CityNews 221208

Natalie’s pushing to help 1000 families at Christmas

By Belinda STRAHORN

Started in 2019 by Canberra mum Natalie Tanchevski, 100’$ for Thou sands gives $100 grocery gift vouchers in hampers that are assembled and distributed by the Salvation Army.

Tanchevski, 43, was inspired to es tablish the fundraiser following a con versation with a Salvos worker about what people need most at Christmas.

“My daughter was doing a drama class at the Gungahlin Salvos and while I was waiting for her I got talk ing to the guy who runs the Salvos there, and I asked him ‘What do the Salvos do for families at Christmas time, and how can we help?’,” she said.

“He said they give hampers out. At that moment I thought wouldn’t it be great if I raised money to give 100 fami lies $100 grocery gift cards to go in the hampers… and that’s how it started.”

In 2019, the fundraiser raised $16,500 helping 165 families with gro cery vouchers.

“Then in 2020 we raised $55,000 and

helped 550 families, and in 2021 we raised $88,000 and helped 880 fami lies,” she said. “This year I hope to crack $100,000.”

Since its inception three years ago, 100’$ for Thousands has raised $159,500 providing 1595 families with grocery vouchers across Canberra and the region.

“If we can crack the $100,000 goal this year that means this little fund raiser will have raised over a quarter of a million dollars, which is phenom enal,” said Tanchevski.

With the cost of living going up, Tanchevski said the grocery vouchers help ease some of the financial burden.

The voucher gives the recipient the

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flexibility to choose the food items that suit their needs, she said.

“I love the idea of a voucher rather than pre-selected grocery items be cause it means that people have the freedom to choose the food they like to eat,” she said.

“The voucher gives people the in dependence and dignity they deserve to go out and shop for what they need rather than be given a hand-out.”

During covid, Tanchevski kept the fundraiser going as it kept her spirits up and helped assist others.

“When I started this I did it as a one off thing, but when covid hit and it brought a little bit of hardship for every one I wanted to keep it going,” she said.

“I really struggled during lock down. We had homeschooling and my mother had breast cancer, and we couldn’t be there to support her with her treatment.

“But I found something in this fun draiser that gave me joy and a sense of purpose. It lit me up inside and that’s what drove me to continue it.”

The fundraiser has expanded across the region to include Yass, Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Cooma, and it has partnered with businesses who are matching donations.

“We have super donors who are local businesses that have come on board to be dollar-matching partners in differ ent locations,” Tanchevski said.

“So each location has a super donor

who is matching your donation, so every dollar you donate is $2.”

People can donate money online and nominate to help someone in their suburb, Tanchevski said.

“We have a website where people can donate and choose from 10 differ ent locations to donate, too,” she said.

“It’s not just about donating to Can berrans, it’s taking it a step further and helping a family in need in your suburb.”

A committed Salvos supporter, Tanchevski has fond memories of giving generously to the charity at Christmas to help it fund the many worthy causes the Salvation Army is known for.

“I’ve always loved the Salvos,” she said.

“When you see them in the shopping centres I always give them $5 when I walk past.

“And at Christmas we have always –since the kids were little – given their old toys in the weeks before Christmas.”

She never imagined herself heading up a fundraiser like this. It was born out of her passion to help people.

“I’ve never had any desire to run a fundraiser,” Tanchevski said.

“The only way I can describe it was this tap on the shoulder moment that said ‘You need to do this’.”

Donations to hundredsforthousands. salvationarmy.org.au

Tram push proves unlucky for iconic cloverleafs

WELCOME to hell. As the years of chaos begin on Commonwealth Avenue, I’m so sorry.

It seems to be my fault the cloverleaf exits, that so efficiently distributed southern traffic to the east, west and centre of Civic, are now closed and poised for tower-block development.

Replacement routes for the loss of “cloverleaf” off ramps will be “counter intui tive, inefficient and tortuous”, says retired architect and City Hill gadfly Jack Kershaw

“This whole unfortunate scheme wrecks the important symmetrical open space that is the original Commonwealth Place, formed by the iconic cloverleaf carriageways, south of London Circuit,” he says.

“That arrangement is an integral compo nent of the Parkes Way (a true “parkway”) function and aesthetic. Instead of Common wealth Place, we’ll get a set of prosaic traffic lights, and maybe a lonely tram shelter.

“The scheme is unashamedly one to en able ‘land-value-capture’ high-rise property development on its footprint and beyond.”

As you wait wondering why in the perpetual traffic-light jams and delays on Vernon Circle, accept some of the blame, too. Seems it’s everyone’s fault, except – of course – the government’s, because City Services Minister Chris Steel told us disingenuously: “It’s what Canberrans voted for at multiple elections, and now we’re getting on with the job of delivering on that promise.”

I wish they’d had the same zeal for, say,

control, Opposition Leader to make a stand. The Canberra Liberals will formally oppose the progress of light rail south to Woden.

Gutsy call, but as she says: “Stage 2 alone from Civic to Woden has been estimated

to be more than $3 billion. To put those numbers in perspective, the cost of Stage 2 is the equivalent of building five hospitals or

Meanwhile, back in hell, unmoved Minister Steel is urging Canberrans to accept some responsibility for this mess and “rethink your routine” in struggling to get to work. I imagine many will be rethinking their

THIS column’s affection for Arts Minister Tara Cheyne cannot be challenged. As Menzies said of The Queen: “I did but see her passing by. And yet I love her till I die”. But Tara, Tara you are testing us.I have snouts

everywhere and a theatrical one was in the audience to see “The Torrents” at the new Mill Theatre, helpfully located near Capital Brewing at Fyshwick.

Let her explain: “The show was running a bit late and the audience was getting restless. Then who should clomp in but Tara Cheyne in her trademark boots.

“She and her entourage parked their bums in the front row and the play promptly began.

“Then, after intermission, Ms Cheyne didn’t return. Pretty rude, I thought. About 20 minutes later, a giggly Team Tara got ushered in via the actor’s entrance to see the last of the play. It was all a bit of an up-yours to the cast and the audience.

“If I was the Arts Minister going to an arts event, I would have been more conscious of my behaviour.”

READER Bjorn Moore, of Gowrie, wrote to say he was talking to a 12-year-old with an e-scooter at the shops and asked: “How fast does it go?”

The boy said: “Around 50km/h on a flat path”. How much does it weigh? – “About 20kg”.

The boy told Bjorn it was a second-hand scooter and not the same as those used by the commercial hirers around Canberra.

“This is a 12-year-old talking. I believe these things are very dangerous,” said Bjorn.

“My last question was: ‘Where’s your helmet?’” LAST edition, in mocking the publicly funded Canberra Writers Centre’s name change to Marion (I know, I know, but I haven’t the space to reboot the silliness. The column’s on the website), I reported one jokester urging us to embrace this idea and suggested single-name changes for all sorts of national institutions, for example the National Gallery could be known as “Betty” (after former director Betty Churcher).

I asked readers for some single-name suggestions for the ACT government. A couple of the more printable ones are, from Gordon Lowe , “Murphy” (“the ACT Legislative Assembly would henceforth be known as the house of Murphy’s Law”) and a more audio than visual suggestion from Elaine Staples, “Baaaa!”.

Ian Meikle is the editor of “CityNews” and can be heard with Rod Henshaw on the “CityNews Sunday Roast” news and interview program, 2CC, 9am-noon. There are more of his columns on citynews.com.au

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Libs stand for racing and gambling and what?

THERE was almost instant outrage when the ACT planning chief and his planning minister released documents on the next stages of the ACT Government’s proposed planning reforms last month.

Within these were the 10 district strategies. Within the strategy for the inner north, were options for the future of the site presently occupied by ACT Racing – Thoroughbred Park.

The following day, Liberal gaming spokesperson Mark Parton was in the media lashing the Greenslabor government for, without prior consultations, proposing that ACT Racing would be shoved off its site to make way for urban developments to pay for the tram.

The concept of Canberra not having horse racing was scandalous and even more cruel was that the announce ment came on one of ACT Racing’s sacred days – Melbourne Cup Day – a day for maximum gambling opportu nities.

Parton put the boot into the ACT Greens for his perception that they are dictating to Labor about this proposal. He’s also upset that the Greens tried (unsuccessfully) to stop $40 million of ACT government money going to ACT Racing.

Reality check. The documentation being howled at contained two options

develop some of its lands for residen tial to help pay its bills. Apparently, they are not making enough money from gambling.

The other option was for the whole site to become mixed use with the site coming back into community and other uses. This latter proposal has been talked about publicly by community groups keen to see this inner-suburban site put to better uses – including a major parkland. No one has proposed that ACT Racing be closed, although no site has been

identified for them to move to – yet.

Following Parton’s outrage and the equiva lent rage from ACT Racing in the media, there was a statement or two from the chief minister that ACT Racing would stay on its site for as long as it wanted.

The statement included an acknowl edgement that ACT Racing would soon benefit from the development proposals it has been talking about for the last year or so. These propos als involve changes of lease and the massive redevelopment on land the club no longer needs for racing and gambling.

The chief minister’s response indicated support for ACT Racing’s change of use for a large swathe of its land (probably a concession

gift originally) and likewise for its development proposals.

No development application has yet to materialise but it seems that there will be support from the grand poobah of planning. The concept of the club moving off the site to allow the land to return to the community is not getting support from either ACT Labor or the Canberra Liberals.

Parton has every right to take the high moral ground and slam those involved with threatening his beloved ACT Racing. That’s what politicians do when the issue is close to home. He is close to horse racing and this gambling industry.

The shame for the Canberra Liber als is we rarely see so much passion for arguing for society issues such as environmental, climate, homeless ness, housing matters, good design

and open spaces and landscapes.

The Liberals crafted some polite statements when Housing ACT tenants were listed to be booted from their homes by Yvette Berry and her bureaucrats. The ACT Greenslabor government was keen to get desper ately needed cash for Housing ACT given that most housing money had been stripped out for the tram. There was a lack of passion by the Liber als in response to those heartless evictions.

Their muted stance on the eviction and housing matters, many urban planning and development issues and the de-greening of Canberra by Greenslabor has not presented a clear insight into what the Liberals value. People don’t know what they are prepared to stand up for – except gambling and racing. The clock is ticking on those October, 2024, ACT elections.

Paul Costigan is a commentator on cultural and urban matters. There are more of his columns at citynews.com.au

Mark Parton… every right to take the high moral ground and slam those involved with threatening his beloved ACT Racing. That’s what politicians do when the issue is close to home.

The Liberals crafted some polite statements when Housing ACT tenants were listed to be booted from their homes by Yvette Berry and her bureaucrats… There was a lack of passion by the Liberals in response to those heartless evictions.

Time to hold unaccountable prosecutors to account

THIS is not “A Tale of Two Cities”, but it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of too readily following cacophonous hysteria rather than the path of incremental reform.

