SPRING 2005 Issue 101

HOWARD'S ATTACK ON AWARDS The Impact on the community sector ACTU on how you could be sacked Bob Gould – let’s hope history repeats itself

BUILDING E-COMMUNITIES Get Up, Professor Andrew Jakubowicz on community development and the changing nature of Stand Up neighbourhoods

NORTHCOTT How a housing estate became a community

PUBLIC HOUSING Is this the beginning of the end?

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inner voice 1 Where the money is - and isn't he Australian Taxation Office has released the figures for 2002/03 taxable incomes by postcodes. TAcross the municipalities of Sydney, Woollahra, Randwick, Waverley, Leichhardt and Botany there are extremes of wealth and poverty. Topping the list are Point Piper, Edgecliffe and Darling Point with a mean income of $110,607. At the bottom are Eastlakes and Rosebery with a mean income of $36,982.

Photo: Jack Carnegie Alexandria $50,320 Leichhardt $51,260 Annandale $56,427 Lilyfield $51,260 Balmain $73,875 Little Bay $40,411 Beaconsfield $50,320 Malabar $40,411 Bellevue Hill $100,761 Maroubra $44,382 Bondi Junction $55,486 Mascot $37,644 Bondi $49,254 Newtown $45, 545 Botany $42,011 Pagewood $44,382 Bronte $62,470 Point Piper $110,607 Camperdown $49,546 Potts Point $61,850 Chippendale $41,287 Pyrmont $50,426 Clovelly $53 217 Redfern $45,925 Coogee $52,803 Rose Bay $74,950 Darling Point $110,607 Rosebery $36,982 Double Bay $82,253 Rozelle $59,867 Dover Heights $98,003 Sydney $49,836 Eastlakes $36,982 Tamarama $49,254 Edgecliff $110,607 Ultimo $41,172 Erskineville $48,978 Vaucluse $98,003 Forest Lodge $52,970 Waterloo $42,462 Hillsdale $40,411 Watsons Bay $98,003 Kensington $48,635 Waverley $64,470 Kings Cross $61,850 Woollahra $86,532 Kingsford $41,393 Woolloomooloo $61,850 La Perouse $40,411 Taxation Statistics 2002/2003 – Australian Taxation Office

Not just another website - it’s ours. Have a look, or you might miss something really important.

Photo: Jack Carnegie

2 Winter 2005 inner voice 3 contents

Taking to the streets The battle to protect workers pay and conditions is in full swing across Australia. From outback Western Australia to under the Harbour Bridge, workers and have rallied to voice their defiance to the Howard Government’s attempt to wind back awards and the protection they provide.

Photo: Jack Carnegie

Letters 5 Margaret Barry Lecture 6 Still not happy, John 10 Nick Bleasel Howard’s folly 11 TVS – community television? 12 Northcott – residents take it back 14 "Suburbs are rioting ...... ; the Boss Power 16 mad are sleeping in the streets; RWA - what are they up to? 17 the jails are full; water levels The Water Works 20 are falling inexorably in the The Way Backwards 21 dams; hospital queues stretch Young Frank Sartor 23 around the block; commuters Public Housing – going, going…… 24 wait six deep for trains that never come...... ” Plus Regulars: David Marr - SMH Material Needs, Employment, Resources and Organisations, Is It A Fact? and more.

Inside Northcott In 2001/2002 we witnessed a number of critical incidents at the estate including multiple murders, suicides, assault and drug related crime. Our estate was named “suicide towers”, “vertical slum” and “death estate”. It was a very difficult time and the residents of Northcott estate were in shock, many too afraid to leave their homes. Photo: Keith Saunders 2 Winter 2005 inner voice 3 Inner Sydney Voice is the journal of the Inner Sydney a word from the new executive officer Regional Council for Social

It’s like coming home Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social the vertical (government and peak Development (ISRCSD) is a non-profit This was my first impression when organisation committed to the idea of I started work at Inner Sydney organisations). information as a tool for community de- Regional Council as the new The Board and staff of ‘Regional velopment. The organisation defines Inner Executive Officer on 3 July 2005. I Council’ have just had a planning Sydney as being the local government ar- session to set our priorities for eas of Botany Bay, Leichhardt, Randwick, had previously worked at ‘Regional City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra. Council for eight years from 1990 the next year. One of our main to 1998 as the HACC Development directions is to operate more fully The journal is funded jointly by the Officer. I have also spent many as a regional organisation. Over the Department of Community Services, many years we have been located Randwick and Sydney City Councils, and years on the board as the Treasurer, by members and subscribers. so I knew the organisation well, in Waterloo, we have become including what all the money was increasingly more involved in All articles and artwork are contributed on a voluntary and unpaid basis. being spent on and who was over local issues, especially through our budget! This knowledge allowed me Housing Communities Assistance to get to work right away, without Program (HCAP), which has the the usual period of familiarisation role of supporting local tenants in necessary when one starts Redfern and Waterloo. We have not a new job. put in an Expression of Interest for The other very important the next stage of the HCAP Project, aspect of familiarity was with and hope that a local community the region and many of the people organisation takes up the role, as it in the community services sector. has better prospects of integrating Editor It is a great privilege to have Department of Housing Tenants Faye Williams responsibility for community into their local community. We development by a community have many plans to become more Deputy Editor Jack Carnegie organisation covering what must ‘regional’ and will be looking for be the most vibrant, complex and opportunities to work with NGO’s Contributors engaging region it is possible to get! across the Local Government Areas Emily Mayo, John Reynolds, Andrew We have it all – overdevelopment, of City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Jakubowicz, David Smith, Sandy Henderson, Bob Gould, David White transport chaos, great wealth and Botany, Randwick, Waverley poverty, intense multicultural and and Woollahara, especially in Desktop Publishing indigenous populations, stunning the areas of information, support Jack Carnegie physical beauty and urban decay. and community development. ‘Regional Council’s’ new website So...... see you around the traps Cover Photo has tried to capture this diversity really soon. Jane Rogers pictorially and in the content. We Faye Williams Subscription Co-ordinator are working to develop this website Edwina Tohi as an early point of reference Printing for information about what is Complete Design happening in the community sector Publisher across the region. Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Having come from a State level Development Co-op Ltd 770 Elizabeth Street organisation, I was immediately Waterloo NSW 2017 struck by the great benefit of Ph: 9698 7461 being a regional organisation. Fax: 9318 0852 As a regional worker, I can be Email: [email protected] www.innersydney.org.au in close contact with the local people, organisations and workers, but have the ‘birds eye view’ that allows me to identify issues and The opinions expressed in Inner Voice do not trends and take them up with the neccessarily represent the views of the publisher nor the publication. Whilst every effort has been higher levels. Another way to made to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher describe it is to say that a regional for omissions, typographical or printer’s errors, organisationA fond farewell is at the Charlie intersection (right). of Top: inaccuracies or changes that may have taken place after publication. the thehorizontal Von Tohi (the Family.community) Below: and John

4 Winter 2005 inner voice 5 editorial letters

100. I felt it summed up the One of the great pleasures of note in the last issue of your dire situation for community this new job is to be editor of magazine you included a NSW I television in Sydney. It is a pity Inner Sydney Voice. It has to Ministry list. I thought in the that the mainstream media has be recognised that a lot of the interest of balance you might like chosen to ignore this scandalous actual work is being done by Jack to publish a list of the Shadow situation. Carnegie, well known Inner Sydney Ministers. Please find attached a Maybe TV Sydney would activist and being responsible for Shadow Ministerial List. be better served to visit Inner what he does is another challenge Anytime I can be of assistance, Sydney Voice and learn how in itself! feel free to be in touch. communities on very limited This new editorial team is Thanks, resources still manage to not going to change anything Brad Burden Media Adviser produce quality products. greatly, but we will have more of Office of John Brogden MP Unfortunately TVS is currently a gradual refinement process. We NSW Liberal Leader in hiding somewhere in the are encouraged in this approach tel: 02 9230 2270 depths of the UWS Werrington by the response to our recent fax: 02 9221 8208 campus. Reader’s Survey where you mob: 0401 672 145 basically indicated you would like See the full list on page 27, Regards John Reynolds more of what we have been doing along with the new Labor Actively Radical TV –with some useful suggestions for ministers. And we extend See John's update on TVS additional topics. Brad's offer of assistance to all page 12. One change we do want to our readers. his letter is to inform you make will align Inner Sydney ery sorry that I am unable of what, I believe, is the Voice more closely with our recent T to join you for the inaugural start of a plan to further reduce organisations plans. We want to V memorial lecture for Marg Barry. the status of Indigenous people operate more fully as a regional Hope it will become a yearly in this country. Two current organisation and reflect issues and event and I might be able to join Bills before Parliament, the concerns across the whole of our another time. Indigenous Education (Targeted region. While the social issues in Best wishes to Inner Voice Assistance) Amendment Bill places like Redfern and Waterloo for attaining its first century 2005 and the Skilling Australia’s are screaming for attention, we – long may it continue its Workforce Bill 2005, will also need to talk about what is critical comments. Having just directly impact the education happening in Woollahra, Waverley, got the latest issue I wonder if of Indigenous people with a Leichhardt and Botany. Our anyone else noticed the generic reduction in the net spending on next issue will look at the major resemblance between Redfern Indigenous education of $3.7m. environmental and social issues – Waterloo Authority and Sydney These Bills are without facing the residents and workers Cove Redevelopment Authority. doubt a direct attack on the in all six municipalities across the Maybe someone should remind independence of Indigenous region. Messrs Carr and Sartor that had education. They directly target: We also want to bring in some SCRA been able to transform the the Institute for Aboriginal new features. The one in this Rocks into a high rise office zone Development in Alice Springs, edition is a little gem from our (the highest and best land use in Aboriginal Dance Theatre library, where we have just done a those times). Sydney would have Redfern, Tauondi in Adelaide consolidation of original documents lost not only much of its vibrant as well as Tranby Aboriginal that capture the social history of ambience but also much of its College. I would therefore the region over 30 years. Our first tourist revenue. seek the ongoing efforts of ‘find’ is an election pamphlet for Best regards to Andrew all Australians to lobby their Frank Sartor from 1987 when South Jakubowicz and wish him success Parliamentarians to reject Sydney Council was split off from in multiple realities. Above all these Bills. the City. We love it and we hope “don’t panic”. Frank does too! Paul Knight Zula Nittim - Executive Director Tranby Aboriginal College enjoyed reading your article I “Lost in Transmission” Inner Sydney Voice Autumn issue

