A State of Surveillance.

- Just another government conspiracy theory laced with facts from yours truly.

Starry Starry Sight by Xin Yu

“The most important kind of freedom is to be who you really are. You trade in your reality for a role, and in exchange you put on a mask”- Jim Morrison

The Australian Government is pressing ahead with controversial new metadata storage legislation to help fight home-grown terrorism.
Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop recently chaired the United Nations Security Council meeting and attempted to justify these new laws by saying that terrorists communicated their propaganda directly into our homes through social media, referring to terrorism as the most pressing threat to national and international security.
By collecting up to two years of everyone’s phone and internet history, the government will supposedly be able to reduce the threat of terrorism.
It will be illegal to know if your records are being accessed, even if you are innocent, while information about who you called, who called you, the location of both parties and the duration of your calls will be stored on a government server somewhere, while your file grows with every call you make.
Surveillance is a valuable commodity for governments. It allows them to passively control our actions through fear of consequence and thus, mould us into perfect, obedient citizens of the state.
“Under authority's gaze, many people become smaller, more obedient and less daring”.
The Wall Street Journal recently revealed the extent the American government has gone to monitor internet and mobile activity. Small planes designed to mimic mobile phone towers have been flying all over the country to intercept signals and capture the unique registration information on our mobile phones. This sophisticated surveillance operation has been in operation for nearly a decade. The US government says this technology was developed to locate criminals on the run and boasts about its proficient accuracy, where people can be pinpointed within a 3 metre radius.

The gaze of authority also plays out in literal terms. Closed-circuit television has been the eye of the state since 1949. We know that it’s used to solve crime and locate missing people.
A former model who battled with schizophrenia told me she liked to sleep under CCTV cameras in the city. The watchful gaze of the running tape gave her a sense of security. I felt for her.
As you walk through the streets on your daily grind, often indifferent to the workings of the social and political structures around you, just remember this. Much of what you do is being watched.
Online, we shed data like DNA. The information stored on credit cards, telephone bills and email addresses are all intimately linked to your identity. Every time you purchase online, you are surrendering your personal information to the infinite and sometimes shady world of the internet.
Just today, in a darker, more Russian version of chat roulette, a website was uncovered streaming live images from thousands of private webcams across the globe, including images from the homes of Australians. It took my co-worker 5 minutes to start streaming a stranger’s live feed from the computer next to me.
The eye of the state comes in many forms and as you can see, there is a concerted effort to expand its view. Modern society is interconnected, information-rich and becoming increasingly digitised every day. This structural change is blurring the lines between private and public life. We invest a certain amount of trust in government surveillance and we expect them to do good with their power, but what about the bad apples among us? You cannot deny their existence, unless you believe ignorance is bliss. If any of these surveillance techniques end up in the wrong hands, we are so technologically advanced that the consequences would be more explosive than ever.
If not, what are your feelings about living in a country where the government stores vast amounts of information on its citizens, who are yet to be guilty of anything at all?
Go ahead, buy it online, send the flick over the net, just text me your address or put it in your GPS. Tag your new Opal card when you get off and don’t forget to smile for the cameras. I know you enjoy all the pleasures of these new things.
And repeat after me...
I am free... I am free.

Dijana Damjanovic.

Latest Lock-down Not Doing Sydney's Nightlife Any Favours

If you’ve felt the blow of the new lock out laws in Sydney then it’s time to shape up.

The New South Wales Police Minister, Stuart Ayres has announced that the current lockout laws will be extended into most of the Sydney CBD on July 18.

For regular city slickers, the future looks bleak as government attitudes to combat violence also translate into an attack against party-goers, the vital contributors to the night-time economy.

The new lockout area is more than 10 times larger than Kings Cross, marginalising the entire city precinct regardless of whether venues have a history of violence at all.

This winter will see The Rocks, Surry Hills and Darling Harbour face the same jurisdiction as the island of sleaze, commonly known as Kings Cross.

Commissioner Ayres said that the lockout laws would be extended because there is data to prove that alcohol-fuelled violence has decreased as a direct result of the legislative changes introduced in The Cross.

