CityNews 230706

When trust runs dry and the spinners take over PAUL COSTIGAN

‘The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey’ CLIVE WILLIAMS

a ACT budget: where your money really goes KEEPING UP THE ACT

ANNIE BRETT (aka ‘Grim’) loves the inclusive world of roller derby

Drug testing centre turns up surprises for users

sociative analgesic with effects reported to be similar to phencyclidine (PCP or “Angel Dust”). Little is known about 3-HO-PCP’s pharmacology and toxicity for humans, but animal studies have shown it can affect opioid receptors and may cause breathing difficulties.”

CANTEST Health and Drug Checking

Service opened in Canberra in July 2022 under a six-month pilot.

As of June 2, CanTEST had tested more than 1000 samples, with the free pilot having been extended until August.

In the first month of the fixed-testing sites operation, July 21 to August 12, 58 samples were submitted.

CanTEST operates on a harm-reduction basis only, reporting that “illicit drugs are inherently unsafe and testing can’t certify that you won’t suffer an adverse reaction by taking them.”

Pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids can all be tested, and testing can be as quick as 20 minutes.

However, CanTEST does not offer testing of plant material, blotters or dilute solutions.

CanTEST is available to assist with chemical analysis of pills or drugs, and helps people to make a more informed decision about taking the drug and how to manage the risks.

For people looking to get their drugs tested, a small scraping/sample needs

to be supplied to chemical analysts to be put through specialised testing equipment.

Once the testing is complete, the staff provide information about the results and discuss the potential risks.

The latest data only covers the centre’s first nine months operating, where a total of 881 samples had been submitted.

But, the announcement of their testing record of more than 1000 samples came on June 2.

In the nine months of reported data, from July 21, 2022 to April 20, CanTEST had tested more than 881 drug samples.

Of those samples, 129 were submitted as ketamine, but ketamine was only present in 76 of them.

304 samples were submitted as MDMA, but it was only found in 241, heroin was expected in 23 samples, but only found in 18, meth was expected in 37 and found in 34, and cocaine was expected in 114, but only found in 91 of the samples.

While purity levels varied significantly, samples of MDMA and cocaine

ranged from a low of less than five per cent purity, to heights of 84 per cent purity.

Ketamine purity ranged anywhere from 21 to 88 per cent, heroin ranged from 23 to 76 per cent pure and methamphetamines ranged from eight to 83 per cent.

Six community notices have been issued since CanTEST opened, warning consumers of dangerous or unusual substances that have been found in samples.

The first was issued on September 7, when dimethylpentylone was found in an MDMA sample.

CanTEST report: “dimethylpentylone is a synthetic cathinone. It’s a powerful additive, or substitute of, MDMA. The effects can include a significantly elevated heart rate, an urge to re-dose, elevated body temp,

tingling in extremities, anxiety, headaches and insomnia.”

The next report came on September 20, when 2-fluoro-2-oxo PCE was found in ketamine samples.

“2-fluoro-2-oxo PCE is a synthetic ketamine derivative that has not been studied, so information can’t be provided about duration, harmful dose levels or interactions with other drugs.”

December 31 saw a third community notice, when metonitazene was found in oxycodone samples.

“Metonitazene is a strong synthetic opioid which is known to cause overdose. Globally, it has been associated with fatalities and can be as strong as, or stronger than fentanyl,” the report states.

3-HO-PCP was found in a sample presented as ketamine on March 7.

CanTEST report “3-HO-PCP is a dis-

On March 12, 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA) and 25C-NBOMe was found in a sample of 2C-B.

“Individually, these drugs have caused deaths. The combination of these drugs was associated with four deaths in Melbourne in 2017, other deaths overseas and many hospitalisations. This combination presents a significant danger,” the report states.

And, the most recent community notice came on May 15, where drug cocktail “tusi” was found in a 2C-B sample.

“Known as ‘tusibee’, ‘tusi’ or ‘pink cocaine’ and known for its distinctive colouring. Tusi was named for containing 2C-B, but when tested contains a mix of things and doesn’t always contain 2C-B,” report CanTEST.

Other interesting discoveries include one white crystalline sample, submitted as methamphetamine, contained none, and was identified as sugar. Another unknown sample was submitted that presented as lactose, with caffeine also frequently mixed in with samples.

CanTEST, 1 Moore Street, Civic. Open Thursdays 3pm-6pm and Fridays 6pm9pm. Visit directionshealth.com/cantest/

OF the 129 samples submitted as ketamine, only 76 contained ketamine. Reporter LILY PASS looks at the sorts of drugs being presented to CanTEST, the drug-checking service that opened in Canberra almost a year ago.

A sample of the pink cocaine drug cocktail submitted for testing.

Drug testing being undertaken at CanTEST. Photo: ANU

Stop boasting and get your own house in order!

TRUMPETING expenditure on health and housing marks the start of the speech on this year’s ACT budget by Chief Minister and Treasurer, Andrew Barr.

Expenditure of taxpayers’ money is not enough on its own to solve Canberra’s problems. It is time for his government to take a careful look at their administration of the territory and to get the ACT house in order.

Mr Barr proudly argued “through this budget we are delivering local so lutions”, and went on to state “it starts with one of the biggest investments in housing in the territory’s history”.

The investment of $345 million outlined in the budget for his housing package “will deliver new social and affordable homes for Canberrans; and accelerate major repairs and maintenance across thousands of our existing public housing properties”.

Accelerate major repairs! They certainly need it. Look at the example of “Terowie” in Lowanna Street in Braddon. This disgrace of a halfcompleted apartment building has been a blight on Braddon for more than five years. Despite being in the media several times, the government has done nothing to the fenced off, semi-built edifice. It ought to have been meeting the housing needs of the people of Canberra.

incredibly important. Purchasing Calvary Hospital and committing a billion dollars into a new northside hospital may well have administrative advantages.

However, the extent of such advantages will be hard to determine if the cultural and administrative problems of the Canberra Hospital are not resolved as step one.

Even so, the treasurer argues: “In contrast to the one that came before us, this is an ACT government that builds hospitals. Through this budget we will complete and open the major expansion of the Canberra Hospital and take significant steps

to commence construction on the new northside hospital”. The budget provides more than $540 million in new funding for healthcare.

At what point do families realise the futility of increasing and increasing investment in their homes without doing the repairs needed to ensure comfort and usefulness? The same question can be applied to the ACT. At what point does the government concentrate on getting things right before spending money?

A key indicator of Canberra’s economic stability is retaining the ACT’s Standard and Poor’s AAA/A-1+ credit rating. This rating was reconfirmed in November. It is a good indication

that the government has not extended beyond sensible borrowing focused particularly on capital works. However, if that rating is reduced, interest rates on borrowing will increase.

The fallout will invariably mean increased taxes. This budget should not be putting that rating at risk, particularly at a time when the ACT is already on “negative watch”. This might not seem to make financial sense, but there is an election looming and borrowing heavily at this time in the electoral cycle does make political sense. Financial sense – no! Political sense – yes!

Having enough money to spend on health, education and housing, along with the three Rs of rates, roads and rubbish of local government, makes very good sense politically. It ensures the look of the city and social justice elements of the government’s commitments are delivered and are apparent prior to the October election next year. But at what price?

Forecasts in the budget predict a turnaround delivering a bottom line of $600 million over a period of just three years from 2023-24 to 2026-27 are fanciful. Such a turnaround has never been forecast, let alone

achieved. The 2019-20 budget forecast a turnaround of around $500 million. Thanks to the advent of COVID-19, the government was saved from the embarrassment of delivering on such a forecast.

A commitment of this kind indicates that operating cash surpluses will be very strong, reaching $700 million. If it really is that strong, why is the net debt growing from $5.8 billion in 2022-23 to $10.6 billion in 2026-27 – effectively compounding at a rate of 16 per cent a year?

According to the treasurer, the commitment to significant capital works in areas such as housing and hospitals “have immediate and longterm payoffs, boosting our productivity, creating jobs and building a better and healthier society”. He does not mention the other payoff – improving chances of re-election.

What about the long-term consequences? When will ACT governments deliver sustainable economics in their budgets?

There is an election looming and borrowing heavily at this time in the electoral cycle makes political sense. Financial sense – no! Political sense – yes!

‘Grim’ determination shines through on wheels

By Lily PASS

ANNIE Brett, better known as “Grim”, has been playing roller derby since mid-2017 when she moved from Brisbane to Canberra for university.

But, roller skating is a skill she was already familiar with.

“I grew up in a family that went to roller rinks, my dad took me and my little sister every weekend,” she says.

Annie, 24, says roller derby has always been popular in Canberra, but is now growing as a sport Australia-wide.

“It definitely took a hit with COVID-19. I know the Canberra Roller Derby League definitely was hit through player numbers. COVID-19 meant a lot of older skaters who were on the edge of retiring took it as the final push to completely stop,” she says.

“This year is our first return to proper teams and games, we had a crowd of 200 or more people at our recent public game. Before COVID-19, our crowds reached about 300 people for our public games, so it’s good to see those numbers returning.

“I think general skating on quad skates over lockdown got a bit of popularity. It gave people something fun to

Obviously with most sports it has its problems, but it’s as inclusive as it can

“There is no typical body type for roller derby, which I really like; you just make the skill work for your body type and everyone has benefits. There’s going to be things you can and

can’t do but there’s also the opposite for other people so it’s very versatile in that way, which I think draws people in, too.

“It’s a very queer community as well, it helped me figure out my queer identity when I moved to Canberra, figuring out who I was.

“The culture and the challenge of the sport makes it fun, because you’re playing a sport and learning strategies, and you have to add in wheels.”

Annie’s queer identity is lesbian, aromantic, asexual and non-binary, going by she/they pronouns.

Now working as a social impact officer, she finished her ANU double degree of international relations and international security in 2021, leaving her with more time to dedicate to derby, with a focus on her role as a diversity and inclusion committee member.

“We as a league have put a lot of effort in recently to develop our diversity and inclusion policy, to make roller derby a more inclusive place for everyone. Everyone is welcome and it makes the community a better place,” says Annie.

“It’s very fun, it takes up a lot of my time, particularly being on the rep team. It’s eight hours a week that I’m on skates, so if I didn’t love it so much there’s no way I could do it all.

“I play for the Red Belly Black Hearts, and my derby name, ‘Grim’,

comes from having grim determination, never giving up and always pushing through.

“That is my advice for new players, too, or anyone in life. In a derby game, when you’re knocked down you’re out of play, and we expect people to get knocked down, that’s part of the game. What I care about is whether or not you get back up afterwards, to get back on your feet and help your team.”

A new skater intake program is happening from July 7, with the first 12 weeks dedicated to learning to skate, before moving on to derby specific lessons.

“Before I even started roller derby, while I was back in Brisbane, I thought I’d try a pair of quad-skates because I hadn’t worn them in forever,” Annie says.

“I just wanted to check if it was something I wanted to do, and I remember putting them on at the roller rink and thinking no, I don’t want to do this, and I had to convince myself to do it, and I’m very glad I did. I almost quit before I started.

“Half of the people who come in have played sport their whole life and the other half have never played a sport before, because they have never really fitted into a sport, so it’s a really fun and interesting mix.”

Intake details at crdl.com.au

Set amongst landscaped grounds, Adria Care in Stirling is a warm and welcoming community of people from all around the world. We pride ourselves on cultural diversity and celebration, and offer a wide range of activities to cater for all interests. We provide care for Croatian and all other nationalities.

Adria Care fosters individuality and independence, providing support and assistance to enable residents to live in a comfortable and secure environment. It offers residential care for 42 residents, incorporating 2 respite rooms and special care. All rooms are single rooms with ensuite.

The village also contains 36 independent living villas. All villas have 2 bedrooms, a courtyard and a garden, and residents enjoy a peaceful and welcoming community lifestyle.

