17 minute read
Fit the bill
fit the bill ALP and Coalition need to cooperate for Australia’s sake
Firstly, congratulations to Albo on becoming PM, and especially congratulations to Canberra’s very own Katy Gallagher on becoming finance minister. This is the highest ministerial rank an ACT federal politician has ever attained.
At the time I write, it looks like the ALP will govern in its own right, thankfully, as the mix of crossbench groups in the parliament is interesting to say the least. In the first ACT Assembly, we ended up with six different groups from 17 people. The five ALP and four Liberals would, on occasion, get together and stop some of the crazier ideas being put forward by the others from coming to fruition. Even in federal parliament on rare occasions, Liberal and Labor do combine against others such as the Greens to prevent disastrous ideas getting momentum.
I’d remind Albo that his first duty is to ensure the security of Australia; this means having a strong defence force, but it also means things like ensuring energy security. The new Opposition must also be prepared to work with the ALP in ensuring this, so when the Greens and those wealthy, middle-aged white women from the “teals” (who can afford electricity rises of 200 or 300 per cent, unlike the battlers out in Charnwood, Isabella Plains, Cabramatta and Logan) come to him and demand he slash defence spending and close down our coal mines and gas fields by 2025, he can tell them where to get off, knowing he has the backing of the opposition if they try anything in the Senate.
There are two wonderful human stories coming out of this election. The first is about a little working-class boy of Italian origins, brought up by a single mum in a housing trust home who worked hard to give her son every opportunity. This boy went through uni and has now risen to the highest office in the land - Anthony Albanese. He has a reputation as a decent man who looks
Capital Food Market feature
WITH BILL STEFANIAK AM RFD FORMER ACT OPPOSITION LEADER
after all his constituents in inner Sydney. He knows hardship and thrift, and the sacrifice a parent makes for their child.
The second one concerns a little girl in the NT whose grandmother gave birth to her mum under a tree in a remote community. Her mum went on to be a minister of the crown in the Country/Liberal government, and that little girl, Jacinta Price, is now heading off to Canberra as an NT senator. She is a strong, impressive, practical conservative and will do much for Indigenous Australians and, indeed, all Australians. I’d expect her to attain high ministerial rank in a future conservative government and she has the potential to end up our first Indigenous PM.
Finally, commiserations to Zed, and congratulations to David Pocock. Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Weekly.
‘A taste of Europe in the Capital’
Construction of Canberra’s new Capital Food Market has commenced and is scheduled to be open in April 2023. Reinvigorating the Belconnen Markets precinct with a unique European-inspired design, the new market hall will showcase the region’s best local producers, leading food providores and talented food artisans.
Targeting net-zero carbon emissions, Capital Food Market will be built and operated with sustainable and environmentally responsible principles, adopting the latest in solar energy generation, natural lighting and temperature control, rainwater harvesting and waste stream separation technologies.
With its fully enclosed design, exceptional building quality, convenient basement parking and outdoor garden seating with adventure playground, Capital Food Market will be a go-to destination for locals and visitors to Canberra alike.
Capital Food Market will complement an already vibrant precinct, joining Bunnings Warehouse, First Choice Liquor, Chemist Warehouse, PetBarn, BBQs Galore and other national retailers. The precinct will also benefit from regeneration of the immediately adjoining land with residential mixed-use projects, including the 313 apartment ‘Market Residences’ development.
Guests and traders at the Capital Food Market will experience a buzzing atmosphere.
“The plan is designed with a large seating and activation space in the centre of the market,” Christopher Young, the Market Director said.
The Market’s ground up design allows traders to choose from 25sqm to 340sqm tenancy spaces, as well as additional storage and loading facilities.
Expressions of interest from passionate and creative food and produce specialists are now welcomed. Please hurry to ensure you don’t miss out on this unique Canberra food opportunity.
news Floriade to return to Commonwealth Park in 2022
“The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la, breathe promise of merry sunshine” – and the 35th Floriade, Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, will return to its traditional home in Commonwealth Park for the first time since 2019, running from 17 September to 16 October.