Madame Defarge and her hissing sisters are mightily pissed off, as there was no tumbril after the first trial, and none is waiting in the wings.

Alas, the sisterhood’s court has lost its vociferous star witness to a quiet, caring hospital.

The “once-upon-a-time” accused –he whose head they wanted on a pike as a warning to all menfolk – retains his innocence.

The much seen and heard prosecu tor has declaimed the complainant’s courage, steadfastness, sincerity – done all that he could, and more, to encourage the faithful to believe that justice has not been done – but that it was not his fault, not the complain ant’s fault, but just an overlooked glitch in the law.

Phooey!

This was never a case with “reason able” prospects of success. It was “word against word”, with a complainant that failed to go to the sexual assault centre, less than 10 minutes from Parliament House, with no forensic evidence to support her claims, a lot of delay on her part and a strong denial on his part.

Fact finders in our criminal justice system work with facts proved by the prosecution, not with the notion that if a woman shouts rape that the onus is on the male accused to disprove it.

(already known to many experienced defence counsel) is that prosecutors

decision to prosecute or not prosecute. They do not give reasons. They can not be compelled to explain. That is the settled law. It needs to change. Our prosecutor presumably explained his decision not to proceed at Friday’s secret hearing. Why was it secret? What was done beyond advising the court that the case would not go ahead?

Given the lead up to Friday’s announcement, along with the prosecutor’s gushing support for the complainant, we can assume that if

the prosecution had been able to keep the complainant away from further questioning, then there would have been a second trial, and then another one if required. Ah, you didn’t know that there can be a series of retrials? Well, now you know. Absent an acquittal, the prosecution train drives forward until it secures a conviction (that survives any appeal) or derails –as has happened in this case.

The present problem of the complainant’s illness is not, of itself, a reason to have no trial. It is a reason not to have a trial now, or for some months, or even a year or so.

The compelling reason not to have a trial now, or in the future, is that because the complainant would have to give evidence again, she would be cross-examined a second time. It didn’t go well the first time (we know that because one or more jurors, pos sibly 11 of them, refused to convict) and the second time would do a lot more damage to the prosecution case.

Since these claims of rape were publicised, the hapless accused has

been ensnared in nasty rumours about his dealings with women.

One of the changes to criminal law practice this past decade has been the ease with which prosecutors can bring before the fact finder “allega tions” of past conduct by an accused that bolster the argument that the accused has a tendency to behave in a particular manner. The “tendency” to permit these allegations has expanded in sync with the mood of “correct thinking”.

Who am I to oppose it? After all, I am aware of a tendency in this shin ing prosecutor to avoid dispassionate ly assessing “reasonable prospects of success”. His response to a Supreme Court judge’s admonition “Don’t come back” for a retrial in another matter was to quickly trumpet that there would be a retrial.

When he was made aware, between the end of that trial and the retrial, of compelling evidence that the complain ant selectively deleted texts on her phone (that she volunteered to police), those texts showing her complaint to be a fabrication, his response was to oppose that complainant being recalled for cross-examination at the retrial.

The victim in that saga – acquitted

at the retrial – was the accused and his family, not the complainant.

The law has to change. It isn’t fit for purpose. If complainants (be they saints or frauds) are only going to give evidence once, then the ability to have them recalled, even for limited purposes, must be increased.

More generally, because it applies to all cases, the decision to go to trial or not must be made as reviewable as other administrative decisions.

If the courts don’t want to determine such applications, then let the adminis trative tribunal do it: a bench of three made up of a presidential member, a nominee of the Bar Association and the Law Society, and a community member randomly selected from a panel list.

Because it’s near Christmas, a time for healing, let us rejoice that “that complainant” and “that accused” are free.

Hugh Selby is a recently retired barris ter who enjoyed appearing in criminal jury trials and teaching about them.

Madame Defarge depicted in “Knitting” (1910), by Harry Furniss, an illustration

Prison

Damning prison report not for the faint hearted

THE incarceration and recidivism rates of Aboriginal peoples in Canberra provide one, albeit very stark, example of an area of public administration in relation to which the ACT government is clearly failing.

And it’s one that we, the commu nity, through our silence and studied indifference are complicit.

The latest data from the ABS publication “Prisoners in Australia” reveals that the ACT currently has the highest rate ratio of Aboriginal incarceration in Australia of 21 and unsurprisingly, the highest indig enous recidivism rate in Australia, of 94 per cent.

What is particularly disturbing about the data is the degree to which it has deteriorated in the last decade.

In 2011 an Aboriginal person in Can berra was 11.6 times more likely to be imprisoned than a non-Aboriginal person while the national average was 14.4 whereas in 2021 an Aborigi nal person in the ACT was 21 times more likely to be imprisoned while the national average was 15.8.

The ratio of Aboriginal to nonAboriginal women incarcerated in the ACT in 2019-20 was 67.3, by far the highest in Australia. Overall, the ACT experienced an increase in the last decade in indigenous incarcera

tion of 279 per cent, which was five times higher than the national increase of 59 per cent.

A very clear and deep insight into one of the major contributors to these extremely poor, Australian worst, outcomes is provided in the latest report of the ACT Inspector of Correc tional Services, titled “Healthy Prison Review of the Alexander Maconochie Centre 2022”.

The report speaks for itself, and I urge anyone interested in seeking to understand the extent to which the justice system in Canberra is failing not only those in detention but by extension the entire community, to read the full report.

It needs to be remembered that it is not only an unreformed and embit tered detainee returning to life in the community following the completion of a period of imprisonment who will potentially suffer the consequences of not having received appropriate treat ment, care or training within the AMC but if he returns to a life of crime, it is the community that suffers.

The report is damning. There is simply no other descriptor that reflects the extent of the failings identified in the management and operation of the AMC.

The inspector also reveals some Aboriginal-specific data that is very troubling and regrettably raises, at least for me, the spectre of racism.

For example, the report notes that in 2020-21 while making up 27 per cent of the detainee population, Aboriginal people were the subject of 55 per cent of all use of force incidents in the AMC.

In similar vein while comprising 27 per cent of the detainee population, Aboriginal detainees accounted for 47 per cent of all segregation orders and 41 per cent of all maximum-security classifications.

The report is almost 250 pages long and I cannot do it justice in the space available to me but will attempt in the following quotes to provide a flavour of the report’s findings and concerns.

“The apparent lack of a structured day at the AMC and resulting bore dom presents an ongoing concern for the OICS and is a matter that has been raised in a number of our reports.

“With very little to do all day, many detainees have no routine or daily responsibilities and as a result lack motivation to participate in their rehabilitation and preparation for release. There is little incentive

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to get out of bed and participate in activities, which OICS finds entirely unacceptable.

“It is OICS’ view that in the years since first raising this issue, the situation has only become worse.

“It is a matter of grave concern to OICS that there has been no education provided at the AMC since September 2021 and only very limited vocational training. The absence of education can have significant impli cations for detainees’ rehabilitation and future employment prospects. This matter must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“Furthermore, OICS is concerned about the obstacles faced by many of the detainees currently enrolled in university courses. In accessing course material, conducting research and participating in course requirements.

“There has been a gross shortfall in programs delivered in the AMC over the last three years. Detainees are missing a hugely important key to rehabilitation, and it is exceptionally unfair to detainees.

“OICS has reviewed the list of available job opportunities and while on paper there appear to be a considerable number of positions, the

reality is that the majority are menial positions such as sweepers and clean ers providing a couple of hours per week of work.

“Transitional release at the AMC is intended to support rehabilitation, prepare detainees for their return to the community and improve prospects for employment following release. The Transitional Release Centre has been either empty or close to empty for the last three years. The squandering of this important reinte gration facility cannot be attributed to COVID-19.”

The OICS report is, as I noted above, almost 250 pages long and I have quoted just half of one page. I urge you to read the rest but be aware, it is not for the faint hearted.

Julie Tongs is the CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

The report is damning. There is simply no other descriptor that reflects the extent of the failings identified in the management and operation of the AMC.

Lessons for democracy in restoration of rights

THE federal government has finally voted to put the territories on a similar footing to the states.

The restoration of our rights after more than a quarter of a century provides lessons for democracy, opens opportunities and consolidates the status of the legislative assemblies of the ACT and the NT.

The most important lesson for Australian democracies is to properly separate the powers of church and state. Members of parliament have their own views that are often informed by their commitment to religion. However, voters should have the opportunity to be aware of these and to cast their ballot accordingly.

The Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, that deprived the territory of certain rights was a “conscience vote”, driven by religious commitment. The numbers amongst the coalition par ties were secured by Kevin Andrews while Tony Burke was the prime lobbyist amongst Labor members of parliament. Both were largely driven by their Roman Catholic ideology –although Tony Burke denies this.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also a Catholic. However, he is not an ultra-conservative Catholic of the style that has dominated both the right of the Labor Party and the more conservative elements of the Coalition.

The prime minister and other

liament, who support the restoration of territory rights, are more aligned with Father Frank Brennan, a Jesuit priest and former professor of law at the Australian Catholic University.

Brennan, although opposed to voluntary assisted dying, argued to a parliamentary committee that the laws should be consistent between the states and territories.

Ironically, Burke has the respon sibility as a senior minister for shepherding this repeal legislation through the parliament. As David Hardaker wrote in “Crikey”, it was Burke who led the 1997 Euthanasia

Since the introduction in 1993 of the first voluntary euthanasia legislation, all states have adopted similar legislation. It’s only the territories, who were first to embark on such legislation, that have been excluded.

NO campaign “bringing together a powerful network of Catholic politi cians and wealthy business people”.

His campaign was described in “The Australian” by Michael Gordon as “a case study in the art of persuasion, with subtlety rather than intimidation or coercion being the secret of its success”.

Previous attempts to repeal the legislation, driven by then-Greens leader Bob Brown had never been brought on for debate. Only one of three attempted Bills were referred to committee.

The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs “ultimately elected not to form a majority view”. Although not able to come to an agreed decision, the chair and two other senators recommended the 2008 Bill proceed subject to some amendments. This did not happen.

The irony is that since the introduc

tion in 1993 of the first legislation in Australia permitting voluntary active euthanasia under very restricted circumstances, all states have adopted similar legislation. It is only the territories, who were the first to embark on such legislation, that have been excluded.

The moral compass of the federal senators and the MPs has simply been out of step with the rest of the country.

Under the Morrison government, as the last election demonstrated, a majority of these people were considerably out of step on a number of issues. In the ACT, the demise of Senator Zed Seselja and the elec tion of independent Senator David Pocock reinforced the extent of dissatisfaction of Canberrans with ultra-conservative approaches.

Since 1978 in the NT and 1989 in the ACT, constituents have had a democratic say over the way they are governed. Interference in these rights by the federal parliament cast the people of these jurisdictions as second-class citizens.

