CityNews 240425

Depleted cash and unbudgeted borrowings… what’s going wrong with the Suburban Land Agency, ask JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED BARR

Well written, well read

Gambling gauntlet thrown down to the Greens

MICHAEL MOORE

Bait and switch: power of the political wedge

ANDREW HUGHES

How Justice Lee nailed the Lehrmann judgment

HUGH SELBY

The garden that salutes the brave

JACKIE WARBURTON

8 BIG PAGES

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS

Composer-in-residence HOLLY HARRISON has a lot to be heard at the upcoming Canberra International Music Festival

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Neglected Higgins, suburb the government forgot

By Katarina LLOYD JONES

Teacher Vanessa Jones has been living in Higgins since 2001, and while she loves the area, she says she is “fed up” with the neglectful ACT government.

The Higgins shops have been com pletely abandoned, says Vanessa, pre venting the opportunity for residents to have a community-centred space to socialise.

They only received bins nine months ago, she says, and requests for a water station and repairs to the bus station have gone unanswered.

“It’s very, very slow,” says Vanessa.

“I asked for the zebra crossing on Fullagar [Crescent] to be repainted, and we had to wait about six or nine months.

“That’s just such a long time… we pay a lot of rates.”

Previously, Vanessa says Higgins shopping centre had a Foodworks shop and a combination newsagent and post office, but they closed down after the government sold the land of the former Higgins Primary School to private developers.

“I’d call it bad planning. They seemed to think that the areas would

shrink or they’d consolidate, but it backfired on them because now they’re growing all these areas,” she says.

“Belconnen CBD doesn’t have a primary school, or a secondary school… It’s really weird.”

Vanessa says assistance from the government only seems to go to communities with time-rich and assertive communities, leaving places such as Higgins, where the majority of households have both adults working fulltime and English may not be the first language of the family, at an automatic

disadvantage.

“If you’ve got two people working, paying a mortgage, raising two or three kids, they don’t have the time,” says Vanessa.

She was so frustrated with the lack of care being shown to local community areas that she ran as an independent at the 2016 Legislative Assembly election.

She was not elected, but she says she is happy that a Greens member was.

“I’m really glad that Labor was reduced from three to two in the area

because it’s made Labor more active and I think we really, really need that,” she says.

“I’m not biassed any more, I’m just open minded. Whoever gets the job done, that’s what I want.”

Vanessa says the lack of attention quieter places such as Higgins is receiving is starting to look a lot like favouritism.

“Scullin has the same population, or 100 less than Higgins, and they’ve got five bins, nine months ago we had none,” she says.

“We’ve only got two, so why does one area have two and another area have five? It’s the lobby group, and they’ve done a great job at Scullin, but it just means other areas will always have only two. Now why is that? It’s favouritism and sucking up to MLAs.

“It’s a bit like having children, you make an effort to spend the same amount at Christmas or birthdays, you don’t give one kid $1000 and one kid $50. It’s just being fair.”

Vanessa says murals, which many surrounding suburbs have, are an important part of breathing new life into the area.

“There’s money allocated for the ACT to do murals,” she says, “But it’s up to the lobby group.”

“If you don’t have that assertive, over-60s group with a lot of free time, it doesn’t happen.”

Vanessa says one solution for reducing this imbalance would be to have a simple checklist that the government applies to all communities across Canberra.

“They should walk around and check if they’ve got a bin, a recycling bin, a water fountain, one or two murals.” she says.

“Check that the tree beds have trees.

“Is the shopping centre’s bus stop looking good? No. The windows are all broken. Does it need repainting? Yes or no? Go and paint it.

“It’s just doing the bare minimum.”

An empty shop at the Higgins centre. Photos: Katarina Lloyd Jones Broken bus stop window… The bus stop across the road was repaired but this one was left neglected.

Gambling gauntlet thrown down to the Greens

Molonglo Valley from ever having poker machines.

With the government predicting some 70,000 people to live in the Molonglo Valley, this would be a major harm-reduction strategy.

constraints of a government.

of linked clubs produce significant revenue for the party coffers. Gambling has, to a large extent, funded ACT Labor’s political campaigns since self-government.

Gambling in the ACT has also contributed to federal Labor funding from before self-government.

The dilemma for Dr Paterson is that she must work within a party

the need for action. Only then will she be able to drive change through the Assembly.

Her PhD examined gambling harm in remote indigenous communities. Before being elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly, Dr Paterson was the director of gambling research at ANU.

The ACT Greens look like Pontius

reduction measures to limit the losses currently testing the market for a ‘central monitoring system’, which would allow for the introduction of measures such as bet limits and loss limits.”

While the Greens are “testing the market”, Dr Paterson initiated her “Bets Off – Game On” campaign and has also been on the streets running a sustained campaign to protect the

In an emotional response to the Greens, Dr Paterson told the Assembly that Minister Rattenbury “has sat on his hands and done nothing in the last two years” and “there has been no reform” on gambling issues.

Her concerns include “the lack of transparency and accountability of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission”.

She said: “All of these things that upset me now – they were the same three and a half years ago at the start of the term. Nothing has changed”.

Nothing has changed! And the minister responsible is the Leader of the Greens – the group that has attacked Dr Paterson. How ironic?

Dr Paterson continued defending herself from the attack by the ACT Greens arguing against “an incompetent minister who has not delivered on his portfolio this term” and “there has been no reform or progress on these issues. And that’s not good enough. There is some seri-

ous self-reflection needed by the ACT Greens and Minister Rattenbury – are they into this gambling policy space just for elections, or for the real deal change? Track records will tell”.

The gauntlet has been thrown down to the Greens.

Party politics does create these dilemmas. Rattenbury is also caught between a rock and a hard place.

As Gaming Minister, he works within the constraints of a government. As Leader of the Greens he is committed to gambling reform.

It would be so much better if the Greens were working constructively with Marisa Paterson.

Rather than attacking, they should be looking for ways to collaborate and to strengthen her hand in dealing with her Labor Party machine.

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

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How Justice Lee nailed the Lehrmann judgment

“The judicial task of judgment writing is solitary work, to put aside any biases so that what remains is lean, clear, scrupulously fair. Let us be grateful for the work of Justice Michael Lee, his staff, and the decision to show it all on YouTube, says legal columnist HUGH SELBY.

There are trial judgments and there are appeal judgments. Losers read judgments to find out “why?”. Lying witnesses read judgments to see if, and how, they were caught.

Lawyers read trial judgments to assess whether a successful appeal is possible. Lawyers read appeal judgments because they clarify the law.

Law teachers, mostly, read only appeal judgments, leaving their students ill-prepared to become litigators.

The reading public doesn’t read judgments. Why should they? They have no personal stake in the outcome. If a case is newsworthy they can get the gist of the result from a media report.

But there is the exception, and that’s when an erudite, judge wordsmith (aka Justice Michael Lee) goes to a lot of trouble to write a trial judgment (and give a spoken summary of it).

He engagingly informs the nonlawyer public of what was claimed, what was the evidence, how that evidence can be gathered and ana lysed, and what then unfolds in terms of explanations, findings and legal consequences. Readers are taken on a journey with an expert guide.

Once upon a time…

For those who have had better things to do for the past four years, Brittany Higgins, a one-time parliamentary staffer, alleged that Bruce Lehrmann, also a staffer, had raped her in a ministerial suite in the wee hours when both should have been home in their own beds.

Her claims (which went a lot further than the alleged rape) became a “reality” soap opera. This was a saga with a surfeit of sex, lies and videotape.

In one of the soap opera’s Acts Mr Lehrmann became the accused in a rape trial. He was fortunate to have skilled legal advice given pro bono. The trial did not go well for Ms Higgins (as the complainant). Mr

Lehrmann did not give evidence. The trial reached no conclusion. The prosecution after some “this way and that” announced there would be no retrial. Mr Lehmann, at the end of 2022, was home free. All he had to do was keep his mouth shut.

Should have left the hat

Perhaps it was need, perhaps it was greed, perhaps it was a layering of selfdelusions. As Justice Lee memorably summed up Mr Lehrmann’s fate, “Having escaped the lions’ den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat” (para 1091). I would

add, “and a tempting treasure trove”.

Mr Lehrmann’s ill-considered claim that his reputation had been wrongly tarnished took up some 26 hearing days.

But it all came down to the judge’s hunch – proved to be right – that the consumption of alcohol would be determinative.

He – not the parties (go figure) – combed through the evidence – spoken, written, CCTV – and made a table of how many “spirit-based drinks” Ms Higgins imbibed (para 395), actively encouraged by Mr Lehrmann.

The answer was 12-14, possibly more, and that’s before the whisky drinking in the ministerial suite.

From that it followed that Ms Higgins had been in no condition to give consent. Reckless as her condition he had his wicked way. That’s rape.

Justice Lee penned 125,000 words to resolve the issues. At that length it’s longer than most current crime novels and thrillers.

It’s worth a look, not because of a fast-paced fiction plot (though there was plenty of fiction in this case), but because lawyer and non-lawyer alike can learn all about the writing of judgments that persuade. The learning is so much easier because the story, in all its permutations, is so well known.

Any judgment writer must decide whether the initial focus is upon the applicable law or the setting out and

evaluation of the facts.

Justice Lee explained the context by first giving some background, then identifying the key individuals and events. That done he shared, serially, the legal principles.

With each legal principle, he stated and evaluated the evidence, being careful to follow what he had set out about a proper approach to fact finding, which party has the onus of proof, and what does “the balance of probabilities” (being the standard of proof) require. That makes the judgment persuasive.

The judicial task of judgment writing is solitary work. It requires repeated self-instruction to “do no unnecessary harm”, to put aside any biases, to avoid over-simplification and exaggeration, to eschew the use of adverbs and adjectives, to go over and over draft judgments so that what remains is lean, clear, scrupulously fair and has the dispassionate reader nodding their agreement.

That’s what you will find when you go through this judgment to find the answer to those who are still keen to be wrong.

Let us be grateful for the work of Justice Lee, his staff, and the decision to show it all on YouTube.

The judgment (case reference [2024] FCA369 ) can be found on the Federal Court of Australia website.

Justice Michael Lee... “Having escaped the lions’ den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat”.

Photo: judgment livestream

POLITICS / wedges and how they work

Bait and switch: power of the political wedge

As the clock ticks to the October election, the Canberra Liberals are starting to discover the error of the small/no-target strategy of recent years: despite some decent policies being put up of late, no one is moving their vote.

The transport policy announcement, with a reannouncement on capped public transport pricing, was a good one. There was depth, good ideas, and a commonsense approach to one of the bigger issues in this town.

Yet it is never going to be a wedge issue unless the government makes another foray into, say, reducing school bus timetables. The response will be rapid, blunt and very hot.

That response is the key to a good wedge because it gets voters off the fence. Voters become very much engaged and very much angry. Time to take that anger out at the ballot box. As some say in marketing, bait and switch.

Federally, we’ve seen this done well over the years. Immigration? Perfect. A carbon tax? Oh, yeah. Mediscare? Perfecto. Death Tax? Pass me that how-to-vote card right now!

In all cases, the wedge, or its sibling, the scare campaign, works on the theory that if just a small percentage take the bait, then that could decide the outcome. The mess can be cleaned up once the champagne has

been emptied on election night.

However, as the electorate becomes more aware of these methods they become harder to do. The proliferation of social media no longer guarantees amplifying a message, it can just as easily dilute it, as what happened with the “Yes” campaign during the Voice referendum.

Positive policy announcements, such as the one on transport, quickly fade into the information blur of 2024. There is little impact, and being so far out from the election, it just becomes a tab on a website somewhere.

But wait a minute… Canberra Stadium, you say? And with the icing of the Convention Centre? Now this is getting closer to the wedge. Labor is lukewarm on it thanks to the Budget, but not until after the Olympic opportunity disappears in

2033. A decade from now. For context, a decade ago the iPhone 5 was it, the number one song was Happy by Pherell, and Katy Gallagher was still calling the shots on London Circuit.

