O-Week - Week 1, Semester 1, 2014 First Published 1953 Volume 60, No. 01

University of NSW’s Independent Student Newspaper

EDITORIAL 2 CALENDAR 2 SHORTLIST 3 LETTERS 3 AGONY IBIS 3 NEWS 4-7, 15 UNSW Pushes For Increased Fees 4 In Popular Courses Ammy Singh Hard Right Liberal Club Meeting 4 Disbanded Following Security Concerns Ammy Singh Ink Still Drying On Liberals’ 5 Liquor Legislation Crystal Moran UNSW’s New Colleges Are Here, 6 But At What Cost? Nick Timms The End Of Hecs As We Know It 7 Matthew Bugden Abott Stakes Agenda At G20 15 Summit Matthew Baker COLUMNS 2, 10-11 Noodle House Yarns 2 David Bailey-Mckay An Expert’s Guide to Life 10 Dylan Chalwell Is Operation Sovereign Borders 11 Racist? Ned Hirst FEATURES 8-10 Funny Think Hing 8 Freya King How Twitter Is The Answer To 9 Ending World Poverty Amie Hamling International Student Survival 10 Guide 101 Faria Huq CREATIVE 13-14 OPINIONS 15-16 A Farewell To Welfare? 15 Brigid Mcmanus Abott Vs. The ABC 16 Caleb Burke REVIEWS 17-18 SRC, PGC, SDC REPORTS 19-20 COMIC 21 SPORT 22-24 Strong Play By Aussie Women’s 22 Cricket Team: Where’s The Fanfare? Araz Eleyasian UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet 22 Callum Watson Ammy Singh UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet 23 Taylah O’neill Sam Davies UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet 23 Scott Kneller Ammy Singh Belle Of The Board 24 Ammy Singh

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VOLUME 60, ISSUE 1 O-Week - Week 1

Welcome to a new year at UNSW. The sun is out in swarming human Yellow Shirts form, - ing is our pick of the lot), and your university is once againfree snow trying cones to pump abound you at forO-Week a casual (commie few tens red offlavour thou- sands of dollars. Ah, UNSW. Some things never do change. If you’re one of the lucky many to be studying com- merce, law, engineering or medicine, consider foregoing those weekends out and dropping a few twenty dollar bills in your piggy bank from now until approximately the year 2050, because UNSW is out to hook up an IV drip to your bank account. Our cover story on page 4 looks at head honcho Fred Hilmer’s latest call for fee deregula- tion. Crystal Moran reports from NSW Parliament on the day which saw a raft of legislation targeting alcohol- Date Events fuelled violence passed by Labor and the Liberals. Ru- mour has it the bills were enacted in their original form as scribbles on a paper napkin from Macca’s. th Feb Mastodon headline gig to kick off Oweek Meanwhile, Nick Timms digs deeper into the exorbi- 24 7:30pm, The Roundhouse Mastodon + Baroness + Gojira play the Roundhouse, a triple layering of metal to kick tant price increases for students at the new Kensington off O-week. Check Ticketek for availability. Colleges complex, while Matthew Bugden explores the Free screening of Pompeii! wanting. Matthew Baker, Brigid McManus, and Caleb 7:30pm-9:30pm, Quad Lawn Burkelikely effectsround outof HECS our trifecta privatisation of Abbott and specials, finds theand policy make sure to catch Freya King, Amos Robinson, and Leigh Released only a few days before, watch W.S Andersons action-adventure film based Rigozzi in our features, creative, and comic section for on the horrific explosion of Mount Vesuvius that follows Milo (Kit Harington), a slave your fortnightly prescription of laughs. turned gladiator who must fight to escape certain death. We’ve also got a Sochi Special in our brand spanking th Feb How to Get Money: Centrelink and Employment 101 new sports section, featuring interviews by Sam Davies 25 2:30pm-3:30pm, Law Theatre G02 Learn the in’s and out’s of this sometimes confusing system with the helpful support (and me!) with four Winter Olympians, all kickass to services we have here on campus. boot. Araz Eleyasian also talks women’s cricket and won- ders why nobody else does. Free Stand Up Comedy Night And maybe when you’re strolling down the main 7pm-9:30pm, Science Theatre walkway this week, dreading the 895 bus queue (see Hilarious stand up comedy from ’s best comedians - Merrick Watts to headline. page 13 for visual proof of its soul-crushing length), take a moment to bow in respect to our glorious Arc overlords th Feb Liberal vs. Labor Debate at the Blockhouse, whose generosity makes the words 26 1pm, Clubs Space, Quad Room G032 A dedicated yawn as the youthful kin of the two grand old parties of the country go at it. handouts. Arc Student Support Tenancy Information Session “freeUntil drinks” next fortnight,possible on so many of its 240+ clubs’ flyer 2pm-3pm, Law Theatre G02 Ammy, with the rest of your friendly neighbourhood editors, Freya and Jake FREE GIG: Thundamentals 7pm-Late,Vital information The Roundhouse seminar to help those becoming tenants for the first time. Aussie Hip Hop group hailing from the Blue Mountains take to the Roundhouse for a PUBLISHING DETAILS free O-week gig. Editors Graphic Designer Ammy Singh, Chere De Koh th Feb Keeping your money, license & Sanity Freya King, Front Cover Collage 27 11pm-12pm, The Red Centre, Theatre G001 Arc Legal & Advocacy show you how to deal with problems relating to cars and driving, Jacob K. Glud Chere De Koh Copy Editor Photographer for the driving student. Araz Eleyasian Tina Giannoulis ‘Thesomething Psychology they see of studentsDating and come Social into Interaction’ their offices byregularly Dr. Lisa throughout Williams the year. Vital Reviews Editor Comics 12pm-1pm, The Red Centre, Theatre G001 Sarah Fernandes Leigh Rigozzi Dom Foffani and behaviour? Dr. Lisa Williams attempts to explain what underpins how people in- Contributors teractWhy do with we each behave other. in certain ways with people? What influences human interaction David Bailey-Mckay, Ammy Singh, Crystal Moran, O-WEEK ‘UV’ PARTY: BLACKOUT (18+ only) Nick Timms, Matthew Bugden, Freya King, Amie 8pm-2am, The Roundhouse Hamling, Faria Huq, Dylan Chalwell, Ned Hirst, Amos Robertson, Matthew Baker, Brigid McManus, the lights dim and the rave kicks in. Caleb Burke, Sarah Fernandes, Kyle Redman, Cost:The annual FREE for Roundhouse Arc members O-week before party 7:30pm, returns $10 UNSW for a night students, of glow $15 sticksgeneral and admission fluro as Jeremy Szal, Lucia Watson, Araz Eleyasian, Sam Tickets must be pre-purchased from unswroundhouse.com Davies Contact [email protected] th Feb ‘Australia’s Issue with Same Sex Marriage’ by Dr. Paul Kildea PO Box 173, Kingsford, NSW, 2032 28 12pm-1pm, Law Theatre G02 Whilst Canada, the UK and our neighbours across the Tasman have leagalise same- Tharunka acknowledges the Bedegal and Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which the University sex marriage, we’re still back in the noughties. Dr. Paul Kildea explains why it isn’t as stands. easy for Australian lawmakers to do so. A brief Q and A will be held after. Tharunka is published periodically by Arc @ UNSW. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of Arc, the Rep- st Mar Carna-Uni resentative Council or the Tharunka editing team, unless ex- 1 9pm, The Roundhouse pressly stated. Arc accepts no responsibility for the accuracy A Brazilian Carnival experience set to take over the Roundhouse this year for the of any of the opinions or information contained in this issue of Tharunka. Any complaints should be made in writing to the Marketing & Publications Coordinator. international DJs. first time. Will feature performances from Brazilian dancers, capoeira, live bands and NOODLE HOUSE YARNS

SHORTLIST 3

with Short “Et tu, Pink?” sent shockwaves through student dent politicians with bragging rights, politicians keenly political scenes last year. This saw the fall of a 14 year not taking an interest, and a line on one’s resume at stake. reign and Tweedledum and Tweedledee storm the Uni- Last year saw Voice win SRC elections for the tenth versity of ’s SRC to “head kick” key members year in a row with 75% of the primary vote. Some attrib- List of SLS. At UTS we saw NLS/Unity under “Elevate” lose ute this to Voice’s well run campaign, while some due to to Grassroots, posing the question of whether this was the election’s timing, and others to disunity within Cen- due to people from the ALP campaigning for Grass- tre Unity. All that can be said, as someone who has cam- roots, or due to people from the ALP not campaigning paigned for Voice for the previous 4 years is “if you come for Elevate. As a result 2014 will see no single faction at the King, you better not miss”. dominate the Sydney student politics scene. Equity Committee And let’s not forget the Liberals and their non-exist- - Now the gets to watch the salt- ent factional war. This war has waged for many a year tion of an Equity Committee as provisioned for in the ing of the earth and grass grow. UTS will no longer be with the various shades of regal blue bloods resulting in SRCThe charter. first SRC The meeting charter sawstates deliberation that “the onpurpose the crea of televised. This, however, is more of the systematic split the Committee is to communicate plans between the between Grassroots and Socialist Alternative over NUS various departments, to help plan cross-departmen- and Campus politics. Lets hope this unlikely coalition into disrepute. We have recently seen the resurgence of many casualties and clubs disaffiliated for bringing Arc tal events and also provide recommendations to the of radicals, reformist and degenerates can form an ef- militant religious fundamentalists both on campus and in Councils as to motions and events.” The Committee fective body against Abbott. would comprise of the Ethnic Affairs, Indigenous, Inter- Student politics at UNSW consist mostly of bad Club and the Liberalism Society what occurred between national, Queer, Students with Disabilities, Welfare and twoAfghanistan. former Young Suffice Liberal to say, Presidents at this O-week in the go Speakers ask Freedom Din- piss during SRC elections. This may mean so little to the ing room at NSW State Parliament. Why? Because they Further deliberation will be held at the next SRC meet- averagemeals and student worse but meetings, is of the utmost and floods importance of blood to stu and- couldn’t possibly comment. ing.Women’s Officers as well as their COFA counterparts. Creation of SER