“It’s wonderful to be able to have the event back in Commonwealth Park,” ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said this week. “It’s been COVID-impacted for two years in a row.”
The theme of this year’s Floriade is the Sounds of Spring. More than one million blooms will be on display, spread through the gardens to the soundtrack of atmospheric instrumentals, classical and contemporary tunes.
“We really look forward to it being successful,” Mr Barr said.
Floriade 2022, he said, promises a month-long festival filled with entertainment and recreational activities celebrating all things flowers, food, and gardens. Visitors will experience a diverse program of music, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market traders, artistic displays, entertainment and more.
NightFest will also return for this year, over four nights, with a revamped program of after-dark entertainment and horticultural illuminations.
The community element of the pandemic years will also be kept, Mr Barr said: “Hundreds of thousands of bulbs will be planted right across the city.”
Floriade is the ACT’s mainstay tourism event, and the Chief Minister expects it will bring in more than $40 million, hopefully more than $50 million, for the Territory’s economy.
It would, he said, be “a timely and important boost for the tourism industry coming out of winter”.
“For locals, Floriade tends to signify
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and new head gardener, Tim Howard (right) with Floyd the Floriade garden gnome in Commonwealth Park on Monday.
Canberrans coming out of their winter hibernation, being able to get back into the outdoors as the weather warms up.”
Mr Barr hopes that half a million people will visit the festival, as they did before the pandemic.
“Depending, of course, on the level of pent-up demand, it could go above that,” he said.
“Supporting Canberra’s major events calendar is a critical part of the ACT Government’s economic recovery plan for Canberra as we look to create and protect 250,000 local jobs by 2025.”
news Plastic straws will be banned in ACT from July
From 1 July, single-use plastic straws, cotton buds with plastic sticks, and all oxo-degradable plastics will be banned in the ACT, no longer able to be sold or supplied.
“The ACT Government is making it simple and easy for Canberrans to cut waste,” said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, on Monday 23 May.
These bans are in addition to the single-use plastics items already banned in the ACT since 2021: single-use plastic cutlery and drink stirrers, expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers, and plastic bags that are less than 35 microns in thickness.
An exemption applies to single-use plastic straws, which Mr Steel said were “a safety and accessibility tool for some Canberrans with a disability”.
Businesses such as cafés and restaurants may supply individuals with single-use plastic straws upon request. No reason or proof of need is required, but it is also not compulsory for businesses to stock plastic straws.
Aged care or disability facilities, pharmacies, and other healthcare entities that provide care or products to people with a disability or healthcare need may stock, supply, and sell single-use plastic straws.
The ACT Government is working with local and national partners to ensure local businesses and organisations are aware of the upcoming ban.
“This next phase of our single use plastics ban will ensure a level playing field by seeing all businesses make the switch to more sustainable alternatives at the same time,” Mr Steel said.
He thanked businesses and organisations that have already made the switch “for embracing alternative products and helping make Canberra a more sustainable city”.
“Over the past 12 months, we have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders about these bans to ensure the needs of all Canberrans continue to be met as we phase out these products,” the Minister said.
“Retailers are eager to comply, and we will continue to work with government to seek clarity
Manager of the Fish Shack, Virvia Lilanuary, with Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel, at Monday’s announcement of the next tranche of the ACT’s single-use plastics ban.
for businesses,” said David Stout, policy director at the National Retail Association.
“We are visiting retail shopping centres, malls, and strips across the ACT, visiting over 800 retailers in their stores to provide resources and information.”
Businesses can contact the NRA’s tollfree hotline 1800 844 946 to speak to their plastic ban specialists.
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news Canberra mum’s marathon effort to protect kids
Next month will see four Canberrans take on the challenge of running seven consecutive marathons, across seven states, over just seven days (27 June-3 July).
The Bravehearts 777 is a gruelling endurance challenge that Aussies take on to help raise money and awareness against child sexual abuse.
“It gets such incredible buzz because people look at us like we are crazy,” laughs 45-year-old Canberra mum, Jess Peli. This will be her fourth 777, and the eighth run ever of the event.