Our aim is to provide a caring, safe, home-like atmosphere, reflecting your rights to dignity, respect, privacy, safety and the best quality of life.

Contact our friendly staff today to arrange a personal tour.

Email:

Address:

When trust runs dry and tram spinners take over

IN 2012 when the debate about the tram kicked off, there were several people who influenced thoughts on whether the city should have a tram.

The first were Walter and Marion Griffin, the second was Katy Gal lagher and the third was Zed Seselja.

The Griffins, being from Chicago, understood the benefits of a com pact city and an integrated public transport system that included trams. Their plans for Canberra were for a compact city, with semi-detached housing and for public transport networked through that city.

While Canberra today is much larger and different to the Griffins’ concept, plus in the 1950-60s the planners emphasised cars (thanks to the oil lobbyists), the idea that the ACT government was again thinking in 2012 about an integrated network that included trams seemed reasonable.

When Gallagher’s ACT government talked about the first tram proposals, she gave assurances that there was no open cheque book for the tram. There were debates about the fate of the cherished Northbourne Avenue trees, about how much of the social housing would survive and whether a tram/ light rail was actually the best option. The business case for the tram was not clear.

Gallagher’s government had the benefit of trust in government inherited from former chief minister Jon Stanhope.

The Canberra Liberals under the leadership of Seselja conducted negative campaigns loudly opposing loads of stuff. Seselja’s leadership did not build trust in his brand of the Canberra Liberals. The Liberals lost the 2012 ACT election. Seselja soon departed local politics, but his influence continues to this day.

The voters generally trusted that Gallagher’s government would do the right thing when it came to whether there should be a tram or not. Those

outside the Greenslabor inner circles knew little about the games at play and that the insiders were determined that the tram would happen no matter what evidence was put to the contrary.

At the 2012 elections, the leader of the ACT Greens lost her seat and the leadership was handed to Shane Rattenbury. A deal was done for Labor to support the Greens’ proposal for the tram. The tram was favoured by the developer lobby and so it became a policy owned by ACT Labor.

As far as the lobbyists were concerned, the tram was about opening up development opportunities between Civic and Gungahlin. Follow the money!

The Greenslabor government and its supporters constantly play with statistics to convince themselves about the success of the tram. For the development lobby, these statistics are irrelevant as the success of the tram has been the creation of profits. The presence of the tram along that corridor is a gift from the ratepayers to the developers. Building the Better Normal.

Greenslabor’s twisted version of

being progressive is to justify the unjustifiable with a flow of carefully crafted deceptive spin from the chief minister’s well-paid communication consultants. The tram looks good for photo opportunities, it moves people along the Civic-Gungahlin transport corridor (there is no other choice except cars), but it has turned out to be bright-red folly paid for by reducing services in other portfolios.

The financing of the tram drew funding allocations away from essential government programs such as social housing, the environment, climate change, city maintenance, the police, health and education.

From December 2014 Andrew Barr has been the chief minister and treasurer making those decisions. Once people learnt of the reality of how that tram had been funded, there was a reduction in trust in both the Greens and Labor. People now know that they have been and continue to

be scammed.

Back in 2012 Seselja’s negative campaigns drove voters to consider any alternative and even with some doubts, the majority voted for Greenslabor. That electoral success was translated as a vote for the tram. While this may be partly true, a major factor in the 2012 election was Seselja. This rejection of the Liberal’s negative campaigns was repeated in 2016 and 2020.

For the last decade the progressive voting electorate has essentially had little choice – the not-so-progressive Greenslabor and that included a de-facto vote for the tram.

People remain desperate for an opportunity to vote for a real progressive ACT government that is honest, does not use spin and can be trusted with how they make decisions. Will the October 2024 elections be any different?

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

“As far as the lobbyists were concerned, the tram was about opening up development opportunities between Civic and Gungahlin.”

Photo: Paul Costigan

Once people learnt of the reality of how the tram had been funded, there was a reduction in trust in both the Greens and Labor. People now know that they have been and continue to be scammed.

Linda Clee – Physiotherapist

Linda is an experienced physiotherapist having worked clinically in private practice for over 20 years, in rehabilitation settings and in community based aged care. Having owned and operated her own clinic for over 10 years, Linda offered a range of different therapy options, and has refined her skills and service offerings to ensure a functional focus to therapy; that is holistic and promotes overall wellness. A dancer in a past life, Linda loves to add a bit of fun in her programs, often throwing in rhythm and co-ordination challenges that are good for the body and the mind.

Sophie Bullock – Exercise Physiologist

Sophie has post graduate qualifications in hydrotherapy, and as a non-sports centred Exercise Physiologist, helps clients who struggle with engaging in exercise due to a lack of sports participation. Sophie’s goal is to improve clients health via our hydrotherapy program, gym instruction and in-home visits. Sophie also is known for her passion for working with children.

Natasha Perry – Exercise Scientist

Tash takes a wholistic view of all her clients, considering their mental wellbeing as much as their physical needs. Tash delivers our Nordic Walking, Pilates and Tai Chi programs, all of which have a mental as well as physical component.

Tash also leads our strength and balance program, supporting those with lower levels of mobility or have concerns over falls to regain their confidence, whilst also meeting a great bunch of fellow exercise class participants.

Dorothy Johnston – Exercise Physiologist

Dorothy is our newest graduate Exercise Physiologist who we employed because she was such an outstanding student. Dorothy excells with us, having a soft spot for both older persons with pain, but also a long history of working in disability services with children. Dorothy loves working with people to improve their pain and function, and always has a bright smile for everyone in her care.

Blake Dean – Exercise Physiologist

Blake has expertise in improving clients mobility and decreasing their pain through appropriate exercise. Blake delivers our ‘My Exercise’ program, targeting the relief of lower back and sciatic pain, shoulder and upper body concerns as well as leg, hip and ankle interventions – for those who do not qualify for physiotherapy-led GLAD programs.

Blake provides individual & group exercise for younger people with a disability. Blake treats clients in-clinic or via our hydrotherapy program as well as attending your gym with you.

Jacqui Couldrick – Physiotherapist

Jacqui has a particular interest in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Jacqui delivers the GLAD program designed to reduce the need for joint replacements, or if a joint replacement is unavoidable, to prepare you thoroughly for surgery and recovery for day to day tasks. Jacqui is studying towards a PhD in the outcomes of the GLAD program.

Holly Hazelwood – Exercise Physiologist

Holly is a former sports journalist who believed so strongly in the power of exercise to heal and nurture that she undertook her 4 year degree in Exercise Physiology. Holly is be able to work with people directly to support them through their pain journey and regain independence and a joy for living again. Holly provides one on one and group exercise classes both on land and at our hydrotherapy centres to support people to gain freedom from chronic pain.

PILATES GROUP CLASSES ON NOW – NORTHSIDE & SOUTHSIDE

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ACCESSING OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WHO HELP MAKE YOUR EVERY DAY TASKS EASIER

• Occupational Therapy – Assistance with the planning and modification of your home, workplace or car. Applications for NDIS, the Disability and Housing Support Pension, and also driving assessments.

• Physiotherapy – including the GLAD program for knee and hip osteoarthritis, sports injury prevention and rehabilitation, and pain condition support.

• Exercise Physiology – Individual exercise prescriptions, small group classes to increase strength and improve rehabilitation, strength and balance classes, hydrotherapy support.

• Dietetics – meal planning, weight management support, food intolerance support.

“You do not need to have any particular condition to utilise our services, just a desire to ‘Build a Better You.’

BRIEFLY KEEPING UP THE ACT / poking fun at ACT politics

Where Your Money Goes

To be honest, I have no idea where all of your money goes. I just know that it all gushes in and out and that if I need any more, I just put up the ol’ rate-a-rooneys or hit up Chrissy Steel to put in another 40kph traffic zone. But spending your money isn’t easy, let me tell you. There are so many exciting things to blow it on that I’m deadset exhausted some days. And then there’s the ‘debt’ shiz thingo that the Treasury cats hepped me to. It’s like having Monopoly play-money except that it’s all totes real! The Treaso dawgs also said that using this ‘debt’ bizzo really sticks it up the snooty rich guy called Sir Plus, which sounds cool to me. #sirpluscanbiteme

Anyway, with this ‘debt’, I’ve been able to hire brand wizards, buzz ambassadors and cupping-rooms of chic consulto peeps to do, I dunno, stuff, for me. Oh yeah, like the artists who do impressions of my rando thought bubbles. Actually, I had a good one yesterday in the shower – a floating stadium/pool on top of Telstra Tower! Bitchin’, right yeah? I’ll get Gustavo on to it so that a piccy can appear on the cover of tomorrow’s Canberra Times. Anyway, if you haven’t tried this ‘debt’ caper, then seriously dudes, you’re missing out. So, my bruvs, luvs and none-of-the-aboves, keep on doing what you’re doing to bring in the dough and sleep easy knowing that I’m spending it as fast as I can.

Andrew Barr Chief Duderino Australian Capital Territory

Clubs to offer fire respite

COMMUNITY clubs will be able to open their doors as refuges during extreme heat and smoke events under a new law passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly.

During an emergency or other hazard, suitable clubs can be declared as refuges, where community members can find respite and relief during emergencies, such as a big bushfire.

The framework for clubs to operate as refuges will be in place for the 2023/24 bushfire season.

Friends in need

CANBERRA Friends of Dili are hosting a fundraising Christmas in July dinner at the Apollo Room, Hellenic Club, Phillip, on July 22. Funds raised from ticket sales, raffle and silent auction will support Timor-Leste Kids’ Tennis, a grassroots kids’ sports education program. For catering certainty, book by July 16. Tickets are $70. Payment to: CFD ACT, BSB 062905, account 10102523, state surname in the reference field then email altamr@bigpond.com to confirm. Queries to 6287 7512.

A view about clubs

VIEW clubs’ adviser June Weise is the guest speaker at the Yerrabi VIEW Club’s meeting at the Eastlake Club, Gungahlin, 11.30am on July 20. Guests and interested ladies welcome. RSVP to 0419 698091 or by emailing dotric65@gmail.com by July 17.

Proudly Stocking the Largest Range of Australian Native Plants in Canberra and Surrounds

We specialise in local species as well as hardy, cold and frost tolerant natives, carrying a large range of native plant varieties, ranging in size from tubestock to 200mm, plus a growing range of advanced stock.

Come out and see us at Pialligo and we will show you a range of plants that will be suitable for your garden soil type, to grow and enjoy an abundance of Australian Native plants!

Publishers muffle Thomson’s incredible struggle

THE supreme joy of authorship is that magic moment when you’re travelling on some public conveyance and there, right across the aisle, is a stranger reading your latest book.

In the last 35 years of publishing my 29 books it’s only ever happened twice and on one of them it wasn’t really the latest; it was a reprint with a new title. But who’s quibbling; the effect was just the same: you resist the immediate overwhelming temptation to tap the reader on the shoulder and identify yourself, but you spend however long the journey takes watching his reaction (yes, both times a bloke) and raging internally when his female companion or the flight attendant interrupts his reading with some silly question.

Both occurred in recent years when I’ve been exploring Australian history via “Dark Paradise” (Norfolk Island), “Hamilton Hume – Our Greatest Explorer”, “Dragon and Kangaroo (the shared history of Australia and China)” and “Castaway” (the French cabin boy abandoned on a Far North Queensland beach in 1858 and taken in by the Aboriginal people for the next 17 years).

Together they tell the unpalatable truth about our British colonial era; and where once I was a fairly typical

Anglo-Australian, relaxed and even prideful concerning our British heritage, I now find myself utterly appalled by their/our treatment of the Aboriginal people whom I have come to know and respect.

They’re not perfect. No one is. The way their system repressed women was just as bad as our own.