& Representation Committee took place on the 10th of FebruaryThe first after meeting its creation of the newlast Studentyear. An Engagementinternal Arc Agony Ibis Letters committee, it is comprised of the heads of Arc, Mar- keting and the various bodies that represent student Submit your Letters & interests within Arc. Comments to Benjamin Heenan, current SER chair and Arc Board director, commented that “The Student Engagement and Representation Ad Hoc Committee (SER) brings together [email protected] the heads of all our independent student bodies - SRC, twitter.com/tharunka PGC, SDC, COFA Council, IRC, and Tharunka. It provides facebook.com/Tharunka these bodies a clear link to Board, while allowing a forum Tharunka, PO Box 173, Kingsford, NSW, 2032 for discussion about current issues they face that might have universal applications across the other bodies.” The Dear Agony Ibis, committee is also to address issues relating to account- What is my life going to be like this year? ability within the organisations. Fresher Dear Editors, Martin Sharp died at the age of 71, 1st December Young Liberals in turmoil Dear Fresher, 2013. He was one of Australia’s most famous pop Recent ruptures have formed in the Young Liberal Not wanting to ruin the surprise, I can say this: be artists and graphic designers. His psychedelic works presence at UNSW as factions seem to be partaking in careful when you leave your room, experiment with of the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Cream a factional war. Since the UNSW Liberal Club disband- free-balling, stay clear of glad wrap, don’t leave (just to name a few) came to symbolise the 1960s ed in 2012, the Freedom Club and Liberalism Society your food unattended, ensure EVERYONE else is and his redesign of Luna Park in 1979 set the cul- - going in costume if it’s a costume party (don’t get tural tone for our city. Sharp’s work was immensely sor, with the potential for a third club associated with duped). Be strong; next year the tables will turn. thehave hard sprung right up Liberal to fill faction the void to be left inaugurated by their predeces in 2014. Ibis for many design and art students. See page 4 for more on this story. influential worldwide and continues to be inspiration Dear Ibis, Student Unity elects new campus convenor But this great Australian icon has a special place in our I see you everywhere I go, every corner I turn you’re Jack Power, now entering his second year, has been hearts at the University of as he as a there. All you do is pick at bins but whilst you do, elected the new convenor of the Student Unity faction student had contributed to Tharunka. Sharp did some- you stare at me, into my soul. It’s as if you know me. on campus. The faction is the student wing of the Centre thing that many before him and many after him have Know me like no one else. I feel like you want me. Unity faction of the NSW Labor Party. done since and that’s causing controversy for the right And you know what, I want you. Please, talk to me At the state level, UNSW student Dorothy Rapisardi reasons. Most notably in the 1964 O-week edition when you see me, don’t be shy. I think I love you, do lost out to University of Sydney SRC President Jennifer (50 years ago this year), when Sharp’s ‘The Gas Lash’ you think you love me? Light in a ballot for state convenor of the faction. This is cartoon resulted in the prosecution of Tharunka edi- Lovingly yours, hoplesslyinlovewithyou tors for obscenity. Perhaps something obscene in itself has had an opportunity at gaining the position since Am- Dear hoplesslyinlovewithyou, when we consider the envelope pushing role student berthe Setchellfirst time occupied in the last the few position years for that six anyone months at in UNSW 2010. No. Piss off. Leave me to my meals. newspapers should have in our society. These events come after the loss of the Student Unity Ibis. ticket ‘Stand Up’ at the 2013 UNSW SRC elections. Considering Sharp’s contribution to both Australian Megadeth Dear Ibis, visual art and Tharunka’s proud reputation I was In more interesting news, Megadeth, one of the semi- I’m new on campus having just transferred from wondering whether Tharunka was planning to pay nal Thrash Metal bands of the 1980s, has cancelled tribute to this iconic artist. I would truly love to see both its Soundwave appearance and all Australian tour question is; why doesn’t anyone want to be friends some of Sharp’s contributions to Tharunka and a short dates, including its scheduled O-Week appearance at the withCanberra me? and need to find some new friends. My tribute article to his life and career. Sure it would be Roundhouse. The situation escalated into a ‘he said, she Sincerely, Cob Barr a little late but I believe still a valuable look back at said’ argument between festival organiser AJ Maddah Dear Mr Barr, Tharunka’s long proud history. and Dave Mustaine over social media. Maddah claims the There aren’t any plush red leather seats or Ameri- fault lies with Mustaine and alleges Mustaine had pushed can Civil War societies around, so I guess that’s why Perhaps a look back will inspire us to shape the future. for the removal of Jason Newsted and his band from the you’re in despair. Perhaps join the SRC, and maybe tour. Mustaine denies this. Maddah has since tweeted a one day in the near future you can create a Foreign With fuzzy warmness, long apology, to which Mustaine has yet to respond as we Jeremiasz Sieczko go to print. too high and remember who gave you this advice. 3rd year Bachelor of Architecture Studies Affairs officer position. But don’t get your hopes up 4 NEWS UNSW pushes to increase fees in popular courses Ammy Singh (@ammyed) these courses, with the Go8 stating that the highest SW’s 2014 budget alone, as part of a greater $43 million band of student fees could increase by 56 per cent from loss of federal funding over the next four years. $9,792 a year to $15,250. SRC President, Joel Wilson, told Tharunka the Go8 UNSW has joined the Group of Eight (Go8) univer- Sarah Garnham, said any moves to increase fees will en- proposal is “disappointing” and will adversely affect Education Officer on the National Union of Students, sities coalition in calling for the government to allow trench socioeconomic inequality in Australia. students from lower socioeconomic, regional, and rural universities to exclusively charge full fees in popular un- “Student cannot afford higher fees,” Garnham said. backgrounds. dergraduate courses, as part of an initial move towards “In 1989, when the Higher Education Contribution “This decreased access to university means that we’ll wider fee deregulation. Scheme (HECS) was introduced, students had to pay a get less graduates in remote areas, when in fact what In a submission to the Abbott government’s review rural Australia needs is more graduates and a high a debt upwards of $20,000. This level of debt prevents of the demand driven funding system for public univer- skilled workforce,” Wilson said. workingflat fee of class $5,400. and Today,poor students most students from going graduate to univer with- sities, led by former Liberal education minister David The Go8 submission cited the threat to the qual- sity.” Kemp and economist Andrew Norton, the Go8 universi- ity of research programs at Go8 universities following Wilson agreed. “The Group of Eight universities ties argued in favour of an opt-out system allowing uni- increased student numbers since the previous Labor should instead be focusing on opening up university to versities to forego government funding for particular government uncapped university places for domestic courses in favour of charging full fees. students in an attempt to increase university education people from lower socioeconomic groups so that every Under the current demand driven model, the Federal to 40 per cent of young Australians. young adult in Australia has a chance to go to university government funds Commonwealth supported places for The number of Commonwealth supported places if they have the ability.” all domestic undergraduate students accepted into a has risen by over 350,000 students between 2008 and UNSW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fred Hilmer, has bachelor degree course at a public university, with the 2013, although Tharunka understands that growth previously been a vocal advocate for fee deregulation at exception of medicine. rates at UNSW have remained relatively stable at tops universities. In a speech to the National Press Club and In place of this, the Go8 proposal would see full fees of two to three per cent per year, with the University an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald in 2012, charged to students in subjects such as law, accounting, further instituting a minimum 80 ATAR policy in 2013. Professor Hilmer argued an urgent need to deregulate economics and commerce, in which the government The Go8 submission follows the announcement of fees in order to increase university revenue, suggesting currently subsidises 16 per cent of student fees. Such that students in medicine, law, business and engineer- a move would amount to the effective privatisation of projected to cut approximately $15 million out of UN- ing should pay more for their “premium” degrees. an “efficiency dividend” on university funding, which is Hard right Liberal club meeting disbanded following security concerns Ammy Singh (@ammyed) Liberal faction, was accepted by the Con- “The period of notice for membership ing havoc on the University”, adding that servative Club members. applications, the date and time of the multiple individuals heard Oldcastle ex- Tharunka understands the Conserva- IGM, and nomination period for the club claim “who cares about OH&S?” during An attempt to create a Conservative tive Club meeting was initially attended executive were all within Arc [Clubs and the meeting, in an act Terreiro described Club on February 7 was marred when by seven UNSW students who had al- Societies] Handbook guidelines,” Oldcas- as “showing contempt for standard Uni- the Inaugural General Meeting (IGM) ready obtained club membership and tle said. versity OH&S processes”. was dissolved by UNSW security follow- voting rights; among them Grace Connley Oldcastle told Tharunka she “categori- ing Occupational Health and Safety con- and known hard right Liberals Anneliese an IGM must be sent to Student Develop- cally denies making such a statement, or cerns, with members of both the “soft” Oldcastle, Elliott Donazzan, and Sun- mentUnder and Arcclub guidelines, members notificationat least seven of anything of a similar nature”. right and “hard” right-aligned factions of Yong Kim. The group was joined by over days prior to the meeting. This notice Expressing concern with the poten- the Liberal Party levelling accusations of 20 soft right and moderate Liberals from must include details of elections and tial for the Conservative Club to act as club stacking against each other. UNSW and the University of Sydney, in nomination procedure, as per the club a duplication of the Freedom Club, Gra- These events bear resemblance to the a law library room with an approximate Constitution. moski told Tharunka he believes “the controversial failed UNSW Liberal Clubs maximum capacity of 11 people. It is claimed that at the Conservative entire purpose of the club is political by AGMs of 2012, which led to the club be- Also in attendance was Christian Ellis, Club IGM, membership rights were de- nature,” adding that “there are multiple - a staffer of the hard right Liberal MP for nied to UNSW students in attendance avenues for political discussion on cam- dent Development Committee (SDC) at Castle Hill, . Ellis is cur- who were not among the initial seven pus amongst Liberal students, namely ing refused re-affiliation by the Arc Stu the time. rently serving a ten year expulsion from members of the club, and further alleged the Freedom Club”. The Conservative Club was estab- the Liberal party after running as a Fam- that access to the attendance list was re- Oldcastle directed these concerns to ily First candidate against incumbent Be- lished in part by hard right Liberal and stricted by the organisers of the meeting. the appropriate authority in Arc. “If Tay- rowra MP, Phillip Ruddock, in the 2010 The Chair, Chris Rath, informed attend- candidate for Vice-President of the club, lor Gramoski and the Freedom Club have Federal election. ees that membership was closed, shortly Anneliese Oldcastle, and its IGM sched- concerns in relation to club duplication, “The formation meeting of this apolit- prior to the meeting being dissolved by uled for 7 pm on the Friday night in early they should address these to Arc,” she February. The meeting was chaired by ical club was stacked out by loud, aggres- security due to Occupational Health and said. far right Young Liberals faction organiser sive Sydney University Liberals, led by Safety (OH&S) regulations prohibiting Convenor of UNSW Labor Left Stu- Chris Rath, a University of Sydney stu- Alex Dore and Dean Shachar. They were the number of attendees being in excess dents, Billy Bruffey, told Tharunka that dent and former political staffer for hard not eligible club members, and thus the of the maximum occupancy of the law li- internal opposition to the Conservative right NSW MLC, Scot MacDonald. meeting proceeded despite their raucous brary room. Club’s formation by rival Liberal factions The “hard” or religious right, collo- behaviour. Conspiring with Dore and According to a soft right-aligned, sen- is inherently hypocritical. “When Free- quially known within the Liberal Party Shachar was Taylor Gramoski, a former ior Young Liberal attendee, the interven- as the “Taliban”, is aligned to NSW MLC, junior staffer to Minister Pru Goward tion of security and library staff in asking dom Club Liberals violate others’ rights David Clarke, and has in recent years and president of the [soft right-aligned] Rath to close the meeting sparked a farci- to freedom of assembly, I rejoice the piti- declined in prominence within the NSW UNSW Freedom Club,” one attendee said. cal series of events in which Rath sought ful future of conservatism,” he said. Young Liberal and senior Liberal Party Dismissing this claim as “baseless to pass the Constitution and election of It is uncertain whether the Conserva- state executives. The “soft” right faction conjecture”, Gramoski stated that “the the executive without due process by of the NSW Liberals is controlled by the only conspiring in regard to the meeting yelling out the remaining agenda items. Arc will be approved by the Student De- tive Club’s application to affiliate with federal MP for Mitchell, . was done by the organisers – to hold an Rath was then escorted out of the build- velopment Committee, given its IGM is Oldcastle told Tharunka the Conserv- IGM in the dead of night on a Friday in ing by security. The Young Liberal source believed to have been disbanded before ative Club exists to promote discussion the club Constitution could be approved on conservative issues and “is not aligned UNSW students, as well as democratic are not authorised to discuss the matter or its executive elected. to any political party”. process”.February, and to fly under the radar of publicly.asked not to be identified because they However, attendees at the IGM noted Oldcastle rejected the notion that the Vice-President of the UNSW Freedom ______- IGM was held at an inaccessible time as Club, Natarsha Terreiro, said the hard tralian Council of Conservative Students summer semester is a busy time of year right Young Liberals “have a history of The full version of this article can (ACCS),that a motion an organisation to affiliate understood with the to Aus be at UNSW, adding that all club members disregard for democracy, failure to ad- be found on the Tharunka website. formed in 2013 by the hard right Young were entitled to vote at the meeting. here to Arc and SDC rules, and wreak- NEWS 5

Ink still drying on Liberals’ liquor legislation

Crystal Moran While the Greens put forward a few pletely, what happened today was not dressing any of these issues, we had an Hail Mary amendments in the last min- compromise – this was a rubber stamp. intentionally rushed debate on legisla- utes of the debate to try to remove these It’s not all Labor’s fault though; even tion poorly considered. The phrase “un- The New South Wales Parliament increased penalties for summary offenc- the Attorney-General Greg Smith is on intended consequences” worked its way passed sweeping legislation changes to- es, they were rejected by both the gov- record, per the Sydney Morning Herald, into chambers 11 times, as in “I’m pretty day, including controversial mandatory ernment and Labor. calling mandatory minimum sentences sure these laws are going to have unin- minimum sentences and CBD lock outs, The process wizardry was not lim- - tended consequences like locking up dis- in response to so called “alcohol-fuelled ited to the Greens, with Lake Macquarie ing tool”. He added a corollary, however, proportionate amounts of young and In- violence”. MP (IND) attempting a clas- saying“an expensive that if and community ineffective expectations crime fight digenous people, but it’s not like we can In related news, democracy in NSW sic manoeuvre that would replace all the did not match the sentences handed out change the law, right?” words of the legislation with a clause for by the judiciary, “we must have an in- In an environment where we often la- all over itself. a parliamentary committee to review it formed debate about the issue’’. ment at how long it takes governments hadThe a quick legislation, fit, before the proceeding Liquor Amend to shit- instead. This too, was sadly, yet predict- And he’s right – we do need an in- to make changes already agreed upon by ment Bill and Crimes and Other Leg- ably, rejected. formed debate about the issue. But we the public, it is shocking that NSW crimi- islation Amendment (Assault and All these changes occurred in less didn’t get one. nal law could undergo such a fundamen- - time than it takes me to book a domestic Instead, we were given a parliament tal shift with such velocity. There is infra- liamentarians at ten o’clock, Thursday holiday. This is not so surprising, given dragged back from their summer break. structure in place for issues in crisis or morning;Intoxication) the Bill,ink werestill drying first seen from by what Par that a) I get a bit lost on Expedia, and b) We had legislation written by the Daily could have only been an all-nighter in the Opposition announced they would be Telegraph and changes to normal parlia- is odd to think that a problem which has Parliamentary Council. The laws bring supporting the legislation even before mentary procedure, which the Shadow existedflux that since need the a promptFirst Fleet response, was going but toit with them an eight-year, non-parole peri- they had seen it. Minister for Health and Liquor Regula- be resolved in an afternoon. As MP Alex od for the new offence of an assault caus- Labor were quick to take credit for the tion, Dr Andrew McDonald, criticised, Greenwich put it, “We need the right so- adoption of the “Newcastle solution” of saying “debate has been effectively lution, not the right now solution.” alcohol. They also place new conditions lockouts and last drinks within the leg- gagged”. The government was still mak- Government is slow – at times painful- oning overdeath 900 under venues the influence in the Sydney of drugs CBD or islative package as a part of their “Drink ing changes to the bills after they’d been ly such – but this slowness is necessary; area and restricts the sale of alcohol from Smart, Home Safe” policy. But members introduced. Protesters showed up not - bottle shops after 10 pm across New of the public and press gallery could only fully knowing what it was that they were mocracy where everyone has a say, and South Wales. watch on in a queasy mix of horror and protesting. everyoneit is a reflection theoretically of health has in an activeinformed de While the latter is unlikely to affect giggles as every single Labor member This is a complex issue that deserved vote. Legislation is supposed to be built preloading purchases from the bottle - a real debate. As the Premier stated, the on consultation. MPs are supposed to shops owned by the big supermarket demn mandatory minimum sentences, relationship between alcohol and vio- take it to their electorates; the Legislative chains, the provision will also extend to beforeused their agreeing time toto findvote a for new them. way to con lence is “a problem that has existed here Council is supposed to engage with ex- small specialty businesses. Tharunka “The Opposition believes that man- since the First Fleet arrived 226 years perts and interest groups. Democracies spoke to Nathan Besser, co-owner of datory sentencing will have both unin- ago and celebrated their arrival with a are more or less stable places precisely popular delivery service, Jimmy Brings, tended and adverse consequences” – The drunken bacchanalia on the shores of because we engage in protracted debates who said: “Licensing legislation doesn’t Honourable Adam Searle, MLC Circular Quay”. until 11 at night between these groups, “There is considerable evidence that In referencing cities like New York and rather than having dramatic overhauls mandatory sentencing is counterpro- Copenhagen, Greens MLC Dr Mehreen in our laws overnight. And yet today, leg- willadequately be forced define to close our at unique 10 pm.” operation; This will ductive and does not work. Mandatory Faruqi said, “We have evidence from islators passed rushed laws in the same seewe havetheir beendistribution caught inhours the crossfirecut by 30 andper sentencing has been tried before in New across the world that the provision of time as you allocate to your rushed gen- cent, and a 50 per cent loss in revenue. South Wales and failed…it was such an convenient and frequent late-night trans- ed essay. They have already written to the Premier abject disaster that it was hurriedly re- port is a key factor in preventing violence Today should make you angry (… to seek an exemption. pealed” – Mr , MP and injury.” not “swear on the street” angry though, Other controversial measures include “No right-thinking person believes Labor’s Penny Sharpe insightfully because it’ll cost you $500). If you vote increased penalties for offensive behav- that mandatory sentencing is an appro- commented on alcohol advertising Liberal, you should be angry because iour and language, which the Deputy priate response, particularly under these around the city – “For example, a giant they betrayed their core principles with- Opposition Leader, Linda Burney, said circumstances, because it produces in- bottle of vodka with the words, ‘Arrive out asking you – you’re now the anti- would most negatively affect young and justice” – Mr , MP boldly’. If that is not an ad for preloading, business, big-spending party. If you vote Indigenous people, as well as people Even if they supported every sentence I do not know what is.” Labor, you should be angry because the suffering from mental illness or disad- of the Liquor Amendment Bill, and felt Opposition Leader John Robertson party that backs the working class is ap- vantage. She said this while supporting politically wedged by the mandatory thought businesses could be encouraged parently the party without a spine. If you the aforementioned changes. Notably, minimums package, they didn’t put for- to be a larger part of the solution, with vote Green or Independent, you should - ward a single amendment or support “risk-based licensing, providing hotels be angry – your representatives worked any amendments. Though it is normal to - their arses off and they still couldn’t stop swearingthere is now in public. a $1,100 fine for disobey end up compromising on issues and vot- tive to operate safe premises”. the big guys from taking a panic-induced ingFuck. a move-on That. Shit.order, and a $500 fine for ing for things you don’t agree with com- andRather bottle shopsthan withcomprehensively a financial incen ad- dump on your democracy. 6 NEWS UNSW’s new colleges are here, but at what cost?

