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from Bondi to Balmain...
City newssinCe 1995
APRIL 14 , 20 16
Page 9
mikey robbins and Jeff duff , with scott Pullen, muma megs &
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city hub 14 APRiL 20162
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3city hub 14 APRiL 2016
altmediagroup altmediasydney
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Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are
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Group manager: Chris PekenGroup Editor: Christopher
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Fax: 9212 5633Website: altmedia.net.au
BY JORDAN FERMANIS Last weeks release of the so-called
Panama Papers constituted one of the largest releases of
documents to the public in history. 2.6TB of data and 11.5 million
files from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. The
leak has embroiled the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin,
British PM David Cameron (by way of his father) and more than 800
Australians. The leak has already claimed victims with the
Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur Dav resigning in the
aftermath.
Closer to home, the ABCs Four Corners program last week revealed
that the Australian company Wilson Security had been caught up in
the scandal by way of Thomas and Raymond Kwok. Two brothers from
Hong Kong who were directors of Wilson Offshore Group Holdings
(BVI) Limited, the company with majority ownership of Wilson
Security. In 2012 the Kwok brothers were arrested on accusations of
bribery by Hong Kongs anti-corruption agency.
The connection between the Kwok brothers and the Australian
security company has sparked corruption concerns due to Wilson
Securitys numerous contracts with the Australian government. The
contracts include the detention facilities on Nauru and Manus
Island as well as The Australian Taxation Office.
The company has already received complaints over negligence and
incompetence in carrying out its contract in Nauru. Greens Senator
Sarah Hanson-Young accused Wilson Security of spying on her during
a visit to Nauru last year. Senator Hanson-Young
has called for the Federal government to withdraw its
contractual links with Wilson Security at the detention centres on
Nauru and Manus Island in light of the Four Corners
investigation.
These contract links with Wilson Security extend to the City of
Sydney Council. In a statement made by a City of Sydney
spokesperson there are confirmed contract links with the
company,
The City currently has three contracts with Wilson entities.
These contracts expire on 1 June 2016, 31 March 2019 and 20 June
2020.
All City contracts are managed by staff
to ensure that the contractors meet their obligations and comply
with the terms of each contract. A spokesperson said.
City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott said that the contractual
connections between the City of Sydney and Wilson Security must be
put to question.
The enormous revelations about some alleged tax avoid schemes
and the implications are being felt across the world Clr Scott
said.
Wilson Security has denied any wrongdoing. The company maintains
that the Kwok brothers were never directors of Wilson Security and
that any suggestion of tax avoidance is false.
Clr Scott said that her questions to the council have wider
implications.
Its important that the City of Sydney has ethical procurement.
And of course as a government, also important that we make sure
that revenue collection is done fairly and equitably.
We know that tax avoidance robs the Australian community of
funding for schools and hospitals and parks and local government
funding. So its incredibly important that all our procurement is
done in the most ethical way possible. And that we are doing our
best to ensure that things are being done legally. Clr Scott
said.
Clr Scott said if the City of Sydney had obtained contracts
unethically from the firm they would need to look at their
options.
We would need to look at the options available to us in order to
examine what our future avenues are.
Wilson Security was contacted for comment but failed to respond
in time.
Labor Councillor Linda scott
Panama Papers: The City of Sydney Connection
Unseen report the start of problems for Powerhouse
BY LUCAS BAIRD Premier Mike Baird and his Deputy, Troy Grant
officially announced on the 11th of April the new location for
the Powerhouse Museum.
The site, located on the Parramatta foreshore will allow for a
40 per cent increase of space for the facility.
But community groups have criticised the plan as being vague;
having unanswered questions; and having several holes.
One criticism came from the Save the Powerhouse group, who
claimed that a $10 million business study assessing the Powerhouse
Museums move to Parramatta may have been smothered by the state
government.
They told City Hub, that they believe the state government didnt
release the KPMG report because it was unfavourable of the
move.
Save the Powerhouse Campaign Coordinator, Patricia Johnson, said
it is pretty widely believed this report has been buried.
A number of experts who are very well integrated into the museum
world have all heard and reported separately the same rumour, Ms
Johnson said.
Ms Johnson also said that this sort of behaviour is endemic in
the state government.
That of course follows a precedent. We are of course aware of
the campaign against the forced amalgamations.
The exact same thing happened. A report was also commissioned by
KPMG about the forced amalgamations; it was produced and
immediately buried because the government didnt like what it
said.
It is not extraordinary if they did the same thing again, she
said.
A spokesperson for the Deputy Premier and Minister for Arts,
Troy Grant did not deny the existence of a paper.
A spokesperson told City Hub that the
report could not be release because it was in its preliminary
phases and its contents remain in cabinet in confidence.
A preliminary business case has been prepared for Cabinet and
its contents remain Cabinet in Confidence. Now a site has been
selected, a final business case can be prepared and will be
completed by the end of the year, the spokesperson said.
Save The Powerhouse has also questioned why the West needed a
second Powerhouse, when the government spent $33.6 million in 2014
on upgrading the MAAS Discovery Centre in Castle Hill, which had
previously been used as the primary storage facility for
the Powerhouse.It closed in 2014 for refurbishments and is due
to
reopen this year.A spokesperson for Mr Grant said that the
purpose of the refurbishments was to expand storage capacity and
improve on the facilitys public displays and educational
aspects.
Rose Hiscock, the former director [of the Powerhouse] in her
2020 vision said that one of her goals was to open to open up the
Powerhouse Discovery Centre to greater community involvement and
tapping the potential of Sydneys west, she said.
She said a little later in 2014 that she wanted
the Discovery Centre more integrated with other museums and put
it at the centre of operations.
But the spokesperson for Mr Grant said that the Discovery Centre
would work in conjunction with the Powerhouse museum to provide
state of the art cultural facilities for the west.
The Powerhouse Museum and the Discovery Centre are two very
different venues that, together with the Sydney Observatory at
Millers Point, form the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
network, they said.
Parramatta Mayor, Paul Gerrard said that he was thrilled with
the Baird governments decision.
We are thrilled with this decision and we look forward to
partnering with the State Government during the design process to
deliver the people of Parramatta and Western Sydney the world-class
cultural institution they have long deserved, the Mayor said.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to build the worlds
next great museum here in Parramatta. We will work closely with the
Government, in consultation with the community, to ensure that
design excellence is achieved and that Parramattas Powerhouse is a
landmark building for all of Sydney.
State Opposition Leader, Luke Foley also supported the
relocation of the Powerhouse, but called for the Premier not to
sell the current site in Ultimo to developers.
My challenge to the government is, if youre shifting the
Powerhouse keep the land you own in Ultimo and deliver a new school
to the people of the inner city, Mr Foley said.
Whilst admitting that the announcement and its subsequent
support was a forward step for the governments plan, Ms Johnson
said that the fight to keep the Powerhouse in Ultimo is not
over.
This is certainly not the end for us. It is just another
motivating factor for us, she said.
The proposed site for the Powerhouse in Parramatta. source:
supplied.
-
4 city hub 14 APRiL 2016
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BY CHRISTOPHER HARRISComplaints of alleged online abuse by
NSW Police towards Greens MP Jenny Leong have been made to the
Police Integrity Commission.
There may also be an internal police investigation, following
revelations that NSW Police Officers left racist and sexist
comments directed at the member for Newtown on social media.
Following the scandal, the Greens MP received support from the
Acting Deputy Police Commisioner as well as the Police
Minister.
Ms Leong took to Facebook on Monday evening and thanked people
for their expressions of solidarity and positive messages of
support.
We welcome the comments that have been made by the Police
Minister and Acting Deputy Police Comissioner yesterday as a first
step to show that they are taking the matter seriously.
As has been reported we have also referred the matter to the
Police Integrity Commission, the Facebook post said.
Senior solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre, David Porter said Ms
Leongs complaint was very serious, but investigations carried out
by the Police Integrity Commission were rare.
Mr Porter said that of the roughly 3,500 complaints made about
NSW Police in a year only 20 to 40 would be investigated by the
Police Integrity Commission, one statutory authority charged with
the responsibility of investigating allegations of police
misconduct.
He said in NSW, only complaints of extreme seriousness are
referred to
the Police Integrity Commission or the NSW Police Ombudsman
because both authorities lack the funding to conduct
investigations.
He said as a result, NSW Police typically conduct their own
investigations into complaints.
