DOCSLIB.ORG

Free Wi-Fi? Music, Film, Theatre Story – Page 6 the Review – Pages 11-14

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Free Wi-Fi? Music, Film, Theatre Story – Page 6 the Review – Pages 11-14 Free Wi-Fi? Music, film, theatre Story – page 6 The Review – pages 11-14 NUMBER NINETY-THreE MAY ’11 CIRCULATION 22,000 ALEXANDRIA BEACONSFIELD CHIPPENDALE DARLINGTON ERSKINEVILLE EVELEIGH GLEBE KINGS CROSS NEWTOWN REDFERN SURRY HILLS WATERLOO WOOLLOOMOOLOO ZETLAND Development plans raise ire of residents NICHOLAS MCCALLUM ERSKINEVILLE: A battle between developers and residents has flared over the Ashmore Estate. In the dying days of the Keneally Government the Department of Planning pushed through a massive increase in the floor space ratio. The FSR increase of 1.75:1m to 2.75:1m has raised the ire of local residents and business owners as well as City councillors. The former industrial estate, which covers 17 hectares between Mitchell Road and the railway line, was flagged for urban renewal in 1998 and has been in the possession of the Goodman Group since 1989. The new plan would increase the number of dwellings on the site by more than 500 units, meaning an additional 1,100 residents could be squeezed into the site. Greens Councillor Irene Doutney has derided the demands of the DoP as the deplorable final orders of Labor. Anne Eastman and David Atkins Photo: Esther Turnbull “I believe that the DoP, under the last Labor Government, decided to pass as met with the requirements of the South many large-scale developments as they Sydney SCP Urban Design 1997. It could before they were dumped,” she Solar eclipse of the ’hood further stated that though deferred said. “I think that their commitment commencement consent was granted it to overdevelopment was part of their PATRICIA TELLIS (perhaps the only one) with photovoltaic also affect the daylight to their living, was subject to some design changes that sub-regional strategy to push as many cells on the roof to harness solar energy. dining and kitchen areas. the applicant needed to fulfil. dwellings as possible into brownfield ALEXANDRIA: “Our application was The house uses solar panels to heat An architect and planner by profession, “The City of Sydney Council and sites in urban areas.” snowjob-ed. The staff at the City of the water, recycles water from the roof Mr Atkins is frustrated at how easily Mayor Moore are hypocrites”, exclaims Cr Dourtney added that the DoP Sydney has concocted stuff, botched onto the garden and uses whirly-gigs the City of Sydney has passed the a disappointed Ms Eastman. “Moore directive was proof that the former up the assessment of the proposed (ventilators) on the roof that draw hot alterations and additions. “The proposed is constantly talking about sustainable Labor Government was doing the development next door and brazenly air up and out thus cutting down the use modifications are not compliant with energy and encouraging residents to bidding of developers ahead of residents, flaunted the DCP (Development Control of air conditioners in summer and heaters the City of Sydney’s Heritage DCP. The go green. There was so much publicity which only reinforced public cynicism. Plan) of 1997”, exclaims an irate and in winter. structure is a contributory building within and hype surrounding the council’s A letter issued to residents in March dejected David Atkins, a resident of Today, the couple’s energy efficient the Copper Estate conservation area,” announcement of the largest non- by Lord Mayor Clover Moore highlighted Lawrence Street, Alexandria. home is in danger of losing its single he asserts. residential solar energy project, the the impacts that the increase would source of energy. Their neighbour’s plan Approving the modifications and papers were full of Cate Blanchett have on the area including traffic Mr Atkins and his partner, Anne to renovate and make additions to the alterations, Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s switching on Sydney Theatre Company’s congestion, overshadowing from the Eastman, moved to Alexandria 18 years structure will have a direct impact on office reiterated that the City of Sydney solar powered roof but when it comes high-density towers and a loss of ago when they purchased their single- their amenities, especially the shared staff considered the proposal’s compliance down to the common man’s [sic] regional views. storey terrace house with a vision to light well. The first-floor additions to the with relevant planning controls in their effort, not much is done to appreciate The new proposal allows for a height convert it into a green and sustainable rear of the main roof will result in loss of assessment. The panel assessed the or encourage individual initiatives. increase of 60 metres. This means that home. Investing years in remodelling their solar access. This in turn will also directly potential impacts of the proposal and I am very disappointed by the way we the total amount of storeys allowed place, they created a dream home that impact the solar hot water panels and concluded that the solar and daylight were treated. I expected more out of will increase from the nine originally is one of the only houses on the street photovoltaic cells. The alterations will access in the development application the council.” S proposed in the continued on page 2 EVELEIGH FARMERS’ MARKET EVERY SATURDAY 8am - 1pm COME TASTE AUTUMN An all weather marketplace rain, hail or shine Visit www.eveleighmarket.com.au for all details 243 Wilson St, Darlington NSW 2008 2 NEWS May 2011 PUBLISHER South Sydney Uniting Church Have You Heard? Raglan Street, Waterloo Development plans Telephone 0400 008 338 Phone/fax 02 9698 8949 The views expressed in this newspaper are THE FAST NEWS those of the author and the article and are not WITH TREVOR DAVIES raise ire of residents necessarily the views of