Nick Timms his hometown of Port Macquarie in order their son through university and pay for year. There were also two similar schol- to attend UNSW. his college fees. As their son is from a ru- arships presented to two returning resi- “These two incomes were stretched ral area, with nobody to move in with in dents at the end of last year, both awards With the new Kensington Colleges while at college as it was,” he says. “The Sydney, college was almost the only op- of $2,000. buildings on the verge of completion at price increase has made it completely im- tion for him. Though their son has a cas- “They’re designed to take the edge off the end of last year, hundreds of incom- possible for me to think about returning.” ual job in Sydney, they still have to take the price rise, so if you do rely on Cen- ing and returning residents were looking “Understandably there were several out a loan from the bank in order to help trelink, or if you do not come from a high forward to spending 2014 in the brand residents who were quite distressed,” their son go to university. socioeconomic background, you’ve got new facilities. Daniel Sherratt, a second- says Tom Morrison, a third-year resident “It was a bit scary, to have an extra the ability to continue to reside at col- year resident, was one of them. and two-term president of Baxter Col- $3000 a year when I’m on a small in- lege thanks to that supplementation,” Mr However, that was before he saw the lege. come, and still not small enough for my Morrison says. new rent price. “The rise in price combined with the son to get [Y]outh [A]llowance. It basical- “A lot of residents presented to us and “My reaction to the price rise was one instability of the welfare security in Aus- ly means I have to borrow more money, said, ‘look I’d really like to come back, but of shock,” he says. tralia has meant that you can’t be self and pay more off,” David says. I don’t think I will be able to because it While the previous cost of staying supported [sic] through college, even “That means we have to tighten our will be outside of my price range,’ so we in The Kensington Colleges (TKC) was with government assistance. You need ei- belts here so that we can pay back our just had a bit of a brainstorm about how $14,645 for the year, the rent has risen ther extended savings, parental support loan payment to the bank.” - by over $3,000 – about 20 per cent of the or some other kind of supplementation According to Isabelle Creagh, the Di- cial support,” Ms Creagh says. we could potentially create some finan original price – to $17,800. Rooms with to your income.” rector of UNSW Residential Communi- However, the future of these scholar- en suites cost $19,600. The amount of Savannah Lloyd, a second-year Basser ties, the price rise is all just a part of pay- ships is uncertain, as they were provided weeks that residents are liable to pay for resident, who needs to work frequently ing for the new facilities. by one off donations last year. And with has increased as well – they must now in order to pay for her college fees, was “It cost a lot to build: $110 million,” the price of rent in TKC expected to rise pay for accommodation in the mid-year expecting the price rise. says Ms Creagh. at a steady rate every year, according to break, even if they don’t plan to stay dur- “I was a little shocked, but I kind of ex- “We’ve basically got a big mortgage both Mr Morrison and Ms Creagh, more ing that time. pected it with the new buildings. I didn’t now, so we’ve got to pay it off. We needed - Overall, this has been the cause of think it would stay the same,” she says. to set a period of time in which we agreed residents could find themselves in a dif much complaint from residents of the She will have to add more work into to pay it off, and that’s what we’ve pre- “It’s just going to depend on where the ficult position. three colleges that make up TKC, Basser, an already busy schedule to help cover sented to the university when we asked donations are coming from...we’d need to Philip Baxter and Goldstein. the costs though. for the funding, and that’s what we’ve got “I would have probably stayed if the “I work Friday afternoon and night, to try and stick to now. We have bench- continue these,” Ms Creagh says. find replacement donors every year to colleges were more affordable. We all Saturday and Tuesday afternoon to pay marked against other university colleges She believes that there are many thought that there would be a price rise for this. I have taken on more tutoring in Sydney, and the pricing, in terms of places that new scholarships could come for the en suites and maybe a little rise work to assist in paying for it and I sup- the package of services that it offers, it from. for normal rooms, but the difference was pose [I will] cut back socially in order to is comparable with other residential col- “I know that there’s potentially an ex substantially more,” Mr Sherratt says. balance everything. My degree requires 5 leges in Sydney.” Baxter [sic] resident who’s looking into Mr Sherratt, who for the past two days of dance classes a week.” At the end of last year, 10 scholar- giving $50 000 at the moment, another years in college relied on money from However, it’s not just residents who ships funded by donations from the Vice- group of Baxter residents from the 60s Centrelink and money that he saved dur- are feeling the impact of the price rise. Chancellor, Ms Creagh and others were who are getting together...there’s poten- ing his gap year, has now moved out into Many students going to college rely on announced. Each scholarship is a single tial for us to create many kinds of schol- a rental apartment with some friends parental assistance, and the parents too payment of $2500 and goes straight to- arships.” from college. He has had to relocate from have expressed some discomfort at the wards the recipient’s rent, roughly bring- new rent prices. David and Jane* support ing it back down to the level it was last *Names changed. NEWS 7

The end of HECS as we know it Matthew Bugden debt which will be too low”. Vanstone has expressed her opinion that sponsibility. Estimates put the market value of the HECS repayment threshold should be Warnings that HECS will one day have HECS debt at $11 billion – $16 billion – reduced from $51,309 – it’s current level around half of its present value. The low – to the salary of an award rate earner. In 2013, Education Minister Christo- example of what Treasurer Joe Hockey value of the asset is due precisely to the It’s a view that should, in the absence of to be privatised rarefies and gives an pher Pyne announced that the wave of meant when he said on Feb 4 that ‘the structure of the current HECS scheme. If asset sales the Abbott government was age of entitlement is over, and the age of you’re a private investor, you’re not going attitude of the Coalition as a whole. embarking on aimed at making Australia personal responsibility has begun’. to look favourably on debt that only rises clear policy, be taken as reflective of the “open for business” – would not include according to the Consumer Price Index deep ideological disconnect between the $26.3 billion of secured loans the narrative of entitlement perfectly. It theMs Coalition Vanstone’s and young comments Australians reflect on a HECS debt privatisation fits into this government owns in the form of HECS is easy to accuse young Australians of repayment threshold of $51,309 in 2013 matters concerning higher education, debt. feeling entitled, since they, and not the –(CPI). allowing An artificial unemployed 0% interest graduates rate to and live a something which a statement given by If you were a student, past, present or Boomers, grew up during what econo- The National Union of Students (NUS) to future, this might have come as a relief. mist Ross Garnaut calls ‘the longest pe- or alternatively, to leave the country and Tharunka makes perfectly clear: But anybody who honestly believes this riod of economic expansion unbroken by shirkindefinitely on their without loans servicingentirely – their does debt not “Privatising HECS debt will inevita- is the Coalition’s last word on HECS re- recession of any developed country ever’. appeal either. Due to these factors, the bly lead to moves, as we’ve seen in the The stereotypical Gen Y student is often form is sadly mistaken. Grattan Institute estimates that a whop- UK, to increase fees, raise interest rates, While a formal proposal to privatise portrayed as ‘entitled’, using University ping $6.2 billion of total HECS debt is and lower debt repayment thresholds. It as a post-natal womb, learning disci- HECS in the future was only hinted at, “bad debt” that will never be repaid. would represent a step further towards a the lack of clear direction on education plines that are arcane and generalised, So if the potential pay-off of HECS and sheltering themselves from a job reform didn’t prevent commentators is so low that it wouldn’t be in the gov- rich and that can only be accessed by the market they view as destructive to their from weighing in on the merits of such ernment’s interest to sell the asset, why richuniversity because system it will that entrench only benefits the ‘user the Western-democratic notions of freedom an initiative. ANU professor Glenn With- is privatising HECS being talked about pays’ university model which has been and individuality. ers, who was the founding chief executive at all? It is due almost entirely to policy. expanding in Australia since HECS was HECS may be safe for now, but wheth- of Universities Australia (UniAus), came Framing the issue in this way allows the introduced.” er it will remain unmolested ultimately out in principled support of a securitis- Coalition to signal its intention to cut Granted, lowering the HECS repay- depends on how Australia fares in the ing HECS, per ABC Radio’s PM. student welfare and wind back the assis- ment threshold from $51,309 to the next economic downturn. As The Drum - tance it provides to universities—$6 bil- - straint for the government, essentially lion in the form of subsidies every year— cantly more attractive to investors, but it contributor Alan Kohler writes, Austral- the“It private means sector that would at time provide of fiscal more re without having to suffer the political wouldaward ratealso wouldremove make the current the asset incentive signifi ia’s lack of infrastructure no less than a money up front, conditional on the re- blowback that would result from openly on the government’s part to actively sub- looming “national emergency” , while payment of the debt down the track advocating such reforms. sidise universities. Owning student debt economist Harry Dent, author of the when the economy and the budget are in Kim Carr, the former Minister for gives governments a direct incentive to New York Times bestselling book ‘The better shape,” Withers said. Higher Education, sees talks of privatis- subsidise public universities, effectively Great Depression Ahead’ and successful For every person who criticised the ing HECS as a clear pretext for auditing increasingly the rate that students repay Coalition on the grounds that privatising the current HECS scheme itself. Unsur- their HECS debt. The current repayment singled Australia out, saying that in the predictor of the 2008 financial crisis, has HECS would negatively impact students, prisingly, a Commission of Audit conclud- threshold encourages the government next few years, we will experience “the there was someone from the other side ed that the current scheme will become to create the conditions that would al- next Great Depression”, with property of the aisle arguing that privatising an as- increasingly unsustainable in the coming low students to earn salaries in excess of markets plunging “at least 30 per cent” set doesn’t necessarily mean reforms to $51,309 straight out of University. with “50 per cent down the road” being education policy. While this is technically debt is expected to grow to $42 billion in For all of the number-crunching that “even more likely”. In the coming years, correct, the report by ACIL Allen Consult- fouryears. years According and more to in its 2016–17 findings, than HECS in selling-owned government assets invites, Australia’s top-heavy, mineral-export- ing for Universities Australia on the mer- - it would be misguided to look at privatis- based economy will be highly exposed its of HECS privatisation concluded that ence. to lower growth in Asia, magnifying the the sell-off would probably not be in the theCarr first has20 yearstaken ofparticular the scheme’s issue existwith The majority of Australians discuss the interest of the government’s bottom line the inclusion of former Coalition minister issueing HECS of studentsolely in welfare terms ofin fiscal ideological policy. since “it will receive an amount for the Amanda Vanstone on the committee. Ms terms, of entitlement and personal re- Oppositiondeficit considerably, to oppose. making calls for HECS reform increasingly difficult for the 8 FEATURES

material” has shrunk by approximately racism and racial relations. We don’t talk 4,998 about it we deny it and you know we get They [Hing’s ideal girlfriend qualities] defensive and yeah and I say we because are much broader now, they are: people I include myself in that.” who read and people who smile. That’s basically it. Cos I think everything else THARUNKA SNOG, MARRY, AVOID: can be changed,” he laughs – but he isn’t The ideological edition joking. Marry: If you could have dinner with I think people who smile as their anyone for the rest of your life, who natural kind of , the way their face natu- would it be? rally falls, they’re happy people… I have In the stakes of longevity I will say enough negativity from inside me, and Cornell West. Cornell West I think is a from my cynical comedian friends that I genuinely thoughtful and intelligent pub- like hanging around happy people. Peo- lic intellectual who has a lot of opinions ple who read are the best because they that I think are morally consistent with are constantly seeking out new ideas and his worldview. new knowledge and I think that’s a really Snog: Who is someone who you are admirable thing for people to do.” obsessed with/admire, but have no ra- Hing practices what he preaches, and tional reason to do so. is also avid reader – but not necessarily It would probably be a musician I in an ‘I’ve read every penguin classic 20 think. I think it would be someone like times’ reader Nick Cave. Who I am really into and re- I have only recently started reading

musically enjoy because the music I got intoof and it when who II findwas ita ‘what’sfiction, the for apoint very of long storing time this I only informa read- childever more essentially difficult and to justifyI am now my like growing of his tionnon-fiction in my brain, books. stories Because about Ithis thought made out of that. up thing? That’s pointless.’ My friends Avoid: Who are you willing to call out were saying ‘well there is a certain joy to as someone who represents all the things beauty and language’- I was like ‘yeah but you think are wrong with the world? where do you draw the line, next thing Scott Morrison. He [represents] a lot you’re going to be defending poetry?’ - This is obviously an ironic attitude to ing. And I use those words very carefully. have. I obviously don’t think that poetry Theof things way that that he I is genuinely obscuring find his ministe disgust- is an illegitimate art form. I am pretend- rial duties from public scrutiny is I think, ing to be a philistine for whatever reason. I just think it’s funny. second thing is that he is engaging with Over the past decade, I have mostly policiesgenuinely that reprehensible, are inarguably first of immoralall. . The been reading heavily left-leaning politi- which either he believes in or that makes cal books. Like Naomi Klein and Howard him someone who is kind of compassion- Zinn and Noam Chomsky – some real un- less OR alternatively – he doesn’t believe dergraduate bullshit going on,” says Hin it and is just bending to the whim of big- It got real bad for a while, I was unso- ots... Throughout that he is praised by a ciable in my political views, a real drag to lot of Australians, I mean I guess a lot of Funny ThinkHing be around to be honest,” Hing sheepishly Australians don’t know who he is – but admits. his policies, that stop the boats sort of Freya King falls in love with nerdy uncool guy and It isn’t hard to imagine what a young- mentality is praised by a lot of Austral- they live happily ever after – more awk- er, more naïve and idealist Hing would ians without any real thought being put ward Ferris wheel rides and not telling have been like. A little neurotic and into it. It’s just this disgusting xenopho- someone how you feel for LITERALLY In my list of ‘people who work in oc- slightly unHinged at times, Hing is still bic view. YEARS. Hing philosophises our genera- cupations that means I would like to date slightly brash in his opinions. Despite tion’s inability to express our feelings- them’ – comedian ranks pretty highly. his self-deprecating quips at his lack of change you would make? but ability to copulate like rabbits – If you ruled the world, what’s the first This was unfortunately not the reason I intelligence, Hing can string together a The one person one house policy, doesn’t actually mean we are all terrible grabbed a coffee and talked about love well-articulated nugget of wisdom with which basically prevents land barrens. people seemingly little thought. A lot of Hing’s This is probably the most revolutionary and life with stand up comic, Michael I think actually there are some ben- previous material centres around very idea ever. So I have this idea that in Aus- Hing. serious conversations about race in Aus- tralia you should only be able to own one Upon meeting Michael Hing, a less pressure, you meet people and hang tralia. The comedy that he presents has house per person, so it lowers investment 28-year-old, bespectacled, skinny, t-shirt outefits with to this people new –kind you ofdon’t culture. have Thereto [have is depth to it, as well as serving its purpose properties, it sends real estate agents out an end goal]. It’s just like ‘hey we are en- as entertainment. Hing thinks that this is of business and that’s great because real - joying this and this is fun now.’ That’s a wearing, soy-flat-white-drinking, stand- why he is often labelled an “alternative estate agents are fucking leeches right, ably be along the lines of: ‘Man – that guy really tough thing to admit, because… I up comic, your first impression will prob comedian”. Saying that people come to it makes housing more affordable and would suck at the Hunger Games. think there is a certain moral taboo with his show and expect to be challenged, ‘It’s studies show that home ownership in- I’m shit in every game, any game in being ok with that. When I was in like my not a walk in the park. creases social stability it allows people to any situation you put me in I would be early twenties I would never really want I think obviously growing up in a get out of poverty and stuff. SO yes 1p1h. terrible at. Literally. Comedy is the only to hook up with people without pursu- non-white background, talking about – He went on to explain all the technicali- thing I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s the only ing some sort of relationship because I not being white is pretty well travelled ties of this – including “House bots don’t thing I’ve ever excelled at,” Hing agrees. would think I don’t want to be frivolous, groundFrom a very young age I realised count as houses – but if you are build- “I have been doing comedy with nothing I don’t want to be using people for their that your race or background doesn’t ing a house boat in a pool, in an enclosed else [no other supporting income] for 2 bodies’ or whatever. Not realising that body of water that you own, then that months now… It’s pretty silly, it’s an in- obviously other people could be just as the only way it actually affects you is the does count as a house. IF it’s on open wa- credible privilege and people are being ok with that as I am. People would say wayactually other define people you treat as you. a person You just at had all, very supportive of me.” a lot of people talking about ‘I’m Chinese Hing’s latest show, Bildungsroman, is only for tonight’ or whatever, and I would therefore I can’t drive.’ Those stereotypes ter – you’re fine basically an epic love story. He describes bethings like to‘oh me they’re being just like saying ‘oh this that.’ is fineBut are unhelpful and they’re divisive and Sydney Comedy Festival : MICHAEL it as “a hour long show about love, adven- that’s totally presumptive.” they’re gross… I think there is a conver- HING - BILDUNGSROMAN AT 28 Venue: ture, growing up and realising some stuff These days Hing has mellowed and sation that needs to happen in Australia, FUSEBOX AT THE FACTORY at 28 that most other people worked out expects far less from his interaction with because Australia is much better than in high school.” the opposite sex. To be particular, his list other places are but also much worse Date/s: Wed 14 - Sat 17 May 2014 Bildungsroman is less girl next door of ‘Qualities a girl must possess to be GF than a lot of other places are in terms of Time: 7:00 PM Run Time: 60mins FEATURE 9