4 Winter 2005 inner voice 5 event Inaugural Margaret Barry Memorial Lecture Andrew Jakubowicz - Professor of Sociology UTS

Building e-communities: community development and the changing nature of neighbourhoods

Redfern Town Hall 4th May 2005

This City Space Over the next decade or so, until The land of what is now the City of Kinselaʼs funeral business, and he moved his business to Bondi, Sydney has been contested space I would watch the comings and my father and I would share my for over two hundred years. Here goings of the hearses and the Saturdays and holidays working in Pemelwuy led the Cadigal clan men who worked them lounging the shop, and watching the face of of the Eora people in resistance about, smoking and telling tales of Australia change before our eyes. to the European invasion of their the lives of those whose corpses Across the road the barber was lands, until their defeat but not they handled. The streets would Greek – the café we ate at was capitulation under the barrage of be full of colourful characters, Czech, while the fruiterer was of biological and chemical weapons from every corner of the world, course Italian. The employees in of mass destruction deployed though the politics of the area the business were mainly itinerant against them. As the British crown were firmly in the control of the east coast Aussie drifters, some populated the land with a mixture Irish Catholic community whose Aboriginal, straight out of Summer of military guards and condemned churches and pubs seemed to of the Seventeenth Doll, salt of criminals, a certain view began to catch my eye wherever I turned. the earth blokes. Later one was establish itself among the settlers I guess I would have been about revealed in dramatic circumstances about the way land should be used. five then, a time that the Australian as the self-proclaimed Fuhrer of the Over the following generations, Census tells us most of the inner Australian Nazi Party. He had been Sydney, David Williamsonʼs city was made up of tenants living holding branch meetings upstairs Emerald City, played out in physical in decaying terraces rotting in the after work, behind the back of his space, the political struggles lea of decades-old rent control. own favourite Jew, my father, whose between classes, religions and Less than a decade after the end parents had been annihilated in ethnic groups that would define the of the War, my refugee parents the Lodz ghetto in 1942. Australia city and its neighbourhoods. had established themselves in the harboured its own contradictions. When I first became aware of heartland of an old Australia, albeit inner Sydney I was a youngster one experiencing the first surges Thirty years ago hanging around my fatherʼs dry of both the non-Anglo European I returned to the inner city in my cleaning business in Taylor Square. immigration, and the local baby university years, living in Balmain His plant was in a lane behind boom. as it first tasted gentrification, then

6 Winter 2005 inner voice 7 in Redfern where Marie Bashir was Clover Moore is Then, as now, the politics of the city were the most recent the local community psychiatrist about power – of capital over labour, of trying to manage the impact of and arguably the urban poverty and dislocation on most sophisticated the Whites over the Blacks, of the old the now crowded tenements, with of these. They Australia over the new Australia, their sleeping shifts of immigrant occupied a of men over women. factory workers and their shell- niche that had shocked young brides. It was not existed prior to the mid 1960s during this period that I first met – tertiary educated homeowners remained a widespread recognition Marg Barry. I was working on a drawn to the inner city by its of resident rights, and an emerging community development project Victorian architecture, village strategy for consultative local exploring the use of the new topography, and appearance planning. medium of potable video, using of communal solidarity. They In the midst of the turmoil the South Sydney Community Aid as were informed by a unique Federal government created the a base, and making local contacts combination of feminism, popular Australian Assistance Plan, an through the Settlement. She was a mobilisation experiences, middle attempt to develop a participatory homeowner in Waterloo who had class expectations about quality social planning model that would just come face to face with the of life and control of oneʼs space, bring together local people, redevelopment zeal of the NSW and a passion for their own home. communities, local government Housing Commission under its They nudged their way between and regional planners to devise crusading Chairman Jack Bourke, the old power players – Labor programs that would help alleviate and its very efficiently bureaucratic machines representing Anglo- poverty and disadvantage. Across secretary David Richmond (later Australian tenants, who had the country some twenty-five or a Health and then an Olympics campaigned for public housing so regional councils for social bureaucrat). throughout the fifties and sixties; development were instigated, funded The politics of the inner city state bureaucracies mandated to by the Commonwealth and requiring were never simple – this was a push over the old urban form and collaboration between local period of Robin Askin as one of the replace it with acres The politics of the inner city more corrupt Premiers in Australian of modernist high-rise were never simple – this was history, funding vast redevelopment into which the welfare plans in conjunction with many state would shoe- a period of Robin Askin as one of the post-war immigrant horn its clients; and of the more corrupt Premiers in entrepreneurs, drawing on funding the developers freed Australian history, funding vast from the Moscow Narodny bank, to package the sky redevelopment plans in conjunction and being opposed by the unions under the Strata Title with many of the post-war immigrant led by new Communist leaders Act, devised by one of such as Jack Mundey. The old Irish them (Dusseldorf of entrepreneurs,...... Catholic Labor branches still ran Lend Lease) in order to the City, until Askin replaced them produce profit, quite literally, out of government and local communities.

with administrators and then re- thin air. For many local Councils, gerrymandered the boundaries to Urban struggles and social change these regional councils for social produce a right-of-centre council, Through the 1970s, urban battles development (RCSDs) with their led in those days by the maverick raged across Sydney – in the paid community development Lord Mayor, Nick Shehadie (Marie Rocks, in Woollomooloo, in Surry workers and organising resources, Bashirʼs husband). Then, as now, Hills, in Glebe, in Ultimo, and in were anathemas. They destabilised the politics of the city were about South Sydney. In the midst of these local power by enabling voluntary power – of capital over labour, struggles the Federal government action groups to participate more of the Whites over the Blacks, changed – Whitlam with his Urban aggressively, and to undertake of the old Australia over the new Affairs Minister Tom Uren, swept research into community issues Australia, of men over women. into office on the promise of a that were not directly defined and Marg emerged as a leader of a new new deal for cities. At the time the controlled by the old regimes. They type, one of a number of women language was all about participatory also fostered the leadership skills who were blooded in the resident planning – even developers sought and aspirations of people who were action movement (like Carol to co-opt resident groups to devise not tied by loyalty or business Baker in North Sydney and later frameworks for development that to either Labor or commercial Genni Macaffrey) and proved to would avoid the feared call for a interests (such as real estate agents). be relentless foes of the developers Green Ban. Although the Buildersʼ Implicit muscle in the new equation and demolishers who were seeking Labourersʼ Federation had been came at least early on from the to remake the city in their interests. tamed by the late 1970s there militant unions and their capacity

6 Winter 2005 inner voice 7 Nicholson of “The Australian” newspaper: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au find new commercially-provided to interfere with the development belong to political parties. Far more communal centres, especially agendas of major bureaucracies or households have female heads, more fitness clubs and coffee shops, corporations. children live in poverty, and there where people with disposable It was in this environment that are many more single people, often incomes can link up with like- the Inner Sydney RCSD was with serious impairments trying minds, or check their emails on established and Marg Barry, by then to survive in an environment that wireless laptops or multifunction a well-blooded activist in Waterloo intensifies their disabilities. Chronic PDAs. Cities are becoming more against the Housing Commission, illness is more widespread and a expensive, less hospitable and became its executive officer. It far greater part of the population more dangerous. Sydney is in the is a strange irony that this talk is depends on the disability support midst of a cataclysmic planning occurring in the week following the pension. Indigenous communities crisis, with social statistics from Housing Ministerʼs announcement are more self-aware but still very suicide to asthma out of control, that the rules are changing, the marginalised. Drug abuse and and the sustained run-down of old certainties of public housing alcoholism has intensified, and social infrastructure revealing a tenancy have been terminated, people feel far less safe in their crumbling edifice beneath. There and a new era of public housing neighbourhoods than they used to is not a single social service that as welfare housing (rather then do. Many more people have been in can meet the demands of its clients, working class community building) gaol, or are under the surveillance of while an ageing population creates is firmly on the page, guaranteeing the criminal justice authorities. ever-greater pressures for support that the capacity for community Turnover of population is and quality of life improvement. leadership will be reduced. accelerating, and as new housing Communities in developments bring thousands of After decades of tax cuts and privatisation, we have a social the 21st Century new residents into the inner city, few structures exist to build community framework that leaves many of our This historical context can only networks and create what is today most vulnerable citizens stranded, provide a very broad indication fashionably known as social capital. and powerful economic forces of the dynamics at work in 2005 As Emile Durkheim the French feeling quite capable and justified – thirty years after those first sociologist recognised in a similar in running them over on their way meetings of the ISRCSD in the period in Europe over a century to greater ʻshareholder valueʼ. On halls of Surry Hills, Leichhardt ago, these conditions are classically the way antiseptic housing estates and Redfern. We are still facing those associated with rising anomic pop up like instant stalagmites. the same broad issues in terms of alienation, a state of disengagement Digital city urban power. While we now live in from society that can intensify It is worth turning our attention a period of neo-liberal free-market psychological anguish and social to the digital divide, that chasm ideology (though my memory of breakdown. between those who ʻhaveʼ and the 1970s under Askin suggests We are seeing in the city new those who do ʻnot haveʼ access it was hardly different then), the forms of social networks, often to the Internet and related class politics has changed a great facilitated among the young or technologies. For ʻthe havesʼ deal. Trade unions are not nearly more affluent through use of new government is shifting its service as strong as they were, and a much technologies such as the Internet delivery to cyberspace, and Bill greater part of the population and mobile phones (especially Gates has sprinkled Microsoft has no organised representation SMS). As the city is transformed we Foundation dollars on the of their interests. Fewer people