But the British occupiers, who had packed their castles and manor houses with the wealth from three

centuries of slave trading, were simply sickening. And the “royal” caste system they propagandised was and remains as vile and phoney as the papal monstrosity that even today is able to debauch children without suffering one whit of its treasure or its official authority.

So when I discovered an Australian whitefella who commanded international respect, scientific distinction, war hero gallantry and a lifetime’s

devotion to the Aboriginal cause, I was all in to write the biography of Donald F Thomson 1901-1970.

In his day, he was known Australiawide, feted in the great international universities and invited to address the federal cabinet. So for two years (including the pandemic) without a single word or cent of encouragement from my usual publisher, I gave myself to the task of telling his amazing story. And though I say so myself, it incorporated the very best of my research and writing skills.

By the end of it, we’d spent all our reserves; but no matter – our entire community was engaged in a great movement to change the Constitution and give Voice to the First Nations. Obviously, Donald Thomson’s incredible struggle against officialdom on their behalf would be meat and drink

to an Australian readership.

Ah, if only… as the manuscript made its way from the top publishers to the also-rans, and then to the occasional enthusiasts, I came to understand the power of the AngloAustralian resistance to the truth of the matter. I had been one of them. I should have known better.

So, reluctantly and sadly I’ve put it aside and moved to another fascinating character who has already garnered publishing funding.

However, with Treaty and Truthtelling still to come, the Donald Thomson story must surely find its place in the great published saga of our struggle to escape the colonial chrysalis, perhaps even when its author is gone from the land of the living.

Oh well, at least I have a mental picture of a son or a granddaughter nudging a companion, then with a big grin, pointing across the aisle: “Magic moment,” they say.

robert@ robertmacklin. com

British occupiers, who had packed their castles and manor houses with the wealth from three centuries of slave trading, were simply sickening.

Anthropologist Donald Thomson, right, with Aboriginal elder and clan leader Wonggu in the TV documentary “Thomson of Arnhem Land”.

Ken Hubert Family Law and Mediation

Ashilpa

Khanna

with

A valid and up-to-date Will can help reduce stress for your family & friends, limit administration costs, and lessen the possibility for dispute over your estate. Working

Why judges need to work much harder with jurors

IN mid 2022, an article in “The Australian” newspaper called for Lisa Wilkinson to be prosecuted for her remarks made at the Logies awards in support of Brittany Higgins.

The ACT Criminal Code includes this offence: to intentionally or recklessly publish something that could cause a miscarriage of justice in a legal proceeding (section 714).

The article quoted from then recent remarks attributed to our chief justice: “The implicit premise of (Lisa Wilkinson’s speech) is to celebrate the truthfulness of the story she exposed.

“What concerns me the most… is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated”.

The “miscarriage of justice” is the message to jurors, that they should believe Ms Higgins and convict Mr Lehrmann.

That message meant that Mr Lehrmann could not get a fair trial in front of jurors, one or more of whom could be so swayed by the reporting of the speech that their ability to decide the case on the evidence they heard and saw in the courtroom would be crushed.

The trial was delayed in the hope that the passage of time would

remarks. It is no more than “hope”, because there are no tests to show whether the remarks are forgotten, strongly remembered, or anything in between.

As a precedent, but with a focus upon support for the accused rather than the complainant, the article referred to how, in December 1986, the NSW Court of Appeal, comprising the chief justice and four judges of appeal, fined NSW Premier Neville Wran for publicly professing his belief in the innocence of Justice Lionel Murphy before Murphy’s second trial. They fined the news media that reported Mr Wran’s remark a lot more. ( DPP v Wran , (1987) 7 NSWLR 616, (1987) 86 FLR 92).

One year on from “The Australian” article there has been no report that Wilkinson has been, or will be, charged.

That may reflect an assessment that it would be difficult to prove

either an intention or recklessness by Wilkinson, given the contact between her and the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions prior to her giving the speech. Her version of that contact can be found in her statement to the ACT Criminal Justice Inquiry (the Sofronoff Inquiry).

More important than what Wilkinson said is solving the problem identified by the chief justice.

When Wran made his remark in the mid ‘80s, our sources of news were newspapers, radio and free-to-air TV.

Today’s news and information is more crowded, more diverse, more quickly accessed, more transient and more superficial.

Moreover, because of clever programming, any online reader can be targeted with not one, but many articles from different sources about a topic – such as Higgins or Bruce Lehrmann – in which the reader’s search history shows an interest.

Following the well-trodden judicial path, the chief justice instructed last year’s jury not to engage with information outside of what they heard and

saw in the courtroom. She repeated that instruction many, many times. It made no difference, as one of them was caught out, leaving a printed version of online material in the jury room.

Again, a well-trodden path was followed, and the deadlocked jury was discharged.

That path and the blinkers (that a judicial instruction is stronger than uncontrollable inquisitiveness), once thought sufficient for a safe transit to a jury verdict, are no longer fit for purpose.

How few (not many!) minutes is it since you, your partner, your colleague, your friend, your child, your grandchild looked down at their phone screen? It’s compulsive, addictive behaviour.

Finger wagging and stern words are useless. Every parent, every teacher, every coach knows it. Judges need to know it, too.

Jurors spend up to six hours a day

in the courtroom. The other 18 hours they are at the mercy not just of their own phone fingers, but the news, views, rumours and scandal that everyone around them is keen to share, even keener because they are a juror.

This is a problem for our criminal justice system, and the occasional defamation trial with a jury, that needs a fresh approach.

Admit that jurors bring many untested preconceptions into the courtroom. Have our trial judges engage with them to first bring those out and then discuss how to quarantine them.

In trials that attract public interest such judge and juror engagement will be every day.

It’s not hard. Every good judge does it to themselves, at every hearing, every day.

Former barrister Hugh Selby’s free podcasts on “Witness Essentials” and “Advocacy in court: preparation and performance”

can be heard on the best known podcast sites.

Jurors spend six hours a day in the courtroom. The other 18 they’re at the mercy not just of their own phone fingers, but the news, views, rumours and scandal that everyone around them is keen to share.

NO doubt most Australians and middle-class Brits have been glued to their TV sets following the gripping Ashes tests in England, including of course the women’s five days Ashes match, won by Australia.

There have been 72 Ashes series since 1887: Australia has won 34, England 32, and six have been drawn.

The Ashes tests have always been incredibly popular. For the current men’s Ashes series, all seats had been sold out for the first four days of all five tests before the series started.

Cricket lovers are wary about committing to the fifth day because it could be money wasted. An Ashes test is programmed to last five days, with both sides batting twice, but if one side collapses it can be over sooner.

The rise of women’s cricket is an exciting development. I found in the past that most women of my acquaintance had little interest in cricket, and seemed not to appreciate how critical Ashes cricket is to the overall relationship between England and Australia – as it is to the overall relationship between other cricketing nations.

Cricket can even be a distractor from conflict. If India and Pakistan did not play each other aggressively at cricket, there would probably have

in a match that lasts for five days unless it’s golf. They generally like team games to be resolved expeditiously, and then move on. This lack of patience is reflected in much of what they do internationally.

Sometimes it’s beneficial and gets things done, but it means that Americans don’t comprehend countries that are happy to drift along, allowing contentious issues to be resolved by the passing of time – cases in point being China and Taiwan, and Australia and republicanism. If China had invented cricket, matches would no doubt last for months, if not years.

What non-aficionados don’t understand about cricket is that it’s strategic, like a game of chess, with

between (and within) teams, etcetera. The many variables can cause a team’s fortunes to wax and wane, day-by-day, over a five-day match.

One of the beneficial aspects of the newer limited-over cricket (50-overs and T20) is that players have to play more aggressively, which makes for good entertainment.

Former Ashes players, such as batsman Geoffrey Boycott, who might have blocked every ball for many boring hours in order to gain a draw would not now be tolerated. Perhaps the intensive media coverage, sponsorship deals and lucrative Indian Premier League are also responsible for a beneficial trend to livelier and more entertaining cricket.

Willey…’

Many insightful politicians, commentators and players have commented on the great game: Cricket civilises people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen.”

–brutal dictator Robert Mugabe

It’s a funny kind of month, October. For the really keen cricket fan it’s when you discover that your wife left you in May.”

–writer Denis Norden

I tend to think that cricket is the greatest thing that God ever created on earth – certainly greater than sex, although sex isn’t too bad either.”

–playwright Harold Pinter

The other advantage England have got when Phil Tufnell is bowling is that he isn’t fielding.”

–cricketer Ian Chappell

“Shane Warne’s idea of a balanced diet is a cheeseburger in each hand.”

–cricketer Ian Healy

“Oh God, if there be cricket in heaven, let there also be rain.”

–politician Alec Douglas-Home

“ I can’t really say I’m batting badly. I’m not batting long enough to be batting badly.”

–cricketer Greg Chappell

“ I don’t ask Kathy to face [fast bowler] Michael Holding. So I don’t see why I should be changing nappies.”

–cricketer Ian Botham on family life “A very small crowd here today. I can count the people on one hand. Can’t be more than 30.”

–commentator Michael Abrahamson Brian Johnston was a BBC cricket commentator noted for bloopers:

• “There’s Neil Harvey standing at leg slip with his legs wide apart, waiting for a tickle. The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey.”

• “On the first day, Logie decided to chance his arm and it came off.”

• “Ray Illingworth has just relieved himself at the pavilion end.”

• “Welcome to Worcester where you’ve just missed seeing Barry Richards hitting one of Basil D’Oliveira’s balls clean out of the ground.”

Meanwhile, my application to become a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground should be approved this year; I submit ted it in 1982!

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.

Simplistic strategy leads to shaky development

policies, lack of social housing, interest rates, lack of supply, migration levels, growing inequality), how does limiting the supply of detached dwellings and increasing the supply of higher density housing reduce house prices, rents and homelessness?

THE main purpose of the new Planning Bill is to improve the implementation of the 2018 Planning Strategy.

The Strategy’s broad direction of increasing housing opportunities close to employment and along major transport routes has been a feature of Canberra’s planning since the early 1990s.

The outcomes desired were a reduction in infrastructure costs, environmental impacts and travel (and associated greenhouse emissions) and the widening of housing choices for an increasingly diverse population. To help deliver the outcomes the Strategy introduced a 70 per cent infill policy.

Unlike past strategies, it failed to analyse the economic, social and environmental implications of alternative distributions of population and employment. The result is the development of Canberra is on shaky foundations.

The efficacy of the required independent review of the new planning system’s operational effectiveness and

efficiency and district strategies has been compromised by the failure to review the Strategy before the Planning Bill. What constitutes a better outcome cannot be known until a large number of issues are assessed including:

Housing preferences and travel reduction

• How much has travel, especially car travel, been reduced by the increase in housing at centres and along major transport routes?

• Does the reduced level of detached dwelling release in the ACT adequately meet housing preferences?

• Does restricting the supply of detached dwellings increase the amount of car-dependent development in the surrounding region and result in the loss of revenue from land sales, rates and Commonwealth grants?

• Are the existing residential policies

providing sufficient opportunities for the housing demands of all households to be met?

• Does the trend to smaller household size indicate an increased preference to live in a higher-density dwelling?

• Do higher-density dwellings produce energy and water savings?

• What are the environmental constraints of possible greenfield supply areas?

Infrastructure cost savings

• What is the infrastructure capacity available in each district? How much augmentation is required to accommodate future growth?

• What are the infrastructure costs of possible greenfield areas?

Housing affordability

• Given the wide range of factors influencing affordability (taxation

Despite the absence of analysis, the recently released District Population Projections prepared in the context of the 2018 Strategy assume the projected 330,000 increase in Canberra’s population between 2022 and 2060 will be accommodated in the existing Districts (see chart).