It is common that officers at a Local Area Command would
investigate fellow colleagues at that station.
He said then it would be up to that Local Area Commands
Superintendent to decide what disciplinary action would be
appropriate based on findings.
He said that funding for the Police Integrity Commission was
insufficient for them to address the number of complaints.
We give them some funding, but a long list of things to do under
the statute, meaning the outside agency doesnt have the budget to
conduct lots of investigations.
There were plans to change how police
handles complaints last year, when a report recommended
abolishing the Police Integrity Commission as well as the Ombudsman
and replacing these agencies with a new authority, to be called the
Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
The report recommended that the NSW Police Force retain
responsibility for investigating critical incidents, and allow the
new commission to monitor these investigations.
But Mr Porter said that a new organisation would not solve the
problem of lack of oversight.
There is an overwhelming tendency to give agencies broad powers
and responsibilities and not give them the budget; it has been an
historic pattern in NSW.
Mr Porter said that the widespread practice of colleagues
investigating colleagues from the same local are command had
detrimental effects for the police.
He said that there were serious problems with colleagues in the
same station investigating one another, namely because of the
tension that creates in the workplace.
One thing that the lack of resources for independent
investigation does is it introduces a lot of tension into the
police force, because officers are required to investigate
colleagues. He said that the problem with this was also highlighted
in the bugging scandal between Deputy Commisioners Catherine Burn
and Nick Kaldas.
NSW Police were contacted for comment but did not respond to
City Hubs enquiries in time for print.
Newtown Greens MP Jenny Leong
Calls for more police oversight
-
5city hub 14 APRiL 2016
Monday 25 April 20166~7am Loyalty Square, Darling Street
Balmain.
Commemorative service:Including a 100th Anniversary
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For more information please
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-
6 city hub 14 APRiL 2016
Local opposition to Pavilion plans grows
BY CHRISTOPHER HARRISProminent Bondi locals have taken to
YouTube to
protest Waverley Councils redevelopment of Bondi Pavilion,
saying it is commercializing vital community space.
The videos include prominent locals including the Australian
actor Michael Caton who said that the councils plan was freezing
locals out.
You sting the Bondi community $38 million to do up the pavilion,
but then you freeze them out of the finished product, because that
is what will happen. You rent it out, to whoever can afford it.
Great plan eh? 38 million and you get frozen out, Mr Caton said in
one video.
Musician and artist Reg Mombassa said: as usual, greedy
politicians and their developer mates want to get their hands on
it. Keep your grubby hands off it.
Dave Faulkner from the Hoodoo Gurus said that
the plan would see the removal of music rooms, as well as the
Bondi Waves program that had nurtured local musicians.
Its a resource for local people. A lot of people live here, and
this is the only available facilities for them. The tourists get
enough, we already make enough money off tourists. Nor do we want
to give away a public asset away to private interests, which is
what the council intends to do. They are decimating this as a
community resource.
Next week the Council will vote on whether it will approve $38
million plans to redevelop Bondi Pavilion, which were announced
last year.
As well as the removal of music rooms from the pavilion, the
refurbishment will see a loss of the Pavilions theatre, as well as
community meeting rooms.
It will be replaced with a multipurpose facility, an added on
structure at the back of the site.
An open letter from the group Save Bondi Pavilion last Saturday
called on national and state heritage authorities to scrutinize the
councils plan.
The letter said that because it was put forward as a concept
plan and not a development application, Waverley Council had not
been complied to provide much detail for the site, as well as not
having to get approval from heritage bodies.
The Pavilion is listed as a site of state significance on the
NSW Department of Environment and Heritage.
Waverley Councils decision to present these changes as a concept
plan means that most of the documents necessary to support the more
rigorous development application process are missing. The absence
of a business plan, heritage and environmental impact statements,
interim toilet facilities, tenant relocation plan, maintenance
schedule and detailed costings mean that the Council, stakeholders
and the ratepayers remain uninformed of crucial details of the
plan. Also, a report to the Council on potential commercial rental
projections of the proposed design has remained confidential. The
letter reads.
The letter also questions the timing of the plan with another
proposal for an underground car park on the site.
Kilty OBrien, from the community group Save Bondi Pavilion said
that the council said Mayor Betts had not listened to the
community.
She said that the council had refused to put the letter, which
so far had 200 signatories, on the agenda at next weeks council
meeting.
Once again the community voice is being shut out at a council
level, she said.
She said one of her biggest concerns was the fact that there was
very little community space in Bondi, as well as the Eastern
suburbs. Her children attend classes at the Pavilion and she
believes that once the community space is gone, there wont be an
alternative place to go.
Its not just about the walls, it is about the community, we dont
have anywhere else, she told City Hub.
A NSW Office of Environment and Heritage spokesperson told City
Hub Waverley Council presented the proposal to the office in
March.
The Bondi Surf Pavilion is listed on the State Heritage Register
as part of the Bondi Beach Cultural Landscape, a departmental
spokesperson said.
The NSW Heritage Council is the consent authority under the
Heritage Act 1977 for any development within the boundaries of a
State Heritage Register listed item, the spokesperson said.
The Heritage Council is liaising with Waverley Council to ensure
the necessary Conservation Management Plans are in place before
formal decisions are made regarding any development affecting this
national icon.
Late last month it was reported that Waverley Council intends to
conduct a study which would investigate moving cars into an
underground carpark at the pavilion.
Greens Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak said that there were multiple
concerns with the plan. Among them, moving the toilets to the side
of the pavilion had some concerned about safety as well as
congestion, because it was right near the adjacent surf club.
There is still controversy about relocating the toilets to the
lane between the pavilion and the surf club. It could be more
dangerous and it could conflict with the activities of the surf
club, and at a busy day at the beach, Clr Wy Kanak said. The mayor
keeps saying that people want the pavilion restored, but it is very
contradictory because they are talking about heritage and they will
be building a completely new modern design structure in the
backyard of the pavilion.
He said that there were worries for some homeless people that
slept on benches at the rear of the pavilion.
Chapel by the Sea confirmed that there was a small
semi-permanent population of homeless people who slept behind the
pavilion.
The council is expected to vote at next Tuesdays council
meeting. Waverley Council did not respond in time to City Hubs
enquiries for print.
Bondi Pavillion
Backlash to forced council amalgamations unites suburbs from
east to the inner west
BY ANDREW BARCLAY Councils from across NSWs have
continued to unite in their fight against the Baird Governments
forced amalgamations, which they say is a threat to their local
communities.
Mayor of Woollahra Toni Zeltzer said she met with councils from
across NSW because mergers could be the beginning of the end for
smaller councils.
I wanted to extend Woollahras hand of friendship and support to
other councils in this struggle against forced mergers, she told
City Hub.
Employment of council staff in small communities is one of the
drivers of the local economies and the loss of council jobs through
mergers will be the beginning of the end for many country towns,
she said.
Mayor Zeltzer met with the other mayors on last month at the
Woollahra Council Chambers.
Under the Baird governments plans, the number of Sydney councils
would be slashed from 43 to 25 and regional councils cut from 109
to 87, to save up to $2 billion over 20 years.
A variety of councils form across NSW have taken or are planning
to take legal action against the NSW government to stop
amalgamations, including Botany Bay, Woollhara Kiama and Walcha
councils.
Ms Zeltzer, a Liberal mayor, said it was the biggest threat to
local democracy she had seen in her time as a councillor.
Clr. Zeltzer has previously said the forced amalgamation process
had shaken her Liberal values to the core.
The comments echo what the Save Our Council Coalition, known as
SOCC, said has been councils big and small banding together to
challenge the amalgamations.
SOCC spokesperson Tom Sherlock, also a Mosman Councilor, said he
was in awe of the community resolve shown by rural and regional
councils uniting with city councils.
This is a marvelous aspect of what has been an appalling
process, he told city hub.
Councils across NSW realise how important community is.
Council is the most important thing to maintain a sense of
community.
Mr Sherlock said the amalgamations will be a hot-button issue
for the upcoming federal election, widely tipped for July 2.
Its the Liberal party in NSW doing the amalgamations. It will
definitely play a role, he said.
Turnbull cant afford to ignore the issue.
It has become a de-facto referendum on council
amalgamations.
The NSW government has said the reforms will lead stronger
councils, improve performance and substantial savings for local
communities.
Sydney has 41 councils while Brisbane gets by with one, a
spokesperson for Minister for Local Government Paul Toole told City
Hub.