8 Winter 2005 inner voice 9 Commonwealthʼs national IT policy. enhanced democracy, but succeeds Building digital For the ʻhave notsʼ, we should in delivering council information. neighbourhoods explore what digital resources the Only in CTCʼs do we find some idea Studies of digitally interlinked community has and what we might of access to technology as a strategy communities in North America mobilise to balance the traditional for facilitating social participation, reveal some interesting trends – inequalities of power. and yet increasingly these CTCs showing quite striking social benefit Information technology are being driven to cover their from wiring living environments (or theorists talk about two sorts of IT bottom line through small business these days wirelessing them). In a community. One is the ʻcommunity activities. In addition, the NSW study of a new Toronto community of interestʼ, where people build Governmentʼs Community Builders in the late 1990s, where some their own relationships, exchange Website facilitates communication homes were electronically linked information and strengthen their about ʻhow to doʼ community by high speed broadband and others capacity to operate. Community development, but it has no sense were not, researchers found that is then about self-awareness and of activism nor does it exude wired households were more likely active engagement where we find a philosophy of participatory to know their neighbours, and more everything from yahoo groups to democracy. of them, more likely to interact with closed societies organised around There are apparently no them socially and visit them, and hobbies, or political interests or government initiatives in the inner more likely to share social tasks, philosophical discussions. city; no need or desire to enhance thereby building social capital. On the other side is the democracy or encourage community Wired communities were felt to be commercialisation of community, participation as government safer, and more supportive. the creating of groups that are not priorities. A systematic exploration In reflecting on the Toronto self-aware but are nevertheless of the website of the City of Sydney research in 2003, the researcher, linked because some government council reveals no such public Keith Hampton argued that or corporate body wishes to see commitment, nor any framework collective action depends on a dense them as a group with common for activism, other than a listing network of weaker ties – in fact characteristics – as clients, of neighbourhood groups and very strong emotional ties may limit customers or consumers. Here we contact phone numbers. Among the collective action. Wired residents, find the increasingly omni-present groups Ultimo and Darlinghurst connected to a local neighbourhood Alpha practices of companies such have active local networks, with email list (about 50-60 families) as Amazon, that track individual functioning websites. So as with are part of a dense but weak Internet search patterns and feed most things in the inner city, it has network – exactly the conditions back to them appropriate behaviours been left to community activists necessary for collective action to for people like them – usually to try to develop ways of resisting be facilitated. Hampton found that purchase behaviours. the marginalisation of local people. the capacity for collective action Back in 1997 the NSW The only community building was dramatically enhanced through government created connect.nsw, websites in South Sydney are being the sharing of information – in his a plan to make the state a leader developed by local communities case by frustrated homeowners of in the use of electronic networks. – not by government as elsewhere. Netville, whose early experience of The goals were to incorporate Newtown Neighbourhood the estate on which they lived was community needs, improve regional Centre offers a local information not up to expectations. and remote access and establish service, though not a community I-Neighbors regional electronic communities. network, while REDWatch offers When Keith Hampton moved One of the outcomes has been the a running commentary on the State to MIT in Cambridge, Mass. in creation of Community Technology governmentʼs activities in the the USA (where I interviewed Centres (CTCs), but only some Redfern area. As many critiques him), he created “I-neighbors”, a rural communities are actually of e-democracy have noted, most huge project that enables anyone connected in this strategy. The governmental activity has focussed in the USA or Canada to join a potential for the establishment of on telling people what government local virtual neighbourhood. Built sites in urban suburbs, regions wishes them to hear/read/see. around postcodes, Hampton and his or neighbourhoods has not been The Victorian government has students have created circumscribed activated. On a local government taken a rather different direction electronic communities that are level, NSW councils have an IT – establishing VicNet as a free open to anyone living within project to build similar, though less environment for the building of the local area. Resources of sophisticated websites. Local-e- communities of interest. As VicNet the I-neighbourhood, including Online action for NSW, funded by has grown it has enabled hundreds the “matches” function, which the Commonwealthʼs Networking of social groups, to set up networks identifies people who are similar the Nation program, says it wants that allow information exchange and to you in the neighbourhood community participation and mobilisation. continued next page 8 Winter 2005 inner voice 9 Building e communities campaign – potentially available to share in like-minded activities. Neighbourhoods can create polls to test local reaction to issues. You can decide to join (and leave) the local email list, and use the GovLink function – to send faxes (better than emails) to government officials and politicians, including those identified by local residents as important. Conclusion While governments have identified ICTs as being critical to efficient governance, pathways Photo: Jane Rogers to increase participation and democracy are less apparent on Still Not Happy, John! their agendas. Activist networks and websites now abound, though The battle to protect workers pay and conditions is in full swing across they tend to attract the already Australia. From outback Western Australia to under the Harbour Bridge committed individual. Community workers have rallied to voice their defiance to the Howard Government’s development requires us to attempt to wind back awards and the protection they provide. The first move beyond that notion – and round has gone to us, with Howard’s approval rating plummeting as recognise that advocates can too Australians are informed of how their hard-won pay and conditions will easily lose their legitimacy if be up for grabs if he has he way. And there’s growing opposition in his they are not closely connected to own ranks, with some National Party senators and Family First’s Steve their constituencies. It is hardly Fielding expressing disquiet with the proposed changes. in the interest of those with The Australian Services Union represents some of the lowest paid power in this city to empower workers in NSW and is determined not to let their members lose the those whom they wish to roll modest increases they gained with new SACS award, in November 2001. over; or to put it more crudely, Reducing the pay and conditions of those who care for the elderly, people it is unlikely they will go out for with disabilities, occupants of refuges and others who are disadvantaged their way to help trouble makers or marginalised could see good workers leave the sector and the standards make trouble. The challenge for of service drop. Apart from being unfair to workers, the proposed changes community development remains could affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of community service as always, how to empower those recipients in NSW. without voices, enable those Howard's proposed changes would abolish the SACS Award and marginalised by social change, reduce the sixty rights workers now have down to sixteen. The Industrial and encourage those devalued Relations Commission would no longer set the minimum wage; instead by the wider society. The digital a body appointed by the government would set the minimum hourly rate. world remarkably can help to As Howard has opposed every increase granted by the commission, his do these things, and build on appointees are sure to reflect his hostility to workers getting a fair wage. the struggles of the past in the The abolition of unfair dismissal laws would for workplaces under process. Over the next few years, 100 would place the vast majority of community workers in workplaces community organisations will where you could be unfairly dismissed and receive no compensation. have to take on these challenges, Peter Costello has suggested, that ultimately, the laws will be scrapped or find themselves digging weeds altogether The new head of the Anglican Church, Dr Phillip Aspinall has from the verges of the information attcked Howard’s proposed changes asking is it moral to allow workers superhighway. ICT is only a to be unfairly dismissed? Workers in the community sector will be very means to the goal of social justice, vulnerable to arbitary dismissal by employers who often put their workers but increasingly it is a necessary rights and conditions last. means. l These attacks on organised labour is the most ferocious of any government in nearly a hundred years, and as Bob Gould points out in the This is an edited version of the lecture following article, the last time a conservative government launched such an attack on workers rights it cost them dearly.

See ACTU facts on dismissal - page sixteen

10 Winter 2005 inner voice 11 The last prime minister who tried to aboloish awards lost a referendum, government and his seat in parliament here are striking parallels In the event, the referendum In NSW, the Industrial between Prime Minister John was defeated, with narrow Commission has been the arena Howardʼs current attempt to majorities in favour in NSW where a certain amount of Ttransfer industrial relations powers and Queensland and substantial industrial militancy, supplemented from state to federal jurisdictions, majorities against in SA, WA, by energetic advocacy in the and to destroy the federal Tasmania and Victoria, to give an commission, has often led to arbitration system, and the efforts of overall majority against. wages and conditions outcomes conservative Prime Minister Stanley In the run-up to the referendum, for various groups of workers Bruce to do the same thing Matt Charlton and the Victorian better than in most other states in 1926-29. federal officials were totally and the federal arena, and these Bruceʼs proposal in 1926 was isolated and only got a few votes breakthroughs have eventually surrounded by the same kind of for the federal centralist position flowed to other jurisdictions. rhetoric as Howardʼs is today about at a national unions conference Howardʼs proposals to weight getting rid of the anarchy of divided (the form of national union the whole system as it is weighted systems, and the virtues of freedom collaboration before the formation in the US, against unions and of contract. of the ACTU) called to discuss the workers, is the greatest crisis that Initially the federal opposition crisis. the working class has faced in leader, Matt Charlton, supported the Two years later, in 1928-29, Australia for many years. changes on vaguely Labor centralist Bruce tried again, in a slightly Howard is moving ahead with grounds, as did a number of federal different way. He issued a kind his “reforms” in a period not union officials who were located in of ultimatum to the states that unlike the late 1920s, when trade Melbourne. unless they transferred industrial union organisation and density has Immediately, however, militant powers to the federal government receded somewhat, partly because figures such as Albert Willis in the he would effectively abolish the of very mistaken policies by union Minersʼ Federation, and Arthur Rae, federal arbitration commission by leaders, such as the Accord and a Labor senator who was one of an act of the federal parliament. bureaucratically imposed union the founders of the AWU, started Billy Hughes, who hated amalgamations, frequently not on vigorous agitation against the Bruce and was still smarting rational industrial lines. transfer, which was rapidly backed over his removal from the The working class is entering up by the then emerging Lang Tory leadership, had a certain this struggle, as it often does, machine in the NSW Labor Party. nostalgic interest in preserving the rather defensively. Itʼs necessary The period around 1926 happened arbitration system, which had been in this situation for the labour to be when the Lang machine was one of the achievements, from his movement and its assorted becoming a coherent force in the point of view, of the period when leaderships to do several NSW Labor Party, and an important he was a Labor leader before the things, informed by history part of that machine was a group of conscription split of 1916. and by examination of current union officials loosely described as Bruceʼs legislation was eventually circumstances. the Trades Hall Reds, led by Jock defeated in the Commonwealth It is indispensable that the Garden. These officials had a certain parliament. He called an election, unions mobilise the maximum bureaucratic militancy in their and the Tories were slaughtered. possible industrial militancy in industrial approach. The Scullin Labor Government this struggle. The NSW Labor Party prosecuted was elected and Bruce lost his This particular socialist a potent mix of traditional states own seat to E.J. Holloway of the and left-winger has become a rights sentiment, expressed by Lang Melbourne Trades Hall Council. ferocious states-righter for the himself, and vigorous defence of the In 1944 the Curtin Labor time being. Like Arthur Rae I trade union advantages of preserving Government went to the people think itʼs entirely reasonable the state system, expressed by the with a powers referendum that to mobilise the states rights Trades Hall Reds and Garden, and would have transferred industrial sentiments that always exist in most articulately by Arthur Rae. relations to the federal sphere, and Australian politics to defeat the The NSW opposition to the that referendum was also defeated. Tory onslaught. Bob Gould transfer rapidly won trade union After World War II, even up to the present, the division between support in other states, and this This is an edited version of Bob's the federal and state systems held opposition meshed with traditional article. The full version can be seen at: statesʼ rights sentiment in the smaller certain advantages for most trade http://members.optushome.com.au/ states.. unions. spainter/Bobgould.html

