By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-06 20:50:11 | Updated at 2024-10-06 23:23:58
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Mona's Ladies Lounge seemingly denies reports the installation will close next month
The ABC has reported that the Mona’s Ladies’ Lounge is set to close next month. However, curator Kirsha Kaechele has seemingly denied this in a post to social media.
The ABC reported Kaechele as saying the lounge had “run its course” with a “big celebration” sometime in November, after which the space will close:
So there’ll be a big celebration, I’ll open it for a period of time, and then really we’ll just go all out — and then close the artwork.
However, in a post to Instagram, Kaechele said: “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
I said something on the radio and somehow ended up with a headline: ‘Mona Ladies Lounge to Close’ (eye-roll) Who knows what I actually said (well, they do, they recorded it)—bad idea, being recorded at 7:30am on your birthday …
The Ladies Lounge is closed to men. Forever. It may change locations, you know, go on tour, we all love an adventure. And I love Paris. Maybe the Ladies Lounge should visit the Pompidou! Do you hear that Laurent?
Last month, the Ladies Lounge won an appeal in the state’s supreme court to continue barring men from entering the installation. You can read the full story on this from Kelly Burke below:
More details on vigils and rallies to mark 7 October anniversary
AAP has more details on the vigils and solemn ceremonies set to be held across Australia today, marking one year since the Hamas attacks in Israel.
Candlelight vigils will be held across many Australian cities today, after members of the Jewish community joined Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon at a commemoration in Sydney yesterday evening.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will attend an event in Melbourne today.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, NSW premier Chris Minns and health minister Mark Butler will attend a community vigil in Sydney.
Pro-Palestinian rallies will also take place on the anniversary, with as many as 2000 people expected at a resilience rally at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney’s south, which has not been authorised by NSW police.
And as we flagged just a moment ago, a pro-Palestine vigil is also expected to take place in Sydney’s Town Hall.
Police say they will ‘negotiate heavily’ with organisers of vigil planned for Sydney
A pro-Palestine vigil is expected to take place tonight in Sydney, from 6pm at Town Hall in the CBD.
At a press conference yesterday afternoon, the assistant commissioner, Peter McKenna, said there was no form 1 in place but police would “still be negotiating heavily with the organisers”.
As Catie McLeod reported last week, in NSW people who wish to stage a protest must lodge paperwork known as “form 1” or a “notice of intention to hold a public assembly” with the police commissioner in advance of the demonstration for it to be considered lawful. McKenna told reporters on Sunday:
If you come along and do the right thing – don’t commit offences, don’t obstruct people, don’t obstruct roadways … then there’ll be no need for us to intercede.
If, however, people commit offences – criminal offences, or antisocial behaviour, or do anything that we think puts anyone in harm’s way – we won’t hesitate to take action if they do.
Asked what the police response would be if those at the vigil decide to march, McKenna said it would depend on whether they obstruct people or traffic.
People are allowed to walk around the CBD, people are allowed to hold public assemblies. They’ve got a democratic right to protest in Australia.
Prime minister releases statement on 7 October anniversary
Anthony Albanese has released a statement on the one-year anniversary of the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, where 1,450 people were killed or kidnapped.
The prime minister said 7 October is a day that “carries terrible pain”, marking the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust.
Albanese said it was also a day to think of the hostages “whose lives remain suspended in the fear and isolation of captivity”:
For their loved ones, this past year must have felt like an eternity – the agony of waiting and not knowing, or of having the terrible truth confirmed.
Albanese said that since 7 October, Jewish Australians have “felt the cold shadows of antisemitism reaching into the present day” and “as a nation we say never again”.
We unequivocally condemn all prejudice and hatred. There is no place in Australia for discrimination against people of any faith … We recognise the distress the conflict has caused here in Australia … The number of civilians who have lost their lives is a devastating tragedy.
Today, we reflect on the truth of our shared humanity, of the hope that peace is possible, and the belief that it belongs to all people.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and welcome to the Australia news live blog this Monday morning. My name is Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of the day.
Today marks one year since the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, where 1,450 people were killed or kidnapped. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has released a statement condemning “all prejudice and hatred” – and acknowledging the terrible pain that the anniversary brings.
A number of vigils are planned for today to mark the anniversary, as well as one year since Israel’s ongoing retaliation in Gaza that has resulted in at least 41,000 people – mostly civilians and many children – being killed. NSW police assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said there was no form 1 in place for a pro-Palestine vigil in Sydney but police would “still be negotiating heavily with the organisers”. We’ll bring you more in a moment.
The ABC yesterday reported that the Mona’s Ladies Lounge, infamously known for barring men from entry, is closing next month. But curator Kirsha Kaechele seemingly denied this in a post to Instagram, writing: “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
It’s also a public holiday in NSW, the ACT and South Australia today.
We’ll bring you more on these stories in a moment. As always, you can read out with any tips, feedback and thoughts via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
