‘Canberrans lucky enough to have a garden will have an abundance of dinosaurs visiting.’ How is that possible? Whimsy columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS explains all
Well written, well read
With so much debt, can we even afford light rail?
MICHAEL MOORE
Who voted for light rail?
Less than half of us
JON STANHOPE & KHALID AHMED
Costs the government won’t tell you
RICHARD JOHNSTON
CityNews columnists take an uncomfortably close look at light rail and how it’s costing the community more than money
A woman came into my clinic for a consultation about her hearing aids, telling me her hearing aids were 4 years old and she had never found them to be of much help. She said the salesperson quoted her $14,000 for a pair of hearing aids, however, the monthly special of 20% discount meant they cost her $11,200. So, she ‘only’ paid $11,200 for hearing aids that did not help her. Sadly, I hear this all too often.
Here are some things to do to avoid this type of problem:
1. Visit your GP. If you or someone you know has a problem with their hearing, visiting your GP to check for wax in the ears, and to get advice is a starting point.
2. Qualifications. Always check the qualifications of the person you are dealing with. A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.
years. If you are not sure about their advice, then seek a second opinion. The wrong hearing aids can be an expensive waste and could lead you to stop wearing them. You should always have a trial of hearing aids to ensure that they are right for you.
6 Pensioners and eligible DVA card holders often have entitlement to free services. If you are covered by a government concession, then let the clinician know (even though your clinician should ask). Eligible clients may obtain free hearing tests, consultations, and free hearing aids (referred to as fully subsidized hearing aids).
“A person without professional qualifications has no business advising you about your hearing. They need to belong to a professional association with a Code of Conduct, so you know they are acting in your best interests, not their own.”
– Dr Vass
These hearing aids are appropriate for many people, however if you have great difficulty hearing in background noise (for example a restaurant), then you may want to consider partially subsidized hearing aids. This is when the government pays a certain amount, and you pay for additional features and benefits. Your decision should be based on the following:
you are dealing with a qualified clinician, then they belong to a professional association. The best contact is an independent complaints body referred to as Ethics Review Committee. You can email ethics@auderc.org.au and view the website www.auderc.org.au. You can make an anonymous complaint and your complaint will be handled in a confidential and professional manner. If you are in the ACT, contact the ACT Human Rights Commission email human rights@act.gov au and the website www.hrc.act.gov.au
3. Independent advice. You should get independent, professional advice.
4. There are a wide range of hearing aids out there. Finding the right hearing aids for your communication needs can be challenging. Hearing aids vary in price and performance. Bluetooth® connectivity and rechargeable hearing aids are available on most hearing aids, along with apps that allow you to control your hearing aids from your mobile device. Be aware that just because a hearing aid is more expensive, that doesn’t mean they are the best hearing aid for you.
5. Just as hearing aids vary in performance, clinicians may also vary in performance due to training, experience, and skills. Make sure that you are comfortable and confident in their advice. You are likely to be with this clinician for the life of your new hearing aids, typically 4 to 5
(a) Can you afford the more expensive hearing aids? Don’t go into financial stress if you can’t afford them. (b) Are you clear on the free vs partially subsidized features & benefits? Never believe someone who tells you the free hearings are not good or of poor performance, this is simply not true. (c) If you try the partially subsidized hearing aids and are not happy, then return them. Do not keep hearing aids because you think the failure is yours or that you will improve over time. If the hearing aids are not working for you in the trial period, then they will not work for you in a year or two.
7. If you have a complaint, then seek help. Your clinician should be able to help you through most of your needs. Sometimes, a problem may be beyond the expertise of even the best clinician. However, if you have a complaint there are things you can do. If
By Elizabeth KOVACS
Media personality and former sports presenter Lucy Zelic returns to her Canberra roots as guest speaker at an International Women’s Day lunch to raise funds for cancer care nurses.
A cancer diagnosis affects everyone, says Lucy, “it’s not just people with cancer that need support, it’s also the nurses providing the care.”
Following the recent announcement that the McGrath Foundation would open the charity to all cancer-care nurses, Lucy says she was grateful to have been asked as a guest speaker for the fund-raising lunch.
“In 2024, there were an estimated 169,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Australia alone,” she says.
“It’s affecting one in two men and one in three women, with lung cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world.”
Lucy lost her mother-in-law to lung cancer four days after Christmas. She was diagnosed in 2023, aged 57.
“It was really devastating,” she says.
“We thought we would have so much more time with her and you never real ise just how much more time you need
“I think about the impact and how just being a mother has changed my own goals and purposes in life.”
Lucy, a former SBS sports presenter and FIFA World Cup co-host, put her career to the side after giving birth to her daughter in 2019. Now, she says, her daughter is one of her biggest inspira-
“Being a mother is my most beloved and cherished role,” she says.
“I’m still driven and passionate about my career, but I want to be there for my children in their formative years.”
