18 years of printing the news and raising hell BY LAWRENCE GIBBONS from the political wilderness. alternative would be to provide hundreds Eighteen years ago the first edition Six months into our publishing gig on of kilometres of light rail in areas of Sydney of City Hub hit the streets promising to March 2 1996, a sold out Mardi Gras crowd that are crying out for public transport.” On “print the news and raise hell”. Way back of 19,000 gay and lesbian revellers danced August 7 1997, we reported on the final, in 1995, Sydney was in the throes of an the night away at the showgrounds in Moore futile protests to stop construction of the 18-year redevelopment boom that has never Park, while John Howard held his victory Eastern Distributor. “With bulldozers set really stopped. Long before Premier Barry celebration comfortably across the Harbour to begin work this month … activists and O’Farrell bypassed a public tender process Bridge. Early that morning as the sun rose parliamentarians have joined forces to try to and offered James Packer prime publicly- over the Horden Pavilion, Thelma Houston stop construction of the motorway.” owned real estate along the foreshore at sang “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and Over the years, we have chronicled Barangaroo, then Premier Bob Carr offered Paul Keating started packing his bags and countless community battles, political Rupert Murdoch the exclusive opportunity shredding papers at Kiribllli House. A lot of stoushes and public concerns. We have to privately develop publicly-owned inner good getting in bed with Rupert Murdoch become a trusted source for independent city parkland. did him. and alternative news coverage in inner Five years before the 2000 Olympics, On March 28 1996, City Hub’s cover Sydney, providing different perspectives, the first ever edition ofCity Hub exposed story proclaimed there was “No Honeymoon local viewpoints and an outlet for dissonant a secret back room deal for Murdoch’s for Howard at the Hub”. In a piece titled, “10 voices that would otherwise be ignored in News Corp to develop a back lot studio and adjoining Entertainment Quarter at WORST THINGS HOWARD WILL DO the mainstream media. Through it all we Moore Park. Three months after the Hub TO AUSTRALIA,” inaugural editor Hall have offered thousands of writers a sounding first broke the story, the State Government Greenland proclaimed: “We are now at the board, a bully pulpit and a stepping stone. finally announced its plans for News Limited meanest moment in our history. The welfare We have proudly championed local arts, to commercially develop park land at Moore state faces death by a thousand cuts and the culture and cuisine at thousands of shows, Park, after the Royal Easter Showgrounds lucky country embitterment by a thousand pubs, restaurants and events. Along the way were moved to Homebush following the petty tyrannies.” we have gone from one small feisty local Olympics. On November 23 1995, I wrote Long before the Liberal State Government newspaper to four titles: always proudly “That Murdoch abuses the sacred power of ever announced plans to build a light rail stretching from Bondi to Balmain across the press to bully and cajole elected officials line across Surry Hills to Moore Park and inner Sydney while doggedly focusing on our for his own financial gain goes without then south along Anzac Parade, the then local news beat. saying. That the Labor Party kneels down Labor State Government announced plans Each year around this time, to mark our before the Murdoch monster is an outrage.” to construct a billion dollar tunnel stretching anniversary we produce our annual BEST Here at the Alternative Media Group of from William St to Moore Park through OF SYDNEY edition. Our 18th anniversary Australia, we’ve seen it all before. Way back what would be called the Eastern Distributor. edition is our largest ever edition yet. Enjoy in 1996, long before Tony Abbott was voted Long before cars sat in gridlock along South it. Use it. Support Sydney’s best local into office on a landslide with the vocal Dowling St to avoid paying a toll road, on businesses, services, venues and attractions backing of Rupert Murdoch - vowing to January 2 1997, City Hub predicted that the that still make Sydney the best place to live, cut Labor supported programs, community proposed Eastern Distributor would not ease despite the best laid plans of developers to welfare, environmental regulations, public inner city traffic congestion. “Traffic will stuff up this town. sector jobs and government spending in continue onto Anzac Parade, Moore Park Rd Raise a toast to us. We will join you. general - John Howard returned the Liberals and South Dowling St. A far more sensible We’ve reached legal drinking age after all. The inaugural City Hub released on August 24, 1995 Incumbents gain ground as Canberra changes hands BY MICHAEL KOZIOL to vote Labor