Little Orphan Ashley
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INSIDE: Market mayhem Page 3 Quay to the city Page 12 Eat & Drink Page 14 What’s On guide Page 19 cityhub.net.au DECEMBER 13, 2012 FREE LITTLE ORPHAN ASHLEY Trevor Ashley’s TrAsh at the Studio page 20 Bob Gould Anglicare warns Newstart needs a new start Bill posters could be illegal BY MAX CHALMERS “The majority report shows an unwillingness BY SHARON YE Vulnerable Sydneysiders will experience to accept the substantial evidence in favour of The City of Sydney has introduced a stringent new increasing rates of homelessness and food increasing the rate of Newstart by $50 per week.” grafitti policy banning bill posters across the majority insecurity if Federal Parliament does not increase Despite working on the Committee, Labor Senator of the city. the Newstart allowance, a prominent community Doug Cameron has also publicly rebuked its Replacing the existing graffiti policy made in group has warned. recommendations. 2004, Council’s new Draft Graffiti Management The warning comes just weeks after a Federal “I think [Newstart] should be increased…living on Policy has banned bill posters with the exception of Senate Committee investigating the social 245 dollars a week is impossible,” Mr Cameron told Triple J radio. five “character” areas. Under the Protection of the security allowance made a recommendation Ms King played down the Committee’s budgetary Environment Operations Act, bill posting is considered advising the government not to increase concerns and argued effective aid could be given illegal as a form of pollution. payments despite finding their current rates to be to those on Newstart without triggering a fiscal “Vandalism is a real concern for our community,” woefully inadequate. catastrophe. While the Committee recommended said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. “If it’s not removed Advocacy and welfare group Anglicare has parliament increase the number of hours an it can create an atmosphere of neglect and devalue lambasted the recommendation. individual could work while still receiving Newstart, property prices.” Director of Advocacy at Anglicare, Sue King said Ms King said the recommendation fell short. To tackle the problem, Council has installed nine keeping Newstart payments at $246.30 per week She said individuals should be allowed to work poster pillars providing a legal site for notices and fliers. would be particularly devastating for those living at least 12 hours per week while still gaining the Council has introduced five “character” precincts with Sydney’s high rental prices. benefits of the payment. where community posters can be displayed up to a “[It is] particularly problematic for people who are single on the Newstart allowance in the private “That’s a reasonable approach, really, week. The designated areas are found in Newtown, without having too much of a fiscal impact on Glebe, Darlington, Broadway and Surry Hills. rental market,” she said. “What we are finding coming through our government,” Ms King said. Living Sydney Councillor, Angela Vithoulkas said But Ms King maintained an actual increase to the areas like Newtown have special provisions because it emergency relief centres is increasingly those people are either homeless or at risk of payment was essential, which is currently well borders two local government areas (City of Sydney below the poverty line. and Marrickville), with King St as the boundary. homelessness and are very food insecure, which means they are often hungry or they often go “As long as Newstart is so inadequate we’re just “It is sensible to be mindful of the sensitivities of the pushing people into a poverty trap. We’re just different Councils and not have one side of the street without food.” Should this be illegal? Since the committee made its recommendation going to find more and more vulnerable and at risk vastly different to the other,” she said. families,” she said. But City of Sydney Greens Councillor, Irene them removed,” she said. it has faced criticism from a diverse coalition Doutney said the provisions are “totally inadequate”. But Ms Dountney said the new policy will be including community groups, Labor senators, the “If you lose your cat in Waterloo, there’s no point ineffective because there are few provisions for policing. Greens and the Australian Business Council. putting up a poster in Darlington,” she said. “You want “I don’t think it’s going to have any effect; I think The committee’s decision not to advise the your posters to be in the district around you. people will put up posters wherever they want,” she government to increase Newstart payments was “I think those five precincts are ridiculous … what said. “It seems we have a policy that is making them derived from a desire to keep the federal budget about Redfern, Waterloo, Rosebery, Paddington?” break the law that isn’t being policed.” balanced. Council spends over $2 million each year keeping Mr Doutney added