Does this indicate an intention to introduce an urban growth boundary before an assessment of the impact on house and land prices, the level of infrastructure savings or the environmental value of possible greenfield areas?

The North Canberra projection is illustrative. The population of the District, which has already experienced substantial redevelopment, is projected to increase from 62,000 to 141,000. Assuming an average dwelling occupancy of two people, the 2060 population would require 70,500 dwellings. In 2021 there were 28,000 dwellings in the District, indicating a requirement for an additional 42,500 dwellings. This compares to an increase in dwellings of 11,200 since 2001.

Where will the additional dwellings

be located? Is redevelopment assumed in the RZ1 zone? What are the social and physical infrastructure costs of accommodating this increase? Could some of the projected growth be better accommodated elsewhere in areas with projected low growth such as Tuggeranong and Weston Creek or in new greenfield areas?

The new planning system is designed to facilitate the development of higher-density housing and limit community engagement. It is yet to be demonstrated that infill of 70 per cent or more better meets community needs than a strategy based on a lower level of infill. How will it be more effective in improving public transport, pedestrian and cycling networks; reducing congestion; improving facility provision in Molonglo; increasing employment in Gungahlin; reducing infrastructure costs, improving the design and quality of redevelopments and meeting housing preferences?

The government’s virtue signalling, reflected in the simplistic 2018 Planning Strategy, needs to be replaced by a strategy based on the analysis of potential urban futures and that delivers a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable city.

Mike Quirk is a retired NCDC and ACT government planner.

Former planner MIKE QUIRK says the ACT government’s virtue signalling, reflected in the simplistic 2018 Planning Strategy, needs to be replaced by a strategy based on the analysis of potential urban futures.

Energy prices are going down, but they’re

IN the July 2022 (wasteful)

“Our CBR” newsletter, the Chief Minister said, and I quote: “From this month, ACT residents will see a decrease in electricity prices, and have the lowest standing offer of any jurisdiction in Australia”.

Why then, on 21 June – not quite a year later – did I receive emails from ActewAGL advising that my gas and electricity prices are going up?

I really would love an explanation, but it seems to be a Labor thing with Albanese saying Australians will save $275 a year on energy at the last federal election and Barr has spruiked the same lies.

And on the matter of the abysmal state of Canberra’s disappearing bushland and habitat destruction, last September a “report card’ was published titled “New report card grades every federal electorate for threatened species recovery”.

Via the WWF website, users can search their suburb/electorate to view the “score”. The score ratings are A-F and Hughes ranks E. Second last. Upsetting, but no surprises here. Featured was the Swift Parrot with habitat destruction and invasive species such as cats, being the main culprits. Vassarotti should be bloody ashamed of herself. Rant over.

Sicily visit needs weeks, not days

“WHIMSY” columnist Clive Williams did not give Sicily a chance (“Glad you’re not here... when holidays go wrong”, CN June 22).

Inspired by an interest in the Cosa Nostra and TV detective Montalbano. An eight-day stay.

From Australia, fly to Rome. Catch the train south to the toe of Italy. Cross the straits of Messina – home of the mythical “ravenous monsters” Scylla and Charybdis.

Down to Catania. In Catania, rather than a tour related to a TV detective, there is the cathedral of St Agatha and the home/ museum of Sicilian writer Giovanni Verga (1840-1922) for starters.

Sure, there are spells of wet weather. And as Clive points out, Mt Etna is an active volcano. Tourists must take their chances with active volcanoes. Catania has a history of dealing with Mt Etna.

Tourist guides rarely mention Cosa Nostra (the mafia). A visit to the village of Corleone should satisfy a mafia enthusiast.

Throughout Sicily there are monuments, buildings, ruins, stories: all accessible evidence of the occupation of Sicily by Greek, Roman, Arabic, Spanish, French and, of course, Italian people – and there’s their cuisine. Stay a few days in any small Sicilian village. The locals soon become aware of strangers and their interest and co-operation ensure the few days are memorable.

All this in eight days? No way. At least three weeks are required – or don’t bother.

Russell Wenholz, Holt

Stop dividing Australia, prime minister

THE Uluru Statement, which our PM wholeheartedly supports, believes in Truth Telling and it will be ultimately part of the Voice to Parliament proceedings.

Prime minister, the only missing thing here is a single heartfelt statement in the constitution: “We recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people etcetera”. Nothing more. No EXTRA Voice.

Stop dividing Australia further. Your goodwill is going down the tube, sir.

Russ Morison, Theodore

Solar panels taking over arable land

WHILE letter writer Eric Hunter (CN June 22) agrees with me on not liking bogong moths, he goes on to say: “Vi goes on to assert that without population controls of some sort…”. That is not exactly what I said. I stated that if every form of life kept breeding and not dying out for one reason or another, then the world would be overrun. That is not the same as saying population control.

However, I agree with Eric that the human population is getting out of control, but short of doing what China did with the onechild policy, there is not much we can do.

But unlike Eric, I do not agree that the decline in food production would be due to extremes of climate change. All the farmers

I’ve seen being interviewed have said the crops are doing well except during floods.

The main problem with crops is the arable land is being taken over by field after field of solar panels and fields of wind turbines. And land is rendered difficult to use because of power-lines, plus the blades and solar panels degrade and drop toxins on the crops or soil below.

Vi Evans, via email

Just drops in the global-heating ocean

IN his column “Maybe it’s our species that’s not fit for purpose” (CN June 29), Robert Macklin wrote “...the almost inevitable runaway heating of the globe leading to mass extinction, perhaps even of our own role as the apex predator”.

Mr Macklin is too “soft” in his assessment: the world has become over-populated, especially in the countries that can least support more people, in terms of food or land to produce it; and in some cases potable water, or the funds to pay for these vital life-support materials. Sub-Saharan Africa is a tragic example.

Too many advanced economies are still wedded to the fossil fuels that are the main cause of global heating, including Australia. This country is increasing its production and burning of fossil fuels, now predominantly natural gas (methane, a highly potent global-heating gas), despite being blessed with unlimited resources of energy, commonly known as solar energy, from the

giant nuclear fusion reactor at the centre of our solar system.

To give credit where it is due, the ACT government has already done more than its fair share of transitioning to solar and wind energy; and to electric vehicles. Unfortunately, these are just drops in the global-heating ocean.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

It’s looking like a development cull!

I FEEL the need to get this off my chest. What I’ve noticed is that the ACT government claims the recent kangaroo cull (which has seen the killing of 40,000 kangaroos in 15 years) is for “conservation” of the Earless Grassland Dragon.

Okay, I understand that BUT If this is the case, why is the government clearing areas of kangaroos and then covering those same areas in housing developments?

I’ve also heard the government is currently clearing Red Hill of kangaroos whilst advertising a major new retirement village in the area.

If what I heard is true then it looks more like a “development cull”.

Karl Herzog, via email

Rebecca Henson, Hughes

‘Softly, softly’ spin raises suspicions over budget

THE spin and drip of ACT budget news came “softly softly” this year. This suggests that the devil is in the detail, somewhere.

Perhaps this is in ministers’ bottom drawers, ready for a fast airing when the unpublished schedule of government business pops another dense tranche of paperwork into the ether for scant public awareness-raising purposes, and quick passage through the Assembly.

It is in such ways that the new planning system continues to glide closer to full consideration and fast implementation, starting with a full-scale trial phase that isn’t a trial, except for those trying to navigate it, and about which no one is being transparent (“The disingenuous spin that is never questioned”, Paul Costigan, CN June 28).

Meanwhile, more tamping-down public communications strategies are being rolled out, presumably to pacify the public about the government’s much touted yet still poorly defined future planning “outcomes”.

While the chief minister keeps encouraging visions of “gentle urbanism”, the massive West Basin development area that will house mainly large built forms and much hard surfacing is now promoted by a key government official as “the new Acton Waterfront neighbourhood”.

Major developers of complexes along and near Northbourne Avenue are also keen to formally name and promote their massive building structures as the “XYZ Village”, hoping no one will notice that there is no room for a copse of trees on their overly cramped sites, let alone a village green.

These language spinners continue to underestimate the intelligence and perspicacity of the Canberra community.

It is time to prioritise honesty, integrity and transparency in ACT government and property industry communications and their public claims.

So far, the spin offers no evidence that the current unbalanced drive for dense residential development, and little else, will be swiftly turned around for the betterment of new and existing suburbs and their residents.

Sue

Dyer,

Downer

Why do Greens have no issue with killing ‘roos?

THE ACT Greens state on their website that “animals are sentient beings with intrinsic

moral status, deserving to be free from direct and indirect harm caused by humans” and that “animals are not provided with the moral consideration they deserve”, yet the party has no issue with spending millions of taxpayer dollars on contracting shooters to slaughter thousands of kangaroos every year in the territory.

Where does bludgeoning joeys to death fit into their claim that animals deserve respect? Where does waging war and terror on sentient beings fit into any of the claims on their website?

The government needs to be held accountable for the pain and suffering inflicted upon sentient beings who deserve respect and to be provided with the moral consideration they deserve.

Whitney Richardson, via email

Rangers don’t know laws they’re enforcing

I AM part of a team of volunteers who watch and listen outside the Canberra reserves throughout the government’s annual kangaroo slaughter.

Our job is to count how many shots are fired and note whether our counts tally with the number of kills the shooters report to the government and to record any shooter activity that breaches the law.

The ACT’s legislated Animal Welfare Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies (non-commercial)

2014 states that shooting must not occur in adverse conditions. A government spokesperson is on the record as citing fog, strong winds and wet weather as examples of adverse conditions.

On Monday, June 26, I was on watch at Red Hill Nature Reserve. It was very windy, with BOM reporting gusts between 26 to 30 km/h. When I heard a gunshot, I approached a ranger’s ute parked nearby and knocked on the window. A ranger opened the door and I told her that, according to the code, the shooters should not be shooting because it was too windy. She said she wasn’t aware of any code.

This is a damning indictment of the ACT government’s alleged concern for animal welfare during this publicly funded mass slaughter that has now claimed the lives of well over 40,000 healthy kangaroos – that Canberra’s own rangers don’t even know what laws they are supposed to be out there, enforcing.

Robyn Soxsmith, Kambah

‘Roos rollicking in the sand bunkers

I HAVE read with sympathy those concerned regarding kangaroos that there are “hardly any left after the cull last year” on the Red Hill reserve. The mystery is solved.

There are hundreds and hundreds on the Federal golf course. I invite all those concerned to drive or walk into the clubhouse, relax, enjoy a coffee and ask at the pro shop where to walk in the tree line between the fairways.

Visiting twice a week I can vouch for the fact that there are usually mobs of 250 or more enjoying the grass, shade and water facilities. Many also enjoy rollicking in the sand bunkers.

Members frequently have difficulty moving them out of harm’s way, they are so tame. They arrived in the drought, multiplied and have never left. Rest assured there is no shortage of kangaroos in the Red Hill vicinity. The club values and protects them as an asset to the natural beauty of the course.

Mike Prunty, Monash

The questions that weren’t asked

EVERY three or four years a survey is conducted to gain opinions of ACT residents about kangaroos and their management.

The last survey in 2022 randomly contacted 605 people from the White Pages directory to answer 17 questions asking about the ethics of culling under certain circumstances eg to conserve plants, animals and ecosystems and prevent starvation during drought.

Three questions that are not asked are: Do you agree or disagree that it is humane to pull a joey from its shot mother’s pouch and club it to death with a mallet? Do you agree or disagree that it is humane to leave the joey at foot to starve to death because its mother has been shot and its food source gone? To preserve threatened species of flora and fauna, which do you think would have the best outcome: removal of kangaroos or removal of weeds?

