Abbott’s Broken Promise to Australia’s First People

By Laura Burns

TONY Abbott this week announced a $534.5 million cut to Indigenous Programs, breaking his promise to Australia’s First People.

            As part of the 2014-15 budget, the cuts include $160m taken from Indigenous health programs; almost ten million dollars from Indigenous language support, and Indigenous programs nationwide cut from 150 to just five from July 1.

            The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples will also cease to exist from July 1, saving the Federal Government $15m.

            Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs Shayne Neumann says the cut in the budget will widen the Gap, sending Australia backwards.

            “[You] can’t cut your way to Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage, ” Mr Neumann said.

            Tony Abbott himself was quoted in October of last year, stating the Aboriginal people would be in the heart of the new Government, should he be elected Prime Minister.

            The ‘new’ Government was elected, yet his promise to the people has been broken in less than twelve months.

            Mr Neumann believes the cuts could see the closure of up to 38 Children and Family Centres across Australia leaving young Indigenous Australians without early education from 30 June 2014.

            Indigenous Male Health Officer Dameyon Bonson says the Federal Government doesn’t know enough about the Indigenous community to be making such big decisions regarding budget cuts.

            “Indigenous people have suffered when there was money and will continue to suffer when it is taken away unless Indigenous people are in control of the program initiation, creation, development and implementation,” Mr Bonson said.

Set yourself goals and actually DO something about them

My best friend and I were just talking about our futures and what we want to do. In this sort of instance, we’re two completely different people. I have known since I was eleven years old that I wanted to study journalism and here I am, almost nine years on, in my final year of a journalism degree. I started off in uni studying a double bachelor of business and journalism because I was urged by other people to get the extra qualifications, and I convinced myself that for one extra year in university, the extras were worth it. But once I started, I hated the business courses and loved the journalism ones. To me, there was no point in hating going to class every day and not getting good results just for the “extra qualifications,” so I dropped out of the business degree and continued on with journalism. Now, I will graduate from uni with my dream degree in less than eight months and hopefully get a job in a field I love and enjoy working within.

I also studied a semester of my second year (last year) abroad in Scotland. The opportunity allowed me to build friendships with people my age from different places around the world (shout out to my Americans – you know who you are) and gain experience living and studying in different cultures and traveling through Europe. Now, I am studying five subjects per semester this year and working 20+ hours in my shitty little waitressing job, all so I can move to London the day after I graduate in December this year. It’s tough, and let me tell you, I’m exhausted, stressed, drained, tense, cranky, lonely, bored and absolutely buggered absolutely every minute of the day but I keep telling myself that in the long run, it will all be worth it.

I’m not writing this to make you jealous or tell you how my life is better than yours but to encourage you to work for what you want. Work out what it is you want in your life, and work towards it. Do whatever you need to do to make it happen. I want to move overseas so I’m going to do it. I absolutely love going to gigs and trying to meet celebrities, so I work enough so that I can save enough to move overseas and to be able to go to gigs every few weeks. I miss out on shitty things like going to the pub for a few drinks or going out for dinner or going for weekends away, because I would rather sit at home and be bored for a year to be able to save up and do one massive thing. Don’t get me wrong, I crack and go shopping and spent $200 in an hour or go out for dinner and treat myself to the most expensive thing on the menu, but if you can manage for a month or two, believe it or not every once in a while you can actually afford to splash out.

I hate seeing people wasting their youth or doing what they think is the opposite and going out clubbing every single weekend and hooking up with people because it’s “what you’re meant to do when you’re young” or they think “who cares, I’m having fun,” but in reality, you need to have some sort of context and dreams about what you want for your future. I spent the first six months being 18 going clubbing every weekend, and the second six months of being 18 living on the other side of the world and travelling Europe. Since getting home, I realised how much money I wasted in those first six months. Now I do the minimum and save the maximum. I know it’s not for everyone but I urge you to find what you love and strive towards it. Discover your dreams and work towards them. Trust me, if you put in the hard work, the hours upon hours yawning and struggling through your days, it will pay off. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, just find something worth the battle.