It is only now, thanks to Senator David Pocock raising the importance of this issue during the recent election campaign, and the legislation

introduced by member for Canberra Alicia Payne and member for Solomon in the NT Luke Gosling, that people of both territories will have their rights reinstated.

The passage of this legislation now opens opportunities for backbench members of the Legislative Assembly. The Canberra Liberals in the As sembly have unanimously supported the passage of the Bill in the federal parliament to restore territory rights.

However, it is hard to foresee any of the Liberal MLAs introducing voluntary assisted dying legislation into the assembly.

Backbenchers in the Greens or Labor Party could well increase their profile by reintroducing legislation that was an Australian first when originally tabled in the Assembly (by me) in 1993.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.

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How Barr’s misguided tax moves drove up rents

ings, are to be delivered through investment by superannuation funds and institutional investors. In effect, therefore, almost all the additional one million dwellings are to be delivered by the market.

the taxation reform program.

WE have previously noted the potential barriers the ACT will face in delivering the land required to meet the Commonwealth Government’s undertaking to construct an additional one million homes in Australia over five years from 2024.

We pointed out that the ACT government’s supernormal profits on land extracted through its monopoly on supply, and the Budget’s increasing reliance on land profits will be a major disincentive to increasing land supply.

As we noted, it suits the ACT govern ment’s (narrow) financial objectives to constrain supply while ignoring the resulting social and economic costs.

However, in addition to land supply, funding and financing are the other necessary elements in the delivery of housing stock. Dwelling investment nationally and in the ACT, assuming a proportionate allocation across all jurisdictions of the one million target, will need to at least double every year from 2024 onwards, above current levels.

To put this in perspective, accord

ing to the ABS national accounts, in 2021-22, dwelling investment across Australia was $122 billion, with the ACT share being about $2.5 billion, in current prices.

This begs the question whether it is envisaged that dwelling investment in the ACT will increase to $5 billion, adjusted for inflation, by 2024 and be sustained at that level, or alternatively, that it will gradually increase from its current level to $7.5 billion in 2028?

In any event, both scenarios raise questions about the capacity of the ACT economy, in respect to the supply of labour and materials, to realise the required level of investment.

It is also notable that of the one million dwellings’ target, the Com monwealth has made a specific funding commitment, by way of availability payments, in effect subsidies designed to encourage investment, in respect of only 1 per cent or 10,000 dwellings.

A further 1 per cent (10,000 dwellings) are to be delivered by the states and territories, through mechanisms that are yet to be agreed.

The remaining 98 per cent of the promised housing, ie 980,000 dwell

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Let us help to navigate the complexity of conveyancing laws in the ACT & NSW including stamp duty, identity verification, and tenancy laws. We also specialise in retirement village agreements.

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We have discussed previously, as indeed have many others, that rental yields alone are not enough to attract investment, by either individuals or institutions in housing. It is a combina tion of capital gains and rental yields, which equate to investment returns, coupled with negative gearing, ie subsidies in the form of tax breaks, which make the investment feasible. In fact, some leaders in the superannua tion industry insist that returns of 8 per cent and even up to 11 per cent are required to justify any investment by them on behalf of their members.

It is widely accepted that the lack of affordable housing in Australia is due to market failure. Therefore, it seems to us somewhat strange and indeed problematic to rely on existing market mechanisms as the basis of the corrective policy – namely the solution is dependent on the continuation and perpetuation of the problem.

For this reason, we believe the ACT government’s much spruiked “buildto-rent” scheme is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on affordability and appears to be little more than a conveni ent device for “managing” community concerns, a role previously delegated to

As has been oft reported, Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr regularly referred to taxation reform (abolition of conveyance duty) as the signature policy for improving affordability.

We have previously commented on the impact of tax reform on house holds. Suffice to note for present purposes that revenue from convey ance duty increased from $239 million in 2011-12 to $433 million in 2021-22. Not only are Canberra home buyers paying more than double for a median priced house since the introduction of the tax reform regime but commensurately more in stamp duty as well.

Under the tax reform plan, the government had agreed in principle to abolish land tax on rental dwelling stock in recognition of the fact that it is inequitable and impacts negatively on affordability.

In what we regard as perhaps one of the most misguided taxation policies ever enacted in the ACT, the government at the behest of the Greens increased, rather than abolished this tax, apparently in the mistaken belief that the owners of rental properties would sell up and hence free up stock for homebuyers.

However, what has happened is that in a supply constrained market, landlords have not only held on to their stock, but have passed on the increases

in land tax to renters. Revenue from land tax on residential dwellings has increased from $71 million in 2012-13 to $158 million in 2021-22.

The ACT now has the highest median rents in Australia and just last week the Rental Affordability Index report revealed that the ACT is the most unaffordable location to rent for nearly all categories of people on low incomes including single pensioners, pensioner couples, people on Jobseeker, single part-time worker parents on benefits, single full-time working parents, students, couples on the minimum wage and hospitality workers. The ACT was second least affordable for single-income couples with children and dual-income couples with children.

Our comments above are not intended to be critical of the Common wealth Government’s announcement.

Far from it, we believe the federal government has provided invaluable leadership in at least setting the right economic framework – that supply is the core problem. How that problem is addressed critically depends on mat ters that are partly beyond the federal government’s direct control.

Housing Horrors Parts 1 and 2 are at citynews.com.au

Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.

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“Not only are Canberra home buyers paying more than double for a median priced house since the introduction of the tax reform regime but commensurately more in stamp duty as well.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED continue their exposure of the ACT government’s failings in housing policy.

BRIEFLY

Residents rally for Carols@Jerra night

THE Jerrabomberra Residents Association is hosting Carols@Jerra at David Madew Oval, from 6pm on December 10. Music will be provided by the Weston Winds Concert Band, led by conductor Peter Shaw, and supported by the Jerrabomb erra Community Choir.

The 1st Jerrabomberra Scout Group is running a barbecue and French Scouting Canberra will sell fairy floss. Bring a rug or a chair, but no alcohol. Entry is by goldcoin donation and everyone is welcome.

Remembering fighters

DEMOCRACY volunteers who fought fascism in Spain between 1936 and 1938 will be remembered at the annual com memoration and picnic of the Australian Friends of the International Brigades at the Australian Volunteers Memorial, Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla, from midday on December 11. Visitors are welcome. More from afibcbr@gmail.com

Rents worst in nation

THE ACT’s rental affordability is the worst in the country for people on low incomes, a new report has revealed. The Rental Afford ability Index Report shows the ACT is the most unaffordable location to rent for almost all categories of people on low incomes including; single pensioners, pensioner cou ples, people on jobseeker, single part-time worker parents on benefits, single full-time working parents, students, couples on the minimum wage, and hospitality workers.

Martha Graham

Enjoying the kicks and dodging the kickbacks

LIKE many Australians, I’ve been watching the beautiful game streamed from the World Cup in Qatar.

A pity Qatar was chosen as the venue given its poor human rights record. It got the nod over Australia due to shady dealings within the former Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) adminis tration under Sepp Blatter.

Corruption seems to be endemic in the Middle East. A few years ago, I sat next to a Singapore construction engineer in business class on a flight from Doha to London.

His company had a big contract in Qatar. I asked him about the competi tion to get the contract. He told me that his company had approached a local fixer and been told what they had to pay to secure the contract. He said their bid won, even though it was probably not the lowest.

When I was working at Macquarie University, we were trying for a multimillion-dollar contract to provide a master’s program in one of the other Gulf states. We were told that we had to employ a local “facilitator” for $US100,000 a year to help deliver the program. Macquarie University management somewhat naively said it could provide its own facilitator. Needless to say, the contract went to

another Australian university that employed the local facilitator.

Australian companies are at a major disadvantage operating in such environments. Foreign bribery is an of fence under Australian legislation for both individuals and bodies corporate.

If convicted, individuals can face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and/or a fine of not more than $1.7 million. This means they can only compete lawfully in corrupt countries if they provide quotes that are so low the recipient can’t afford not to accept them.

Meanwhile, our competitors, includ ing our close allies, will do what it takes to win lucrative overseas contracts.

Anyway, to return to the beautiful game. Football (soccer) was first played in 19th century England but is now the world’s most popular sport. FIFA governs the international game. There are an estimated 250 million players active in more than 200 countries. The most prestigious international competitions are the four-yearly men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups. The men’s FIFA World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world, surpassing the Olympic Games.

While some may look down on soccer as a “working class” game, earnings for the top players are the highest of any sport: Lionel Messi and

Cristiano Ronaldo, two ageing legend ary soccer stars, will earn $US130 and $US115 million respectively this year.

French player Kylian Mbappé, aged 23, will collect $US110 million. The only other athlete to earn over $US100 million this year will be basketballer LeBron James.

I will close with some insightful British observations about soccer:

• “I don’t know much about football. I know what a goal is, which is surely the main thing about football”

– Victoria Beckham , wife of footballer David Beckham.

• “My doctor told me I should have a complete break from football, so I became manager of Wolves” – foot baller/manager Tommy Docherty (Docherty also promised to lift Wolves out of the Second Division. He did. Into the Third Division).

• “An atheist is a person who watches a Liverpool versus Everton football match and doesn’t care who wins”

– footballer/manager Bill Shankly

• When Glenn Hoddle was manager of Tottenham, he was telephoned by the police to tell him there was a big fire at Tottenham’s stadium. “Save the cups, please save the cups,” pleaded Hoddle. “Don’t worry,”

said the policeman, “the fire hasn’t reached the canteen yet” – Anon.

• “I think Charlie George was one of Arsenal’s all-time great players. A lot of people might not agree with that, but I personally do” – foot baller Jimmy Greaves

• “He’s not Thierry Henry [a brilliant French player]… but not many people are” – football commentator Martin Tyler

• “You have to get your priorities right. Women are around all the time, but World Cups come only every four years” – footballer Peter Osgood

• “Argentina are the second-best team in the world, and there’s no higher praise than that” – foot baller/manager Kevin Keegan

• “And now for the worst news of all. Gay men are getting interested in football. What a catastrophe. One became gay to get away from this sort of thing” – broadcaster Matthew

Parris

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

Top players are the highest paid of any sport. From left, Lionel Messi ($US130 million a year), Cristiano Ronaldo ($US115) and Kylian Mbappé ($US110).

More to object to than the cost of tram to Woden

IT would have been a great pleasure for many long-suffering Canberran taxpayers to read or hear that the Liberal Party is opposed to light rail to Woden.

While the price tag of $3 billion and the opportunity costs that that represents are crucial, they are not the only major case against light rail. The Rattenbury/Barr government gave up long ago the pretence that light rail was about a better transport solution, in favour of it providing for infill of the corridors.

That has always been a false argument on their part because an electric Rapid Bus Transit system (or even the current buses) can achieve the same ends.

Infill of corridors does not depend on light rail, only on an efficient transport mode for the corridor. This is especially so for Woden from which there is already an excellent corridor, well serviced by buses. In the case of Tuggeranong, there are three such corridors already serviced by buses.