The Government has put forward proposals that would reduce the
number of councils in Sydney to 25.
Proposals have been developed to achieve as much consensus as
possible.
Yet the NSW Governments claim that council amalgamations will
lead to lower rates and improve service quality are not based in
reality, according to a local government expert.
Professor Brian Dollery, from the University of New England, has
extensively studied previous council mergers and found no
difference between merged and unmerged councils particularly on
financial performance.
Some merged councils even performed
much worse, he told City Hub. Mr. Dollery said quality of
management was the driving factor behind improved performance,
not size as has been put forward by the Baird government .
He dismissed the Baird governments claim that cost savings would
be passed on to ratepayers.
Mike Bairds ideology has been that bigger is better, and thats
not correct, he said.
Minister Tooles spokesperson said Professor Dollerys comments
came as no surprise.
Professor Dollery is a known opponent of mergers and often used
by councils to justify a no-change position, he said.
The NSW Government said no decision has been made to date on any
merger proposals.
The Government is aiming to make a decision on proposals
currently under consideration mid-year, the spokesperson said.
Woollahra Council Chambers
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7city hub 14 APRiL 2016
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8 city hub 14 APRiL 2016
Corruption allegations lead to questions for key WestConnex
contractor
WENDY BACONNo company has so far won a bigger slice of the $16.8
billion
WestConnex motorway project than Leighton Holdings. It is lead
player in consortiums that have won three of the four tollway
public tenders worth a total of nearly $8 billion.
This is the same company that has been reported by Fairfax Media
last week to have used corrupt practices to secure billion-dollar
government contracts overseas.
Fairfax Media reported that Leightons 18-month campaign of
corruption, bribery, fraud and money laundering is revealed in the
biggest leak of documents in the oil industrys history.
The documents were leaked from the email account of Cyrus
Ahsani, the chief executive of the global oil industrys bagman,
Unaoil. Unaoil is a Monaco-based company that specialises in paying
bribes. It was paid tens of millions of dollars by Leighton in 2010
and 2011 to help the Australian company win Iraqi government
contracts.
At the centre of the Fairfax media story is the issue of
companies including Leightons using corrupt practices and secret
influence to win tenders. The documents leaked from the email
account of Cyrus Ahsani, the CEO of the global oil industrys
bagman, Monaco based Unaoil was paid tens of millions of dollars by
Leighton in 2010 and 2011 to help the Australian company win Iraqi
government contracts.
Leightons Westconnex consortium partner Samsung were also
revealed by Fairfax to have been separately involved in paying
Unaoil for contracts.
Hundreds of emails from Unaoil provide evidence that high
ranking Iraqi oil officials Dhia Jaffar al-Mousawi and Oday
al-Quraishi were put on secret retainers or paid large bribes in
return for supporting Leighton Offshore.
Leightons refused to comment on Fairfaxs allegations. In 2013,
when they were first aired the company maintained it had correctly
dealt with evidence of corruption. Samsung has also denied
wrongdoing.
Leighton Contractors first Westconnex win was in 2014 when it
was awarded the M4 widening project with the Italian company
Rizzani De Eccher. Then last year it was awarded the $2.7 billion
M4 East project with John Holland and Samsung C and T. Finally, in
November last year, It signed a third $4.8 billion contract for the
for the New M5 East tunnel in another joint venture with Dragados
and Samsung C&T.This last project has not yet been approved by
NSW Planning.
After the corruptions allegations were first publicised in 2013,
Leighton Contractors changed its name to CIMIC but it is still
generally known as Leightons. It is now owned by the Spanish
company ACS.
The Westconnex contracts are being paid out of NSW and Federal
grants and loans supplemented with some private money being raised
by banks. Eventually these funds will be repaid by tolls or if the
projects are not financially viable, from public funds.
A City Hub search of the Democracy for Sale donations website
showed that since 2005, Leightons have donated more than $1,320,968
to Liberal, Labor and National parties during periods when key
decisions were being made to support the WestCONnex by NSW and
Federal politicians of both major parties. Since the late 1990s,
the company and its subsidiaries have donated more than $3 million
to the major parties.
The WestCONnex Action Group (WAG) this week renewed its call for
the NSW Premier Mike Baird to freeze the approval process for the
New M5 and for all work across the project to halt until there a
public inquiry is held into the massive 33 kilometre toll road.
Its incredibly disturbing to discover Leighton was bribing
government officials overseas at the same time it was making huge
donations to the Liberal, National and Labor parties here in
Australia, said WAG spokesperson Pauline Lockie. This is shocking
given its been awarded multi-billion contracts by the NSW Baird
Government to build WestCONnex.
Now Samsung has been accused of engaging in the same kind of
corruption and its won multi-billion dollar construction
contracts to work with Leighton on the WestCONnex M4 East and New
M5.
All along weve been saying that something isnt right with this
project. And we dont think Australian taxpayers can be expected to
believe corruption isnt taking place with WestCONnex when the Baird
Government has done everything it can to dodge transparency on the
project, including transferring responsibility for it to the Sydney
Motorway Corporation a private company thats immune from freedom of
information requests and any obligation to release its contracts
publicly.
Ms Lockie said it was crucial that the process that led to
contracts being awarded is investigated more deeply in light of the
latest allegations against Leightons.
Once approval is granted for WestCONnex projects, the Sydney
Motorway Corporation, which is tasked by the NSW Roads and Maritime
Services (RMS) to construct and operate the roads, effectively
hands control of the projects to Leightons.
For example when residents living in Sydneys Inner West objected
to drilling in their local streets before the New M5 is even
approved, Leighton staff claimed to be acting as agents of both the
SMC and NSW RMS.
The Australian Federal Police began investigating the overseas
corruption allegations against Leightons in 2011 although no
charges have ever been laid. Some of the substance of last weeks
allegations were reported by Fairfax in 2013, years before its
journalists received the leaked emails. So there is no way that
Federal and NSW governments can claim they have not been aware of
the allegations against Leighton Contractors.
A further investigation by City Hub has revealed that Leighton
not only won the contracts but it played a key role in the
development of the Westconnex concept during a time when it was
making donations to both Liberal, National and Labor parties.
Even before he was elected in 2011, then Premier Barry OFarrell
promised he would deliver at least one tollway in his first term of
office. It was clear by then that private investment would no
longer support tollway contructions following the collapse of four
tollway companies, including two involving Leightons.
According to Democracy for Sale political donations website,
Leightons donated $150,000 to the Federal and NSW branches of the
Liberal Party between 2009 and 2011.
The Liberal Party was elected in March 2011 and by October 2012,
Premier OFarrell announced that a huge new motorway now known as
WestCONnex would go head. Then Labor Infrastructure Minister
Anthony Albanese provided $ 25 million 0f Federal funds so an
office could be set up to further develop the project.
Albaneses decision was criticised by Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon
in a speech to the Senate in 2013 in which she raised the question
of tollway company political donations.
The ears of politicians have been successfully bent by the likes
of the motorway construction companies .companies like John
Holland, Leighton, Thiess and Macquarie Bank have given big
donations to the major parties. The public do not know if deals are
done behind closed doors, but there is the perception that MPs are
favouring private road building businesses at the expense of public
transport.
In early 2013, the then Liberal Acting Premier Andrew Stoner
selected several companies to be closely involved in helping design
the WestConnex. One was Leightons, another was its subsidiary
Theiss constructions. Macquarie Capital was assigned to look at
financial aspects..
The purpose of this select team was to find out if WestConnex
was viable. Needless to say they found it was a great idea. By
being involved from the earliest days of planning, Leightons were
ideally positioned for further involvement.
During the Federal election in September 2013, then LNP leader
Tony Abbott campaigned strongly in favour of Westconnex. Pressure
was on Labor to committ to the project. Labor PM Julia Gillard and
Anthony Albanese agreed to provide $1.5 billion in funding,,
although Labor disagreed with the route of the project preferring
for the M4 East to go straight to the CBD.
According to Democracy for Sale, since 2010, Leighton
Contractors have donated nearly $172,000 to the Federal Labor
Party.
Hidden contracts, no transparency, donations to both major
parties from a company that had already been reported to be
involved in overseas corruption, inside running for favoured
companies, sham consultation and planning. Is it any wonder that
when you talk to the ordinary ciitizens in the inner Sydney about
WestCONnex, they tell you the fix is in.