But the Greens and the Liberals aren’t. They’ve seen the opportunity of the wedge, with the Greens going for the “we-could-do-so-much-morewith-that-money” strategy, a near cut-and-paste from the party’s Tasmanian campaign.

The Liberals have gone all-in on “let’s build it now”.

Thing is, sport is one of the most adversely affected activities in the ACT in recent years and is in desperate need of government funding.

If anyone has done the ultimate Canberra winter rite of passage, that is seeing a Brumbies or Raiders night game post-Anzac Day, would know the

A good wedge gets voters off the fence. Voters become very much engaged and very much angry. Time to take that anger out at the ballot box.

hypothermic experience is as awful as the smells that permeated there only recently.

Both the Raiders and Brumbies struggle to attract anyone but the diehards for the better part of a season. Sport is the original crowd-funding model. Just ask Canberra United, who struggle.

Female change rooms at suburban grounds are rare and often in no state to encourage anyone to turn up again the following week.

As for the Convention Centre it is like going to a museum. It would make an excellent setting for a dystopian ‘80s apocalypse film. It desperately needs to be expanded and modernised so the arts community has a venue to attract some decent acts year round to Canberra. And Visit Canberra, so hard working but under-resourced, can hit the confer -

ence and convention market hard.

Okay. Stop for a second. Think. Are you already up in arms about some of this topic? Stuff the stadium? Build it? Stuff them both and just spend the money on [insert what you want here]. You have just been wedged!

See how easy that was? And see how easy you considered your vote and who it should go to. Sure, not everyone reading this noticed it. Or cared. But elections in 2024 are often decided in single-figure swings. So if just five out of 100 people reading this felt the wedge, then job done.

Problem is there aren’t too many wedges in Canberra that can move the entire city. Fewer even in each of the electorates. But, like a Jack-inthe-box, the moment one’s opened, the fun starts.

Dr Andrew Hughes is a lecturer in marketing with the Research School of Management at ANU where he spe cialises in political marketing and advertising, and the use of emotions in marketing and tourism.

The National Convention Centre... an excellent setting for a dystopian ‘80s apocalypse film. It desperately needs to be expanded and modernised.

Inquiry urged to shake up ACT education system

Long term underperformance in education outcomes in the ACT must be addressed through systemic change. Submissions to the current Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy suggest that vested interests may be acting as a roadblock to change, says DR KAREN MACPHERSON

The independent Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy in ACT Public Schools is due to report to the government at the end of this month.

At stake is the quality of the education that is provided to the 50,000 children in the ACT public school system.

Let me make it clear that the issues with learning outcomes in the ACT are in no way a criticism of our dedicated and hard-working teachers. The problems lie in the education system itself.

Far from being a star performer as ACT Minister for Education Yvette Berry claims, it is consistently below other jurisdictions of similar high socio-economic advantage in educational outcomes.

Matters came to a head in October.

A Liberals’ motion for an independent inquiry was supported after Equity Economics reported that 1 in 3 ACT 15-year-olds is below national proficient standards for reading; and

damning figures in the Education Directorate’s own 2022-23 Annual Report had revealed that its targets for the reduction of Equity gaps – an important metric – were missed by significant margins: a whopping 37 per cent for numeracy; and 21 per cent for reading. The equity gap is actually increasing

What on earth is happening in the ACT?

Over time, a complex interplay of factors has combined to create a stagnating system that is overdue for reform. These factors include ACT education system structures; ideological trends in teacher training and a lack of evidence-based decision making.

The longstanding model of school autonomy has led to increasingly local-level decision making and management being devolved to school leaders, increasing workloads for school leaders and blurring their necessary focus on the core business of educating students.

Policies that should be determined

centrally and applied to every school to achieve equity and fairness, success in learning and safety, are not.

At the Directorate level, strong, informed leadership and responsibility are required. Yet there is no public evidence of effective evaluation and review of policies and programs, with the result that professed attention to “evidence-based decision making” is lip service only.

Teacher training is ripe for review. It is clear that curriculum content in teaching degrees may not provide students with the full range of teaching knowledge and skills that are needed in the classroom.

As a person fortunate enough to have benefitted from an excellent public school education, I chose to write a submission to the Literacy and Numeracy Inquiry. I also chose to review all of the other 70 submissions currently available to the public on its website in order to discover if these 71 submissions, collectively, could shed some light on why these issues are ongoing. They do.

The submissions fall broadly into three camps: For change; Against change; and Neutral. Excluding the small group of nine “Neutral” submissions from, for example, organisations offering their services that are neither for nor against change, 62 remain: 51 (82 per cent) are “For”; and 11 (18 per cent) “Against” change.

The overwhelming 82 per cent in favour of change in the education system are from a wide range of sources: concerned parents; teachers and tutors; education organisations; highly regarded policy think tanks; academics; professional bodies and federal government research organisations.

Together these pro-change submissions present a compelling breadth and depth of rigorous evidence in favour of change toward evidencebased explicit teaching of basic reading skills, and a stronger more cohesive education system.

The nature of the “Against” submissions provides a stark contrast. Significantly, at 18 per cent, this group of submissions against any real change to the ACT education system is small.

Further, if we look closely at the authors and their affiliate organisations, a number of them were written by the same group of authors, or their associates, in various combinations.

Some submissions clearly have a vested interest in the ACT’s current education strategy continuing. The ACT Government Contracts Register shows that one submission was written by a person who has been paid more than $500,000 in consultancy fees by the ACT Education Directorate since 2018.

All of these 11 submissions advocate continuing with the teaching

approaches that have been used in the ACT for years; methods now widely considered, and proven, to be less effective than direct, explicit methods of teaching beginner learners.

In other jurisdictions, changing to the use of structured explicit teaching, and stronger centralised policy and resourcing, have led to improved results.

The ACT education system needs a thorough shake-up. Clinging to the idea that our education system is somehow special in any effective way – “good different” – is the first assumption that needs to be interrogated. Tinkering around the edges of a broken system will not meet the needs of our young people. Every child deserves better.

The good news is that we know from recent successes – for example, in NSW, SA and in the ACT itself with the Catholic Education Office’s introduction of its Catalyst literacy teaching system – that change is possible, and can result in significant improvements in student outcomes in only a few years.

It is my fervent hope that the recommendations of the inquiry will embolden the ACT government, at last, to address these longstanding issues effectively.

Dr Karen Macpherson is an independent advocate for public education.

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What’s gone wrong with the ‘land development and release process’ that the SLA needs government support?

Barr gives millions to SLA to pay dividend to Barr

In a previous article, we urged readers to pare back the spin on the 2023-24 Budget Review initiatives.

Another “initiative” is the injection of funds into the Suburban Land Agency (SLA).

The description of the injection in the 2023-24 Budget Review, on Page 83, says:

Increasing housing access, choice and affordability –

Supporting accelerated land release

The government will support the land development and release process by enhancing the capital structure of the Suburban Land Agency (SLA) including:

• providing a one-off $50 million capital injection in 2023-24;

• allowing the SLA to establish a short-term working capital facility; and

• modifying its dividend payment timing to require payment in four even instalments. These measures will bring the SLA’s capital structure and dividend policy more into line with comparable entities in other jurisdictions and give it more flexibility to respond to risks and opportunities as they arise,

“Depletion of cash, unbudgeted borrowings and an equity injection into a joint venture raise some tantalising questions that the government needs to answer.” JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED look at another of the Budget Review’s ‘initiatives’.

as well as maintain prudent liquidity requirements.

This initiative builds on recent government actions supporting increased housing supply and affordability and contributes to the wellbeing domain of housing and home.

This “initiative” and its description beg more questions than it answers. What, for example, has gone wrong with the “land development and release process” that SLA needs government support? Why does a Public Trading Enterprise (PTE) that has delivered more than $1.6 billion in returns to the government over the past six years need money to pay its dividend?

One may, for example, well ask whether this is a case of cycling money from one accounting entity (the General

Government Sector) to another (the PTE Sector) as an investment and then recycling it back as a dividend.

A consequence of such a manoeuvre would, of course, be a commensurate improvement in the budget bottom line. But surely not.

The government’s explanation of the initiative in the budget paper, does not, however, have a link to “increasing housing access” or “choice and affordability” or “supporting accelerated land release”. It appears to us as an earnest attempt to identify an initiative with a budget theme that is in reality unrelated to the funding.

However, Treasurer Andrew Barr has doubled down on the claim that the funding is indeed for increased supply to generate

more revenue, and that it was purely coincidental that the SLA had made a loss of exactly that amount.

No land or housing supply targets were provided as part of the documentation supporting the supplementary appropriation bill – for those we will need to wait until the 2024-25 Budget.

It is disconcerting that the Legislative Assembly has been asked to approve an allocation of public money without any tangible targets or a specific target.

It is also very strange that the funding is apparently needed so urgently that it is sought through a supplementary appropriation bill despite Mr Barr’s claim that the mooted increase in supply will be at an unspecified time in the future.

In addition, why does the SLA need an injection of money in order to increase supply?

The Suburban Land Agency (and its predecessor landsupply arm) has delivered substantial revenues to the government. Chart 1 shows its operating profits since 2008-09.

The chart highlights three regimes with markedly different levels of profit. Operating profit averaged $77 million over the financial years ending June 2008 to 2011, more than doubling to $163 million on average during 2012 to 2016, and more than tripling to $246 million from 2017 onwards. Over the period 2011-12 to 202223, the SLA has posted profits totalling $2.533 billion.

Total returns to government, which include taxes and

payments for land acquisitions, are even larger. Over the last six years (2017-18 to 2022-23) alone, operating profits were $1.403 billion and total returns were around $1.647 billion.

One would expect that the SLA would be awash with cash, or at least hold enough cash to meet its short-term financial obligations. However, a cursory glance through the financial statements indicates that the agency did not have enough cash to pay its dividend, and that it is experiencing liquidity problems that appear to have emerged during 2023-24 (the current year).

“Current ratio” is an entity’s ability to meet its current (short term) liabilities through its current assets (cash, receivables and inventory).

The SLA’s current ratio at the end of 2022-23 was 1.31, which means it had more than enough liquidity to meet its current liabilities (including payment of dividend).

The 2023-24 Budget forecast a ratio of 1.11 at the end of June 2024. However, the Budget Review update forecast reflects a current ratio of just 0.88, even after incorporating the $50 million capital injection into the accounts.

So what’s driven this dramatic change in the SLA’s liquidity? Its cash holding has dive bombed from the original end June 2024 estimate of $109 million to a revised $27 million. Current inventories, which all else being equal, would have been expected to increase, have also

dramatically decreased from the original forecast of $230 million at end June 2024 to $111 million.

We note Budget Review statements for the SLA also reveal, albeit without explanation, an unbudgeted borrowing of $20.6 million in 2023-24 to be repaid in the same year. The agency will also make an equity contribution of $19.6 million in 2023-24 to the West Belconnen Joint Venture. This will be in addition to a $17.9 million equity contribution made by the SLA on behalf of the ACT government. We also note, without comment, that in 2022-23 the JV made a loss of $5.08 million.

Depletion of cash, unbudgeted borrowings and an equity injection into a joint venture raise some tantalising questions that the government needs to answer.

Notwithstanding the real reason for the funding, Mr Barr’s desire to supply more land in the coming years would be commendable, if only it were genuine, credible and realistic.

The ACT government’s policy stance on land supply over the last decade has, unarguably and sadly, been to extract as much revenue as possible out of the land supply system through constraints on supply with resultant supernormal profits as highlighted in Chart 2 . Households who purchased land in the ACT sometime over the last decade, and particularly those who entered the housing market in the last six years, should be readily able to estimate how much higher their mortgage is than it reasonably should and could have been.