As for the Federal government, having promised $218.4 million for the project, that was pure Labor electioneering and contrary to previous advice of Infrastructure Australia.

Minister Chris Steel, in defence against making public the $3 billion cost, presents a nonsense argument that he would release costs and the business case after contracts are signed.

If he were to get away with that, he would then defend whatever the cost on the basis of contractual commitment and confidentiality.

Max Flint, co-ordinator, Smart Canberra Transport

Spades, but no party time?

SO only Labor blokes were in attendance to start the sod-turning uplift of London Circuit for 1.7km of light rail construction (“Government blokes offer tram nonsense in spades“, citynews.com.au November 26).

And so began the creation of a bottom less pit of disruption, travel stress and other inefficiencies that for many years to come will also put many off crossing Canberra, or visiting the central city area, for social, cultural and leisure reasons.

While the ACT’s worthwhile adoption of a fossil emblem recently received both ministerial and photographic attention, Labor’s London Circuit spade work seems to

have been conducted without happy snaps or publicity about any on-site celebrations to highlight this major infrastructure and urban densification journey that the territory is now embarking upon.

If relevant federal female ACT Labor politi cians or local female Labor and Greens MLAs had been invited to help hold a spade back in October, they may have wisely decided to avoid being associated with digging a hole that looks like deepening rapidly for many politicians between now and October 2024.

Sue Dyer, Downer

The best years are gone

A COUPLE of quick thoughts, if I may, to columnist Robert Macklin (“Failure that’s staring us all in the face”, CN November 24).

Robert, do you think humans will ever get it right?

I’m a bit of a fence sitter on climate change, but two things have struck home with me, melting glaciers and the thought that polar bears may go extinct.

In earth’s history, there seem to have been repeated climatic events, long before we came along to foul it. Apparently they’re still destroying the Amazon rainforest. When did you hear any of these climate changers recently mention that children in Africa have been starving for many decades, but we still go on overpopulating. Dick Smith is the only one I recall who has spoken up about it.

It seems a no-brainer that lack of discipline for children is creating a lawless and selfentitled society. In my life, the best years were from 1950 to 1980. How can you stop pollution when people just want more and more?

At the risk of showing my age, the best years are gone.

What do you think of the chances of saving this once wonderful planet?

Cath Smith, via citynews.com.au

Moderate the rhetoric and the violence

HOPEFULLY, letter writer Russel Wenholz (CN December 1) will be happy that I don’t “push the same old barrow”.

After all, there is no need to because there are an excess of barrows. My current concern is the up and coming heavy promotion of the Aboriginal “Voice” and any subsequent referendum.

This really should be a no-brainer, but the

antics of Senator Lidia Thorpe, “moving flags” Adam Bandt along with those who burn down the doors of Old Parliament House.

Then we have athletes like Caitlin Moran, as well as the self-promoting Stan Grant and numerous others who think it is obviously not poor form to criticise Queen Elizabeth’s reign when her body was barely cold.

I am a strong believer in a well-run republic, but we have enough divisiveness in parliament as it is without people like these “having a voice”.

Their contributions are not helping matters and as one who worked on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters, ATSIC and Access and Equity for years, I fear that the Voice will be drowned out unless the rhetoric and the violent demonstrations are moderated.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

A cunning plan with the ‘Ball’

I WAS amused to read Jan William Smith’s letter (CN November 24). As a writer myself, I applaud Jan’s rather unique way of promot ing his book: “The Glass Cricket Ball”, was it?

Yes, of course it was. The title was subtly mentioned no fewer than three times in his relatively short letter.

Had Jan’s book (“The Glass Cricket Ball”) been allowed into the competition, it may have done well: or not.

But by taking advantage of the “CityNews” Letters page to explain why his book (all together now: “The Glass Cricket Ball”) could not be entered in the Canberra-residents-only competition, he has possibly alerted its existence to far more potential readers than had “The Glass Cricket Ball” been entered and been unsuccessful. Indeed, it’s a cunning plan.

As I also have a book I’m keen to promote, I now intend looking for a literary competi tion from which I, too, will be excluded.

Margaret Gumley, Red Hill

No economy without the environment

THE “2022 State of the Climate” and the International Panel on Climate Change reports highlight the damage caused by climate change.

Despite overwhelming evidence govern ments continue to take insufficient action, as the failure of COP 27 demonstrates. Millions of people and countless fauna

and flora have suffered from the environ mental and economic effects of increased flooding, storms, droughts and heatwaves.

In countries, including the US and Aus tralia, the issue has been politicised with the fossil-fuel industry successfully gaining the uncritical support of right-wing media and many conservative politicians. Internation ally, the policies of China and India, a blend of fossil fuel and renewable projects, send mixed messages about their commitment to effective climate action.

The challenge is to persuade all countries it is in their best interest to accelerate the reduction in fossil fuel use. The West needs to lead by example in the transition, as its high standard of living is a consequence of its industrialisation and the greenhouse gases it generated.

The defeat of the Liberal Party at the federal and Victorian elections should be the trigger for the party to stop running interference and contribute constructively to climate-proofing and abatement policies. Collectively, we need to acknowledge there is no economy without the environment, the cost of taking action increases with delay and accept short-term pain for long-term gain.

With bi-partisanship, effective en ergy, housing, transport, taxation and fair transition strategies can be formulated and implemented. The effectiveness of green hydrogen, nuclear, cleaner coal, carbon sequestration and storage, wind, solar and battery storage need to be critically assessed by an expert panel and the most appropriate strategy mix selected.

Are we up to the challenge? We need to do much more than currently.

Mike Quirk, Garran

We’re looking at three degrees overheating

WHEN it comes to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, Max Flint (Letters, CN November 24) says I am “sanctimonious” and guilty of “Greens’ sophistry”.

If countering myths and misinformation qualifies me for those descriptions, I’m proud to plead guilty. And we’re still waiting for Mr Flint’s costings and time frames for his favoured deployment of nuclear power in Australia.

Mr Flint is kidding himself if he thinks we can make Australia “climate-proof”.

It is one thing to adapt in modest ways –where feasible – to a small amount of global heating, but another to delude yourself into

thinking we can make ourselves immune to it.

At barely 1.5 degrees of warming, severe weather impacts are already causing havoc, including huge economic costs. The world’s best scientists tell us that unless emissions are drastically curtailed this decade, we’re looking at three degrees overheating by the end of this century (Climate Action Tracker).

Ironically, Robert Macklin sums it up succinctly in his excellent “Gadfly” column in the same issue of CN (“Failure that’s staring us all in the face”).

Has Mr Flint ever heard of tipping points and runaway feedback loops? Huge amounts of methane could be released from the Arctic tundra and other sites. It is pure hubris to think we can ‘deal’ with the consequences.

Meanwhile, energy efficiency doesn’t rate a mention in Mr Flint’s correspondence. The cheapest megawatt-hour is the one you didn’t need in the first place.

Peter Lyons, Kaleen

Energy needs more than just engineers

IN a letter published on 24 November, Ken Murtagh argues that decisions on energy should be left to engineers. While the role of engineers, like those of nurses and teachers, may be undervalued, decisions on energy are just too important to be left to one profession alone.

Pumped hydro can be used to convert renewable energy from wind and solar into dispatchable power available at any time. Economists, renewable energy experts and climate scientists were urging a number of small, local sites (from the hundreds available).

Instead, PM at the time Malcolm Turnbull opted for the one big engineering project –Snowy 2.0, the battery for the whole nation. The project has taken eight years, and has cost $5.1 billion, $3.1 billion over the original estimate. It was planned to be producing electricity from 2021, but will not now be operational until 2024.

For resolving a number of engineering problems, which perhaps had resulted from the poor original decision, the Snowy Hydro executive team of eight were paid $2.8 million in bonuses.

The situation for nuclear power is even more telling. The UK, which has closed 11 nu clear power plants since 2003, is constructing two new mega plants. Work on Hinkley Point C – a 3.2 gigawatt plant – began in 1995. It will produce electricity from 2025.

Noel Baxendell, Holt

Guy Clews

advertising feature CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE The ultimate

No time to dilly dally, here are some top gift ideas

THE holiday season is officially here. With so few sleeps to go, advent calendars are out and Christmas shopping is well underway.

Local businesses in the Canberra region have a variety of gift ideas to suit even the hardest to please this festive season.

From cards to crystals, flight simulators to fitness vouchers, “CityNews” has compiled the ultimate Christmas gift guide for this holiday season.

Take a seat and share the gift of theatre

THE Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre – The Q – has just launched its 2023 season, says marketing officer Joel Horwood, featuring a line-up of plays, musicals, comedy, live music and entertainment for the kids.

Artistic director Jordan Best “has programmed an incredibly diverse array of shows for 2023”.

“There will be a show for every member of the family!,” he says.

“Whether it’s your eccentric aunt who loves risqué comedy, or your brother who considers himself a young Quentin Tarantino, we’ve got you covered.

“We have pivoted away from subscriptions towards an exciting new membership system,” says Joel.

“Give the gift of theatre,” he says, “and purchase a ‘Q Membership’ for your loved ones.

“For just $50, members benefit from special prices on our season shows, discounts at our theatre bars, prize draws, invitations to special events, and discounts from our friends in the neighbourhood.

“After a few years trapped at home, it’s time to start exploring all of the amazing entertainment options in our region.”

“From literary classics reimagined, to quirky

“Puffs”… at The Q, May 11-20.

cabaret and terrifying acrobatic stunts, there has never been a better time to return to the theatre and experience the magic of live performance at The Q.”

“Prima Facie”, April 19.

• “Puffs”, May 11-20.

• “Legacies”, August 2-23.

• “Coil”, August 8-9.

The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Call 6285 6290 or visit theq.net.au

A creative approach to gift giving

THE Artists Shed has a great selection of gifts for those looking to get in touch with their creative sides this Christmas, says owner Margaret Hadfield.

An award-winning artist herself with decades of experience, Margaret says she hand picks quality materials to compile her speciality art hampers, which she says are perfect for people getting started in a range of techniques such as drawing, painting, watercol ours, acrylics and more.

“If you use poor equipment your work won’t come out as well,” says Margaret.

“As a professional artist, I only pick good-quality materials that can help beginners achieve the vibrancy they’re looking for.”

For those looking to take their artistic skills to the next level, Margaret says the Artists Shed also sells gift vouchers redeemable for art classes.

The lessons range from absolute beginners, through to experienced artists looking to sharpen their skills.

Gift vouchers can also be used for art materials and artworks.

And, of course, Margaret says there’s a range of her artworks and those of a selection of Canberra creatives to buy.

“We have a huge variety of beautiful pieces for sale in the large gallery from $50 for original art.”