Ummmm yeah that was random but rant over xoxo

Brits 2014 Recap!

If you, like me, live in Australia and have spent today cooped up in the air-con escaping the plus 30 temperatures and sky-high humidity or you’ve just woken up in the UK and somehow missed last nights entertainment at the BRIT Awards – we’ve got you covered!

In short – Lorde’s done it again, Bey Bey’s performance was perfect and a certain member of One Direction almost missed the acceptance speech while he ducked off for a wee.

The Arctic Monkeys opened the festivities with a bang (and a fire?) with their hit song R U Mine? before leaving band initials A & M highlighted in fire in the middle of London’s O2 Arena. James Corden then climbed on stage to, yet again, do a spectacular job of hosting the biggest awards show in the United Kingdom. He too got on the Fire Bandwagon, opening the awards with his suit sleeve on fire much to the dismay of Occupational Health and Safety Officers across the globe.

Into the awards ceremony and we saw the Arctic Monkey’s steal the show taking home both Mastercard British Album of the Year and British Group amongst other artists such as Bastille, Rudimental and One Direction.

Next up was the home-grown artists time to shine with David Bowie taking home British Male Solo Artist and a ‘shaking’ Ellie Goulding claiming British Female Solo Artist as she thanked her team around her.

The second performance of the night was Katy Perry, who earlier skipped the red carpets, but donned the O2 stage in a very neon-coloured, Egyptian-themed costume during her performance of her latest hit song Dark Horse. After copping some slack following her performance on Britain’s X Factor, Katy was certainly out to please audiences and she did not disappoint.

Internationals Kylie Minogue and Pharrell Williams fittingly announced Bruno Mars as winner of the International Male Solo Artist category while Lorde took home International Female Solo Artist and Daft Punk outdid Kings of Leon and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to score International Group.

British Breakthrough Act went to Bastille while Rudimental Feat. Ella Eyre scored British Single for their hit ‘Waiting All Night’.

One Direction added to their already sizeable stash Brit Awards by taking home the Global Success Award for the second year in a row!! BUT… Liam, Louis, Zayn and Niall were left hanging by their own band member Harry Styles who was inconveniently ‘having a wee’ as their name was read out. He made a valiant effort to run from the toilets to the podium and still managed to thank his fans and team… after asking the boys what they had won. WATCH HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-sAdsSn25M

Beyonce treated the London audience to her first ever live performance of ‘XO’ – and boy, did she look absolutely amazing, and sounded even better, as she did so. Lorde and Disclosure were among other artists to take to the stage. Ellie Goulding also performed a mash-up of two of her hit singles ‘I Need Your Love’ and ‘Burn’. Bastille and Rudimental teamed up for an incredible performance and were appropriately dubbed ‘Bastimental’ by James Corden.

One Direction beat Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris to take out the first Brits Twitter vote for Best British Video for their hit single ‘Best Song Ever’.  This time all 5 boys managed to make it up to the podium to accept their award but with noticeably more alcohol in their systems as Liam proclaimed, “I’ve had a few drinks,” before randomly declaring his love for Jimmy Carr.

The awards ceremony ended shortly after that before artists and other entertainment industry people’s people made their way to different after parties scattered around London. Sony’s party held at The Arts Centre proved particularly popular with drop-ins from Harry Styles and Pharrell Williams while Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry and Lorde chose to party it up together in London’s Soho House.

Work Experience at Channel Seven: Day Five

Work Experience at Channel Seven

Day Five: Friday, December 7, 2012

Day five. Last day. Already? Unfortunately.

Last night I messaged Edwina on twitter to remind her that I was keen to tag along with her again today if she would have me. She messaged back that she would be reporting on the attack of a police officer from the police centre in the city and to text her in the morning. I messaged her when I woke up and she said to be at the police centre by 7 and I could attend the big press conference with her.