In the light of the Fairfax investigation, Senator Lee Rhiannon,
who was a key developer of the Democracy for Sale project, has
already again raised the issue of political donations by companies
involved in WestCONnex. Its an issue which the Greens are likely to
raise in the Senate in coming weeks.
Senator Rhiannon told City Hub that in many ways the issues of
corruption and political donations are closing linked and are
undermining peoples confidence in democratic processes and
institutions. When decisions are made behind closed doors, people
simply dont believe that money is given for nothing. As the Greens
spokesperson for democracy, she already has a political donations
reform bill in Federal Parliament.
With issues of international bribery rorts, massive corporate
tax avoidance and NSW political donation scandals colliding as the
Senate prepares to sit next week, it looks like the Prime Minister
Malcolm Turnbull may not quite manage the bonanza of union bashing
that he had planned when he arranged for the Senate to be recalled
to Canberra early a few weeks ago.
Wendy Bacon is an editor of the Peoples EIS and a supporter of
the Westconnex Action Group.
WestConnex protestors.
MEET ThE loCals
Broadway Sydney has launched Project Yum a new pop up food
festival celebrating a taste of the new that combines the latest
food trends with live entertainment, set to run daily until June
2016.A delectable range of food pop-ups including; Asian fusion
eatery, POKLOL, organic street-food brand, Agape Canteen and
artisan bakery, Brasserie Bread will offer customers plentiful
options for breakfast, lunch and dinner whilst final stages of the
centres Level 2 re-development are completed. As well as the
exciting food line-up, a live set by DJ Xcentric will keep the
crowds entertained every Friday from 12pm and new Chill Out areas
will provide shoppers a place to recoup and catch up online using
Broadways new, free Wi-Fi service.Owner of POKLOL, Sean Cheong
commented; We are thrilled to be a part of Project Yum. It offers
customers the chance to explore a variety of new, fresh food (fresh
food doesnt say cool street food) flavours in one space Think this
sentence doesnt really communicate that this is the place to be it
is cool/must try / must
be seen place to be. A few of the dishes you can spot on our
menu include our Ga-Mazzing Lemon Grass Honey Chicken served with
Pt and Bossy - Steamed Pork Belly with Fermented Bean Chill
Mayo.The Level 2 redevelopment is less than five months away to be
launched in Spring 2016. The new level 2 and will offer an exciting
fusion of food and fashion with brands soon to be announced
including an International Fashion Mini Major. To keep customers in
the know, Broadway has ventured into the world of augmented reality
with the new Mix It Up Broadway app, which can be downloaded in the
app store [Apple or Google Play]. When the app is held up against
one of the many Mix It Up signs dotted around the shopping centre,
a virtual host will pop up on the screen and give users a taste of
whats to come with new content added regularly.
Poklol on Level 2 Agape Organic on Level 1 at Broadway Shopping
Centre
Broadway sydney launches pop up food festival: project yum
-
9city hub 14 APRiL 2016
200 Devonshire Street SURRY HILLS NSW 2010Ph: 02 9319 6883
www.shakespearehotel.com.auhttps://www.facebook.com/shakespearehotelsydney/
Instagram: shakespearehotel
DaILY SPecIaLS:MoNDaY: $10 Burgers & Trivia
TUeSDaY: $10 Steaks
WeDNeSDaY: $10 chicken Schnitzels & Badge Draw
THURSDaY: $10 Fish & chips
The Shakespeare is one of the last authentic pubs left in Surry
Hills, serving up some of the cheapest pub food in Sydney.
WINNER BEST PUB 2011-Time Out Magazine WINNER BEST VALUE FOOD
2011-Good Pub Food Guide
Happy Hour MoN FRI from 4pm-6pm - $4 House Beer (VB, Resches,
Carlton & Coopers), House wine & House Spirits.
FEATURE
by ALAnnAh MAheRTonight Sydney-siders are invited to set loose
on the dance floor for an important cause. Organised by the
corriLee Foundation, Dancing For Dignity will raise much needed
support for Dying With Dignity NSW. Sarah Edelman, CEO of DWD NSW,
explained exactly what they do: We are an advocacy organisation and
our aim is to bring about legislative change so that people who are
suffering from a terminal or incurable illness, and who have
unrelievable suffering, will be able to access medical assistance
to end their lives peacefully and at a time of their choosing.Dying
With Dignity may deal with an issue that many of us dont want to
think about, but that hardly means that Dancing For Dignity will be
a glum affair. Rather, it will be a celebration of life and
personal advocacy.An eclectic bunch of entertainers and speakers
will ensure that Dancing For Dignity is a fabulous night out
including Andrew Denton, Mikey Robins and John bell.Veteran DJ
Scott Pullen will be joined by the seven-piece Groove Academy band
to keep patrons of all generations dancing into the evening with
covers and remixes of iconic songs whether it might be a new house
track or an old disco track.Pullen was drawn to this event for very
personal reasons. Pullens long time friend Tanya Lee the force of
nature behind the CorriLee Foundation initially invited him to talk
about this crazy idea for a fundraiser, and proceeded to tell him
about her grandmother corrie who had been battling illness and
suffering for some time, and who simply wanted to die with
dignity.Floored, Pullen shared the story of his sister, a vibrant
young woman who was struck by an unrelieveable illness. Before she
was bed ridden she ended up travelling the world and doing
everything she wanted to do before choosing to self-deliver in a
country where the laws allowed her that right.When Tanya Lee
invited me to come and speak she had no idea we decided, we gotta
do this fundraiser, added Pullen.Opinion polls show that a vast
majority of Australians support assisted death. The problem is that
most of that support is passive rather than passionate and active,
added Sarah Edelman.Bills to change Australias euthanasia law have
been brought virtually to every state parliament over the past two
years and have been defeated.The last [bill] in NSW was in May
2013, and that was defeated due to what politicians call a
conscience vote, explained Edelman. We know that the Liberals and
the Nationals vote as a block to oppose the law. It defies
credibility that when youve got between 70 and 85 per-cent of the
population supporting legislative change that youve got zero
per-cent of
[these major parties] willing to support those changes what they
label as a conscience vote is actually a farce.The real underlying
issue is that there are religious groups that represent only a
small minority of the population that have a huge amount of
influence and most politicians dont want to antagonise or get them
off side and so they prefer to really not deal with the issues at
all.The main arguments used to oppose assisted dying claim that
theres not enough safeguards and vulnerable groups such as the
involuntary and the elderly will be targeted.We know from
monitoring what happens in those countries [where assisted dying
has been legalised] that fear campaigns are not supported by
reality, the laws
work well and safely theres no evidence of any sort of abuse,
said Edelman.Andrew Denton entered the debate last year with the
podcast series better Off Dead, which he will be sharing stories
from at tonights event.[Denton] spent a year travelling to
countries where assisted dying is legal, interviewing doctors,
various patients, disability groups, groups that it was claimed
would be vulnerable [or] targeted and he spoke to people who
absolutely denied that they were under any pressure or that the
laws werent working well, explained Edelman.Since Andrew entered
the debate it has really engaged the public like never before Its
really interesting how one person can engage large numbers of
Australians to start thinking about this issue, added
Edelman.comedian Mikey Robins will also be making an appearance.
Putting his presenting skills to good use, Robins will be
auctioneering on the night, raising valuable funds for DWD by
selling off items including photographs from Australias greatest
rock n roll photographer Tony Mott.Its really daggy, [but] I really
like doing auctions, its a bit of fun it has built-in melodrama,
Robins added.Just as important as the fundraising aspect, Dancing
For Dignity is helping to spread awareness and mobilise
change.Everyone in their lives the time will come when someone
close to you may be dying and may be suffering a lot and they would
more than likely prefer the option to be able to die with dignity
than to continue living and suffering... its something that really
touches everyone and I think we need to work on changing the
legislation in this country, said Scott Pullen.The push for
assisted dying legislation is not a plight to push vulnerable
people over the edge, but rather to give people who are suffering
the option for a dignified, happy death.When I think of my sister
now I dont get sad, said Pullen. She sent me little tokens [from
her travels], like a little miniature Day of the Dead doll I have a
little chuckle every time I look at it.