Upon closer examination, the data he relies on to justify the lockout extension is merely anecdotal, weakening the legitimacy of the move.

On the other side of the fence, party-goers are shuddering at the thought of an even cooler winter on the city streets, compounded by the strict new legislation.

As Saturday night rolls around, my motive is not to drink to oblivion and coward punch the shit out of anyone sitting their HSC trials-  it’s to go out, be out and engage with the humans of Sydney.

For anyone who loves it, the ability to come and go as you please, move freely from club to club and meet those who interest you are just some of the things that will be hampered by these new laws.

Kings Cross is a different story.

Firstly, its Australia’s most densely populated area. 

Through the years it was known as Bohemia Australis, home of the sex trade, “sly grog” and Australia’s biggest illegal casino. 

The area has changed for the better over the years but the sex shops and strip clubs still remain. 

Today, you could get away with labelling it as Sydney’s red-light district.  

So undoubtedly, it’s always going to be a bit naughty. 

The cultural divide between Kings Cross and areas like The Rocks and Surry Hills tells its own tale. You only need to be in the two areas in the one night to see. But this is unlikely under new legislation. 

Locking down Sydney’s CBD in its entirety and limiting the movement and freedoms of all of us is a..wait for it, draconian move. It kind of feels like my mother-in-law is joining me for a night on the drink, reminding me that soon I won’t be able have a shot at the bar. 

Police Commissioner Ayres admitted that an assumption that there would be a flow on effect as a result of locking out Kings Cross, was wrong. Showing that the majority of people were not moving to escape the laws in other areas in the city. 

But surprisingly, he pushed on with plans to enforce lock-out restrictions in these areas, increasing the total lock out size by a tenfold.

My thoughts are with those victimised by senseless violence, but my pity goes to those who commit it.

How sad it is that you get kicks from the pain and suffering of others.

The saddest part of it all is that we, the guys and dolls of Sydney are paying the price for the actions of a small, stupid minority whose petty over-compensation has forced the state government to act so harshly on legislative changes to Sydney’s nightlife.

Yet to come is the cultural shift as we, like the dumbest of criminals need a timetable of laws to simply experience adulthood at licensed venues.

Where else in the world do fully grown adults need such restrictive laws to govern their personal evening choices?

Brace yourselves for July 18.

The over-stimulated nature of Kings Cross is embedded in its history

Vietnam vets were the fuel for a boom in the 1970's 

"Property of Sydney Hell's Angels"

All photographic credit to the amazing Rennie Ellis 

Cape Banks Bunkers.

There’s something about these local bunkers that scare me to the bone, yet continue to intrigue me. Chloe and I decided to adorn ourselves in Souths gear from head to toe and embark on a walk to Fort Banks. Nestled deep in the New South Wales Golf course, Cape Banks is another historic time-warp into south-east Sydney, between the wars.

The artillery housing and groups of underground tunnels are located on the north-easterly point of La Perouse, with panoramic views overlooking the Tasman Sea. At the time, you could understand why the Australian Defence Force would choose this sneak rear-end to Sydney as a strategic watchpost during the wars.

As you reach the 2 hour mark on your walk through the bush, you might come to a sudden jolt when you find a bunker nestled in the bush. Continue along this road and you will soon find the main battery with sweeping views of the ocean before you. At the height of pre-war paranoia the main battery was built to look like a rock. Very little of this housing remains on the structure, but there are a few clues that let you know that there was something there.

Photo Courtesy: The Australian War Memorial

 If you're game enough to take a stroll inside these fortifications you will discover some underground systems that would've been vital if Sydney Cover was under attack. A plotting room, underground powder and shell magazine, hydraulic pump room and short tunnels which link the bunkers together. I didn't see a single soul on the entire journey that day, it made it difficult to imagine how busy the area was when it was in full operation. 

Today's government frustrations.

This morning I listened to a great interview by Chris Ulhmann (newbie radio presenter and a legendary political correspondent). He was speaking with Australia's treasurer, Joe Hockey in the lead up to Abbott's first federal budget. Cuts are eminent, just where and how big they are remains a mystery. 