10 Winter 2005 inner voice 11 Will Sydney ever see community television again? TVS

he Australian Broadcasting Authority basically taking over the major decision (ABA) recently gave community making relegating the community arm of the Ttelevision producer, TV Sydney (TVS), consortium (SLICE TV) to playing a bit part in a 6-month extension to start broadcasting. the development of the station. Their new deadline to start transmission is now To better understand what is going on, one October 23rd 2005. also needs to look at the bigger picture of media Unfortunately the experience of 10 years activity in Australia. of community TV development has now all The Channel 31 spectrum was the last but disappeared, as most of the previous TV available spectrum for use as a free to air groups have either ceased operation or been television service. Community TV gained the severely weakened by a 18 month absence license back in 1993 not because of the Keating of a station. The knowledge of operating a governments strong commitment to developing Community TV service has also disappeared, community media but because the commercial as TVS has chosen to avoid any connection TV operators, particularly Kerry Packer, with the previous licensee. In reality the fought hard to not allow a fourth commercial only model they have for developing a operator to gain that spectrum. Commercial TVS has been non-government funded TV station is the TV stations actually lobbied to give the license commercial television an abject lesson model of big buck in how not capitalization, with to go about the advertiser’s and sponsor’s dollars developing a financing the entire Community TV operation. If TVS don’t manage service. to get their act together by October 23rd they have two options. One is to give the license back, an option they considered late last year at the time of David Hills failed time at the helm. The other option is to apply for a further extension meaning no Community Television to the community. Which is what happened, for at least 2 years. with the proviso that government at any level TVS has been an abject lesson in how not not provide one cent of public money to help to go about developing a Community TV establish a Community TV Service. service. It was a vision by people completely So Community TV floundered for years disconnected from the community, with only due to lack of finance until about 4 years ago mainstream (ABC) and corporate experience when it did a deal with a private organization and theory behind them. It was a vision to be Prime Life Media (Renaissance TV) which then imposed from above on the community. financed Community TV nationally. Sydney It was a wild dream of education, received around $450,000 per year from community, local government and state Renaissance TV. It received another $300,000 government all happily coming together to per year from program providers paying to give Sydney a dream community TV station. have their programs aired. Renaissance in turn From day one it proved a failure. From the took 8 hours of daytime television, beaming old first TVS board meeting it was clear that a sitcom shows. power struggle would ensue. And it did, with However, once finance became secure for UWS and Metroscreen (their junior partner) Community TV the Commercial operators

12 Winter 2005 inner voice 13 tiny little community television, which has been sitting on a commercial goldmine, will community media potentially be shafted.

went on the attack, particularly after they a three way split - the best outcome for noted that their daytime TV ratings were Community TV. on the decline. They deliberately set about Obviously the three commercial license destroying the financial base of Community holders aren’t thrilled at having to divide TV nationally. Renaissance TV eventually their booty into four. This is where cross went to the wall. And Community TV media “diversity” comes into play. Kerry around Australia contracted markedly and Packer will almost certainly be allowed ceased operation totally in Sydney -because to purchase a controlling interest in the the ABA had the opportunity to give the Fairfax press or some similar capital city license to a rival bid. newspaper. And undoubtedly Kerry Stokes What the government and the and Frank Lowry will also be equally commercial TV operators want is a weak compensated. Community TV sector. The commercial And so tiny little community television, operators because they do not want any which has been sitting on a commercial competition for the advertisers dollar goldmine, will potentially be shafted. and the government because it is doing a And being seen to be a failure anyway, review of media in Australia with a mind the government will be able to better to restructuring the Australian media and justify stealing the channel back from the it wants to keep the Channel 31 spectrum community. With a bit of luck they may be vulnerable and potentially available prior to offered a digital channel as compensation. this restructure. Digital TV at this stage is somewhat akin The review by the Department of to operating a Satellite TV service. It is not Communications into the possibility of a very well dispersed, with completion of the fourth commercial TV station and into cross digital conversion now much more likely media diversity (two “separate” reviews) to happen sometime after 2010. was due to be completed around December Community TV has certainly not 2006. However with the conservatives helped its cause in Sydney by remaining now controlling both houses of parliament bitterly divided for over 10 years now. it appears that this review process will If Community TV is to succeed these be bought forward. Their is speculation divisions need to be resolved quickly, that as early as October a decision may otherwise it will be a beautiful idea lost be announced with regard to a fourth forever. The broader non-media community commercial TV operator as well as cross sector also needs to see value in a media diversity. television service and develop a stronger With this in mind the ABA has been interest and advocacy in supporting happy for Community TV in Sydney to Community TV. lurch from crisis to crisis as it prepares The community needs to regain control for major changes in the mainstream of the TV license from UWS who have commercial media and the possible re no real community interest in running a acquisition of the Channel 31 spectrum TV station. Their main interest being to for commercial use. Giles Tanner General diversify their revenue stream, as well as Manager of the ABA alluded to such a further develop their media/communication possibility in a speech of his lodged on the student courses. And their junior partner, ABA website. MetroScreen, have, over the past 10 years, It appears that Rupert Murdoch’s Fox maintained only a token commitment to Network is the frontrunner to become the community media development. fourth commercial operator. If Labor had The Slice TV AGM is fast approaching, won the election a consortium around John it does provide an opportunity where the Singleton appeared to be the frontrunner. previous hostile parties could through The only other possibilities are privatizing some reconciliation and attempt to get SBS or the ABC (which would probably Community TV back on track. If this currently prove too difficult to achieve and doesn’t happen, then I do not hold out Telstra is to be the first cab off the rank much hope for Community TV in the anyway). Or as rumours are circulating foreseeable future. Kerry Packer selling Channel 9 and Rupert John Reynolds taking over that TV station, thus maintaining

12 Winter 2005 inner voice 13 Northcott how an estate became a community

The Northcott Housing estate, my won the art critics award at annual Walking home, has a sordid history. Years of the Street exhibition in Newtown. A inappropriate housing allocations saw selection of the portraits are currently on our estate house the most vulnerable and exhibition at the SLOT Gallery in Redfern. disenfranchised including those who have Tenant photographers and subjects, lived for many years on the streets, those under the mentorship of a professional who have spent time in prison, those photographer, are sharing their experiences with drug and alcohol problems, those of being involved in the project with with serious mental health issues and each other, at forums and in mainstream elderly single people. In 2001/2002 we galleries. One of the tenant photographers shares that in the past she would walk Our estate witnessed a number of critical incidents at the estate including multiple murders, around the estate and see nothing but ugly was named suicides, assault and drug related crime. concrete and sad people but she now sees “suicide towers”, Our estate was named “suicide towers”, potential photographs, amazing faces and “vertical slum” “vertical slum” and “death estate”. It was incredible stories as she walks and plans her next shoot. “death estate”. a very difficult time and the residents of Northcott estate were in shock, many too Those that share their stories express afraid to leave their homes. Northcott was that they feel that their experiences are a talking point, however no one was really validated and they share that feeling with listening and we the tenants had no voice. others. Opportunities for story making There were calls from government, the are limitless and collective stories are media, tenants and the wider community beginning to emerge. More and more for something to be done. But do what? people are coming out of their units For more than two years we, the and getting to know each other, getting tenants, have worked from ground up in involved and helping each other out. partnership with national arts organisation Our Community Centre, celebrating Big hART, staff of the Department of twenty-one years of service, has a mixed Housing, the Police, Clover Moore and others, using arts and community and cultural development Photo this page: Mel interventions. We are and Tamara by Char- moving Northcott Housing maine from Tenant by Estate from a traumatised Tenant - an exhibition and dysfunctional place by tenants. to a multi-functioning and Facing page: developing community. by Keith Saunders, Big hART, who have mentor photographer worked extensively BIFhART with us, works on the philosophy that “if you know someoneʼs story it is much harder to hurt them” and story making has been at the core of much of the work that we have done. Tenants are sharing their experiences of living at Northcott through theatre, music, photography and film. The photography elements of the interventions – named tenant by tenant – recently

