Alliance/Equity (MEAA) E-Mag 4th Oct 2006

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

- Opera Australia negotiations - Priscilla Launch - Submission On Media Bills
- Sign On For Equity - Titanic Production - Indigenous Film Protocol
- ABC Offer Less Than Inflation - AFI Awards - NSW Equity Graduate Days
- Vale Patrick Quinn - Play School party  - Safe Work Australia Week
- OHS Course - B Sharp Is Going Home - Ticket Offer - Safety Show
- Tax Return Deadline - Bank on It

Opera Australia negotiations - The Alliance met with agents and opera principals Last Wednesday to discuss Opera Australia's proposal for recording and broadcast.  Performers discussed a wide range of issue that will inform the ongoing negotiations.

Priscilla Launch - The Alliance met with producers of new musical Priscilla to discuss upcoming promotion of the show. Negotiations continue. Good luck to all cast and crew working on the production's launch on October 7. 

Submission On Media Bills - Last week Alliance Federal Secretary Chris Warren appeared before the Senate Committee into the Government's media ownership bills. Read the Alliance submission at www.xmedia.org.au

Sign On For Equity - The campaign continues to gain momentum amongst theatre casts. Join other performers by signing on as an Equity member in your program bio.

Titanic Production - Rehearsals have begun for new musical Titanic.  With a cast of 36 it promises to be a mammoth production.

Indigenous Film Protocol - The Alliance is preparing a submission to the AFC guide for protocols for filmmakers working with indigenous content and indigenous communities. Contact Lynn Gailey on lynn.gailey@alliance.org.au for more information.

ABC Offer Less Than Inflation - After the nationwide 24-strike, ABC Management proposed a wage rise that is still less than inflation. ABC real wages have already declined by 12% over 10 years. Negotiations continue next week.

AFI Awards - Geoffrey Rush will host the L'Oréal Paris 2006 AFI Awards on the Dec 6 and 7 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. www.afi.org.au

NSW Equity Graduate Day - Experienced performers, agents and financial advisers will impart their knowledge. Free event with lunch and afternoon tea provided, followed by industry drinks. Oct 20. Details: alison.aprhys@alliance.org.au or 1300 65 65 13.

Vale Patrick Quinn - Patrick Quinn, executive director of the US Actors' Equity Association, died suddenly of a heart attack on Sept 24. He was 55. Quinn was in Sydney last year attending the International Federation of Actors executive committee meeting. He was a great unionist and will be sadly missed by performers. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/102294.html

Play School Party - A grown up celebration for all the cast and crew who have worked on Play School over the past 40 years will be held at the Museum of Sydney on Oct 16 2006. For more information contact suzanne.culph@alliance.org.au

Safe Work Australia Week - A national week developed to focus attention on workplace safety issues around Australia. www.ascc.gov.au/ascc/NewsEvents/SafeWorkAusWeek/SafeWorkAustraliaWeek.htm

OHS Course - There are still places left for the combined Certificate IV in OHS and WorkCover Consultation Course for the Entertainment Industry, in Sydney over a two weeks (Oct 23-27 and November 23-27), $1100 per person. The TAFE Cert IV Course is recognised across all industries through VET. The consultation course is compulsory for elected OHS Representatives and OHS Committee members. For enquiries and bookings, contact the OHS Project Manager: julie.deakins@alliance.org.au (02) 9333 0961

B Sharp Is Going Home - to Belvoir St Theatre. MEAA members are being offered concession price tickets to Checklist For An Armed Robber by Vanessa Bates. October 11-29, preview: 11 Oct. Tickets: $28 Full; $22 Concession. Cheap Tuesdays pay-what-you-can (min$10)
Bookings: 02 9699 3444 www.belvoir.com.au

Ticket Offer - The Ensemble Theatre is offering Alliance members $10 tickets to Are You There? on Friday 13 October at 8.15pm. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St Kirribilli NSW. Phone the Box Office on (02) 9929 8877 and quote 'MEAA Offer'. Directed by Ros Horin, the cast features Paula Arundell and Socratis Otto.

Safety Show - WorkCover NSW is the principal sponsor of The Safety Show and Conference Sydney 2006 for the third consecutive year. Held from October 17-19 at Sydney Olympic Park, it is Australia's largest workplace health and safety trade show. Details:
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/NoticesEvents/SafetyShow/default.htm

Tax Return Deadline - The deadline for filing your return is October 31. Electronic lodgment e-tax forms can be found at www.ato.gov.au

Bank On It - Rising rates got you ranting?  Relax, as an Alliance member you have access to a discounted home loan through Members Equity Bank.  To find out more, visit www.membersequity.com.au/hloan