Some of the issues Chris raised rang true to my theoretical understanding of the media and it's role in society. Pollies are ratbags, and holding them to account is vital in an infinite battle against corruption and spin. 

So what happened this morning? 

As usual Hockey managed to take up plenty of air-time talking about the fiscal mess labor left behind. Ok, we get it. They blew our money on social services and their taxes weren't as effective as initially thought. 

What we want to know is what the budget means for us. To the nation as well. 

CHRIS ULHMANN: Should you scrap the rebate for private health insurance?

JOE HOCKEY: I’m not, I promise you Chris, I’m not going to respond, we can go through every line item in the budget but you won’t get an answer because we’re not going to be announcing or revising policy on the run.

CHRIS ULHMANN: Sure, but aren't these conversations that the community needs to have because, as you say some areas of spending are unsustainable and those areas need to be identified and they shouldn't come as a shock to people.

ALAS, THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER. 

My biggest frustration with current government is it's lack of rapport and consultation with the community. I'm not okay with you dropping a new surprise scheme or amendment out of the blue at a planned prime time press conference. 

Where is the conversation? Where are the ideas, the visions and the charisma that is so rare in the House of Representatives these days. 

If you can't give us that, then we would really like a simple outline of what you're doing with our nation.  

Disinclination from The Coogee Bay Equals Disappointment for Local Bands.

Kyle, Phoenix, Sam and Spencer: Disappointed with The Bay. 

WARNING: My two cents is free. 

Dijana Aleksandrovic 

February 28, 2014

Months of planning, promotion and practice were canned by the Coogee Bay Hotel on Thursday afternoon, resulting in a blow to the local live music scene. Just 24 hours before their start time, four youth bands were told by Sydney’s famous beer garden that they were simply not allowed to play.
In the lead up to the live music extravaganza, the bands felt as though they were playing alongside some of their idols. Selina’s, the Coogee Bay’s performance area has hosted rock greats such as Good Charlotte, INXS, and Getaway Plan. Sam Bathis, whose band was playing their second gig said the problem lay in the timing of the message.

“If The Bay had contacted us earlier and given us enough time to notify the media, advertisers and most importantly the crowd we had worked to draw for the night, then it wouldn't have been such an issue. Even more so, the reason behind pulling the pin was just laughable”.

Flick the Bean lead singer and manager, Luke Colombo felt like the bands and their fans had been left in the dark.

“We’re not criminals and we’re not gang members, there was no risk in having us. All you need to do is manage the night properly, and the bay definitely has the resources to do so. If you can do that, then the live music scene, especially that for young locals could have a chance to thrive”

After attempting to negotiate earlier set times and speaking to local police about what they could do Luke Colombo decided to contact local police for legal advice.
“The police were quite surprised when I told them what happened. They told me that the venue was well equipped to manage large crowds and already had effective ways of dealing with potential troublemakers," Luke said.

By 4pm, just hours before a start time. The four bands; Flick the Bean, Prime Suspect, Crossing Red Lines and MC Bunz had one choice, to find an emergency venue to play at, or to not play at all.

“To simply base the decision on assumption really made us all feel victimised. We were so relieved that Souths Juniors were able to organise a last minute event for us at Juniors at the Junction” Luke Colombo said.

 Keith Mcraw, president of Souths Juniors made a statement about the behaviour on the night.

“All those who came and watched on Friday night respected the venue and respected our staff and we’re happy to have them again”. Despite the last minute change the event still drew crowds, as Juniors at the Junction reached maximum capacity by 10pm. In the audience, there were a mix of locals from all walks of life coming to enjoy the music. But many spoke out about the excessive nature of the Coogee Bay’s management and security and its impact on the community. The last minute change of heart made by the venue left a bad taste in the mouths of plenty of locals.

Band Flick the Bean performing at the emergency venue.

A moment for modern youth to enjoy local live music.
Credit: Crossing Red Lines