DEBT
Ignore the spin, things are going to get worse
MICHAEL MOORE
BUDGET
Barr’s odd claim smudges budget deterioration
STANHOPE & AHMED
KEEPING UP THE ACT
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Well written, well read
Planning push: more questions than answers
MIKE QUIRK
Evidence: to have and to hold but for how long?
HUGH SELBY
Tropical vine with a splash of colour
JACKIE
WARBURTON
TIM HOWARD celebrates his first full Floriade as head gardener
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MARTIN Fisk, the former-CEO of Menslink, says he first discovered the Canberra Centenary Trail while helping to organise an event with a Menslink sponsor.
“The sponsor wanted to do a bike ride or bush walk, and while bike rides are great, you have to worry more about road closures and safety,” he says.
“The Canberra Centenary Trail was suggested and that was the genesis, but I thought I can’t ask people to walk the trail without me having walked it, so I did it over Christmas 2020 and just fell in love with it.”
The 145-kilometre self-guided loop trail takes walkers and touring cyclists through urban and rural Canberra, as well as iconic sites.
“In its entirety, I’ve done it four times now, but some bits in particular have been walked countless times, closer to my home in Bonython.”
So, when the publisher of “Can berra’s Centenary Trail Guidebook” started asking around on who might be a good person to write up a second edition, all fingers pointed to Martin.
First published in 2015, the original
route changes, and marking parts that had closed like Telstra Tower, while also taking new photos along the way.
“I left Menslink in December, then I had a short contract with the ACT Human Rights Commission, which is amazing, but I’m between jobs at the moment, which has given me plenty of time to get out and do more walks, especially as the weather improves.”
But, Menslink still holds a very special place in Martin’s heart.
“When the publishers asked me to write this second edition, I asked if I could donate all of my proceeds to Menslink, and they were very happy to
“I worked at Menslink for 11 years, and in that time I saw the amazing work they did to help young men to get a sense of purpose, to feel that they had a place in the world. There’s so many of them that are lost and just don’t have a sense of their own identity.
“What happens when young men feel like that is they will often cause a lot of damage to themselves and a lot of damage to those around them – high rates of family violence involving teenage boys, high rates of suicide, high rates of youth crime, and that’s something that Menslink has been able to turn around, to the benefit of all of our
While Martin says he loves the whole of Canberra’s Centenary Trail, he has got a few truly stand-out favourites.
“It’s just fabulous. Cooleman Ridge is delightful, One Tree Hill in the north is beautiful with sweeping views, it’s the concept of moving around Canberra which is just really cool,” he says.
“Whether you do it in five days, or whether you do it in three months, it’s worth doing for the sense of knowing you’ve climbed that hill, you’ve walked over there, it is amazing.
“I feel, in Canberra, we stick to our own little area. I’ve lived here for 20 years and I had never climbed One Tree Hill, despite it being really iconic.”
Martin is encouraging anybody who can, whether it’s on a bike or it’s walking, to do as much of the walk as they can.
“It’s pretty amazing to actually have a book with your name on it, but more importantly, it really helps showcase this wonderful city we have in Canberra. It’s the bush capital, so go out and explore with your family. There’s activities for kids to do along the way, this gives you a perfect way to do it,” he says.
“And, there’s not really many days until Christmas, and this would be a fantastic gift with proceeds going to a good cause.”
“Canberra’s Centenary Trail Guidebook” second edition, Woodslane Press, available through book shops and online retailers, rrp $32.99.
THE former Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, made a religion of budget surpluses.
As an electoral ploy it was highly successful, allowing him to argue that Labor would never have been able to achieve the surplus success that he finally achieved. Furthermore, if they came to power, surpluses would be undermined.
Costello was the longest serving Australian treasurer, overseeing fis cal matters at the national level from 1996 to 2007. He did everything he could to achieve a surplus, including selling off Commonwealth assets. Some of those assets were buildings in Canberra where departments paid more in 10 years than the sale price.
Surpluses are not critical. Rather the most significant indicator of fiscal responsibility is to maintain the AAA credit rating by Standard and Poor’s. For the first time since self-govern ment, the ACT has been downgraded to AA+. The downgrade indicates a failure in fiscal responsibility by the Labor-Greens government.
In last week’s “CityNews”, Jon Stanhope and Khalid Amed explained the failure and that the responsibility for the fiscal failure lay with Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr.
Despite the chief minister’s attempts at a positive spin, the ACT is vulnerable to a worsening fiscal
situation. The only way that the ACT can recover is through cuts in expenditure or increased taxation.
Borrowing by state and territory governments for capital works does make sense. However, such borrowing must be contained to ensure we are not living beyond our means. The “Net Debt to Revenue Ratio” is the best indicator and is one of the key indicators used by Standard and Poor’s.
Provided the government has
the ACT living within its means it is appropriate to borrow in order to share the advantage of capital works amongst all of those who will use them. For example, borrowing to fund roads, reservoirs and other infrastructure is spread out across 20 or 30 years to be used by current and
The ACT may not need to always run surpluses. However, we cannot afford to go deeper and deeper into debt.
Just as many Canberrans have placed a mortgage on their homes for long-term advantage, so too the territory can gain long-term advantage for borrowing for capital works. This is why there is a distinction between the part of the budget that is for capital works and the part of the budget that is set aside for recurrent expenditure.
The challenge facing the treasurer and this government is that recurrent expenditure is used for paying
for education, hospitals and other healthcare, police and prisons as well as to support day-to-day expenditure on our public service.
However, recurrent expenditure is also used to pay the interest on loans that are used for capital works. The more spent on interest, the less there is for these vital services.
Federal MP Andrew Leigh warned in 2016 of the dangers of the ACT being downgraded from its AAA rating. He did so in the context of an impending election, warning that the Canberra Liberals would put the ACT at risk if they had to pay compensation for aborting the construction of the light rail.
Dr Leigh, who was previously a professor of economics at the ANU, explained: “There’s certainly an impact on the reputational risk of the ACT, there’s also a general impact on business confidence. Places that get revenue downgrades, that tends to rattle businesses”.
The Canberra Liberals’ leader, Elizabeth Lee, pointed out that “the high level of debt is costing Canberrans over $1 million a day in interest repayments, and this latest report shows that the interest bill will only
increase”.
She said: “This is ACT taxpayers’ money that could be spent on health, education, housing and other essential services, but is instead paying off Andrew Barr’s debt”.
She returned to the theme of government “spin”.
“This demonstrates that Andrew Barr’s repeated claims of returning the budget to surplus are not achievable and are just more spin from this arrogant, tired government”.
The loss of the AAA credit rating is not something that should be taken lightly. There is now an increased understanding that the priorities of the Labor-Greens government are set to deliver less services or greater taxation – or both.
Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.
The loss of the AAA credit rating is not to be taken lightly. There’s now an increased understanding that the priorities of the Labor-Greens government are set to deliver less services or greater taxation – or both.Andrew Barr… despite the spin, the ACT faces a worsening fiscal situation.
TIM Howard says he’s learned a lot in his full year as Floriade’s head gardener.
“Last year was my first year as Floriade head gardener and I came in halfway through the process,” he says.
“Like any project if you come in halfway through you don’t get a full understanding of the decisions.
“So, this year I knew to plant the flowers six weeks earlier to mean better flowers for day one.
“I lead a team of 60 horticultural staff work ing with me, and while it was a lot of hard work to start earlier, you can see the results have been absolutely worth it.
With the promise of more than a million blooms in Commonwealth Park, the theme of this year’s annual, month-long spring celebra tion is “Floral Wonderland”.
Tim’s two favourite displays are the purple and black Cheshire cat from “Alice in Wonderland” and the indigenous display.
“The purple are hyacinths and they are very fragrant, just gorgeous, and the black tulips are classic,” he says.
“But my other favourite is the indigenous artwork bed down the bottom of Floriade. It’s just so tight, it’s to do with the heights of the foliage and the colour contrast.
“There are also 300,000 bulbs spread throughout Canberra’s suburbs, thanks to more than 90 community groups for their efforts in spreading colour throughout the ACT.”
Floriade, Commonwealth Park until October 15. Free entry.
better flowers for day one.” Photos: Lily Pass
A HUNDRED MG sports, touring, competition and saloon cars from all over Australia will be on display at the National Museum of Australia from 9am-2pm on September 30.
The display celebrates 100 years since the first MG was made in 1923.
“The display will be stunning and a unique opportunity for young and old alike to have a closer look at some very rare and very exciting MGs,” says president of the MG Car Club Canberra Debbie Whitfield.
Ms Whitfield said the MG held a special place in the hearts of Australians. With its advertising catch cry of “Safety Fast!”, the MG was the car of choice for generations of young drivers due to its rakish styling, impeccable handling and cheap and cheerful pricing.
Many of Australia’s most celebrated competition drivers started out in either competition MGs or cars specially modified for competition.
Vice president of the MG Car Club, Mr Kent Brown, who is an MG competition driver himself, said several of the MGs on display had significant competition history, including holding class speed records, team prizes and podium finishes from their racing careers in the ‘30s and ‘40s.
I USED to hate all dentists with a passion. Admittedly, we got off to a bad start.
My first dentist was my hometown (Brisbane) godfather, chosen at the time as my parents’ best friend, Ernie Wagner. He did my teeth for free. Trouble is, they had a calamitous falling out with Ernie who played “Monopoly” like Uncle Scrooge.
They rarely spoke thereafter. But I stayed “godson” and I detected a painful change in attitude. At the time, dentists used an electric foot pedal to power the drill and Ernie was in such a hurry to get to his paying customers that he didn’t always wait till the drill reached top speed before he sank it into my latest pre-fluoride cavity.
I sometimes ducked appointments and I paid for it in later life when we moved south.
However, in Canberra I’ve been blessed by a very caring and competent cohort of men and women professionals whose principal concern seems to be making the dental experience as pain free as possible. But now the boot is on the other foot. It is the dentists who are suffering.
The stats are deeply troubling. According to their association, one in six practitioners reported thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months; and over the longer term 5.6 per cent
reported making an attempt to end their lives. A quarter of them experienced “burnout” and nearly 12 per cent suffered depression and anxiety disorder, 32 per cent with moderatesevere psychological distress and 60 per cent with psychiatric morbidity.
So, what causes this and what’s to be done about it?
Their association is not much help. All they can suggest is “advocacy and education to ensure practitioners can seek the appropriate support they need” and they send their members the addresses of Lifeline, Beyond Blue and the other dogooders we all know about anyway.
As it happens, I had an appointment last week with my gentle lady drill sergeant and we talked briefly around the protruding instruments. That’s when I realised just how debilitated they’ve become. Yet the solution is staring them in the face,
and they don’t have the energy or the gumption to grab it and run.
It’s on our TV screens almost every day as the phony “debate” about the Voice produces Aboriginal spokespeople from around the nation. While the adults in the regional and outback areas talk perfect sense, their message is lost since they’re not just dentally challenged, they are crippled and maimed.
I’m told that in their final year of study, dental students do visit some distant centres such as Brewarrina for a couple of weeks, where they practise their newly acquired skills on the needy without charge. Truth is, they don’t need students filling caries, but experts reconstructing their broken dentition. Yet sadly, there seems to be a view that they
have made an appropriate contribution to the community; thereafter, the devil takes the hindmost.
This is in stark contrast to some of the other healing professions. Volunteer surgeons and physicians are doing Australia (and themselves) proud with annual expeditions to the less fortunate.
