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Inside the Chinatown museum that after four years and millions of dollars never opened

Inside the Chinatown museum that after four years and millions of dollars never opened

The Age4 days ago
But as the institution enters its fourth year of a five-year lease with little progress made, impatience is brewing in some parts of the Chinatown community over the extensive delays. So why hasn't the Museum of Chinese in Australia opened yet?
History in the making
Sydney's Chinatown is one of Australia's best-known and most frequented, with roots tracing back to the 1870s, when Chinese migrants shifted their fruit and vegetable trading from the Rocks to settle around Haymarket.
Chinese people began arriving in Australia as part of the massive migration wave during the gold rush of the 1850s. During the 1900s, they spread into other trades and services, finding prosperity in fruit and vegetable trading, shopkeeping, tobacco farming and clothes laundering. The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 brought another wave of migrants.
But unlike Melbourne and regional cities such as Bendigo (which established its Golden Dragon Museum in 1991) and Ararat (which opened its Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in 2001), Sydney has fallen behind in establishing its own museum to showcase the contributions of Chinese Australians.
That looked to finally change in mid-2020. As the pandemic set in, Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the council would lease the property to the Museum of Chinese in Australia.
It would feature a gallery and exhibition space, programming activities, community spaces for events, an artist-in-residence program, and a cafe and shop. It is chaired by 82-year-old Daphne Lowe Kelly, who has spent most of her career serving Chinese-Australian organisations, and was presided over by Dr John Yu, a Chinese-born Australian paediatrician and 1996 Australian of the Year.
But neither the council nor the museum's leadership anticipated the challenges of establishing a new gallery in a heritage-listed 19th-century building. While the site has given the museum a spiritual and physical home, with rent subsidised by the council, the lease agreement contains pages of added requirements, heritage restrictions and red tape.
'This is an amazing gift,' new MOCA chief executive Peter Cai said of the building. 'And it came with a lot of conditions, and some conditions are not easy to address. There are a lot of costs to remedy.'
The initial renovation proposal, overseen by Tony Stephens, the previous chief executive who departed the organisation in January, came to roughly $4.7 million, said Kelly, who estimates the true cost would have been closer to $6 million or $7 million after factoring in contingencies and other unanticipated expenses.
Figures from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show revenue from donations and bequests came to $1,766,821 in the four years between fiscal 2021 and 2024.
This figure doesn't include rent subsidies from the City of Sydney's accommodation grant program, $2.28 million from Create NSW given in 2022, or two grants from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations that exceeded $400,000.
In the absence of local donations, lobbying government has been crucial. 'It was almost impossible trying to raise any funds during COVID,' Kelly said.
'People are now questioning many things'
A number of departures on the museum's board has added to perceptions of volatility. Only three inaugural board members remain: Kelly, Joanna Capon and Yin Cao. Dr John Yu, Stephen FitzGerald and Su-Ming Wong have departed the board. Since then, a number of others have come and gone.
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One former director, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters freely, said board members had at times disagreed on the best approach to raising money.
'It's become a fundraising issue. They need a certain amount of money to open. They haven't been able to achieve that yet,' they said.
Despite being volunteers for the charity, the former board member described the work as a 'full-time job'.
'It was very intense,' they said. 'I found myself spending a lot of time on the wrong things.
'While I've stepped off the board, I'm still a big supporter and would love to see it open.'
An active representative of the Chinatown community, who declined to be named, said the museum had lost a lot of the goodwill it initially had. 'Because it's been years, people are losing interest or faith,' they said. 'People are now questioning many things; where has [the money] gone, how has it been spent?'
The same Chinatown community representative feels the museum has had little to show. 'If you can't fix the building with the money you have, what are you delivering in the meantime?' they asked. 'They're not engaging in the community at all.'
Kelly is aware of the critiques. 'They don't really know what goes behind the scenes, what has to be actually done, and how difficult it is to achieve a lot of what it takes to actually get it open,' she said.
Putting on a show
Plans are now being redrawn for a 'reduced scope' refurbishment. Even then, Kelly estimates opening will cost $3 million to $4 million. 'That's still a lot of money,' she said. 'You've got to remember, we also need to have funds for the programs and operational costs.'
The race is on to pull the various pieces together for a soft launch. On top of refurbishment plans to be redrawn, costed and commenced, an exhibition director (historian and Chinese art and photography curator Shuxia Chen) has been drafted to conceptualise the museum's first exhibition, which will focus on local stories about Haymarket habitants that have been there for generations, such as the Lam family of Asian grocer Dong Nam A, or the Pang family, which ran a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket for nearly three decades and have donated large sums to the museum.
'We must put on a good show for people,' Cai said. Decisions need to be made about the exhibition's budget. 'You're talking about special lighting, casings, you have to hire expert consultants to put it all together. It's not as easy as hanging something on a wall.'
Meanwhile, Kelly is hustling for donations, having visited Canberra to lobby Wong and Plibersek, and sharing bank details in community newsletters. 'I've been lobbied about this so much,' Wong said at the April event.
The museum has secured its tenancy for another decade, which Kelly hopes will help to encourage donations after hearing feedback that some felt reluctant to donate money for a building that belongs to the council.
'A refit is not as sexy to the philanthropic community,' said another former board member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'We spoke to a lot of other Chinese museums around the world ... The Chinese Canadian Museum took eight years to get running from conceptualisation to open doors. It just takes a little while.'
Cai is excited to showcase the many contributions of Chinese Australians over the decades and is at pains to convey the 'complicated nature' of the project to supporters, whom he said had been generous and full of goodwill.
'I can empathise with some of our supporters who just want to see the building open soon,' he said. 'I want as much as I can to speed things up.'
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Porsche says its business model "no longer works'
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Porsche says its business model "no longer works'