the Uniting Church. continued from page 1 the O’Farrell Government. ADVERTISING group where residents gather and [email protected] Resistance on the move council plan to a mean height of 19 Neither Joel nor Erin was dismissive inevitably talk about day-to-day 9319 1373 Chippendale will never be the same storeys. This, however, is only a median of the city’s housing population – they things while doing whatever they MAILING ADDRESS: again. The Resistance centre, home height. In the new plan, the ceiling asked only for a more measured PO Box 3288 of the Green Left Weekly and the do. Groundswell wants to involve height has been lowered which could response. “People don’t bother me”, Redfern NSW 2016 Socialist Alliance has been there for as many residents as possible. We allow for up to 24 storeys according to said Joel, when confronted with the LETTERS years. It’s also been the centre of want people to know about what is one council estimate. fact that he could have 5,000 new Please send letters and emails to: other radical activities – from the old happening now, or in the future, and The President of Friends of neighbours, “as long as they don’t The South Sydney Herald. days of the anti-apartheid and Anti- to hear what residents think. We want Erskineville, Brett Mason, declared the impact on everything”. In particular, Email: [email protected] Supply sender name and suburb. Vietnam war demos, and the more what happens in the discussion to plan an overdevelopment that would be public transport. Size: 150 words or less. recent campaign against the Iraq war, be fed back into the community. We “completely out of place” in a suburb Cr Doutney was also concerned We may edit for legal or other reasons. as well as having one of Sydney’s can’t get thousands of people in one that has an average building height about the population effect on public of two storeys and five storeys as a transport. “Public transport is very light best collections of “left” books in room for a discussion, but we can get current maximum. “It sets a dangerous in the Ashmore Estate area,” she said. its bookshop. Fast News remembers the people who, together, talk with with fondness one state election, precedent”, he said, adding, “It’s “Residents complain consistently of thousands of people in one room and decades ago. A friend and I were too dense a construction on top of a not being able to get onto the trains at in that way give thousands of people chased down the street after pasting suburb”. Other residents in the area Erskineville station during peak hours a voice. Before the first community two election posters on the building shared this sentiment. and the bus service is non-existent. The about midnight. Going to hear John discussion we encourage you to talk Erin and Joel, a young couple that traffic problems related to an increase with your friends, neighbours, local has lived in Erskineville for nearly two of 1,000 people [on top of Council’s Managing EdiTOR FEATURES EDITOR Pilger speak. Yeah, the building Andrew Collis Dorothy McRae-McMahon holds good memories. I understand agencies and your groups about years, expressed concerns over the existing plans] will be dramatic. For the folks are moving to Pyrmont. Groundswell and the issues they potential impact that the new DoP plan an area already under transport siege think are important in Redfern and would have on the area. “I don’t like new and innovative solutions will Waterloo. Ask what information, the idea of these massive buildings be needed to support the growing training or support would people when everything else is so little”, said number of residents whichever plan is Some workers at find useful in understanding Erin, expressing her displeasure at the implemented in the area.” out-of-place Zenix Building, which juts Cr Doutney reflected that the DoP ATP say that Redfern and responding to their issues? from the landscape adjacent to Sydney plans failed to provide a real account NEWS EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR is one of the most What actions do people think the Trevor Davies Ali Blogg Park.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Linda Scott for Sydney Strong, Local, Committed
    The South Sydney Herald is available online: www.southsydneyherald.com.au FREE printed edition every month to 21,000+ regular readers. VOLUME ONE NUMBER FORTY-NINE MAR’07 CIRCULATION 21,000 ALEXANDRIA BEACONSFIELD CHIPPENDALE DARLINGTON ERSKINEVILLE KINGS CROSS NEWTOWN REDFERN SURRY HILLS WATERLOO WOOLLOOMOOLOO ZETLAND RESTORE HUMAN RIGHTS BRING DAVID HICKS HOME New South Wales decides PROTEST AT 264 PITT STREET, CITY The South Sydney Herald gives you, as a two page insert, SUNDAY MARCH 25 ✓ information you need to know about your voting electorates. PAGES 8 & 13 More on PAGE 15 Water and housing: Labor and Greens Frank hits a high note - good news for live music? go toe to toe John Wardle Bill Birtles and Trevor Davies The live music scene in NSW is set to receive a new and much fairer regu- Heffron Labor incumbent Kristina latory system, after Planning Minister Keneally has denied that the State Frank Sartor and the Iemma Govern- government’s promised desalination ment implemented amendments to plant will cause road closures and the Local Government Act including extensive roadwork in Erskineville. a streamlined process to regulate Claims that the $1.9 billion desalina- entertainment in NSW and bring us tion plant at Kurnell will cause two more into line with other states. years of roadworks across Sydney’s Passed in the last week of Parlia- southern suburbs were first made by ment in November 2006, these the Daily Telegraph in February. reforms are “long overdue, and State government plans revealed extremely good news for the live that the 9 km pipeline needed to music industry” says Planning connect the city water tunnel with the Minister Frank Sartor.