In the absence of a government Denticare Program (to the federal government’s shame) there’s a perfect opportunity for dentists themselves to volunteer their services to transform Aboriginal lives. In so doing, they would not only restore a sense of worth and pride in their profession, they would raise their own morale and garner the warm respect of the Australian community.
Either way, it sure beats Ernie Wagner’s “Monopoly” syndrome.
robert@robertmacklin.com
A TWO-handled vessel, dating back to 530 BCE and connected to a notorious illicit antiquities dealer, will be returned to Italian ownership under a repatriation agreement between the Italian govern ment and the ANU.
The amphora is more than 2500 years old and has been in the ANU Classics Museum for almost 40 years. It was bought in good faith in 1984 from Sotheby’s in London.
Curator Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney said the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, a specialist art squad of Italy’s military police force, brought the vase to the attention of ANU after connecting it to the activities of a notorious dealer, active in the illegal antiquities trade from the ‘70s to the ‘90s. They were able to match the ANU-held vase for one in a Polaroid photo discovered in an earlier criminal investigation, which proved that it was illegally excavated and sold.
A second problematic item – an Apulian red-figure fish plate also purchased in 1984 was discovered to have been smuggled out of Italy by another well-known dealer of illicit items. The ANU purchased the fish plate from him in 1984.
ANU has formally agreed to repatriate the amphora and fish plate to the Italian government.
In the absence of a government Denticare Program there’s a perfect opportunity for dentists themselves to volunteer their services to transform Aboriginal lives.amphora. Photo: Bob Miller/ANU
THE ACT government has released updated district strategies, the new Territory Plan and new design guides.
Consistent with the 2018 Planning Strategy, each district strategy identifies areas that may be suitable to accommodate future housing needs.
However, the fundamental weakness of the 2018 Planning Strategy is that, while it argued the delivery of a sustainable, compact and efficient city requires 70 per cent of new housing accommodated within the territory’s existing urban footprint, it failed to undertake detailed assessments of housing preferences, housing affordability, employment location, infrastructure, environmental and travel costs.
The district strategies identify a supply of between 117,800 and 148,500 dwellings, potentially more than enough to meet the estimated demand for 100,000 additional dwellings by 2050.
They indicate the potential for an additional 28,500 to 31,500 dwellings in Belconnen; 14,500-25,500 in the
inner north; 21,000-23,500 in Woden; 16,350-18,500 in Tuggeranong; 800013,500 in the inner south; 4500-5500 in Weston Creek and 20,000-24,000 in Molonglo.
These estimates should be viewed with extreme caution as they assume a greatly increased demand for higher-density dwellings.
The district strategies acknowledge detailed investigations including environmental, heritage, infrastructure and land use are needed to identify a more definitive “target” yield by location. Until such analysis is undertaken, the estimates are of limited value.
To implement the district strategies the unit titling of a second dwelling of up to 120sqm on blocks over 800sqm in RZ1 zones and twostorey apartments on RZ2 blocks are identified.
The government needs to explain why the block and dwelling sizes were chosen. No analysis is provided of the likely demand, price or development cost of such dwellings. Was any analysis undertaken of the economics of redevelopment?
Why were alternative approaches,
such as widening the geographical extent of RZ2 areas to increase density around centres, rejected? Was consideration given to prohibiting redevelopment of blocks in the RZ2 areas for single dwellings to ensure the supply of sites for medium density dwellings?
Why were block amalgamation guidelines, requiring larger redevelopment sites to achieve better results, not pursued?
Given the dearth of analysis and a weakening of planning controls in the Territory Plan, it is uncertain whether the changes to the zoning rules will deliver affordable mediumdensity dwellings or improve the quality and lower the negative impacts of many redevelopments. Compact city policies have been a fundamental component of Canberra’s planning policies since the 1990s. The policies responded to demographic changes and increased travel and infrastructure costs arising from the reduced ability of the ACT to influence the location of major Commonwealth offices. The policies led to about 50 per cent of housing demand being accommodated in existing areas.
There is an unmet demand for higher-density dwellings in inner areas from a range of households including those who cannot afford detached housing in established
areas and those who want smaller, energy-efficient and low-maintenance dwellings.
However, there is insufficient evidence on the depth of such demand. A strong preference for detached housing was revealed in the Winton Research Strategies 2015 Study, which also found dual occupancy and townhouses had more community acceptability than apartments. How much have preferences changed?
While there are environmental constraints in potential greenfield areas, are they sufficient to prevent any development in such areas?
Certainly Kowen has low ecological value.
One consequence of the restriction of greenfield releases in the ACT has been the increase in car-dependent housing development in the surrounding region.
High-quality greenfield developments with schools, shops and community services and good transport connections to the rest of the city can meet housing preferences and moderate housing demand and prices in inner areas. Will simply increasing the supply of higher density dwellings in high-value, inner-city locations moderate house prices?
Despite densification policies since 1990, the mode share of public transport, cycling and walking has not increased. It is difficult for
such modes to compete with the convenience of the car given the large number of employment and activity centres in Canberra. Will increased density result in a reduction in overall travel and car use, the disbenefits of which will be reduced by the electrification of most vehicles in the Territory by 2050?
While the infrastructure costs of accommodating growth are generally higher in greenfield areas, such development also generates higher land revenues. The cost of infill can be understated. For example, the population of North Canberra initially peaked at 53,100 in 1971 before falling to 39,300 in 2001. Changes in planning policy facilitated the increase in population to 61,400 in 2021. The district’s population is projected to reach 98,500 in 2041 and 141,000 in 2060. Much of the social and physical infrastructure would need to be augmented or replaced to accommodate the mooted increase in population.
Quality densification is necessary if Canberra is to adequately respond to the challenges it faces. The package of changes, to come in force in November, is based on the “mantra of higher-density city good, lower density bad”, rather than evidence.
M E E T H O W Y O U M E E T
W h e n i t c o m e s t o p l a n n i n g a n e v e n t , n o o n e k n o w s b e t t e r t h a n y o u d o , s o w h y h a v e i t a n y o t h e r w a y ? W h e t h e r i t ' s a c o n f e r e n c e , C h r i s t m a s p a r t y , o r t e a m - b u i l d i n g e v e n t , C r o w n e P l a z a C a n b e r r a h a v e g o t y o u c o v e r e d .
P l u s , b o o k & d e p o s i t y o u r e v e n t w i t h u s & g o i n t h e d r a w t o w i n r e t u r n f l i g h t s w i t h F i j i A i r w a y s f r o m C a n b e r r a t o N a d i , F i j i & 4 n i g h t s a t t h e
I n t e r c o n t i
“The package of planning changes, to come in force in November, is based on the “mantra of higherdensity city good, lower density bad’, rather than evidence,” says former planner MIKE QUIRK .
GROW Your Garden Plant Fair will be held at Lanyon Homestead, 10am-2pm on Saturday, September 23. As well as food trucks, there will be a wide variety of plant stalls selling seeds, bulbs, native plants, potted perennials, succulents and garden tools. Entry to the Plant Fair is by gold-coin donation.
“IS there a Chinese sense of humour?” is the title of Prof Jocelyn Chey’s presentation to the Australia China Friendship Society at the Southern Cross Club, Jamison, 7.30pm on September 27. Professor Chey has written extensively on Chinese culture and society. Visitors welcome, $2 donation at the door. Reserve a place at acfsevent@gmail.com
THE Kite Fest returns to the National Arboretum, 10am-3pm, on Sunday, October 1. Visitors can bring their own kite or create and decorate one of any of the five, 45-minute kite-making workshops.
THE Bold Bandannas Relay for Life Team and the four Canberra Curves gyms of Canberra are holding a trivia night at Deakin Soccer Club from 6.30pm on October 14. Tickets (payable beforehand) are $30, with tables up to eight players. Book at 6288 7752. Proceeds will go to the Cancer Council ACT.
The affected ESS Home Batteries may overheat and catch on fire and cause injury or death and/ or damage to property. Incidents have occurred and caused damage to property.
RV World opened in Canberra three months ago, says general manager Billy Haynes, and boasts a team of highly experienced professionals who have been selling and servicing caravans for many years.
“Our team’s expertise ensures we have the know-how to tackle a wide range of customisa tions to suit any requirements, and to tackle any servicing issues that may arise. We are going from strength to strength,” he says.
“We opened our first dealership in Albury/ Wodonga 10 years ago and have grown and developed over the years, so we are excited to have expanded to Canberra.
“We feel so at home already here in Canberra and have received a very warm welcome within the community, with great reviews from our already ever-growing customer database.
“We have a huge range of caravans on show ready for delivery.”
Billy says he has also signed up for the Eastlake Demons 2024 season as a senior player.
“We hope to grow and get really involved within the Canberra community as much as we can. Go Demons!” he says.
At RV World, Billy says they’re proud to bring multi-award-winning Crusader Caravans to Canberra and surrounding areas.
“Our strong partnership with Crusader means the customer is getting the best products and service possible,” he says.
“Crusader Caravans have a massive range including 12ft vans, 24ft vans, family vans and so much more. Everyone is encouraged to come and see why they’re the leaders in the caravan market.”
Billy says they also offer a complete range of caravan services, from single axle to tandem axle, from 12ft to 26ft, we service absolutely everything.
“We don’t just service the caravans we sell; we service all makes and models of motorhomes, fifth wheelers, slide-ons, single and tandem axle trailers, and horse floats,” he says.
available, as part of our wide array of services, from routine maintenance to complex repairs, warranty work, and insurance claims. Whether it’s a minor fix or a major overhaul, we have the skills and resources to get your caravan back on the road in top condition.
“For your convenience, we can organise your motorhome chassis to be serviced by a local authorised dealer, so your full motorhome is completely serviced with no fuss.”
The RV World sales team are trained to ensure their sole focus is on providing their customers with a flawless experience, says Billy.
“We understand that the caravan-buying experience is very different today compared to years ago. Therefore we take a genuine approach
perfectly with your needs,” he says.
“We can enhance your caravan experience with our quality add-on services, from gas and diesel heaters to sway-control systems, dust reduction systems, and solar-panel installations; we can customise your RV to meet your specific needs and preferences.
“Put simply, we make it super easy for you to buy from us; we are locals who love looking after our locals.
“Come in and chat with the friendly team at our dealership and be assured you are investing in the best your money can buy.”
Canberra RV World, 2 Nick Ellis Place, Hume. Call 5135 7888, or visit rvworld.com.au
‘We make it super easy for
from us, we are locals who love looking after
It’s worth noting that aggregate expenditure growth has been restricted to 3.1 per cent a year across the estimates period.
THE media release from Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr that accompanied the 2023-24 budget contained the following rather odd claim: “Total revenue has increased by greater than total expenses over the three years from 2023-24 to 2025-26 compared to the 2022-23 Budget Review.”
What is odd is that the Budget Review had already forecast an improvement in the operating budget – that revenue growth would be greater than the increase in expenses over the forecast period.
Similarly, the 2023-24 budget also forecasts an improving bottom line across the forward years.
It’s therefore strange that Mr Barr’s media release combined the sum of the revenues and expenses over three years (from 2023-24 to 2025-26) and then compared them, respectively, with the Budget Review estimates.
Why didn’t he simply state the increase in revenue is greater than
the increase in expenses in each of the forecast years, or even more simply, that the Net Operating Balance (NOB) is forecast to improve in each of the years compared to the Budget Review?
Table 1 incorporates the total revenue and total expenses in the 2022-23 Budget Review and the 2023-24 Budget and the changes in those totals from the Budget Review to the 2023-24 Budget.