Remarkably, over the past 10 years, land supply has averaged just 3570 blocks annually, well below previous levels. Land prices now are beyond the reach and capacity of most households seeking to enter the housing market.

There is one clear and indisputable reason that the SLA has been unable to sell enough land to meet demand, falling short of its target, as it has, by almost 2300 sites in the last two years.

If the ACT’s Labor/Green Coalition government is serious about meeting the national housing supply targets, it will, as a first step, need to abandon the monopolist extractive policy that it has pursued over the past decade.

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

WEALTH

Rich get richer than the rest

The gap between Australia’s haves and have-nots has widened in the past two decades, data shows.

A report, led by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and UNSW Sydney, reveals the average household wealth of the top 10 per cent has grown much faster since 2003 than the lowest 60 per cent.

The collective wealth of the top 10 per cent of households has soared 84 per cent during that time, from $2.8 million to $5.2 million.

Comparatively, the average wealth of the lowest 60 per cent of households has risen 55 per cent from $222,000 to $343,000.

“Without major reform to housing, superannuation tax breaks and income support, the divide between those with the most and those with the least will continue to deepen,” ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said.

Since 2003, 45 per cent of the rise in household wealth went to the top 10 per cent and half of that was pocketed by wealthy older people (those 64 years and older).

The gap is also growing among under-35 households, despite the group holding five per cent of all wealth.

The average wealth of the highest 10 per cent of households within the age bracket rose by 126 per cent (from $928,000 to $2 million), while that of the lowest 60 per cent increased by 39 per cent (from $68,000 to $80,000). –AAP

Concern at Japan’s ‘evolution’ in sub pact

It was Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles who first suggested that the inclusion of Japan in the AUKUS group was a natural “evolution” of the pact.

As such it was risible if understandable; Marles is not the sharpest knife in the Cabinet drawer.

But when it was adopted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – and then the American president Joe Biden – there was cause for concern.

With the addition of Japan, AUKUS ceases to be a device to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia several decades in the future but a stark reminder of the oppressive powers that abused Chinese sovereignty in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Japan’s membership could hardly be more provocative to a country that suffered the indignity of Japanese control of its Taiwan province for 50 years from 1895 and its invasion of the mainland throughout World War II.

The notorious Massacre of Nanking – where the atrocities included 200,000 murders and 20,000 rapes of the civilian population – was but one of hundreds of outrages visited upon the Chinese people. Succeeding Japanese governments have apologised for their past atrocities, but the scars have yet to heal.

The Australian POWs in Changi

Deputy Prime Minister John (“Black Jack”) McEwen...  “In 1968, he was feted by the Japanese government as a national hero,” writes Robert Macklin.

and on the Thai-Burma railway had a taste of the cruelty of Imperial Japan, but the intervention of the first of our official Deputy Prime Ministers, John “Black Jack” McEwen produced a new dimension to our relations with that country.

McEwen was a very different figure from the pedestrian Marles. In the decade following the war, he and his departmental secretary, John Crawford, realised Britain would no longer be our major trading partner and turned instead to Japan.

As it happened, I joined McEwen’s small staff as press secretary in 1967 – shortly before Harold Holt took his fateful swim – and heard many times of the struggle to pass the 1956 Japan trade agreement against a united Labor opposition.

When we visited Tokyo in 1968, he was feted by the Japanese govern-

Japan’s membership of AUKUS could hardly be more provocative to a country that suffered the indignity of Japanese control of its Taiwan province for 50 years from 1895 and its invasion of the mainland throughout World War II.

ment as a national hero. His proudest boast, he responded, was that since signing the agreement, neither side had cause to refer to its written articles.

This congenial relationship, added to the American “supervision” of post-war Japan, meant that our promise, “Lest we forget”, was filtered through a financial prism. The Japanese “economic miracle” even brought protests in the 1980s that Japan was “buying Australia”.

Throughout that post-war period McEwen also maintained a lucrative wheat trade with Mao Zedong’s China despite his government’s warning of “the downward thrust of Chinese

Communism” via the Vietnam War. However, the China redux of Xi Jinping on the one hand, and on the other a combination of the snide provocations from the zealot Scott Morrison, the militaristic “exceptionalism” of the US and the clownish cunning of Donald Trump, has produced a highly delicate diplomatic challenge.

To describe Japan’s introduction to the equation as a natural “evolution” is inappropriate at best and ignorant at worst. And to accuse China of seeking to limit freedom of shipping through the South China Sea – the gateway to China’s trade with the world – would be laughable were it not made by the US Navy and its Australian sycophants.

It also makes a mockery of the sensible formula for peaceful co-existence articulated by both Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, that “we will co-operate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest”.

robert@ robertmacklin. com

Frogs make a comeback

For the first time in five years, Northern Corroboree Frogs have been detected in Ginini Flats at the Namadgi National Park. The ACT government says the sighting of 37 frogs has lifted hopes for the future of the critically endangered species, in rapid decline because of fungal outbreaks and the impact of climate change on their habitat.

Earlier this year, ecologists discovered 16 male Northern Corroboree Frogs calling at the Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar Site and 21 frogs in a lower elevation site in Namadgi, where frogs and eggs had been released.

New job for Jacobs

Former radio identity and journalist Genevieve Jacobs, pictured, is the new CEO of the charity foundation Hands Across Canberra. She replaces Peter Gordon, who will retire from the role after 12 years on April 30.

Come out today and see us at Pialligo!

Phone: 02 6257 6666

A Northern Corroboree Frog.

LETTERS

Wood-heat industry feels heat of health impacts

The wood-heating industry is obviously feeling the heat from the ACT government’s decision to phase out wood heaters in suburban Canberra.

It appears to be spending big on newspaper and radio advertising and continuing to push claims that have been repeatedly disproven by environmental and public health experts.

In 2023, the Medical Journal of Australia published a study that showed smoke from wood heaters was responsible for as many as 63 premature deaths a year in Canberra. The recently released 2023 ACT State of the Environment Report says wood heaters are responsible for up to 75 per cent of Canberra’s fine particle PM2.5 air pollution in cooler months, responsible for the majority of total exceedances in air pollution standards and warns smoke from wood heaters impacts public health.

The wood heating industry’s latest advertising campaign reminds me of big tobacco of old in its relentless push to hook more and more smokers.

We are more informed and better educated today about the serious health impacts from tobacco, just as we now are about the harmful health impacts of smoke from wood heaters despite what the wood-heating industry claims.

Darryl Johnston, Tuggeranong

Treated poorly over sexual assault

I watched with sadness, the 60 Minutes episode of sexual assault complainants regarding the way they are treated within the criminal justice system. My heart extends to Emily Campbell-Ross for her courage to speak out about just how poorly complainants are treated in sexual assault matters that culminate in a criminal hearing or trial.

I was previously employed at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as the Senior Witness Assistant (SWA). My primary role was to support complainants and witnesses in an array of criminal prosecutions. The job as the SWA was incredibly rewarding albeit stressful, with the real risk of suffering from vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. And that was just the impact on me. Let’s think about the trauma imposed on complainants in sexual offence matters.

Pray tell, why does the defendant have the right not to provide evidence, which equates to not being cross-examined? Yet, the complainant is subjected to re-telling their traumatic experience, and at times, vigorous and aggressive cross-examination. This simply does not make sense.

I fully support Labor MLA Dr Marisa Paterson in her proposal to establish a specialised sexual offences court to reduce the harm sustained by complainants in such matters.

If not, who would be brave enough to report a sexual offence? I know I wouldn’t.

Janine Haskins, Cook

In war, taking sides is inevitable

In response to several published letters about the war in Israel: it is inevitable that people will take sides.

While some may consider the conflict a just war, it is how it is being prosecuted that is unjust. Whether it is a deliberate military strategy by Israeli leaders or unintentional, 30,000 civilian casualties is reckless, cruel and morally reprehensible.

More needs to be done by the rest of the world in condemning Israeli leaders. A good start would be for countries to stop selling military weapons and to start imposing sanctions.

Robyn Soxsmith, Kambah

Celebrate governor general with goodwill

Re Robert Macklin’s column “Sam Who? Time for some vice-regal sunshine” (CN April 18).

Samantha Mostyn’s education at Canberra schools and the ANU Faculty of Law followed by a distinguished career in many areas of the law as well as her interests in a diversity of organisations in Australia were widely reported in the press at the time of her appointment as governor-general designate, yet, relying on Google, you summed her up in terms of her “respected lawyer” husband and daughter. Women these days do not depend upon their husband and family for their identity and place in society.

Next, you claimed your interest in her appointment to advertise at length your own latest book about Charles Weston. Interesting as this may be, this and the rest of your article about politics would have

been better reserved for another occasion.

Let’s all celebrate the appointment of our next governor-general with goodwill not this niggardly self interest.

Mary Samara-Wickrama, Weston

Channel 7’s pack of out-of-control cowboys

Increasingly Seven Network seems to be run by a pack of out-of-control, unethical, “grab what you can while you can” cowboys.

It is time for chairman Kerry Stokes to put on his running shoes and ensure that a very substantial out-of-court sum is offered to the unfortunate young student who suffered so badly after he was misnamed and promoted by Channel 7 as the Bondi Junction killer (“Social media a ‘scourge’ after Bondi attack: PM”, citynews.com.au April 15).

Seven’s breathless reporters and so-called investigators need to learn to inquire, read and/or listen more carefully – the two surnames started with a ‘C’ but that’s where the similarity ended.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Anything Christian is in the firing line

Sad to see the closure of the Y at Chifley. The YMCA was originally set up by some Christian folk as a youth club where young people could go to “play ball”, or just hang out with others.

Latest statistics indicate that young people are increasingly indulging in hard drugs, only since they were legalised by this government.

This move is similar to the takeover of Calvary Hospital. Anything Christian is in the firing line of this so-called health minister.

She seems to have a big chip on her shoulder, so it’s up to the people to relieve her of the burden at the next election.

L Saunders, Hughes

October election can’t come soon enough

In their article “Nation’s worst performer with no end in sight” (CN, April 18) Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed show graphically how the ACT’s financial position has

declined since 2013-2014, and especially so since 2014-2015.

I believe it is no coincidence that Andrew Barr was elected Chief Minister and Treasurer in November 2014.

The well-researched and very informative article by Beatrice Bodart-Bailey in the same edition presents a damning analysis of the misguided and excessively politically pragmatic decision for the ACT government to press on, regardless, with the outdated light rail project. Never mind the abysmal benefit cost ratio and the decline of other aspects of this city such as health services, maintenance of roads and public land, and the general appearance of a national capital of which we should all be proud to show to our visitors.

Messrs Stanhope and Ahmed were right to conclude there seems “no end in sight” to this profligate spending of ACT ratepayers’ money. The October 19, 2024 ACT election can’t come soon enough.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

We can’t even recycle properly

How can we build electric buses in Canberra when we can’t even recycle properly? How long until our recycling stops going to landfill with the hard rubbish?

Danny Corvini, Turner

Deport migrants who break the law

I strongly support Ric Hingee (“Review migration, we don’t have the infrastructure”, letters, CN April 11), but would like to see the federal government go further and deport migrants and refugees who break our laws with crimes such as murder, rape and drugs, to name a few.

We have enough criminals of our own without importing more.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

When is Labor going to take responsibility?

Columnist Robert Macklin (CN April 11) assumes that the bunch of louts that shouted racist abuse at Eddie Betts’ kids as they played in their backyard are non-Aboriginal. Does he have proof or know that the louts were not Aboriginal themselves?

As with most left-wing writers, Macklin tries to blame Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. When are Labor and their cheerleaders actually going to take responsibility for their own actions?

Ian Pilsner, Weston

Racists are not worth getting stressed about

I feel for the children of Eddie Betts (The Gadfly, CN April 11). It is not pleasant being the receiver of racist comments.

When I came to Australia 52 years ago, I got a lot of racist abuse for no apparent reason other than that I was not an “Aussie”. It did not bother me at first, but then I just put it down to their bad manners. Now I never get any.