How Twitter is the answer to ending world poverty Amie Hamling work is in the works for the next 15 years. say, ‘Mama, I hear people used to be poor on. It aims to focus on what the last set didn’t in Africa,’ because this child would just By opening up data, governments are cover; inequalities – issues youths are never understand what poverty is. That’s held accountable to provide alternative most passionate about – from their equal The future of international develop- the world I’m dreaming about,” she said, solutions for the people of their nations. access to education, employment, health ment is online. Social media is more than at the conference in NYC last year. The World Bank is at the forefront of this and justice to gender equality and the ef- its reputation – constantly refreshing It is naive to suggest a social media movement. They opened up their data forts of their nations to climate change. your Twitter feed is no longer a time- site could end all the suffering in the for global use, releasing 8,000 social and These are all concerns we can sum up in waster if you’re able to help save the world today. Many sceptics see Twitter economic indicators for 200 countries 140 characters or less, add to the global world. over 50 years, said Sanjay Pradhan in a conversation, direct to global leaders and It is impossible to underestimate trust in non-governmental charities as TED Global forum in June 2012. make change possible. as another reason to lose confidence and the power of a hashtag. The pound sign more and more continue try and “win” Now, by exposing governments, placed in front of important events or The viral conversation has begun supporters with their online antics. Bill there’s a global competition to improve. moments in time (#BostonMarathon, Twitter shares not one story, but many. Gates has addressed this in his organisa- The time is now to act. tion’s Annual Letter – he said, people of- #RoyalBaby) has allowed for a global- Youth are the driving force of social ten only hear about the fraud cases in in- scale, live timestamp on history. We can supported the Mashable live stream of change In a world-first, the hashtag #2030NOW ternational aid and immediately see it as follow a conversation from wherever we the Social Good Summit, an initiative on As a young person today, my knowl- a waste. However, the use of technologies are in the world, and can contribute and the link between new media and world edge of social media is an exciting tool discover more information as it happens. poverty, held in last Sep- corruption, and by exposing organisa- - tember. This event coincided with UN - tionsand social and mediagovernments, is important “more in fightingmoney stigating change. Viral campaigns have Week, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda seminatein fighting their extreme ideas, poverty.challenge All govern youth- This tiny, sideways waffle-like icon is in goes where it’s supposed to”. spread through the Twittersphere, defy- Gates Foundation, and featured some big mentsshould and use reach their outonline to those influence in need. to dis We ing geographical constraints and invent- names – Sir Richard Branson, New Zea- The power is with the citizens can work collectively and use the current ing a global consciousness on what mat- land’s former PM Helen Clark, The Vam- New media has allowed a choice for (and future) technology to our advantage pire Diaries’s Ian Somerhalder and boy ters most. those living in poverty; no longer are to help as many people as possible; to genius Jack Andraka. This event spread they accepting the information force-fed If more people increasingly used their reduce their suffering and improve their to more than 120 countries through by governments and aid agencies. As a privileged voice to document, share and quality of life. meetups and the global conversation collective, they’re spitting it out and de- there’s a greater chance of reaching de- continued to inspire after its conclusion. manding something better for their com- We are the generation with the power velopmentlearn alternatives goals by to 2015 fighting and working poverty, - munities. to change the world towards saving the lives of the 1.2 billion ing poverty, though there’s no short-term If we take a look at the hashtag again, It could be as simple as using Twitter people most in need. method.This was We ahave phenomenal to look steptowards in fight the a recent Arabic campaign had more than to correct someone who connects poor We can build a safer and just world, future and ask ourselves, what will the people with the ever-emerging Africa, says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- world look like in 2030? Is it a better of its inception with a hashtag roughly who uses the archaic terms First and moon. Twitter is a global conversation, place to live in now with the power of in- 17translating million tweetsto: “the in salary the first does two not weeks meet Third World or developed and develop- strengthening ties between young peo- novative thinking and new media? my needs”. Typically a private nation, ing nations and who feels unsure about ple all over the world. It is a virtual place Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under- Twitter users in Saudi Arabia shared global aid. Be part of the generation to to debate policies and decision-making Secretary-General and Executive Direc- their frustrations on unemployment with see an equal world – dispel the US vs. processes determining the future of their tor of UN Women, has a dream for the images and video of the poverty. By sub- THEM mentality. communities. future dynamic of the world. jecting to an open, international forum, Next time someone tells you to stop As the 2015 deadline for the develop- “If I just think 2030, the best thing I’d their voices were heard further than the checking Twitter, tell them you’re saving ment goals inches closer, a new frame- like to hear is a seven-year-old in Mali government they hold a strong reliance the world. Join the conversation. 10 COLUMNS International Student An Expert’s Survival Guide 101 Guide to Life: How to make a muscle shirt Dylan Chalwell

Oh yeah. It’s 2014, and there’s going to be some changes. The biggest? You’ve decided it’s about time people started to show you a little respect. How did you get here? It’s not entirely clear. May- be it was halfway through Gran Turino when Clint Eastwood condescendingly looked right down the camera at you as you scooped up another chip-load of guacamole from the jar on your belly. Or perhaps it was when someone made a disparaging remark about your athleticism as you sat in a fraying, un-fold- able beach chair and brushed a single, lonely bead of sweat off your forehead as other more capable people helped your mate move their stuff into a dank student slum* in Redfern. But let’s be clear: It’s not just any old respect that you’re looking for. No. You’re looking for the type of respect a lumberjack gets from the forest as his axe thuds-thuds-thuds into the scabby trunk of a tree. Yeah. That’s what you’re after. So you go up to your wardrobe and try to pick out Faria Huq eting booth. You might save a bit of money from it, but some clothes that will suit your new life. You rum- your luck might run out and you could end up in trouble - with the transport police, who’ll slap you with a $200 ing acceptable. You almost settle on a Death Cab for Cutiemage throughtall-tee, but,a pile thankfully, of jeans and you shirts realise but at find the noth last Welcome to UNSW! You are all here with sparkles in moment that it’s part of the problem, not the cure. your eyes, unshed tears from leaving your family home myUNSW fineEverything for the wrong happens ticket. Don’tthrough mess myUNSW with them. and your and hearts full of dreams that you long to achieve. have no Ed Hardy. Despondent, you collapse beneath Remember the time when one of your elder family zmail (the university email service). Log into both of Chinos are out; slim fit is out; Ed Hardy is IN. But you them every day to know what’s going on and what members (in my case, my dad) sat you down and gave “I have nothing to wear,” you lament. “Nothing to you need to do. By now you should have your ad- you the grave talk of how it’s going to be hard for you matcha hubcap my that new you tough hang girl/guy on your persona.” wall with fishing wire. dress and phone number sorted, so have all those and that life is not a bed of roses? In case you don’t re- But you do. It’s called a muscle shirt. details updated ASAP. It’s mandatory to do so, so al- member, read the last line again, since it’s all going to And I’m going to teach you to make one right ways change the details if you’ve changed your con- come true. But don’t give up yet, since what’s going to now.** tact details. come next will help you during your stay. Step 1: Find a suitable t-shirt. As a general rule, Student Central and FM Assist Working while studying when it comes to muscle shirts, the more garish, Make sure you visit these places. FM Assist will For many of you, this might not be a requirement. the better. Got an old “t” that features a dragon and help you with travel passes, university related queries But for others who are thinking of doing part-time jobs a unicorn making war? Yes, good. Anything featur- and getting your student ID card. Tip: Photos for the ing violence will do. You could even use that shirt card are taken right there, so make sure you look your those who are on a student visa, it will be quite hard you’re wearing right now. towhile land studying, a decent I jobsuggest due youto your take visa a breather status andfirst. class For best. I’m speaking from experience since mine look Step 2: Turn your shirt inside out. Easiest step. If timings. But you will eventually get one that will ap- like I rolled across the university lawn. Student Cen- you screw this one up, you don’t deserve a muscle pease you. However, studies at UNSW are very de- tral knows everything about courses to take, chang- shirt. ing courses, dropping, swapping etc. Both are located Step 3: Locate the stitching that connects the the workload and strategise a study formula. sleeves of the shirt to the body of the shirt. Starting near the library lawn. manding, so you will first need to learn how to survive Don’t forget, have fun! from the shoulder, cut the sleeve off the shirt by fol- Memorise the university map New South Wales is a beautiful state. Check out lowing the stitching. The stitching should remain on Well, don’t memorise it, but at least know where the beaches (Bondi, baby!), clubs and markets and the shirt; the sleeves should be disconnected. everything is located. You all have the schedule by you will be amazed. The best thing is to have fun while Step 4: If you weren’t after respect, you could now and your class locations – take a tour so that you studying since you will need to learn to rest your brain. keep the sleeves and wear them as bizarre bean- Roundhouse is a good starting place. There’s always ies. Give it a shot! But don’t let anyone see; you’re tough now. So chuck the sleeves into a bin, or burn don’tYou go also rushing need to to know the first where day the of library class 15 is and, minutes im- during O-Week that there are plenty of clubs to join. them. Scowl a little. portantly,late since youthe werefood joints.trying Thereto find are your plenty class. available all Theregood music, are plenty good offood pages and ongood Facebook company. as Youwell will – from find Step 5: Remember how I said to turn your shirt throughout the campus to satisfy your taste palates. buying and selling books to clubs and societies. inside out? Hit control-z. Admire. Travel apps Congratulations! You now have a muscle shirt. Assuming all of you have your smartphones, down- - Now go forth unencumbered by sleeves and go bask load TripViewLite and TripGo. These two apps (free!) tionsYou there may is find plenty you ofhave help so around many things campus. to do,Also, but make just in the type of respect only a woman/man who has are very handy in getting you to your destination on suretake itthat one you day read at a timethe latest and all updates will be on fine. www.immi.gov. For any ques made their own clothing can really enjoy. I look for- time. They also list the train and bus numbers and the au. Since you’re under tight scrutiny, it’s always better ward to running into you in the future. location of stations. Also, have your Internet charged to know the rules. It will be a tough ride, but make sure Tune in next time as I show you how to beat my as you will have to rely on GPS. Hail Google Maps! you hold onto your reins very tightly – you will be gal- friend Max in Age of Empires II. And this is very important. If you’re an international loping your way to your graduation. *It’s actually a nice, well-lit room. student, be weary of the Concession option on the tick- All the best! **Shout out to Rupert for teaching me this. COLUMNS 11 Is Operation Sovereign Borders Racist?

though he refuses to say what they are or how will we get them or what is going on in their vicinity. The question of national sovereignty is a façade. Phil- lip Adams has written about the racial elements inher- ent in Australian refugee policy, and it is clear that the government’s overwhelming preoccupation is ensuring the right kind of people settle in Australia. Marginal electorates demand nothing less. Impoverished refu- gees from war-torn countries are precisely the wrong kind of people. They take our jobs, they don’t assimi- late, they threaten our way of life (a nebulous concept that encompasses beaches and barbecues). This view, enshrined in our political process, is hardly less sophis- ticated than our racist immigration policies from 1919. Hardly less racist. From my idle hours spent reading comments on news articles and social media, the thing that has dis- tressed me most is that people who support these policies know they are inhumane. They know that they demonise vulnerable people. They ask: “But what are you leftist do-gooders going to do?” Leaving aside for a moment the question of what kind of society uses a propensity to do good as an invective, the point is a fair one. It is easy to criticise the government for its lack of Ned Hirst racial politics survived beyond 1975. The Whitlam gov- humanity. It is hard to provide answers. ernment embraced multiculturalism and this position There is another way, though. The Greens are con- was backed by the subsequent Fraser Liberal govern- stantly consigned to the political loony bin until it is nec- ment. There was lingering community disquiet, howev- At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, the Japanese essary for one of the major parties to use their Senate er, and immigration access was gradually reduced. Paul delegation proposed that the League of Nations adopt a voting bloc. But their policies are worthy of considera- Keating’s government introduced mandatory detention racial equality provision in its charter. The most resound- tion. The Greens recommend increasing our humanitar- for asylum seekers. ing objection came from Australian Prime Minister Billy ian intake from 20,000 to 30,000 and funding refugee However, for all of this time, the political capital of Hughes, who recognised that such a provision would have playing politics with refugees was left largely unexploit- processing and accommodation in Indonesia. As the implications for the White Australia Policy. His lobbying, ed. All it was going to take was a desperate politician Refugee Council of Australia notes, in most Southeast particularly of the British, was instrumental in ensuring Asian countries, refugees are not allowed to work or that the provision was dropped. with a match; the public would provide the kerosene. Enter John Winston Howard. For Howard, Australia’s golden age had been the kind of life, let alone begin a refugee claim, which is why At that point in its history, Australia was undoubtedly own property. It is, therefore, difficult to sustain any an institutionally racist country. It is not even possible parochial conservatism of the Menzies years. Multi- many resort to a risky boat voyage to Australia. to use the weak excuse that its position was historically culturalism was antithetical to this blissful utopia of It is necessary to ensure that refugees in Indone- acceptable, conforming to the attitudes of the day – the majority of nations present at the conference voted in In fact, his ideal world permitted no form of plurality atthe all. nuclear Menzies’s family attempts and the to profitableban the Communist small business. Party favour of the Japanese proposal. From 1949, the White refugeesia, and processingacross Southeast centres. Asia, Cooperation have access with to our firstly, Asian a Australia Policy was systematically dismantled, and in are embarrassing for the breed of contemporary con- means of staying alive, and secondly, legal and efficient servative politician who wishes to portray the post-war 1975 the Whitlam Labor government abolished the last of Australia’s immigration policies. But to continue this vestiges of race-based immigration law from Australia. Liberal party as a master-class in traditional, common- wayand Pacificis unsustainable. neighbours has not hitherto been a hallmark It is tempting to think that racial ploys in Australian sense, small government. It also serves as a reminder of Australia must be prepared to foot the bill for essen- politics ended at that moment. But in 2014, such a view the intolerance the benevolent guardians of this idyllic cannot be sustained. world have for troublemakers. tial services for refugees in Asia and should commit to It’s the week before the 2013 Federal Election and In 2001, when John Howard denied Tampa permis- resettling more successful applicants. The cost of this I’m walking along Coogee Bay Road. On every street sion to enter Australian waters, Australia’s subliminal can be mitigated by phasing out detention centres. The light there is a poster with the beaming face of a would- racism was spectacularly ignited. At the Liberal Party Refugee Council points out that very few countries im- be representative accompanied by a two-word slogan. election campaign launch, Howard shouted, “We will pose mandatory detention. By allowing prospective The most prevalent faces are those of Michael Feneley, decide who comes to this country and the circumstanc- refugees to work while their claims are assessed, Aus- es in which they come,” with all the impotent fury of a Liberal candidate, and Matt Thistlethwaite, Labor can- tralia can send a message to other countries, reducing geriatric shouting at children on his lawn. The whole didate. There is the occasional Greens poster or one for the impetus for asylum seekers to undertake treacher- Palmer United, but the good people of Kingsford Smith imbroglio should have made the government look ex- ous ocean voyages. are not prone to radicalism. tremely silly. They started a diplomatic row with Nor- The political reality of the asylum-seeker debate Vote Feneley. Better Schools. Vote Thistlethwaite. way and accused desperate refugees of threatening to Better hospitals. Then I come across one that makes throw their children overboard – a claim a subsequent me laugh out loud: Vote Feneley. Stronger Borders. The Senate inquiry revealed the government had known ideological barriers as well. Announcing his review into is that refugees face not just logistical difficulties, but Division of Kingsford Smith does, I agree, have pretty was untrue. education, Christopher Pyne accused the national cur- weak security and I would go so far as to profess my riculum of promoting “cultural relativism”. According to sincere ignorance as to where the borders lie. But I’m outrageous things since as well. The mainland of Aus- the Abbott government, Australia has a clear national The fight over refugees has made Australia do some not sure the polity is advocating a wall along Southern tralia has been excised from the Migration Zone, the Ma- identity. It is “Judeo-Christian”, Western and needs pro- Cross Drive to clear up the uncertainty. tecting from competing cultural interests, lest it be lost. was paid to take our asylum seekers for us, the good But this is, of course, disingenuous. The promise that It is essentially what New South Wales was intended to Mr Feneley is making is that he will be a member of a laysia solution ended in fiasco and Papua New Guinea be in 1788, England in minutiae. Liberal caucus that will crack down on “illegal” boat ar- seems inexcusable is allowing refugees to enter the rivals. The idea that this will have any practical effect on country.Pacific neighbours that they are. The only thing which This wasn’t true in 1788. There were Australian peo- the residents of Coogee, Randwick, Maroubra, Mascot, We have arrived, then, at Operation Sovereign Bor- ple here before there were any white settlers, and at no Botany, Malabar or Kensington is, however (in my case, ders. A confusing name, because borders by their very point has Australia ever been a European country. This literally), laughable. nature are shared between two districts. Still, Scott should not be cause for embarrassment or prejudice. The only explanation for Mr Feneley’s placard is that Morrison insists sovereign borders we shall have, al- We’re better than this. REFERENCING

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4. Places to avoid at UNSW. Photos by Tina Giannoulis

1. 895 Bus Queue My name is Transport NSW, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!