What it illustrates is the dramatic deterioration in the operating budget position in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 (the budget year) when compared with the Budget Review forecasts.
The change in the forecasts for 202324 is particularly revealing in that total revenue increases by $178 million from the Budget Review forecast. The increase is entirely attributable to an increase in Commonwealth grants.
We have previously shown that the forward estimates for expenditure did not provide for sufficient growth to cover inflation and wage growth.
In fact, the 2023-24 forecast in the Budget Review reflected a cut of 0.3 per cent in nominal terms. Consider-
ing these cuts, the government had no option but to either increase expenditure or cut services. In the former case, taxes would need to increase, or the operating deficit would be worse than published.
Unsurprisingly, that is what’s happened. Total expenses in the 2023-24 budget increased by $339 million, from the Budget Review estimate of $8.014 billion to $8.353 billion, resulting in a deterioration of $162 million in the NOB to $662 million.
That may explain the omission of any reference, specifically, to the 2023-24 budget position, in Mr Barr’s media release.
While the forecast NOB deficit is
essentially the same for 2022-23 and 2023-24, a miraculous improvement of $550 million in the bottom line is forecast over the following two years 2024-25 (election year) and 2025-26.
This is largely underpinned by significant revenue increases over the Budget Review forecast, reaching $570 million in 2025-26.
The Budget forecasts revenue growth of 5.1 per cent, an increase from the forecast of 3.6 per cent in the Budget Review – well above the growth rate of the economy whether as measured through Gross State Product or State Final Demand, both averaging 3 per cent and 2.25 per cent per annum respectively.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over the seven years before the pandemic (up to 2018-19), taxation revenue in the ACT increased at a compounding rate of 7.3 per cent annually, the highest of all the states and territories. The national average annual growth rate was 5.4 per cent.
Including the post-pandemic years, ACT’s taxation growth over the 10 years to 2021-22 has been the highest in the country at 7.4 per cent a year compared to the national average of 6.2 per cent.
What may surprise many Canberrans is that since the treasurer assumed the responsibility for taxation reform, (land) tax on rental properties and stamp duty, two of the “bad” taxes, have grown at 9.3 per cent and 10.9 per cent respectively, every year on average since 2012-13.
In summary, the ACT residents have been subjected to a relatively higher tax burden over the past decade, which has been inefficiently raised and inequitably distributed. Starting from that position, any increases in revenue will place additional burden on the economy, businesses and households. We will focus on the revenue measures in the 2023-24 Budget in a subsequent article.
Canberrans have copped the nation’s highest increase in tax over the past decade and it’s not likely to change. JON STANHOPE and KHALID AHMED continue their forensic look at the latest ACT budget.Table 1: Changes in Revenue and Expenses – General Government Sector Sources: 2022-23 Budget Review; Page 107 and 2023-24 Budget Paper No. 3; Page 287.
BEREAVED mother Janine Haskins, in her letter to “CityNews” (September 14), bemoaned an absence of some evidence that may have been important to understanding her daughter’s death.
Former barrister and “CityNews” legal columnist HUGH SELBY points to shortcomings in the police approach to collecting, storing and returning items collected during an investigation. Bagged
“In the coronial hearing… it was determined that evidence (CCTV DVR) was returned by an AFP officer to a significant witness in the investigation… just two days after Brontë’s death,” she writes.
“At the hearing, there was confusion between the two AFP officers… regarding… why the evidence was returned.
“Three years later, I am still requesting a copy of the legislation regarding the storage of evidence in coronial matters; I am still none the wiser. Does anyone in the community know, because I am certainly not getting answers from the AFP or Police Minister Mick Gentleman?”
The aim of this article is to not only answer Ms Haskins’ queries but to point to some shortcomings in the police approach to collecting, storing
and returning items col lected during an investiga tion (be that a criminal or coronial inquiry).
The problem apparently occurred at the police inves tigative stage. The AFP has a lengthy National Guideline about how police are to treat property and exhibits in their control. Case officers are responsible for making timely decisions to authorise the return or disposal of any items not required for evidence (see 5.3)
The AFP Regulations 2018 (see Part 4, especially 73) provides:
“…the Commissioner must ensure that the property is returned to the person entitled to lawful possession when the reason for its detention has no further effect.”
Taken together those regulations and the Guideline “cover” the keeping or return of items taken during an investigation.
The decision to return some CCTV was made by a police officer, presumably because, rightly or wrongly, they did not consider it to have any further
relevance to their inquiries.
Had that CCTV material been kept then its storage would have been guided by the National Guideline. Had a party to the coronial proceeding tendered that CCTV material as evidence then it would have been kept by the court.
Both our Magistrates Court (of which the Coroner’s Court is a part) and our Supreme Court apply the Court Procedure Rules. These rules require the registrar of the court to manage exhibits.
Generally, it is up to the party that tenders an exhibit to apply to the registrar for its return once the litigation is finished. Perhaps because that is often forgotten, the registrar can give notice that an item is to be collected within three months, failing which the registrar can dispose of it.
Our Coroners Act (section 67) is
more specific, as anything taken or seized is to be returned to the person whom the coroner “reasonably believes to be entitled to it”.
Our Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) seems to have no published procedures for the storage or return of exhibits (except for those that are delivered to the tribunal in response to a subpoena).
In 2018 the Victorian auditorgeneral reported on Victoria Police’s management of property and exhibits.
Their first conclusion was: “Victoria Police holds on to more property than necessary. It cannot be confident that property is kept to a minimum based on its evidentiary value; that its handling and storage is safe and secure; or that its disposal is timely.”
Victoria Police records, as at 2018, showed about 470,000 items in police possession, stored at more than 200 locations.
NSW police give online advice that they will contact the relevant person about arranging the return of property collected during an investigation and give 28 days for that person to make arrangements as to what is to happen to it. How well they do that I do not know.
A recent news item from NSW pointed to how poor record keeping can jeopardise police inquiries: “The notorious case of Sydney’s Family Court bombings was only cracked
when police stumbled upon the key piece of evidence ‘purely by chance’ in a basement storeroom, an internal police report has revealed.”
Any type of vehicle may be seized by police when they are investigating such crimes as “car rebirthing”, culpable driving causing death, use of a vehicle to transport goods unlawfully, leaving forensic traces on the vehicle.
The vehicle is an important exhibit, and part of the “chain of custody” of forensic and expert evidence to be used at trial.
These “street registrable vehicles” are not covered by the AFP National Guideline.
Presumably there is another AFP policy document – not readily searchable on Google – that tells police what they are to do, and not do, when they seize a vehicle.
That might explain why they have allegedly held on to a big truck from the truck protest at Parliament House for a long time. Absent that explanation, photos of that truck might be all that is required at any hearing.
And the protesting owner driver might be able to have an income before that hearing.
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.
COLUMNIST Jon Stanhope
(“Why the apathy around harsh indigenous issues?”, CN September 7) is right to call to the attention of Canberra people the appalling statistics relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community here.
Many people seem to think that as we have a so-called “progressive” Labor-Greens government that the terrible rates of incarceration, child removals, health and education outcomes we know about in other jurisdictions couldn’t possibly apply here – but they do.
And it is all the more shameful, given Canberra’s high socio-economic level overall. We need to remember that this data represents trauma and hardship for many indigenous families.
It is time the ACT government and its bureaucracy put much more priority on solutions to these issues – solutions the indigenous community has if they were listened to and if more determination, urgency and action were injected into the government response. Perhaps the many ACT volunteers campaigning for the national Voice could keep the activism going into the ACT election in 2024 and demand better for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Janet Hunt, DicksonSERIOUS questions have arisen about the influence of the Voice concerning dual names.
The recent issue of the Qantas magazine has an article on NSW beaches with each identified in a dual sense, such as Bondi
Beach (Gadigal Country).
Elsewhere, some other places have been similarly identified, eg, Melbourne (Naarm) and Fraser Island (K’gari).
So what is to stop a “Yes” Voice victory demanding all non-Aboriginal names in Australia: cities to towns, suburbs to streets, geographical sites, rivers and roads, be so dual named?
Confusing, expensive, divisive – and permanent.
Greg Cornwell, YarralumlaTHE referendum will ask a single question, namely, “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”.
This implies that the referendum is only about recognition of ATSI peoples in the constitution, quite contrary to the second and third parts of the proposed wording for the constitution, dealing with implementation of a Voice.
Unfortunately (but counted on by the “Yes” proponents), a great many voters will simply read this as: “Do you agree with recognition of aborigines in the constitution”, in complete ignorance of the ramifications. No other information will be provided on the ballot paper and the question is therefore misleading by deliberate omission.
The acid test for the referendum is whether a Voice enshrined in the Constitution would make any difference to “closing the gap”.
The answer is a clear no, given that the means already exist in the NIAA and its 1300 staff under Minister Burney’s control, with a charter that reads exactly like what that of a Voice would look like.
Minister Burney and the government simply need to do their job. They do not even need new legislation to do so.
Max Flint, ErindaleMAX Flint (Letters, CN September 7) says the use of ticks at the referendum to indicate a “yes” while a cross does not represent “no” is “sinister and deceitful” and possibly “unlawful”.
Max is either pushing, or falling for a misleading “No” campaign talking point.
Max further says the AEC “should immediately clarify” the great (manufactured) scandal.
For the record, with all points below accurate and factual:
1. The acceptance of a tick as a “yes” and a cross as a “no” goes back almost around decades for Australian referenda. It is lawful.
2. The reason is ticks are universally accepted as a “yes”, while a cross in a box on a form is sometimes a “yes” and
sometimes a “no” (think about the forms you have marked a box with a cross). Nothing sinister or deceitful there.
3. The AEC has already made multiple statements about this issue. Clarified.
4. Data analysis shows any confused or unintended vote due to ticks and crosses represents 0.1 per cent at most.
Max, it’s time to stop pushing the “No” campaign hysteria or take a cold shower.
Kel Watt, BraddonI HAVE to agree with letter writer Max Flint about the AEC supporting the government in allowing ticks to count as “yes” but crosses not as “no” in the coming Voice referendum.
Imagine the outcry if ticks were not counted as “yes”. The “Yes” vote would be up in arms and there would be changes straight away.
Don’t “Yes” voters realise that the reason people are voting “no” is because they are sick and tired of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his “Yes” cohorts favouring the “Yes” side any way they can?
Whether it is through the Australian Electoral Commission, the taxpayer-funded ABC, big businesses such as Qantas or getting celebrities and sporting stars to ram it down our throats, the more they do this, the more likely people won’t vote “yes”.
Ian Pilsner, Weston
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AS former residents of Canberra for over 50 years, we are writing in response to Paul Costigan’s article (“Enough! The time has come to finally walk away”, CN September 7).
We will certainly miss his very insightful articles on the decline of Canberra at the hands of the long-term LGBT (L abor, G reens, Builders/Developers, Trade unions) government.
Like Paul, we voted with our feet and chose to move out of Canberra, following an earlier re-election of the Labor/Greens unholy alliance.
We both moved to Canberra in the early ‘60s with our respective parents, married in 1972 and shortly thereafter bought our new house in Holt, where we lived for some 48 years. Our three children grew up there and, like us, benefitted from the then excellent education and sporting facilities.
Canberra was, for a large portion of that time, a great place in which to live. It was well maintained and a delightful place to show off to relatives and friends who visited from interstate. We feel that we and our family experienced the best of Canberra growing up during that time.