I arrived at 201 Elizabeth Street just as 7am was approaching and as Eddy was getting ready to do a live cross for Sunrise. I waited and watched as she prepared what she was going to say and delivered a well-constructed, highly informing and extremely well spoken update on Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson’s death. After Eddy’s cross we packed up and made our way upstairs to set up for the police press conference. We were the first there so we set up and Eddy introduced me to the journalists and crews from the other television networks and radio stations as they arrived.

The contents of the press conference itself was horrible – hearing the details of how the police officer was killed was horrific – however, those details aside, it was awesome to see how a press conference comes together. To see how everyone arrives and sets up their equipment, gets their notepads and pens out, socialises with the other press and then the room drops to silence as soon as the official speaker walks in was an incredible opportunity. The speaker, in this case NSW Police Commissioner Scipione, spoke about yesterday’s incident and gave details, before the media asked questions to get as much information as possible and also clear up any information that might be misreported. Once the press conference was complete, Commissioner Scipione left the room and the media packed up their equipment and we all left.

NSW Police Commissioner Scipione delivering the conference

Eddy and I caught a cab back to Channel Seven, I greeted Adam and let him know where I had been all morning and then I watched the end of Sunrise out in the plaza. I had bought Mel, Eddy and Karen a bottle of champagne to thank them for everything they had done for me. Mel – for speaking to Karen for me and getting my foot in the door, Karen – for organising my week of work experience before I had arrived and overseeing me while I was there and Eddy – for going over and above to make sure I had the most beneficial, educational and fun week of work experience. I took the bottles upstairs and gave them all to Eddy as Karen and Mel weren’t there. I thanked Eddy for everything and agreed to stay in touch while I’m overseas and to contact her when I get back.

Once I had said my goodbyes upstairs I made my way back downstairs to see if there was anything Adam wanted me to do for him, but as it is Friday and the Sunrise/TMS Christmas Party was this afternoon he didn’t have anything for me to do. He gave me his email address and told me to contact him if I could somehow get credited at uni for my work experience and to let him know if I’m able to come back to Seven next year.

As today was my last day I was reluctant to leave, knowing I wasn’t going back for at least another year, so I decided to sit in the studio to watch the last hour of The Morning Show before I left.

But that was it. It’s all over, red rover.

Hopefully I’ll be back next year though!

Work Experience at Channel Seven: Day Four

Work Experience at Channel Seven

Day Four: Thursday, December 6, 2012

This morning began at the surprisingly bright and early hour of 4am. If I wasn’t getting up for something as exciting as going out on location with Edwina Bartholomew for Sunrise I would probably have hit the snooze button close to half a dozen times but nope, I was up wide eyed and excited at exactly 4am. I had received a twitter message from Eddy saying that there had been a change of plans and not to go in to work that early and that she would call. So I got ready for work and scrolled the social networking world. Eddy soon called and informed me that the morning still had the go ahead and to head into work as soon as I could and we would head out to yesterday’s fire in Lane Cove National Park.

I arrived at work and found Eddy doing a live cross reporting the 2DayFM Royal Prank to a network in London. Once she was finished we made our way down Martin Place and to her car and then we were off. After googling some things along the way and once we had arrived, Eddy wrote some notes and briefly prepared what she was going to say on air for the 6:30am cross to Sunrise for Nat’s news. I was amazed at how she was able to turn a couple of minutes of googling the appropriate police, fire and weather websites into a well detailed, professional and informing news update live in front of the nation. She is a truly incredible reporter.

Edwina Bartholomew reporting live for Sunrise

Eddy moved locations slightly to change up the visuals and did another couple of crosses throughout the morning. She even gave me the opportunity to have a practice run, pretending that I was doing a live cross reporting on the fire. I did horribly, but it was really great to have that opportunity and be put in that position with all of the right gear and everything. Eddy gave me some tips on how to practice speaking on the spot and to slow down when I’m talking. Once Eddy had finished the last live cross to The Morning Show we made our way back to Channel Seven.