2. Basser Steps 2. Got back to back tutorials on lower campus and upper campus? We look forward to giving a eulogy at your funeral. 1. A REVOLUTIONARY NEW APP 3. UNSW Chancellery Where the decisions that affect your university experience are made by people with“business backgrounds forty years helps you get it right your senior. Hat tip to Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer, former Deputy-Chairman of • Build & store a personal library of research material FREE! the Westfield Group, and CEO of Fairfax Media 1998 - 2005, in an era referred to as • Cite resources accurately & with ease the “ lost years” at Fairfax. • Collapse & expand sections to focus on specific parts 4. Law Building • Automatically format to academic standards “ I am a law student who loves the law. My • Collaborate with others in the cloud main hobby is discussing law, of which I

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Gratification, Inc Amos Robertson “Boy, the fun we’ll have!” he thought. he had offered her industrial-grade pork mass, like a Frederick woke up in his bed, smugly smiling to him- schmuck! self. It was a work day, and he was a working man, but He tried to apologise to Fiona on the bus in the morn- After much consternation on the bus, Frederick de- he kept smiling. He performed his ablutions and got ing. She had her headphones in and mustn’t have heard cided he would have sex with Fiona, his high school ready for work. After work, on the bus home, he saw him or seen him. He apologised again at lunch. She said sweetheart. No, it would be a threesome: Fiona, himself, Fiona. He tried to wave hello, but it was busy and she that yes, she would love to have pork mass with him to- and a younger Joni Mitchell. His mind had been made. didn’t see. He went home and heated up some pork night, and where does he live? Just a few doors down, He hopped off the bus at Leicester Avenue and walked mass for dinner. unit 305. Surely she knew that? No, she wasn’t aware. Why don’t they take the bus home together? In the lobby, he saw a Marilyn Monroe facsimile was she doing there, he asked. She looked perplexed, workingthrough thethe entrance reception of desk. Gratification, The Marilyn Inc. looked up at she’sThe worked next week, there he for saw eight Fiona months, again at didn’t his office. he know? What her later tonight. He got on the bus. Fiona was driving. him and smiled at him as he walked in. No, he didn’t know. He Atdipped five he his couldn’t ticket and find sat Fiona, down. so Why he just was left. Fiona He’d driv see- It turned out that she actually lived in the same ing? He stood back up. “Yes, sir. Do you have an appointment?” apartment block as him. Unit 309. She must have just “Why are you driving the bus?” “Frederick“I know you! Constance” Weren’t you the first lady?” moved in. He loitered around her doorway in the morn- He couldn’t make out the mumbled answer under- “Room thirteen, on the left. Go in, get undressed, lie ings, waiting for her to come out so they could go to down, and the doctor will be with you shortly” work together, but she just ignored him. Funny how she “Are you still coming over tonight?” Frederick did exactly as he was told. acts so differently at work than at home, he thought. neathShe the pointed busy tohum a sign of traffic. that read ”Please, don’t speak to After a few minutes, the doctor came in. Frederick the driver while the bus is in motion”. craned his neck from the bed to watch the doctor walk- she was getting ready to leave. They rode the elevator Perplexed and dejected, he got off the bus and downAround without five speaking,o’clock he and sauntered walked over to the to busher stopdesk to as- walked up to his unit. He walked passed Fiona’s unit “So, Frederick, what are you in for? What’s your fan- gether. She got on a bus into the city. and noticed that the door was open. He looked inside, tasy?”ing to the cupboard and fiddling with implements. “Not going home?” he asked. knocked, and saw Fiona inside. “Well, I’d really like to do it with Joni Mitchell.” “Yes?” as she hopped on. “Would you like to come over for dinner?” “Uh huh.” He hung around and waited for the bus to take him No, sorry, she said, not tonight. “And someone I knew in high school.” home. Fiona was already on it. He went to his unit and sat down to watch televi- “Right. Well, just relax, we’ll take care of you.” “Catch the wrong bus?” sion. There was a knock on the door. Perhaps Fiona had The doctor walked over and jabbed a needle in Fred- “Excuse me?” erick’s arm. Pork mass for dinner. He knocked on 309 and asked and it was Fiona. She had brought a friend. A twin sis- “Just some medicine to loosen up your brain waves. if she wanted some, but she said she’d rather just be left ter?changed He didn’t her mind! know Such she fickleness. had siblings. He openedFiona mumbled the door, It helps the machine do its work.” alone. unintelligibly and walked inside. He tried to give her a Frederick had trouble keeping his eyes open, and He turned on the television. Fiona hadn’t told him when he blinked he found himself at home, on his she was on Masterchef. Perhaps that’s why she’s been was that in Fiona Two’s hands? A new jacket! They lounge. Joni Mitchell was there, and Fiona too. acting so strangely lately, he thought. The stress. And helpedhug, but him was put quite it on. rudely and firmly pushed away. What NEWS / OPINIONS 15 Abbott stakes agenda at G20 summit Matthew Baker the government support for SPC Ardmona and the au- looking to follow up a recent free-trade agreement with tomotive industry. The Prime Minister’s mantra for South Korea with an Australia-Japan free-trade agree- macroeconomic policy, both domestically and abroad, ment. Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave a keynote speech is “freer trade and smaller government will strengthen There was also a clear expression of Mr Abbott’s eco- late last month as part of the World Economic Forum’s prosperity”. nomic outlook for Australia this year with the reitera- (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Also reverberating from the domestic debate was the tion of comments made during the 2013 election night - PM’s statement in relation to debt: “Real progress is al- that “Australia is under new management and once tion with its headquarters in Geneva. The organisation ways built on clear fundamentals; you can’t spend what more open for business”. actsThe as a WEF forum is for an leading international business, not-for-profit political and founda other you haven’t got.” The speech stayed on message throughout and dem- world leaders to discuss and debate global economic Prime Minister Abbott’s speech acknowledged some - problems and issues. of the key problems facing the world economy, includ- ment policy on a number of issues at the moment. onstrated the fiscal conservatism motivating govern As Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of ing the fact that “around the world over 300 million the WEF, noted when introducing the prime minister in young people are neither working nor studying”. dole program, which was hinted in Prime Minister Ab- The first is the proposal to expand the work-for-the- Davos, it is tradition for chairs of the Group of 20 (G20) Other pressing issues on the Prime Minister’s agen- to present their objectives and agenda in Davos. da included the “30 million more jobs” needed to re- people will work, preferably for a wage, but if not, as a The Prime Minister’s keynote address comes as Aus- bott’s remark, “We are determined that fit working age tralia assumes the presidency of the G20 for 2014 be- (GFC) levels. The second is the position that less government fore this year’s Leaders Summit to be held in Brisbane storeRather the globalthan solelyeconomy dwell to pre-globalon these issues, financial there crisis is interventioncondition of receivingin market unemployment activities is generally benefits.” the best on November 15 and 16. cause to be optimistic according to the PM: “[Despite policy. According to Prime Minister Abbott, the “challenge the GFC,] income per person is up over 60% from last In light of recent government pressure to intervene everywhere is to promote sustainable private-sector decade.” in the automotive industry and SPC Ardmona, the Mr growth and employment, and to avoid government- - Abbott’s speech in Davos reiterated the government’s knows-best action for action’s sake”. servative prime minister: “No country has ever taxed or response to these issues, noting, “Better governance is Recurring throughout the speech were of words subsidisedThe speech its way was to one prosperity. identifiable You with don’t a address fiscally-con debt not the same as more government.” such as “tax” (used 17 times in various forms), “free” However, a notable exception to this approach has (nine times) and “growth” (15 times). The use of such not a dirty word, because success in business is some- surfaced recently with the decision for the government words indicated the emphasis placed on free market thingand deficit to be withproud yet of.” more debt and deficit. And profit is to provide further economic assistance to drought- economic policy and limited government intervention Prime Minister Abbott also took time to criticise the stricken farmers from July 1 this year. – something that has been frequently advocated by the preceding Labor government, noting that they believed With several important economic decisions already Abbott government in recent weeks. the country could “spend our way to prosperity”. made under the mantra of less government, Prime Min- The use of such language underscores the govern- The speech also urged world leaders to “be mission- ister Abbott’s speech is a strong indication of what mo- ment’s position on current hot topics domestically over aries for freer trade”. Such comments come as the PM is tivates this government’s economic policy. A Farewell to Welfare? Brigid McManus ples is estimated to cost twenty million dollars, a size- able sum to be spending while calling for a review of the welfare system. To me, it looks like an attempt at vote Last month Minister for Social Services Kevin An- buying. drews announced a review of welfare - system. He said that it was crucial to introduce wide- tigating what the review entails. One possible reform that Doubting Andrews thishas raised review is was the reintroduction justified, I began of inveswork- situation that some of the countries in Europe are in.” Clearlyspread he changes doesn’t before mean Australiacovered in finds snow itself and “infull the of is the best form of welfare’, a sentiment that is a little for-the-dole . This reflects Andrews’ belief that ‘work cobblestone streets, he means an economy crumbling too Orwellian for my liking. It has been suggested that under the crushing weight of a population supposedly the scheme would require people receiving unemploy- ies and bills are taken care of there is little left, probably living on welfare payments. This is obviously a situation not even enough to buy video games. I can’t begin to im- we should avoid, but then I began to wonder if more collecting rubbishing and maintaining parks and aged agine what it would be like to support children on such ment benefits to participate in unskilled work such as was going on than a desire to avoid IMF bailouts and care facilities. an amount. No one would choose this. international criticism. The aim of such a scheme is to make receiving pay- In the last 5 years the number of people receiving What struck me was that our welfare system has ments cumbersome, thus creating incentive to look for Newstart has risen by 131 980 (including over80 000 historically been different to those of the European na- employment. However, a 2004 study conducted by the single parents with children over the age of 8 who were University of Melbourne’s Institute of Applied Econom- moved to Newstart at the beginning of 2013). Inter- Australian government spent 8.6% of national gross ic and Social Research found that the Howard govern- estingly, over the same period the number of people domestictions. According product to (GDP) figures on published welfare in by 2013. the OECD,Given the ment’s work-for-the-dole policies were ineffective in re- receiving the age pension has increased by 329 906. ducing the numbers of people receiving unemployment This is more than double the increase in those receiving over the past 20 years, reaching a high of 9.1% twice payments. It actually reduced the time that people had Newstart and the biggest increase in any area of welfare underglobal economicthe Howard climate, government. this figure What has is beeneven stablemore to look for employment without improving their skills. payments. impressive is that this is less than the minimum most Andrews insists this is not under review. True, the European countries spent on welfare during the same feeling alienated from the workforce. As if this wasn’t elderly can’t help becoming old. But then again, many period. Since 1993, Italy and Poland have spent more enough,While the they scheme are payed did less benefit than some,minimum many wage, reported com- people who are without work don’t choose their situ- than14% of GDP, while France has spent upwards of pounding the social stigma. ation either. To me, it has more to do with image than 16%. Australia’s consistently low payments suggest Supporters of the scheme invoke the image of the money. Those on the pension are our sweet little Grand- that our welfare system is stringently regulated, this ‘dole bludger’, people they allege have no plans for the parents and nobody would want to see them lose their gives little indication that we are headed for a situation future other than to live on welfare. This is reinforced livelihoods, reverting to collecting rubbish in order to similar to Europe. In fact, they make any references to by politicians and the media, who tend to refer to peo- receive their payments. Europe look a like a scare tactic. ple receiving welfare payments as ‘customers’. In reality, What we are left with is a policy that demeans one Interestingly, Andrew’s own department is develop- of the most vulnerable groups in society, while further- ing a policy of giving married couples and couples in this term to refer to people receiving welfare payments ing the impression that they are undeserving ‘bludgers’. long term relationships $200 vouchers for relationship impliescustomers that have they both have financial chosen power to be andin this choice. situation. Using And while the unemployed are weeding gardens, the counselling, a move that is seems contrary to his stated I receive AUStudy payments of $250 dollars a week, views on welfare.. A one year trial with 100 000 cou- roughly equal to Newstart payments. Once rent, grocer- for married couples. I bet they don’t do that in Europe. government is funding financial management lessons 16 OPINIONS