“I initially went into it as a challenge, but really quickly, I got engrossed in the cause.”
On a family holiday when she was 16 years old, an adult “family friend” came into Jess’ room uninvited and laid on top of her – leaving Jess frozen, not knowing what to do, or say.
“All I knew is that whole holiday that they were with us, I felt really uneasy. I needed a little bit of a break when I laid down on my bed during the day, and within five minutes he rocked up.
“My brother and I were sharing a room and we had these tiny little trundle beds that were so narrow, and he lay on top of me and just said ‘not very big, is it?’ Afterwards, I didn’t really put two and two together.”
It would be years before Jess saw her personal experience for what it was, well into adulthood, and even after the man once known as ‘The Fun Uncle’ had died.
“I have met a lot of people along the way. It’s amazing how many have come forward in day-today life and said, ‘this happened to me’.”
One in five children experience child sexual assault or exploitation. In up to 90 per cent of child sexual assault cases, the offender is known to the family.
The chance to be part of the solution kept Jess’ heart in the game, while her head was still piecing her own story together.
Jess was nominated Local Hero in the Australian of the Year 2021 awards, where Canberra was first
Canberra mum of three, Jess Peli, will run seven marathons, across seven states, in one week as part of one of Australia’s largest runs for child safety.
introduced to her growing repertoire of 777s.
“It was really interesting seeing the amount of people that come up afterwards like, ‘you did what?’ The 777 starts the talk.” 777 runners each pledge to raise $10,000 for Bravehearts. So far, Jess’ team has raised $130,000 in total.
She hopes to one day see the Ditto show, a Bravehearts program that teaches children personal safety skills using age-appropriate language and song, in every school across Australia.
“We have to take that uncomfortable conversation and make it comfortable to talk about, because if we don’t talk about it, nothing’s going to change.” - Anja de Rozario
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Register your attendance at cggs.act.edu.au/ enrolmentevents
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The many reasons for downsizing
Making the decision to downsize isn’t easy and there’s a lot to consider when you do. Often, people put off making the big call – until they find somewhere they can actually see themselves living.
Marigal Gardens Community Manager, Colin says Marigal Gardens dispels a lot of myths about what an over 55s community is like – and can make a tough decision much easier. “Sometimes one partner is a bit reluctant initially, but when they see what we have to offer, by the end they’re the ones who are really quite excited!” Marigal Gardens residents Peter and Sandra agree. “We had been talking about downsizing for a while but had not really been serious about it until we visited Marigal Gardens,” Sandra said. There are a lot of reasons why residents find Marigal Gardens appealing – here are just a few of them.
Location, location!
There’s no doubt a prime spot is high on everyone’s list of priorities. Marigal Gardens ticks all the boxes – serenely beautiful, nestled in the suburbs and yet wonderfully convenient too. Waking up to breathtaking mountain views provides quiet joy, every day. And with the local shopping village just 500m down the road, life’s more practical needs are easy to take care of. Tuggeranong Southpoint is only five minutes’ drive away for more substantial shopping.
Room to move
Nobody wants to downsize to something poky or impractical. Marigal Gardens offers generous and practical floorplans that are designed for relaxed and comfortable living. And as a resident’s needs change, their home can change too. No matter what the budget, or lifestyle, there are plenty of options to suit.
Ditching the mower
Residents love the fact that moving to Marigal Gardens frees them from the chore of maintaining a home. Our team takes care of all those little jobs around the house, so residents have more time to do the things they really love to do. We’ll even change the lightbulbs.
Making the most of every day, your way
Marigal Gardens is a thriving community with wonderful facilities and a lifeaffirming vibe that residents love. There are organised activities for all tastes should you choose to pursue a long-held passion or try something new. For more unstructured pleasures, catch up for a coffee, indulge in a gym workout, take a swim or enjoy a relaxing sundowner at the bar. For the young at heart there is Kambah Adventure Playground right next door.