    [Show full text]
  • I Am Writing to Report on the Outcomes of The
    28 July 2009 Mr Barry Cotter Chair: Sydney Airport Community Forum The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Ms Maria Patrinos Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Community Representative Parliament House Mr Kevin Hill CANBERRA ACT 2600 Community Representative The Hon John Murphy MP Federal Member for Lowe The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP Dear Minister Federal Member for Sydney The Hon Peter Garrett MP I am writing to report on the outcomes of the meeting of the Sydney Federal Member for Kingsford-Smith th Airport Community Forum (SACF) held on Friday 10 of July 2009. The Hon Tony Burke MP Federal Member for Watson Members discussed the issue of the second airport for Sydney and The Hon Robert McClelland MP indicated they would appreciate your advice on whether the Federal Member for Barton Government’s policy is for the second airport to be within the Sydney The Hon Joe Hockey MP Federal Member for North Sydney Basin. The Hon Maxine McKew MP Federal Member for Bennelong The Forum expressed interest in the discussion paper ‘Safeguards for The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP airports and the communities around them’ recently released by the Federal Member for Bradfield Government. In particular members were concerned that penetrations The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP of the Sydney Airport Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) by new Federal Member for Wentworth buildings may restrict long term options for sharing noise through the Mr Scott Morrison MP Federal Member for Cook spreading of flight paths. The Hon Kristina Keneally MP State Member for Heffron During discussions on the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) project The Hon Frank Sartor MP there was broad agreement that Mode 15 has been a positive addition State Member for Rockdale to the suite of noise sharing modes available under the Airport’s Long The Hon Carmel Tebbutt MP Term Operating Plan (LTOP).
    [Show full text]
  • Annualreport 2005.Pdf (PDF, 3.89MB)
    The University The University of Sydney The University of Sydney Annual Report of Sydney Annual Report Annual Report 2005 2005 200 5 University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia www.usyd.edu.au 06/1042 The University of Sydney NSW 2006 April 2006 The Honourable Carmel Tebbutt, MLC Minister for Education and Training Level 33, Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister, The Senate of the University of Sydney has the honour of presenting to you, in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and its subsequent amendments, the report of the proceedings and financial statements of the University of Sydney for the year ended 31 December 2005. The Hon Justice Kim Santow OAM Chancellor The University of Sydney in 2005 45,966 students 8808 international students 5812 full-time staff 17:1 student/staff ratio Professor Gavin Brown AO 15 Federation Fellows Vice-Chancellor and Principal 9 ARC Centres of Excellence 1 ARC Special Research Centre 1 ARC Key Centre of Teaching and Research 22 Cooperative Research Centres 3 NHMRC Centres of Clinical Research Excellence 29 spin-off companies $175 million research and consultancy income 5.1 million library holdings 42 sporting clubs 250+ clubs and societies 1 Annual Report 2005 The University of Sydney Annual Report 2005 Contents Charter...............................................................2 Federal government-funded Our aspiration and values............................2 research centres..........................................42 Highlights 2005 ..............................................3
    [Show full text]
  • Inaugural Speech
    INAUGURAL SPEECH The PRESIDENT: I remind honourable members that this is the member's first speech and she should be given all due consideration. Before the honourable member starts, I welcome into my gallery members of the Hon. Rose Jackson's family, including her husband, Sam Crosby, their children, Oscar and Charlotte, her father, Mr Martin Butler, her mother-in-law, Mrs Bronwyn Crosby, and her brother, Joe. I also welcome into the public gallery the Hon. Chris Bowen, member for McMahon in the Australian Parliament. I welcome you all in the House this evening for the member's first speech. The Hon. ROSE JACKSON (18:01): The land we are on is called Eora. The first people here were the Gadigal. In 1909 this Parliament passed the Aborigines Protection Act, which gave legal force to the Aborigines Welfare Board and its wide-ranging control over the lives of Aboriginal people. In doing so, it introduced one of the deepest sources of our national shame by codifying the board's power to remove Aboriginal children from their families. I acknowledge the Gadigal today in this place not as a mere hat tip or commonplace convention but in solemn acknowledgement that the laws that gave the New South Wales Government power to steal the children of Aboriginal families, to take the babies from their mummies, were laws that were made in this very room, in this Parliament House, by our predecessors. The lives and resilience of the Gadigal should serve to inspire and humble us. They should stand as a profound warning: What we do here matters.