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The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. As a result, the company revised down its profit margins – previously the envy of the automotive industry – to 6.5-8 per cent, around half its 14.1 per cent operating profit in 2024. The overall sales drop came despite record H1 sales in its biggest market, the United States (US), where sales grew 11.2 per cent. China – a previously reliable market for growth – saw the biggest downturn, with a 28 per cent fall in sales in H1 coming after a similar slide there in 2024. "The primary reasons for the decline remain the challenging market conditions, particularly in the luxury segment, and intense competition in the Chinese market," its H1 sales report said. While other German brands struggled in China in 2024, too, Porsche's pain spread to its home market of Germany in 2025, with a 23 per cent drop in H1 sales. Sales in Australia were down 12.8 per cent over the same period, with every model posting a year-on-year decline apart from its best-selling Macan SUV's 0.3 per cent increase, and Panamera's near doubling of sales. Globally, Macan sales have improved by 15 per cent, according to Porsche, with the Panamera sales up 13 per cent. The German automaker has gone heavy on both hybrid and electric vehicles, introducing the second-generation Macan in 2024 as an EV only, with petrol and hybrid versions to arrive in showrooms as soon as 2027. Porsche says that 60 per cent of Macan buyers globally are opting for the electric version as stocks of petrol versions run out. In the first half of 2025, Porsche has delivered 706 EVs and 181 PHEVs in Australia, accounting for 30 per cent of its total 2965 year-to-date deliveries. Looking at global figures, electrified vehicles – inclusive of EVs and PHEVs – accounted for 36.1 per cent of the brand's sales in H1, led by Macan Electric, the brand's second battery-electric model after the Taycan. In mid-2024, Porsche dropped its previous goal for EVs to make up 80 per cent of its total sales by 2030, with its EV push costing it a reported US$831 (A$1.26 billion) according to Automotive News. The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. As a result, the company revised down its profit margins – previously the envy of the automotive industry – to 6.5-8 per cent, around half its 14.1 per cent operating profit in 2024. The overall sales drop came despite record H1 sales in its biggest market, the United States (US), where sales grew 11.2 per cent. China – a previously reliable market for growth – saw the biggest downturn, with a 28 per cent fall in sales in H1 coming after a similar slide there in 2024. "The primary reasons for the decline remain the challenging market conditions, particularly in the luxury segment, and intense competition in the Chinese market," its H1 sales report said. While other German brands struggled in China in 2024, too, Porsche's pain spread to its home market of Germany in 2025, with a 23 per cent drop in H1 sales. Sales in Australia were down 12.8 per cent over the same period, with every model posting a year-on-year decline apart from its best-selling Macan SUV's 0.3 per cent increase, and Panamera's near doubling of sales. Globally, Macan sales have improved by 15 per cent, according to Porsche, with the Panamera sales up 13 per cent. The German automaker has gone heavy on both hybrid and electric vehicles, introducing the second-generation Macan in 2024 as an EV only, with petrol and hybrid versions to arrive in showrooms as soon as 2027. Porsche says that 60 per cent of Macan buyers globally are opting for the electric version as stocks of petrol versions run out. In the first half of 2025, Porsche has delivered 706 EVs and 181 PHEVs in Australia, accounting for 30 per cent of its total 2965 year-to-date deliveries. Looking at global figures, electrified vehicles – inclusive of EVs and PHEVs – accounted for 36.1 per cent of the brand's sales in H1, led by Macan Electric, the brand's second battery-electric model after the Taycan. In mid-2024, Porsche dropped its previous goal for EVs to make up 80 per cent of its total sales by 2030, with its EV push costing it a reported US$831 (A$1.26 billion) according to Automotive News. The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. As a result, the company revised down its profit margins – previously the envy of the automotive industry – to 6.5-8 per cent, around half its 14.1 per cent operating profit in 2024. The overall sales drop came despite record H1 sales in its biggest market, the United States (US), where sales grew 11.2 per cent. China – a previously reliable market for growth – saw the biggest downturn, with a 28 per cent fall in sales in H1 coming after a similar slide there in 2024. "The primary reasons for the decline remain the challenging market conditions, particularly in the luxury segment, and intense competition in the Chinese market," its H1 sales report said. While other German brands struggled in China in 2024, too, Porsche's pain spread to its home market of Germany in 2025, with a 23 per cent drop in H1 sales. Sales in Australia were down 12.8 per cent over the same period, with every model posting a year-on-year decline apart from its best-selling Macan SUV's 0.3 per cent increase, and Panamera's near doubling of sales. Globally, Macan sales have improved by 15 per cent, according to Porsche, with the Panamera sales up 13 per cent. The German automaker has gone heavy on both hybrid and electric vehicles, introducing the second-generation Macan in 2024 as an EV only, with petrol and hybrid versions to arrive in showrooms as soon as 2027. Porsche says that 60 per cent of Macan buyers globally are opting for the electric version as stocks of petrol versions run out. In the first half of 2025, Porsche has delivered 706 EVs and 181 PHEVs in Australia, accounting for 30 per cent of its total 2965 year-to-date deliveries. Looking at global figures, electrified vehicles – inclusive of EVs and PHEVs – accounted for 36.1 per cent of the brand's sales in H1, led by Macan Electric, the brand's second battery-electric model after the Taycan. In mid-2024, Porsche dropped its previous goal for EVs to make up 80 per cent of its total sales by 2030, with its EV push costing it a reported US$831 (A$1.26 billion) according to Automotive News. The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from:

Reports TikTok threatening 'constitutional challenge' against Labor's social media ban, raising foreign influence concerns
Reports TikTok threatening 'constitutional challenge' against Labor's social media ban, raising foreign influence concerns

Sky News AU

time3 hours ago

  • Sky News AU

Reports TikTok threatening 'constitutional challenge' against Labor's social media ban, raising foreign influence concerns

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Minister Wells did not respond to detailed questions on the matter. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his frontbench are facing growing criticism from independent politicians that his government has failed on transparency pledges. If Minister Wells makes a significant policy change in line with TikTok's demands, it would raise serious concerns about Beijing's influence on Australia's domestic affairs. YouTube is banned altogether in China and the superpower is locked in a tech race with the US over AI and social media. The legal threat, and lobbying efforts by TikTok in general raises fresh questions about foreign influence over domestic policymaking and adds to debate about the government's transparency and handling of lobbyists. Secret TikTok meeting sparks transparency concerns recently revealed that Ms Wells' office held an 'introductory meeting' with TikTok shortly after she took over the communications portfolio in May 2025. That meeting took place around the same time that news broke the government had already decided it would strip YouTube's exemption from the social media restrictions. This was despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese himself previously approving the exemption and lauding YouTube for its 'educational and health support' benefits. However, Minister Wells shrouded the lobbying process in secrecy, refusing to disclose who lobbied her, when, or what was discussed. Many crossbench politicians, including Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie, Australia's Voice senator Fatima Payman and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson argued against Ms Wells' ban. Ms Payman said the developments raised extremely important questions about the government's susceptibility to lobbyists and possibly the Chinese government. 'The antidote is transparency' Independent Senator David Pocock said the government's refusal to provide clarity on the issue was part of a wider transparency crisis. 'I think there should be far more transparency across the board,' Senator Pocock told reporters at a press conference about the Albanese government's lack of transparency. 'There's some real questions about how the age assurance is going to work (in the social media ban laws). 'One of my big concerns is that when there's a lack of information, when there is a vacuum, that gets filled with all sorts of misinformation. 'And the remedy to that, the antidote is actually provide people with information. Be more transparent.' Damning new research from the Centre for Public Integrity revealed that the Albanese government has the worst transparency record in more than a decade. The proportion of freedom of information requests fully complied with has sunk from about half in 2021-22 to just 25 per cent under the Albanese government in 2023-24. 'Labor talked a huge game in opposition about transparency—They've come in and been one of the worst governments since 1993,' Mr Pocock said. Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May joined the criticism, calling the government's actions 'deeply concerning'. 'What is this government trying to hide? ... We need decisions to be made in the open, not behind closed doors.' Shift under pressure The Albanese government's apparent reversal on YouTube marks a significant policy shift from its earlier public stance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously defended YouTube's exemption, calling the platform vital for 'education and health support'. But in recent months, lobbying from TikTok and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant pushed the government toward including YouTube in the ban. YouTube educators Bounce Patrol said they were excluded from consultations by Ms Wells and her office. Creator Shannon Jones said she reached out to the minister's office to provide input but never received a reply. 'I reached out… but haven't heard back… Everything is just being done so fast, like it's all being considered and decided in the space of a week,' she told National security risks ignored The developments also appear to contradict advice from the 2023 Senate Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media. The committee warned that TikTok and its parent company ByteDance posed 'unique national security risks' and could be a tool of foreign interference. Despite TikTok being banned from government devices, it continues to wield influence as a 'stakeholder' in legislation. Chinese Premier Li Qiang recently delivered a thinly veiled warning to Mr Albanese over treatment of Chinese businesses, like TikTok, in Australia. 'I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review,' he said. 'Economic globalisation has encountered headwinds. Trade frictions continue to increase. 'We hope that you will embrace openness and co-operation, no matter how the world changes. 'You should be promoters of economic and trade co-operation so that our two countries will better draw on each other's strengths and grow together.'

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