeist that have prompted public discussion. They do the same thing for the live shows, ensuring the content is fresh and unique for each show.

There’s been a Bang On Live once a year for the past three or so years, but this national tour is a first.

“We’ve been wanting to do this Bang On tour for years, really…it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before,” says Rowe.

Bang On came to fruition in 2017.

Podcasting was a popular medium but at the time there weren’t many chatty styled podcasts about pop culture that featured two women. Warhurst and Rowe set up their proverbial tent on that barren landscape and now, some seven years later, it is a veritable village.

“People listen to radio and have a very intimate relationship with people they hear on the radio, but podcasts take it that one step further,” says Rowe. “We just got this sense that people were connecting deeply.”

She was right. People were connecting deeply enough to form a community — the Bang Fam. Neither Warhurst nor Rowe can remember when or how the name came about, but they realised early, through email and socials, that their podcast was garnering a devoted following.

“We’re even getting gifts from people,

“It’s pure joy. It’s just so much fun, And we get to hang out [with each other].

We get to meet all our beautiful listeners who have been with us - a lot of themsince we began,” adds Warhurst.

A highlight of the live shows is the fashion (pronounced farh-shen) parade at the end in which the audience is invited to participate.

“We’ve cobbled together some high fashion items from our local stores and a little bit of Bunnings,” teases Warhurst.

“People who come along make friends with other people who come along,” says Rowe, summing up the vibe. “Everyone is there not just to watch the show but to be with their community, the community they love.”

Sydney Comedy Festival, Sat 18 May, 5pm Enmore Theatre, Enmore Rd, Newtown, cmdy.live/SCF24BangOn www.sydneytheatre.com.au

VIVID FLAVOURS AT CARRIAGEWORKS

BY RITA BRATOVICH

Vivid Sydney at Carriageworks is a vast and diverse program that caters to all the senses, not least, taste and smell. This year, come and enjoy the culinary delights of The Warakirri Dining Experience and Coyoacán Social Pop-Up Cantina.

The Warakirri Dining Experience returns after a very successful debut in the 2023 Vivid Food program. Hosted by chef Sharon Winsor, a Ngemba Weilwan woman from western NSW, Warakirri is an authentic First Nations five-course degustation that brings together modern cooking and the ancient knowledge and techniques of 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture.

Winsor uses Australian botanicals and native ingredients sourced on Gadigal land to prepare a magnificent bespoke meal, accompanied with unique beverages. She is a trained chef but a

large part of Winsor’s knowledge comes from growing up with the Aboriginal culture. As a child, she loved collecting bush fruits and catching yabbies, and it’s the memory of this simple pleasure that has inspired the Warakirri Dining Experience. As well as being served delicious food, patrons are also treated to storytelling, dance and music.

Coyoacán Social is a small Mexican eatery with a big heart. Led by Head Chef, Mexican-born Roman Cortes, it serves the local street cuisine of his mother’s home town, Coyoacán, as well as food inspired by other regions of Mexico. Coyoacán Social was established by Plate It Forward, which is is a social enterprise that helps create employment opportunities as well as well as offering affordable meals for people who are struggling or disadvantaged.

During Vivid Sydney, Carriageworks will team with Plate It Forward to bring a pop-up of Coyoacán Social into the precinct. They’ll be serving up delicious Mexican street-food, and when you buy from them, not only will you satisfy your hunger, you’ll feed your soul by knowing that for every taco sold, a meal will be donated to someone in need. It’s a win-win.

For more information, visit carriageworks.com.au

Coyoacán Social

Warakirri Dining Experience. Photo: Jacquie Manning

Warakirri Dining Experience.

