catch28

So the Howard government is finally gone…

I’ve lived all my adult life under the Howard government. They came to power in ‘96 when I was 17 and in my final year of highschool. I went from comfortably expecting to get a place at uni, to wondering if I could afford to go, as they immediately raised HECS and slashed Austudy for students starting in ‘97. Remember when Austudy was for students going to uni, what ever your age? No? Well, it was a long time ago, and I was among the first people to miss out with the introduction to youth allowance. I was in the first lot of students to recieve no government living assistance. Supposedly my parents were to support me during study, which they could not as all their money was tied up in running their small business. Luckily for me my cousin got me a job in the city which meant I could afford to pay for transport and books and food, although I spent the next 2 and a half years getting up at 4.30am for my one hour commute to the city. I couldn’t afford to move out of my parent’s house in the suburbs. This was my introduction to the Howard Government, and it all went down hill from there.

Over the next eleven years things steadily declined as I protested against all manner of things. VSU, mandatory detention, cuts to university funding, the war on terror, the war in iraq, the denial of Australia’s black history and black present, APEC, the homophobic changes to the marriage act, work choices, etc etc etc.

I’ve watched as Australia became more selfish and inward looking, our society’s worst impulses and prejudices legitimised by the state. I’ve watched as friends have struggled to survive, and I’ve watched as friends have failed to survive. I’ve watched this country grow and grow imbalanced, I’ve watched it grow unhappy with it’s material wealth. I’ve watched as we’ve "prospered" with longer working hours, less rights, greater surveillance, and less job security, all in the name of productivity, while the rich get disproportionately richer, and the working poor gets disproportionately larger. I’ve watched as the rates of depression have sky-rocked, and the mentally ill have become homeless. I’ve watched as secret blacklists, holding people without charge or access to legal advice, surveillance orders, and deportation, without any substantial evidence backed up by court proceedings, have all become standard police practice.

This country has become a terrible place, a heartless souless place, all in the name of economic prosperity. The money we’ve gained has been paid for in broken lives, the effects of which will be felt long after we’ve gone (climate change anyone?). I don’t know if the Rudd government will be any better, but for the first time in all my adult life, there’s a chance that things might be different.

The other day I was running late for work, so I got dressed quickly and left the house. On my way to work I looked down and realised I was wearing a bright green shirt and red shoes and developed the sinking feeling I was dressed like a christmas tree.

The next day I woke up late and was getting dressed for work. I put on my favourite red shoes and a new shirt made of organic cotton. On my way to work I looked down and realised that my shirt was a matt green colour, and I developed the sinking feeling that I was dressed as an australian native christmas tree, a eucalypt of some kind.

Note to self: don’t wear green and red together in November or December. 

A year and a half ago I saw Kiki & Herb perform at the opera house. Is it too much to say this was a life changing event for me? It was a moment of crystalisation, of everything I heart about being queer (politics, performance, hot men etc), summed up in the enormous talent of Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman. Since then I’ve followed their work closely, and longed for them to come back to Australia so I could see them again, as with most cabaret, it’s best live. Last saturday I got to see them again, with the added bonus of taking along some of my best friends. The following night I went out to loose ends and during the course of the night, got to meet Justin and Kenny, which was amazing and somewhat embarrasing (you know, cuz I couldn’t think of anything to say. Luckily my flatmate was there, who’s much better at the whole talking thing than me. she can actually converse! with people! about their lives!). I just stood there thinking to myself, gee, Kenny is way cute up close.

But I think what gets me about all this is that I feel so enormously privileged to be part of this community, this great creative community, that extends far around the world. And while the gay scene does revolve around pubs and clubs and venues, it also revolves around these networks of just the most amazing people, these great amazing creative and political people. Performers and DJs and bar staff and writers and musicians and crafts people and activists and technicians and audiences, all exchanging ideas and perspectives, all finding strength and inspiration to keep going, keep fighting. And me, a sometime writer-activist-craftsperson, I’m a part of that. And Justin and Kenny, they’re a part of that too.

In the book Chemical Palace, Slip gives a radio interview about her work, and Mr Hyde takes a soundbite and mixes into a track he’s working on, plays it back to her at a party. Have fun, keep going… keep creating. Have fun, keep going… keep creating. Have fun, keep going… keep creating. 

I know it’s this community and the art we produce, this community, the art we produce, that does it for me, that let’s me. And there’s no shame in that.