The Artists Shed, Unit 1-3, 88 Wol longong Street. Call 0418 237766, email hadfieldgallery@gmail.com or visit artistsshed.com.au

Solutions for anyone struggling for gift ideas

FOR anyone struggling with Christmas present ideas, Wombat Cards and Gifts has it covered, says owner Monica Rolls.

“Now that I have most of my Christmas stock and decorations in, people need to get in early because there are best sellers across the board,” she says.

Monica recommends the books at Wombat Cards and Gifts as they “always make for good presents”.

“The variety offered at Wombat Cards and Gifts provides any gift-giver with ideas galore!” she says.

“We have all of the Australian animals with little Christmas hats on, and nativity scenes with Australian animals, too.”

There are “lots of little things” perfect for any

loved-one’s Christmas stocking.

Monica says Wombat Cards and Gifts is a small family business in Belconnen, started by husband John and her in 2015.

“We started as a small market stall selling homemade greeting cards that I started making when I retired,” she says.

And, while Monica says she loved that markets gave her a chance to see more of Australia and she loved meeting all the interesting people along the way, it was time to put down some roots closer to home.

Wombat Cards and Gifts, Shop 2, 31/35 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen. Call 0423 786222, or visit wombatcardsandgifts.com.au

‘Great’ Christmas gifts that come with a difference

THE Crystal Chalice is a shop in Gold Creek with a focus on wicca, paganism and witchcraft.

The owner, Lilitu Babalon opened the shop 18 years ago and between the staff there is more than 50 years’ experience, she says.

“We have a lot of unique things you won’t be able to get anywhere else.”

The Crystal Chalice specialises in tarot and oracle decks with more than 350 items in stock.

Lilitu says The Crystal Chalice “has loads of stuff for good gifts” such as crystals, wands, jewellery, resin statues, leather and resin journals, rosewood moon-shaped bowls, clothing, books, herbal tea and, of course, crazy skeletons dressed in Victorian clothing.

“We have everything from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars, there’s a lot to choose from.

“Over the last few months, The Crystal Chalice has been supporting the Ukrainian community by buying especially from Ukrainian artists and publishers.

This range involves “tarot cards published by Ukrainian artists, wood carvings and beautiful beeswax candles shaped like mermaids,” says Lilitu.

“Pretty much anything I’ve got would be a great Christmas gift,” she says.

The Crystal Chalice, Gold Creek Square, 7 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls. Call 0434 112320 or visit thecrystalchalice.com.au

Hunter, who he describes as the “driving force behind it all”, are passionate about helping people achieve their goals.

“We have an amazing team here at Studio Pilates”, says Tammy-Jo, “equipped with a mindset of growth”.

Combining innovative video technology that plays inside the studio and the experience of world-class instructors, Simon says: “We pride ourselves on being able to tailor the sessions for any individual.”

“Studio Pilates is perfect for people with any level of fit ness,” he says, “Studio Pilates offers a wide range of gifting options from individual classes to a 50-pack of classes.”

Studio Pilates. Visit studiopilates.com

Wombat Cards and Gifts owner Monica Rolls.

Beeswax candle supporting Kiev women.

Studio Pilates team, from left, Tony, Tahni, Tammy-Jo and Holly.

Celebrating the health benefits of hemp

SOUTH Pacific Hemp, Canberra’s first all-hemp shop, has plenty of gifts to surprise a loved one with this festive season, says manager Sue Booth.

Sue says: “It’s time we moved away from hemp’s old reputation – hemp has strength, medicinal and nutri tional value, and was first cultivated more than 10,000 years ago.”

Sue says the store sells salad dressings and a range of hemp flour, hemp protein and hulled hemp seeds that contain the highest quality ingredients and are certified organic, vegan-friendly, gluten and GMO free.

“We see the shop as an alterna tive to mass-produced, quick-fix shopping,” she says.

“All of our hemp oils, food items, balms and creams are carefully sourced and selected from small businesses and producers in Tasmania, SA, WA and NSW.”

Sue also says the store has a range of clothing and linen, fabrics, bedding and cushions all made to promote wellbeing.

“Our clothing is designed for wearability and versatility, is breathable, natural and easy to care

“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and breathes excellently, preventing odours and has four times the strength of cotton and it won’t weaken when washed,” she says.

“Hemp gives years of wear while its breathing ability, antibacte rial and antiviral properties help promote good sleep.”

South Pacific Hemp, 84 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0431 318898 or visit southpacifichemp.com.au

Lellow Kids, 63/30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Call 6247 3679 or visit lellowkids.com

Come fly with me, let’s fly down to… anywhere, really

JET Flight Simulator Canberra has the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who’s ever wanted to fly, says owner Trevor Vickers.

“Visitors get to operate a fullsize replica of a Boeing 737-800 cockpit and can choose from 24,000 airports around the world to fly in or out of,” he says.

“There’ll be an instructor who’s there to point out what all the buttons and levers do and when to use them, but it’ll be you that’s doing the flying.

“Sometimes people want to fly over where they’ve been on holiday, others want to do things like fly under the Sydney Harbour Bridge – it’s all possible.”

He encourages people to try the new VR Paraglider which combines a real paraglider harness and controls linked to world-class professional training software.

“Participants can practice catching thermals, soar over coastal dunes, or improve their accuracy at spot landings,” says Trevor.

Visitors have the opportunity for a more fast-paced, virtual reality experience called “ICAROS” which he describes as a “completely different way to fly”.

“The way it works is that you lie on a frame and shift your body weight to steer in the virtual world,” says Trevor.

“The sensation is more like flying with a wingsuit or like you’re Superman.”

Whether it’s flying a 737, soaring through a virtual world, or both, Trevor says there’s multiple booking options and gift certificates.

Jet Flight Simulator Canberra, 4 Montford Crescent, Lyneham. Visit jetflightsimulatorcanberra.com.au or call 0438 834026.

VR Paraglider.

Sunnies

COLLINS and Lonergan Evolve Optometry is a local, high-quality and independently-owned business in the centre of Gungahlin, says co-owner and practice manager, Ross Collins.

He says Evolve Optometry has the hot Australian Christmas sorted with sunglasses and cases.

“In stock, we have very unique sunglasses and options for all budgets and polarisation needs, always with UV protection,” he says

“Some of our new favourite sun-fashion styles for summer include urban, sleek shapes from Australian brand Vaanyard or lightweight, minimal-look hand made from Mykita. We also have all new-season styles from Gucci and Saint Laurent as well as rose-coloured lenses from Maui Jim.

“Beautiful, bespoke, handmade glasses cases are also available,” says Ross.

Evolve Optometry also offers gift vouchers from $50 to “let a loved one choose for themselves.”

Appointments are available with co-owner and optometrist Damien Lonergan right up until Christmas, says Ross.

Over the festive period to the end of January, he says Evolve Optometry is offering discounts on prescription glasses.

He also reminds contact-lens wearers to order their lenses now to avoid disappointment over the Christmas period.

Collins and Lonergan Evolve Optometry, Gungahlin Village (opposite Coles). Call 6189 5891 or visit evolveoptometry.com.au

A French accent on quality homewares

SINCE 2007, Home French Home has been selling a growing range of fine French napery, bed linens, homewares and gifts in Australia, says owner, Djaimi Thornhill.

The business prides itself on its high-quality, unique and hard to find products that make for delightful gifts, she says.

“We have products from new designers and oth ers from companies with a long heritage – centuries in some cases. These things have something real to them,” she says.

“We have products that are hard to find or unique in Canberra, and of very high-quality. And, of course, it’s important that our customers are delighted with what they find.”

They include tablecloths, tea towels, runners, cushion covers, curtains, wall tapestries, bed linens, clothing for men and women, scarves, fragrances and soaps, handbags, shopping bags, jewellery, teddy bears as well as a food section and gift vouchers.

Home French Home, Shop 11, Manuka Arcade, 22-30 Franklin Street, Manuka. Call 6100 3331 or visit homefrenchhome.com.au

Canberra’s first virtual reality arcade

CANBERRA’s first virtual reality arcade, VR Canberra, will “bring your children’s imagination to life” during these school holidays, says host, Pranav Sood.

Pranav became involved in the business this year, inspired by his son’s enjoyment of virtual reality during a family trip to Canada.

He says VR Canberra is a “dedicated virtual reality gaming place for kids and adults to enjoy the indoors with friends and family.”

“This is not just a gaming experience, it is also an educational tool that allows kids to connect to their inner

self and make them imagine and see what is possible.”

Since Pranav’s involvement, he has expanded their game collection to ensure everyone is “visually, physically and emotionally astonished by new virtual worlds filled with awe-inspiring rides, characters, sights and sounds.”

The gaming library includes “multiple virtual reality games, roller coasters, driving simulators as well as VR escape rooms.”

“VR Canberra is the perfect place for birthday parties, school holidays, family and friend gatherings, corporate

Eclectic range of glass gifts to ‘dazzle’

CANBERRA Glassworks CEO Elizabeth Rogers says a gift from its “treasure trove” of beautiful glass is sure to “dazzle” anyone.

“Whether it is a gift under the tree, an eye-catching feature to your Christmas spread or a special treat just for you, you’ll find it amongst the eclectic range of handcrafted Australian glass at Canberra Glassworks,” she says.

Since 2007, Canberra Glassworks has been host to artists in “the best equipped studio glass making workshop in the country”.

“If people are shopping at the Glass works shop, they are supporting Canberra and region artists,” says Elizabeth.

“Annette Blair won the Visual Arts Award from the Canberra Critics Circle at 32nd Annual ACT Arts Awards, she received this award for the extraordinary calibre of glass exhibited in her solo exhibition ‘Quietly Spoken’.

“I could not believe that she could make the things that she created out of glass, her work that we’ve got and that she’s created for us for Christmas is very special.”

Elizabeth says people should think carefully about not buying throw-away gifts for Christmas.

“We have everything from beautiful hand-blown glass baubles to platters, things to make your christmas table look fantastic, stunning vases that are just works of art by themselves,” she says.

Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston. Call 6260 7005, or visit canberraglassworks.com

social parties and school excursions,” says Pranav. During the weekdays of the ACT school holidays, Pranav says VR Canberra is offering three hours of unlimited games and rides for at least four players at $70 a person.

He says adults too can join the school holiday fun with VR Canberra’s corporate and work party space with virtual reality escape rooms for more than 35 people.

VR Canberra, Shop 5/83-101 Lysaght Street, Mitchell. Call 6262 2160, or visit vrcanberra.com.au

Annette Blair, Luxe Vases and Glassworks baubles available in-store at Canberra Glassworks. Photo: Brenton McGeachie

Christmas markets are welcoming all

JULIE Nichols, founder of Handmade Market Canberra, welcomes Canberra’s gift givers to the Handmade Christmas Market to shop from more than 250 Australian-made designers and produc ers at Exhibition Park, December 9-11.

“The market features everything from handcrafted ceramics, slow-made fashion, furniture, children’s toys and clothing, jewellery and accessories along with our indoor gourmet food and wine pavilion,” says Julie.