14 Winter 2005 inner voice 15 history. The construction of the and concerned about the future small centre on Department of of the centre of their community. Housing land was funded by The committee is in the process Sydney City Council and opened of registering as an incorporated in 1984. The establishment of the association. The officer bearers Centre was due very much to the are keen and learning fast. We are efforts of a small group of tenants applying for funding to help us to who saw the need for a space provide more and more activities outside of the hundreds of units and are developing partnerships for people to meet, socialise and with others to help us to meet participate. Over the years, the the needs of our neighbours. The Centre has been managed by tenant Centre is available six days a groups, a local Neighbourhood week, has an open door policy, Centre and at times not managed encourages people to drop-in and at all. It has gone through times of runs groups and activities every and the drab brown paint peeling closure and restructure. There have day. The Centre is about inclusion from the exterior all sent a clear been times of conflict and different – and the weekly darts games, with message to me – “You are not agendas. modified rules, handicaps and help welcome here. This is not your The Centre now has a new for each participant – serves as place.” In 2005, the place is wide committee, a new constitution demonstration of that philosophy. open. It has had a colourful lick of and a new lease of life. Ninety I am very proud of the Centre and paint. Inside, the walls are lined tenants attended a meeting to the tenants involved in its operation. with well-thumbed but ordered approve the new constitution, all In the past the doors of the Centre books, and each and every window of them interested, passionate were always closed, the blinds shut displays posters advertising weekly activities. People come and go and new people continue to come inside each day. The message that the Centre gives out is clear now. So clear, it is written on the white board that sits outside for all to see…“Have you any suggestions about your community centre? Come inside and have a chat and a cuppa, this is YOUR place tenants.” We have worked very hard to get to where we are today. We still have problems, but with the skills to help ourselves and each other we are getting there. People are beginning to care about themselves, their neighbours, their community and their future. We have a voice now – and while every situation is different, we have skills and experiences that can be shared in other communities and at other “problematic estates”. We are excited about the future of both our community and the opportunities emerging for us to share our experiences with others. Sandy Henderson

Sandy Henderson is a resident of Northcott Public Housing Estate in Surry Hills. She is also the Chairperson of the newly invigorated Tenant Association. Sandy told Emily Mayo of her experiences living at Northcott.

14 Winter 2005 inner voice 15 Boss Power workers face the sack for just about anything Is it a fact? ccording to the Australian when required that is the reason The Howard Government is to ABureau of Statistics (ABS), for their dismissal – not their make it harder for the unemployed the Federal Government’s plan family responsibilities. to receive assistance from the Job to abolish unfair dismissal Unlike unlawful termination Network by rasing the level of protections for employees in laws, unfair dismissals apply disadvantage a person needs to be at businesses with up to 100 staff to any circumstance in which to receive help? would leave more than 3.761 the dismissal of an employee is Workers could lose their lunch million Australian employees harsh, unjust or unreasonable. It break as well as their holidays under without any projection from unfair covers a wide range of unjustified the new industrial relations regime? dismissal. sackings. Employees in more than If the Government abolishes The Howard Government plans to 575,800 private sector businesses unfair dismissal laws it will be abolish all unfair dismissal laws, not would be have no unfair legal for an employer of less just for enterprises employing less dismissal rights under the Federal than 100 employees to dismiss than 100 workers. Government’s plan to exclude someone because the employer businesses with up to 100 staff wants to give the job to a Michael Chaney, Business Council from unfair dismissal laws. friend or relative. An employee of Australia, said “A fundamental ABS data suggests only 1.1% could be sacked for being a few flaw is that people tried to use of private sector employers have minutes late on one day. The industrial relations policy as a tool more than 100 staff. Under the employer may not have to give to achieve not only productivity Governments workplace changes any reason at all for dismissing and growth in the economy, but

employees in 98.9% of private an employee. fairness.” ? employment sector firms would have no Unlawful termination cases In the USA minimum wages protection from unfair dismissal. are far more costly, complex, are just US$5.15 an hour Unlawful termination laws time consuming and difficult for and haven’t increased for 8 are very narrow and apply in employees and employers than years, leaving many working far fewer circumstances than unfair dismissal claims. families living below the unfair dismissal. This means the Unlawful termination actions poverty line? Government’s proposed unlawful are heard in the formal and termination laws will not cover legalistic Federal Court, rather John Howard said recently most circumstances in which than the informal Industrial “We’re not governing for the employees are unfairly dismissed. Relations Commission. unions, we’re governing for According to official figures only The cost and time of running the employers.” ? 147 unlawful termination claims an unlawful termination case A member of the have been referred to the Federal are extremely high for both Liquor, Hospitality and Court since 1996, this is less than employees and employers. Miscellaneous Union, who 25 cases a year. Over the same A typical unlawful termination was found drowned at Bondi period the AIRC has processed case would involve: the beach, had been suspended more than 50,000 unfair dismissal engagement of a solicitor and earlier in the day for stealing a bread applications. (AIRC Annual barrister, an application to the role from the restaurant where he Report 2003/4) Federal Court , 4 – 5 days of worked? As well as failing to cover the hearings in the Federal Court, most common reasons workers legal fees for employees of The hourly rate for personal carers are unfairly sacked, unlawful $30,000 or more. working in nursing homes is less termination laws do not apply if than that of checkout operators in supermarkets, but requires TAFE an employer is able to cite another ACTU - ‘lawful’ reason for the termination certificate qualifications in aged care. even if that reason is unfair. Facts on Unfair A rural postal employee with 31 For example, an employer could Dismissal years service, was sacked as a result successfully defend an unlawful of making an honest mistake that termination claim regarding family resulted in postage not paid on a responsibilities by arguing that it transaction? is the employee’s inability to work

16 Winter 2005 inner voice 17 The new Redfern Waterloo Authority More is not being said than is being said

he huge changes to the presented by the NSW suburbs of Redfern and government not being Waterloo as proposed by taken up in the fullest Tthe NSW government, are about sense? The community to undergo a fundamental change. activists, who are From the 1st July the Redfern keeping a very anxious Waterloo Authority (RWA) took and close eye on any control of all human services in the changes, are then only area. left with previous These changes commenced experience over the last in the Premiers Department as a four years to surmisIs ʻplace managementʼ type project, there a plan, but it is so called The RED Scheme, which unpalatable, that it has was later upgraded in intensity to be kept quiet until the and dubbed The Redfern Waterloo last moment? Have parts of the Partnership Project. All the work and the machinations around Koori plan been tried out and are not of these two initiatives are now housing and services on The Block working? subsumed by the new Authority. and around The Settlement. Is there, as Robert Dom insists, (You might be entitled to be We are not clear what elements of no grand plan at all, but a group confused at this point!) In the last the Partnership Project will continue of broad ideas that will be tried edition of Inner Sydney Voice, we and which will not. Again we out and see what develops? wrote up a summary of what the cannot avoid asking, Are there clear A lot of the messages coming out RWA is all about. intentions? Are they so unpalatable of the RWA are what it is NOT This ʻchanging of the guardʼ we cannot be told until the last about. period seems like a good time minute or is the RWA just seeing We are told: to look at what has happened what develops? lThere is no grand plan so far and see what changes Human Services Review lIt is not about large scale the new Authority is intending One of the ʻclientsʼ for development to implement. While there has intervention by the state government lNot about removing Kooris been quite a bit of consultation in Redfern Waterloo are the local from the Block and Redfern with the community, there is community organisations. The Station Precinct surprisingly little clarity about the decision to target non-government lIt is not about reducing the intentions of the new Authority. organisations first, raises the amount of public housing For a government instrumentality, question of Why start there? The lIt is not about forcing it has quite exceptional powers governmentʼs own direct services community organisations to – a combination of planning, – health, housing, police, transport amalgamate development approvals, sale of make a far greater impact on people lAnd it is certainly not about public land and property, raising living in the area. Is it just that spending any state government funds and approving community they are easier to push around and money projects. Yet if you listen to the achieve some early ʻoutcomes? So how do people in the responsible Minister Frank Sartor We understand that the findings Redfern/Waterloo community (as a lot of Public Housing tenants of the Human Services Review run know what to think and how to did on Saturday 8 July) there is by the Redfern Waterloo Partnership respond? really not much going and even Project will be adopted by RWA While the RWA may just be less intended. Similarly at a and the work of restructuring starting its operations, a lot has meeting on Red Watch (a group Human Services will continue. The already happened. Local residents of vitally interested residents, Human Services Review will be and services have already had business and community people) completed in August. Throughout four years of supposed changes, Robert Dom explained that there is the consultation process about consultation on Human Services no detailed strategic plan, but some human services restructure, there and worry about the State broadly definedʻStagesʼ. have been deep concerns in the governmentʼs intention re the It is hard to avoid the question, community. Many people in the “Why is this splendid opportunity huge amount of Public Housing