    [Show full text]
  • The Slow Death of a Salesman
    The slow death of a salesman Authors: Deborah Snow, Andrew West, Publication: Sydney Morning Herald Mathew Moore & Damien Murphy Section: News Review Date: 13/09/2008 Pages: 28-29 Words: 4,010 Source: SMH Like Kevin Rudd, Nathan Rees's ambition was enough to put him above other would-be contenders for political leadership. To those outside politics, Nathan Rees's installation as Premier came as a bolt from the blue. But forces working against Morris Iemma had been gathering for months. As a number of Labor insiders tell it, his unwavering support for privatisation of the state's power industry was not the only cause of Iemma's downfall. The NSW Labor headquarters in Sussex Street, under the leadership of its secretary, Karl Bitar, 37, had tu rned against Iemma months before when his disapproval ratings soared. Iemma told colleagues he detected a change in Bitar's attitude towards him from about Christmas. "By March you could see that Morris was doing worse than the party," a source said. "The punters out there thought they had been conned; Morris came in as premier and said it was a new government. They had given him the benefit of the doubt and progress had not been made. So the electorate was pissed off." Against the drum-beat of the polls, the privatisation debate was growing steadily more bitter. Party bosses had kept a tight lid on the festering tensions over electricity during last year's federal election campaign. But once that was out of the way, all bets were off. "Karl Bitar and Joh n Robertson [the UnionsNSW boss] did nothing else from the Monday after the federal election until the state party conference in May except try to manage the electricity debate," said a source.
    [Show full text]
  • From Care to Custody: Young Women in Out-Of-Home Care in the Criminal Justice System
    From Care to Custody: Young Women in Out-of-Home Care in the Criminal Justice System Introduction Children in out-of-home care (those children removed from their homes and placed in state care by an order of the Children’s Court) are vastly over-represented in the New South Wales juvenile justice system. The Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in New South Wales (Wood 2008) found that 28 percent of males and 39 percent of females in detention had a history of out-of-home care (Wood 2008:556). The much anticipated Strategic Review of the New South Wales Juvenile Justice System, released in April 2010, noted these figures and stressed that addressing the risk factors of out-of-home care and its links to the juvenile justice system was a ‘sound policy platform’ (Noetic Solutions 2010:88). This is a sadly familiar refrain. While the terminology may have changed (e.g. the term ‘state ward’ is no longer used to refer to this group), little progress has been made to reduce the number of children in care appearing before NSW courts and filling NSW’s juvenile detention centres. In 1992, the NSW Parliament’s inquiry into juvenile justice heard evidence that female state wards were ‘forty times more likely to be detained in custody than other girls’ and were ‘frequently unable to meet the bail conditions regarding an approved place of residence, by default remain(ing) in detention’ (Standing Committee on Social Issues 1992:141). Appalled, the Committee noted that ‘state wards are a particularly vulnerable group to involvement in the Juvenile Justice System’ and urged the then Department of Community Services (DoCS)1 and the Office of Juvenile Justice ‘to continue to monitor the numbers of state wards in the Juvenile Justice System with a view to developing strategies as to how best such young people might be diverted from contact with that system’ (Standing Committee on Social Issues 1992:54).