Unfortunately, the rot started when self government was foisted on the residents by the Hawke government, but this accelerated with the Katy Gallagher territory government when, after publicly rejecting the Greens call for a tram, she then did a deal with the Greens devil to cravenly retain government after the following election. The tram was the resulting devil child of this unholy alliance!
From then on, under the Gallagher and then the Barr governments, we have seen health, education, city maintenance and public housing funding continually pillaged to fund the tram, the true exorbitant cost of which has never been revealed by those governments. Wonder why? Add to this the massive government borrowings that have consigned Canberra residents to decades of mounting debt to pay for a 19th century, inflexible transport system.
We have since seen Northbourne Avenue become a wasteland of weeds and wires; suburban infrastructure and maintenance become almost non-existent; planning rules totally bastardised to allow for substandard multiunit and highrise development approvals for builder mates at the expense of green spaces and cooling vegetation; all driven by
the unreal government ideology and total ineptitude.
We feel that we and our family experienced the best of times growing up in Canberra before it started, and continues, to degenerate under the hands of the current government.
While we are happy to have moved, we nonetheless feel very sorry for Canberra’s residents who are now saddled with massive government debt for which they, the residents, will be paying for decades.
Phillip and Beth Harris, GoulburnIT was quite a shock to read that Paul Costigan is to depart our city.
I recently went on holiday and on returning I looked for Paul’s regular column in “CityNews” but it was not there. It wasn’t there the next week either or the following week. I was very concerned. Where was he, why is his column not in “CityNews” any more?
He has been my adviser and educator on matters concerning my city. I even had hopes that he, along with other favoured “CityNews” contributors, could form a very special political party that would oust this ratbag Labor-Greens mob and bring sanity back to our city.
I will miss you Paul. I wish you were not leaving. However, I send good wishes for your happy re-establishment in Melbourne.
Daphne Harding, via email
I AM saddened to see that “Canberra Matters” columnist Paul Costigan and his partner are moving from our beloved city, but wish them well in their new endeavour. I shall miss his articles each week.
Being a resident of Canberra since 1970 my wife and I have seen many changes and, like Paul has mentioned, sometimes not for the best, especially over the past 20 years. The “ship of fools” he mentions sure knows how to rush in, where angels fear to tread. Let’s hope 2024 sees a change.
Canberra, the capital of Australia, was indeed conceived as a unique city with a visionary purpose. Designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony Griffin, it was meant to be a city that integrated urban, social and com -
munity elements seamlessly into its layout. The city’s distinctive design, with its radial roadways and focus on natural landscapes, was meant to reflect harmony between nature and human development.
However, as with many cities, Canberra has faced challenges and changes over the years. The current government and planners may not always align with the original vision, leading to concerns about urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and other issues. While it may be challenging to fully replicate the past, revitalising Canberra’s original concept is possible with thoughtful planning, citizen involvement, and a commitment to preserving the city’s unique character.
Errol Good, MacgregorON a pleasant spring Sunday morning I was extremely saddened to discover a lot of mature trees snapped in half and/or limbs broken off at the duck ponds near my home.
Thank you to all the local Friends of Conder Landcare volunteers who, over the last few years, have tirelessly worked to improve the area by removing weeds and planting beautiful native plants, bringing back birds and wildlife.
I hope the perpetrators receive the appropriate karma. I’m not sure whether to be sad that these people don’t know the value of community and the benefits of volunteering, obviously not being shown by their families, or be angry on behalf of the selfless volunteers who have had a lot of hard work undone in one fell swoop.
Vicki Wallis, ConderI AM appalled that the Greens still want to impose a rent freeze. Do they not understand that landlords are people too, who have put their life savings into a rental property, rather than a term deposit or the stock market?
Will they also push for a freeze on our expenses? My tenants were not aware of the ubiquitous Land Tax, which is levied only on rental properties. The ACT rates on the house they rent from me are $3417, the land tax is $5457. Both have hugely increased since the Greenslabor tram.
If our government is serious about
helping renters, perhaps they might abolish Land Tax. I would be happy to reduce the rent by $100 a week.
Norm Hughes, NarrabundahCANBERRA has some great models for the “missing middle”. They are here in plain sight.
They include Wybalena Grove (Aranda), Urambi Village (Kambah), Swinger Hill and the Radburn housing in Curtin. Two of these were developed as co-operative housing ventures – a model that should be encouraged for more affordable housing that meets the needs of the residents.
Many of the features of these developments should be strived for in ”missing middle” developments, including:
Being close to regular public transport, shops and work.
• Developing a pleasant, desirable neighbourhood to live in.
• Providing sufficient community space within the development to host shady trees and encourage community interaction.
• Being genuinely affordable.
To achieve these features the missing middle developments will need to be on large blocks that amalgamate several standard housing blocks. They cannot be achieved by dual occupancy on existing housing blocks because this results in long driveways, reduced canopy cover and minimal community interaction.
It’s over to the planners to ensure that Canberra remains a pleasant place to live in. Are they up to it?
Nick Swain, BartonON September 4, Pedal Power and a range of active and public travel linked bodies drew attention to priority two of the ACT government’s long worked-on Draft Active Travel Plan.
They called on Transport Minister Chris Steel to “immediately improve the proposed active travel network as part of the final draft of the Active Travel Plan and commit to conducting annual reviews of the project.”
While the minister produced some innocuous commentary about looking forward to implementing the final plan after the end of 2023, the slow finalisation of this
document and more bland words suggest that major financial commitments will be further delayed until the 2024 budget and then perhaps mainly funnelled into a smattering of lofty election promises for 2025 and beyond.
Northside active travellers have already been shortchanged by a lack of money and action despite intermittent streams of words about necessary but as yet undelivered basic “people movement” and public travel efficiency infrastructure improvements, ever since the new “improved” public transport system started in 2019.
In particular the lack of priority lights, lanes and turns promised by the government for buses at the main and highly congested Northbourne Ave/Mouat Street rail and road intersection, and their lack of response to numerous community calls for bus priority improvement and efficiency measures in and around the whole Dickson Group Centre, for upgraded and safer foot pathing to rail stops north of Dickson, and the provision of toilets at the Dickson Interchange.
The current spinning out and cutting back on a range of localised infrastructure projects and on the maintenance of much used yet neglected public spaces suggests also that there is actually little spare money or skilled staff available for the development and implementation of anything other than pre-determined and contentious planning reforms and associated light rail preparation, construction and likely cost blow-outs.
Sue Dyer, DownerRICHARD Calver’s wine column (“Where the wine lake’s hardly a puddle”, CN September 14) brought to mind a report in “The New York Times” about an incident in Levira, Portugal.
On Sunday, September 10, a blunder in a winery resulted in 2.2 million litres of red wine, enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool, flowing down the streets of Levira.
I hope it wasn’t one of the best Portuguese red wines, which some connoisseurs regard among Europe’s best.
We may never know how good (or bad) the wine was, but 2.2 million litres is a lot of headaches – and possibly an awful lot of drink-drive offences.
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, DeakinBEING a mum can be busy and demanding –and sometimes it’s hard to find the right advice, service or product when the need arises.
This week “CityNews” has made things a little easier by compiling this handy guide to expert services, products, entertainment and activities for mums and mums-to-be.
accessing maternity care by providing culturally safe, non-judgemental and flexible care, says CEO Julie Tongs.
“We focus on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community,” says Ms Tongs.
“The midwifery team offers antenatal and postnatal care, community at home support, baby health checks, breastfeeding support, immunisations, and a range of women’s health services.
“Our midwives work closely with ACT hospitals, and assist in ensuring continuity of care between Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS and
encourage patients to access.
“This also allows us to follow up on our patients’ progress with postpartum recovery, and to assist them with any needs in relation to caring for their infants,” says Ms Tongs.
“It is vitally important for high-risk clients to have access to Aboriginal specific, culturally appropriate midwifery services, as many choose not to access mainstream services without support.”
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au
three distinct and age-appropriate programs
The first program is for children under the age of three, to attend with an adult, and introduces them to music, stories and stimulating equipment.
The second program is a “Pre-Preschool” program for three and four-year-olds to attend by themselves before starting preschool.
“It has been amazing to see 21 years’ worth of kids and their families growing, loving, enjoying and benefiting from the program,” says Kristen.
The third program is Preschool PLUS. It’s designed for children to be involved
alongside Preschool. The program is centred on phonics based literacy.
“We use interactive computer sessions to expose the children to the letter sounds, letter identification and letter formation,” says Kristen.
“We are passionate about developing a love of learning in each and every child. “By allowing them to thrive in an educational setting and experience the joy in exploring and achieving, we hope learning will be a lifelong passion for all our Kidstart kids.”
Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre, 65 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa. For enrolment enquiries visit kidstart.com.au
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services (Winnunga) is a multiaccredited Aboriginal community controlled and managed primary health care service located in Narrabundah ACT.
We provide integrated client centric wrap around services, which focuses on the clinical, cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal clients, families and the community, including programs for Mums and Bubs.
The Midwifery Program aims to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing maternity care in mainstream services.
The Program maintains strong working relationships with each hospital which allows for seamless transitions of care.
Following the birth of baby, the Program provides up to six weeks of postnatal care in the client’s home assisting mothers with feeding, weight monitoring, emotional wellbeing assessments and mother-crafting/health education.
The Midwifery Program has developed strong links with the Winnunga Australian Nurse Family Partnership Program. Both programs work together to provide holistic care for first time Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mothers, or mothers having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby, in the Canberra region.
The programs complement each other and ensure mothers feel prepared and supported through their pregnancy and early parenting stages, up until the child is two years of age.
The ANFPP provides information and education to mothers using a strengths-based approach, which builds individual capacity to identify solutions to problems.
Mothers feel empowered as they learn how to work with their strengths, realise the power of their own actions and gain a greater sense of control over their lives.
Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services.
hours |
Ph: 6284 6222 | 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah
www.winnunga.org.au
is a one night session at the pub where expectant Dads learn how to support their partner through the birth of their baby. This session prepares Fathers to take an active, educated role in welcoming their child into the world!
Thu 12th Oct, 6:30pm - 9:00pm Gryphons Caffe Bar, 16 Barker St, Griffith
BEER and Bubs is a dads’ childbirth education class being run on October 12, says Heartfelt Healing Therapies owner Kylie Coad.
“I took over Beer and Bubs this year from a midwife, and I also work in births and have my own children,” she says.
“My children are older now and not at home any more, so I want to help others along in their journey.”
Kylie says it’s important to make dads feel like active participants.
“I help to give dads practical skills, like a knowledge toolbox, on how to make the birth and baby experience a positive outcome for everyone,” she says.
“Beer and Bubs is being run at Gryphons Caffe Bar, from 6.30pm. It is a powerpoint presentation where blokes can get together with other blokes and build a community, while learning, as I go through the ‘what ifs’.”
Kylie says she covers everything from labour, birthing and what comes after.
“I can teach them about what is normal, we have a dad guest speaker come in and we keep it very humorous and light-hearted,” she says.
“It can already be a stressful time and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
“But, I’m a hypno-birth practitioner, a doula, I support people who want home-births too and in postnatal care, and I used to work at Marymead so I am very familiar with everything.”
Beers and Bubs, Gryphons Caffe Bar, October 12. Call 0402 078003, or visit beerandbubs.com.au
MORE hands-on than any zoo or park, Taralga Wildlife Park offers closeup and personal animal experiences, making it the perfect outing for the whole family, says owner John Stafford.
“Meet all our regular visi tors’ favourites like Wilma the wombat,” he says.