16 Winter 2005 inner voice 17 to people with high dependency cluster groups being consulted the amalgamation of services, our needs and it has to act to change had problems with the process and funding will be put out to Expression the situation. did not feel that what they said of Interest. was fully reflected in the cluster This attitude is further promoted All forms of development reports. ʻRegional Councilʼ became by the actions of Minister Sartor, are important. While community organisations aware of this during meetings it who is waving a list of community are into development of the ran to support small community organisation that provide services community, a large part of the organisations in their interaction into Redfern and Waterloo and Redfern Waterloo Authority is with the Human Services Review saying the list has to be cut from into development of development Process. Despite the problems over 130, down to 20. When this list ie. making this area attractive with the process and outcomes, we is examined, many holes appear in to developers; encouraging an were hoping that when the cluster that argument. Every NGO in NSW upgrade of private housing; group reports were presented to would have more that 20 community employment and urban renewal the Human Services Advisory services ʻcovering their areaʼ. driven by developers investing in Committee, the communities voice There are at least 10 government the area. While this is one strategy, and ideas would flow through to be departments providing services into community development is also an important part of the eventual the area. Many of the services have vital. Attacking small community Redfern Waterloo Human Services only a small proportion of their Plan. (Surely this is the intention funding covering Redfern Waterloo. organisations, which are proven of a consultative process!) The Are these services to be split into to provide social capital, will not cluster reports at least provide an Redfern Waterloo and non Redfern invigorate the area. They also need overview of what has been agreed Waterloo services, providing two to be nurtured and developed, not from the cluster group process and non-viable services, or will the undermined and restructured. have been feed into the formulation Redfern Waterloo funding go to An underpinning of social justice of the draft Human Services Plan. the more biddable and supportive and equal rights There is concern that the final large charities? Conversely, Inner Any action undertaken by the priorities are being assembled Sydney Regional Council for Redfern Waterloo Authority should internally within the RWA and that Social Development is located in be as a bottom line, in keeping with they may not properly reflect the Waterloo but covers the whole of the standards of social justice and views of the members of the Human eastern Sydney - six council areas equal rights enjoyed by the wider Services Advisory Committee. and dozens of suburbs. The amount NSW and Australian community. Another question – Why have an of funding to cover Redfern and And given the history of the place, Advisory Committee if you do not Waterloo is small. additional helping of both those take their advice UNLESS YOU Regional Council has done some value are neededl ALREADY HAVE A PLAN?. There hard thinking and come up with is also concern that the performance some observations: Note: We have not commented on the issues around The Block and indicators for the plan have become What do we think it is about? ʻchallengesʼ and that an important ‘Regional Council’has done some The Settlement – that is a whole mechanism for assessing the hard thinking and come up with article in itself. success or otherwise of THE PLAN some observations: has been potentially weakened. Itʼs a long term piece of work Unfortunately, as an underbelly The only way to improve life for to the supposed open planning Redfern Waterloo residents is for process, the Human Services consistent, long term, well-funded Review has demonstrated a and positive support. It took a long fundamental attitude of criticism time for such sevices to develop and of small community services. it will take a long time for them to This was demonstrated in a improve – if we start now. We were series of visits from employees pleased to hear Robert Dom report at of the Premiers Department (now the Red Watch meeting that the RWA working for the RWA) who visited is in for the long haul – 10 years. certain ʻidentifiedʼ community Public Housing in the area is vital. organisations to tell us the details The answer to improvement in of our shortcomings that emerged Redfern Waterloo is not to move during work done for the Morgan out people with ‘problems’. The Disney Report. The visits also government has created the current let us know that if we do not ʻco- mix of residents by its policy of operateʼ with the changes, such as restricting access to public housing Photo: Jack Carnegie

18 Winter 2005 inner voice 19 Cut Off material needs

The NSW Seniors Card, which provides discounts to a range of goods and services (including subsidised public transport) is given to people over sixty regardless of their wealth or income, provided they don’t work more than 20 hours per week. The elderly working poor, on low wages and spending a large proportion of their wages on fares, are ineligible if they work over twenty hours a week.

While the Salvation Army PIAC looks at who gets disconnected and the Australian Council of Social Services estimate that 2.2 and why million Australians are living in poverty, in 2005-06 the Coalition government will cut $3.8 billion The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has called on the NSW from income taxes paid by Government to introduce measures that would lead to less people being cut the wealthy. off from essential services. This follows the release of their report Cut Off: the impact of utility disconnections. They have written to Utilities Minister, The richest 10 percent of Frank Sartor asking him to: Australians own almost half of lReview hardship programs and payment plans to determine their the total household wealth of the Effectiveness in reducing the rate of disconnection of customers in hardship; country. Australia’s poorest ten lRequire that no residential customer face disconnection or restriction percent have no wealth and have unless they have failed to accept an offer to enter a hardship program or an average debt of $6000. failed to stick to the terms of that plan; and ensure that, notwithstanding compliance with a hardship program no residential customer experiences If Parliament passes the Budget repeat disconnections by the same retailer in any twelve-month period. changes to welfare, ACOSS Cut Off found that the most common disconnection was from electricity. estimates at least 300,000 Gas disconnections were less frequent than those from electricity, and water Australians – 150,000 adults restrictions made up a small proportion. and 150,000 children – could be The great majority of disconnections were to family households rather worse off after July 2006 because than single person or group households and a relatively high percentage were instead of receiving pensions from larger households. The ‘working poor’ and ‘welfare dependent’ are the they could be put onto lower most vulnerable to disconnection. The main source of income for just over allowance payments. half of those disconnected was a Centrelink payment. People disconnected ACOSS is concerned about were largely in the private rental market, although public housing tenants proposed changes to rules were over-represented. A disproportionate percentage of those disconnected for payments which include were unemployed and/or sole parents and Indigenous people were greatly suspension of payments for eight over-represented. weeks for minor infringements The most frequently reported reason for people not having enough money like failing to attend a Job to pay their bill was related to difficulty financing ongoing household costs, Network interview. This could such as rent and bills, rather than a particular event. An unusually high leave people with disabilities utility bill (such as the end of winter) often precipitates disconnection. Other including mental illness and factors were illness or injury, relationship break down, and difficulty heating single parents raising children in or cooling the house. The great majority of those disconnected had contacted difficult circumstances struggling the supplier about their circumstances but the disconnections went ahead. for basic necessities The NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman has reported that between 1 July to 31 December they received nearly 12,000 calls to their complaint line and that 58% of these were billing or credit issues.

18 Winter 2005 inner voice 19 The Water Works environment

The NSW government joke, the government have never appears determined been clear or upfront about the Is it a fact? to go ahead with an desalination plant. They won’t expensive and energy- even tell us which site they are Amendments to the NSW intensive way of going to use. All they can do Environmental Planning and producing more water, is make derogatory comments Assessment Act, which were rather than getting about my home of 24 years and passed in June, will enable Sydneysiders to this is completely unacceptable. the NSW Government to push conserve and recycle. How dare Frank Sartor say no through any development While Bob Carr one will be concerned about the anywhere in NSW, while didn’t go for a nuclear final location. Well, the residents excluding councils and the public powered desalination of Kurnell are concerned and we from having any say or right of plant on Bondi beach; don’t give up on a fight easily. appeal.? the announcement that And I just wish Mr. Knowles had Kurnell is the lucky the courage to come down here If the water desalination plant suburb has attracted and tell us to our faces that this goes ahead it will be a “critical criticism from all isn’t a nice place to live.” infrastructure project” and not quarters, including Keeping up the propaganda war subject to any existing NSW John Howard and Utilities Minister Sartor released environmental, heritage and Jeff Angell from the Total the results of a survey saying planning acts? Environment Centre. Sydneysiders would not accept Speaking on ABC radio Angell recycled water. He didn’t explain The cost of the plant will be in said: “The desalination plant is what they would use instead, if excess of $2 billion and the price an act of political desperation, water recycling were introduced of water will double? born out of incompetence Greens MLC, Ian Cohen and incapable planning for a responded: “The great lie of The energy consumed by the sustainable water cycle by this this Government is its claim that desalination plant will accelerate and previous governments.” large-scale water recycling is the building of more coal fired Howard achieved a first in too difficult and residents won’t power stations in NSW, adding having many on the Green side swallow it. It’s just a matter of to greenhouse gasses, leading of politics agree with him when political will, courage and public to climate change, resulting in he said on the same program: education. The beauty of recycled even less rainfall in the Sydney “Well I do, however, know that water is that it provides certainty catchment area? desalination is expensive. It’s of supply at an affordable price.” also energy intensive. I would “Hundreds of millions of litres Water conservation and hope that all of the recycling of stormwater is also there to recycling could solve Sydney’s options are fully explored. I do be harvested in Sydney for use water shortages.? worry that the New South Wales in areas where drinking-quality Government has been a little too water is being wasted, such as in NSW is going against the national ready to dismiss almost out of industrial uses, irrigation and for trend of water reclamation and hand the options of recycling, and badly needed environmental flows reuse which has climbed from I’m not convinced that the case in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River 14% in 1998 to more than 20% in for preferring desalination has system". 2000? been strongly enough made.” The great water debate looks Kurnell residents had to endure set to occupy top place on radio Sydney Water is one of only an onslaught on their suburb talk shows and in newspaper three water utilities in Australia by government heavies Carr, opinion pieces for some time. As sending primary sewage directly Knowles and Sartor, all saying they said in the sixties: save water, into the sea and discharges seven what a dump Kurnell is and you shower with a friend. times as much as the second won’t notice the plant tucked biggest dumper? between the oil refinery and sand New NSW Premier Morris mine. Iemma has announced that Dorothy Exon, President of there is to be a review of the the Kurnell Progress Association plans for the desalination plant. responded by saying “What a