However, I think Robert Macklin’s comment about valuing Aboriginal Australia against the colonial forces that occupied and transformed the continent to be totally unnecessary.

It shows that there is some bias on his part against the colonialists. All nationalities, including some Aboriginals, have racists among them. We just have to ignore them because they are not worth getting stressed about or losing any sleep over.

Vi

Evans,

via email

‘Economic reality’ no one can estimate

In rejecting the need for nuclear energy Eric Hunter (Letters, CN April 18) is assuming that the Australian Energy Market Operator plans to meet the national energy generation requirements at net zero emissions, solely with a wind and solar mix of clean energy generation, will work at the projected cost or even work at all.

The “economic and engineering reality” is that no one can estimate how much it would cost to firm the supply at net zero emissions, without nuclear energy.

Mr Hunter is probably correct that the left would cut off their nose to spite their face by ensuring “a long time before our present laws banning nuclear could be changed”.

He is incorrect that reactors should be located “close to large population areas”. All current large dispatchable energy sources and those proposed are remote from population centres.

John L Smith, Farrer

MOTHER’S DAY – MAY 12

Day celebrates and honours all that mums do

Falling on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day celebrates and honours mums, motherhood and the influence of mothers in society.

The day continues to be celebrated every year, and to honour mums and mother figures in the region, this week “CityNews” speaks with businesses who are passionate about recognising all that mums do.

The National Zoo and Aquarium loves celebrat ing mums, says admin and tourism projects manager Chara Reynolds, and with Mother’s Day being so close to the birth of the new zebra foal, the zoo is hosting some special events that celebrate all types of motherhood.

“We will be hosting a Mother’s Day Champagne Breakfast at our Rhino Bistro on Sunday May 12,” says Chara.

“Guests are welcome to access the zoo early, with breakfast starting from 7.30am, running to 9am.

“Each adult will have a welcome glass of champagne on arrival, before enjoying the buffet breakfast.”

Bookings for the champagne breakfast can

says there will be some very special enrichment activities held afterwards with the mums of the zoo.

These enrichment sessions will include information about how the zoo is helping grow insurance populations of endangered species through their breeding programs.

“It’s a lovely weekend activity to do, especially now that school holidays are over and the zoo is a bit quieter,” says Chara.

National Zoo and Aquarium, Lady Denman Drive, Yarralumla. Call 6287 8400 or visit nationalzoo.com.au

Mother’s Day high tea that gives back

Pegasus is a centre of excellence in riding for the disabled, and for Mother’s Day Pegasus is inviting Canberrans to a high tea lunch on May 11, says fundraising and event co-ordinator Jo Kennedy.

She says the Pegasus High Tea will go from 1pm-4pm, and includes bottomless pink bubbles, bountiful high tea and a special gift for each guest.

“We haven’t done anything like this before, and we wanted to host an event at Pegasus because that way people can come and see all the Pegasus ponies that we have,” she says.

“Annually we have a race day and a golf day, but this is the first time we’ve done something centred on Mother’s Day.”

Podcasters Ned and Josh will MC the event, says Jo, and will be doing some fun interviews with Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry and Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee.

“We’ve also got some entertainment from the comedian Jeffrey Charles,” she says.

Mother’s Day High Tea

Saturday, 11 May 1pm - 4pm

Hosted by NED & JOSH

Entertainment by JEFFREY CHARLES

Special guest INTERVIEWS

Meet our adorable PEGASUS PONIES

Bottomless PINK BUBBLES

Bountiful HIGH TEA

All guests receive a Special GIFT “Come

Jo says it will be an afternoon of great fun and great entertainment, and attendees can feel good about giving back to a community-based charity at the same time, Jo says. But, there is a limited availability for tickets, so Jo says to book in fast.

Pegasus ACT, 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt. Call 6254 9190, or visit pegasusact.com.au

BOOK TODAY

GIFT ADVENTURES OF THE WILDEST KIND this mothers day!

GIFT ADVENTURES OF THE WILDEST KIND this mothers day!

Meerkat Encounter!

GREET THE CHEETAH BOYS!

VOUCHERS, EXPERIENCES, TOURS OR LUXURY!

VOUCHERS, EXPERIENCES, TOURS OR LUXURY!

Give the gift of choice this mothers day at the National Zoo and Aquarium!

Give the gift of choice this mothers day at the National Zoo and Aquarium!

Choose from close encounters with some of our wildest animal residents, thrilling all-day guided tours, memberships to enjoy the zoo year-round or spoil her with a stay at Jamala, the height of wild luxury!

Choose from close encounters with some of our wildest animal residents, thrilling all-day guided tours, memberships to enjoy the zoo year-round or spoil her with a stay at Jamala, the height of wild luxury!

african savannah safari tour!

JUNGLE BUNGALOW - JAMALA

Entry from $3.00pp, per day - if like many, you visit every week!

Entry from $3.00pp, per day - if like many, you visit every week!

999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra ACT

999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra ACT

02 6287 8400

02 6287 8400

frontdesk@nationalzoo.com.au

frontdesk@nationalzoo.com.au

www.nationalzoo.com.au

www.nationalzoo.com.au

MOTHER’S DAY – MAY 12

Lollies to share between generations

Lolly Swagman has been excitedly exploring new tastes for nearly three decades, says owner Ian Richardson.

Located in the heart of the Southern Highlands, the lolly shop stocks alltime favourite treats and the latest trending tastes from around the world.

“We’ve got American Reese’s, Hershey’s and candy corn, English bon bons and chocolates, sours and super sours, Dutch liquorice, Scottish tablet and our own Mrs Swag’s Fudge,” says Ian.

“We lost count at 1300 different treats and we know it’s more than that.”

Ian says the store is a common stop on people’s trip to Berrima.

“It’s a happy place with kids excitedly exploring for new tastes, older people reminiscing and sharing in the thrill of finding a favourite and the great stories that go with them,” he says.

“We often see people who’d come as children now bringing in their own children and sharing

Lolly Swagman, 11 Old Hume Highway, Berrima. Call 4877 1137, or visit lollyswagman.com.au

A musical theatre show that’s ‘breaking the mould’

Brad McDowell, director of American Idiot, says this latest Queanbeyan Players production is the perfect gift for nostalgic mums this Mother’s Day.

“It’s based on the music of two of Green Day’s albums,” says Brad.

“This year actually marks the 20year anniversary of the American Idiot album.

“People that were teenagers in the early 2000s really really resonated with this album and that music was so prevalent at the time that I think people in that age range are really going to

Players are mostly known for their performances of classics, such as Oklahoma and HMS Pinafore, and that American Idiot is “breaking the mould a bit”.

Brad says mixing the Queanbeyan Players’ musical theatre regulars alongside some “punk rock Green Day fans that wouldn’t normally come out and see musicals” will make the show exciting.

American Idiot runs June 20-29, and tickets are on sale now.

Queanbeyan Players, 18 Barrow Place, Queanbeyan East. Call

Mother’s Day memories made to last

Pinot and Picasso is a ‘paint and sip’ experience that is sure to leave all customers with fond memories, says Pinot and Picasso Belconnen manager

Melissa Boarer.

Pinot and Picasso Belconnen provides a creative experience that also creates a sense of connection, as it is an activity that is done with other people, says Melissa.

“It’s something that is not only a fun experience, it’s a really good memory,” she says.

It’s easy to forget all the Mother’s Day lunches, but with Pinot and Picasso, customers get a physical keepsake that can be put up in the kitchen, or displayed on the wall, Melissa says.

“Everytime they look at that, they’re going to think about the time that they spent with their mum, and the memories that come with that,” she says.

“We’re offering four artworks that we aren’t doing any other time, these are specific Mother’s Day sessions.

“One is a collaboration artwork,

which is for younger kids, so mum and child get to paint on the same canvas and create an artwork together which is something we’ve never done before.”

Melissa says other sessions include painting porcelain jugs, or a flower-inspired vase, as well as the canvas painting sessions.

Mother’s Day sessions at Pinot and Picasso Belconnen will also include a game of musical bingo, says Melissa, with prizes to be won.

Melissa says classes will run for the entire weekend, May 11-12.

Pinot and Picasso Belconnen, Shop 6, 54 Benjamin Way, Belconnen. Call 0438 686865 or visit pinotandpicasso.com.au/belconnen

American Idiot cast. Photo: Canberra Photography Services

Mark Sarah, co-director of Cockington Green Gardens, says that as a family business, special days such as Mother’s Day provide a perfect opportunity to help families celebrate together.

This year, on Mother’s Day, May 12, Cockington Green Gardens is celebrating all mothers with a “Buy one – get Mum in for free” promotion, he says.

By purchasing one general admission ticket, Mum will be admitted free, says Mark.

“Mums are the most special people in the world. We’re all here because of them and that’s why Mother’s Day is such a special day,” says Mark.

“My mum, Brenda Sarah, was alongside dad in creating Cockington Green Gardens. She was adamant

that the attraction would be something families could enjoy together.

“Mum’s mother, Marjorie Rose, was involved with the business, so Mother’s Day has always been important to her.”

Mark, who has worked in the business since it opened in 1979, says it is incredible how many conversations he has had with mums who are now bringing their children to the attraction after being brought here by their mothers many years ago.

Cockington Green Gardens, 11 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls. Call 6230 2273 or visit cockingtongreeen.com.au

MOTHER’S DAY – MAY 12

Art, music and giftware, Belco Arts has it all

Nestled on the shores of Lake Ginninderra, Belconnen Arts Centre opened in 2009 as a place to conceive ideas, undertake creative journeys, share stories, experiment, be bold and make memories, says acting marketing manager, Kelly Thorburn.

“It houses several exquisite galleries, black box theatre, rehearsal space and workshops and supports a wide range of artists in following their ambitions and taking their work to the next level,” she says.

“Belco Arts prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming community arts organisation with an artistic program that reflects the community’s rich diversity back to itself.”

She says the Belco Arts team are passionate about fuelling a love of and engagement in the arts, and connecting with Canberra’s residents through dance, music, visual arts, theatre and more.

end prints, ceramics, glassworks, jewellery, scarves and textiles, greeting cards and more, says Kelly, giving the opportunity to make a lasting impression by choosing a high quality Australian-made gift this Mother’s Day.

Belco Arts also has numerous exhibitions on show until May 19, says Kelly, a great opportunity to make memories with your mum.

For the music lovers, Kelly says they also have upcoming gigs, including Shortis and Simpson with Fred Smith on May 4 at 7pm, Spanish Flamenco guitarist Paco Lara on June 15 at 7pm, presented in partnership with Smith’s Alternative and Live Music Australia, and Halftime Show with CLUBSCORE on May 17 and June 21.

Belco Arts, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen.

Plenty of gifts that say, ‘thank you’

“Being a mum is the hardest job in the world, but it’s the best job in the world,’’ says South Pacific Hemp manager Sue Booth.

“At South Pacific Hemp we have plenty of gifts to say ‘thank you, mum’, from a collection of hemp foods and hemp seed oils to gorgeous balms and skin creams, babycare, homewares, bags and accessories, fabrics, pet products and more.”

Opened in March 2021, Sue says the store is Canberra’s first all-hemp shop and includes a range of specially designed clothing that mum will love.

“Our clothing is designed for wearability and versatility, is breathable, natural and easy to care for,” she says.

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

Sue says the dedicated team welcomes anyone to come and ask about the range of products.

“There’s tea towels, totes, sponges and cookie cutters and for the body, there’s shampoos, oils, bath salts and divine creams and much more,” she says.

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

Life Drawing by Lee Crisp.

Photo: Andrew Sikorski

Joy of books brings people together, says Peter

Books make a great Mother’s Day gift because they are personal and a physical, tangible thing, says Book Cow bookshop owner Peter Arnaudo.

“Books are a great way of getting into someone else’s experiences and their imagination,” he says.