Between 9am and 10am on the Sunday the market is offering a low-sensory shopping experience “to create a positive environment for members of the community who may not typically attend the market due to crowds, noise, mobility difficulties or sensory sensitivities,” she says.

“This shopping hour is inclusive and open to all, and anyone who may benefit from the experience is encouraged to come along!”

Julie Nichols launched the first Handmade Market “what seems a lifetime ago now, back in 2008”.

“Handmade Canberra continues to grow and flourish, and now offers 290 stalls in two halls at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), along with the central conference centre,” she says.

For anyone who can’t make the market, there’s an online directory of more than 580 Australian made designers and producers that people can shop from at any time.

Handmade Market, Exhibition Park in Canberra. Visit handmadecanberra.com.au

efficient, emission free and capable of transporting

“We are unique to the Canberra region and our tour utilises the Murrumbateman winery trail, a sealed, off-road bike trail, which incorporates six local wineries as well as other dining and shopping experiences.”

Andi says that they offer half and full day selfguided tours as well as an all-inclusive tour option.

“There is no better way to enjoy what Murrum

gift vouchers available to purchase for Christmas presents and Andi is offering a 10 per cent discount to “CityNews” readers when booking gift vouchers online, using the code “citynews”.

Canberra Wine Region E-Bike Tours, 5 Armstrong Street, Murrumbateman, NSW. Visit winerides.com.au or call 0490 045432.

Artist Stuart McMillan.

It’s easy peasy to grow zucchini

ZUCCHINIS are one of the easiest summer squash to grow, but need a little space in the vegetable patch.

They are fast growers, but check the fruit every day until they reach the size you want to pick.

For the best flavour, zucchinis are picked at around 10-15 centimetres long. If left to grow, they can become a marrow, still edible but better tasting when young.

When picking a zucchini, cut with a sharp knife or secateurs at the base of the stem, removing a section of the stem as well.

The more zucchinis you pick, the more will grow. If there is pollination failure, the zucchini will start to form, die and go from yellow to black and fall off the plant.

Zucchinis have male and female flowers on the same plant and when conditions are right, the plant will have both open for the bees to pollinate the flowers.

Hand pollination can be done by picking the centre of the male flower (the anther) and touching the female flower (stigma) lightly to deliver the pollen.

The difference between the flowers is easy to see; the male flowers will be smaller than the females and there is no bulb at the base of the flower.

If growing multiple varieties of summer squash in a small space they can cross pollinate and you could end up with some weird and interesting looking fruit. It would still be edible, but probably not very tasty.

I grow only one variety – “Black Jack” – so it does not cross pollinate with other summersquash varieties. It is the most versatile in the kitchen (if you’d like a copy of my zucchini relish recipe, email me).

ALSO growing and flowering well with the extra rain is my tree mallow (Lavatera maritima), a fast-growing shrub that is semi-deciduous in our climate, whereas in warmer climates it’s an evergreen.

Lavatera, a tough plant that’s a good filler if there is room in the garden, likes a full sun position and flowers from now and through to autumn. It’s very attractive to bees, insects and butterflies.

A cousin to Lavatera that’s easy to grow (even from seed) and grows well in Canberra is hol lyhocks. They love full sun and can look striking as a backdrop plant or planted in a clump.

Spent flowers kept on the stem in autumn will more than likely self-seed and produce more plants.

Hollyhocks can get mites and fungal diseases, such as rust, and can look unsightly. Spray with a wettable sulphur to keep this problem at bay. This also can be sprayed on zucchinis to combat powdery mildew.

AUTUMN bulbs (such as colchicums and nerines) should be in the ground before the hot weather comes.

DAHLIAS should be putting on new growth now. To get the most flowering out of them, they need to be continually tip pruned right up to Christmas.

When stems are seven to 10 centimetres high and have at least two or three sets of leaves, they can be tip pruned and the cuttings dipped into hormone gel and placed in propagating mix or vermiculite to strike more plants.

This is a quick way of propagating dahlias without waiting for the tubers to be divided and is called green-tip propagating. Just about all dahlias need to be staked for supporting the heavy flowers.

Any planting into the garden in the hotter months will need a little more care to get grow ing and dead heading of roses and flowers in general will keep shape throughout the season.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Zucchinis… for the best flavour, zucchinis are picked at around 10-15 centimetres long.

Tree mallow… a tough plant that likes a full sun position and flowers from now and through to autumn. Photos: Jackie Warburton

Unloved local artist paints her way to world fame

to get a proper website and introduced her to their photographer, whose praise confirmed that her artwork was ready for show.

“After the photography was done, I started knocking on doors of various Canberra art gal leries, all of which were hostile and frankly not interested in me or even meeting me,” she says.

Then she scored a two-month solo exhibition at the Hyatt Hotel’s Promenade Res taurant, which led to an offer from a Sydney art dealer who pulled out when she became pregnant, so she was back to square one.

Not having been trained in a recognised Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne school was a drawback and, indeed, even overseastrained artists often find it hard to get a foot in the door here.

That’s when she started submitting her works overseas and it was a very different story. If Van Den Nieuwenhuijzen had been unnoticed here in Canberra, she’s had no trouble in Italy.

But two years after marrying her husband, Marjo, in 1999 she decided to launch herself as an artist.

She remembers meeting the male director of an art gallery in the inner south, who told her to loosen her style, then showed her the door, but then she phoned – of all places – the NGA to ask what do to, where an officer advised her

In 2013 she was approached by an art publishing house: INCO Publishing NYC, who inspected her latest paintings and included her. The publication was distributed to major galleries, museums and art dealers around the world and that was when the Italians noticed her.

First she was approached by art critic Rino Lucia, who asked permission to have her artwork graded by his colleague Paolo Levi, who classified her as master artist.

Continued on Page 29.

Guide 2023”, but that hasn’t changed the essence of XO.

While chuffed with the award, the team exists only to do what they love most, which is creating innovative and modern dishes that pay homage to traditional south-east Asian cuisine… and doing so with an unwavering com mitment to quality service.

I was with two friends who hadn’t been before (my last visit was too many moons ago) and XO didn’t disappoint. Each dish was a knockout.

The Adobo dumplings are a work of art and a true feast for the eyes ($18). The Kaffir lime shone through with its citrus flavour and the crunchy chunks of rice crackers sprinkled on top delighted. We also adored XO’s take on Bun Cha ($12 each) which we eagerly rolled in lettuce like a freestyle spring

restaurants. The exciting combination of fresh herbs and a sensational Vietnamese dipping sauce covered all the bases.

An award-winning dish was the beef tenderloin, sliced ever so carefully with the quality of the meat shining through ($25). Mint and cilantro (not to be confused with cilantro) added bursts of flavour. The beef melted in the mouth and, once more, the dish was a work of art.

We weren’t sure what to expect with XO’s Asian Bolognese with udon, chicken ra gout and a wonderful 60-degree egg ($26) but applauded the creativity and enjoyed the combination of tastes. The texture of the egg was divine – the yolk a beautiful liquid and the white soft and creamy.

Our next dish was the Char Siu, created with a marvellously marbled pork neck. The black bean and burnt scallion elements added depth of flavour ($45). We enjoyed it with a lovely looking and tasty iceberg salad. XO does iceberg total justice, with a Yuzu vinaigrette, dried mix seasoning and egg yolk ($18).

is the Golden Gay Time, salted caramel mousse, with dulce de leche, coco pops, vanilla ice cream and Ovaltine would be a fun dessert to top off a meal ($22).

XO’s décor is designed around light wood features and lots of white, including light, floaty curtains dividing tables for privacy. A long bar runs along the left side of the restaurant. The décor is beautiful and cool contemporary. The wine bottle display is super attractive and super clever. Service is highly attentive, and the love is very apparent with everyone involved in the XO operation.

WINE Getting too close to the Godfather of Clare Valley

I SAID to John-Paul Romano, of Italian Brothers in Manuka: “Are you being ironic choosing your house red with the name Godfather Too?”

He responded, saying: “Irony or not, it is our top-selling Australian wine. It has a great history in SA’s Clare Valley. I love to drink it, why don’t you do a review?”

“Mate, the review will probably not sit well with you because I’ll introduce my favourite Godfather story where a lawyer, unusually, triumphs.”

“Whatever,” he said.

The Farrell Wines Godfather Too 2019 Cabernet is named with a nod towards the proprietor, Senator Don Farrell, now Minister for Trade and Tourism. He has received recognition as an ALP “powerbroker.” In 2016 SBS News had this to say: “Labor Senator Don Farrell returns to parliament after winning back his SA Senate seat. He’s known by friends and foes as ‘The Godfather’. Will the sequel be better than the

I called winemaker Dave Palmer, who said Farrell remained connected to the winery through family. Of course!

Dave also said: ”We have been making the Farrell family’s wines, including the cabernet sauvignon, since 2015 and I believe the cabernet has been called “Godfather Too” since and including the 2016 vintage.”

Mate Alex and I tried the Godfather Too 2019 at Italian Brothers with an Italian hard and soft cheese; the latter, a buffalo mozzarella, was

The wine started out a little harsh with acid on the finish, but opened up with air. It was a wine that gained length when taken with food rather than being reflective of a quaffer that I’d choose to have on its own.

It’s a mid-weight wine with some blackberry and savoury flavours and the price point is ac ceptable. It is available from the winery at $199 ($33 each) per box with free shipping. It’s also available at Italian Brothers in Manuka by the glass for $16, or to takeaway for $38 a bottle.

And now for the story John-Paul had to suffer. A godfather had hired a deaf mute book keeper. He had done this so that the accounts wouldn’t be able to be communicated to the

But the godfather noticed that in the last 18 months his receipts had been down. He got one of his other advisers to look at the books in detail. It was discovered that there was around $1 million missing.

The godfather’s lawyer knew sign language and so was taken to a meeting to confront the bookkeeper. The godfather “persuaded” the bookkeeper by showing his pistol and eventually after signing back and forth between the lawyer and bookkeeper nothing had been disclosed. The godfather was out of patience. Placing the gun on the bookkeeper’s temple, he said: “Tell him, he either tells me the location of the stolen money or I’ll shoot him in the head.”

The lawyer signs to the bookkeeper who by now is petrified. He signs to the lawyer: “Okay, okay. It’s buried in a suitcase in my garden at the far right fence line.”

“What did he tell you?” the godfather asks the lawyer?

“Well,” said the lawyer, “he says you don’t have the guts to pull the trigger.”

John-Paul didn’t laugh.

Continued from Page 27…

After that, she exhibited in the Biennale della Creativita in Verona where an even more important critic, Vittorio Sgarbi, paid close attention to her paintings. The rest is history.