“You’ll find Wilma wandering the grounds just waiting for a pat and some attention.
“Or get up-close with Rinnie, our super friendly dingo, or visit the friend ship farm area that also features rabbits, guinea pigs and sheep.”
The park also has numerous species of kangaroos and wallabies, including two spectacular white kangaroos, more than 100 species of birds, including macaws, curlews, parrots, finches and endangered freckled ducks, as well as free-ranging peacocks.
With more than 50 exhibits featuring animals such as dingoes, deer, antelope, camels, llamas and alpacas, John says there are plenty of animals and birds to see and feed.
Visitors can make a day out of the park, too, finishing it off at its cafe, which John says serves great coffee and cake or light
lunch options until 3pm.
He says there’s also a good range of cafes and hotels in the area to enjoy a variety of food.
Taralga Wildlife Park is open 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Monday, and is open every day during school holidays.
Taralga Wildlife Park, 257 Bannaby Road, Taralga. Call 0419 014540 or search Taralga Wildlife Park on Facebook.
NOTED American educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom once said experts are always made, not born. If that’s true, Canberra’s certainly helped make more than a few experts. From exercise to beauty, health to art, and more, there are plenty of professionals in the ACT passionate about sharing their insights and skills.
“Focusing on your abilities and taking account of where you need development, we want to train your body so you have the strength to sustain your busy life. We push you to be skilled, fit, focused, joyful and energised.”
Featuring an extensive variety of exercise facilities, including a 25-metre lap pool, Jason says Evo is a health club that brings people “life satisfaction beyond their fitness goals”.
“Coming into summer and those warmer
RMB Lawyers is a full service personal and commercial law firm providing legal services in the areas of property law, commercial law, employment law, family law, wills and estate planning, personal injury claims, and criminal law, says associate Paul Bartholomew.
“RMB is one of the largest regionally based law firms in Australia,” he says.
“This provides the ability for our law yers to specialise in certain areas of law; we have a ‘one office’ approach, which means our lawyers use technology to see clients, no matter where the lawyer/ client is based geographically; and our focus on delivering value to clients.
all club facilities, including taking a class.”
“Our group fitness classes are small and intimate, which is great because it means the trainers get to spend most of their time with the members, give them cues on form and really focus on each individual.”
Evo Health Club, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Call 6162 0808, or visit evohealthclub.com.au
“Our lawyers are required to participate in regular and ongoing external legal education and are required to hold seminars for our internal team and stakeholders on their area of speciality to ensure deep expertise and the sharing of knowledge within the team.
“Many of our lawyers have undergone further examination and accreditation with the NSW Law Society to become accredited specialists in their respective field.”
Paul says he is currently enrolled in a Masters of Applied Law program majoring in wills and estates and commercial litigation.
“I have a fundamental belief that being a
MUDD The Spa is a wellness sanctuary located in the heart of Canberra, says owner Erin Barry.
“Indulge in the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation experience at our luxurious day spa, where tranquility and serenity await you,” she says.
“Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of calm. The day spa is thoughtfully designed to create a peaceful haven where you can escape the stresses of everyday life.
Erin says Mudd The Spa offers everything from soothing massages that melt away tension to rejuvenating facials that leave your skin radiant.
“Our expert therapists are dedicated to providing you with the highest level of care and attention,” she says.
“They will customise each treatment to address your specific concerns and preferences.”
Erin says guests can enjoy access to her state-of-theart facilities, including a tranquil relaxation lounge,
25-metre heated indoor lap pool, steam room, sauna, and hydrotherapy spa.
“For those seeking the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity, we offer a private couples suite where they can enjoy their chosen spa experience in complete seclusion,” she says.
“Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself to a day of self-care, our luxury day spa promises to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience that will leave them feeling refreshed, revitalised, and utterly pampered.
“Above all, our luxury day spa is a place where you can reconnect with yourself, find balance, and rejuvenate your spirit.”
Mudd The Spa. Hotel Realm, Level B1, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Call 6162 0909, or visit @muddthespa instagram or mudd.com.au
PRINCIPAL podiatrist at Canberra Podiatry Michelle Prophet says she has the expertise and passion for helping others to put their best foot forward.
“My journey began long before I opened my own business in 1997,” she says.
“Prior to that milestone, I worked alongside my father, Stephen Prophet, a renowned orthopedic appliance consultant, and together we crafted orthotics and shoes, laying the foundation for what would become a thriving podiatry practice and eventually inclusive of a physiotherapist, David Kennard.”
Michelle says her business is a hub for all aspects of podiatry and physiotherapy, where she and her team offer a wide range of services.
“My own special interests within the field are biomechanics, with a particular focus on gait and posture analysis, as well as podopediatrics (the assessment of children), sports podiatry, and a dedicated emphasis on dance and ballet,” she says.
“We’re proud to highlight the unique strengths and passions of our dedicated team members.
“Jake, our senior podiatrist, is a true enthusiast in all aspects of podiatry. Mai comes highly recom mended for her proficiency in wound care, laser therapy, and providing comprehensive treatments, our remarkable practitioner Mia is our youngest podiatrist, based at our Queanbeyan clinic, and our friendly reception staff Eva at Canberra Podiatry and Chrissie at Qcity Podiatry, are always ready to help.”
Canberra Podiatry, 4 Chifley Place, Chifley, call 6281 1200. QCity Podiatry, Cassidy’s Arcade, 72-74 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan, call 6147 1616. Visit canberrapodiatry.com.au
ARTHRITIS ACT can support people no matter what type of chronic pain condition they have, says CEO, Rebecca Davey.
“It’s important to remain active at all ages, to condition muscles that protect against injury”, and Arthritis ACT has solutions for people of varying abilities.
Rebecca says Arthritis, Pain Support & ME/ CFS have staff who are not only experts in their fields, but many are peers in that they also live with the conditions that bring our clients to us.
“This means we really understand where you are coming from, your fears, your hopes, and what you can do,” she says.
“Many of our programs are held as group programs. This helps keep the costs down for you, but it also means you get to meet other participants who are dealing with similar issues.
“Sometimes when we’re living with invisible disabilities or illnesses, you feel really isolated because you feel no one else understands. In our programs, everyone understands. Many people come to our programs and make lifelong friends with others who really do ‘get you’.”
That’s only the start, Rebecca says, with Arthritis ACT also offering services such as exercise physiology, disability support and meal planning to help people in managing their pain.
“No task or question is too big or small for us.”
Arthritis ACT, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au
REIMAGINED Habitat was established in 2017 as a passive house design business, says owner Michael Drage.
“Our aim is to help people live in healthier, more energy efficient, sustainable homes,” he says.
“We incorporate energy efficient principles throughout the design process – without compromising on the aesthetic.
“We offer a complete interior and building design service for home improvements and new construction, with a team blend of experienced designers and graduates who bring fresh perspectives to the thinking and visualisation of our projects.
“This combination of experience and unbridled design thinking creates enviable results for our
This led him to a global search for the best products and eventually Michael established Net Zero Plus which imports European, high-efficiency windows.
“Our research shows windows and airtightness to be the key drivers for energy efficiency. We now have access to triple-glazed windows at around the same price of even the better double glazed units. An example recently was a client whose windows were eight per cent more costly through us, but reduced their heating and cooling costs by half. An unbelievable outcome.”
Michael says he found huge interest since he’s been able to supply such amazing windows at such good prices.
Canberra based, we have a team of five Certified Passive House Designers and Consultants to help you realise a more energy efficient, comfortable, healthy and well built home, without compromising on design. We work with new home builders and renovators either directly or with their builders or designer. We can do the whole design, or assist your team in helping optimise current designs.
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Our research showed that windows were the key to comfort and energy efficiency for homes, so we sourced the best we could to bring to the market in Canberra.
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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 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
• 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.’
“He has spent his working life in legal practices in Canberra,” she says.
“He then worked with William G Pierce, eventually buying out the practice, which then merged with that of Geoff Capon, and became what is now known as Capon and Hubert.”
Rhonda says Ken’s legal career spans nearly 40 years.
“Ken’s main area of expertise revolves around family matters, where he listens to clients to define issues and determines possible options, before he then handles negotiations and court proceedings,” she says.
the areas of estates litigation, commercial and property, and he also sometimes deals with criminal and traffic infringement matters.”
Ken helps people with their legal issues with confidence and compassion, says Rhonda.
“Ken is a people’s person and always leads with a ‘can-do’ attitude.”
Capon and Hubert Lawyers and Mediators, first floor, 32-38 Townshend Street, Phillip. Call 6152 9203 or visit chsol.com.au
A NEW, scientifically studied exercise technique called Nordic Walking is more effective than jogging but as gentle as walking, and is the perfect way to get in some regular exercise this year, says Capital Nordic Walking founder Kristen Pratt. The technique, which keeps European crosscountry skiers fit during their off season, uses specially designed poles that are planted behind the user to propel them along using the power of the upper body as well as the legs.
“It doubles the number of muscles being used and strengthened compared to walking and running, making it easy to get a high-intensity cardiovascular workout,” says Kristen.
“It strengthens arms, shoulders, back and core while also massively reducing strain on leg joints.”
Kristen says Nordic Walking is quickly growing in Canberra, beneficial to those who need some low-impact exercise and for those with a competitive spark.
“The great thing about Nordic walking is you don’t have to go very fast to get a good workout but competitive Nordic walkers can get up to speeds similar to running,” she says.
“For people who like walking, it can turbo charge your walk and for people who are really fit like runners and crossfitters, it’s a really good cross activity to build muscle because it is so low impact.”
Capital Nordic Walking, visit capitalnordicwalking.com.au
“The diverse skill set of myself and Can Ercan enables us to adopt a comprehensive approach in serving their clients,” says Maria Filardo.
“Our portfolio extends beyond Canberra, encompassing notable projects such as Hyde Park Cafe in Sydney, ventures in Victoria, and undertakings across regional NSW.
“I have over two decades of architectural experience, supplemented by my role as a lecturer at CIT specialising in building and interior design.
“Can brings a formidable 25 years of expertise in heritage conservation, having served with esteemed
firm with substantial influence.
“To ensure we can consistently deliver a personalised service to our clients,” she says.
“We complement each other, allowing our work to shine uniquely,” says Can.
They say they both express a genuine passion for their craft, and this enthusiasm is mirrored in the strong rapport they maintain with their clients, culminating in exceptional project outcomes.
Filardo Ercan Architects, visit feas.com.au or call Maria on 0421 342625 and Can on 0415 550801.
THE Dante Alighieri Society (DAS) of Canberra is a prominent member of the international network of Dante Alighieri Societies dedicated to the promotion of Italian language and culture throughout the world, says president Franco Papandrea.
SOUTH Pacific Hemp store manager
Sue Booth says at South Pacific
Hemp they go to great lengths to source only the best hemp products.
“We get to know the story and origin behind each wholesaler, we pride ourselves on knowing these individual companies’ stories and telling our customers exactly where the products originated,” she says.
“The global market for hemp is predicted to nearly quadruple in value between 2020 and 2027.
“This is because of hemp’s hardiness across a wide range of climates, its ability to grow in and improve poor soil, as well as absorb more carbon dioxide than any other crop, and that every part of the plant is useful.”
Sue says she also takes pride in having vast knowledge about the different hemp products and uses.
“We have a green hemp healing balm that is good for arthritis,
psoriasis, bruising, nerve pain and eczema,” she says.
“Or, we have a popular hemp and cherry balm or black sheep, which can help with nappy rash, inflammation, bites and stings.