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis August
    Chapter 1 Introduction Section 1.1: ‘A fit place for women’? Section 1.2: Problems of sex, gender and parliament Section 1.3: Gender and the Parliament, 1995-1999 Section 1.4: Expectations on female MPs Section 1.5: Outline of the thesis Section 1.1: ‘A fit place for women’? The Sydney Morning Herald of 27 August 1925 reported the first speech given by a female Member of Parliament (hereafter MP) in New South Wales. In the Legislative Assembly on the previous day, Millicent Preston-Stanley, Nationalist Party Member for the Eastern Suburbs, created history. According to the Herald: ‘Miss Stanley proceeded to illumine the House with a few little shafts of humour. “For many years”, she said, “I have in this House looked down upon honourable members from above. And I have wondered how so many old women have managed to get here - not only to get here, but to stay here”. The Herald continued: ‘The House figuratively rocked with laughter. Miss Stanley hastened to explain herself. “I am referring”, she said amidst further laughter, “not to the physical age of the old gentlemen in question, but to their mental age, and to that obvious vacuity of mind which characterises the old gentlemen to whom I have referred”. Members obviously could not afford to manifest any deep sense of injury because of a woman’s banter. They laughed instead’. Preston-Stanley’s speech marks an important point in gender politics. It introduced female participation in the Twenty-seventh Parliament. It stands chronologically midway between the introduction of responsible government in the 1850s and the Fifty-first Parliament elected in March 1995.
    [Show full text]
  • Michael Daley Inaugural Speech.Pdf
    Inaugural Speeches Inaugural Speeches Extract from NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard and Papers Wednesday 12 October 2005. Mr MICHAEL DALEY (Maroubra) [7.58 p.m.] (Inaugural speech): I would like to similarly begin by congratulating Steven Chaytor, the honourable member for Macquarie Fields, and Carmel Tebbutt, the honourable member for Marrickville, who were elected on the day I was elected. Having been elected on the same day, I believe we will always share a special bond. As a young legal student I read carefully about the development of democratic institutions in the early colony of New South Wales and I studied the social and legal history and traditions of this House, which, like many similar Chambers in the world, is the inheritor of over 700 years of history and tradition. It is with a sense of awe and great pride that I address the House now for the first time. I do not for one moment fail to appreciate that the people of Maroubra have bestowed upon me what I consider to be the greatest privilege citizens can bestow upon another in a democracy—the opportunity to be their representative in a legislature. I thank the families of Maroubra, my fellow locals, for electing me on 17 September. I have lived every day of my life in the Maroubra electorate. I will not let them down. There have been only three former members for Maroubra—and two of them have been Premiers— Robert James Heffron from the establishment of the seat in 1950 until 1968, William Henry Haig from 1968 until 1983, and Robert John Carr from 1983 until his departure earlier this year.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Council
    15337 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Tuesday 3 May 2005 ______ The President (The Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann) took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The Clerk of the Parliaments offered the Prayers. The PRESIDENT: I acknowledge that we are meeting on Eora land. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT The PRESIDENT: I report the receipt of the following message from His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor: J. J. SPIGELMAN OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR SYDNEY 2005 The Honourable James Jacob Spigelman, Chief Justice of New South Wales, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New South Wales, has the honour to inform the Legislative Council that, consequent on the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir, being absent from the State, he has this day assumed the administration of the Government of the State. 1 May 2005 SENATE VACANCY Resignation of Senator John Tierney The PRESIDENT: I report the receipt of a message from Her Excellency the Governor transmitting a copy of a dispatch from the President of the Senate of the Commonwealth of 14 April 2005 notifying that a vacancy had happened in the representation of the State of New South Wales in the Senate through the resignation of John Tierney on 14 April 2005. Motion by the Hon. Tony Kelly agreed to: That the message be taken into consideration on the receipt by this House of a message from the Legislative Assembly dealing with the same subject. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following bills reported: Civil Liability Amendment (Offender Damages) Bill Independent Commission Against Corruption Amendment Bill Road Transport (General) Bill Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (New South Wales) Bill INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report The President tabled, in accordance with the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, the report entitled "Report on Investigation into the Alleged Mistreatment of Nurses", dated April 2005.
