I am solely responsible for Style Counsel PR’s blog. I update this weekly with a variety of arts/fashion/culture/celebrity/lifestyle based content. Click the image to see my handiwork!
BLOG: The Style Counsel Blog
Kate Piasecka
Journalist
Online: Project Press for Youth Projects, April 2012
Click the image to read the complete April edition.
For more information on Youth Projects, click HERE.
Online: Project Press for Youth Projects, March 2012
Read the complete March Edition HERE.
Online: Project Press for Youth Projects, February 2012
Read the complete February 2012 edition HERE.
Youth Projects is a Melbourne based not-for-profit organisation. Operating in the bay side city’s CBD, their primary goal is to better the lives of Melbourne’s disadvantaged and homeless community.
Project Press is a monthly publication which focuses on the work conducted by Youth Projects.
ONLINE: GUEST POST FOR FOX IN FLATS
Click HERE to read the article.
VIDEO: Melbourne City Masquerade 2011
Video by Ravi Chand for Entertainment Embassy.
My piece to camera begins at 0:50.
The Melbourne City Masquerade is an annual black tie event run by volunteers with the aim to raise funds for Cancer Council Victoria. This year, $15,000 was raised.
Home of World’s Most Liveable City Addicted to Brown Coal
Ten months has passed and the Baillieu government is failing to protect the environment, making it easier to build coal burning stations than wind farms.
The Baillieu government’s lack of state-wide environmental action has green groups up in arms.
Since coming to power nearly 12 months ago, the Baillieu government has failed to move forward with a clear, clean energy scheme or with a decision on the proposed closure of the Hazelwood Power Station.
Environment Victoria Campaigns Manager, Mark Wakeham, says he is disappointed with the government’s performance so far.
“There’s no comprehensive environmental policy, no climate change policy, no energy policy.”
“We seem to be making decisions to maintain our addiction to brown coal and turning our backs on two of the fastest growing industries in the world in solar and wind power,” Mr Wakeham says.
Current legislation states that Victorians have the right to veto the installation of a wind turbine if it is to be built within two kilometres of their home, making it increasingly difficult to find suitable locations for the turbines.
Steve and Judy Parker use solar energy to power their home and business.
Silvan farmer Steve Parker agrees with the Baillieu government’s ban on wind turbine construction in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, however, he wants to see a greener future for his children and three grandchildren.
“I’m not keen on seeing those turbines in the Yarra Valley, but I am open to using other forms of clean energy and that’s something this government has yet to address,” Mr Parker says.
Media enquiry to focus on ‘useless’ Press Council
The Press Council has been called a ‘toothless tiger’ following the launch of an independent media enquiry this week.
The Australian Press Council is at the centre of the newly announced media enquiry prompting calls for tougher complaints handling.
Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy says that the current state of the Press Council is laughable.
“Let’s be serious, the Press Council for many, many years has been … seen as a toothless tiger.”
“I don’t think any Editor… would quake in [their] boots about a complaint to the Press Council,” the Minister says.
Monash University Head of Journalism, Professor Chris Nash agrees.
“It is absolutely useless as it currently is… it’s not even a slap on the wrist.”
However, Senator Conroy and Professor Nash both praise the work of recently appointed Press Council Chair, Professor Julian Disney.
“He is making some changes,” Senator Conroy says.
Professor Disney welcomes the review and says that Council funding should be the focus.
Professor Nash says that if some government funding is provided, the strangle hold of the private sector will loosen, allowing the Press Council to strengthen standards.
Former Justice of the Federal Court, Ray Finkelstein QC will head the independent media enquiry, assisted by Canberra University Professor of Journalism and former journalist, Dr Matthew Ricketson.
PHOTO: Online media such as TheAge.com.au will be the focus of the media enquiry.
VIDEO: Professor Julian Disney discusses the changing landscape of the Australian media. Video courtesy of mumbrella.com.au.
Calls for Nauru Detention Centre to be reopened slammed by pro-asylum seeker lobby
The Liberal party is calling for the Nauru Detention Centre to be reopened following the recent Malaysia Solution debacle.
Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Immigration Minister, Andrew Robb, says if the Liberal party is re-elected, they will re-open Nauru and reinstate offshore processing in an attempt to deter people smugglers.
“We need to be able to demonstrate that we can control who comes in and under what circumstance they come in”, Mr Robb says.
View Larger Map
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre rejects the idea and says that Nauru has a corrupt government, no food, no drinking water supply and will come at a large cost to Australian tax payers.
“A major step forward would be to get rid of mandatory detention.”
Ms Curr says that although applications for asylum have recently spiked, the government still has the ability to process people on shore.
“We could easily settle these people. It’s not a crisis of numbers; it’s a crisis of will.”
Mr Robb disagrees.
“The fact of the matter is there’s only so many people we can afford to properly bring into the community.”
According to the ABS, in 2009 there were 6000 applications for asylum in Australia, making up less than 2% of applications worldwide.
Asylum Seeker Applications in Australia 2005-2009. SOURCE: Australian Bureau of Statistics