The internet is Van Den Nieuwenhuijzen’s friend and while she can’t always get to her overseas shows, the increased interest in digital exhibitions allowed her to participate in a world digital exhibition and fashion presentation staged by the Costanza Founda tion in New York during 2019, which in turn led to her offer from Artifact Gallery, where she has just exhibited.

Grounded for years caring for her frail mother who died earlier this year, she is still grieving. As well, her 16-year-old daughter Joelle is a dancer with professional aspirations who is training with Suzy Piani and Bonnie Neate’s company, The Training Ground, a prep school for elite young dancers, so Van Den Nieuwenhuijzen feels the need to be with her.

Undaunted, she pushes on. With the Pablo Picasso Award and the Giotto International Prize behind her, she has in the past three years alone won the Leonardo da Vinci, the Dante Alighieri, the Hermes, the Cesenatico and the Poseidon Art Prizes as well as the Golden Palm Award in Monaco and has just officially accepted a place in the Menelao Prize held in Lecce, southern Italy, in December.

“Reflecting on these past 20 years, I have been very busy and… all on my own, with no help or funding from anyone, I have done really well, ” she says. You can say that again.

Star writer’s play opens new season

By Helen Musa

QUEANBEYAN-born playwright and screenwriter Tommy Murphy comes very close to being what professional hype would call “a local legend”.

He is one of Australia’s most prolific playwrights, with his most recent effort being “Packer & Sons” and a swag of other accolades behind him. His six-part TV series, “Significant Others”, a thriller starring Alison Bell and Rachael Blake, is currently streaming on ABC TV iView.

He’s also been commissioned by the Sydney Theatre Company to do a stage adaptation of Nevil Shute’s end-ofthe-world novel “On the Beach”, to be directed next year by STC chief Kip Williams.

All the while, it is Murphy’s stage and screen adaptations of the Tim Conigrave memoir “Holding the Man” that has brought him the greatest fame, and it’s still going strong, with the announcement that it will be the opening produc tion for the ACT Hub’s 2023 season, directed by Jarrad West.

It’s been a busy year for him, as I found when we caught up by phone to Sydney. It’s a casual chat between familiars, for even as a young boy living in Queanbeyan then studying at St Edmund’s College, he was heavily involved in the local arts community – I even once judged him performing in a scene from “Othello”, for which he won a trip to London’s Globe Theatre.

Murphy is happy that he’s allowed to travel again. One of his plays will be staged in Florence during December and he hopes to go.

Earlier this year, he was able to spend time in Los Angeles with his brother, Padraic, another member of the extraordi narily artistic Murphy family (brother Marty is a comedian and film identity, while sister Kate is one of Australia’s leading visual artists) who works there as a researcher providing content to TV production and film houses.

ARTS IN THE CITY

Canberra premieres ‘Choir Boy’

By Helen Musa

ANOTHER coup for Canberra Theatre with the announcement of the Aussie premiere season of “Choir Boy” (March 29-April 2), written by the Oscar-winning writer Tarell Alvin McCraney. Threaded with a cappella gospel hymns, it’s the story of Pharus Young, hell-bent on being the best choir leader in the 50-year history of Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys. The play premiered in 2012 at London’s Royal Court Theatre before seasons across the US, including Broadway.

CANBERRA pianist Ronan Apcar, winner of the ACT Young Virtuoso Award held at Art Sound in September, has taken out second place at the competition’s National Young Virtuoso Award final, behind Victorian pianist Anna Gao. Apcar, one of our brightest and best, also won a Canberra Critics Circle Award recently and is now off to bigger things at the Australian National Academy of Music.

IN “CPE Bach: Universe of Harmony”, the Australian Haydn Ensemble will perform works by Telemann, William Herschel, JA Benda and CPE Bach, under the direction of British guest director and harpsichord soloist Chad Kelly. Albert Hall, December 14.

CANBERRA Potters’ Christmas Fair is my preferred place to buy unique Christmas gifts by local potters and ceramicists. It’s on again at Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson, 10am-4pm, December 10-18.

LUMINESCENCE choirs join Canberra International Music Festival and Wesley Music Centre for a third

iteration of “A Luminous Christmas”, a mini-festival at Wesley Music Centre, Forrest. It features “Christmas Classics” on December 16 and 18, “An Italian Christmas”, December 17 and “Christmas in Ukraine”, December 18.

“CLOUD Country” is an inspiring exhibition by Canberra artist Caroline Reid intended to honour and document the rich water resource of the country south of Canberra to the Victorian border. The works were painted in 2021 and 2022 during an extended La Nina weather event that brought replenishing rains to the catchments of the Thredbo, Snowy and Murrumbidgee rivers. At Raglan Art Gallery, Cooma, until January 21.

“Significant Others”, a six-part drama broadcast filmed by Fremantle Media for which Tony Krawitz directed all six episodes.

It’s a story about a family dealing with shock and loss, starting with a vanishing, where they are drawn back to their crumbling home in what Murphy calls “a kind of purgatory” before the police can give them answers and help them rebuild.

The story is close to home for Murphy, who has suffered several shocking bereavements in recent years, including the unexpected death from a sleeping disorder of his own partner.

He wrote “Holding the Man” for the stage in 2007 and the screen in 2015. It is to him “a very NIDA [National

Institute of Dramatic Art] story.” Murphy had studied direct ing at NIDA and Conigrave was an acting graduate from the institute, so some of the action is set there, though the plot centres on the love story of Tim and John Caleo, who both succumbed to HIV-related illnesses.

The then director of the Griffin Theatre, David Berthold, knew of the memoir by Conigrave and after a production of Murphy’s play “Strangers in Between”, thought this would be a good commission for Griffin and a nice theatrical segue, for Conigrave had served on the board of directors there and had trod its boards.

“In the story, Tim puts a temporary end to his relation ship with John to go to NIDA, so in finding the plot it made sense that Sydney’s theatre became a part of the stage adaptation… it was the theatre that was the basic idea,” Murphy says, adding that recreating the lives of Tim and his lover John was “almost like summoning ghosts – but the theatre is a good place to be haunted”.

The play was a runaway success, with six runs between 2007 and 2008, a season in London in 2010 and more productions to follow in San Francisco, Auckland, Los

“Adapting the play to the screen was a very different undertaking, so I had to find how to structure the story in a different way, but all the lessons I learnt from having seen an audience watching the play served the film,” he says.

“Of course, the visual imagery possible in film confronts audiences in a different way, but that said, with a live audi ence and a stage, people regularly fainted and gasped… it’s a different understanding.

“Turning somebody’s life into a play is an unusual privilege and responsibility. I had to continue to help tell Tim’s story in a new medium and it is hard to be sensitive to people who loved Tim and John – the power of it is breathtaking.”

“Holding The Man” ACT Hub, March 22-April 1.

Queanbeyan-born playwright Tommy Murphy… “Turning

somebody’s life into a play is an unusual privilege and responsibility.”

Winners…virtuoso pianists Anna Gao and Ronan Apcar.

Unloved local artist paints her way to world fame

When Pepsi’s sales stunt fell flat

By Nick OVERALL

MADONNA, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Marlon Brando, Michael J. Fox. What do they have in common?

They’ve all tried to sell you Pepsi.

Even this is only scratching the surface of the star power the soft drink company has recruited in its attempts to peddle Coca-Cola’s ultimate competitor.

According to many sources, PepsiCo has been known to drop more than three billion dollars a year on advertising.

While it’s made the brand one of the best known in the world, an amusing new Netflix doco tells the true story of the time the company’s advertising department bit off more than it could chew.

“Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?” is the David vs Goliath tale of a wily 20-year-old who took PepsiCo to court to try to get a military aircraft out of them.

Yes, military aircraft. The young man believed he was fully entitled to a Harrier jet paid for and delivered by the seller of his favourite soft drink. Let me explain.

In the ‘90s when Pepsi was at the height of its advertising ambition, it came up with “Pepsi Stuff” – what they thought was their surest attempt yet to give Coke a run for its money.

The idea was similar to a loyalty system many brands use today. The more cans of Pepsi people bought, the more points they could redeem on items the company itself would provide.

It could be MP3 song downloads, denim

clothes, mountain bikes or whatever else ‘90s teens thought was phat at the time.

In one of their characteristically bombastic attempts to flog stock, a television ad for Pepsi Stuff featured a teenager cashing in seven million of these points to score himself a fighter jet.

“Sure beats the bus!” he says as he lands the military aircraft outside his school – complete with leather jacket and Maverick-style Aviators.

A harmless joke? Well, there was no fine print and no T&Cs to say so and it turns out one kid from Seattle wanted to hold them to it.

This four-part documentary details his elaborate masterplan to buy more than 16 million Pepsi cans in order to score the plane that was promised in the commercial.

The project outrageously grew in complexity – requiring investors, staff, trucks, storage space and so much more in order to fully exploit the loophole.

As one might imagine, it turns out Pepsi wasn’t thrilled about the idea of handing over the plane.

With editing as fizzy as a can of cola, this is some easy, innocent entertainment that comes packaged with a playful perusal of ‘90s culture.

MEANWHILE, this month Stan is sporting a new take on “Dangerous Liaisons”.

The tale of French nobles locked in a battle of love and lust amidst pre-revolutionary Paris has had quite the shelf life.

There have been five film adaptations alone of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s famous novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” – a story first published 240 years ago.

That’s not to mention the dozens of plays, bal

lets, operas, radio shows and more that have seen potential in the rich repartee of the source material.

Now in its latest television evolution, “Danger ous Liaisons” wants to cross swords with other pithy period pieces that have proven a hit with streamers.

“Bridgerton”, “The Great”, “The Serpent Queen”, “Marie Antoinette” have all had their time in the spotlight this year and managed to keep viewers eagerly coming back for more.

But While “Dangerous Liaisons” has similar potential, this is sadly one version that struggles to hold its own at court.

The Baroque sets here are as authentic as the hair feathers on the characters’ heads, but beyond this the show doesn’t seem to really care about the period it’s set in or the source material itself.

It’s a modern soap opera that’s wrapped itself in a historical setting in order to cash in on a fad.

The show doesn’t even bother with trying to follow the original story. Instead, it makes itself a prequel to the novel to free up its script while still claiming the brand recognition.

And, hey, for viewers that just want a bit of gossip and soap, this’ll be a winner.

For everyone else, there’s more substance to be found in the 1988 film version with Glenn Close, John Malkovich and a baby-faced Keanu Reeves that’s also on Stan.

Even “Cruel Intentions”, the corny ‘90s version about rich New York high schoolers on Amazon Prime Video captures the source material better.

It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, who became another icon of the decade for her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

And the beginning of her life of fame? A quick Google of her Pepsi ad brings us full circle.

Cool delivery that hits the target CINEMA

By Dougal MACDONALD

“Kompromat” (M)

“KOMPROMAT” is a portman teau of “compromising” and “material” borrowed into Russian from English.