Jeff
Duf
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uma
Meg
s, Sc
ott
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est
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: Chr
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April 14, 7.30pm-midnight. Upstairs Beresford, first floor, 354
Bourke St, Surry Hills. $65 (includes canaps and a glass of
Sirromet Premium Vintage Sparkling on arrival). Tickets &
info: moshtix.com.au or corrileefoundation.org/events
Dying With Dignity NSW For more information on DWDs actions
and
how to get involved visit dwdnsw.org.au
Better Off Dead You can find Andrew Dentons podcast series
at dwdnsw.org.au or wheelercentre.com
The Groove Academy Scott Pullen and The Groove Academy have just
started a Friday night
residency at Ivy. For more info visit
thegrooveacademy.com.au
DANCING FOR DIGNITY
-
10 city hub 14 APRiL 2016
This month Brian Posehn makes his very first and long overdue
trip to Australia, drawing on an eclectic career which includes
appearances in some of the most influential comedy sitcoms
(Seinfeld, Just Shoot Me and Everybody Loves Raymond to name an
absolute minimum).
Posehns diverse range of work and style is something that he
puts down to his journey in finding his own voice within the
comedic world.
When any comic starts out they kind of really dont have their
own voice, sometimes we look at other comics that were influenced
by and youll see we wear their influence on our sleeve, but I
definitely feel that for the last 20 years ive been doing my own
voice and i guess my own voice is eclectic, said Posehn.
Posehns interests and fixations for all things with strong
social commentary have undoubtedly made him the king of nerd
humour. For the uninitiated, Posehn explains what that is:
to me [nerd humour is] anything that is reference heavy, it
could be about anything people would find nerdy. To me, nerdiness
is really an obsession regular people like things, but they dont
obsess over them the way nerds do.
the fact that Posehn has never toured Australia does not fill
him with any fear in fact, the opposite as he has quite a few
things in common with an Australian audience.
there are guys that have always said Australian audiences are
really smart, and in the last couple of interviews that ive done,
people have told me you guys are known for your sarcasm, which is
great for me because thats one of my super powers. (Ah &
cA)
Apr 19, 9pm. The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville.
$41.20-$72.50. Tickets & info: factorytheatre.com.au
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Contributors: Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Alicia
Sim, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer,
Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah
Pritchard, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho,
Jacqui Rothwell, Emily Shen, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn, Cindy
Aravena, Jacob Aguilar.
10 STAGE12 SCENE 13 SoUNDS 14 SCREEN
Arts Editors: Jamie Apps - Alannah Mahera&e For more A&E
stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and dont forget to join the
conversation on twitter at @AltMediaSydney
BRIAN PoSEhN
belleville is about love, relationships and how love takes many
forms; it can be gentle and tender but also malicious and all
consuming. its about couples who lie to each other and who build
lie upon lie, which becomes the framework that holds their
relationship together. Lies and secrets are intertwined throughout
this psychological thriller.
A young married couple, Abbey and Zack move from baltimore, uSA,
to belleville, a very bohemian, hip, cool suburb on the outskirts
of Paris, a melting pot with lots of different communities, a young
demographic, Gen y neighbourhood. the play takes place inside an
apartment block, with their Muslim landlords living downstairs.
Zack, a doctor, has adjusted to Paris, but yoga teacher Abbey
hasnt, and their relationship begins to form cracks.
Amy herzog is an amazing, multi-award winning playwright, said
Josh Anderson, who plays Zack. She gives you little pieces
of information, in isolation they dont mean anything, but if you
piece them together you start to get the picture and by the end you
have this huge realisation and that is the biggest lie or secret
revealed. You see the characters offload on each other and a power
play that shifts back and forth.
belleville is really delicate, but it hits you like a
sledgehammer. herzog handles her characterisation in such a gentle
way you dont realise you are being pulled into this world, and it
grabs you by the throat and doesnt let go until the end where you
have this amazing catharsis, concluded Anderson. (MS)
Until May 7, Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm. Old Fitz Theatre, 129
Dowling Street (Cnr Cathedral Street), Woolloomooloo. $28-$38.
Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com/belleville
BEllEvIllE
As you get older you can get too concerned with your own life to
take the time for those you should see... the best brothers is
about an estranged family who havent kept close. When they do get
together at christmas theres usually one-upmanship as the two
brothers try to get approval from their mother about their
lifestyles, partners, jobs and social status.
the best brothers is a dark, black comedy, said Johan Walraven,
who plays older brother hamilton. its about how we deal with the
death of a loved one [and] the organisation that comes with that:
unpacking history, having to write the obituary, how to run the
funeral service. its not always an easy process. its funny, which
is good when youre dealing with difficult subject matter. Funerals
can be very sad, sometimes that emotion can expose itself in
laughter and jokes. We relieve ourselves of the tension by having a
laugh so we dont get sucked too deep down in the darkness.
What the brothers find important in life differs, and sibling
rivalry comes about when they are forced to deal with the death
together, with conflict arising around how they each perceive the
other to be handling the situation.
younger brother Kyle is gay and his partner isnt approved of by
his brother or mother. hopefully there will be a section of the
audience who will relate to being gay in the family unit and will
find bits that ring true and can see themselves being represented
well, said Walraven.
The dialogue is very natural, very quick and witty, it clips
along at a nice pace, theres always something to engage with, its
not too languid.the best brothers is a very on the front foot piece
of theatre, Walraven concluded. (MS)
Until April 30, Tues-Sat 8pm. Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza Street,
Newtown. $25-$35. Tickets & info: old505theatre.com
ThE BEST BRoThERS
Aldo Mignone, Josh Anderson, Chantelle Jamieson & Emily
Eskell. Photo: Claudia Barrie
-
11city hub 14 APRiL 2016
the tragedy of Antigone will take you back to the times of
Ancient Greece. the play is about the characters battle of wills
against Kreon, the current ruler of thebes.
Kreon has announced that Antigones brother, Polynikes, is to be
denied a proper burial and Antigone defies this decree. The play
explores the role of burial in ancient society and brings up
questions concerning laws of mankind and laws of the gods.
Actor Aslam Abdus-Samad plays Oedipus and Polynikes, who are
father and son. these characters introduce the audience to the
events that lead to the tragedy of Antigone.
For this play every actor has used the Suzuki Method of Actor
training, which is used to strengthen actors vocal and physical
abilities on stage. It comprises of six important physical
activities to build up the actors skill.
What Abdus-Samad has liked about working in
this production is the role the chorus has taken in this
work.
We have moved away from the typical group speaking solely in
unison as observers and made them physically and emotionally
dynamic entities whose individual motives are never entirely clear,
he explained.
I also love that we are really exploring the consequences of
defying Kreon and the counterpoint, defying the laws of the Gods.
it brings a magical element to the work that really excites me.
Using text from Eamon Flacks adaption of Sophocles Antigone,
this production is presented by Ninefold and PAct centre for
emerging artists. (AMal)
April 2030, Wed-Sat 7pm. PACT Theatre, 107 Railway Parade,
Erskineville. $25-$33. Tickets & info: ninefoldensemble.com
THE BIG BRUISE this new play cuts to the core of societys
often-fetishized relationship with suicide. the big bruise goes
beyond using suicide as a narrative point and actually invites the
audience into the tangled mind state of someone coping with
suicidal thoughts. cathartic and comedic in its own ways, it was
written by Saro Lusty-cavallari and co-devised with sole performer
Sam brewer. incorporating highly technical multimedia elements,
this is a contemporary production that invites more depth and
investigation into universal struggles of mental health and
disability. (AM)Until Apr 15, 8pm. 107 Projects, 107 Redfern
Street, Redfern. $20-$25. Tickets & info:
montaguebasement.com/tickets
THAT EYE, THE SKY A quintessentially Australian play based on
the novel by tim Winton, this is the beautiful coming of age story
of Ort, a young boy whose father is seriously injured in a car
crash. the common theme is the idea of survival, that we need
something to hang on to that helps us survive when everything goes
to hell. That Eye, The Sky is an exploration in how we cope, and
how we reach out to something to help us cope. Everything is seen
through the eyes of a child, he sees the world in his own fantastic
way. (MS)Until Apr 16 (Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm). New Theatre, 542
King Street, Newtown. $17-$32. Tickets & info:
newtheatre.org.au
BARD TO THE BONE the Post-Haste Players are back for their
fifth
year performing improvised comedy based in the Shakespearean
world, making up a cohesive Shakespearean play on the spot. there
are all the tropes that you would expect; like the fairies, Kings
and Queens, the overthrowing of the throne, the catholics and
Protestants and questions around religion all of those ideas the
Elizabethans held dear. (MS)Apr 25, 8pm. The Old Fitzroy Hotel, 129
Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $10-$15. Tickets: eventbrite.com (or
at the door)
SAVAGES Four men embark on a cruise that doesnt quite go to
plan. This play explores multiple personalities the Aussie male can
portray. Actor Josef ber, who plays the character Rabbit, describes
Savages as a relentless, energising and pulsating
play that explores the darker side of manhood. if youre in the
mood to watch a reflective piece of theatre that discusses
Australian masculinity, this play is a safe bet. (AMal)Until May 1,
various show times. Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street,
Darlinghurst. $30-$45. Tickets & info:
darlinghursttheatre.com
NOTHING PERSONAL A typical David Williamson middle class family
crisis, but unlike most of his plays, the male characters get
little focus. in fact one of the best things about Nothing Personal
is the strong presence of women. A comedy first and foremost, the
play is set around office politics in the publishing industry, and
is about women coming to terms with losing their power as they grow
older in the workplace. (MS)
Until May 7. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30.
Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au
REPLAY As a child, John saw his brother die. his other brother
saw it too, but remembers things quite differently. they are forced
to dredge up their competing pasts in search of a common truth
yielding terrifying, unexpected consequences. The past is what you
make it in this newly devised Australian play by Griffin Theatre
and forthcoming playwright Phillip Kavanagh, who pushes the theme
of memory to its extreme through often funny and relatable
encounters. (AM)Until May 7, MonFri 7pm,Sat 2pm + 7pm. SBW Stables
Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street,Kings Cross. Tickets &
info:griffintheatre.com.au
HAY FEVER So much of modern comedy owes to the wry slapstick of
Noel coward. clever and droll, his characters are always ready for
another dry martini or a classy misstep. the Sydney theatre company
presents hay Fever, first produced in 1925. For fans of Noel
coward, this tale of naughty people is among his earliest and also
the best of his comedies. A wry take on the bohemian mayhem of the
bliss family, each member invites a suitably unsuitable guest for a
weekend away.(OA)Until May 26, various show times. Drama
Theatre,Sydney Opera House. $64-$104. Tickets & info:
sydneytheatre.com.au
The Tragedy of anTigone
Do you remember when you were on the cusp of being 16 and all
you could think about was getting your license and driving away?
Playwright Daniela Giorgi definitely remembers the feeling, and
used it as an influence for her new play, Shut Up and Drive (or
Sex, Liberty and the Automobile) co-written with Paul
Gilchrist.
We just wanted to get away from the suburbs, get away from our
parents, get away from home and live, she recalled.
the play is about the freedom that the car has given us, the
freedom to have fun but also just to get away from everything. but
its also about the tension between that freedom and responsibility.
in your car you can put your foot down and just go. but is that
always the best idea?
This play explores the pivotal role the car plays in Australian
society and how we underestimate its symbolism in our day-to-day
lives.
Shut up and Drive is a revue style production with singing,
dancing and a satirical element to keep the audiences entertained.
Giorgi has written satirical content before but never something of
a revue nature.
A revue style show is a new adventure for us [subtlenuance
theatre], but it does source our origins as a company of satirical
comedies, she said.
the Kings cross theatre is located at the Kings cross hotel, a
completely new venue that can hold 80 people. (AMal)
April 923, Tues-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm. Kings Cross Theatre, Level 2
Kings Cross Hotel, 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross. $18-$28.
Tickets & info: trybooking.com/190490
ShuT up and drive
Maddy McWilliam
i must confess, the footy has never really been my cup of tea.
the world of professional Australian football has always remained
on my periphery, a strange culture swirling in testosterone and
debauchery with an element of blokes running a peculiar ball up and
down a field.
And i have been content with my limited understanding. but the
problem is, footy season has rolled around again and ive found
myself surrounded by conversations i simply cannot participate
in.
thankfully i stumbled across an answer to my frustrations,
professional Australian football explained in a format that I
actually understand: musical theatre!
Writer/director/actor/producer of Australias Game, Alex Lykos
identified that this world is ripe for musical satire. In the wake
of the success of his critically acclaimed (and entirely different)
Alex & Eve trilogy, which was immortalised in a feature film
last year and in spite of the fact that he had never written a
musical Lykos was determined.
Australias Game is centred on a love triangle of a different
nature as it pursues the off-field antics of a professional
football team and their coach, the competitive wags and a scandal
that rocks the entire team.
Light hearted and often drawing uproarious laughter from the
crowd, this play takes on recognisable themes and stereotypes in a
playful way. i often found myself marvelling at the scenarios which
were all so similar to football news-dramas my boyfriend has
attempted to explain to me, time and again, as my eyes glaze
over
this production has the feel that it was staged by a small town
theatre society, and thats not to discredit it. it certainly wont
win any awards for its set and staging, but it has a sophisticated
narrative spine, a charismatic and talented cast and an ambitious
video component.
Much like the unlikely emerging football star he portrays,
timothy Love steals the show with his impressive voice notably on
the ballad Premature Ejaculation.
it would be a shame not to see Australias Game return to the
stage on a bigger budget, but in the meantime any footy nut (or
peripheral fan) would be doing themselves a disservice if they
didnt check this out. (AM) WW3/4
Until Apr 17, Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm. The Factory Theatre,
105 Victoria Road, Marrickville. $23-$28. Tickets & info:
bulldogtheatre.com or 9550 3666
REvIEW: auSTraliaS game The muSical
-
12 city hub 14 APRiL 2016
THE NAKED CITY
With coffin Ed, JAy KAtz And Miss dEAthMany musicians develop a
strong emotional attachment to the
instrument that they play, be it a million dollar stradivarius
or a beat up old fender. yet there is one instrument that inspires
and demands a unique commitment from its owner as it takes on a
virtual life of its own the mighty analogue hammond organ. Just try
lifting one for starters!
first manufactured back in the mid 1930s it was initially
marketed to churches as a low cost alternative to the traditional
large pipe organ. it was jazz musicians who first picked up on its
remarkable organic tone and vocabulary of dynamic groovy sounds.
the classic organ trio became a staple at small bars and clubs, and
artists like Jimmy smith pioneered a whole new genre known as organ
groove.
It wasnt long before rnb, soul and rock artists were also
seduced by the engaging Hammond sound and its since become an
essential requirement for many combos, not to mention recording
studios throughout the world. Whilst hammond now produce digital
versions of classics such as the iconic B3, its the old valve and
transistor models that really ignite the passion of hammond buffs
all over the globe.
One such aficionado is Sydney based organist Lachy Doley, who
first caught the Hammond bug when he was only fifteen years old.
The younger brother of another hammond devotee, clayton doley,
Lachy remembers:
At fifteen I was already playing gigs on piano with various
musicians around Adelaide. So Ive always had musicians playing me
new music that I hadnt heard. One of which was Booker T and the
MGs. I instantly fell in love
with the warmth and tone of the hammond. but it was really the
moment i first got to play one that I knew it was for me. Just the
power and fatness behind the sound had me hooked.
After moving to sydney Lachy soon became a valued sideman as
well as forming the very popular dual keyboard combo the hands with
brother clayton. After touring both nationally and internationally
with artists such as Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes and The Beautiful
Girls, he formed his own group in 2010 and unleashed a soulful and
highly energetic version of the modern organ trio the Lachy Doley
Group.
After hunting down his first C3 Hammond, Lachy now boasts a
veritable collection of these classic instruments including
three other similar organs and the holy grail of Hammonds, the
legendary B3. Hes also a huge fan of other analogue keyboards,
owning a minimoog, a modified Whammy Clavinet and a piano. When
asked what is the real appeal of these instruments, he
explains:
Its more the way it feels than necessarily the sound. Especially
now the new keyboards do a good job copying those classic sounds.
but the originals feel like living instruments that respond and
react to the way you play, with all their imperfections and
characters they are all unique, which i love.
Last year Lachy and his group toured Europe, leaving all but the
Whammy clavinet at home, but supplied with a c3 by some
enthusiastic Euro-hammond lovers.
Europe was the most amazing experience for me. to go all that
way, perform under my own name and be so welcomed was thrilling.
the European audiences appreciate live music like no other. it was
such a successful tour and the amount of fans and opportunities
that have opened up from touring there is amazing. I cant wait to
get back there later this year.
In the meantime you can catch The Lachy Doley Group at the very
funky Django Bar underneath Marrickvilles Camelot Lounge for a
night of total hammond veneration.