“The store also has a range of clothing and linen, fabrics, bedding and cushions all made to promote wellbeing.
“Hemp protects your skin by naturally filtering UV light. It also resists bacterial growth and breathes excellently, preventing odours and has four times the strength of cotton and it won’t weaken when washed.”
Sue says hemp gives years of wear, while its breathing ability, antibacterial and antiviral properties help promote good sleep.
South Pacific Hemp, 84 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0431 318898 or visit southpacifichemp.com.au
“Established 1957, it has been offering an authentic experience of Italian language and culture to the Canberra community for more than 65 years and is widely regarded as the best place to learn Italian in the national capital,” he says.
“It offers the widest range of adult Italian courses available in Canberra at very competitive prices. In addition, fee-paying adult students are able to practice what they learn in the classroom
only place in the region where non-native Italian speakers can sit exams for the internationallyrecognised Plida certificate of Italian competency.
“Thanks to generous assistance by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the DAS employs mother tongue Italian language assistants to support the teaching of Italian in Canberra’s primary and secondary schools,” he says.
“Membership of the society is open to anyone with an interest in Italian language and culture. Members are provided with an extensive program of cultural and social activities including weekly social conversation groups, special events and social occasions.”
works of leading local and national artists focused on the art of flora and still life,” she says.
“Featuring a huge line-up, the show will include the works of Jane Aliendi, Jessica Ashton, Sally Browne, Ann Maree Clark, Fiona Cotton, Michelle Fogarty, Kate Gorman, Jessica Guthrie, Elizabeth Hersey, Sarah Hickey, Elisabeth Howlett, Thea Katauskas, Gabby Malpas, Kirsty McIntyre, Matilda Michell, Veronica O’Leary, Gosia Orzechowska, Bethany Saab, Kean Onn See, Llewellyn Skye, Miranda Summers, Sam Tidbeck, Oliver Shepherd and Sarah Waghorn.”
Kacy says almost all artists have been finalists or winners of major art prizes.
“Local artist, Fiona Cotton is a
featured prominently at Sydney Contemporary and was a winner of numerous prizes, including 2023 Best and Brightest in ‘Home Beautiful’ magazine.
“Jessica Ashton has been a two-time finalist in the Archibald and many of the artists have been included in the Portia Geach and Doug Moran prizes among others.”
Kacy says she is proud to present this joyous show dedicated to the colours of spring.
“Show opens at 6pm, September 21, and runs until October 8, and the gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.” Grainger Gallery, Building 3.3/1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick. Call 0404 769843, or visit graingergallery.com.au
BRENT Souden first started working as a flooring installer in Canberra 2007, moving here from West Wyalong, NSW, where he learnt the trade from his father and grandfather who have operated their store since 1953, says wife and Soudens Floor Collective business co-owner Lewarna Souden.
“He began as a sub-contractor working for various flooring stores throughout Canberra,” she says.
“Over the years he has grown the business from one person to 11, moving from our home garage to our Fyshwick showroom in March 2021.
“Our carefully curated showroom has thousands of flooring samples on display for our clients to choose from to suit a wide range of budgets and styles.
“We’ve created a space that feels warm and inviting and which sparks inspiration.”
Lewarna says they offer residential and commercial
flooring solutions including carpet, vinyl, hybrid, timber, laminate and polished concrete.
“The business was born out of our desire to provide something no other Canberra stores were offering, an end-to-end service with experts at every stage of the process – sales, estimation and installation,” she says.
“Brent’s experience covers a wealth of knowledge that only comes with years of dedication to learning the trade, which is also uncommon in our industry.
“It means he has the practical knowledge and skills to teach our team every aspect of flooring with a special focus on floor preparation which is ultimately the key to a beautiful long lasting floor, like our unique vinyl wrapped staircases.”
Soudens Floor Collective, 14/8 Beaconsfield Street, Fyshwick. Call 5134 3970, or visit soudens.com.au
MANDEVILLA or “rock trumpet” can grow in our climate in a protected spot outdoors in a pot or in a large glasshouse.
It is a tropical vine and a great way to add a splash of colour that contrasts with the dark-green, waxy leaves in summer. It’s a great gentle climber and needs a trellis or structure. It can fill a vertical space in little time.
The “Brazilian jasmine” (Mandevilla sanderi ) as commonly known is fast growing and can get up to about four metres in two seasons.
It ranges in colour from hot reds to pinks and whites. The coloured throats in the flowers make them
tropical looking in summer.
If there is space outdoors in the garden beside a patio trellis, a mandevilla worth trying is “Chilean jasmine” (Mandevilla laxa). It’s a deciduous variety that can grow in a protected spot.
In summer, it produces highly fragrant flowers in the evening. It grows about three metres wide and tall, but if a dense screen is what’s needed, plant them a metre apart and keep trimmed on both sides of the trellis so it can thicken up.
Surprisingly, they are drought tolerant once established and survive on very little care. To keep them growing and flowering well in pots, they’ll need a regular fertiliser that’s high in potassium and phosphorus. Top up the compost annually.
Look for aphids and fungal diseases on the leaves, and spray with an organic insecticide such as eco oil as required.
There is a new compact variety
of mandevilla that’s suitable for hanging baskets and small pots if space is at a premium.
COMMONLY called the “Swiss Cheese Plant”, Monstera Deliciosa is a tropical plant better grown indoors in Canberra.
It’s a must-have for an indoor plant grower and new varieties have different variegations in the leaves such as Albo (white), Aurea (yellow), and mint. Then there’s “Thai Constellation” (Monstera deliciosa) with splatters and splotches of creamy or off-white striking patterns on its leaves.
It will always produce variegation, but the amount and when is up to the plant. The more variegation, the higher the price. They are extremely rare and expensive. Variegation is a genetic mutation that occurs naturally and variegated monstera that have fewer green pigments in the leaves, grow slower than their evergreen counterpart. They are generally smaller as well.
Monsteras are hemiepiphytic plants. They grow as terrestrial plants, anchoring their roots into the soil, and then begin to climb, attaching themselves with aerial roots to grow as an epiphytic plant.
It needs a totem pole, moss pole or a support structure to help it to
grow and hold the weight of the stem and large leaves. It is naturally an understory plant in its native habitat, so in trying to replicate that environment indoors, it’s important to keep it out of direct sunlight.
If monsteras are unaffordable, then the large-leaf tropical philodendrons are worth a look. Closely related to monsteras (they, too, have variegation), some unusual variants have a splash of pink in their leaves. Philodendron bipinnatifidum can grow outdoors in Canberra, but needs protection from the frost. My plant gets frostbitten every year, but grows back in late spring, early summer. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
• Feed garlic with flowering food six weeks before harvest.
• Plant out seedlings from punnets that have 6-8 sets of leaves.
• Sprinkle Diatomaceous earth around seedlings to protect them from crawling insects.
• Net fruit trees after flower petals have finished.
CANBERRA-raised playwright, Mary Rachel Brown has a knack for memorable play names and her latest, “Rosieville”, coming up at the Courtyard Studio in a production by Luke Rogers, is no exception.
With titles such as “Dead Cat Bounce”, “National Security and the Art of Taxidermy’’ and, my favourite, “A Streetcar Named Datsun 120Y”, Brown has been at the forefront in exploring urban cultures and subcultures, tackling everything from OCD to the religion of greyhound racing. She has now turned to pigeon-keeping.
One of our most awarded and most productive stage writers, her work has been performed as far afield as Berlin and once she even collaborated with Canberra’s other famous playwright, Tommy Murphy, on a trilogy called “Kings X Stories” at Sydney’s Stables Theatre.
I’ve known Brown since she was an undergraduate student at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, but by then she was already a veteran of Canberra Youth
tre with rose-tinted spectacles, particularly singling out her then-tutor Joe Woodward as “the coolest director”.
“The thing I appreciated was that there was a lot of development and you can’t get a bigger gift than that as a writer.”
Now as a 53-year-old woman, she’s become aware that she uses a different language from young people, so to hear it read by youthful actors and to be able to change some of the words is also a gift.
In the play, 11-year-old Rose’s father has
“a bossy rat with wings”, possibly her subconscious, who has the expertise to teach Rose how to find her way home.
It’s all a bit of a homecoming to Brown too, who was here a couple of years ago, when “Rosieville” was given a dramaturgical working over at the Ralph Wilson Theatre before covid held it up.
“Since that last outing, it’s gone on a massive diet and it’s quite a short play – under an hour,” she says.
“I’d call it a sprinter – it’s got very short scenes, maybe about 15 scenes.
place, more an idealised location in the mind of the central character, who lives in the wilds of Flynn in Belconnen.
That’s where Brown grew up in a fairly idyllic childhood. Mind you, when at age five the family first moved to Flynn from Sydney’s north shore, she burst into tears, but once let run wild in the cul-de-sac, she had a great time, and now, living in a “shoebox in Potts Point”, Flynn sounds very pleasant.
“This play is essentially an intimate relationship story set inside a cul-de-sac in Belconnen,” she says.
“It’s all about people who develop when they want something when they’re waiting for something to happen.”
We agree that John Lennon said something about that and so did Samuel Beckett in “Waiting for Godot”.
“I won’t give too much away,” she says, but there is a man in the street who has homing pigeons, he’s waiting for one of them to come back so the whole street gets immersed in that… Everyone is waiting for something; it’s what people do.”
Apart from people, she says: “I’m a big animal lover and am intrigued by the way people project on to their animals.”
She’s been researching homing pigeons and watched English documentaries about people who keep them, very different from her earlier research into greyhound racing for her best-known play, “The Dapto
“But my main character is a human, a little girl up against her first encounter of heartbreak, not romantic heartbreak, but a big life issue,” she says.
“She’s about to learn that if you’re hurt, your way back is often through people… life can be messy, but it is a story about hope.”
It’s also about Canberra, she notes. “Lake Burley Griffin is in it – “we go to a Birdman Rally.”
“Rosieville”, The Courtyard Studio, September 29-October 8.
The long-awaited live action adaptation of “One Piece” has smashed records, racing to the top of the platform’s rankings.
Thirty-year-old Aleksandra Swigut teaches at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, but keeps up a cracking pace as a touring concert pianist, also performing in duo with her sister, violinist Agnieszka Świgut.
She’s just finished performances at the Chopin and His Europe Festival, one of the biggest in Poland, and recently won second prize, the audience prize, and the orchestra prize at the 17th Edvard Grieg’s International Piano Competition in Bergen, Norway.
Here in Canberra we’ll first see her on September 30 as part of the Friends’ first annual Australian Chopin Festival, appearing via two-way livestream from the Chopin Museum in Warsaw to the National Gallery’s James O Fairfax Theatre to perform Grieg, Liszt, Schubert, Chopin and Karol Szymanowski, and to talk about Chopin as part of a virtual tour of the museum.
Then on November 9, also at the NGA, she will be here with the Orava Quartet, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor.
When I caught up with Swigut by phone to Warsaw, she told me she’d never been to Australia.
Originally from southern Poland, she moved to Warsaw to study at the university where she now teaches, then later at Katowice Music Academy, Guildhall School of Music in London and Gdańsk Music Academy, where she did her doctorate.
She believes that her experiences as a student who struggled with her art
has put her in a good position to help her students understand the nature of her profession, and how to embrace technical improvement while also understanding the historical context of the music that they play.
Unusually for a showcase pianist, Swigut revealed that she had found her piano studies less than easy.
“I was lonely as a student, I was looking for my own style of playing,” she tells me.