Abbott vs. the ABC Caleb Burke The Prime Minister has previously defended the ide- bate, per an ABC report, commenting, “He’s [Mr Ab- als of a fair media during his time as opposition leader bott] never liked the ABC. He’ll do everything he can to – when criticism of the government supported his ob- undermine it and that’s why we need strong voices in jectives. “When politicians complain about the media, it Parliament to stand up for the public’s right to an inde- On November 18 2013, the ABC and the Guard- strikes me as resembling footballers complaining about pendent national broadcaster.” ian Australia released a story revealing that, based on the umpire,” Mr Abbott stated in 2011, adding a year The ABC remains one of the few unbiased politi- cal media outlets in the country, with the most recent Security Agency documents, Australian spy agencies later that “any government which is trying to censor IBISWorld Industry Report on Newspaper Publishing in duringEdward 2009 Snowden’s had tapped leaks ofIndonesian confidential President U.S. National Susilo political commentary is effectively trying to muzzle our Australia unveiling that News Corp Australia – a subsid- Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife’s phones. The release democracy”. of this information sparked a diplomatic rift in the re- iary of Rupert Murdoch’s parent company, News Corp lationship between Australia and Indonesia amidst the given to the navy the same attitude that was adopted – holds a 42.3 per cent market-share. The daily and Sun- Furthermore, is this “benefit of the doubt” being early stages of Tony Abbott’s prime ministership and decades ago when young disadvantaged children made day newspapers of the company accounted for roughly left members of the Coalition camp calling for reforms two-thirds of daily newspaper sales in Australia. to the ABC. had sexually abused them? In the 2013 federal election, the undeniably right- claims to police against Salvation Army officers who Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, more recently known Mr Abbott’s outbursts arrive during the emergence wing Murdoch engaged in a full-force anti-Rudd cam- for his controversial book that states the road to bestial- of speculation that the government is contemplating the paign, considered to be an intentional ploy to utilise ity and bigamy is paved by same-sex marriage, accused abolishment of the ABC-managed Australia Network in his print assets to defend TV property such as Austral- the ABC on RN Breakfast of “cannibalising” the com- the May budget. ian pay-TV giant Foxtel – a company in which Murdoch mercial media and labelling it as a “taxpayer-funded This suggestion follows Treasurer Joe Hockey’s dec- holds a 50 per cent stake. Labor’s plan to construct a behemoth”. laration of the end of the “age of entitlement”, per an $43 billion national broadband network was expected In a press conference, Mr Abbott soon disclosed that interview with the ABC, announcing that “the age of to unleash greater online competition for Foxtel and while “the ABC were guilty of poor judgment ... this gov- personal responsibility has begun”. It signposts the be- print newspapers. ernment has no plans to change that”. ginning of the Abbott government’s rapid removal of All pretence of impartiality was relinquished when On January 22 2014, the ABC aired news reports Labor’s long-term achievements. News Corp’s Daily Telegraph published a front-page im- containing footage of the burnt hands of asylum seek- Amongst this rejection of business handouts, Mr Ab- age of Rudd, emblazoned with the headline, “Let’s Kick ers who claimed that they had suffered the burns when bott has defended the Federal government’s decision to This Mob Out!”, and another depicting him as a Nazi. navy personnel forced them to hold onto hot pipes com- fund $16 million to the Cadbury factory in Hobart, citing Undeniably, the ABC remains one of the few ideo- ing out of the boat’s engine. on the ABC’s 7.30 program that it was provided “so they logically-central media sources available in Australia. The navy immediately denied the allegations and the could re-open their premises to tourism”. After all, if I Its importance in upholding a fair and robust democ- government leapt to the military’s defence. “You would racy should not be affected as a result of a government like the national broadcaster to have a rigorous commit- my essential attraction would be the Cadbury chocolate upset by criticism, nor should the political opinions of ment to truth and at least some basic affection for the factorywere arriving and certainly to Australia not the as iconica tourist Great for Barrierthe first Reef time, – home team,” Mr Abbott told 2GB radio. He went on to if it survives Mr Abbott’s time as prime minister, that is. wing media moguls. say, “It dismays Australians when the national broad- With funding to the ABC under threat, Australia faces theMr public Abbott’s be influenced recent attacks by the on biased the ABC thoughts suggest of an right- un- caster appears to take everybody’s side but our own,” the potential loss or damage of one of the few major un- derlying agenda is in play; either he is merely attempt- adding that the ABC should have given “the Australian biased media outlets. Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek defended the ABC, saying that it had scruti- fronts such as the secrecy enveloping his battle to “stop doubt”. nised all past governments and should be welcomed for theing boats”, to deflect or his attention critique and is simply criticism a means from importantof justify- navyThe and proposition its hard-working that media personnel coverage the benefit in Australia of the such a fearless democratic trait. “Tony Abbott’s com- ing potential future budget cuts to the ABC. Either way, should be somehow slanted by nationalism to defend ments today show he’ll blame everyone – including the these outbursts should not be considered lightly, and the country’s reputation sits uncomfortably with the media – for the promises he continues to break,” she for the safety of Australia’s sturdy democracy, they must notion of the unbiased, free and fearless media that the said in a comment on her Facebook page. be witnessed as a forewarning for an upcoming assault ABC has become renowned for. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young joined the de- against the people’s voice – the ABC. REVIEWS 17 Lacking the resources to send along a photographer with our brave reviewers, we raided the National raided we reviewers, with our brave send along a photographer to Lacking the resources in 1977. Pistols the Sex bring you to of Norway Archives Laneway Festival 2014 Live Music review by Sarah Fernandes and Kyle Redman

Laneway Festival has a reputation for being one of the the heat and adrenaline. We’re sure there were quite a obvious silence, which put a dampener on his set. best-run festivals in Australia. And, apart from the lack of few vibing for Danny Brown and Earl Sweatshirt later Earl Sweatshirt – famous for his involvement with shade, 2014 did not disappoint. Instead of the long queues in the day. the hip-hop collective, OFWGKTA – did a much better and soggy hot chips so familiar to any Australian festival- Frightened Rabbit, like The Shins, are part of that job at pleasing the crowd. When he wasn’t getting the goer, Laneway offered its punters exotic food trucks, vinyl group of bands who seem to be able to strike a perfect audience to sing about chicken soup or girls with freck- stalls, haircuts, art installations, an abundance of facili- balance between pop and rock. Their great stage banter les, the crowd were singing along anyway to his more ties and a diverse lineup. was made all the more endearing with their incredible popular tracks like “Sunday”, “Chum” and “Kill”. There weren’t too many people to begin with, so we Scottish accents. Crowd favourites like “Old Old Fash- Tracks from Savages’s record Silence Yourself was wandered down to the main stage to see Drenge thresh ioned” and “Oil Slick” went down well and even got peo- the highlight of their set. Their post-punk revival sound out some English grunge/post-grunge with other eager ple dancing. was commanding as the sun went down. They slammed early birds. With the sun high in the sky and the broth- dropped stuff from Luckyme label- their way through the early evening while punk-revival mates in the form of the unreleased jams “Hit Me” and “Husbands” had everyone bouncing track “Fuckabout”, we escaped get some much needed - around in the warm, white lighting. They closed their ers Eoin and Rory putting the finishing touches to their sunscreen. ing with his own recent single, “With Me”. set off with a 10-minute version of “Fuckers”, leaving us “Chimes” and ’s banger “Slasherr”, before finish Next up was the arresting Kirin J Callinan, who, de- Some stoner rock from Kurt Vile and The Violators super hyped for their sideshow at the Metro. spite his early timeslot, ended up being one of the best As expected, Jamie XX pulled a huge crowd. His ex- the afternoon slots. Their skilful mix of the traditional acts of the day. Unlike many bands, Callinan didn’t just tremely accomplished mixing abilities were at their play his songs – he performed them. His eccentric wail- guitar-bass-drumswas a nice shift away lineup from with the synths indie-pop and saxophones that filled peak as he immersed the audience into a wave of funk, made the band musically interesting and piqued the in- disco and dance. Watching him deftly transform his audience members away, but his heartfelt laments in terest of many passers-by, especially during their foot- deck while (seriously) not missing a beat is a mesmer- “Landslide”ing and flailing and during “Victoria “Embracism” M” really struck scared an some emotional timid stomping closer, “Freak Train”. ising experience. Although his stage presence lacked chord. Mount Kimbie were next and they vibed along with the banter, and therefore the connection that other acts On stage, Autre Ne Veut brought out essences of the King Krule – featured on two tracks from last year’s had, his expert musicianship more than made up for it. confusion of their record from last year. There were record, Cold Spring Faultless Youth. “Made to Stray” anxiety stilettos paired with psycho-sexual, pushing- stood out at the end with vocals, percussion and synth Four Tet completely swept us away with his show. and-pulling soul tunes, all with a football jersey and all coming together in the early afternoon. Anticipation “Kool FM”, “For These Times”, “&Fate” – all the big tracks backwards baseball cap. was lingering, with most of the crowd looking to head recently coming out of the U.K. Bass/House scene – In contrast to Callinan and Autre Ne Veut, the fresh- down to the main stage for the end of into were there, and so was what was left of the festival. He faced King Krule was dull. Admittedly, he did suffer from Lorde, but we had other plans. had us humming the “hey hey hey” hook from “Kool FM” some unfortunate sound issues, but his disinterested Hip-hop legend Danny Brown was unique in that his all the way to his sold-out show at Goodgod. performance did him no favours. Even a great summer performance was both incredibly awkward and lots of An unfortunate delay in Unknown Mortal Orches- festival song like “Krokodile” fell short. Krule is impres- fun. “Smokin and Drinkin” and “Dip” had everyone sing- tra’s set meant that the excellent Warpaint had to cut sive for his age, but he doesn’t seem to be able to rise ing and dancing while Brown bounced around on stage their set short by 20 minutes. The Californian girls above this and just be impressive. like Bugs Bunny on pills. He did, however, seem consist- channelled some truly amazing psychedelic dream rock. El-P and Killer Mike’s hardcore hip-hop collabora- ently unable to grasp the concept that not everybody in Their extended “Elephants” jam had the crowd cheer- tion, Run the Jewels, really killed it. They left us with the audience knew every word to all of his songs. Al- ing for more, so the girls gave a deservedly big fuck you monsters in “Job Well Done” and “A Christmas Fucking most every time he turned the microphone to the audi- to the 11 pm noise cut-off and continued into “Disco// Special” while everyone was gathering themselves in ence to let them sing the next part, he was met with an Very”, ending the night on a high note for all. 18 REVIEWS

Batman: Arkham Origins Inside Llewyn Davis Coke and Lava Nikon Game Review by Jeremy Szal Film Review by Lucia Watson D800 and Gopro

YouTube review by Dylan Chalwell Batman: Arkham Origins takes us back to the mad- The Coen Brothers take us through a week in the life ness of Gotham City through the eyes of the young of Llewyn Davis and romance audiences with this tale of caped crusader, hoping to capture the brilliant heights struggle at the beginning of the folk movement. of Arkham City and establish itself as a worthy prequel The seemingly tragic life of this New York folk singer Lavapix traces out the inability of modern innovation, to (arguably) one of the greatest adventure games this is soon revealed to be, for the most part, his own mak- commercialisationIn this remarkable and quote-unquote short film, visionary “strategic director brand generation. ing. In the course of one week Llewyn Davis manages to management” to shield us from the inexhaustible pres- This game takes place before Arkham Asylum, be- anger all his friends, acquire and then lose a cat, go to sure, heat and momentum of our own mortality. fore Arkham City, before Nolan’s The Dark Knight. If you Chicago, return and then cop a beating, all whilst deal- wanted to pinpoint a timeline, it would take place some- ing with his destitution and the loss of the other half of where after Batman Begins and before The Dark Knight. his folk duo. Though his life seems to be going to pieces, Two simple questions lie Speaking of which, the two trilogies work together bet- it’s hard to empathise with the character of Llewyn - he ter than ever before – much of the lore, such as loca- is, in essence, a total asshole. tions, foreshadowing to future events, and so on, is bor- Oscar Isaacs gives a strong performance and show- How long will it take lava rowed from Nolan’s adaptations. This is before Batman cases his musical talents as the hopeless Llewyn. Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake accompany Isaacs as toat destroy the heart a canof the of Coca-film: encounter is less than pleasant and sets up the slippery Llewyn’s reluctant, yet reliable friends Jean and Jim, slopehas even of insanity met The that Joker. both As Batman you can and imagine, The Joker their tum first- who are barely able to tolerate his poor life choices. Cola, and in what manner ble down, locked in endless combat. Through the course of the week Llewyn encounters Batman is a lot more vulnerable this time around, many other bohemians living on the edge. Adam Driver will this destruction be being younger, rasher, less mature and more eager to of Girls-fame plays another struggling folk singer, Al Cody, who lends him a couch for the night. Honorable wrought? time and completely new enemies. Sadly, the story is mentions also go to John Goodman and Garrett Hed- nowheretake dangerous to near risks. as lengthy You’ll asmeet Arkham old foes City for was, the clock first- lund – they team up as eccentric Jazz musician, Roland Coca-Cola, harbinger of happiness and freedom and Turner, and his ‘chauffeur’, Johnny Five. beauty and eternal youth, provides no protection from with a handful of side missions completed. There are, Ethan and Joel Coen have turned storytelling into a however,ing it at around more side12 hours missions, or so collectiblesat the hardest and difficulty puzzles if Coca-Cola cannot protect us, then how can American to solve than ever before. Unfortunately, you’ll notice a and The Big Lebowski – Inside Llewyn Davis is no dif- Apparel,the unrelenting Sanitarium and uncaringWeet-Bix, flow Colgate of molten PowerFloss, rock. And or lack of riddles set up by our friend Edward Nigma. He ferentfine art with with itsfilms simple, such asyet O Brother,rich storyline. Where ArtThe Thou?Coen even the Cotton On Great Value for Summer Collection? instead turns to Extortion packages to stand in for Rid- dler trophies (unlike in Arkham City, these are actually – the backdrop of a harsh winter on the streets of New promise of freedom offered by commonly-accepted easy to collect), towers to break into and radio frequen- Brothers have created the perfect setting for this film sourcesAs in of Jean-Paul meaning, Sartre’ssuch as multinational Nausea, we findcorporations, that the cies to destroy. There’s a lot to do here, which almost attitude to life. are empty words in the face of the cold – or should I makes up for the lack of a longer story. YorkInside adds Llewyn to the subduedDavis holds mood a lot and of reflectstruth. It Llewyn’s appears say, unbearably hot – realities of the natural world. In a The gameplay is exactly the same as it was in Arkham the life of a struggling bohemian is not as glamorous nod to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and some of City – which is a good thing. If Call of Duty can copy and as we’re often led to believe. The folky soundtrack con- paste every year, I’m sure we’ll give Origins a free pass. tains many songs performed by Oscar Isaacs and Mar- is enveloped, the entire process is repeated. Not only is The one major addition is an unwelcome one. Once you cus Mumford that really bring home the bittersweet Marcel Proust’s lesser-known works, after the first can reach a point in the game you’ll get electro-shock gloves. - It seems as though musical talent was a major pre- twodestruction other products final; it is are inescapable. mentioned – products used to mor and makes the game a cakewalk. It makes the nu- nature of this film. - record,Allow to me track, to finally to catalogue. direct you What to isthe Lavapix’s title. Notice purpose that merousThis gadget challenge flips off rooms every (that rule werein combat, a bitch ignores in the previall ar- formers have beautiful singing voices. Whether Justin here – foregrounding the means of production? It is ous games) easier, but in all honesty I found myself not Timberlakerequisite for willthis makefilm; it his turns musical out many comeback of the leadas a perfolk surely to say that our brands cannot stop the lava, but using them just so I could give myself a little bit more of singer, however, is yet to be seen. a challenge. Inside Llewyn Davis is a story of loss, struggle, self- As far as a worldview goes, I confess that it is too The transition from Rocksteady to Splash Damage sabotage and the desire to live a life separate from the merely chart its flow. hasn’t been without its faults, but they’ve delivered a conventions of society. The Coen Brothers have really decent game nonetheless. We get a better peek behind bought this story to life with an excellent cast and a bleak for me. As far as a film goes, it is sublime. the mask than ever before – with a healthy dash of in- great array of characters who remain true to the life of sanity to boot. It doesn’t come even close to Arkham the New York folk scene in the early 1960s. At many City’s standards, but Batman: Arkham Origins is a solid game that is worth your time and money. It has multi- point of watching a poor musician mess up his life? Like player, but it sucks. A lot. Pretend it doesn’t exist and points of the film you’re left wondering: What’s the enjoy the game as it is, not as a prequel. many stories, you will find the moral is at the end. SRC / PGC REPORTS 19