Friday April 22 (doors 7.30pm, show 9pm). Django Bar, cnr 103
Railway Pde & 19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville. $17.50-$25.
Tickets & info: lachydoley.com/django
LACHYS HAMMOND FIX
BALENTES: A LIVING ANCIENT SOUL Romantic landscape painting
finds a modern purpose in this new series by awarded Australian
artist Jason benjamin. his paintings and sketches reflect the work
of documentary maker Lisa Camillo. Camillios film, Balentes, draws
attention to a contamination disaster that has devastated her
island home of sardinia, a large autonomous region of italy.
benjamin manages to express whispers of the cultural and human
experiences that camillo surveys alongside the environmental
destruction. the care taken with the most modest of elements, from
individually painted blades of grass, a crumbling building creates
a sense of timelessness and ultimately of hope. (AM)Last day: Apr
14. Tusculum House, 3 Manning Street, Potts Point. Free. Info:
artindex.com.au/news
AFTER 3.11 five years ago Japan was devastated by triple
disasters of an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear explosion. the
Japan foundation of sydney has been holding an arts series to
commemorate the anniversary titled After 3.11: have you met the new
Japan? the
exhibition, icons of time: Memories of the tsunami that struck
Japan, features tomohiro Mudas post-tsunami photography of the
shorelines of northeast Japan. the program will also culminate in a
talk, 3.11 in Literature and film (Apr 15, 6.30pm), which gives
insights into the latest literary developments in Japan. (LR)Until
Apr 15, 10am6pm. The Japan Foundation Gallery, level 4, Central
Park Mall, Broadway. Info: jpf.org.au
CITY OF ILLUSION The first solo outing for two and a half years
from sydney born and bred contemporary artist dirk Kruithof,
consisting of around 25 mixed media paintings made of images and
text, created from recycled or found materials. inspired by the
urban environment and the contrast between beauty and decay,
Kruithofs style is self-described as abstract-pop, post-grunge
artwork. drawing ideas from the streets of Sydney, Kruithofs work
is vibrant yet almost angry a reflection of his own shock at the
absurdity of gentrification and commenting on a range of social
issues. (Es)Until Apr 17, WedSun (11am4pm). Chrissie Cotter
Gallery, Pidcock Street, Camperdown.
Info: saatchiart.com/Dirkovitz or
marrickville.nsw.gov.au/chrissiecottergallery
CUSP: DESIGNING INTO THE NEXT DECADE seen by over 50,000 people
around the country, this travelling national creative program is
sure to be an experience that broadens the mind. the exhibition
highlights the works of Floyd Mueller, Greg More, Leah Heiss,
stephen Mushin, and super critical Mass an ongoing participatory
sound project pushing the boundaries of whats possible in their
arena. They will attempt to use design to change the way we listen
and will be presenting a one-night-only sub Mass, questioning our
social structure in the process (more details to come). (Ah)Until
Apr 28. TuesFri, 11am-4pm. Australian Design Centre, 101-115
William Street, Darlinghurst. Free. Info: cusp-design.com or
australiandesigncentre.com
WHEN SILENCE FALLS Providing a voice for those who have been
silenced, this exhibition encompasses painting, video and
sculpture; presenting the work of contemporary Aboriginal artists
alongside contemporary international
artists. it considers the violence and loss of
often-unacknowledged historical events cultural displacement,
political oppression, ethnic cleansing and massacres. featuring a
new major acquisition by Australian indigenous artist Judy Watson,
as well as significant loans from Naomi Milgrom, Ben Quilty, and
Gene and Brian sherman; this exhibition speaks strongly of
conflict, but does not look to blame. (AM)Until May 1. 10am5pm
daily, Weds until 10pm. Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The
Domain, Sydney. Free (exhibition catalogue $16.95). Info:
artgallery.nsw.gov.au
20TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY in this milestone year, the biennale and
all its associated art works follow a topical theme: the future is
already here its just not evenly distributed. Official Biennale
sites The MCA, Cockatoo island and carriageworks have been
rebranded as several different Embassies of Thought. The most
revolutionary works however exist in public locations, the
In-Between Spaces. Although these works differ greatly, each casts
a new light on its location. city hub recommends heading to Redfern
to check
out We Built This City and Making History before swinging around
to newtown to see Fade Away, Fade Away, Fade Away in camperdown
cemetery. (AM)Until June 5. Various locations. Free. Full program:
20bos.com
HEAVY ARTILLERY Prominent themes in this group show are identity
and tradition and the modernist impact on both. furthermore (with
all artists hailing from china and taiwan) the restrictive
atmosphere in which chinese artists live results in work which is
subtly subversive and intricately planned. for example: He Xiangyus
contribution, Tank Project (20112013), is a life sized leather
replica of a chinese tank the creator sneaked into an army base to
obtain accurate dimensions. heavy Artillery showcases the craft,
the cunning and the imagination of artists who need to navigate the
perils of political indoctrination and censorship. (LR)Until Aug 7
(10am-5pm, Wed-Sun). White Rabbit Gallery, 30 Balfour Street,
Chippendale. Admission Free. Info: whiterabbitcollection.org
for its 200th birthday, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will
host Garden Art Weekend, a spectacular festival celebrating both
art and nature this weekend.
With a number of exhibitions from Australian and international
botanic artists and illustrators, the festival showcases four free
exhibitions including the annual Margaret flockton Award, where 29
contemporary scientific illustrators vie for over $7000 in prize
money.
now in its 13th year, the Margaret flockon Award commemorates
the Gardens first botanical illustrator in 1901. Shes our
illustrator, said catherine Wardrop, a botanical illustrator at the
Royal Botanic Gardens and co-curator of the Margaret Flockton
Award. Were very, very proud of Margaret flockton... she is the
standard that we aim for, and hopefully uphold!
In fact, scientific botanical illustration is a niche field that
few succeed in despite its importance. our role is to primarily
illustrate rare, new and renamed species of plant to illustrate the
important features that are used for identifying
one species from another, explained Wardrop. Theres nothing that
can replace a good scientific illustrator when it comes to clearly
representing important features of a botanical subject. A
photograph cant do it; theres too much ambiguity.
With a range of free events and activities for all ages, Garden
Art Weekend is the perfect family outing. other exhibitions include
the ikebana - into the future lawn installations, with workshops on
the art of Japanese floral arrangements; botanica, the annual
botanical art
show; and scott sisters, a display of two 19th Century
Australian scientific illustrators beautiful work.
Just dont forget to check out the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
website to book a free activity session for the kids, such as
classes exploring Aboriginal storytelling as well as the outdoor
theatrical production, The King and Queen of Green! (Es)
April 1617, 10am4pm. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquaries
Road (enter via Woolloomooloo Gates). For more info:
rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Anthony Bartoks creations are quirky and pointed comments on
contemporary society.
bartok creates minimalist sketches which incorporate text to
wittily pinpoint the foibles and contradictions of modern life. his
simple lines draw on cartoon imagery and combine it with the
colouring book and the internet meme fetish to produce work shaded
in black humour and irony.
these screen prints range from the political to the poignant.
for example, a black and white outline of Australia with a hastily
drawn fence is a pointed barb at racist attitudes. in another
scene, a multicoloured crowd queue under the ubiquitous Apple logo,
the caption reads, Everyone is very excited about the new phone. it
is slightly different from the old phone.
Bartoks collection is also a wry and
sardonic tour through the devastation that consumer obsession
causes on relationships. in one sad piece, a youth, fixated on his
phone, sits on the bed of an old man. the title is, Jason visits
his grandfather.
in addition there are larger works of superimposed line drawings
which merge and separate in a miasma of confused and tangled
threads. these are a confounding visual illustration of the
constant stimulation and bombardment of modernity.
compelling, provoking, but never too confrontational, these
small slices of the everyday are an artistic satire created with
intelligence and aesthetic care. they are thoughtful, funny and
truthful reflections on the narcissism and selfishness, the loss of
community and the celebration of the individual which typifies 21st
Century life. (LR)
Until May 1. MOP Projects, 2/39 Abercrombie St Chippendale.
