Alliance E-Mag 11-June-2006

Welcome to your weekly Equity e-bulletin from the Alliance. This week:

- NZ Office Open For Business - Performers Share In Financial Success
- Making Sense Of Money - Legally Cutting Back Wages - Emmy Nominations
- 50 Years Of Opera Australia - There's A Bear In There - QPAC Parking Petition
- Urinetown Ticket Offer - Industry Days - Injection Of Local Drama

NZ Office Open For Business - After the successful launch of the New Zealand Alliance Branch and Actors' Benevolent Fund last week, the new office in Ponsonby Auckland is open for business and running full steam ahead. NZ industrial organiser Teresa Brown can be contacted by phone on (64) 9 360 1980 or email teresa.brown@alliance.net.nz. Or members are welcome to drop in to see Teresa at Unit G02, 29 Scanlan Street, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Performers Share In Financial Success - Australian performers, for the first time ever have shared in the financial success of an Australian film. Residuals came in last week for Wolf Creek, produced under the Feature Film Agreement. In 2004, after two years of arduous negotiations, performers voted for the agreement that provided residuals - for the first time - for work done on Australian films.

Making Sense Of Money - Equity's Dollars & Sense seminars are aimed to help performers save more and better manage their income. Dollars & Sense comes to Adelaide on Monday 17 July, 6.30pm, at the Holden St Theatre, Adelaide. Free for financial members. Email kate.brady@alliance.org.au to RSVP.

Legally Cutting Back Wages - Australian workers can be legally sacked and re-employed on lower wages and conditions under the Howard Govt's new IR laws, according to Friday's finding by the Government's own workplace watchdog. The Office of Workplace Services released a report on Friday that confirmed the Cowra abattoir's plan in April to sack 29 meat workers and re-employ them on severely cut wages - of up to $180 a week - was legal. More at http://www.actu.asn.au/work_rights/news/1152253874_4130.html

Emmy Nominations - Australians Hugh Jackman and Judy Davis have been nominated for a 2006 Emmy Awards. Jackman is nominated for hosting the TV broadcast of the 2005 Tony Awards in the Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. Davis scored a nomination for her starring role in the comedy/drama movie, A Little Thing Called Murder. Davis has been nominated nine times for an Emmy and won twice since 1982. More at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/07/1152235093984.html

50 Years Of Opera Australia - For 50 years fine work of Opera Australia cast, creatives and crew have enriched Australian culture. Equity is looking for ideas for an Opera Australia review that will be funny, inspiring, celebratory - and just for Opera Australia. Want to get involved? Email kate.brady@alliance.org.au or call Kate on 02 9333 0911.

There's A Bear In There - Equity is gearing up to celebrate the fantastic work of performers and crew on 40 years of Play School on Monday 16 October at the Museum of Sydney. If you have been involved in Play School over the years, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Suzanne Culph on 02 9333 0922 or suzanne.culph@alliance.org.au

QPAC Parking Petition - As of 3 July 2006, on-site car parking rates at Queensland Performing Arts Centre have increased to $7 and $10 for motorcycles and cars respectively. Performers and musicians who work at the centre are petitioning for a reduced rate in the parking fees, which pose a serious disadvantage for employees driving to work. Sign the petition at http://www.alliance.org.au/images/stories/pdf/car_parking_petition.pdf and return to the Alliance by fax: 07 3846 0055, email: qld@alliance.org.au, post: Reply Paid 70769, Spring Hil QLD 4004.

Urinetown Ticket Offer - STC is pleased to offer Alliance members $10 tickets to two performances of Urinetown on Thursday 6 July at 8pm and Wednesday 12 July at 8pm. Urinetown plays at Sydney Theatre. Tickets are limited and bookings are essential. Phone STC box office on (02) 9250 1777 and quote "Urinetown MEAA Offer" to book your tickets. For more information visit sydneytheatre.com.au/urinetown

Industry Days - Performers and crew talk about the challenges facing the entertainment industry, its future and what this all means for industry players. Dates and venue details in Melbourne and Sydney to be finalised shortly - so keep your dance card free.

Injection Of Local Drama - Australian audiences can look forward to an injection of local drama on their TV sets in the near future. The federal budget boost of $30 million to ABC drama heralded the promise of more local content and jobs for Australian crew and performers on our national broadcaster. But commercial channels Ten and Nine also have scheduled local offerings in the months to come. More at http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,9353,19728871-28784,00.html