“You can watch a TV program, but you’re watching an interpretation of someone’s experiences, with a book, you are reading their words that they’ve put down.”

Peter urged gift buyers to think outside the box of classic cookbook gifts this Mother’s Day, with one of the most popular genres sold over the weekend to mums being crime.

mums and their children.

“Books you can either devour them all by yourself, tucked away in a cosy corner and just read away, or you can actually share them with other people too, so that’s the great thing about it,” says Peter.

“A lot of people buy books that mums can read to their kids, and also grandmums, aunts as well, any female figure.

“The joy of books, it’s really something that connects people and brings people together.

“That connection is something that I think if you could bottle it, it would be quite amazing.”

Budding gifts with mum in mind

Blossoms of Canberra has been in business for six years, says owner Tania Garrett.

Originally, Tania says they started out in Chisolm before moving to Erindale, where they have been for the past three years.

“Flowers are always a good thing,” Tania says, and with Mother’s Day coming up, she recommends everyone to get their orders in quickly.

“Flowers convey a message, through emotions, and I just love what I do… putting a smile on someone’s face.”

Blossoms of Canberra has a range of dedicated Mother’s Day gifts, but Tania says they also have their usual giftware items such as candles, diffusers, chocolates and balloons.

Blossoms of Canberra can help customers find flowers for any occasion, not just Mother’s Day, says Tania.

“Flowers are something you don’t buy yourself, so it does have that uplifting feeling,” she says

“I just love what I do and it’s different every day.”

Blossoms of Canberra, Shop 24, Erindale Shopping Centre, 68 Comrie Street, Wanniassa. Call 6231 0822 or visit blossomsofcanberra.com.au Blossoms of Canberra owner Tania Garrett.

The Book Cow... “The joy of books, it’s really something that connects people and brings people together,” says owner Peter Arnaudo. Photo: Kerrie Brewer

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS

Enrol now and receive the best education on offer advertising

Whether it’s foreign languages, learning an instrument, fostering a passion for STEM and mathematics, or honing a talent in art, Canberra’s schools have everything students need to learn and develop. This week “CityNews” spoke to some of the best schools in the Canberra region that are open for enrolments.

Anglican school that challenges and inspires

With two campuses across Gungahlin and Forde, Burgmann Anglican School caters to children from six months through to year 12, says Principal Leonie Harwood.

“When your child joins Burgmann, they embark on a journey that challenges, inspires and empowers them to achieve their potential,” she says.

“Burgmann offers a positive educational experience, integrating learning and teaching with a comprehensive wellbeing model and the Christian Life to support their commitment to developing the whole child.”

they transition to our Senior School.”

Leonie says at Burgmann, children can explore a variety of interests while developing and nurturing their literacy, numeracy and creative skills.

“We implement an evidence-based approach to literacy through programs such as PreLit and InitiaLit in the early years, delivering a synthetic phonics approach alongside rich literature and vocabulary development,” she says.

“STEM is taught explicitly from kindergarten and its elements are integrated across the school to enhance our innovative learning programs.

“We offer a tailored Middle School program, in purpose-built facilities, designed to meet the needs of young adolescents before

Burgmann recently unveiled their new Senior Science Centre on its Valley Avenue Campus; a specialist centre offering enhanced academic programs and extended learning opportunities through its state-of-the-art facilities, says Leonie.

“The opening of the Senior Science Centre represents a significant milestone in Burgmann Anglican School’s commitment to innovative learning and continuous advancement,” she says, and she invites families interested in learning more about the school to visit the school’s website or attend an upcoming tour or information evening.

Burgmann Anglican School. 4 The Valley Avenue, Gungahlin and Francis Forde Boulevard, Forde. Call 6255 7700 for the Gungahlin campus, 6204 3299 for the Forde campus or visit burgmann.act.edu.au

Catholic school brings tradition and wisdom

In 2025, St Jude’s in Holder will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a Catholic primary school, says principal Cameron Reed.

“With that comes tradition, wisdom and an openness to purposeful growth in everything we do,” he says.

“Our students are a joy to be around and they are supportive of each other.

“We are a high-quality, communityoriented Catholic educational environment, where students thrive, staff are happy and parents are engaged.

“We see it in our students and we hear it from our parents.”

“Entering the buildings at St Jude’s is just like coming home, it’s safe, secure and supportive,” says one year 6 student.

“It’s a place where I can learn and people are really kind.”

One parent says, “I chose St Jude’s because it presents a high quality, coeducational experience, which mirrors all that is good in the real world.”

“My son is in year 5 and he loves the small

class sizes, buddying with the early learning centre, and the playground space” says another parent.

The St Jude’s community believes in educating spirit, mind and body to embrace today and meet the challenges of the future, says Cameron.

“Our oldest students look after our younger students,” he says.

“Academically, our students compare with the best schools in Canberra.”

Cameron says they are now accepting new enrolments for 2025, with an Open Day on Wednesday, May 8, 9.15am-11am and 4pm-6pm.

St Jude’s Primary School, Mulley Street, Holder. Call 6288 7688, or visit stjudesps.act.edu.au

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS advertising feature

School thrives on values of curiosity, creativity and confidence

Founded in 1929, Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is dedicated to providing education to the children of Australia’s capital city and surrounding regions, says Dr Sandra Webster, deputy head and head of primary school.

“Rooted in Christian scriptures and traditions yet welcoming stu dents of all faiths and backgrounds, our institution thrives on values of curiosity, creativity, confidence, compassion and global citizenship,” she says.

“Nestled in Ngunnawal country, our campus sprawls over 20 hectares and boasts stateof-the-art facilities such as the recently inaugurated Primary School Building with multi-level learning spaces, purpose-built Early Learning Centre, Snow Concert Hall, libraries and sporting amenities.

“From the heritage-listed quadrangle to the chapel, every corner echoes our dedication to excellence.”

Sandra says CGS has been committed to providing a holistic educational experience from preschool to year 12 for more than 95 years.

“For parents seeking a nurturing environment where their children can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally, Canberra Grammar School offers an unparalleled opportunity,” she says.

“Our academic philosophy extends beyond textbooks and examinations.

“Through innovative teaching methods, we ignite

curiosity and a love for learning.”

Sandra says that through experiential learning, athletics and leadership opportunities, CGS instils a selfassurance rooted in service to others, nurturing leaders of tomorrow.

“Alongside a robust co-curricular program from sports to arts, we aim to foster personal growth, resilience and a sense of belonging,” says Sandra.

Canberra Grammar School, 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill. Call 6260 9700, or visit cgs.act.edu.au to register for an Open Day.

Transformative education for boys

St Edmund’s College, grounded in the Edmund Rice Tradition, stands as a beacon of Catholic education in Canberra, having educated boys for the past 70 years, says principal Joe Zavone.

“Proudly holding the distinction of being the oldest continuous Catholic school in Canberra, we have fostered an inclusive community that embraces boys from years 4 to 12,” says Joe.

“We support, challenge, and educate our students whilst providing a diverse program of cultural, pastoral and sporting experiences to enrich their growth and development.”

Embracing the diverse learning styles and needs of students, Joe says St Edmund’s College offers tailored teaching and learning programs designed specifically for boys.

“Beyond academics, our vibrant Youth Ministry,

activities including sports, performing and creative arts, cultural experiences, camps and excursions, enrich the educational journey of every student,” he says.

Joe says the Sports Academy program offers students in years 11 and 12 early non-ATAR entry to the University of Canberra in a select suite of courses, and their educational partnership programs with the Hyatt Hotel, Canberra Raiders and Accelerate Physiotherapy allows students opportunities to develop their specific skills, offering a broader range of future directions.

“We extend a warm invitation to visit us in person, to witness firsthand the transformative potential of a St. Edmund’s College education,” he says.

Principal Joe Zavone with senior student leaders.

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS

College sees a decade of student growth

St John Paul II College is a dynamic and high-performing secondary college providing a Catholic education for young men and women from years 7 to 12, says Dr Craig Wattam, principal.

“We are an inclusive, comprehensive, co-educational high school offering a Catholic values-based education,” says Craig.

“As a member of the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese, our teachers use evidence-based approaches in the classroom that are proven to work.”

Craig says students are encouraged to take advantage of all that is on offer and to engage in the many opportunities for social justice and charitable works, leadership, sport, and co-curricular activities.

“As a Catholic school, we provide family values, inspired by the life and message of Jesus, in an atmosphere of care and nurture,” he says.

“Our College may still be only 10 years old, but we are proud of the wisdom that resides within our student body. We are driven by our key values of justice, peace and courage.

“We are small enough to know each student well, yet large enough to provide a breadth of curriculum offerings for all students whether they are destined for university, the workforce or an apprenticeship.”

St John Paul II College, 1021 Gungahlin Drive, Nicholls. Call 6163 4800, or visit jpc.act.edu.au

Holistic education to instil a love of learning

Blue Gum Community School is a leading educational institution committed to providing a holistic learning environ ment that nurtures the academic, social, and emotional development of its students, says principal Sophia Williams.

With a focus on innova tion and student-centred approaches, Sophia says Blue Gum Community School prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Since 2021, Ziggy, the Blue Gum wellbeing dog, has been an important member of the school com munity, says Sophia, bring ing a non-judgemental dimension that enhances the learning environment.

“Perhaps students need a willing listener for their reading/story-telling, or a family advises that their child needs help to overcome their fear of dogs, or teachers notice a student withdrawing or acting out after parents separate, or classes heading off on an excursion, such as their regular Mt Majura bushwalk,” says Sophia.

“All benefit from Ziggy’s presence and learn to take responsibility for Ziggy’s care, too.”

For the past 25 years, Blue Gum Community School’s educational approach to learning through deep rigorous research has attracted families

keen for their children to be active participants in real-world learning experiences, starting at birth and continuing through to secondary school, says Sophia.

Whether working in classrooms full of powerful learning stimuli, immersing in the multifaceted possibilities of the creative arts, or setting off on extended outdoor environmental explorations, Sophia says students’ learning is optimised by having two core teachers, plus specialists, in each class.

Blue Gum Community School, 114 Maitland Street, Hackett. Call 6230 6776 or visit bluegum.act.edu.au

St John Paul II College

Year 7-12 Catholic Co-educational College

Missed open Day?

Book a tour TODAY!

Key dates:

• Senior College Expo | Tuesday 7 May 2024

• Try JPC Day | Friday 10 May 2024

For more information and for bookings visit our website www.jpc.act.edu.au

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS

A proudly small and inclusive school

St John Vianney’s Primary School in Waramanga is nestled within expansive and meticulously maintained grounds, offering abundant space for all students, says principal Peter Rodda.

“Our school aspires to emulate the virtues of our Patron Saint, Jean Vianney, by striving for excellence in every endeavour,” he says.

Peter says the school is committed to welcoming children of diverse needs and faith backgrounds, with dedicated support extended to every student and family.

“St John Vianney boasts a team of highly-trained professionals dedicated to delivering top-quality Catholic education,” says Peter.

He says the school uses evidence-based teaching methods, which prioritise explicit and direct instruction, with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy as foundational pillars across all subjects.

“We instil in our students a growth mindset and

The school prides itself on its modern resources, including interactive LED boards in every classroom and personalised access to iPads or laptops for students across all year levels, says Peter.

Specialist classes in the performing arts, Italian, library and health programs enrich the students’ educational experience at St John Vianney’s, he says.

“At St John Vianney’s, every student receives personalised attention, and every member of our community is embraced as family,” says Peter.

“It is truly a special community to be a part of.”

Peter says they have Open Days every Wednesday in May, 10.30am-5pm, and on Saturday May 4, 9.30am-12.30pm.

St John Vianney’s Primary School, 91 Namatjira Drive, Waramanga. Call 6288 2383, or visit sjv.act.edu.au

A welcoming environment for teachers and students

While St Mary MacKillop College has all the advantages a large, co-ed secondary school can provide, principal Michael Lee believes that his teachers are its greatest strength.