A strong advocate for supporting women’s sports and giving women a voice, Lucy says there’s no right answer in terms of choosing a career or
“You’re not a failure either way,” she
Lucy, a graduate of the University of Canberra, has returned to journalism, although this time, she’s found a passion for politics and commentary, working with 2GB in Sydney and Sky News.
“It’s a new challenge, it’s been a thrilling one and a daunting one,” she says.
“I often wonder at times if I’m out of my depth, but they’re all questions that we face whenever we come into any new kind of challenge.”
International Women’s Day lunch, 12pm-2.30pm, Pavilion on Northbourne, 242 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson. Tickets $120. Book via eventbrite.com.au
The Welsh Society of Canberra will celebrate St David’s Day at the Weston Creek Labor Club in Stirling from 6pm on March 1. The promise is for a free, fun evening with music, singing, lucky door prize and good company. Anyone with a Welsh background and/or interest in Wales and its culture is welcome. Dinner and drinks at personal expense. More from canberrawelsh@gmail.com
Women of all ages are invited to attend a free pelvic floor workshop by a physiotherapist from Canberra Health Services to provide information, education and self-help strategies for women who are experiencing continence problems or wishing to prevent them. At Tuggeranong Community Health Centre Greenway, 5pm-7.30pm, March 4. Book at 5124 9977 or via chs. ccptpelvichealth@act.gov.au
Family History ACT is conducting a Beginning Family History Course, 2pm5pm on Saturday, March 15 that will teach participants to navigate archives, explore online databases, and piece together essential historical records to help build a family tree. The course will be followed by a series of one-hour lectures with topics such as Trove, genealogy paid sites and DNA. Reserve a place at familyhistoryact.org.au
Light rail is steaming ahead according to a joint media release of federal and ACT Labor politicians.
The next section to Lake Burley Griffin has just been launched at a cost of $577 million for three tram stops. This is in addition to the expenditure of $81.5 million to raise London Circuit.
Also steaming ahead is the level of ACT borrowings. The budget review a few weeks ago revealed an unsustain able debt that is growing at 15 per cent each year. On current projections this jurisdiction will be paying interest on a $12.8 billion debt by the next election in 2028.
Taking a lesson from Trump’s handbook, the government’s approach is to keep the noise going and ignore any criticism. Keep the focus on a side issue rather than the fundamentals. The light rail is the side issue. The state of the ACT budget is the real concern.
Should the light rail proceed? Light Rail was a key issue in the October election and Labor was returned to government. However, it is not a question of whether the tram is a good idea, but rather can we afford it? The good news for Canberrans is that the federal government is contributing $344 million to stage 2a.
Local MP and member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, argues “with construction now underway on stage 2a, we are bringing light rail closer to the lake, unlocking new opportunities for housing and businesses, and ensuring our growing city has the modern, sustainable transport it needs”.
The federal finance minister and senator for the ACT, Katy Gallagher, addressed the future: “Light rail is future-proofing Canberra with a modern public transport system, connecting residential areas with employment precincts, and recreation and lifestyle hubs”.
In her role as federal finance minister, Ms Gallagher constantly
The government’s approach is to keep the noise going and ignore any criticism. Keep the focus on a side issue rather than the fundamentals. Light rail is the side issue. The state of the ACT budget is the real concern.
reiterates the need for the government to aim for a surplus budget. Longterm indebtedness simply means that the current generation can enjoy benefits while later generations pay for them. Future-proofing is about a sustainable budget.
For capital works, such as light rail, it is reasonable for some borrowings as future generations will be enjoying the benefits for years to come. The same principle applies for building and upgrading things such as roads, schools and hospitals.
With net debt reaching $9.044 billion, it is fair to question whether the balance is in favour of either current or future generations. The ACT is looking at a projected deficit in the current year of more than a billion dollars. A billion dollars as we approach a population of 500,000.
As part of the justification to back the ideological commitment to the
light rail, the first announcement for this year was the $66 million sale of land on City Hill to Capital Property Group. This does help justify the $81.5 million spent on raising London Circuit. This sort of sale will also assist in funding the stage 2b of light rail that goes over Lake Burley Griffin and on to Woden.
Income from rates received once the apartments are developed is factored into Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s thinking.
According to the ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel: “This next stage is critical to building out the network and delivering better public transport to the rest of the city”. He contends that “stage 2a is part of our wider vision of building a north-south light rail line to Woden, integrated with electric buses to our suburbs”.
Mr Steel is also the ACT treasurer. He must balance the importance of transport against reining in the growing deficit. One way is to continue increasing rates and charges on ordinary Canberrans, even though the ACT is the highest revenueraising jurisdiction in Australia.
Just the other day I paid $47.50 to drop a single mattress at the Mitchell
Transfer Station. It is just one example of the myriad ways that the ACT has been increasing revenue over the last few years. The fee for general commercial waste in 2011 increased from $117.80 per tonne to $121.90 per tonne (including GST). The cost is now $189.20 for a quarter of a tonne “or more”.