The conservator of flora and fauna stated on June 6 that 76 per cent of people accept the cull is necessary. I wonder if people were informed about the cruelty that occurs during the annual culling and the total lack of activity on the removal of invasive weeds, whether they would have a change of heart.

Julie Lindner, Farrer

Use a peninsula bridge for light rail

A PEDESTRIAN bridge connecting Acton Peninsula to Lennox Gardens is apparently back on the agenda – to better connect the National Museum, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and the ANU, with the other central national area attractions. Better still, the bridge should carry light rail (no cars or

trucks). It could very feasibly be part of the Civic to Capital Hill section of the CivicWoden tramline; most importantly, saving Commonwealth Avenue, and its bridges from ruination.

If the tramline must be dragged over City Hill, then take it to Acton Peninsula via Acton Foreshore (the tramline could provide a clear “ownership” demarcation between the wide lakeside public domain, and the looming private development there).

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Why single-block plan doesn’t work

COLUMNIST Paul Costigan does a good job shafting the spin and misinformation around the “housing crisis” and how to fix it (CN June 29).

One aspect he doesn’t mention is that single-block redevelopment, as favoured by the development industry, “Greater Canberra” and, apparently, the ACT government clearly doesn’t work.

It fails to significantly increase residential densities or the supply of affordable housing (witness the knock-down-rebuild massive new single house in Griffith that recently sold for $6 million!). It also removes significant established tree cover and fails to provide sufficient site open space for new planting.

The only solution to addressing the “missing middle” in established residential areas, ie new medium-density housing with diversity and substantial on-site tree cover, is government intervention to facilitate the amalgamation of substantial sites for redevelopment in accordance with strict requirements.

I can recommend an excellent recent book by professors Peter Newton, Peter Newman and others on this very topic. It is called “Greening the Greyfields” and is available as a free publication.

There are also good examples of what can be achieved on large sites with good planning controls and good design, including generous communal open space, in the redevelopment of Kingston from the ‘80s-’90s and in the early developments of the Kingston Foreshore. Unfortunately, sites were subsequently allowed to get smaller, densities significantly increased and space for tree planting largely disappeared. The only ones who profited from this retrograde movement were the developers, and probably the government.

Richard Johnston, Kingston

Luke Clews

dose of dorin

OF THE INNER SOUTH

There’s a lot to love about historic inner south

LOCATED south of Canberra’s city centre, the inner south is

Firm committed to getting justice for all clients

FOUNDED in 2006 by Jaleh Johannessen, Johannessen Legal has grown from a sole practice to having offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Texas in the US, says partner Pierre Johannessen.

“The firm was founded on a simple prin ciple; access to justice should not be limited, neither by a person’s socio-economic status nor by their bank account,” he says.

At

incorporates academic, faith, sporting, and extra-curricular interests. Preparing boys for life, helping them focus on their strengths and better themselves as individuals.

“In 2022, we announced the Eddies Education Partnership Program, collaborating with four organisations to enhance the education of our students, which works to improve student engagement, improve academic outcomes, enhance social wellbeing, and broaden vocational options and skills.

“The University of Canberra (UC) through the St Edmund’s College sports academy, offers a sports-focused pathway that provides direct entry to several UC undergraduate courses.

“The Canberra Raiders through our sports science program supports our rugby players

students to provide elite-athlete screening, injury rehabilitation and integration of sports knowledge.”

Tim says relevance is particularly important to boys’ learning, “and our pedagogy curriculum continually evolves to meet changing academic, career, and trade opportunities”.

“We encourage each student’s personal development and support each boy to help him achieve his personal best,” he says.

“Being located in the inner circle gives me easy access to good coffee and a variety of options when I haven’t packed a lunch.”

St Edmund’s College, 110 Canberra Avenue, Griffith. Call 6239 0660, or visit sec.act.edu.au

“We’re an award-winning firm, consist ently listed as one of the best criminal lawyers in Canberra and a trusted advisor to small and medium commercial and corporate entities across the country.

“We provide immigration services, contract negotiation and review, dispute resolution and, whether commercial or civil, litigation services as well.

“In 2022 one of our partners was awarded the ACT Law Society Pro-bono service award, and this year we have provided over $130,000 worth of legal work and assistance to community and not-for-profit groups, individuals in need and the community.”

Pierre says Johannessen Legal is committed to clients.

“You are never just a file number at JLegal; it’s a testament to our work that over 80 per cent of our clients are returning

clients,” he says.

“Being located in Barton is one of our favourite decisions. We are very central without parking headaches, we’re surrounded by greenery and fresh air rather than concrete. There’s nowhere better for healthy snacks, like at eighty.twenty or Lilotang, and fantastic views for a Friday drink thanks to Leyla, or extraordinary coffee, Ritual being the office favorite.”

Johannessen Legal, 11/16 National Circuit, Barton. Call 6273 5383, or visit johannessenlegal.com

Trust is Earned.

Since 2006, we have been serving businesses, families and individuals across the globe. At Johannessen Legal, we believe Legal Practice is all about providing prompt, accurate and reliable advice and assistance.

With over two decades of legal practice experience, we cover a broad range of legal fields, with specialists in Civil and Criminal Litigation, Business and Commercial Law, and Business and Investment Migration. Our staff have been recognised not only for their professional expertise, but also for their ongoing commitment to their communities.

We care passionately about our clients.

Litigation Human Rights Corporate Law Immigration Law Criminal Law Wills and Estate

2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 ThreeBestRated Top 3 Criminal Lawyers - Canberra Office 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 Top 10 Lawyers - Criminal Law

2022, 2021, 2020 Top 10 Lawyers - Commercial Law

2022, 2021, 2020 Best Lawyers - Criminal Law - Pierre Johannessen

2022 Australian Capital Territory Law Society - Pro Bono Service Award - Pierre Johannessen

2022 Best Lawyers - Commercial Law - Pierre Johannessen

2020 Best Lawyers - Immigration Law - Jaleh Johannessen

one of the oldest parts of the city.

Today, its age and historic charm has found its way into the hearts of residents and businesses alike, with many businesses passionate about the inner-south suburbs they work in.

Here are some of them…

Pierre Johannessen.

Books bring people together, says Peter

THE Book Cow, Canberra’s newest haven for book enthusiasts is nestled in the heart of Kingston, says owner Peter Arnaudo.

that young learners have access to captivating stories and knowledge.

“At the Book Cow, we believe that books bring “By doing so, you’ll stay updated on the latest releases,

GAIL Freeman and Co offer a wide range of services including taxation, business accounting, superannuation and SMSF, retirement advice and not-for-profit work, says director Gail Freeman.

“With an in-house self managed super fund specialist and a specialist financial planner, we can offer a truly holistic accounting service,” she says.

“As we enter the new financial year, this is a great time to contact us and plan ahead for 2024 tax and your accounting needs.

“My team have extensive experience in dealing with the ATO over many years, so if your tax returns are late or you receive a demand letter from the ATO, the team will be able to help with advice on what to do,

planning your next steps and liaise with the ATO on your behalf.”

Gail says the team pride themselves on the personal relationships they have with their clients.

“When you engage our services, you will be dealing with one point of contact that understands your needs, who will draw on a wide range of subject experts across the organisation,” she says.

“You can choose to have your appointments via phone, Zoom, or in person at the pet-friendly office conveniently located in Kingston.”

Gail Freeman and Co, 9/71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston. Call 6295 2844 or visit gailfreeman.com.au

Director Gail Freeman and daughter Bethany with the Gail Freeman and Co accounting team.

STARS OF THE INNER SOUTH

Offering clients a brow look to love

YOGIS Brows & Beauty is a chic salon in the heart of picturesque Barton, says owner Yogita Rau.

“We’re here so you needn’t stress yourself with travelling to the city, and can enjoy beauty treatment close to home,” she says.

“Yogis team are fully trained stylists. We offer an enviable blend of young talent and seasoned professionals to offer our clients the look they love.

“Providing our clients with a ‘something-for-everyone’ service using only top of the range beauty and hair products.

“We pride ourselves on continually updating our skills and attend regular courses in the latest cutting, colouring and perming techniques.”

Yogita says Yogis offer eyelash extensions, a range of facial and beauty treatments, body waxing, plus haircut, treatments and styling.

“We are well known widely across Canberra for our eyebrow threading and feathering, lift, tint and henna services.”

convenience of our clients”.

Yogis Brows & Beauty, 172/46 Macquarie Street, Barton. Call 6152 1171 or 0478 947840, or visit yogisbrowsandbeauty.com.au

in architecture, interior design and heritage allows them to provide an experienced skill set and a holistic approach for clients.

“We chose to be a small firm with a big impact so we can always provide a personal service to our clients,” says Maria.

“Our work has led us to projects outside Canberra. We’ve worked at Haig Park in Sydney, in Victoria and across regional NSW.

Maria has more than 20 years experience in architecture and is also a lecturer at CIT in building and interior design.

“We have a mutual respect for each other which moves the business forward, and we are aligned in what we want to achieve in keeping our customers happy,” says Maria.

“We always aim to offer something different and better in every new project,” says Can.

“We love what we do and the good relationship we have with our clients is reflected in the great end results we achieve,” says Maria.

Filardo Ercan Architects, visit feas.com.au or call Maria on 0421 342625 and Can on 0415 550801.

Architecture and Design:

Can Ercan and Maria Filardo of Filardo Ercan Architects.

Experts with skills worth sharing once more

Damian’s got auto repairs covered

“WHEN it comes to specialised auto repair and maintenance services, no one does it better than Latin Motors,” says owner Damian Jones.

“We’re a European car service and repair centre. We specialise in Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and Saab but do service all other European makes and models.”

Having moved from Townsville Street to a

Providing quality aged care services since 1992

VILLAGGIO Sant’ Antonio was established by the Italian community for older Australian Italians to maintain links with the Italian community, says general manager Katrina Cubit.

“Now nearly 40 years on from initial inception, Villaggio welcomes all cultures and nationalities,” she says.

“The board of directors, chaired by Mr Dominic De Marco, works closely with the management team to continuously improve the quality of care and services delivered to permanent and respite residents living both in the residential aged-care facilities and in the 60 independent living units.”

Katrina says the facility, located close to Belconnen shops, is set among beautiful, landscaped gardens and boasts a contemporary new wing with 29 generously proportioned

single ensuite rooms.

“The facility offers a chapel and hairdressing salon, and our lovely hairdresser ensures each resident looks their best for regular events catered for by our onsite kitchens delivering fresh and tasty meals,” she says.

“Villaggio has two buses to offer planned outings to places of interest throughout the Canberra region. Residents enjoy the services of 24-hour registered nurses, a qualified team of care staff plus physiotherapists, a dietitian, speech therapist and podiatrist.

“Everything we do is driven by our universal mission to enhance the lives of ageing adults and their families.”

Villaggio Sant’ Antonio, 35 Burkitt Street, Page. Call 6255 1794, or visit villagio.com.au

Villaggio Sant’ Antonio - Independent Living Units

Respite and Permanent Residential Aged Care

Our residential care will enable you to enjoy a relaxed and caring community environment with 24hr care. Located within a beautiful garden setting in Page, Villaggio Sant’ Antonio offers safe and secure living in both our Aged Care Facility and our Independent Living Retirement Villas. For all enquires please contact us on 62551794 or reception@villaggio.com.au

customer service and information.

“I notify of any additional work required prior to it being carried out. You will be liaising directly with the mechanic who is working on your vehicle,” he says.

“I use premium German made and manufacturer approved Ravenol lubricants. When you come to me, you can rest assured

OVER the years, many expert Canberra businesses have chosen “CityNews” to get their story out to the community. And now they’re telling them again.

From independent living and residential aged care to… here are some Canberra locals with skills to share...

Quality takeaway food served with pride

YASS Road Takeaway opened in 1988, and quickly became a Queanbeyan favourite, says co-owner Nick Giannis.