us and let us know what you’d like to see to a promising 26 March National Day of happen on campus. If after all the hype Protest. Think DJs, brass bands, and ice- cream. While the sound of protest drums steadily grows, we’ve been lobbying the goodiesof O-Week around, you findSRC will yourself be holding struggling free university to create an Afterhours Study breakfaststo fill your throughoutstomach without the semester all the freeand Space on campus, to be open ALL semes- ter 24/7. With the university’s tentative support, we’re now looking at the best the Welfare Room located on the first way to implement the SRC’s proposal. - SRC Education has also been building floor of the blockhouse is always open stronger relationships with the National toand class filled with with the cereals rumbles. and quickRemember stom Tertiary Education Union, which protects SRC President toach pick fillers up soan thatSRC youshowbag never from have our to goO- the working conditions of all academic Environment Officer Joel Wilson Week stall, it’s full of all the things you’ll staff, so that when student or staff con- Nicholas Gurieff Welcome all new and returning UNSW need to know about uni as well as info on Welcome to new and old students! It’s to defend our rights to a great University students to the start of a new University how to get involved throughout the year! going to be an important year for envi- ditionstogether. come under attack, we can fight - ronmental issues and the SRC has some are bound to encounter a number of new ised, with the highlight being a ‘craft- big plans for campus initiatives, but andYear! exciting If this is opportunities your first year to at participateUNSW, you ernoon’Plans forof o-weekpainting are and now designing being final of we’re going to need your help to deliver in sport, Arc’s volunteering programs material for the National Day of Protest real change. pre-protest party to be held on the Globe UNSW is home to world leading re- and clubs and societies. Your time at Uni- Lawn that day. versity is a once in a lifetime experience Remember, the Ed collective meets search on environmental issues and and you should be able to make the most every Thursday at 12pm at the Block- their solutions. Students and academics of it – which is where the Student Repre- house Activist Space. are contributing to cutting edge science, sentative Council (SRC) comes in. informing policy and engineering the The SRC is your student representa- future of renewable energy. Sadly the tive and advocacy body within Arc and University itself has fallen behind in the the University. We are here to represent environmental management of its opera- you! We seek to protect and foster the tions and investments. Indigenous Officer interests of students at UNSW and oc- We’re going to focus on a couple of key cupy the East Wing, Level 1 of the Block- areas to get our uni back on track with Hi everyone. I hope you’re excited to house. Is there anything that could make leading our society toward a sustainable getRebekah involved Hatfield in some of our up coming your campus experience better? Are future. For energy consumption we’ve campaigns and events. The Indigenous started the RenewUNSW initiative to you having trouble with the University? Portfolio is very excited to be creating an We’d love to know and it’s easy to get develop, and advocate for, a plan where Indigenous Society. The aim of this soci- the uni will transition to a 100% renew- your voice heard – just send an email to ety will be to promote Indigenous culture [email protected] able energy supply. We’re backing that on campus as well as facilitating discus- Women’s Officer For me making the best use of your up with the Fossil Free UNSW campaign sion about issues in the “Indigenous Af- Olga Lisinska time means being as involved in the uni- calling for UNSW to screen out the largest fairs” sector- everyone will be able to sign The women’s department exists be- versity community as possible! I have fossil fuel companies from endowment up at O-week, so keep an eye out! Along cause the SRC recognises that women done nothing more valuable than get in- fund investments. with this there will also be the creation aren’t always treated equally, whether volved in the SRC. The SRC is where the If you’d like to get involved then you of a mentoring program, which aims to it’s because random dudes yell at you on action is – so to get involved and engaged reduce the rate of Indigenous student the street, you’re more afraid to speak up with student life at UNSW visit our stalls the UNSW Environment Collective, and ‘drop outs’ by providing them with in- in class or you’re worried about not be- can find us on the web and Facebook as formal advice and support. Please watch ing offered a job because you might get up to! feel free to send an email to enviro@arc. this space, as there will opportunities for the UNSW SRC Environment Office. Also during O-Week to find out what we are unsw.edu.au with any questions or sug- students to volunteer for this program. sure you’re treated equally. gestions. We hold meetings every week Finally, we will be running a few events pregnant.Remember We fight during against this O-week, this and it’smake all and social events throughout the semes- throughout Reconciliation Week at the about IT’S YOUR CHOICE, whether it’s end of this semester, so again, watch this about sex, reproductive rights, clothing step-up we’re offering volunteer roles space as there will be more information or workplace. No one ever has the right andter, andinternships if you find too. yourself I look forward wanting to closer to the date. to judge you or discriminate against you meeting you! for being a woman, regardless of what you choose. After O-week, we’re really excited for International Women’s Day. To get you into the mood, we’ll be hosting a Picnic Contribute to the on the 6th of March from 12pm-2pm. General Secretary Then on the 8th, we’ll be heading into campus discussion. Maja Sciezko the city to take place in the International Twenty fourteen is looking to be one Women’s Day March from Town hall to Tharunka is always looking for big year for the University of New South Hyde Park, with stalls and speakers hap- Opinions, Comments, Letters, Articles, Wales and the SRC is ready to do all we pening then. After that we’ll be having a Campus News Tip-offs, Illustrations, can to make your uni experience one of Photographs, Art works, Events for calendar + more. the best. We are excited to be represent- Education Officer 12th of March. ing you this year and every one of your Billy Bruffey filmThroughout screening ofthe The last Sapphires 2 months on I’ve the representatives has been working hard The Education Collective has started been cleaning out the women’s room so Send your contributions to throughout the summer break to ensure with a bang in 2014, with the commence- it’s as welcoming a space as possible for [email protected] ment of new campaigns aimed not only at - the new year. The Women’s Room is lo- safeguarded our educational rights, but PO Box 173, Kingsford, NSW, 2032 tion and your student experience. We’ve also taking a positive step to improving cleanedthat we areup readyour Activist to fight Space for your and educa we’re education rights on campus. Come along pretty excited about all the activism hap- At the meeting of the Cross-Campus catedIf you’re on the interested 1st floor ofin anythe Blockhouse.of this, or in penings that’ll be going down in there Education Action Network, the UNSW women’s rights in general, come along to Education Collective was the most preva- this year. During O-Week you’ll see us lent education group present. We worked around running events and campaigns, closely with other activists and student you can e-mail me at [email protected]. giving you every opportunity to get know representatives to develop the foundation edu.authe women’s stall and find out more! Or 20

any issue that have been drowned out by be running wheelchair basketball in the If you’re keen to keep up with the the government and media’s attention Roundhouse, so you can all have a taste Postgraduate Council, like our facebook on Marriage Equality. If you would like of what it’s like to be a wheelchair ath- page at /unswpgc or watch this space for to join us in the parade, we will have a lete. There will be blindfolded jelly eat- sign-up sheet at our O-Week stall, or you ing challenges happening too – can you Welcome back for another great year can email Dylan and Cassie at queer@arc. think of many foods trickier to eat on a atmonthly UNSW reports from the by entire our office PGC Team!bearers. unw.edu.au. We look forward to meeting warm day while wearing a blindfold than all the newbies and we hope you all have jelly? (Dis)ability Collective meetings will a great O-Week! be on Thursdays at 2pm in the Disability and Welfare Space in the Blockhouse, and it would be great to see some new faces! Ethno-Cultural Officer Rachel Lobo Welcome (back) to Semester 1 every- one! The UNSW Ethno-cultural Portfolio is raring to go with our monthly Film & Book Club and our weekly collective meetings in full swing. Our collective is a safe, autonomous space for those that COFA report identify as ethnically, linguistically or Welcome back! culturally diverse. So take the opportu- COFA is still in shake down but look- nity to meet new people, chill out and get ing more and more like home every day. involved with all the awesome initiatives International Officers’ Report we’re running this year before you’re The SRC International is the repre- comfy couches and a Kitchen. sentative body for the wide and diverse PGC Report WeIts have another shiny huge new year Arc for offices Student full rep of- bogged down with assessments and not Welcome to UNSW! community of international students resentation at COFA. We are in the midst even free food can tempt you from physi- Or Welcome back for those returning cally removing your face from your text- studying at UNSW. We seek to best serve of forming a new Council and elections in 2014. will be held in Week 4. We are planning book. Along with Arc headquarters, SRC the interests and needs of international The Postgraduate Council is your av- an Info Day in week 2 so watch this space will be moving from Level 1 of the Block- students by providing a variety of ser- enue on campus to advocate for better for a date and time if you have more house to under the NEW TKC buildings vices and activities. The International services, access legal and welfare servic- questions or would like to nominate. where we will have our own Internation- Students Collective forms the backbone es at Arc and participate in great events The new council will be responsible al/Ethno-cultural Student Space (YAY!). of the SRC International, made up of en- throughout the year. for improving not only student represen- Also, be sure to check out our interactive thusiastic volunteers. Over the past month the PGC has been tation but engagement (such as parties and easily searchable facebook fanpage My responsibility include ensuring expanding with nine councillor positions and events) and support in the form of for all the deets on the #EverydayRacism that all International Students under- and the exciting new role of Women’s Of- - campaign launched during O-week along stand what services are available for your need and what’s going on in the Uni. mation about a range of issues affecting with how to sign up to the 7-Day Chal- apply and get involved with the PGC. Ex- If you encounter any problem, approach studentEquity officers life as wellto give as advicelistening and to inforyour lenge! As always, feel free to shoot me an pressionsficer. All postgraduates of interest can are be encouraged sent to pgc. to the school and me. We will be there to concerns and raising them with the ap- email at [email protected] if you’d [email protected]. help anytime. propriate people. like any information, have any ideas or Over the past month the Postgradu- SRC International and UNSW Interna- We are offering free Toast on Friday simply want someone to chat to. ate Council has been involved in ongoing tional collectives never stop seeking for mornings and Smoothies on Tuesday negotiations with the University about best services for international students mornings and Arc will be feeding us ever how your student services and amenities at campus. Feel free to send an email to second week for lunch on a Wednesday. funding is spent around campus as well [email protected] if you This year COFA Council will be in the as organising great events for the semes- have any enquires. ter ahead. We would love to hear if you have any Keep an eye out for the PGC stall at ideasoffice forevery the day new so council drop by or and any say sugges hullo.- O-Week with our Vice President Bruno tions on how to improve student life on Dampney ([email protected]. and off campus. au) or some of our PGC Social Events or- Kieran, Amy Misha and Laura ganised by David Forbes throughout se- mester ([email protected]). SRC Collective Times Queer Officers Hosseini has been busy getting in touch Collectives will be held in the Activist Space except where noted. Dylan Lloyd & Cassandra Harris withOur international International students Officer to get Mahasa more internationals involved with the PGC. If Welcome back everyone! The Queer Monday you’re an international student looking 1-3pm | Women’s collective holidays preparing for the year ahead. to participate in events or are involved WithOfficers O-Week have had just a busyaround but funthe summercorner, Students with Disabilities Officer with a society for internationals keen to 4-7pm | Queer Collective we’ve been organizing our stall, a games Alexandra Little work with the PGC, feel free to contact Women’s room, 1st floor, Blockhouse Welcome to 2014! I hope that you’ve [email protected]. Queerspace (Room 9.21), Level 9, night, movie night and a meet ‘n’ greet Chemical Sciences Building so students on campus can get to know all had a fantastic holiday break and are what we’re all about. We are also put- ready to get back into the swing of things helping out in developing University’s Tuesday Our Equity Officer Alex Patton will be ting together another Zine, which is a at UNSW this year. I’ve spent some of my disability action plan, if you’d like your 10-12pm | Enviro Collective small publication created collaboratively summer holidays getting ready for O- views heard get in touch at a.patton@arc. 12:30-1:30pm | Intercultural Collective by the Queer Collective. You will be able Week and preparing for the rest of the unsw.edu.au. PGC has also been involved year. Throughout the year, I’ll be running - Wednesday stall, on our website (www.unswqueer. the Smash the Stigma campaign and will holic’s and Gambling Anonymous meet- 1-3pm | Women’s Collective org.au)to find aor copy our of facebookthe zine atpage. our O-WeekOn the ings,in setting all students up UNSW’s and staff first are official welcome. Alco Saturday following O-Week we have currently involved in the consultation 4-7pm | International Collective the Mardi Gras Parade (March 1). Dur- processbe fighting for the to keepDisability Medicare Action free. plan I’mfor also be continuing on with the ‘Featured Women’s room, 1st floor, Blockhouse ing the break we’ve been working with UNSW in 2014. I’m speaking on a panel Researcher’Sam Hile, project, PGC Research where Officerpostgradu will- Thursday of experts at the SMART START orienta- ates can present their research as well 12-2pm | Education Collective tion for new ACCESS students. I’ve also as the PGC Supervisor Awards in 2014. USyd and UTS to put together this year’s 2-4pm | (Dis)ability & Welfare Collective Cross-Campusother Queer Officers Float for and the students parade. fromThe had several meetings with other Disabil- Sam and Claudia Crause, PGC’s Course- Disability & Welfare room, - some great events in the works including prove the student experience at UNSW Marriage”. Under this theme students are 4-6pm | Queer Collective ity Officers across Sydney and we’ve got work Officer will also be helping to im 1st floor, Blockhouse giventheme the of opportunitythis year’s float to create is “More costumes Than a picnic with members of our collectives. by working closely with the Graduate Re- Queerspace (Room 9.21), Level 9, and props that express an issue affecting During O-Week the amazingly talented search School and Postgraduate Course- Chemical Sciences Building LGBTIQ people that is important to them, people from Wheelchair Sports NSW will work Committee. COMIC 21 Leigh Rigozzi Leigh 22 SPORT UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet Callum Watson Ammy Singh (@ammyed) achieve with the resources we have available. Q: You currently hold the Australian record for maxi- mum oxygen uptake (VO2 max level). How long until In the latest series of UNSW students moonlighting as your VO2 max level passes Norwegian legendary cross Olympians, Callum Watson talks to Ammy Singh about country skier Bjorn Daehlie’s record? Will you be a su- the travels and travails of cross country skiing, the Olym- perhuman then? pic dream, and life as a greenie. A: That’s a funny question! But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a goal of mine. Surprisingly, each year I have con- Q: Your parents put you on skis as soon as you could walk. What has it taken for you to get to this level? see what I can produce in the next few years as I continue A: I can honestly say that making it to this level has totinued adapt to mysee trainingbig gains to in try my andVO2 get max, closer so I will to the definitely top of been a dream of mine for more than a decade. I have the sport. spent the last 5 years so focused on this goal that a day never really passed without me thinking about it at least Q: Both you and your sister are incredibly talented off - once. For a dream that long ago seemed so far away to ing engineering. What made you pick engineering, and what’sthe slopes the asbiggest well. insightShe’s a thatqualified it’s given vet and you? you’re study finallyQ: What’s become the reality toughest is what part makes of cross it allcountry feel worth skiing? it. A: Thanks, that’s very kind! Well, I chose it because I A: - have a passion for the environment. I have spent so much nitely the aerobic demands and the level of pain you need time training in the bush and National Parks, and feel it to put The yourself toughest through part to of achieve cross country good results. skiing It is hurts, defi is so important to conserve these fragile environments. Problems arise in everyday life, and studying engineering yourself to the absolute max, the disappointment is far has taught me a lot about good methods to best approach worse.but if you finish a race and know you haven’t pushed issues. Q: The Norwegians are incredibly obsessed with cross Q: Getting back to UNSW, you were the cross country country skiing. What’s it like over there with the way they male champion at Unigames for the last 3 years. Will you approach the sport? Have you ever caught sight of the fa- be back in 2014? bled Norwegian wax buses? A: I will be back for 2014 and love the team atmos- A: Cross Country Skiing is Norway’s Number 1 sport. phere UNSW has every year at Winter Unigames. I think Whenever I am there for training and racing, it shocks every year we are becoming more successful as a team me to see just how serious everyone is about it. In the and I am very keen to see what we can do this year! Oslo World Champs 50km, the crowd reached a record Q: And lastly, a fun question we ask everyone at 110,000 people and this is by far the most incredible at- Tharunka: mosphere I have ever experienced from a crowd. Their major change you’d make? budgets are incredible – just one of their 3 waxing trucks A: I would if you make ruled it impossiblethe world, what to destroy would any be the unique first are worth upwards of $6 million dollars. This makes it environment in the world, no matter how much econom- hard to compete, but I am proud of what we are able to