it is a freedom of speech issue, However, Australian Greens Senator Rachel public spaces free from vandalism and pollution. Ms with posters remaining a valuable and legitimate form Siewert has derided the reasoning. Vithoulkas was adamant ratepayers should be wary of of expression in the community. “The committee has agreed that Newstart is inadequate, but has demonstrated a lack of will to these costs. “One man’s graffiti is another man’s street art,” she find appropriate and sufficient solutions to resolve “We need to be mindful that there is a cost to the said. “I don’t think we need to manage a lot of that art the clearly demonstrated inadequacy of the ratepayers because the people who put the posters up … those big band signs told me when things were on, payment,” she said. never take them down and Council has to pay to have which I’d never find out any other way.” Sky closes in on Chinatown Night Markets BY JASON MARSHALL becomes commercialised, we fear that it will lose Mr Stephens said. “When Blue Sky took it over, Controversy surrounds the City of Sydney that identity.” many left because [they] jacked the rates up.” Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Council’s tender for the Chinatown Night Mr Wu said he was concerned Blue Mr Stephens said existing stallholders from Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, Markets amidst news a private company with Sky would inevitably kick out the existing Blue Sky’s eastern suburbs markets replaced convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. a questionable commercial history will run the stallholders to exert control. them. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by community organisation. “This seems to be the model they operate on Blue Sky Markets Managing Director, Ross the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort An association made up of stallholders, ... they don’t actually start anything but they go Alexander said Narrabeen Markets are still is made to ensure accuracy of content, The Hub takes no local businesses and community members out there and they hunt,” he said. “They try to popular, and though there are fewer stalls, there responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. known as Chinatown Food and Entertainment inherit the goodwill that’s already there and we is a long waiting list. ABN 48 135 222 169 Incorporated (CFEI) have been running the see this as a social injustice.” Mr Wu said that given Blue Sky’s history, the markets since 2008, but they were recently In April 2009, Blue Sky Markets won the Chinatown Markets are worried about a loss of Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons tendered to private company Blue Sky Markets. tender to run the West End Markets in Brisbane. heritage. Group Manager: Chris Peken Vice President of CFEI Tim Wu said The community market was run for He was grateful for Greens Councilor Irene Group Editor: Marcus Braid Council’s property department had attempted the previous six years by its founder, Peter Doutney’s help, but criticised Councillor Robert City Hub Editor: Jason Marshall to obtain revenue from the community market Hackworth and had become a much-loved Kok. Editors: Peter Hackney and Kate Horowitz since it became successful in late 2010. Brisbane institution. Immediately after the “We thought he would [help us] but to this Contributors: Max Chalmers, Adra Anthoney, Fabian Di Mr Wu said though Council had never takeover, the number of stalls was slashed, date, all he has said is he’ll look into this. That Lizia, Sharon Ye and Gavin Gatenby mentioned rent prior to this, they demanded sparking demonstrations. was two weeks ago and we haven’t heard from back payments at the rate of $2,600 per day until Arts Editor: Angela Bennetts Brisbane City Councillor Helen Abrahams him ever since,” Mr Wu said. it was pointed out not-for-profit organisations Contributing Arts Editor: Emma Salkild said the West End Markets grew well beyond the Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the Council’s like CFEI were exempt from such levies. initial contract with Blue Sky but mostly because CEO had refused to meet with them, said Mr Jeremy Bridie Arts Listings: Earlier this year, the administration of the of significant Council spending on market Wu. Live Music Editor: Imran Shahid community built and run market was put to infrastructure. A City of Sydney spokesperson said an Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan tender on behalf of Council by global real “As a result, they are extremely successful, independent panel was appointed to oversee Advertising Managers: David Sullivan, Mike Contos, estate services provider Colliers International, they are very crowded, but many of the local expressions of interest because the current Toni Martelli and Robert Tuitama who valued the markets between $140,000 and residents are no longer attending the markets contract for operating the Chinatown Night Design: Joanna Grace $150,000.