“We are open from 5am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and we do it the traditional way.

“After so many years, we try and keep the same staff on, as that gives us a good team of workers and some familiar faces for customers, and we have some really great customers that come in.”

Nick says he and his brother take pride in their work, doing it the traditional way by doing as much as possible themselves.

“We come in very early to cut up fresh vegetables,

Delivering quality windows as fast as possible

MORE than 15 years ago, in a small factory, with a staff of five, Skyview Windows was created with the vision to supply quality products in the shortest possible lead times, says managing director Neil Thompson.

“The company mantra from day one was ‘Quality Windows, Fast’,” says Neil.

mixture of local and imported raw materials to ensure cost competitiveness and, unlike the major window companies, all the profits stay right here,” he says.

“Skyview is the only window company able to supply any powdercoat colour with no cost premium involved.

we make our own schnitzels and roast meals, it’s just chips and scallops that we get in frozen,” he says.

“Most of our customers hear about us through word of mouth, and Queanbeyan brings very loyal customers once you’re established as a local, now we can’t go out to the pub without getting recognised.”

Nick says they make sure to keep the shop clean, and present their food nicely, “food we want to eat and be served, is what we give our customers”.

Yass Road Takeaway, 51 Yass Road. Call 6297 3479, or search Yass Road Takeaway on Facebook.

Helping seniors manage hearing loss

FOR nearly 30 years the ACT Deafness Resource Centre has been advising people on how best to manage their hearing loss, says executive officer Joe Symons.

“I have had moderate/severe hearing loss since birth, which allows me to bring lived experience to the centre. There’s no course you can do that will teach you that,” he says.

The centre offers education, information, guidance and referrals.

“We’re a not-for-profit so our services are free,” he says.

“One in six Australians has some form of hearing loss, and for people aged over 65 it’s one in four, so it’s

important to have the necessary information.”

Joe says the ACT Deafness Resource Centre can help with alert systems too, such as fire alarms or notifications when someone is at the door.

“We also offer free talks to retirement homes, independent living villages, men’s sheds and the wider community” he says.

He says the centre is also expanding, with an online store that allows them to offer services and products Australia-wide.

ACT Deafness Resource Centre, 1b/27 Mulley Street, Holder. Call 6287 4393, or visit actdrc.org.au

ACT Deafness Resource Centre executive officer Joe Symons.

A gentle climber takes off

WITH more than 200 varieties to choose from, clematis vines are great for growing in our climate.

It’s a gentle climber spreading tendrils over an arbour or twining through climbing roses without choking what it’s climbing over.

While most are deciduous, they like their leaves in full sun and their roots in cool shade where they won’t dry out.

There are different groups of clematis, according to their flowering times – spring bloomers (group 1), repeat bloomers (2) and summer bloomers (3).

They all have different pruning techniques and getting this wrong can result in a loss of flowers for the next season.

Group 1 likes to have at least three to five strong stems coming from the ground. In the first year they can be cut hard to around 30 centimetres above ground level in spring to get established.

My favourite is “Montana” in this group, with flowers ranging from pinks to whites that are fragrant and prolific in spring. During summer, tie stems to a frame and prune after flowering.

Group 2 flowers on short shoots from old wood and a light prune is all that’s needed to retain the framework

of old wood and stimulate new growth.

growing among existing evergreen climbers such as a star jasmine or roses to complement their flowers and add more colour to the space.

Group 3 flowers in late summer and is considered a herbaceous perennial. It should be chopped hard every year in late winter when there is bud growth and the big frosts have gone. They only flower on new and current seasons’ growth so the harder you prune, the more flowers you will have.

A good variety to look for in that group is the Viticella range.

Regular pruning of all the groups of clematis will encourage new growth and flowers, but importantly keeps them from growing into an overgrown mess.

If planting one for this spring, place a little bit of dolomite lime in the soil over winter to have a pH of about 6.5 and place good sturdy support before planting.

A native clematis species that’s easy to grow locally is Clematis aristata. Its linear leaves are striking and contrast with the sweet, creamy white, star flowers followed by feathery seed heads in spring and summer.

It’s a fast-growing evergreen and a light prune after flowering will keep it in check because it suckers and will spread.

To cover a large area or fence, I’d recommend Clematis armandii as a long-lived plant. This

This variety needs a very strong frame as it can get heavy where its counterparts have a more delicate growth habit.

With a little planning there can be clematis flowering in the garden right through spring to summer.

NOW flowering in the garden are jonquils and other winter/spring bulbs are on their way.

Jonquil is a species of daffodil that has either white or yellow flowers, and many hybrid colours.

Jonquils are highly fragrant and just a single flower stem in a vase can fill a room with a sweet scent. If not picked, they can make for long-lived colour in the garden, untroubled by frosts and flowering until mid-spring or when the weather starts to warm up.

Clumps of bulbs that are not flowering as well as they have in the past suggest they are crowding each other. Lifting clumps every few years and dividing them will benefit their flowering.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Sow seeds of peas and broad beans.

• Prepare soil for new rose plantings next month.

• Plant asparagus into a permanent garden bed.

Jonquils… highly fragrant. Photos: Jackie Warburton

Clematis vine… a gentle climber.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE

Wine lovers know when less is more RICHARD CALVER

In praise of a round house and its joy as a home

By Helen MUSA

AT arts and design festivals in Canberra in recent years, much has been made of the “Canberra modern” movement in architecture.

Evident during the formative years of the Australian National University (formerly Canberra University College) when Canberra was a hotbed of intellectual thought.

On reaching its apogee in the ‘50s and ‘60s, it was a move towards modernist architecture bearing a strong resemblance to its earlier European antecedents, with figures such as Roy Grounds, Robin Boyd and Harry Seidler at the forefront.

One name is missing from the pantheon and now Canberra born-and-raised art historian, Roger Benjamin, has written a book, “Growing Up Modern, Canberra’s Round House and Alex Jelinek”, with a unique perspective on this phenomenon.

In part a love song to the house commissioned by his late father, the philosopher Bruce Benjamin, it is told through a series of focused narratives about brilliant émigrés such as architect Jelinek; his partner, the artist Lina Bryans; Benjamin’s parents and the

housekeepers employed to look after the kids. It also offers an architectural analysis of how to care for a heritage property.

fun kids can have growing up in a designed house. Even the family cats get a special mention for appreciating the heated mosaic tiles of the toilet floor.

I share with Benjamin the powerful but all-too-rare Australian experience of having grown up in a purpose-built, architect-designed house and can relate to his excitement over small touches, like his father’s insistence on a vegetable-drying cabinet.

Reactions will depend on who’s reading. If you’re an architect, you’ll probably view

31st birthday.

For art readers there’s the special attention paid to the artworks with which the Benjamin parents filled the house in 1957, paintings by Ian Fairweather, 18 seminal pieces commissioned from Melbourne furniture artist Schulim Krimper and two family treasures, a Khmer Buddha head and a fine Chinese scroll for which that curved

dining table was designed.

The house, which won Australian House of the Year in 1958, was the first one designed by Czech émigré Alex Jelinek and part of the book is given over to recounting Jelinek’s fascinating background and art influences, worth a book in itself, as Benjamin’s interviews with him were to reveal.

A teenager during Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, he later became an expert draughtsman and studied at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts, taking classes in painting and, relevant to the house he designed at 10 Gawler Crescent, Deakin, in landscape architecture.

Loathing the post-war Communist regime, he joined in hijacking a plane out of Czechoslovakia, becoming what he called “an architectural refugee”.

The history of the house extends much further than its maker.

There are the tastes and eccentricities of Bruce Benjamin who collected old cars, such as a 1955 Aston Martin, his activist ABC scriptwriter (later broadcaster) mother Audrey and her cooking, a family wedding at the house and young Roger using his spare time to carve a full-sized Viking war-mace.

After Bruce’s death in 1963, Audrey commissioned changes from a Canberra architect, something Benjamin is now inclined to consider disrespectful.

But he admits that the “round house” – we learn that it’s not truly “round” but

“a Pythagorean spiral” — meant it wasn’t always sympathetic to a single mum with four growing children.

After she sold the house in 1990, it was owned by two different families, including a stone mason for the new Parliament House, who introduced stonework unsympathetic to Jelinek’s Modernist concept of custommade concrete blocks and carefully selected wood.

Roger Benjamin had an opportunity to undo some of the changes when, after taking a lectureship at the ANU, he re-purchased the family home, thinking, “ownership was the only true protection” and moved there in early 2000.

Following the Burra Charter, used in the conservation of Australian heritage properties, he was to find that replacing “like with like” was not always possible.

If this book is a story about a house, there’s a happy ending.

Roger Benjamin took a job in Sydney and sold the house.

The present-day owners of the house, which was heritage-listed in 2003, are sympathetic to the original design and have been generous hosts to lovers of fine architecture and design.

They even let me in for a look around the curves in the house – what a treat.

“Growing Up Modern, Canberra’s Round House and Alex Jelinek” (Halstead Press).

The Alex Jelinek designed, modernist “round house” in Deakin.

Ivan’s happy to be singing ‘Hoffmann’

By Helen Musa

BRIGHTENING up the winter stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre at Sydney Opera House is a new production of Offenbach’s opera fantastique, “The Tales of Hoffmann”.

It’s an international effort, a lavish co-production between Opera Australia, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opéra National de Lyon and Fondazione Teatro

La Fenice di Venezia, conducted here by Guillaume Tourniaire and staged by Italian director Damiano Michieletto. The elaborate sets depicting three worlds have been designed and built by the team in Australia and the costumes were made in the Sydney workshops of OA.

“The Tales of Hoffmann” is the last opera of French composer Jacques Offenbach, and has a plot almost too complicated to explain, arising from a tipsy recollection by the poet Hoffmann as he looks back on the four great loves of his life. These are a wind-up doll, a singer, a cruel courtesan and the female muse, who combines them all.

All the stops have been pulled out, with Australian soprano Jessica Pratt returning to play all four women, following the example of the late Joan Sutherland, while the ubiquitous villain is played by Marko Mimica and the titular role by rising young Peruvian tenor, Iván Ayón Rivas.

I caught up with Rivas recently via

WhatsApp in Tokyo while he was taking a break from playing the Duke in “Rigoletto”, one of the great operatic parts and a rare one where the tenor plays the bad guy.

Earlier in the year, Rivas made his Australian debut as the romantic lead, Rodolfo, in “La Bohème” but as Hoffmann, he will be able to extend his dramatic talents to perform – much harder – comedy, as he transforms on stage from old man to the younger version.

He’s been enjoying working with the Tokyo National Theatre, he says, where he’s been excited to find “a new public”.

The Duke in “Rigoletto” is a cynical cad, but by contrast in “The Tales of Hoffmann,” he tells me, “I’m one of the most normal characters in the opera.”

In fact, Rivas says: “He presents to us his life experience with the three women… he is so normal I can’t explain it, but what is so wonderful in this opera is that from normal -

ity, Offenbach has created a beautiful and fantastic work with wonderful roles in it.

“Playing the main character will be a different experience for me; it’s in French and it’s not dramatic… everything is in the middle, it’s not so high and not so low… Hoffmann is like a real person.

“Of course, at the centre of it is the comedy, delightful, but a most difficult thing, because it’s hard to make people laugh.”

Rivas is now 30, entering his mature years as an opera singer and tells me, “It’s a most difficult age… just behind the most famous tenors and maybe one step up from the others…You have to continue at this level, to grow and to do technically more dramatic

These days he lives in Italy, where he’s had the chance to study great Verdi roles such as Macbeth and Simon Boccanegra, but he tries to get back to his hometown Lima for major concerts and hopes to be involved in an opera there soon.

“Being a tenor in Peru is an unusual occupation, but things are improving and the last concert I made was completely full,” he says.