    [Show full text]
  • Shadow Cabinet Today – Putting Forward a Mix of New Faces and Experience
    MEDIA RELEASE NSW OPPOSITION LEADER Friday, April 8, 2011 OPPOSITION LEADER ANNOUNCES NEW CABINET Opposition Leader John Robertson announced his shadow cabinet today – putting forward a mix of new faces and experience. "My team is fresh, energetic and ready to work," said Mr Robertson. "I have selected smart, talented people - determined to win back the trust of the people of NSW. "We are a smaller team but we will work twice as hard to hold the O'Farrell Government to account." Linda Burney will serve as Deputy Leader, Shadow Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Heritage, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Shadow Minister for the Hunter and Shadow Minister for the Central Coast. "Linda Burney as Deputy Leader brings a wealth of experience, a passion for social justice and a strength of character I admire. "Linda's personal story is the very embodiment of what Labor stands for – that every person should have the opportunity to be the best they can be. "As Leader and Deputy Leader, Linda and I will also take on the regional shadow portfolios of the Hunter, Central Coast, Western Sydney and the Illawarra. "Michael Daley will take on the Treasury and Finance and Services portfolios; and unlike the Premier, I have full confidence in Michael to manage all issues relating to the State's budget and economy. "Of the 15 people in my team, seven are fresh faces – these new shadow cabinet members bring with them an energy, enthusiasm and commitment worthy of the task ahead," said Mr Robertson. Some of the fresh faces include: Andrew McDonald, Shadow Minister for Health and Shadow Minister for Medical Research.
    [Show full text]
  • An Virtual Ethnographic Study of Children's Screen Time
    As Seen on Screen: An Virtual Ethnographic Study of Children’s Screen Time by Nicole Stewart B.A., Royal Roads University, 2013 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School of Communication Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology © Nicole Stewart 2016 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Fall 2016 Approval Name: Nicole Stewart Degree: Master of Arts (Communication) Title: As Seen on Screen: An Virtual Ethnographic Study of Children’s Screen Time Examining Committee: Chair: J. Adam Holbrook, Adjunct Professor Alexandra Samuel External Examiner Frederik Lesage Senior Supervisor Assistant Professor Richard Smith Supervisor Professor Date Defended/Approved: October 26, 2016 ii Abstract Children’s screen time is a cultural construct, a worldwide issue, and a highly controversial subject that separates people in ideological groups over the perceived impact that media and technology have on children. Screen time is a phenomenon, a discourse, an object, and a thing. It is a slippery, flexible, and complex issue that is constantly evolving, which only intensifies the debate over whether children’s screen time is positive or negative. Using virtual ethnography, I examined a number of field sites including academic journals, Twitter, LexisNexis, Reddit and The Bump to uncover the sentiments that scholars, media and parents form about children’s screen time. These sentiments often mirror the media harm debate, which positions children as vulnerable or competent. The media report on academic research, which is then discussed by parents. Groups form around the affective dimension of the debate (emotional ideologies), which only perpetuates the idea that children’s screen time is positive or negative (rather than both).
    [Show full text]
  • The NSW 2011 Election: a Tale of Hubris, Knaves and Scallywags
    The NSW 2011 election: a tale of hubris, knaves and scallywags Elaine Thompson* On March 28, 2011, some 4,635,810 electors were enrolled to vote at the four-year fixed term election in New South Wales. The results were no surprise; indeed they were a foregone conclusion, with the Labor government which had been in power for 16 years, resoundingly defeated in both houses. The reasons were not hard to find: massive hubris by a government which itself admitted it had ignored voters’ wishes and needs; promises made on much-needed infrastructure that were started and then dropped; ever-present scandals and accusations of corruption and indifference;1 sweetheart deals and suspected personal patronage;2 party apparatchiks from Labor headquarters in Sydney’s Sussex Street 3 being seen to be dominating and directing policy, premiers and pre- selection;4 the midnight last-minute privatisation of electricity; the cynicism of placing Treasurer Eric Roozendahl at the top of Labor’s upper house ticket;5 abuse of the parliamentary processes;6 large numbers of ministerial and other resignations in the year leading up to the election (22 in total); and, in the last months, a premier who attempted to distance herself from her own party.7 The 2011 election was not helped for Labor by the extremely late selection of candidates for a number of seats8 and the selection of some extremely poor candidates. Labor also had alienated many ethnic voters, particularly the Chinese by its treatment of former prime minister, Kevin Rudd. Moreover, as with all voters, Labor had neglected what had been its strong ethnic base, while the opposition leader, Barry O’Farrell, had been courting this base for the four years leading up to the election, a courtship which paid off in 2011 according to election analyst Antony Green, as well as analyst of ethnic communities, Professor Andrew Jacubowicz.9 * Dr Elaine Thompson is a former editor of the Australasian Parliamentary Review, retired associate professor of politics from UNSW and long-time commentator on elections and parliament.
    [Show full text]