to secure the Published weekly and distributed in the CBD, Pyrmont, Inner Sydney representatives saw their seat. support rise at Saturday’s elections, with Tanya Meanwhile, deputy Ultimo, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, East llinghausen Plibersek, Malcolm Turnbull and Anthony Labor leader Anthony E Sydney, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, lex Chippendale and Glebe. Distribution enquiries call 9212 Albanese all returned with an increased Albanese increased his A 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. primary vote. majority in Grayndler, Photo: Photo: While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, The people of Wentworth will again be which was named by the The City News takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors represented by a cabinet minister, with Mr ABC’s Vote Compass as or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169 Turnbull to remain in the communications the country’s most left- portfolio under the new Coalition government wing seat. Mr Albanese Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons led by Tony Abbott. At the time of writing he took 48 per cent of the Group Manager: Chris Peken had received a 3.7 per cent swing on primaries, primary vote, while Greens Group Editor: Marcus Braid commanding a bigger margin than Joe Hockey candidate Hall Greenland City News Editor: Peter Hackney in North Sydney or Mr Abbott in Warringah. polled third behind the Editors: Adam Hunt and Michael Koziol Mr Turnbull said he was looking forward to Liberals’ Cedric Spencer. Contributors: Paul Gregoire, Daniel Paperny, Adra returning to cabinet. Mr Albanese is a Anthoney and Madelaine Wong “Government will bring a range of favourite to take the Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone challenges – fixing the NBN alone will be an ALP leadership vacated Live Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley immense task for the Coalition,” he said. by Kevin Rudd, along Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan In the seat of Sydney, Tanya Plibersek with former education Advertising Managers: David Sullivan, Toni Martelli, bucked the statewide trend to record a 3.5 per and workplace relations Robert Tuitama and Debra O’Kane cent primary swing, boosted by a collapse in minister Bill Shorten. Anthony Albanese Design: Joanna Grace Greens support of 6.4 per cent. Ms Plibersek is All three inner Sydney Publisher’s Assistant: Deeksha Chopra a popular choice among some voters and party seats are within the nation’s primary vote since 1934, just 33.8 per cent. Distribution Manager: Danish Ali members to take on the Labor leadership, but ten most left-leaning electorates according to Paul Keating has said the ALP needs a primary appears unlikely to do so. the ABC’s Vote Compass, an online survey Cover Art: Lachie Hinton vote “with a four in front of it” to be a viable Greens candidate Dianne Hiles, who has which attracted more than 1 million responses Email: [email protected] and competitive major party. been involved in refugee advocacy for 12 during the campaign. Grayndler was rated the Advertising: [email protected] At the time of writing, Labor is predicted years, said she was pleased Sydney remains a most left-wing seat in the country, with Sydney Contact: to hold 57 seats to the Coalition’s 89. Andrew PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 progressive seat but was disappointed in the placing fifth and Mr Turnbull’s Wentworth Ph: Fax: Wilkie and Bob Katter will retain their seats 9212 5677 9212 5633 result. coming in tenth. Web: altmedia.net.au “I was expecting the refugee issue to “I can only conclude that the Wentworth while Clive Palmer is expected to narrowly resonate and to pick up a substantial protest electors have been sufficiently pleased with my seize the Queensland seat of Fairfax. It was a If you have a story you’d like to tell us: vote, and I really can’t understand why that representation of them over the last three years remarkable result for the Palmer United Party, which scored 600,000 votes nationwide, or 5.6 [email protected] didn’t happen,” she said. and sufficiently appalled by the prospect of “When I was doorknocking and talking to another three years of Labor’s chaos to re-elect per cent. people the comment I was getting was that me,” Mr Turnbull said. In Sydney’s inner south, Labor managed there was nothing to choose between the two Nationwide, the Greens suffered a disastrous to hold Kingsford-Smith, vacated by Peter major parties.” swing of 3.3 per cent but retained the seat Garrett and won by Matt Thistlethwaite, who altmediagroup AltMediaSydney Ms Hiles said the expectation of a significant of Melbourne for Adam Bandt. A 4.1 per was elected to the Senate in 2010 but sought to Coalition victory meant people felt they had cent swing against Labor delivered its lowest move to the lower house.