Admission Free. Info: mop.org.auA
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Hakea bakeriana. Margaret Flockton
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13city hub 14 APRiL 2016
Joseph Tawadros: With his new album World Music showing off this
virtuoso/composers talents as he played an incredible 52
instruments, tonights show has a high degree of anticipation built
up. the show will take the audience on a journey around the globe
as tawadros weaves a magical path across cultures, traditions,
boarders and time.Thu, Apr 14, Camelot LoungeThe Murlocs: Following
the release of their second full length LP, young blindness, this
tight-knit garage R&b group have embarked on a tour of the
country and arrive in our fine city this evening. Since forming on
Victorias surf coast the group have spent a lot of time on the road
and have firmly established themselves as a dynamic presence on
stage.Thu, Apr 14, Oxford Art FactoryOh Pep!: Returning home
following a successful showcase at SXSW in Austin the multi-award
winning, heart breaking and exhilarating indie-folk duo are keen to
close out their Australian tour with a bang.Fri, Apr 15, Oxford Art
FactoryGrace Barb: internationally acclaimed songstress Grace barb
and her band are in the midst of a tour around the country playing
tracks from the first album Kreol Daughter and the more recent
Welele!. the West Australian three piece have won multiple awards
and
created significant buzz with their powerful Afro-Kreol sound
which fuses tropical rhythms with African pop, rock and latin
elements.Sat, Apr 16, Brighton Up BarGANGgajang: With the release
of their first new single in over a decade, circles in the Sand,
the legendary band returns to the stage this weekend. GANGgajangs
music travels inland once again from the beaches to the heart of
Australia where they were the first band granted permission to film
a music video at Uluru by the traditional owners.Sat, Apr 16, The
BasementSobremesa - A Spanish Feast: this weekend the young, Sydney
Symphony-trained chamber choir Streltizia Ensemble take the stage
in Glebe to celebrate the multicultural nature of our home.
celebrating Sobremesa, Spanish for the time spent after a good meal
with family and friends. this unique concert will feature
quintessentially Spanish music accompanied by a Spanish feast.Sun,
Apr 17, Glebe Justice CentreNadia Reid: having slowly built a
reputation for herself, spreading her music and live show in a
fully Diy approach, Nadia is excited to head across to Australia
from New Zealand to perform a run of shows finishing in Sydney next
week.Wed, Apr 20, Newtown Social Club
LIVE WIRE By JAmiE AppSLast week, just one day before the band
left for what is to be essentially five months on tour, Jayden
Seeley took some time out of his afternoon to speak with the city
hub about song writing, their new album and the intense tour
schedule.tomorrow morning we leave for the rest of the Australian
tour, then we get a couple of days off before we go to Japan, then
straight from there we go to the UK to play a tour and festival,
and finally straight after the UK we head to the US to play on the
Warped Tour. So literally five months on the road. its very, very
exciting and very busy, Jayden told us.With such an intense tour
schedule finding the time to write new material can be extremely
difficult, and as Jayden explained laughingly it often leads to
many terrible f**king songs on their mobile phone notes
applications. thankfully songwriting has become more natural for
the band compared to when they first formed.
Starting out as a band it was something you had to think about a
lot, whereas nowadays its less of a choice and more hey im feeling,
and you just need to get it out into a song in a really therapeutic
way, explained Jayden.The Australian tour With Confidence is
currently on is a celebration for the group, who earlier this year
signed with hopeless Records and are set to release a new album,
better Weather, in June. the two singles weve already heard from
the album are very different, and as Jayden explained were
deliberately chosen to release first because of that very reason.
The way i like to see it is that Well be Ok is one side of the
album then Keeper is the other more aggressive side, then weve got
a bunch of songs that sit in between, he explained.Fans planning to
head along to the Sydney show are likely to hear some of these new
songs and get a little bit more of a sneak peak into the new album.
Sydney is special because its our
hometown, so you can expect a very good atmosphere, [and] a few
new tunes. [things will] get a little bit rowdy and [fans will see]
an improved live show after all the touring, said Jayden. i think
there is something to be said for going on the road for a couple of
weeks watching a really good band play live every night. Weve
toured with some incredible acts and grown from those experiences,
thats honestly where weve grown the most as performers.Apr 17, 1pm.
Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $20+b.f. Tickets
& Info: oxfordartfactory.com
SydnEy LIVE MuSIc GuIdE
By JAmiE AppS
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MELbouRnE Ska oRchEStRa SIERRa kILo aLphaFun, funky and vast.
three words that describe Melbourne Ska Orchestras second
album.From the outset the tunes immediately uplift all spirits with
their infectiously jolly melodies. Each track has a weight and
punchiness to the sound, which the group says was their goal when
they opened up input to any member that wanted to contribute, with
23 musicians taking up the chance.Across the 11 tracks the
quintessential Ska sound is the driving force and makes for a fun
filled weekend listen. (JA)WWW1/2
auRoRa aLL My dEMonS GREEtInG ME aS FRIEndSthe debut album from
Aurora is an absolutely stunning collection of emotionally charged,
mesmerising lullabies.throughout the 12-track songbook, Auroras
stellar vocals are the true standout and had me enraptured for the
entire journey. this journey that the listener is taken on has many
ebbs and flows as it transitions regularly from slow story-driven
tracks to the more up-tempo offerings.the up-tempo offerings were
my personal favourites, in particular conqueror, Warrior and under
the Water, not taking anything away from the slower tracks. under
the Water comes very late in the record, which was perhaps a
creative decision as it includes big arena rock influences, thus
having the rest of the album serving as a build up to it.
(JA)WWWW
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RAMS From iceland comes this inspirational fable-like drama.
Gemmi and Kiddi are two elderly brothers who raise sheep on
neighbouring properties and have been estranged over 40 years. A
virus leads to the mandatory slaughter of all the animals in the
valley, the catalyst which reconnects theses siblings. this
slow-moving film unveils the exhilarating wintry locations of
iceland. An abrupt ending may detract, but ultimately this
alternate cinematic experience is ideal for audiences who are tired
of the monotonous hollywood blockbusters. (MMo)WWW1/2
OBSERVANCE this psychological horror follows Parker (Lindsay
Farris) who has taken a mysterious job spying on a young woman from
a dreary,
decrepit apartment building following a difficult run in his own
personal life. if you are a moviegoer who likes every plot thread
to end in a neat little bow, Observance is certainly not the film
for you. if however, you like to spend your time pondering the
story, this is your style of film. (JA)WW
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE DC Comics finally jumps full
force into the cinematic superhero fight (catching up with Marvel)
by using the most recognisable superheroes of all time. For diehard
Dc fans this film is packed with subtle nods to the comic books.
the action sequences in this film are the true highlights with car
chases and fight scenes that all feel grounded. the biggest issue
with this film however is the overall pacing. this is worth
seeing if you are interested in the genre but it certainly wont
capture new fans. (JA)WWW
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING this movie has all the right ingredients
weird romance, comedy, goof ball characters, sci-fi story, a
talented cast and they all just connect. the story is simple: a
group of eccentric aliens (the Monty Python team) give a school
teacher (Simon Pegg) special powers to do absolutely anything. Pegg
is hilarious and all over the place as usual, and a voice over
cameo by Robin Williams is spot on. but if it is the Monty Python
team that rocks your boat, Absolutely Anything is worth its while.
(JR)WWW1/2
A BIGGER SPLASH Rock n roll legend Marianne (tilda
Swinton) and her partner Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) retreat to
the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, seeking a chance to
recover from recent life crises. When Mariannes ex, flamboyant
record producer harry (Ralph Fiennes) intrudes with his beguiling
daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson), all four are drawn into a
vortex of jealousy and desire with devastating results. A bigger
Splash is a breathtaking tale of nostalgias dark side fuelled by an
excellent soundtrack and fearless performances. (JH)WWWW
EYE IN THE SKY the moral fibres of warfare are astutely examined
in this high-paced british thriller. colonel Katherine Powell
(helen Mirren) heads a drone mission to capture a most-wanted
group of terrorists living in a safe house in Nairobi, Kenya. As
the situation progresses, a young girl enters the kill zone and the
strike is suspended as a political battle ensues. Mirren showcases
her versatility, radiating assertiveness and military persona. A
suspenseful and affecting film. (MMo)WWWW
ZOOTOPIA Rural rabbit Judy hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) wants to
join the police force, and despite the judgements of her parents
and peers who are astounded at the very idea of a bunny cop she
steels herself through a tough run at police academy and becomes a
full-fledged officer. Zootopia sprawling metropolis populated by
innumerous animal species but it isnt the haven of tolerance and
acceptance Judy expected. theres some ropey plotting
going on, but Zootopia is another succe