Michael says MacKillop places a large focus on the recruitment of staff, because “a school can be no greater than the quality of its teachers.”

“When our students graduate, they comment that the best thing about MacKillop was their relationships with teachers and the sense of community,” he says.

“Teachers are central to the culture, community, and sense of identity that schools impart to young people and few professions can claim such responsibility.

“Our teachers are passionate, well-qualified, and believe that students have a right to learn, to be challenged intellectually, and to be given opportunities that broaden their experiences and perspectives.”

its Open Night on May 6, with special information for

prospective employees on top of the usual information that will be available for future students.

College Captains, Harry Angus and Avari Petersen say visitors to Open Night will find that there’s a lot to like about their school.

“We have amazing people, good teachers, a supportive and welcoming environment, great facilities, and we have had so many opportunities here,” they say.

“We believe any students or staff who are thinking about joining us will really enjoy the MacKillop experience.”

Michael says MacKillop is now accepting enrolments for the 2025 school year.

St Mary MacKillop College, Junior Campus, Mackinnon St, Wanniassa and Senior Campus, Ellerston Avenue, Isabella Plains. For information or to register for

St Mary MacKillop College captains, Harry Angus and Avari Petersen.

Experience the heartbeat of Emmaus

Emmaus Christian School in Dickson began in 1996 when a group of parents went out for dinner and the topic of schools was discussed, says principal Melanie Spencer.

She says lively conversation left them with the question, “why can’t we start our own school?”

It’s hard to imagine that this small group of passionate and committed parents would envisage what Emmaus has become, she says.

Melanie says Emmaus is now a thriving school of more than 600 students, from three-year-old preschoolers to year 10.

“Emmaus is a highly regarded, faithful Christian school, character ised by a sense of belonging, and a history of devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which sits at the centre of our community’s belief, engage ment and learning,” says Melanie. Melanie says a community truly thrives when its members are physically, emotionally and spiritually well, as such, the school also provides programs of Christian education, pastoral care and co-curricular opportunities.

“As the school continues to grow, I look forward to welcoming families to our school’s Open Night on Wednesday, May 8.

“This provides an opportunity to experience the heartbeat of our school, see our beautiful purposebuilt facilities and meet our high-calibre teaching staff.”

commence at 5pm but bookings are essential, says Melanie.

Emmaus Christian School, 73 Davenport Street, Dickson. Call 6247 7151 or visit emmaus.act.edu.au

understands that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for development, says owner Kristen O’Connor.

“Kidstart offers classes for children from five months to five years of age to develop them socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually,” she says.

Operating since 1996 and located in Wanniassa, Kristen says Kidstart offers three distinct and ageappropriate programs to ignite a love of learning.

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 22 years’ worth kids and their families growing, loving, enjoying and

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

Melanie says Emmaus Preschool will offer a “Stay and Play” for those interested in exploring the three and four-year-old program, beginning at 4pm. School tours through the primary and secondary campus

Garden that salutes the brave

The Bravery Garden is a special spot inside the grounds of Government House in Yarralumla that can be seen by the public when there are open days.

Former Governor-General Sir William Deane proposed the remembrance garden on the old croquet lawn (that had been established before 1900) to recognise the service and bravery of outstanding Australians.

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It is designed with style and symbolism, and the planting has brought it all together. It has Australian and NZ natives such as correas, pittosporums, westringias, callistemons and is enveloped in a grove of Manchurian pears to protect this special place of contemplation.

The latest addition to the garden was a row of Gallipoli Centenary Roses in 2014 and the large and elegant red blooms are beautiful but only mildly fragrant.

The other main planting in the garden is the humble rosemary, which grows wild at Gallipoli in Turkey.

Rosemary is a symbol of honour and remembrance and this is a plant that grows tremendously well in our climate. It can grow to a metre high and wide and can be planted as an evergreen hedge.

Its blue flowers are in bloom late winter, early spring when most fruit trees are flowering and are perfect for attracting bees to the garden when they are needed most.

Quinces… can be picked when they are golden yellow and have a honey sweet aroma.

Rosemary can be clipped and shaped. There are also varieties that can cascade over a hot, sunny wall. Rosemary also comes with pink flowers. It should be planted now before the cold weather sets in to ensure good new growth in the spring.

QUINCES will be ripening from now to May. They can be picked when they are golden yellow and have a honey sweet aroma. The stem will come away with a slight twist when ripe and the fuzz on the outside of the skin will disappear to reveal a glossy fruit.

The knobbly yellow fruit is not palatable raw, but does have a high pectin content and is terrific

Quince trees grow quite large and can double as an ornamental tree with its sweet, pale-pink flowers. In spring and autumn, foliage colour can

They are self-fertile and, despite taking five or six years to fruit, will be more productive with

The varieties De Bourgeaut and Pineapple are both late flowering and will do best in our region. The seasonal wet weather has brought on quince fleck, a fungal disease that can defoliate leaves and crack the fruit. To counter it, spray with a fungicide as soon as the brown marks appear and remove some leaves to help the air flow around the fruit. Try to keep the leaves dry

Quince trees can be planted in the winter. They like rich soil around their roots and good watering through the summer when the fruit is growing, but keep them on the dry side for winter.

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

Jottings…

• Keep sweet peas growing fast until the weather cools.

• Keep brassicas covered with fine mess to keep cabbage moths at bay.

• Reduce watering on lawns and deciduous trees.

Talking to the names making news. Sundays,

SUNDAY ROAST

The Government House Bravery Garden… designed with style and symbolism. Photos: Jackie Warburton

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Peelman comes Alive for his final music festival

COVER STORY

By Helen Musa

When it comes to choosing themes, retiring director of the Canberra International Music Festival Roland Peelman is notoriously cavalier.

But for his final one he’s adopted a more serious tone, titling the event “Mulanggari” (Alive).

“Retiring” is hardly the word for Peelman, who is as ebullient as ever as he describes what’s coming up in early May.

and which is alive and kicking”.

“Mulanggari”, which has the same meaning in both Ngambri and Ngunnawal, is also the name of a work in the NGA sculpture garden created by Matilda and Paul Girrawah House.

“I wanted to pick an indigenous word,” Peelman tells me, “so I consulted indigenous people.”

“Music is nothing when it’s a score, just paper, it only comes alive when it’s played by musicians and post-covid we are all happy to bring live music before real people.”

Alive, he says, also refers to “a culture which is much bigger than us

To that end, the concert High Stakes at the High Court features didgeridoo artist William Barton and his mum Delmae Barton, telling their story.

On the final night of Mulanggari, Nadia Simpson and Kaleena Briggs of the Stiff Gins, will perform commissioned arrangements of their work in a concert that also features works by Canberra composer Brenda Gifford.

“Putting a program together is about giving the audience something to ponder… at the end of the day, we are a music festival and music is what, in the moment, you hear and don’t forget,” says Peelman.

The opening concert will be Lior’s poignant work, Compassion, orchestrated by Nigel Westlake. Never before heard in Canberra because a planned CSO performance was cancelled during the pandemic, it sees Lior singing life-affirming words taken from Arabic and Jewish prayers.

Another highlight will be Red Dirt Hymns, written by Andrew Ford, who asked 20 living poets to write a poem and wrote tunes, sent them to singers and told them to do what they liked with them. Canberra’s Luminescence will join guitarist Hilary Geddes and cellist Freya Schack-Arnott to perform 16 of the songs before a visual backdrop by local artist Sammy Hawker.

Naturally, there’s an international component to the festival, with the inclusion of Trio Karénine from France, Holland’s Dudok Quartet Amsterdam, Bulgarian guitarist Pavel Ralev and young Belgian pianist Bram De Looze.

As well, the return of Bach Akademie Australia playing all six Brandenburg concerti over two concerts. That, Peelman predicts, will be cause for “unfettered joy”.

Canberra International Music Festival, May 1-5. INSIDE

Gallery jumps into immersive art

By Helen Musa

As Aarwun Gallery in Gold Creek enters its 25th year, director Robert Stephens has always had a creative approach to his packed openings, mixing music and talk with fine art, but this year he’s outdoing himself.

For a retrospective exhibition of 80 original paintings by landscape artist Ken Knight, Stephens is taking a leap into the unknown.

Stephens, along with the NFSA and other national institutions, is jumping into immersive art, so that not only will visitors see Knight’s actual paintings of Australia, Venice and Antarctica, but in a back room of the gallery will be a virtual experience of his art.

Serendipitously, Stephens’s computer-nerd son Kingsley is an expert in augmented reality, virtual reality and projection mapping.

It is Kingsley and his wife Michelle who have created the walk-in experience to be unveiled on the opening night of the exhibition, May 4. Stephens is fairly bursting with paternal pride as he talks of his son’s skills and the eight cameras involved in this exercise.

“The experience will go for about 15 minutes and be a presentation of Ken Knight as an artist, his works, and recreations of the scenes he loves to go and paint in,” Kingsley tells me.

“This will be sequenced as a narrative that contains classical music, as well as Ken himself speaking of his love of painting.”

It is Robert Stephens’ fond hope that the entire opening night will be wrapped in music – his initial idea was six cellos – and he’s been talking with the ANU School of Music head about a live event, which will not be a formal concert but rather five-minute items spread over a two-hour period.

“I want people to come here and enjoy beautiful music and beautiful artwork,” he says.

Knight is one of Aarwun Gallery’s very favourite

Composer Holly’s not lost for notes

Holly Harrison is the Canberra International Music Festival’s composer in residence.

“Not all composers are dead, white and male,” says artistic director Roland Peelman.

“[Holly] works very hard,” he says of Harrison. “She is articulate and she’s not lost for notes.”

He’s right. Now 36, she’s been attached to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for a few years as a composer in residence, including during covid when the TSO wanted new pieces.

Holly Harrison’s work, Swoop, her ode to crows will be performed by the Ellery String Quartet at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture on May 1, Balderdash by the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam at Albert Hall on May 2, Ice Giant at the High Court on May 3 and Feature Creature, Music for three percussionists at Snow Concert Hall on May 5.

Of late, Harrison says, she’s been focusing on orchestral works in her and dad parents wisely converted the family stables into a music studio where she got into drums, “and we jammed, away from the neighbours”.

“I loved loud music and it had a powerful influence on my

painters. His career as a landscape painter goes back over 40 years and he’ll be there to talk about the varied images he has created of Australia, Venice and Antarctica.

To Stephens the most exciting thing is the idea of seeing Knight in the midst of his paintings, although the artist made it fairly clear that he thought he was crazy to be doing it.

“It’s us trying to do something different to take the gallery forward. I will be looking to see how it plays out in the room,” Stephens says.

Sales are how he lives and although his framing business is going gangbusters, he believes people need to have more than just one experience when they come into any gallery.

Going forward, he explains, a clever way of selling paintings might be by immersing people.

“It may trigger something. I believe it would help patrons make up their minds… it would give them more background,” he says.

orchestral writing,” she tells me, adding that she’s always enjoyed improvising and has a bit of residual anxiety about notated music.

Always keen to take a different path, she signed up for a music degree at the University of Western Sydney, which opened up the world of “weird and wacky music” along with traditional courses. She completed honours and a doctorate there and still lives in Penrith.

Harrison quickly became well-known for a portfolio of works developed for her doctorate, including Lobster Tales and Turtle Soup, where she looked at Lewis Carroll’s Alice books through a musical lens.

“I was using literary ideas to create music,” she says, “I always like putting unlikely things together.”

Harrison is nothing if not cool and groovy in her choice of titles – Daredevil, Hi-Vis, Pounce, Burnout and, for our festival, Ice Giant, Creature Feature, Swoop (her ode to crows) and what she calls “a kind of nonsense piece” from 2018 – Balderdash.