“It’s a blessing when you get the opportunity and you find the right teacher.”
But she didn’t find the right teacher at first: “I had many teachers with very high professional qualifications, but I was struggling as an individual to work with them.”
One outlet was her introduction to the harpsichord that, in turn, led to an interest in historical pianos. She won the silver medal in the International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments in Warsaw in 2018 and is very pleased to learn that the ANU School of Music holds a collection of such instruments.
Swigut describes her interest in historical piano as “a huge branch of music, where people are becoming interested in discovering the real sound of Chopin’s era”.
Portraying herself as lonely and shy when young, Swigut describes a period where she had to actively study how to
communicate with the public.
“Even though I’ve learnt to hide it, I’m still that young, introverted girl, but somehow I have learnt to be an extrovert – it’s a mask you have to put on.”
It’s a mask she wears very effectively.
“I am a person who is very active, and it’s really necessary, you need to know how the classical music market works from an economic point of view,” she says.
“Many teachers have had superb careers and are very wise, but are not across contemporary culture... Now you have to be capable with social media and be prepared to be self-exposed, which is not natural as I am a very discreet person and don’t like to open up about my life.”
Besides, she asserts, in classical music the chief project is to reflect the intention of the composer.
“We are presenting the composer’s ideas and we should be completely devoted to the music, rather than exploring our egos… we are only the servants of the composer,” she says.
“Older classical musicians are living in a world that is changing fast, where pop culture is dominant, but in order to stay active in the profession you have to learn how to present yourself and it has to be authentic.”
Australian Chopin Festival, Canberra and Goulburn, September 28-October 2. Program details at friendsofchopin.org.au
In its first few days of release, the show – based on the popular manga and anime of the same name – has become the number one series in 84 countries. That beats out “The Addams Family” inspired hit “Wednesday” and sci-fi nostalgia trip “Stranger Things”, which each managed to take out the top spot in 83 countries.
When the numbers are crunched, the viewership of “One Piece” comes out at about 18 million people worldwide, racking up more than 140 million hours of viewing and that’s just in a few weeks. So what makes this new show, based on a Japanese cartoon, such a hit?
Anyone familiar with “One Piece” will likely be aware of its sheer longevity.
The manga about a motley crew of pirates in search of the greatest treasure of all time first hit shelves 25 years ago and has since gathered more than 106 volumes spanning more than 1000 chapters.
Then, in 1999, its first animated TV adaptation arrived and today is still ongoing with more than 1000 episodes under its belt as well.
That sort of shelf life has managed to garner the franchise millions of fans.
Now, Netflix’s new version has taken the popular characters and cast them with real actors, attempting to capture fans of the original show and a whole new demographic of viewers who are less inclined to animation.
It’s clear Netflix sees the potential here. If a manga and anime can secure that amount of popularity for so long, can a live-action version as well?
So far the response is promising. Many say the magic of the source material hasn’t been lost in transition to its newest iteration. An impressive feat indeed.
The success of “One Piece” might indeed show that the good, old-fashioned adventure tale is in for a resurgence. It’s a fun, mostly straightforward story about a quest for the ultimate pirate’s booty and it’s clear Netflix has found some treasure indeed.
SEASON three of Apple TV Plus’ slick drama
“One Piece”... “The magic of the source material hasn’t been lost in transition to its newest iteration,” says reviewer Nick Overall.
Carell and Jennifer Aniston in its lead roles.
While the duo may be considered sitcom royalty, here they put their dramatic acting talent on full display while also leaning into their comedic timing when the script requires.
They’re Mitch Kessler and Alex Levy, the two anchors of “The Morning Show” – America’s leading breakfast program.
Their brand of “on-air husband and wife” (as they label themselves) is prolific as it is popular, their faces plastered over the light-up billboards that dominate Manhattan’s skyline.
But things are thrown into turmoil in the show’s opening minutes when Kessler is accused of sexual misconduct and fired just two hours before their program goes to air, leaving his co-anchor to host by herself and work out just how she’ll address the issue in front of millions of inquisitive viewers.
The series has managed to score close to a dozen Emmy nominations, including for Carrell, Aniston and Reese Witherspoon who joins the cast as one of the show’s plucky reporters.
Over its two seasons thus far “Morning Wars” has managed to keep audiences coming back with its relentless pursuit of anything topical. From the #metoo movement to racial tokenism to the covid pandemic, the show tries hard to press almost every hot-button issue that it can. In the process it loses a sharp focus on any one particular avenue of commentary, but the quick turnover of subject matter keeps it fresh.
This newest set of episodes and what issues they choose to tackle will be key in determining the longevity of the series.
In saying as much, Apple TV Plus faces a similar quandary to that of the show’s fictional producers. Can “Morning Wars” continue to resonate or will the ratings slide?
THE surreal has the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream. I don’t believe that we dream in colour; if you think you do that’s just a pigment of your imagination.
It was certainly out of the ordinary to receive an invitation to taste rum, a spirit I rarely drink. The bottle of Bundaberg that I have in my cabinet is mostly used for revving up desserts, not for regular drinking.
This night, however, beckoned me to imbibe rum made in El Salvador, that was promoted via an event co-hosted by the El Salvadoran embassy. This central American country is the smallest in all of the Americas, named by the Spanish for Jesus Christ as saviour. I knew that coffee was produced from this country but otherwise I came to
the event a tabula rasa.
The tasting was held in the noisy, crowded Walt and Burley at the Kingston Foreshore where in front of the blazing fire (perhaps seeking to emulate the tropical atmosphere of the host country) Daniel Vinson, of Proof Drinks Australia, told stories about how, since 2004, rum has been made in an El Salvadoran valley where there used to be a Mayan city, the valley of Cihuatán.
The brand takes its name from this valley.
The rum is described as being “of the Mayan Gods” but no blood was spilt on the night, and not even dignity was sacrificed.
The featured, special rum (15 year barrel aged) was, however, called the Alux named after the Mayan equivalent of the leprechaun, small dwarf-like creatures that can be both useful and mischievous, a bit like critics.
Apparently there were only two bottles of this spirit in Australia from a total production
of 5000. It was pleasant, earthy and sweet, but not a product I’d pay $150 a bottle to purchase.
Daniel was effusive about rum making. The Cihuatán rum came about because there was access to a sugar refinery, with sugar being the main ingredient of rum.
The usual method is to make molasses from sugar cane and then alcohol is created through fermentation caused by adding yeast and water to the molasses.
The liquid is then heated and distilled, via pot or column stills, where the water and alcohol are separated. White rum has a short period of ageing but dark rum is produced by barrel ageing. The three main rums on taste were barrel aged for, respectively, 8, 12 and 16 years.
The eight-year-old, Indigo, was aged in American oak bourbon barrels 40 per cent alcohol by volume (all of the rums were at this level) and had an attractive blue-hued
label, which Daniel told us was in homage to Tlaloc, Mayan god of rain.
Blue is Tlaloc’s sacred colour, the colour of, yes, rain. This rum is soft and sweet with a hint of hazelnut and an overwhelming vanilla flavour on first taste.
The 12-year-old has a red and tan label and is called Cinabrio, after the colour created by the Mayans from the mineral cinnabar. This rum I found to possess a sweet plum taste (my notes say “plum, plum, plum”) with a hint of toast, derived from the barrel ageing I’d suggest.
The third, the 16-year-old, was Xaman, Mayan god of the North Star and protector of the Cihuatán valley, aged for 15 years in
American oak bourbon barrels and finished for one year in what Daniel called “Mayan ceiba barrels”, crafted from the uniquely El Salvadoran ceiba tree.
It is labelled XO (extra old) that usually is a sign the spirit is old and smooth enough to drink on its own. This rum leaves a toasty balsamic finish after the usual hit of sweetness. Outside the night remained cold, the experience wrapped in a soft, dreamlike afterglow.
My millennial children dream about owning a house: too bad it’s surreal estate.
A YOUNG Polish pianist known for her dynamic, energetic virtuosity is coming to Australia both virtually and live as the guest of Canberra’s Friends of Chopin Australia.Polish pianist Aleksandra Swigut… “Even though I’ve learnt to hide it, I’m still that young, introverted girl, but somehow I have learnt to be an extrovert – it’s a mask you have to put on.”
ONCE in a while, a new restaurant opens in Canberra with a bang. Meet Oh no! in Manuka. Lovely fit-out (cool, contemporary), great staff, super service and fabulous food. Who could ask for anything more?
The creative menu, noting that the kitchen’s diversity includes staff from Korea, Japan, Philippines and Nepal (some of whom start prepping at 4am), is centred around fresh, high-quality ingredients and precise execution with a lovely twist on many dishes.
Select from raw plates, small dishes, “all wrapped up” selections (wontons, gyoza and bao), large dishes and add-ons, including a pressed watermelon salad, shiso, jalapeno and ginger we didn’t try but will on our next visit ($15).
The wild tuna sashimi ($24) was sublime and – as with all dishes – beautifully presented. The flavour combo was delightful. Paper thin slices of radish added crunch and the honey yaju a gorgeous sweetness.
Fans of beef tartare will be mighty impressed ($23). No mince here. Instead, lean, tender, superior beef cut into smallish chunks by hand. The dish showcased another winning combination of flavours – nashi pear for sweetness, julienned apple for freshness, macadamia for crunch, and chilli for bite. The textures married incredibly well with black sesame crackers.
A fun small dish we loved sharing is the sesame prawn donut, with a creamy prawn head mayo (intense, but not overly so). The rectangle-
shaped donuts were covered in black sesame and prawn salt added to the balance ($9 each).
Next up was a generous serve (for $17) of large cubes of silky tofu with chilli salt. They were stacked on a sexy sweet sambal (made in-house, of course) and don’t forget to squeeze the fresh lemon provided all over, for extra lift.
We rounded our food extravaganza with kimchi gyoza ($15 for four pieces) and all immediately became fans. The kimchi is blitzed with honey and the dish showcases green apple and jalapeno.
Sadly, we were too full to delve into the
large-dish section of the menu but promised to head back to do just that.
Oh no! is bold and confident, with good reason. The team has carved a unique place in the inner south and staff are justifiably proud of that. They know their food and know their wines (a compact list is available, but also a multi-page version for those who really want to explore). We loved the region’s Ravensworth Murrumbateman Fiano and Trebbiano, recommended as an excellent choice with Oh no!’s style of cuisine ($75 a bottle).
Oh no! has two dining zones downstairs with a mix of low and high tables (some chairs with backs and some not). Upstairs the bar opens at 4pm serving dynamite cocktails. Oh no! is working on outdoor dining.
ILLUSIONIST Michael Boyd’s spectacular show “Mystique” is coming to town with “The Scorpion”. At a cost of more than $50,000, they’re saying it’s his “most deadly contraption”. Canberra Theatre, September 27.
GOOD news that the image of Muswellbrook’s “Big Blue Heeler”, which Australia Post has used in its “Big Things” numismatic covers, is by Canberra photographer and art critic Brian Rope.
THE 27th Japanese Film Festival will canvas a broad range of cinematic delicacies from historical dramas to modern tales. The opening night film “We’re Broke, My Lord!” is a comedy around an unexpected inheritance. Palace Electric, October 11-15.
THE National Capital Orchestra continues its 40th anniversary celebrations with an epic program, conducted by Louis Sharpe, called “Hope Struggle Victory”. Albert Hall, September 24.