Photo: Jacquie Manning

WRITERS AFTER DARK AT CARRIAGEWORKS

BY RITA BRATOVICH

Sydney Writers’ Festival has an incredible program this year with a plethora of sessions to keep keen writers and readers busy from morning to evening. A special threeday After Dark program at the festival precinct, Carriageworks, will cater to those who can’t make daytime sessions and those who prefer atmosphere and maybe a glass of wine with their literature. The festival’s theme this year is “Take me away” and many of these After Dark sessions will do just that. Here are some highlights.

THURSDAY MAY 23

Fantastical Worlds

Features three world-creators who are expanding the horizons of fantasy fiction: Australian author, Garth Nix (Newt’s Emerald, A Confusion of Princes, the Keys to the Kingdom series, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath); Asian Australian, Shelley Parker-Chan (He Who Drowned the World, and several historical fantasy novels); and international author, Samantha Shannon (the Bone Season series and the Roots of Chaos series). They will be lead in conversation by host, Aimée Lindorff.

Bay 17, 6–7pm, $35–45

Sweatshop Stories

A gathering of exceptional writers from Sydney’s west representing the Indigenous, migrant, and refugee communities will share excerpts from their work, providing an insight into their lives, thoughts and culture. Hear tales about how they experience gender, race, class.

Track 8, 6–7pm, $15–25

Firetalk

Sit by a fire with First Nations storytellers as they tell riveting tales in the traditional way. Humour, sadness, terror, beauty told with mastery. Featuring Tony Birch, Hannah Donnelly, Laniyuk, Enoch Mailangi and Melanie Saward. Hosted by Jazz Money. Blacksmiths Workshop, 6.30–7.30pm, Free

FRIDAY MAY 24

History of Sex

Two bona fide sex historians, TikTok sensation Esmé Louise James (Kinky History) and science writer David Baker (Sex: Two Billion Years Of Procreation And Recreation) sit with evolutionary biologist, Robert Brooks will reveal secrets, uncover mysteries and tell truths about sexual escapades of the past.

Track 8, 6–7pm, $15–25

Feast

A night of hilarious, yet sumptuous delights. Five masters of comedy talk turkey and other poultry, as well as everything else edible in this riotous banquet of banter. Featuring James Colley, Yumi Stynes, Oliver Twist, Jennifer Wong and more.

Track 8, 7.30–8.30pm, $15–25

Queerstories

Now an institution, Queerstories has been a vehicle for candour, courage and compelling storytelling from members of the LGBTQI+ community for aeons. A vast, diverse range of honest reflections that will make you laugh, cry, scream, and revel in the joy of narration.

Bay 17, 7.30–9pm, $35–45

Do We Need Books?

The hosts of mentally pugilistic podcast, Principle of Charity, Award-winning film and TV producer Emile Sherman and business leader and former human rights activist Lloyd Vogelman will moderate a battle of sharpened tongues between philosopher A.C. Grayling and art historian and content creator Mary McGillivray.

Bay 20, The ARA Stage, 7.30–9pm, $35–40

SATURDAY MAY 25

Sad Girl? Bad Girl? Mad Girl? “Sad girl” literature is a new genre, but authors are already breaking the rules. Australian novelists Nadine J. Cohen (Everyone and Everything), Madeleine Gray (Green Dot) and Jessie Stephens (Something Bad is Going to Happen) will state their cases to The Guardian’s Steph Harmon on what they believe is, isn’t, or should be “sad girl” lit.

Bay 20, The ARA Stage, 5.30–6.30pm, $25–30

Speak the Light

A night of language changing shape. Hear poets Susie Anderson, Shivram Gopinath, Jeanine Leane, Bebe Oliver, Omar Sakr, Sara M Saleh and Anne-

Marie Te Whiu speak their words out loud. Poems of light, shade, movement and the vicissitudes of life.

Track 12, 6–7pm, $15–25

Bromantic Comedy

Who says men can’t write romantic comedy? James Colley and Jonathan Seidler will prove them wrong. They’ll tell ABC RN Awaye!’s host, Rudi Bremer that men can (and they have) write funny romance. You’re welcome to listen.