Composer Holly Harrison. Photo: Steve Broadbent

Artistic director Roland Peelman. Photo: Peter Hislop

Ken Knight, En Plein Air – a Modern Impressionist, Aarwun Gallery, Federation Square, Nicholls, opens May 4.

Augmented reality experts Kingsley and Michelle Stephens at work.

Album launch and art show draw Omar home

By Len Power

Omar Musa, Bornean-Australian author, visual artist and poet from Queanbeyan, will be back in Canberra to launch his third album of music and poetry, The Fullness, and an arts exhibition, All My Memories Are Mistranslations.

The Fullness is Omar Musa’s third full-length album of music and poetry, an expansive opus of sounds and styles. With long-term collaborator Papertoy at the helm, Omar explores themes such as environmental destruction, addiction, grief, searching for a homeland and – ultimately – rejuvenation.

In one moment, Omar rages about logging corruption over traditional Bornean war horns in Fire On The Hills, the next he’s wistfully examining his complicated relationship with Islam in a post 9/11 world on Too Hard to Say, or poetically paying homage to his beloved Queanbeyan River on Love So Deep.

Omar, who now divides his time between Brooklyn and Borneo, tells me from Borneo that The Fullness was “made in joy, polished with grief”.

“I recorded these songs just for fun, to express a new-found joy, but I never properly finished them,” says Omar.

“But when my best friend died last year, I decided to finish them and dedicate something beautiful to him, to honour our friendship and the fullness of his life.

“The album then grew into something much more ambitious, made in studios from New York to Kota Kinabalu to Sydney.”

Whereas his last album, 2017’s Since Ali Died (and the acclaimed one-man play that grew out of it) was sonically and thematically dark, The Fullness is brighter and more melodic, with rich, live instrumented textures that veer into the experimental.

“I’ve toured with my friend Kae Tempest a number of times, and I took inspiration from the way they use poetry in their music and blur the lines between different styles. I wanted to do my own Queanbeyan/Borneo

poets and writers Sara Saleh, Nam Le and Jazz Money, and Thundamentals’ producer DJ Morgs.

Talking about his upcoming exhibition, All My Memories Are Mistranslations, Omar says: “It amazes me how often I get it wrong. How often I’ve sat down with my grandparents, and a story I’m told solidifies into a personal mythology, only to find out years later that I’d misheard (or mislistened?) and crucial things were lost in translation.

“In All My Memories Are Mistranslations I wanted to lean into dissonance, these spaces lacking coherence; find comfort in contradiction. I made an unlikely mash-up of the two very different places I live between – Malaysian Borneo and Brooklyn, New York City – to make a playful, unsettling world inhabited by ghosts.

take on this borderless poetic approach to genre, and mix rap, poetry, pop and soul –and then get really, really weird with it.” This musical and thematic diversity sees Omar collaborate on tracks with New York cellist Mariel Roberts, Peruvian composer and Phillip Glass mentee Pauchi Sasaki, Thom Crawford, Lucy Sugerman, acclaimed

FILM / Mad About the Boy

“Here, there is a clash of rose-tinted romanticism against latter day capitalism and ecological collapse; the discarded and the sacred, grief and rejuvenation, the joy and pain of homecoming. The ghost of a famous anti-colonial rebel stands in an abandoned building. Bornean boys sail across a coin-operated washing machine in Brooklyn. Aquatic creatures flow across the sky into a fish trap as a figure takes a selfie in the mirror. A boat, a symbol of my ancestral Suluk seafaring, sinks in an ocean of plastic trash”, he says.

The Fullness album launch with Lucy Sugerman, Sideway Bar, Civic, May 3.

All My Memories Are Mistranslations, Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick, May 4-June 2.

Renee’s back for Bridget Jones film

LONDON – Renee

Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are set to reprise their roles for a fourth film instalment of Bridget Jones.

The romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy will see 12 Years A Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor and One Day actor Leo Woodall join the cast of the sequel, set for release on Valentine’s Day 2025.

Two-time Oscar winner Zellweger will reprise her beloved role as Bridget, while Grant will return as rapscallion Daniel Cleaver and Thompson, who starred in the third instalment as Bridget’s despairing obstetrician, also returns.

British author Helen Fielding previously said she had decided to write Bridget’s love interest Mark Darcy, played by Oscar winner Colin Firth, out of the third book in the popular series because she didn’t want Bridget to become “a smug married”.

Renee Zellweger will reprise her role as Bridget Jones for a fourth time in the popular film series. Photo: AP

In the book titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Bridget is a widow in her 50s with two children, as it is revealed Mark has died some years earlier – although it is not clear what plot the film will take. Firth reprised his role in the third film in the franchise titled Bridget Jones’s Baby, which saw his character competing with billionaire US love guru Jack Qwant, played by Patrick Dempsey, for the attention of Bridget after she falls pregnant.

The hit 2016 sequel came 12 years after US actress Zellweger adopted an English accent to portray the hapless singleton in the second instalment titled Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

The original adaptation, titled Bridget Jones’s Diary, starring Zellweger as a 30-something chardonnay-swilling singleton, was released in 2001 to wide acclaim. Zellweger scored her second Academy Award in 2020 for her leading role as famed singer and actress Judy Garland. –AAP

Omar Musa with his artwork… “I wanted to lean into dissonance, these spaces lacking coherence; find comfort in contradiction.”

Photo: Boyz Bieber

DINING / Rosemary, Kingston

Rosemary’s working night shift

Rosemary in Kingston is now open at night and it’s well worth a visit.

The restaurant – across from Pomegranate (a fine place to dine) on Tench Street – has a spacious indoor area and an elevated, outdoor wooden deck area enclosed with lovely greenery.

The Rosemary Tasting Menu is $79 each (minimum two guests) and the Vegetarian Tast ing Menu $69 each (also minimum two guests). The a la carte menu is compact but inviting.

A super start is the focaccia, light and fluffy. It’s served with a dollop of smooth whipped ricotta on the side with a vibrant and intense (but in a good way) parsley oil. This is a tantalising start and your taste buds will thank you for it ($7).

Scallops are one of my all-time favourites and Rosemary’s didn’t disappoint. They’re pan-seared (two for $18) and exciting with soubise, chilli butter offering a slight kick, and juicy lemon. Rosemary cooked them to perfection.

Our group loves sharing and that’s exactly what we did with the Angus scotch steak with two sauces accompanying in small white dishes –a burnt garlic and a zesty chimichurri (300 grams for $56). The wait staff recommended we mix the two sauces and we did with great delight. The meat was lovingly cooked and super tender. Not a bit was left on the plate.

We also shared cauliflower steak, a popular dish on many menus these days. Rosemary’s version was yum. It features caramelised tahini, mixed herbs, grapes, dukkah, walnuts for crunch, and a pomegranate molasses dressing ($26). If it all sounds a bit much, don’t fret. The combination of textures, flavours and ingredients is magic.

Sides include an innovative green salad with loads of fried wonton pieces perched on top.

WINE

Pan-seared scallops… with soubise, chilli butter and lemon.

It’s a super fun, delicious salad and the special dressing added life to the fresh lettuce leaves. The salad was finished off with sesame seeds.

Mains on our visit also included barbecue pork ribs (full rack for $58), pan-seared barramundi ($32) and a squid ink risotto ($29).

Rosemary’s sweets line-up featured a tiramisu ($15) and a vegan coconut ice-cream with a passionate fruit gel and crumb for texture ($14), which sounds lovely. We were too full to indulge.

Lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available, all creative and tasty options.

BYO is $6 per person with a large bottle shop across the road and up a bit. Service was attentive.

Inside, Rosemary sells Eche handmade pots (eco-friendly and Canberra designed) and locally grown, gorgeous bunches of colourful flowers by Rose wood Cottage (chemical-free and $35 a bunch). A nice way to support the locals.

Know a drop to shake off complacency?

To be complacent means that you are pleased with yourself or your merits and advantages or the situation you are in: basically, being self-satisfied.

On my return from a holiday in Japan, I was fighting complacency in the context of being entirely happy with my wine choices, not even trying to match an unknown brand or varietal with the food I was eating. I had a lot of catching up with friends to do and, unusually, I went out to dinner twice in one week.

The first occasion was with six others in a Thai restaurant in Griffith that permits BYO. In the past I had bought a Wicks Estate Pinot Rose’ 2022 at around the $20-$25 mark to match with Thai food and, according to my wine spreadsheet notes, I had found that it goes well with mild curries, especially seafood-based curries.

So, as soon as I saw that it was for sale at $22 in the supermarket close to the restaurant, I pounced. It didn’t disappoint. It is a dryish rose’ from the Adelaide Hills, which is one of the coolest wine regions in SA so pinot noir grows well and it is fresh, light and doesn’t have the unripe flavours that can spoil the wine made from this delicate grape grown in too warm climes.

The Wicks rose’ is able to be quaffed as an aperitif because it

has such a clean finish and it cut through the coconut flavours of the Thai curries with just the right amount of acid.

Others had brought different wines to match: a riesling, an oaked chardonnay and even a Ravensworth 2022 Regional Sangiovese ($32) that, while very pleasant, with a perfumed red berry knockout bouquet, I don’t think matched the food as well as the rose’. It was good to try a soupcon of the other wines, but I stuck with a wine that reinforced my earlier position and I was happy.

The second occasion was also at an Asian restaurant, this time in Manuka where they permit BYO for a $14 charge. We

had ventured into Vintage Cellars, again because of proximity to the restaurant, and boom, there was a 2021 Pankhurst Wines Arneis reduced from $30 to $27.

I have previously in this magazine waxed lyrical about the 2019 vintage of this wine, calling it full bodied and noting that it finishes cleanly with a good weight and mouthfeel.

I was supporting the local and again reinforcing my earlier opinion by buying this wine to go with spicy chicken and twice-cooked duck. The wine stood up to these dishes showing real depth and a long flavour spectrum. Arneis

pairs wonderfully well with light proteins such as chicken or seafood, especially where there is a mixture of fresh herbs that match with its aromatic characteristics. The complementarity made me smile, as did the fact that the Pankhurst family continue to make an excellent value-for-money wine.

But at this dinner, I realised that in both my recent choices of wine, I’d been firmly in my comfort zone. So when I got home from the second dinner, I looked up tips for avoiding complacency. And saw the number one tip of a successful CEO: “There is nothing more powerful than getting actionable feedback that kicks you out of complacency.”

Hence, my question to readers: do you have a favourite wine that goes with Asian food, preferably local, that you recommend I should try? Please let me know. I can then follow Kafka’s advice – “Always first draw fresh breath after outbursts of vanity and complacency” – and draw a fresh breath after this outburst of complacency!

Suggestions to editor@ citynews. com.au

Photos: Wendy Johnson Angus scotch steak to share with two sauces – a burnt garlic and a zesty chimichurri.

Pankhurst Arneis... pairs wonderfully well with light proteins such as chicken or seafood.

STREAMING

Black and white argument dogs Mr Ripley

Reinventing a beloved classic is never an easy task.

Just ask the creators of Netflix’s new show Ripley, a series that offers a whole new take on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 book The Talented Mr Ripley and its popular ‘99 film adaptation of the same name with Matt Damon.

But this shiny new Netflix version is no ordinary remake for a cash-in like what we see with so many other films and TV shows these days.

Ripley is an eight-part show given a moody, neo-noirish feel that couldn’t be any more different in style from its Damon lead predecessor.

This time it’s Sherlock and Fleabag star Andrew Scott that takes on the lead role of Tom Ripley, a con artist sent to Italy to convince the playboy son of a shipping magnate to return to New York.

The extremes this peculiar manipulator goes to in order to achieve his goal only become more obsessive and unsettling as this story unfolds.

Ripley has already had gushing reviews from critics, but it seems one of the show’s defining features has split audiences right down the middle. That being the entire thing is filmed in black and white.

“I’m sure the Netflix series Ripley would have been good had the entire eight episodes not been filmed in black and white. I almost made it to the end of the first episode without giving up,” said one disgruntled Twitter user.