/ reviews

“Stars At Noon” (MA)

INITIALLY based on a novel by Denis Johnson told against the backdrop of the ‘80s Nicaraguan revolution, “Stars at Noon” updates the story to one taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In director and writer Jérôme Salle’s film allegedly based on a book by Yoann Barbereau, Gilles Lellouche plays Mathieu, gregarious, dedicated, director of the local branch of the Alliance Française in the Siberian city of Irkutsk.

Local Russian Federal Security Service (formerly known as KGB) chief Rostov (Michael Gor) accuses Mathieu of distributing kiddie-porn photographs.

Arrested, imprisoned and isolated, Mathieu has nowhere to turn. Defending himself is impossible, the French authorities are helpless – his only choice is to try and escape. In this, he has help from Svetlana (Joanna Kulig) whose disabled husband isn’t up to the task.

Mathieu may spend more of the film’s 127 minutes fleeing, try ing to reach safety in Estonia, with Rostov hot on his heels that is essential for making its dramatic point. It may dally on sequences showing Mathieu and Svetlana’s love-making. But sequences in the prison community and the tensions as the pair eventually flee are truly frightening.

Some might consider that director Salle is trying too hard to avoid giving his audience a routine flavour, but the film’s cool delivery definitely increases its power.

It may not strike everybody as great cinema but nobody could deny that it hits its target squarely.

Freelance journalist Trish (Margaret Qualley) is surviving in Nicaragua by hooking up with the right people while she tries to get to Costa Rica to follow a story that might give her an exclusive if she can get there in time, but her passport status is questionable.

One day, she meets a Brit oil company executive Daniel (Joe Alwyn) to whom she seems drawn, not just because he’s good in the sack and seems likely to provide her with a great chance to get there (but is he possibly something less straightforward?).

French-born filmmaker Claire Denis adapted the novel to its modern-day setting with co-writers Léa Mysius and Andrew Litvack.

We first see Trish having sex with military officers for money. Sex with Daniel is a choice she can live with. But it doesn’t resolve her real problem. Which is, who’s holding her passport, where and why?

Tallish, reed-slim and unabashed about going topless, Qualley’s filmography is like her bosom – small, but well-formed.

Nothing about Trish’s situation justifies putting it into a movie that runs for 131 minutes.

If it’s possible for something to be a bit of an enigma, the film’s title is one such example.

Gilles Lellouche as Mathieu in “Kompromat”.

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Mercury, Venus and Pluto are visiting your career zone, so aim to be more curious, creative and strategic at work. If you slow down, stagnate or procrastinate, then you’ll just be left behind. The Sun/Saturn connection encourages you to have the confidence and discipline to turn your abstract ideas into a tangible form. But remember there’s a fine line between communicating your ideas with plenty of passion… and being completely misunderstood.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

The Sun/Saturn link (on Monday and Tuesday) is terrific for work, career, promo tions, presentations and investigations. But – with Mars reversing through your money zone – be prudent with finances. On the weekend, Mercury and Uranus encourage you to express your original, authentic, talented Taurean self. Be inspired by birthday great Taylor Swift (who was born on December 13, 1989): “If you’re lucky enough to be different, don’t ever change.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

With Mars reversing through your sign, conserve your energy and try to get lots of sleep. Geminis can be rather gullible… especially this week when nebulous Neptune scrambles your reality radar. So be careful you’re not led up the primrose path to plenty of trouble – especially involving work and career or love and romance. If something (or someone) sounds too good to be true, then start running in the opposite direction!

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

You’re keen to daydream the hours away in your cosy Crab cave, as retro Mars and the Full Moon illuminate your solitude zone. But – as you retreat into your private world – make sure you can differentiate between fact and fantasy, otherwise you’ll end up in a confusing mess. A work project needs to pass the Practicality Test. So try to balance being idealistic with being realistic. And don’t make serious commitments unless you’re certain you can keep them.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

It’s a good week to make amends with a friend or colleague who you may have (unintentionally) offended. If you eat some humble pie, then the relationship will head in a positive new direction. It’s also time to share pleasurable activities with a loved one. Whether it’s a movie, a concert, a delicious meal or stimulating conversation, make it a priority to have fun together. But Neptune squares the Sun mid-week, so avoid sending out ambiguous messages.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Mars (the planet of confrontation) is currently reversing through your public/ reputation zone. So you could encounter problems with colleagues, clients or customers (or with argumentative people on social media). Don’t waste time wor rying or retaliating! As birthday great Taylor Swift reminds us: “Haters gonna hate.” Just shake it off and get on with the business of living a positive, vibrant Virgo life. The weekend favours travel, education and communication.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

This week – despite some confusing moments with colleagues or friends – home is where the heart is. Family matters and DIY projects are favoured, as your ruler, Venus, joins Mercury and Pluto in your home zone. So do your best to keep the lines of communication wide open with relatives from near and far. A troubled child, teenager, lover or friend is waiting to hear some diplomatic advice from the heart. And you’re just the person to give it!

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Courtesy of nebulous Neptune and retrograde Mars, money matters look rather confusing this week. If you’re expecting funds from other people, then be prepared to wait. And, if someone else is managing your money, make sure you have your finger on the pulse and know exactly what’s going on. It’s not a good time to borrow funds, lend money, buy real estate or make a major purchase. But it is an appropriate time to research, revise and recalibrate.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

The Sun’s transiting through fiery, restless Sagittarius – sign of the Archer, traveller, teacher and seeker – which will boost energy and motivation levels (that have been flagging due to retrograde Mars). But Neptune squares the Sun, so situations (and people) are not as they seem. And a family member may try to pull the wool over your eyes. Smart Sagittarians will dismiss surface appearances and look beneath the surface to discover what’s really going on!

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Saturn (your patron planet) provides a welcome energy surge this week when your words and wisdom have the power to move other people in profound ways. You’re keen to persuade someone to do something, but are they ready for your serious (and sometimes controlling) approach? Venus is vamping through your sign so clever Capricorns will be an iron fist in a velvet glove, as you utilise your magnetic personality and natural charm to get others onside.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Your home life looks lively this week, as Uranus (your ruler) and Mercury stir up your domestic zone. Uninvited guests could also drop in. And things are likely to become messy and disorganised (especially involving friends and/or finances) as Neptune scrambles communication. You might get confused and make some mistakes, but that’s OK. Whatever happens, expect the unexpected, accept changes with good grace and adapt accordingly!

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

It’s time for proactive Pisceans to make exciting plans and set solid goals. Go for gold, as the Sun and Saturn help you envision (and pursue) ambitious dreams and creative schemes for the future. But keep a firm grip on reality this week otherwise you could delude yourself about a person or situation, especially involving work or money. In order to avoid disappointing yourself (and others) do your best to stay on top of facts and leave fantasy for the movies.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2022

Which US prison was known as the “Rock”? (8)

What is a grotesque mischievous sprite or elf? (6)

To be in good spirits is to be what? (8)

Who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the absence of the sovereign? (6)

11 Name small guitar-like instruments. (8) 14 To have gone out, is to have done what? (8) 18 Name a more familiar term for an Inuit. (6) 19 That which is spherical is said to be what? (8) 21 To be on fire is to be what? (6) 22 What might we call that which presses out? (8) 23 To assemble troops, is to do what? (6)

1

Solution next edition Down

What is a statuette also known as? (8)

2 What is Jack Nicklaus renowned as? (6)

3

Sacred or holy places are called what? (8)

4 Which term describes the highest point? (4)

5 To perish from hunger, is to do what? (6)

6 Name a European river said to be blue. (6)

12 Name a style of bowling. (8)

13 Which person practises malicious injury to work? (8)

15 What is a large system of stars? (6)

16 Name the king of the West Saxons in England AD802-39. (6)

17 What are the skeletons of heads? (6)

20 Name a popular board game. (4)

The holiday season is generally a good time to connect with family and friends. It is also a time when people can make the stark realisation that a parent or older friend is not coping at home and may need some help with their day-to-day activities.

Help to live independently

Planning ahead and understanding the options available may help a person stay in their home longer.

Taking time to understand the choices, understand the fees payable and decide what services will be useful or practical.

How to prepare

We recommend discussing these four questions, as a family, or with your support network (it is never too early):

1. Options

• Decide where you may want to live if you are no longer able to live independently.

2. Finances

• How will you pay for your aged care? Understand the cost of aged care.

3. Documents

• Make, or update your will, enduring power of attorney, and if relevant, estate plan.

4. Network

• Identify who will be responsible (when you can’t) for financial and medical decisions and living arrangements. Talk to them so they understand your wishes.

Planning well in advance empowers the person involved to make their own decisions about their future care.

Seek advice from accredited Aged Care Professionals to help identify your options. Planning ahead can mean you have the money available to fund your choices as well as identify how to set up your home and support networks.

To learn more, call us on 1300 10 22 33 or book a 15 minute call (at no cost) via our website phillipswp.com.au

Youth Dance Ensemble

DANCE WITH US.

Major Performances with professional dance artists

Creative Development Programs Training Programs

More info: QL2.ORG.AU

DANCE WITH US.

Major Performance Projects Training Programs

• Quantum Leap Youth Ensemble (14-26 yrs-old) - create a new dance work, contribute your ideas, add your voice, work with industry leaders and choreographers from around Australia, perform on the Canberra Theatre Playhouse stage. Auditions in November each year. Rehearsals Jan-May. Performance season in May.

• Chaos Project (8-18 yrs-old) - create a new dance work, connect and share with other young people, work with professional choreographers, perform at the Canberra College Theatre. Auditions in August. Rehearsals Sept-Oct. Performance season Term 4 week 1

• YGen to IGen - an intergenerational project in partnership with Australian Dance Party

• Festivals & Touring - Australian Youth Dance Festival, Meet Up, DaCI. Touring within Australia and overseas each year.

Creative Development Programs

Young Choreographers Programs

• Giant Steps (9-12 yrs-old) - create your own work with support from QL2 mentors. Rehearse and perform in June in our QL2 Theatre to family & friends.

• Stepping Up (11-14yrs-old) - create your own work with support from QL2 mentors. Rehearse and perform in August in our QL2 Theatre.

• Hot to Trot (Quantum Leapers) - Quantum Leapers create their own work with support from experienced mentors. Rehearsals Sept-Nov. Public performance season in our QL2 Theatre.

• On Course (Tertiary dance students) - Tertiary dance students return to create and perform their own work over 2 intensive weeks in Dec.

Our training programs are tailored to prepare our young artists physically and creatively for our performance projects and for tertiary study in dance should they wish to follow that path. Each program has a set schedule, from one to six classes per week, that includes some or all of the following classes depending on the number of classes per week in each program: Contemporary, Classical, Stretch & Conditioning and Yoga. Plus several workshops and masterclasses each year.

In our classes you will work on your technique as well as develop your creativity and collaboration skills in a caring and non-competitive environment. Our teachers are experienced working professional dance artists. Training programs for ages 5-26.

Lorna Sim Photography