“I went to see an opera in a municipal theatre, a ballet in another theatre and a concert in another, and every auditorium was full.”

“Also, we do have a beautiful tradition of tenors, like Luigi Alva and Juan Diego Flórez, I hope to enter that level of fame,” he says.

“The Tales of Hoffmann”, Sydney Opera House, July 11-22.

Poem weaves outback struggle

By Stephanie Gardiner

AFTER a life of enduring outback toil and the loss of several babies, Mary holds a grandchild in her lap with a “down-turned smile, sad eyes” and “gnarly hard-boiled hands”.

NSW poet Penny Lane’s poem “Remembering Mary”, which conjures up a vivid and stirring image of women’s work in Australian history, has won the $10,000 Cloncurry Poetry Prize.

Among the most lucrative poetry awards in Australia, the prize was founded by outback Queensland’s Cloncurry Shire Council in 2021 as a way of showing there is more to the bush than heavy industry.

Lane’s poem remembers her husband’s great-great grandmother Mary Bassett Lane, who left England in the 1860s with her husband and children to make a new life on a pastoral station.

The poem follows Mary as she leaves England on the “Golden City” immigrant ship, where an infant son is taken by a typhoid outbreak.

Lane explores how Mary might have felt about living on stolen land, as she navigated a lonely life of child-bearing, the loss of two daughters, farm work, washing, baking and keeping snakes at bay.

“I am particularly interested in exploring the experiences of women in Australia’s history, and recording them in poetry,” she said.

“Three of my great loves are family, poetry and being in the outback, and I was able to combine the three in creating my poem.”

Judges praised Ms Lane’s use of imagery and skilful language. “Typifying the struggles of early female pioneers who helped lay the foundations for life today, the character of Mary is a tribute to all those who endured and is symbolic of outback womanhood,” the judges said.

The theme of the third Cloncurry prize was “outback heroes”.

Come dancing with drones

ARTS IN THE CITY

By Helen Musa

“LUCIE In the Sky” by Brisbane’s Australasian Dance Collective (formerly Expressions Dance Company) say they’re making history when drones are choreographed, blending art and technology. The 90-minute show pairs dancers with five drone characters, Lucie the friend, M the leader, Skip the jester, Red the rebel and Rue the sage, all choreographed by director Amy Hollingsworth to emulate human emotions and interact. The Playhouse, July 14-15.

“I DANCE II” is a conference directed by Hanna Cormick, Matt Shilcock and Liz Lea celebrating the creation and distribution of Australian dance films created by artists living with disability. The event involves a one-day online conference and a screening of short films, also released online. National Film and Sound Archive, 10am-4pm, July 10.

THE Ten Tenors return with a show featuring new numbers and all the old favourites. Canberra Theatre, 2pm and 7pm, July 15.

“STARS in 3D” is a season of dance and technology presented by the Stellar Company, featuring the Chamaeleon Collective in collaboration with ASTRO 3D and RecoveryVR. Chamaeleon are Canberra’s first inclusive dance company, artists living with disability. Gorman Arts Centre, 2pm and 6pm, July 15 and 3pm, July 16.

ORIANA Chorale is joining the Phoenix Collective in two performances of “Dark and Luminous Night”, works by Ola Gjeilo, Elgar and Rachmaninov alongside contemporary works by Ella Macens and reimaginings of the pop-rock of Depeche Mode and Sigur Ros. Larry Sitsky Recital Room, ANU School of Music, 5pm, July 15.

HOT upon the announcement of its new name, Craft + Design Canberra (formerly Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre) says it will present a new biennial Design Canberra Festival starting in November 2024, replacing the annual version.

“GATHER – Meet Up” will feature new dance works by six youth dance companies from around Australia including QL2 Dance’s Quantum Leap Ensemble from Canberra. The Playhouse, July 10.

ROALD Dahl’s tale of gruesome twosome, The Twits, adapted for the stage by Brisbane’s shake & stir theatre is coming to The Q. The same company has been responsible for sell-out seasons of “Fantastic Mr Fox” and “George’s Marvellous Medicine”. Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, July 13-14.

“Lucie In the Sky”... The Playhouse, July 14-15.

Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón Rivas… “Being a tenor in Peru is an unusual occupation, but things are improving.”

Photo: Rhiannon Hopley

‘Cake’s’ new season is getting harder to swallow STREAMING

THERE are questions which may forever perplex, challenge and even divide humanity as we know it: What is the meaning of life? Are we alone in the universe? Is it cake?

It turns out one of these mystifying conundrums has become the basis of a major Netflix series, and this month it’s back for a second season.

“Is It Cake?” is the reality game show where a roster of profusely talented bakers make carefully crafted pastry imitations of everyday objects. It’s then left to a panel of judges (and the viewer) to work out if what they’re looking at is the real thing or indeed a hyperrealistic, delicious treat.

Turns out it’s no piece of cake telling the difference.

In season one these pastry artists made everything from handbags to sewing machines to shoes, which to the naked eye seem very unappetising. That is until someone takes a bite out of one.

The concept may be absurd, but when “Is It Cake?” first arrived many Netflix subscribers wanted a slice. On release last year, the show rocketed straight to the platform’s number 1 spot on its most viewed rankings.

The idea capitalised on viral social media videos, where viewers were at first shown random objects, only to have their minds blown by someone cutting them open and taking a bite.

Baking this internet meme, which ran wild in lockdown into the popular cooking reality show formula, meant Netflix had a hit on its hands.

Indeed, “Is It Cake?” represented a paramount entry into the television cake canon, walking in the footsteps of giants such as “Cake Boss”, “Extreme Cake Makers” and “The Big Cake”.

But unfortunately it seems the new season (dubbed “Is It Cake, Too?”), hasn’t

‘Last Dancer’ retires from ballet role

of 2022’s most finely crafted and criticallyacclaimed shows.

The eight-episode series on Disney Plus gripped audiences by putting them in the high-stress environment of a downtown kitchen and shining the spotlight on the gruelling reality of restaurant culture.

The story follows Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a young chef who takes ownership of his family’s sandwich shop in Chicago after the tragic death of his brother.

Mixing together a story of ambition and grief, “The Bear” proved a beef sandwich kitchen could be a melting pot of drama, making for one of the most compelling TV settings in recent years.

In season two, the show turns up the heat even more, expanding its focus from Carmy to his ragtag crew of cooks and diving deeper into their intriguing back stories.

As for Carmy himself, the new episodes track his embattled attempts to build a bigger and better restaurant, throwing him straight from the frying pan into the fire.

“The Walking Dead: Dead City” sees fan favourites Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) forced to team up as they traverse a post-apocalyptic New York, meeting a strange assortment of survivors who have made the zombie-infested metropolis their home.

Fans will know that these two also happen to be mortal enemies, setting the scene for a tension-fuelled journey over the show’s six episodes.

Now streaming on Stan, the spin-off comes just seven months after “The Walking Dead” officially ended but “Dead City” still feels like a pretty direct continuation.

In its later seasons viewership of “The Walking Dead” was rapidly dwindling and this new series (one of many in the works) feels like a rather flimsy attempt to keep the brand alive.

THE man behind the story of “Mao’s Last Dancer” and the artistic director of the Queensland Ballet is to retire for health reasons.

The company announced Li Cunxin was stepping down at the end of the 2023 season after he recently experienced “serious health complications”.

His wife Mary will also step down as the company’s ballet mistress and principal repetiteur after having her own health battles.

The 62-year-old said there was still much he wanted to achieve with the team, but he needed to take some space to recover and spend time with family.

“This journey has enriched my life beyond measure and offered me so much fulfilment and joy,” Li said in a statement.

“From the moments of success to the periods of challenge and uncertainty that have dared me to dream fearlessly, it has been an incredible opportunity to each day make a difference to the arts in Queensland and the nation, and I’ll miss it all terribly.”

Born into extreme poverty in rural China, Li became one of the world’s best ballet dancers.

Following his defection to the west almost 40 years ago, Li performed throughout the world before settling in Australia with Mary and their children in 1995.

had quite the impact its predecessor did, releasing with diminished viewership. That may come down to the fact it’s been three years since the meme went viral and the concept may just have run its course. While fun at first, “Is It Cake?” is sadly starting to feel like it’s been left in the fridge for a little too long.

LAST year “The Bear” exploded on to the streaming scene, cementing itself as one

Whether Disney Plus subscribers have a little or a lot of interest in the culinary world, “The Bear” is well worth a taste test.

LIKE a case of rigor mortis, “The Walking Dead” has returned to screens with its first major spin-off series since the show’s finale last year.

For die-hard fans, the show’s more concentrated focus on its two central characters will make for a refreshing twist, but for those who have given up on the franchise, “Dead City” likely won’t have the dramatic power to resurrect interest.

He spent four years as principal artist with the Australian Ballet and was appointed artistic director of the Queensland Ballet in 2012.

His award-winning 2003 autobiography, “Mao’s Last Dancer”, was an international bestseller that became a blockbuster film directed by Bruce Beresford in 2009.

Queensland Ballet chair Brett Clark thanked Li for his “selfless, generous and visionary service” and the company planned to celebrate his contribution in the coming months.

“When I think about what Li Cunxin has achieved in life, for his family in China, for his family around the world, for ballet, for Queensland, for Queensland Ballet, it is nothing short of sensational,” Clark said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to Li, saying he took Queensland to the world stage.

“Along with Mary, an accomplished and acclaimed ballerina, Li set an example for others to follow and blazed a trail from Brisbane to the world,” she said. –AAP

“Is It Cake?”... the new season (dubbed “Is It Cake, Too?”), hasn’t had quite the impact its predecessor did.

Li Cunxin, the acclaimed

ballet dancer

and author of Mao’s Last Dancer, is retiring as artistic director of Queensland Ballet following ill health, reports JOHN CROUCH

Li Cunxin… retiring as artistic director of the Queensland Ballet. Photo: Jono Searle/AAP

Fri. 0408 310 063

- well it used to be... now maybe... It’s just old - and a bit worn out, or costs too much to fix... probably never be worn again... You keep the memories - perhaps, we could buy the goods?

DINING / Jiangnan Talk, Kingston

New eatery, the Talk of Kingston

IT didn’t take long for Jiangnan Talk, a new Chinese restaurant beside the library on Giles Street, Kingston, to start building a fan base.

On my first visit, the place was almost packed, even though Jiangnan Talk had only been open about a week.

Located where a former vegan eatery once operated, Jiangnan Talk has refreshed the space from top to bottom, bringing in new stone tables, comfy faux-leather chairs, contemporary decor and a lovely series of bright-red Chinese lanterns. It’s stylish and more upmarket in appearance and approach.

Jiangnan takes its food seriously with a well-planned, considered menu that isn’t so lengthy it’s overwhelming. Dishes are divided into entrées, soups, dumplings, chef’s specials, seafood, a separate king prawn section, other mains (divided by protein), noodle dishes, laksas, vegetables, and dessert.

As dumpling fans, we couldn’t go past the

fried chicken and chive variation (eight pieces for $16), crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with the chives making a statement.

An excellent choice is whitebait with hot rock salt, with the fish dipped in a fine coating, lightly fried and seasoned perfectly ($27). The mound of fish arrived on top of a bed of crispy noodles.

The eight chef’s specials are impressive and the XO green beans with chilli sauce were a delight ($24). Crunchy beans, the right amount of heat and a luscious XO sauce. Lovers of XO will be attracted to the dried-fried eggplant dish featuring the sauce, created with chef’s secret ingredients ($27).

Our lamb dish came sizzling on a hotplate and featured ginger and shallots, always a winning combination ($27). The lamb was beautifully tender, and the dish was full of flavour.