“I would not have survived before colour television was invented... tried to sit down to

The End is the very first two words we see, an intriguing and fitting start for a story about a world ravaged by nuclear war.

This new series follows the strange society of Vault 33, a collection of citizens living inside a luxurious underground bunker 200 years after bombs wiped out the surface above them.

We follow one of these citizens named Lucy (Ella Purnell), the daughter of the Vault’s leader.

When disaster strikes on her wedding day, she’s forced to venture outside, discovering a retro-futuristic hellscape inhabited by strange, mutant creatures and even stranger human survivors.

Fallout is based on a series of video games of the same name, another show attempting to adapt a popular game after the massive success of The Last of Us, which even managed to score Emmy nominations last year.

watch Ripley, but it being in black and white makes it a no-go for me. It makes my eyes go all wonky,” said another.

Perhaps if Netflix had made a bold creative choice such as shooting the show vertically, adding some glossy Instagram filters, and making its runtime around the length of a Tik Tok then these attentive viewers might have found more to love.

Thankfully, others are more on board. “Watched first episode and wasn’t sure how I felt, the black and white irked me but then I was dragged into a full-on binge and bloody loved it,” one user said.

makes it feel like something that truly stands out amongst Netflix’s endless conveyor belt of TV shows.

What’s also exciting about the series is its potential to dive even deeper into its central character.

Tom Ripley went on to appear in another four novels written by Highsmith, meaning additional seasons of the show could go on to explore his intriguing psyche further, a perfect recipe for a TV show. It will all depend on how many viewers

Hopefully that black and white barrier isn’t enough to stop too many people from taking the ride.

AMAZON Prime Video’s new series Fallout begins at the end. Quite literally.

Like The Last of Us, Fallout proves bridging the gap between video game and television is not only possible, but able to be done with flying colours.

TV might just be about to enter a new era.

ARTS IN THE CITY Leaping bodies, Circa’s back

Brisbane physical theatre company Circa returns to town with Humans 2.0, after performing in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Towers grow and decay, bodies leap and are caught. Created by Circa director Yaron Lifschitz, the show also features music by composer Ori Lichtik and dramatic lighting by Paul Jackson. Canberra Theatre, May 2-4.

The last edition of Shortis and Simpson’s series, Under The Influence, will feature CityNews Artist of the Year Fred Smith as guest artist. With songs from Cohen and Dylan, The Beatles, Redgum, Neil Young and Kev Carmody and backed by instrumentalists Dave O’Neill, Matt Nightingale and Mitch Preston, there’ll also be songs and stories from the hosting satirical duo. Belconnen Arts Centre, May 4.

Next up at Canberra Rep, is The Actress, by Peter Quilter, directed by Aarne Neeme. Liz St Clair Long plays the Grande Dame

Circa… Canberra Theatre, May 2-4. Photo: David Kelly

Lydia, about to retire, but not before her family, friends, rivals, and colleagues descend upon her dressing room to deliver goodbyes and settle past scores. Canberra Rep Theatre, May 2-18.

Six indigenous cultural workers have been named in the National Museum’s 12-week Encounters Fellowship Program for 2024. The recipients – Natalie Davey, David Doyle, Jamie Hampton, Samara King, Nerelle Nicol and Sammi Snedden –

will begin in April with an orientation period in Canberra, then travel to the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of NZ in Wellington and later visit leading cultural and collecting institutions in the UK.

In A Sweet Sunday Session, Canberra Celtic band Humbug –Simone Dawson, vocals, flute and whistles; Rachel Antone, vocals and percussion and Mal Bennett on vocals and guitar – will perform Irish and Scottish ballads and rousing, toe-tapping songs, supported by folk legends

Dave O’Neill and Jo Creswell. The Yellow House, The Queanbeyan Hive, May 5.

Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley, a con artist sent to Italy to convince the playboy son of a shipping magnate to return to New York.

HOROSCOPE PUZZLES

By Joanne Madeline Moore

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Dynamic Mars (your patron planet) charges through your sign from Tuesday night until June 9. So your fiery, passionate, proactive, boisterous, bossy Aries side will be on full display. Do your best to get must-do, routine tasks out of the way early in the week. Then you can enjoy the activities that really make your heart sing. Be inspired by birthday great, actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn: “I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment.”

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)

Jolly Jupiter (planet of prosperity) is jumping through your sign until May 25-26. This lucky placement only happens every 12 years, so make the most of it while it’s still around! This week the Sun, Uranus and Venus (your ruling planet) are also transiting through Taurus so confidence, authenticity and robust self-esteem will take you far. Be inspired by birthday great, iconic movie star Audrey Hepburn: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself.”

GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)

Restless, gung-ho Geminis can be too quick to ditch family members, dismiss friends, and disregard colleagues who stuff up or disappoint. But is that always the best thing to do? Perhaps most people deserve a second chance? As Hollywood star, humanitarian and birthday great Audrey Hepburn wisely said: “People have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed. Never throw out anyone.” Friday favours networking, travel and adventure.

CANCER (June 22 – July 23)

Have you been hibernating in your cosy Crab cave? With mighty Mars charging through your career zone (from Tuesday night until June 9) do your best to initiate positive changes at work. It’s time to be bold, rather than brooding, and proactive rather than reactive. And spend some quality time in nature. If you’re lucky enough to have one, then get out and potter in the garden. As birthday great Audrey Hepburn observed: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)

Prosperity planet Jupiter is jumping through your career zone until May 25-26, which only happens every 12 years! So don’t procrastinate, Cats - a lucky opportunity could come out of the blue. You need to make hay while the sun shines and strike while the iron is hot! Be inspired by birthday great, actress Audrey Hepburn: “Opportunities don’t often come along. When they do, you have to grab them.” But don’t over-promise and then under-deliver.

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

The Sun, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus boost confidence and enthusiasm, as you pursue ambitious and adventurous aspirations for the future. Avoid being too safe and sensible, Virgo! It’s time to let go of a perceived failure that has been holding you back. If you learn from your mistakes, then you can finally move forward. Loved ones will help you along the way. Your motto is from birthday great, Audrey Hepburn: “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”

LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Libra is the zodiac sign that rules appearance, aesthetics, fashion, cosmetics and personal pampering. And this week’s stars urge you to look for the inner beauty in yourself – and other people. So here are some beauty tips from birthday great, movie star Audrey Hepburn (born on May 4, 1929): “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak words of kindness. And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Love planet Venus (visiting your relationship zone) squares your ruler Pluto (in your family zone), so close relationships could be compulsive and conflicted, especially mid-week. And jealousy could rear its ugly head. Smart Scorpios will go out of their way to avoid power struggles and controlling behaviour, as they argue less and compromise more. Friday is wonderful for work functions and family get-togethers … as long as you are willing to compromise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

It’s time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life! This week you’ll be at your creative and playful best as Mercury and Mars activate your leisure-and-pleasure zone. In the words of birthday great, actress Audrey Hepburn: “Enjoy the day to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come.” But there is also a tendency to eat and drink too much, and spend too much time sitting on the sofa. So try to balance indoor fun activities with outdoor physical action.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

Do you have to be so conscientious, Capricorn, and such a stickler for doing things the right way? This week (with Pluto squaring Venus in your fun zone) resist the urge to be overly sombre and super serious. Try to find the sweet spot between being organised and being spontaneous, as you have fun AND get a lot done. Heed the wise words of movie star Audrey Hepburn (born on May 4, 1929): “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy.”

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

The Sun, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus activate your family zone, so home is where the heart is this week. Even though you may be faced with a frustrating domestic problem, be thankful for the relatives who nurture and support you. As birthday great Audrey Hepburn said, “I may not always be offered work, but I’ll always have my family.” Mars stirs your restlessness on Friday, so try to escape on a grand weekend adventure in the great outdoors.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

This week’s stars increase your Piscean tendency to blurt things out and spread secrets. So think before you speak! When it comes to a recalcitrant relative or an annoying neighbour, be more diplomatic as you build bridges and let bygones be bygones. And don’t let negative self-talk hold you back. Be inspired by actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn (who was born on May 4, 1929): “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”

1 To have made use of rights, etc, that are not one’s own, is to have done what? (7)

2 What is the art of legerdemain? (5)

3 Name the lofty tower attached to a church, temple, or the like. (7)

etc, of the past? (7)

10 What is the nickname of the Canberra NRL team? (7)

11 Which protein hormone maintains the balance of glucose metabolism? (7)

12 What is a returned soldier called? (6)

14 Name a member of the clergy. (6)

18 Which term describes a pioneer of any great moral reform? (7)

21 Which person denies the existence of God? (7)

22 Name the commander-in-chief of a navy. (7)

23 Name a renowned breed of dog. (7)

24 To draw tight or taut, is to do what? (7)

4 What was the former official name of Iran? (6)

5 What are strong affections for other persons? (5)

6 To diminish the worth of something, is to do what? (7)

7 Name a synthetic polyamide from which stockings are often produced. (5)

13 What might we call a person employed to tend horses? (7)

15 Which king of England was known as the Lion-Heart? (7)

16 What are savage, intractable persons called? (7)

17 What is another term for riches? (6)

18 Name the second President of the USA, John ... (5)

19 Name a symbolic card. (5)

20 What is a fairy or a sprite? (5)

FREE PUZZLES EVERY DAY AT citynews.com.au

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

Tax tips to consider before June 30

Here's a quick list of taxation tips to consider before June 30. Tax deductible superannuation – make your contributions as soon as possible. Some of the funds close off in the middle of June. So if you make a contribution and the fund is closed for the year, you don't get the deduction until the following year. If you are making a personal superannuation contribution and you want a tax deduction you need to fill out a form called "notice of intent to claim a tax deduction". This form is lodged with your fund. The fund then acknowledges it before you can claim the deduction. The maximum amount you can get a deduction for is $27,500 this year, which includes any employer's contributions.

Working from home expenses – you need to have a daily diary showing your starting and finishing times each day that you work from home noting any lunch breaks. You can use a diary, time sheets, rosters or even logs showing the time you were logged into the work computer system. If you cannot produce one of these items you do not have a claim. The amount you can claim is $0.67 for each hour that you work at home. This is called the fixed rate method and it covers electricity and gas, phone and internet, stationery and computer consumables. You cannot claim any of these costs additionally if you claim home office. There is another method called actual cost method. You still need a diary for working from home but the rules are different. You cannot claim rates or interest on your mortgage unless you are carrying on a business from home. The actual cost method is more complex and I recommend getting professional advice if you plan to use this method.

Phone and Internet – the ATO explains that if your phone and internet are bundled you need to check what the phone cost would be and what the internet cost would be if you ordered them separately. Then you apply that proportion to the monthly cost which gives you the maximum amount you could claim for each. You then select a representative month and use your phone bill to work out the phone use work percentage. That is usually easy enough to do. You also need to do the same for data, which is usually more difficult to calculate. I generally find that on weekdays, in business hours, the data is probably for work when you're working from home and nights and weekends, it's probably not for work. If you don’t have these calculations your claim is limited to $50 annually for each of phone and internet. Remember you cannot claim phone or internet if you are claiming home office.

Tax rates – depending on the amount you earn, your tax rate could be less next financial year than it is this year. So if you are going to make large donations or subscriptions you may be better off to pay them before 30 June to get a larger tax deduction. It is prudent to look at whether there is a benefit in making payments now to get the more advantageous tax rate.

Rental properties – rental properties are always in the ATO's sights. Does your interest claim include drawdowns that are for private purposes? If so, that loan has to be apportioned because not 100 per cent of the interest is deductible. Have you got any private use of the house at the coast that you rent out? If so you need to apportion deductions for your private use. Do you use part of your home for Airbnb? If so you need to include the income and apportion relevant expenses against that income. There will also be capital gains tax implications when you sell your home.

If you need assistance with your tax contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.

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