It was about 9:45am I think when we returned so I went straight up to greet Karen and Jules and asked them if they had any work they would like me to do. Jules had been saving me a few jobs throughout the week so she assigned me to clipping more of the Sunrise and The Morning Show promotions and making a few phone calls. I had the pleasure of letting someone know they had won $10, 000 thanks to the Sunrise Cash Cow! I called someone else on behalf of The Morning Show as they had also won a prize valued at $10, 000 but they didn’t answer so I left Julie’s name and contact phone number for them to return the call.

Once I had completed all of the tasks Jules had assigned to me Karen contacted the IT department and had them create me my own channel seven log-in and email address! I then began browsing the Sunrise soapbox for any potential stories for tomorrow. I printed a couple out and showed them to one of the producers where he then assigned me to researching and compacting a list of the best radio pranks of all time – in light of the 2DayFM Royal Prank Scandal. I spent an hour or so compiling a list and watching YouTube videos of radio pranks before the producer came over and let me know that they story wouldn’t be running anymore. They had been given approval to run another story – about the Packed to the Rafters house being on the market - so they wouldn’t need the radio pranks list anymore.

By this time it was about 2pm and Jules and Karen didn’t have anything more for me to do, so with that, Thursday, day four of work experience, was complete. 

Work Experience @ Channel Seven: Day Three

Work Experience at Channel SevenDay Three: Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Day three was very impromptu and very exciting. I arrived at work at 6:50 and sat in the studio for fifteen or so minutes before Adam suggested I sit in the control room and watch how Sunrise works from that angle. I sat in there and watched as seven/eight people worked together to ensure the show ran smoothly. At 8:15 I went back out into the corridor to see Adam and he then took me up to the newsroom and introduced me to… someone whose name currently escapes me… who then introduced me to Damien Smith. Damien Smith is a news reporter for Channel Seven, Sydney.

Damien was rushing out of the office to go out on location to shoot for a package and kindly invited me to go along with him. I quickly ran downstairs to grab my handbag and then met up with Damien again and followed him to greet the crew – Dan and Stu – and make our way to the car. We were off to Luna Park and my first time driving across the Sydney Harbour Bridge! There was a function that was taking place with Take 5 magazine to award six brave kids with their trophies after winning a competition. These kids had amazing stories. One story was of Ella, a young girl who received a pulmonary artery valve transplant at the tender age of eight days old from an eighteen-month old boy who drowned. Ella went on to place fourth in a triathlon after the parents of the donor wished for her to learn to swim as soon as she was old enough.

Brave Kids + Celebrities at the Take 5 Brave Kids Award Ceremony

Damien did a live cross after the event for the 11:30 morning news, interviewing Ella and her mother. We then stuck around, making our way around all of the competition winners and filming short interviews and then filming their joys on the Luna Park Ferris Wheel. The expression on their faces was truly priceless.

Damien Smith interviewing Ella and her mother for the 11:30 morning news

After the event we made our way to Government House where there was another award ceremony taking place. But the media contact was unorganised and we were unable to film during the ceremony so we left before the proceedings began.

Once we arrived back at Channel Seven I observed as Damien got straight to work and began producing and putting the package together. Next was to go downstairs for Damien to record his voiceovers and then edit the final package. I found it extremely interesting to see how a package is formed from beginning to end. Before this week I had assumed that the reporters just shot the footage and sent it back to the office for the producers and editors to do the rest of the work but I have been proven otherwise. It definitely made me appreciate all of the reporters a lot more.

By the time the package was fully completed it was 4:30pm. I made my way upstairs to see Karen as I hadn’t seen her all day and I was worried she might think I just didn’t show up all day. Luckily though, Eddy had told her that I was out with Damien for the day. I asked her if there was anything she would like me to do and she told me that it could all wait for tomorrow as I had already had a long day. So with that, I made my way back to my apartment, made some two-minute noodles and passed out at 5:30pm.I woke up at 10pm with missed calls and text messages from my family worried that I was lost somewhere in Sydney without my phone. After calming everyone down I checked my twitter and found I had received a direct message from Eddy! She said that she’s going to the fire in the morning and if I’m at work by 5:15am tomorrow morning I can go with her! Woohoo, bring it on!

And there we have it. Day three: complete.