ic benefit it may have. Strong play by Aussie Women’s Cricket Team: Where’s the fanfare? Araz Eleyasian rolled onto victory in the nineteenth over. certainly good enough now to be acknowl- of 16 made her international debut for Australia did well to win four out of the edged. #littlerespectplease.” Australia in both cricket and soccer. This seven matches in the series. They lost on Despite the WNBA being the most is a talented individual who is studying at The Australian women’s cricket team points in the end as England retained the consistent and successful women’s pro- the University of Sydney while playing in Ashes by a margin of just two (10-8) after fessional league in the world, apparently top form for two sports, domestically and having won the lone Test match of the se- their championship titles don’t mean a internationally. Twenty20 match against England with ries, hauling in six points as a result. whole hell of a lot. During a short interview on Channel anotherput on an seven-wicket impressive displayvictory. in Sharpthe final in While the media heavily featured the An Internet meme posted on Facebook Nine’s Cricket Show prior to the start of Australian men’s cricket team as they ut- about Ellyse Perry – Player of the Series the Women’s Ashes Series, Australian Southern Stars were in the driver’s seat terly embarrassed the English this sum- versus England – had the tagline: “Every- cricket legend, Michael Slater, made his fromthe field the get-go. and dominant with the bat, the mer, the Southern Stars seemed to be al- one is so busy watching men [sic] cricket appreciation of their “talents” well known Australia won the toss and began with most non-existent in the major press. that no one noticed she [Perry] scored 90* as the segment cut to modelling shots of a blistering bowling attack, spearheaded Par for the course, though, isn’t it with on 95 balls with a strike rate of 94.73 and Perry and Lanning. by an incredible four-wicket haul by Rene women’s sport? also got the wicket of Sarah Taylor.” I sometimes wonder if women’s sport- Farrell. Just recently, the NFL’s Super Bowl was - ing teams will ever be afforded the level won by the Seattle Seahawks. Media out- ing Perry’s extraordinary efforts, the page of respect they deserve. Will these seem- a fantastic T20I debut for Nicole Bolton lets praised the team for bringing home Instead of a flurry of comments prais ingly acceptable displays of sexism ever be Despite two miscues in the field, it was – she seemed to be everywhere and took [sic] plays much better when both her fully extinguished? What’s the measure of key catches that dismissed top-order bat- Supersonics’ 1979 NBA title. handswas flooded are on with my postsbat, sheabout really how knows “she’s success that female athletes must achieve ters, captain Charlotte Edwards and wick- theFunny, first championshipconsidering the since Seattle the SeattleStorm how to work the balls” and “must have a in order to be acknowledged on the same et-keeper Sarah Taylor. The catch of the were champions in 2004 and 2010. Oh really long chain to reach a cricket pitch”. level as their male peers? game surely went to the stand-in captain, wait…what team is that? What sport do Another stated: “Womens [sic] sport Sadly, it all seems to be insurmount- Meg Lanning, who caught a cracker on they play? isnt [sic] sport. Lets [sic] be honest.” And able if unparalleled success by one of our Women’s basketball – now I see. not to be outdone: “Who’s this hot blonde brightest sports stars and two champion- Brindle in the thirteenth over. Our very own Lauren Jackson, a three- chic [sic]?! Does she take her clothes off on ships for the Storm simply aren’t enough theAustralia’s fly with her top left orderhand tothen dismiss came Arran out time WNBA MVP, took to Twitter, saying: the net [sic] somewhere?!” to warrant some respect and equal praise. swinging during the run chase and easily “We were good enough then and we are This is a two-sport athlete, who at age SPORT 23 UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet Taylah O’Neill Sam Davies hearted. to find a winner. It’s pretty intense, and not for the faint Ah, the Winter Olympics. Putin’s triumphant pet pro- featTaylah given hopesher age that and she the can fact reach that theshe finalshas only and been then ject has come under more scrutiny than perhaps any competingtarget a top-10 internationally finish in Sochi. since That 2009. would But bemost no ofmean all, other Games before it. Controversies have largely over- Taylah said she hopes, “To just put down runs I am happy shadowed any of the sport, centering on Russian laws with and go out there and do the best I can.” forbidding homosexual propaganda and encompassing Although she loves to ski, Taylah does not see a long- billion budget to the environmental impact of alleged il- everything from corrupt officials to the eye-watering $50 legal dumping of construction materials by building con- veryterm open-mindedcareer for her about in that her field. sport She and intends life in to general.go into tractors. PR when she finishes university. She seems, on the whole, Somewhere amongst this understandable media fu- hero, and Australian snowboarding legend, Torah Bright. rore and political unrest, a sporting event will take place. “SheThis hasis a muchgreat toperson do with to thelook inspiration up to, with she strong finds beliefs in her And heading to Sochi will be 19-year-old UNSW student and values,” swooned Taylah. and Sydney-sider, Taylah O’Neill. Bright’s own success and her “what will be, will be” Having begun skiing at just two years of age, Taylah - tion time, and in her wider life. “At the time of my run all - thatoutlook I can has do influenced is to compete Taylah’s at the own best attitude of my atability competi and citednow findsis a grand herself understatement: on the brink of “The representing Olympics Australia is some- hope that the results are in my favour,” said Taylah. thingat an OlympicI have dreamed Games offor all the my first life, time. and havingTo say itshe become is ex Before leaving Taylah to her preparations for what a reality is insane! I can’t wait to get to Sochi and hope- will be the biggest event in her skiing life, it did not seem fully compete to the best of my ability and do my country right to leave without addressing the issue that has, un- proud.” fortunately, come to overshadow the entire Games. So Taylah competes in the moguls skiing event, which, what does Taylah think of the laws against homosexual to any who haven’t seen it, involves competitors hurtling propaganda in Russia? And what does she think about down a bumpy slope as fast and tidily as possible, with those seeking a boycott of the games? knees working at seemingly unnatural speeds. As if this “I have trained very hard for many years to get to was not enough, Taylah and her fellow athletes have to where I am today,” she said. “I am going to leave my opin- negotiate two large jumps in which they perform tricks ions behind and go out there and do the best that I can”. to impress the judges who then score each skier’s run That seems the wisest move. Better leave it at that. UNSW Winter Olympics: Meet Scott Kneller Q: You nearly didn’t make it there as well with your points you needed to qualify was the equivalent to win- recent broken back. How was that? ning a [ski cross] World Cup. There were eighty guys re- A: It’s been an interesting couple of months, but it’s ally going for thirty spots so it came down to the wire at good to be here. The last six weeks were heavy. It was just the wings of the vertebrae, they don’t serve a great deal Olympics! the end. So it’s definitely a lot more difficult than the last of functional purpose. It’s just the fact that all the muscles Q: You study engineering and commerce at UNSW six connect to those veins around your back. So it’s just really months a year, and train the other six months. How’s that going? Everything just shuts down due to the pain. But I got back A: This year I’ve deferred just because I’ve had a rough topainful the Australian and it’s quite Institute hard ofto Sportsget everything and did firingrehab again.there year with the lead up to the Olympics, but usually I go full for about a month, and they were quite incredible. Just so time in Semester 1 and then part time in Semester 2, and grateful for their help, all the trainers and doctors. The - rehab has been quite remarkable and certainly outdone my expectation for where I am. on occasion I take summer subjects. It’s difficult to bal Q: What’s been the toughest part of your recovery? it,ance but the I’m two, not toobut concerned.I enjoy both. Uni I’ll life be is going pretty into good. my fifth A: I haven’t had setbacks, I’ve just been soldiering on year of engineering next year. I’ve got two years to finish and pushing harder every day. So in that regard it’s been Q: - easy because I have been able to push it really hard every jor change you’d make? If you ruled the world, what would be the first ma day. I was getting up at six and exercising the entire day A: I’m not sure what I’d change or how I’d go about it, until six at night. Just getting everything done, ticking all but it’s crazy to come into Russia where there’s been so the boxes. much negative hype about the anti-gay propaganda laws, and there’s so much political drama that goes on. It’s such Ammy Singh (@ammyed) Q: Take us back to how you go into skiing; what’s your a shame that it surrounds a sporting event that promotes story? healthy living and well-being and world peace. Once the A: I grew up in Jindabyne, so I started skiing when I Olympics starts, everyone realises what it’s all about and Another spotlight on a UNSW Olympic hopeful; Ammy was around 3 years old with both my parents introducing I guess if I’d change anything it’d be bringing everyone Singh speaks to Scott Kneller about Ski Cross, Sochi and me to the sport. All my friends skied so that’s pretty much back to what it means. It’s not about everyone’s political how he got there. all we did during the winter months. I raced alpine for a couple of years and then I made the switch to ski cross interests, it’s not about everyone’s individual views - it’s Q: You got to Sochi last night. How is it? We’ve heard a when I was 18 with the Vancouver Olympics just around about the collective and about working together. few horror stories about accommodation, but hopefully the corner. Q: What are your thoughts on Belle Brockhoff and the it’s good? Q: Ski cross is a relatively new discipline at the Olym- Principle 6 movement? A: Yeah, actually, it’s pretty amazing. It’s obviously pics. Does that mean the competition just gets tougher A: It’s such a shame that those laws were brought in, different to Vancouver. They’ve built everything from and tougher? and it’s pretty disgraceful. It breaches civil rights and it’s scratch, it’s pretty incredible what they’ve put together A: Yeah, I think so. I was pretty experienced at the last quite disgusting. I think it’s a nice gesture that Belle and and I was here last year so to see the transformation it’s Olympics. But I think this time round it’s just so hotly con- Principle 6 crew have put together. It’s making a state- quite remarkable. It’s a world class event and it’s pretty tended to qualify for these games. You accumulate points ment without over-dramatizing it, just them showing overwhelming and it’s good to be here. their support.

over a twelve to fifteen month period. So the amount of 24 SPORT

I was quite sensitive about the issue and started making assumptions“My stance that has Putin’sbeen changing, the worst just person a little in bit. the At world. first, But now it’s like he might not be a bad bloke,” she jokes. “I can’t tell him to change these laws, but I’m hoping to use the Olympic platform to voice my opinion. And when I say hoping, I mean that if I don’t get a gold medal, no one’s going to care about my opinion … The chances of more people listening is if I win a gold.”

she isn’t giving herself enough credit. Already, Brockhoff hasDespite become her synonymous protestations, with it’s the difficult Principle not 6 tomovement feel that in Sochi, and she readily admits to regularly being posed questions on Russia’s draconian laws by media outlets around the globe. Brockhoff eventually cedes that she’s “become somewhat of an icon in the LGBT community”. “I won’t be getting into any sort of protest during the Games. At most, I might wear the Principle 6 gear if I don’t have any obligations with the Australian team uni-

“I know Russia’s already come a long way already, but whatform, Ior want I’ll hold to point up six out fingers to everyone after a is race,” what’s she being says. done with the LGBT community being abused and tortured to death. There are a lot of things that are being swept under the carpet. Police are trying to cover up protest-

in prison for a day. All these young gay people are com- mittingers; they’re suicide ripping because flags they off have them no and one chuckingto turn to. them And Belle of the Board that’s what this law does: it’s preventing young Russians from reaching out for support during their self-discovery Ammy Singh talks snowboarding, coming out of whole life dedicated to that one sport”. She trails off, while growing up.” the closet on national television, and “ripping on Pu- seemingly lost in her own thoughts for a moment, before Brockhoff displays a matureness about the issue that tin’s ass” with Belle Brockhoff, Australia’s only open- jolting back to reality with a laugh. “Now I’m just thinking she acknowledges is borne of a personal investment in it. ly gay Winter Olympian in Sochi. about the day I retire. It’s going to be so weird.” “I’m protective of the LGBT community, and I know what Luckily, Brockhoff has hopes to compete in another it’s like to be discriminated against. I do have a big past of four Winter Olympics before that day comes, and will Ammy Singh (@ammyed) bullying, physically and emotionally, but that wasn’t be- be joined by her mother and sister in Sochi for support. cause of my sexuality.” Her father will be staying behind in Australia to protest She’s come to expect the usual questions in interviews, the Winter Olympics – but not for the expected reasons. Mention you’ve never seen snow to Olympian Belle she volunteers suddenly – questions about her sexuality, There’s trouble in snow sports administration paradise, Brockhoff as she wakes up in faraway Europe, and she’ll whether she has a partner, and the Principle 6 campaign. take her laptop over to her window to show you the and he’s protesting internal politicking, but Brockhoff Her responses have become rote and rehearsed. snow-dusted surrounds of a quaint Austrian town her- can’t say much more besides a brief expression of frus- Not this time, however, Brockhoff admits. “You caught self. tration at bungling sports administrators. me off guard. They’re all pretty bloody unique questions,” Perhaps the most instantly recognisable member of In that case, speaking of—“Politics?” she pre-empts, she laughs. Australia’s 56-person Winter Olympics team in Sochi, with a laugh. “I’m a really chilled out person. I don’t even know alongside 2010 gold medallist and human ray of sun- Yes, speaking of politics. Is she afraid of any backlash what day I’m competing for the Games. I’m just gonna shine Torah Bright, snowboarder Brockhoff is also one of from the Putin administration for her public opposition rock up when it’s competition day, and say ‘okay, let’s the most instantly likeable. She volunteers information to Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws? go’,” Brockhoff says with a laugh. “And then I’ll see how attentively and honestly. “No,” Brockhoff says. She is an ambassador for Ath- it goes.” “My mum came to every single race of mine until the For the record, it was on February 16, she placed age of 18. And she had a hard time letting go,” Brockhoff about homophobia in sports, and a member of the Prin- eighth overall after being knocked off the track by a Cana- laughs. “I came out to my mum when I was 18, and to one ciplelete Ally, 6 Campaign a non-profit inspired organisation by Principle that Six raises of the awareness Olympic dian snowboarder, and gave a magnanimous interview to of my best friends when I was 12. My dad literally found Charter, which states that “any form of discrimination the waiting cameras right after. out through the interview I did on national TV coming with regard to a country or person on grounds of race, re- out to world,” she says, referring to a 2013 interview with ligion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with the ABC which went viral and saw the 21-year-old rock- belonging to the Olympic Movement”. eted into the international spotlight. Brockhoff elaborates. “Principle 6 isn’t gay propa- One of the youngest – “and least experienced,” she ganda against the Russian government. It’s directed to- adds – snowboarders competing in the Olympics, Brock- wards the IOC [International Olympic Committee]. I read something really interesting which argued that when an bronze medal at the Snowboard Cross World Cup in Mon- Olympic Games is held in a country – Russia, for example tafon,hoff’s Austria path to in qualification2012, an experience came via she an counts unexpected as the – that soil is no longer Russian soil; it’s Olympic soil. So it best of her career to date. belongs to the whole world, not Russia.” “I’ve been training for over a decade, and emotionally, Widely known as the Olympian who jokingly prom- it’s been quite rough. There have been so many times ised to “rip on Putin’s ass” in response to Russia’s anti- where I wanted to quit but kept going, and so many ath- gay propaganda laws, Brockhoff has also been Australia’s letes go through that. It is a challenge. It’s basically your most vocal athlete criticising the policy – to a point. Image credit: Getty Images