Wednesday, March 10, 2010

David's Blogroll

  • Arts Crumble While Premier Parties The Fringe, the Festival and Womad - with all these events it seems strange to claim the arts in Adelaide are in danger, but the warning signs are clear for anyone who cares to look. Our arts flagship,...
  • Let's keep freedom of speech alive in South Australia I really think it’s about time we start thinking about our current defamation laws. What benefits do they really pose to the ordinary South Australian? At the moment it seems they have the potential...
  • A quick way to finish democracy for good Last night I appeared on Today Tonight to comment on the use of lawyers by Attorney General Michael Atkinson against Western suburbs residents. Today I got the "pleasure" of speaking to him directly over...

David's Blog

Arts Crumble While Premier Parties

Saturday, 23 January 2010 05:51

The Fringe, the Festival and Womad - with all these events it seems strange to claim the arts in Adelaide are in danger, but the warning signs are clear for anyone who cares to look.

Our arts flagship, the Festival Theatre, is daggy, dated and dirty. Our performing venues are either dangerously substandard, like Her Majesty's Theatre, or slated for demolition, like Union Hall.

And today the Advertiser reported that South Australians are going interstate for the big cultural blockbusters because we don't have them here anymore.

On top of all that comes the news that we are losing the Adelaide office of the National Archives. That means expensive interstate travel for our researchers. 

So while we have more and more festivals the foundations of the arts and culture are being lost. 

The people who produce our arts and culture aren't going to stay in a city that does not have those foundations. And if they leave the arts will die.

That has economic costs as well. A healthy arts industry underpins other creative industries like film, multi-media and the web.

In the end Adelaide will just be a nice place for a party.

That's great for a Premier chasing photo-opportunities but it will make South Australia a much less interesting and prosperous place.


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Let's keep freedom of speech alive in South Australia

Thursday, 21 January 2010 14:17

I really think it’s about time we start thinking about our current defamation laws. What benefits do they really pose to the ordinary South Australian? At the moment it seems they have the potential to be used to silence the voices of ordinary people. With the events that have unfolded recently related to the St Clair land swap dispute I expect many South Australians have been frightened off the idea of challenging Members of Parliament. Although it is important to protect people’s reputation, if our State’s citizens are too afraid to speak up about public issues then we can’t honestly say we are living in a democratic society. I’ve decided something needs to be done about this situation so to protect the rights of all South Australian citizens. If I am re-elected in March I will make it my business to push to have the current defamation act revised. Let’s not allow the big guys to kill freedom of speech in South Australia.
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A quick way to finish democracy for good

Thursday, 14 January 2010 14:35

Last night I appeared on Today Tonight to comment on the use of lawyers by Attorney General Michael Atkinson against Western suburbs residents. Today I got the "pleasure" of speaking to him directly over a discussion on FiveAA. One might say that things got a little heated, accusations and denials were made. The good news is that "Atko" is now saying that he is not seeking monetary damages although he is still seeking an apology. The Weekly Times yesterday reported that he is seeking to recover costs but with a bit of luck he will drop that demand as well - we'll have to wait and see. People often say hurtful things about politicians. I have even been defamed myself but I have not taken any action. Politics can be a tough businessness and we pollies need to be big enough to cope with the odd insult. I personally would never take action against a voter who made one or two defamatory comments in heat of the moment. If we start doing that we will silence dissent and kill democracy.
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