“MR Burns, A Post-Electric Play” in which a troupe of players wander the land in a post-apocalyptic society, will be the final production of the National University Theatre Society’s season this year. ANU Kambri, September 27-30.
THE Band of the Royal Military College Duntroon will perform “Masterworks for Winds” under the baton of Major Matthew O’Keeffe. Supporting the band will be students from the ANU School of Music. Llewellyn Hall, September 30, entry via gold-coin donation. AN intimate ensemble of six Australian Chamber Orchestra musicians will perform “Postcards from Italy”. Llewellyn Hall, September 26.
Many authors have since followed Harper’s formula of crime in a small country town, some more successfully than others.
Award-winning author Margaret Hickey has lived most of her life in small rural towns and her PhD focused on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. Both experiences have informed her writing.
“Cutter’s End” (2021) explores the dangers of Australian deserts, while “Stone Town” (2022) highlights the secrets that can be hidden in the Australian bush.
“Broken Bay”, her third novel featuring her Greek-Australian Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti, is set on the Limestone Coast of SA, a region known for its treacherous underwater worlds of sinkholes and caves, where Ariti is on holiday.
Broken Bay, four hours from Adelaide is “a small town, though full of ugly buildings and squat houses. Perhaps it was on the verge of discovery by sea-changers, but the wave of city cash seemed a while off yet.”
The town is buzzing with the news that Australia’s leading cave diver, Mya Rennick, has died while exploring a newly discovered sinkhole on the land of wealthy farmer, Frank Doyle.
However, when the rescue team brings her body to the surface they discover it’s not
and assist the police investigation.
Ariti discovers the long-running rivalry between the Doyles and the Sinclairs. The Sinclairs had been wealthy from lobster fishing while the Doyles were poor dairy farmers. But the fishing failed and land prices rose at the same time. Murray Sinclair had to sell off his fleet of boats and his house in
The Sinclairs tell the police that although the family enjoyed both cave and sea diving, Eloise couldn’t dive. They had been too protective to allow her to be exposed to the danger. They therefore cannot explain how she has died in a sinkhole in full diving gear. The truth is as shocking as it is unexpected.
In “Broken Bay”, Hickey creates a town full
of distinctive characters, from the irascible motel owner to the elderly owner of the town takeaway and Chomp, a fisherman who lost his arm to a shark. Her detective understands the role of gossip in small communities and talking to the locals helps him uncover the past history of the Sinclairs and the Doyles.
The end result is a cleverly crafted story of love, infidelity, obsession and the breathtaking beauty of the underground world of the Limestone Coast that most of us will never see.
REBECCA Heath also sets her debut crime novel “The Summer Party” on the coast of SA.
Lucy Ross has returned to the beachside town of Queen’s Point. Her grandmother has died and her house needs clearing, Lucy has been reluctant to return, but a newspaper article about human remains discovered on the nearby beach is “the prod she needed to finally make the two-hour trek” from Adelaide.
Suppressed memories of the summer of 2000, that she’d spent here with her grandmother, “jostle for prominence”, the year she’d met the wealthy Whitlams, whose house on the hill still dominates the town.
The town has changed. “Trendy cafes have replaced empty shops. Chic gift shops and slick surf shops sit where once there was only a second-hand clothing store… And on the corner, across from the pub that’s been
renovated into a gorgeous hotel, sits the glassfronted, elegantly lit Whitlam Homewares.”
Lucy remembers her naïve 15 year-old self, seduced by the glamorous lifestyle and the charisma of the teenage Whitlam siblings, culminating in the annual summer party held at their house.
Lucy brings her own troubles with her. Her husband has recently died and her successful career in finance is on hold, after an outburst at a client. Vulnerable and lonely, Lucy once more becomes emotionally entangled with the Whitlams.
Inevitably, buried secrets are uncovered, as the body buried on the beach is identified and Lucy has to confront distressing truths about the past.
Heath’s debut shows real promise but the Whitlams? Depending on your age, it either conjures images of Gough and Margaret or the Band or the Canberra suburb.
THE creators of Bangarra’s first production for children hope the tale of a small green turtle named Migi will resonate with kids.
“Waru” is a collaborative effort written by Munaldjali/Nununkul actor Hunter Page-Lochard and his father, long-time Bangarra artistic director Stephen Page.
Best known for starring in ABC fantasy sci-fi series “Cleverman” and subsequent roles in “Les Norton” and “Harrow”, Page-Lochard has enjoyed working with his father.
“It is always fun creating and learning with dad,” Page-Lochard said.
“It can have its ups and downs but I thoroughly enjoy it.”
“Waru” is inspired by the green turtle’s significance in the Torres Strait Islander (Zenadth-kes) totemic system.
The production follows the journey of Migi and her story of survival from the day she hatches on an island to the many challenges she faces during her lifetime including ghost nets, pollution and predators.
Children will be able to participate in and learn about Torres Strait Islander culture, dance, language
and the impacts of climate change.
“Dance theatre and theatre allows you to create these imaginative worlds, so if you have a social issue like climate change then you can dress it around this magic world of theatre and it allows a child to embody it,” Page said.
He said the pair have a natural instinct and rhythm when working together.
“I did frustrate Hunter sometimes because I like to joke a lot and he didn’t have much time, so he got mad at me a couple of times but then we refocused,” he said.
The duo aimed to create an interactive 45-minute experience given the target audience for the production is children aged three
and up.
“Time was always something that we spoke about and trying to figure out how long does this need to be in order for the kids to follow it and to remember, and that is when we started to come up with ideas of making it quite interactive,” Page-Lochard said.
Like many island environments, the Torres Strait is under serious threat from climate change including rising sea levels eroding the lands and increased sea temperatures.
Human pollution is also impacting the health of marine life.
“Waru – Journey of the small turtle” is touring nationally. –AAP
25 September-1 October, 2023
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
It’s a terrific time to travel, teach, publish, study, nurture a close relationship, learn something new or share an adventure with someone special. Plus keep yourself mentally sharp and physically strong. Then you can bounce back from any stressful setbacks that come along. There’s a fiery Full Moon in Aries on Friday, so do your best to get the ratio right between personal requirements and relationship responsibilities. The buzz word for the week is Balance.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Expect an emotional rollercoaster ride this week, Taurus, as disruptive Uranus stirs up problems in a partnership or unpredictable moods at home. And you may have to deal with a gob-smacking surprise that really rocks your world! So be patient and avoid making any important long-term decisions until things settle down. The weekend looks promising, as the universe provides an opportunity for you to do something creative or learn something new.
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
This week is all about learning, education and communication as your ruler, Mercury, links up with clever Jupiter and curious Uranus. It’s also time to dream big – and often – as Friday’s fiery Full Moon activates your ‘hopes, dreams and wishes’ zone. Be inspired by Superman actor and birthday great, the late Christopher Reeve: “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable. And then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
It’s Full Moon week! Time to connect with colleagues and clients at work, plus family and friends from within your local community as you talk, text, tweet, publish, podcast or post up a storm. Other people are expecting you to come up with some clever ideas and smart solutions, so put on your thinking cap, Crabs! And don’t persist with outdated old ways of doing things. Be proactive about initiating exciting, adventurous and creative new strategies.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
The sparks are set to fly as Venus (in your sign) plus temperamental Uranus and the fiery Full Moon all amp up your feisty side. Expect some annoying frustrations and delays on Friday, especially involving a personal project or a work matter. You’ll have to dig deep to find a quality that you usually have in short supply … patience. Monday and Saturday are the best days to push an ambitious project ahead with renewed motivation and plenty of Leo passion.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Virgos love things to run smoothly but there’s unpredictable planetary energy about this week and carefully-laid plans could veer off in unexpected directions. Which could be wonderful or stressful, depending on the circumstances. Whatever happens, drop the perfectly-planned schedule, and go with the flow. When it comes to money matters, joint finances, taxes or trust issues, avoid being uncharacteristically rash. Slow down and take a second look.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Unpredictable Uranus is disrupting relationships or finances, so tread gingerly with a sulky partner, an unreliable lover, a grumpy housemate, a frustrated family member or a cranky client. The more diplomatic you are, the less stressful the week will be. Don’t let other people deter your ambitions or derail your dreams! Be inspired by Libran birthday great, actor and disability rights activist, the late Christopher Reeve: “Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t sell out.”
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
You’re keen to power ahead with a romantic relationship, a business partnership or a joint venture. But expect some disruptions as Uranus upsets the applecart. Don’t stress, Scorpio! Review your approach and reassess your plans. The Full Moon fires up your wellbeing zone, so it’s a good week to exercise, hit the gym, play sport, participate in a Fun Run or enjoy bushwalking. As birthday great, the late Olivia Newton-John reminds us: “Let’s Get Physical!”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
There are two ‘lucky’ aspects this week. Jupiter (your power planet) trines Mercury, which gives you the gift of the gab and is particularly good for work involving writing, teaching, performing, publishing and public relations. And then Uranus trines Mercury, which is fabulous for original ideas and exciting new friendships. Throw in a fiery Full Moon and you’re set for an action-packed, stimulating week! If you want to last the distance, pace yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
The Sun and Mars are both moving through your career zone, which boosts your capacity for hard work and your ability to lead others. But don’t do so at the expense of your home and family life. The Full Moon highlights the importance of getting the balance right between professional success and domestic harmony. Be inspired by fellow Capricorn, writer AA Milne: “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
This week, restless Uranus and the fiery Full Moon boost your bohemian side and your adventurous nature. You’re itching to explore! But avoid being too recklessly impulsive (especially on Friday) otherwise you could find yourself involved in an argument, accident, financial fiasco or domestic drama. Astute Aquarians will choose creative problem-solving over unpredictable shenanigans, as you slow down and think things through before proceeding.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
You could be walking on a financial or communication tightrope this week! With the Sun, Mars and the fiery Full Moon stirring up your money and intimacy zones, you’re primed for a spontaneous spending spree or a relationship glitch. In order to avoid messy (and unnecessary) problems, make sure you pause before you spend… and think before you speak. The Mercury/Jupiter/Uranus trines encourage being proactive and inventive within your local community.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2023
Across
4 What was the real name of the Artful Dodger, Jack ...? (7)
8 Quito is the capital of which South American republic? (7)
9 Name an art of Japanese flower arrangement. (7)
10 What is the space around the altar of a church? (7)
11 What is Hansen’s disease more commonly known as? (7)
12 Which white ductile metallic element has the symbol Ag? (6)
14 Which term describes an assumed or false name? (6)
18 What is a system of writing or printing for the blind? (7)
21 To which group does a snail or squid belong? (7)
22 What are subjects to be studied at school? (7)
23 Name the presiding officer of the House of Representatives. (7)
24 To be the most pliant, is to be what (7)
1 Which church officers were probably concerned with temporal affairs ?(7)
2 What are mountain lions also known as? (5)
3 To teach or instruct, is to do what? (7)
4 Which tools make cylindrical holes? (6)
5 What is the young of the dog or wolf? (5)
6 What might we call a native of Idaho, USA? (7)
7 Which colloquial term implies that which is frightening? (5)
13 Name another term for a circular. (7)
15 What is a particular Australian poll? (7)
16 Which planet is nearest the sun? (7)
17 To free from condensation, is to do what? (6)
18 Name a bushy aromatic annual plant, cultivated as a culinary herb. (5)
19 To hire something, is to do what? (5)
20 Which rubber discs are used in ice hockey? (5)
Centre – Mawson
About 50 metres from the Post Office
Open: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri – 10am to 4pm 6286 1499
Hellen – direct number: 0408 310 063