Track 12, 7.30–8.30pm, $15–25

Africa Now

African diasporic writers reclaim their stories and share them in this special evening of conversation. Nobel Prize–winning author, Abdulrazak Gurnah, comedian and memoirist Oliver Twist, debut author and academic Sara El Sayed and writer and host Sisonke Msimang tell the unheard tales from Zanzibar, Rwanda, South Africa and beyond.

Track 8, 7.30–8.30pm, $15–25

Shivram Gopinath

Madeleine Gray

Tony Birch

Nadine J. Cohen Mary Mcgillivray David Baker

BOY KILLS WORLD

BY MARK MORELLINI

When a young boy witnesses his family being murdered by the city ruler he swears vengeance.

He learns to fight from a shaman and when he finally reaches adulthood, he steps out of his comfort zone, and goes in search of the murderer.

This is a comedy action thriller that should have audiences laughing hysterically and simultaneously squirming in horror and disgust.

The pivotal character of Boy is astutely played by Swedish actor Bill Skasgard. His character is mute and spends most of his screen time semi clad, fighting and splicing up his antagonists.

The highly animated choreography of the martial arts and other forms of combat

is a prime reason for the success of this movie.

A similarity to The Hunger Games in the televised scenes of murder is hard to overlook.

Effective editing together with the ultra-violence makes the film totally engrossing yet intensely uncomfortable viewing. There are a couple of twists as the movie progresses which even the most attentive viewer wouldn’t see coming.

This is cinematic nonsense not to be taken seriously and definitely not for the faint hearted!

Possibly the most violent movie ever produced.

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In cinemas now

THE FALL GUY

BY MARK MORELLINI

The Fall Guy is an action comedy loosely based on the 1980’s television hit series by the same.

Filmed in Sydney, the story centres on Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a stuntman who is working on his ex-girlfriend’s (played by Emily Blunt) movie. The male star of the movie has gone missing and Colt needs to find him or the project will be cancelled.

Colt stumbles into a conspiracy surrounding the lead actor and is framed for murder.

Will the missing actor be located and can Colt prove his innocence? In the process, can he regain the affections of a beautiful young woman whom

THE TASTE OF THINGS

BY OLGA AZAR

In The Taste of Things, the rhythms of provincial life are imperturbable in the rarefied pursuit of excellent cuisine — and death.

Eugénie (Juliette Binoche), is a culinary mistress who has been cooking with Dodin (Benoît Magimel), the master of the house and a celebrated gourmand. Much of the film is taken up by the preparation of two elaborate meals: one for a gathering of Dodin’s fellow gourmands, and one for Eugénie herself.

In the face of her unnamed illness and after 20 years of collaboration, Dodin wants to demonstrate his devotion through an exquisite meal, the pinnacle

of their work together.

The Taste of Things is a beautiful film to look at. Director, Tran Anh Hung pays homage to French Impressionism with painterly attention: be that a lovingly gutted, poached and presented fish, but also Eugénie.

Likewise the rest of the characters, who reveal themselves through their connection to comestibles, which can stray into the queasy. The film’s name is vague enough to encompass almost anything, which is apt for a work that can’t seem to make up its mind if it’s about people or what they eat.

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In cinemas now

FILMS IN THE HOUSE

he continued to love long after their relationship came to an end?

Gosling is enjoyable to watch and seems quite comfortable performing in the comedic scenes.

The explosive octane charged action sequences were filmed on the streets of Sydney’s CBD and on the Harbour Bridge, Tunnel, Hyde Park and Opera House.

There are several cameos from actors who appeared in the TV series including Lee Majors and Heather Thomas.

The Fall Guy is a love letter to stunt work and is also unashamedly a postcard of Sydney to the world.

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In Cinemas Now

BY DOUGAL TSAKOLOS-STEWART

It’s been decades since the Sydney Opera House hosted a regular program of film screenings, and the return of a pop-up cinema in the spacious and comfortable Playhouse theatre is exciting news for film-lovers. The program includes a range of genres and mix of new and retrospective.