20 Winter 2005 inner voice 21 The Way Backwards family support & community activities

he non-profit sector in Australia according to “Goods and Services Tax” means the Goods and Services Tax as Tthe Business Review defined in A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999; Weekly estimate is worth “Minister” means the Minister (or any person so acting) for the time about $70 billion, so there is being administering the Department; no mystery to the fact that for “Nature of the Service” means the type and extent of Service to be profit companies are moving in provided under this agreement described in Schedule 2; and the corporations are taking “Non-Significant Funding Variation” means a one-off variation to the over. Profit is the core motive Funding which is either equal to or less than: of every commercial business, (i) 15% of the total Funding; or however it just doesn’t sit well (ii) $50,000.00; with community organisations that whichever is the lesser; aren’t concentrating on the bottom “Policies and Guidelines” means all Departmental guidelines and line. governmental policy as amended from time to time which are relevant However over the past five to the Service and includes, without limit: years there have been major (i) Program and Sub Program guidelines and policies; systemic changes to the third (ii) Program performance indicators; sector with fundamental shifts in (iii) Program data collection requirements; national demographics, political (iv) Departmental Minimum Standards of Care, Licensing or Code of right-sizing, impact technologies, Conduct requirements. social welfare corporatisation, ethical blanding, compliance because they can’t obtain Eastern Area Mental Health Forum overbearance, competitive enough staff. The Department of working party has been established tendering, regionalisation, Housing is sourcing commercial to address the issues, but the point population group planning and tradespeople, the Department of the crisis is that there are not reactive governance. In a society of Health is sourcing private enough services. where big is better and welfare cleaning firms and the Ministry Then there is the growth in is a for profit business, how can of Transport is sourcing transport consultants. These new messiahs the fundamental inequalities from private companies. Security, of the neo-liberal outsourcing, who in a society be addressed by maintenance, recruitment, have descended from on high to corporations whose primary computer technology, information, tell us, inform us, change us and purpose is to reduce costs, research and many other jobs are deliver us from the past and launch increase revenue and maximise all being outsourced. Nobody us into the future. Don Watson in their market share. understands how this is supposed his book ‘Weasel Words’ defines The basic issue is; there aren’t to save the Government money consultants as ‘the plague rats of enough services to go around and but they do it. management’. people are missing out on what In the community this An outstanding example of they need. Families caring for means people in Department this outsourcing dismanagement children or adults with a disability of Housing can’t get repairs is the debacle over the Minimum can’t find enough respite care. In and there isn’t enough public Data Set (MDS) and the software the Eastern Sydney Area adult housing stock to house the CRS (Client Referral System) and children’s respite care units ageing population. People with commissioned by the NSW operated by the Department of psychiatric disabilities are being Department of Ageing, Disability Ageing, Disability and Home placed in public housing without and Home Care (DADHC) from Care have blocked beds. These support. This practice is causing a private Information Technology are respite care beds with people immense problems for them Company. The development and permanently occupying them; and the residents living around introduction of the IT program was they have nowhere else to go. them. In Neighbourhood Centres thus outsourced and implemented And while the beds are blocked across the Eastern Sydney Region across the State as part of the nobody in the community can use the number of people with Home and Community Care them, so the amount of respite is mental health issues presenting (HACC) Reform Agenda. It was reduced. at the front counter has risen suppose to be a major innovation The Department of Community substantially over the last few in program identification and Services is now sourcing casual years, but there is no funding for integration, which undoubtedly employees for its group houses the Neighbourhood Centres to cost the Department a serious projects from for profit providers, deal with this specific issue. An amount of money to achieve.

20 Winter 2005 inner voice 21 Don Watson in his book Weasel Words, defines consultants as ‘the plague rats of management’.

means the wholesale butchering Nobody is saying how much it cost film cameras being replaced by of the community sector and the but it is rumoured in the hundreds of computer chips and community gutting of local services, so that thousands of dollars. centres being replaced by call larger corporatised organisations In 2005 community organisations centres. The list is endless. absorb the bulk of the funding and received a letter from DADHC In this machine age everything homogenise services to the point of stating ‘as you may be aware old is irrelevant and everything new where they are identical but useless. DADHC has been developing a is instantly disposable. Call centres If we look through the political replacement software program for are the epitome of the disposal doublespeak we get to understand HACC service providers to use outsourcing gone wrong. They are the facts. Firstly, programs will be in place of the CRS.’ DADHC is meant to provide us with answers, combined. Secondly, the number of phasing out the CRS over the next give us the solutions, connect organisations receiving funding will twelve months. It will be replaced us to the experts and solve our be reduced. Thirdly, workers will by the HADS software which problems. They never do, instead loose their jobs and lastly and most is purportedly more robust and there is the interminable waiting on importantly people who receive effective in ‘a climate of continuing the telephone, the computer voice services will have them changed changes’ and is a Commonwealth selection and the operator who and cut. The Government calls this initiative. has no idea of what you’re asking streamlining. At the grass roots level the them or how to fix it and finally The Federal Government’s MDS program and its evil twin there is the knowledge that your Report, ‘Participation Support the CIARR (Client Information call has been redirected to India for a More Equitable Society and Referral Record) experienced or somewhere else on the sub- - July 2000’, extols the virtues immense problems. They included continent. of Social Partnerships, Social failure of the program to account In the Commonwealth Entrepreneurships, Mutual for numbers correctly, problems Department of Health and Ageing’s Obligation and ‘the growing divide with transmission of the electronic new strategy for community care between the ‘job rich’ and the ‘job version, differences in Department report entitled ‘The Way Forward’ poor’ households’. The Report is a and organisation service levels, which many in the community are manifesto of welfare reform and is file corruption and verification calling The Way Backwards, there a ‘vision’ of achievement. It says problems. It’s a good thing they’re are Weasel Words galore, it is a that ‘Australia is in the midst of scrapping it, but will HADS be any virtual plethora of verbosity. The a profound economic and social better. Minister, The Hon. Julie Bishop, transformation’ and tells us the But this is the way all things pass, acknowledges that there needs to be current social system is ‘failing as with the demise of the video ‘strategies that would simplify and many of those it was designed to tape - replaced by DVDs, analogue streamline current arrangements help’. mobile phones being replaced by for the administration and delivery This is true. It is the heart of the digital ones, tube screen televisions of community care services.’ matter. But the final solution is not being replaced by plasma screens, This sentiment is admirable and highly commendable but not if this as simple as the Government would have us believe. Forcing people off the Disability Support Pension and 1.1.1 Where the following words start with a capital letter, in this returning them to work is not reform Agreement: but coercion. Encouraging greater “Acceptance of Variation” means the form of acceptance to a participation by threatening to cut Significant Funding Variation which the Service Provider must off people’s Centrelinks’ payment is execute and return to the Department in accordance with clause not inclusion but exclusion. Raising 6 of this Agreement before the Significant Funding Variation takes Medicare’s threshold payments effect; is punitive. Placing community “Adjustment Note” means a document prepared by a Service services in the hands of big business Provider in accordance with the legislation and rulings associated is not sound economic reform; it is with the Goods and Services Tax, and issued where any funding dangerous and foolhardyl made under this agreement is to be repaid; “Australian Business Number” means a business identifier number that is issued to eligible entities by the Australian Taxation Office; “Continuous Improvement Strategies” means the quality measures as amended from time to time to be put in place, which are agreed between the Department and the Service Provider.

22 Winter 2005 inner voice 23 hey say a week is a long time in politics, and so is seventeen years. Here’s a younger Frank Sartor railing against faceless bureaucrats taking planning powers from the people and Ttheir local government representatives. These days Frank is the minister responsible for an undemocratic, all-powerful authority, overseeing a team of faceless bureaucrats who can bypass the local council and ignore the state’s planning and heritage laws.

22 Winter 2005 inner voice 23 Public Housing new communities quite well. No! Tenants to lose security and pay more rent Vulnerable people who become DoH Tenants can't move or impact Tenure on their communities as easily as The Department will home owners. But when they do no longer offer lifetime interact with their communities, tenure to new tenants. their roots are stronger as they All new tenants will sign rely more on their communities fixed term agreements, than home owners. Tony Vinson’s either short-term (2 years Study on Community Adversity and or less), medium-term Resilience brought this out. People (between 2 to 10 years) in DoH dwellings have strong or long -term (10 years Social Cohesion compared to home fixed). Before the end owners. of the fixed term, the People need stability to improve Department will review themselves and their lives, and the the tenant against new Tenure changes do not allow for eligibility criteria which this stability. includes income. If the Rent Subsidy tenant does not meet the The Department will increase criteria the tenancy will tenants’ rents. Tenants who receive be terminated at the end Family Tax Benefit Part A will pay of the fixed term. an increased portion of that benefit. This change means Tenants on ‘moderate incomes’ will people will be evicted pay 30 per cent of their income when they improve in rent (up from 25 per cent). their circumstances. It These changes will commence in Photo: Jack Carnegie Jack Photo: creates a poverty trap: November 2005. tenants may lose their This change means most tenants home if their income will pay more in rent, and some th n April the 26 the State increases. For many tenants may pay a lot more. The Labor Government people, secure, affordable public 30 per cent rate for tenants on Oannounced the Reshaping housing is what enabled them moderate incomes creates a poverty Public Housing Plan. As part of this to improve their circumstances trap. Tenants may actually lose policy the Minister announced a - when they are evicted they will more than they earn if their income wide range of new tenant charges be back at square one. Renewable increases. Combine this with the that were calculated to bring in an tenancies undermine the security 6% increase in water usage and extra $640 million for the next ten- of tenure that is a key attribute of you have a Tenant on a moderate year period. This announced policy public housing. This has particular income paying 36% of his income means that the Dept. of Housing implications for vulnerable people in charges to the Dept of Housing has reverted to being a landlord who are making an effort to moving them into Housing stress. supplying housing on a cost improve their lives but face having What the Department regards as recovery basis. the carpet removed from under a ‘moderate income’ is by most Eligibility for Public Housing them. standards very modest - as low All new applicants for public Sustainable Communities are as $46 000 for a couple with two housing will have to show that Communities where people work, children. they have a low income and have yet the DoH seems to be pushing a These changes exacerbate existing complex needs e.g., they are frail line that Sustainable Communities poverty traps and stigmatisation, aged, have a disability, or are are not part of their problem and it comes just as the Federal homeless; or are unable the access with these changes. Studies have Government is requiring greater affordable housing. shown that people need about workforce participation by sole This change is making public 5 years before they add their parents and people with disabilities. housing available to fewer people. footprint to their communities, Cost of Water Usage Already, too many people who engaging in those communities. For the first time, the Department need housing cannot get into public These changes will stop these will charge tenants for water, housing. The real solution is to communities from developing. including where premises are not build more housing, not tighten the We have the Minister saying that separately metered. Tenants of un- eligibility criteria to reduce waiting even home owners move every so metered premises will pay a charge lists. often, and they settle in to their proportionate to their income,