Feeling safe and secure
Safety and security are frequently top priorities for buyers when it comes to choosing their new home. With staff onsite 24/7, help or assistance is never far away. And should travel beckon, our team and neighbours make sure a home is well looked after, so residents can take off with confidence. While buyers focus on lots of different reasons when making their decision, most come to a similar conclusion when they have finally settled in. Gay, one of our residents sums it up neatly: “I wish I’d made the move sooner.” If you’re thinking of downsizing and joining our wonderful community, the final stage of Marigal Gardens brand new apartments are now on sale.
For more information on the village or homes for sale, please call 1300 884 784 or visit www.marigalgardens.com.au
news Students plant trees to help endangered Gang-gangs
Organisations around Canberra recently received charming postcards featuring the Gang-gang cockatoo, an invitation to view the students at Canberra Montessori School plant habitat for the endangered species.
On Thursday 19 May, Glenn Watson’s Cycle 3 (grades 4-6) Karri class planted Indigenous trees in a previously unused garden walkway, following two terms of researching and surveilling Gang-gangs.
“They’re gaga about Ganggangs,” said Mr Watson on his 19 pupils, who’ve been studying under the auspices of Bird Life Australia. According to Mr Watson, the children took a liking to the struggling Gang-gangs immediately.
To rejuvenate the ‘Indigenous Walk,’ the Birdlife Australia Ganggang Project has provided 20 saplings to be planted by the children.
The school community has also provided 20 more plants, with hundreds pledged to come. Mr Watson and the children hope to see Gang-gangs return to their school within 10 years.
“It is just so important for the children here, and for their children, that we actually have an Earth and an environment that has great diversity and will be able to cope with the difficulties it’s going to face.
“I often say ‘My generation has messed things up and many of them still refuse to do anything about it, but we have to do something.’”
Aaron Chatfield, a Gamilaraay man born and raised on Ngunnawal country, will continue to guide the children in their next steps of growing a Yuki Mulch path, and lining it with native plants.
“Our garden trail here is not only
Greta (Year 5), Kit (Year 4), Urooba (Year 4) and Alina (Year 6) planting trees at Canberra Montessori School to provide habitat for Gang-gang cockatoos.
creating habitat for the Ganggangs, but down the track, we’re going to be planting native plant beds that the kids can then harvest for weaving plants.”
Through Yarning Circle, the children will learn how to weave the foliage into ropes, nets and baskets.
“Next, we’re going to plant edible beds that the kids can then harvest and use in their cooking classes.”
The third garden beds will grow medicine plants that have been used for generations by Ngunnawal people.
“I can see the change in the school society, adapting, and becoming more accepting of the Indigenous culture,” said Mr Chatfield. “Montessori seems to be front of the game.”
Ten-year-old Greta Martin has been looking forward to the tree planting since she first saw a male and female Gang-gang near her house.
When asked what she likes so much about them, she grinned toothily. “Strawberry heads,” she replied.
Greta said it’s important kids her age learn how to protect the environment “so that when we grow up, we don’t have a world where the skies are grey”.
Sitting on a mound of dirt with spade in hand, nine-year-old Kit said she’s very excited her tree might one day house Gang-gangs.
Kit said that she’ll come back and visit her tree when it’s fully grown.
“Kids my age, when they have great great-grandchildren, it’s important that they don’t look outside and say, ‘I wish the Ganggangs were here’ or ‘I wished magpies weren’t endangered’,” she pondered.
Best friends Urooba, nine, and Alina, 11, were excited to spend the day in the dirt together.
“We want to help the environment and stop climate change,” said Urooba softly.
When asked whether her class’s efforts to prevent that future made her happy, Alina quoted a hero.
“It makes me happy that we’re doing something about it, but I think it makes me nervous, too. It’s like when Mr Incredible said, ‘I feel like I’m the maid. Every time I clean up a mess, it always comes back.’”
From the mouth of babes comes a message as the dust settles on the recent election: Keep the world clean for 10 minutes, give the Gang-gangs, and the next generation, a break. - Anja de Rozario