The season opened with a selection of award winning and critically acclaimed recent releases and classics, including: Winhanganha (2023), The Zone Of Interest (2023) and Waitress: The Musical (2023)

Films being shown later in the year include a documentary about legendary music producer, Brian Eno. Simply called

Eno (2024), the film is a generative documentary and different every time it’s shown — an apt tribute to a experimental musician.

Cult classic, The Virgin Suicides (1999) was the directorial debut of Sofia Coppola, has an extraordinary cast and is as gripping today as when first released.

We’re From Outer Space is a collection of Asian youth diaspora themed short films, documentaries and music videos from around the world, curated by Sydney-based filmmaker Jonathon Lim, and featuring his new film, We’re from Outer Space Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point www.sydneyoperahouse.com/film

THE 71ST SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

BY MARK MORELLINI

The prestigious Sydney Film Festival (SFF) will be celebrating its 71st anniversary this year, with a program of over 200 movies from around the world.

Filmmakers will be competing for cash awards but more importantly many up and coming filmmakers will be screening their works not only for local audiences, but also for their peers, which could lead to prosperous careers within the film industry.

Judging by the the selection of quality movies in the program, this promises to be the most highly attended presentation, with something for all tastes.

“This selection, though diverse in setting and scope, reveals some common themes: resilience foremost amongst them. These films offer a taste of a festival program rich with discovery and insight, poised to captivate, and inspire,” SFF Director Nashen Moodley said. The Opening Night Gala screening of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line at the magnificent State Theatre, is a love letter to Australia’s favourite rock band and after 45 years their story is told for the first time in film.

Australian futuristic sci-fi mystery thriller, In Vitro, and The Pool, a portrait of iconic Bondi Icebergs, are two Australian movies having their premiere at the festival and should prove to be popular choices for festival attendees.

International festival prize-winners are always a draw-card for discerning cinephiles and The Rye Horn, Green Border, and Pepe are three very unique

cinematic offerings that must not be missed.

An offbeat documentary which may raise an eyebrow or two is Japanese produced The Contestant, which unbelievably delves into a TV contestant who was broadcast to millions of Japanese viewers while left naked in a room on a monthslong challenge. This could very well be the hit of the festival!

For a very unique live event, horror movie enthusiasts can attend a screening of 1987’s hit horror flick Hear My Eyes: Hellraiser rescored live and synched with a laser-art and music show.

Other highlights include five films about adventure and wonder in the Family program.

Aussie animated features, 200% Wolf and The Sloth Lane are enchanting and

magical selections for families with younger children, while the Australian premiere of Despicable Me 4 should put smiles on the faces of all viewers, regardless of age.

The Screenability program, an important program that presents the very finest from filmmakers living with disability, returns for its eight consecutive year.

“Screenability is dedicated to amplifying the talents of filmmakers with disabilities, offering them a stage to tell their true stories and bring new insights to viewers.

This year’s Screenability line-up once again includes engaging and thoughtprovoking films from around the world,” explained Screenability Programmer Rebecca McCormack.

A total of six works will screen in the program, which includes three Aussie shorts: Unstoppable, Rehabilitating and Threshold

Whether it’s red-carpeted events, parties, talks and discussions with filmmakers, or simply to watch a movie, all lovers of cinema should come along and experience something quite unique at this year’s Sydney Film Festival.

SFF Opening Night State Theatre.

Photo: Tim Levy

Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line. Photo: Daniel Boud

Green Border

In Vitro

The Contestant

Hear My Eyes: Hellraiser

The Pool

Despicable Me 4

FISH

ELECTRIC FIELDS YVES TUMOR

SYNTHONY

EMMA DONOVAN TIRZAH POND VIVID

31 MAY—15 JUN GET TICKETS