24 Winter 2005 inner voice 25 on top of their rent. This change are expected to raise an additional affordable housing, and as a result means that tenants of un-metered $340 million dollars over ten low-income workers risk being premises will pay a charge for years, and the water charges an priced out of the Sydney market. water that does not relate to the additional $300 million over From these changes, it seems that amount they actually use. These ten years, giving a total of $640 the DoH have no idea, or choose tenants will not be able to reduce million over the next 10 years. not to see the long term problems the amount they pay by reducing The Department has said that this that this will create. We are seeing a the amount of water they use, so money will help ‘build or acquire change from building Communities this is not really a ‘water usage’ 12 000 new homes in the next and individual’s lives to Crisis charge at all - it’s just another rent ten years’. Note that these are not Warehousing. In fact if Tenants increase. additional new homes: instead they do well and get their lives semi- How much do we think that the will replace older stock that is sold together after a period of crisis, we rent increase will be? Working or destroyed. The Department has are seeing that they may very well from 3 supplied figures: Average said that it is seeking to keep the be turfed out. Why then get you life water charge per household will be amount of stock at its current level. together? The Dept of Housing is $5.00 (from the DoH’s fact sheets), Current tenants are basically in reality creating more enclaves of there are 127,768 DoH dwellings paying for improving the quality disadvantage and ghettoes and the Average Net Rent collected of the stock, i.e. this is a Tenant The higher the percentage of by the Dept. over all its properties Financed Project. The Department special needs, high maintenance is $77.31, then the percentage that is making public housing tenants, tenants, the greater the chance there a Tenant will pay will be 6% of who are the poorest members of will be nuisance and annoyance, his income. (6.46%). That gives discrimination, and conflict. By an increase of $31,890,892.80 Crisis Warehousing the DoH will extra per year into the coffers of have to rely on other services to the DoH, take away water used on provide services to their clients. common areas usage and you’ll These services are just not there. have about $30 million dollars, JGOS is a joke that everyone which is what the Dept says that it (except the DoH apparently) will collect. realises it doesn’t work. It is If the increase was say 5% of making DoH Tenants reliant on earned income, then the average services that just aren’t there. There payed by Tenants is $4.06, raising is real scepticism of the worth of a tad over 27 million. We know MOUs on co-coordinated service from the Dept’s figures that they the community, pay for the long- provision, and concern if funded are raising $30 Million, so the % term failure of State and Federal services (e.g. SAAP) were expected has to be over 5%. governments to properly fund to do extra, with no additional One of the questions raised by public housing. There will be no funding. There is of course a Tenants was: Will the water usage additional housing built or bought fundamental conflict between the appear on the rent statement and if as a result of the reforms - any Anti-Social Behaviour legislation you fall behind even by two weeks new stock will simply replace and the Reshaping Public Housing will you will be in arrears, with the stock that is destroyed or sold. changes. On the one hand we are ability to then be evicted? This of As the population grows, public going to house them, and on the course means that Water usage is in housing’s share of the total housing other hand we are making it easier reality a rent increase. stock will continue to shrink, and to kick them out. New Approach to Maintenance the pressures on public housing Carl Scully (the former Minister The new maintenance regime was will continue to grow. This is not for Housing) once stated that if announced to help the Department a sustainable direction for public the government had known then move to a planned maintenance housing. what it knows now about the regime. The NSW Government has Market Rent Review DoH estates at Macquarie Fields, committed an initial $125 million The Department will now regularly Minto and Airds they would never to implement its new maintenance review the rents of its properties to have been built. In 15 or 20 years program, which has already started match the rents of the private rental time the government looks back in the Sutherland Shire. This trial market. These market rent reviews and see at what has happened to is being expanded to 16 other areas will now be done annually and as the Department of Housing, the across the state this year, then a result may increase market rents creation of enclaves of disadvantage finally across the whole state in more frequently. and ghettoes, will the Minister of 2006. The Government, or the Minister housing at that time then ask, “If we The Department says that the of Housing, seems unconcerned had known this, why did we make changes to rent and rent subsidies about the broader question of that decision then?”

24 Winter 2005 inner voice 25 resource NSW Shadow Ministry

John Brogden Leader of the Opposition John Turner Shadow Minister for Local Government Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Planning and Major Projects Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs Brad Hazzard Shadow Minister for Community Services Shadow Minister for Youth Andrew Stoner Leader of the Nationals Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Shadow Minister for Roads Shadow Minister for Energy and Utilities Peta Seaton Shadow Treasurer Shadow Minister for Ports Shadow Minister for the Illawarra Barry O’Farrell Deputy Leader of the Opposition Peter Debnam Shadow Minister for Transport Services Shadow Minister for Health Andrew Humpherson Shadow Minister for Justice Don Page Deputy Leader of the Nationals Shadow Minister for Emergency Shadow Minister for Skills Development and Training Services Shadow Minister for State Development

Shadow Minister Regional Development Michael Richardson Shadow Minister for the Shadow Minister for the North Coast Environment Mike Gallacher Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council John Ryan Shadow Minister for Commerce Shadow Minister for Police Shadow Minister for Disability Services Shadow Minister for the Hunter Shadow Minister for Ageing Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Duncan Gay Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Leg Council Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Andrew Fraser Shadow Minister for Housing Shadow Minister for Mineral Resources Shadow Minister for Small Business Katrina Hodgkinson Shadow Minister for Tourism Andrew Tink Shadow Leader of the House Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Special Minister of State Adrian Piccoli Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Shadow Minister for Lands Chris Hartcher Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Shadow Minister for Planning Administration Catherine Cusack Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Shadow Minister for Women

Jillian Skinner Shadow Minister for School Education Gladys Berejiklian Shadow Minister for Mental Health Shadow Minister for the Arts Shadow Minister for Cancer and Medical Research George Souris Shadow Minister for Gaming and Racing Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation Ethnic Affairs

Changes to NSW Ministry

n our last issue we Morris Iemma MP Premier, Traesurer, and Minister for Citizenship published a list of John Watkins MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport and Minister for State Development NSW ministers and I John Della Bosca MLC Special Minister of State, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industrial their portfolios. Relations, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, Assistant Then Bob decided over Treasurer, a nice chardonnay that Bob Debus MP Attorney General, Minister for the Environment and Minsiter for the Arts there was more to life Carl Scully MP Minister for Police and Minsiter for Utilities than being top dog in Michael Costa MLC Minister for Roads, Minister for Finance, Minister for Infrastructure and NSW. Andrew was Minister for the Hunter told he wasn’t wanted Frank Sartor MP Minister for Planning Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister anymore and Craig spat Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Minister Assisting the Premier on the dummy because he the Arts, Minister for Redfern-Waterloo didn’t get Bob’s job. Reba Meagher MP Minister for Community Services, and Minister for Youth After the deals were Cherie Burton Minister for Housing and Minsiter Assisting The Minister for Health (Mental done, knives pulled out Health) of backs, a few chairs were reshuffled. Full Ministry http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/

26 Winter 2005 inner voice 27 resources & organisation

The latest way to fund the essential in human welfare. Rather Is It A Fact? community sector than going for a funded national approach, this meeting thought The Department of Community that covering NSW was a large Services has a lot of money to get That a new AMCO has been enough task. The meeting covered out to the community sector – and formed? the following topics: in a hurry. Gul Izmir, Deputy No, it is not a resurgence of a Ways for the sector to work co- Director General came to the last multi-national oil company, operatively FONGA* meeting and gave this but the sectors own version A list of questions to ask ourselves update. of entrepreneurship. AMCO What is the best process to use? She was looking for an open- stands for Association of Major How to engage all the bits of minded exchange of views and Charitable Organisation’s. Its the sector (Is this a compete and said we were ʻin this togetherʼ members are the large charities collaborate challenge?) to provide better services and and statewide organisations and What resources do we have? outcomes. For DoCS, the process it has been formed to represent The bottom line is taking the has gone really well, with their combined interests, such chance to ‘shape our own destiny’ approximately 300 proposals, as submissions to government not just waiting to see what double the number expected, enquiries. The web tells us that happens with an even mix of small and AMCO South Australia was large organisations, a variety of What is FONGA? representing the major charities of partnership models covering of all It is the Federation of Non- that state in 2000. It is just a bit of parts of the state government Agencies, consisting a mystery that people who have Gul explained the internal of peak organisations, regional been working across the sector process, which was: organisation s (like us) and have not heard of it before. Appoint a finance and large charities and statewide management consultant to help organisations. . It is resourced by design the selection process NCOSS. At least $16 million allocated in Devise a framework covering all Are Eastern Mental Health 2004/05 and a further $20 million aspects that needed addressing Services getting any in capital funding from 2003/04 Appoint an evaluation panel to had not been spent on HACC better? services? use the framework, consisting The Eastern Suburbs Interagency of senior DoCS executives is not just talking about Mental with expertise in areas like That the NSW Housing Health problems in their area, but Department is to cut the early childhood, finance and trying to do something positive. economics. outstandingly successful project After holding a Mental Health it has been funding at Northcott? Have the panel members evaluate Forum, they have set up a working projects separately, then all The project worker with the help party to get something done. They of government departments, together. The separate evaluation have purchased equipment for prevents dominant people from community groups, council and the FILOH Psychiatric Centre in MP Clover Moore have turned having too much influence. their area from funds they raised In Stage 2, preferred services Northcott from a battle ground themselves. They have also set into a model housing precinct. fill in refined templates to give a up ongoing meetings with the more extensive description of the Executives of the Area Health services they are proposing The Council of Social Service Mental Health Section. While of New South Wales had a The Community 2025 admitting that there is a crisis in What will the Community Sector, seventieth birthday bash (dress mental health care, the executives look like in 20 years time? The formal), excluding most low-paid say it is hard to make any changes NSW Council of Social Service community workers because the like increasing case management (NCOSS) held a meeting with tickets cost between $80 and because of a lack of staff and interested FONGA* members, $140? Was the cost of a ticket training to get new staff. It might to work out how we might do based on the employers grant also be a bit hard to focus when some futuring for ourselves. income, not the workers pay? the health areas, under previous Canada and the UK have been Minister Morris Iemma stretch through this process and they from Northern Beaches to the came up with some directions and Illawarra! strategies to help keep what is

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28 Winter 2005