As duck fans, it was inevitable we selected

WINE / Premiumization

from Jiangnan Talk’s offerings. The steamed duck was succulent, and the big chunks of Chinese mushroom were earthy and had a wonderful texture. Bok choy provided perfect balance and a vibrant green colour.

While we didn’t taste test this time, Jiangnan Talk’s menu features five pork chop dishes, all with different sauces, including a strawberry (all $38).

We’re not always dessert people, but couldn’t spot anything too exciting anyway. Still, the two sweets are reasonably priced – the fruit salad with ice cream $8 and cake of the day $8.50. New restaurants often need to iron out kinks. Although one dish took a considerable time to arrive, the service overall was efficient, and the staff motivated and welcoming.

Wine lovers know when less is more

“PREMIUMIZATION”: what an ugly American term! I was introduced to this mouthful through being asked if I’d ever heard of The Wine Economist, Mike Veseth, who “analyses and interprets today’s global wine markets”.

I read his online March 2023 article entitled “Chutes and Ladders: Wine and the Premiumization Game”.

The trend that he seeks to isolate is the market trend he detects in the US: “Sales of wine at lower price points have languished or declined.

The growth zone has shifted to higher and higher price points (which entail lower and lower volumes). The sweet spot in the wine market is a moving target.”

This country’s industry statutory authority, Wine Australia, in its online report on the Australian domestic market reinforced the trend (although the statistics quoted are five years old) where it says: “There is also a trend towards drinking higher-priced wine, with sales above $10 per

bottle (off-trade) increasing in 2017 while sales below $10 per bottle declined.”

I followed up with Wine Australia and was directed to a 2019 report that showed consumers continue to pay more per bottle while consuming less frequently, moving from quantity to quality.

It seems that a combination of increasing concerns about health, the growing variety of higher-priced products available on the market, and alternative forms of packaging where consumers can now buy premium wine in smaller formats are driving the trend.

I was also referred to a report that shows a 5 per cent decline in the volume of wine sales globally, but a 2 per cent increase for premium and above segments.

I was also sent a pie chart by Wine Australia that showed for the Australian domestic market in 2022 just over 58 per cent of sales were in the premium wine category. In essence, what is happening is that consumers in established wine markets worldwide are buying wine less often but spending more per bottle when they choose to purchase it, with Australia also following this trend.

I wondered if this was having an impact at the local level and so I asked the general manager of Walt & Burley, the Kingston Foreshore pub, Danilo Acioli, if he’d noticed this “premiumization” about which I shared my view of its ungainly sound.

“Yes, not a good word, but it’s basically a move to higher-quality wines. In the last few years, we have seen customers demand premium wines. People are interested in good quality. Yes, we have introduced a cellar section to our wine menu where we offer aged wines including a Charles Melton 2003 shiraz, delicious.”

This trend is confounding when the way in which wine is taxed actually favours the production of lower-cost wines.

In a 2016 scholarly article about the taxation of alcoholic drinks, Daube and Stafford indicate that the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) favours wines at lower price points: “The WET is based on the wholesale price of wine, not its alcohol content. The WET is why cask wine can be promoted and sold for as little as 18 cents per standard drink, or $1.80 per litre – cheaper than many bottled waters – contributing only 5 cents per standard drink in tax.”

They go on to label the WET as a subsidy, “propping up the production of low-value wines”. The move to premium wines is therefore doubly remarkable because consumer preferences are already heading in the direction of where those who wish to reform the taxation of wine want to end up: introducing reform with the aim of reducing harm and promoting a lower-risk drinking culture.

Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government.

–Milton Friedman

Whitebait with hot rock salt… atop a bed of crispy noodles. Steamed duck… with big chunks of Chinese mushroom.

Photos: Wendy Johnson

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

Your week in the stars

By Joanne Madeline Moore

10-16 July, 2023

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

The planetary patterns highlight freedom, independence, adventure and creative projects. If you pace yourself and prioritise, then you’ll get things done without feeling rushed and frazzled. It’s also a good week to socialise with family, close friends and work colleagues, as you participate in some lively and stimulating conversations. But avoid getting drawn into an intense argument (at home or work) where you end up saying things that you later regret.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Careful communication is the key to an agreeable week. The Sun and Uranus encourage you to blast away redundant attitudes, release old grudges and let bygones be bygones. Plus, Mercury and Venus encourage you to work through domestic dramas and family squabbles in a proactive and diplomatic way. And Mars pushes you to get moving! Your motto is from birthday great Henry David Thoreau: “An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Don’t allow a loved one to manipulate you on Monday or Tuesday, as they try to persuade you to do something against your better judgment. Have the emotional strength (and common sense) to stand your ground and say no. With your ruler Mercury moving into Leo, you’ve got energy to burn but make sure you channel it into productive pursuits. Mental activities and current affairs are favoured, as you pick up information with lightning speed.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Prepare for a contrary kind of week, Crabs! The current celestial cocktail includes a Sun/Uranus connection (and the Sun’s transiting through your sign). So, you’re in the mood for change but you’re also feeling sentimental, as you revisit the past and wallow in an ocean of emotion. Uranus encourages you to look to the future with fresh eyes, a curious mind and a full heart. When it comes to your local community, shake off your shyness and get involved.

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Unpredictable Uranus links up with the fiery Sun (your ruler) so boredom is a big no-no this week. Search out unusual people, places and activities, especially connected with your long-term career and future direction. You’ll favour excitement and novel ideas over the tried and tested. When it comes to routine work, health and secrets, do your research. Things aren’t as straight-forward as they seem. Don’t skip over details – get someone you trust to help you out.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Your very discreet Virgo nature is emphasised, as Mercury (your power planet) moves from your peer group zone into your solitude zone. Make it a priority to connect with like-minded people who understand your particular peccadillos and strong need for privacy. A loved one could be temperamental, so handle them with extra care and don’t try to work out where they are coming from. Travel, adventure and group activities are favoured on the weekend.

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

This week a relationship with a work colleague could be re-energised, as you find exciting new ways to relate, debate and communicate. Don’t be afraid of change! Be inspired by Harrison Ford (who was born on July 13): “We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” With Venus and Mercury visiting your peer group zone, a dash of diplomacy and improved communication skills will help smooth over a troubled friendship.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

On Monday and Tuesday, you’ll feel intense, argumentative and/or troubled. For the rest of the week, focus on revamping a close relationship as you get the strained partnership heading in a promising new direction. With Jupiter and Uranus transiting through your partnership zone, it’s time to charge up your charisma and call in a few old favours. Others will find your magnetic Scorpio charms hard to resist! So do your best to stay positive and smile often.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

The current stars are all about the big two – sex and money – as the Sun stimulates your joint finances and intimacy zone. But avoid putting your foot firmly in your mouth (on Monday and Tuesday) via tactless talk or an impulsive remark. Those around you can expect some boisterous behaviour from you on the weekend when the Sun and Uranus rev up your reckless side. Try to burn off excess energy via vigorous physical activities or outdoor adventures.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Uranus and the Sun activate creative projects and fire up relationships. But the Mercury/Pluto opposition could complicate a romantic or platonic partnership. So, aim to be creative and compassionate – but also robust and resilient. Then the bumps along the road will only make you stronger. It’s a good week to become more involved with volunteer projects and philanthropic pursuits, especially in your neighbourhood. Think global, act local!

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

This week the Sun/Uranus link wakes up a work project or fires up a family dream. And how are you really feeling? The Sun and Mercury energise your wellbeing zone. So, it’s a good time to review your health and fitness; plus revise your diet and exercise routine. Then make appropriate adjustments and improvements. But they must be creative tweaks that specifically suit your idiosyncratic Aquarian style. The more flexible (and quirky) your program is, the better!

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Are you still blaming yourself for mistakes you made many moons ago? Or are you still holding a grudge towards someone who wronged you many years ago? It’s time to forgive others – and yourself – for transgressions from the past. So, your mantra is from Cancerian author Marianne Williamson: “Forgiveness is not always easy. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” The Sun and Uranus encourage fresh adventures in your local community.

Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2023

TECHNOLOGY BOOST HAS JUST LANDED

Ritchie came to see me certain there was a special tax deduction in relation to technology expenditure, but couldn't find any information about it.

"The legislation only passed through parliament on June 23, though it applies from 7.30 pm on March 29, 2022 until June 30, 2023. It's taken well over a year to become law," I reassured him. "The way it works is that your business needs to have a turnover of less than $50 million, which we know it is in your case.

Across

4 What is soundness of mind? (6)

7 Which roadside indicator gives guidance to travellers? (8)

8 What is a long, loose, heavy overcoat? (6)

9 Name the British Prime Minister 1979-1990, Lady Margaret ... (8)

11 What are public roads called? (7)

13 What serves as a bulwark or defence? (7)

15 Who introduced a bill simplifying the laws relating to land ownership? (7)

17 What is a place of burning heat? (7)

20 Which fibrous amphibole is used for making fireproof articles? (8)

23 To be more repulsive in appearance, is to be what? (6)

24 Name a brittle, lustrous, white metallic element, symbol Sb (8)

25 Which pupil stays away from school without permission? (6)

Solution next edition Down

1 Name the soft, spongy lining of the rind of oranges and other citrus fruits. (4)

2 What is the arched upper surface of the human foot? (6)

3 Name a lepidopterous insect. (4)

4 Who was one of Australia’s most outstanding explorers, Charles ...? (5)

5 Name the President of Egypt 1956-70, Gamal ... (6)

6 What is another term for larceny? (5)

9 Which official list shows the duties imposed on imports? (6)

10 Name large pieces of landed property. (7)

12 What are sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contractions? (6)

14 What is an inflammatory affection of the throat? (6)

16 Which term describes a summary of one’s work? (6)

18 What, colloquially, is a racecourse tipster? (5)

19 What is a unit of weight in gemstones? (5)

21 Name a unit of information, usually eight bits, stored by a computer. (4)

22 Which sound is made by a pig? (4)

"You can then claim a bonus deduction of 20 per cent of eligible expenditure, net of GST. The bonus deduction is calculated on what is described as ‘digital adoption’ of up to $100,000 a year up to a maximum claim of $20,000 a year.

“Just to add to the confusion, any claim you have for the financial year ended June 30, 2022 is claimed in your return for the financial year ended June 30, 2023. So the expenses for 2022 are claimed in the 2022 tax return and the bonus is claimed in the 2023 tax return."

I told him that all other relevant expenses were claimed in the usual way as deductions or depreciation. There was a special box in the company tax return where the bonus deduction for both years can be claimed up to a maximum of $40,000. The expenses that could be claimed includes computer hardware, purchase of laptops and tablets (subject to the depreciation rules), computer software, cyber security systems, subscriptions to cloud-based services, digital media and marketing as well as e-commerce costs.

"You can also claim internet costs, portable payment devices and advice on digital items to support business continuity and growth,” I said.

Ritchie said that it looked like all his IT and technology expenditure since March 29 last year was subject to the 20 per cent bonus. I replied: “Yes, that's the case, but there are also some exclusions. You can’t claim salary and wages, the cost of capital works, financing costs including interest, training or education costs (which are subject to a separate bonus) and expenses that form part of your trading stock.

"If your item is used partly for business purposes and partly for personal use, then the expenses need to be apportioned in the normal way.

"Just to add, if they are used in the production of exempt income, there is no claim.”

The skills and training boost, which also became law on June 23, may also provide a 20 per cent bonus deduction for eligible expenditure on skills and training.

"However, looking at the training that you have provided to your staff, Richie, over the relevant period, none of the providers appear to be registered," I said.

"You can check whether the training providers you used were appropriately registered by checking on training.gov.au. If they were not registered, you have no claim”

Ritchie said while it was a little complex, he would retrieve his invoices to check for GST and claim the technology boost.

If you want the most up-to-date tax information contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.

Disclaimer

This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser. Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892.