Everyone has a story about increasing charges.
Another reduction in the Standard & Poors credit rating for the ACT is possible. This would mean higher interest rates and putting Canberrans on a financial slippery slope with increasing borrowings and increasing costs of those borrowings. Can we really afford this tram?
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.
Who ‘voted’ for light rail? Less than half of us – Page 6
your passion for supporting dementia research shines brightly. Thank you for walking with us.
- Stephen Holmes, Chief Executive O cer
Together we’ve raised over $60,000. This will bring hope to those a ected by dementia. Team Goodwin,
Our community. Our cause. Goodwin. The better life choice.
‘For
a project of such scope, cost and impact, the lack of leadership in forging a broad consensus is regrettable’
“With an operating deficit of $1 billion and net debt tracking to $12 billion, it’s reasonable to ask whether the woeful state of the ACT budget may justifiably be attributed to this single project.” JON STANHOPE
KHALID AHMED take a forensic look at light rail
Canberra light rail is a common subject of conversation and a regular topic in columns and letters to the editor.
And also in various contexts, for example, the financial position of the ACT, planning and changes to the urban form, potential technological alternatives, and routes and alignment of the network.
While there appears to have been a decline in the level of support for the project, it is fair to say that the community is deeply divided on its merits. For a project of such scope, cost and impact, the lack of interest or leadership from the government in forging a broad consensus is regrettable.
For its part, the ACT government, and supporters of the project, have claimed that it has received a “mandate” through successive elections. We disagree.
There has been no referendum on this issue, and except for the 2024 election campaign, in which the Canberra Liberals declared its opposition to the project, it did not have a clear position.
In fact, major contract commitments had been made in the lead up to the 2016 and 2024 election, with the underlying message being that light rail
was a foregone conclusion and the opposition was dared by the government to cancel the contract.
In any event, regardless of the level of support for light rail, around half or marginally more people did not vote for the Labor-Green Coalition in those elections.
Nevertheless, stage 1 of the project (a 14-kilo metre line from Gungahlin to Civic) is complete, and stage 2a (the 1.7-kilometre extension to Commonwealth Park) has begun.
With the recent release of the Budget Review, which revealed an annual operating deficit of more than a billion dollars, and net debt currently exceeding $9 billion and tracking to more than $12 billion within a few years, it is reasonable to ask whether the woeful state of the ACT budget and its overall finances may justifiably be attributed to this single project.
“The light rail project has had a much greater impact on financial management than the simplistic comparisons of contract payments with the overall budget would suggest.”
changes to accounting standards, these costs are now recognised as liabilities.
A serious question raised by these arrangements is whether the ACT government could or should have borrowed the entire capital amount with its AAA credit rating, rather than allowing the consortium (which had a financing partner) to charge an almost certainly higher commercial rate.
The financing costs as well as the interest rate factored into the contract cost have not been publicly disclosed for reasons, apparently involving commercial confidentiality.
However, we have a clue, of the likely cost, from a reference to the discount rate used by the consortium, as being 7.52 per cent. Conceptually, “interest rate” and “discount rate” are related although not the same. In the absence of any specific information from the government, it is reasonable to assume the financing cost was 7.52 per cent. By way of comparison, in 2016 the cost of borrowing through a AAA-rated bond would have been between 2 per cent and 3 per cent.
The more pragmatic among us may also insist as far as the tram is concerned the “horse has bolted” and that it would be best to turn to more fundamental issues impacting the finances.
Some also argue that the ACT is in such poor shape because its finances are structurally not viable due to its narrow economic/tax base. Notably this argument has not been raised by
government ministers, although from time to time, they may find it politically convenient to deprecate the federal government.
In a number of previous columns, we have sought to explain the overall basis of Commonwealth-State financial relations. It is a transparent and principle-based system that, in our opinion, is the fairest in distributing resources among the states and territories.
The federation (nation) as a whole may have transient challenges from global shocks (for example, the pandemic), or even emerging structural imbalances (for example, an ageing population or stagnating productivity), that may require policy responses.
However, no state or territory is fundamentally any less viable than others, with the system delivering an “equalised” capacity, even running a steamroller over any special bilateral deals – each has to be accountable for its performance if it varies significantly from others over time.
It is, therefore, not without irony that ministers announcing a special deal with the Commonwealth for a capital works project are aware that they would have received this money anyway, and if it were more than a fair share, it would be taken away under some other head.
The argument of structural financial disadvantage, with respect, comes from either a genuine lack of understanding of a complex – and boring in its detail – system, or a well-considered and convenient disregard of it to detract and misdirect public discussion.
Turning to the more substantial question of the impact of the light rail project on the territory’s finances: publicly available financial information shows that the project has had a significant impact quantitatively, and, in our opinion, a formative impact qualitatively on the territory’s finances and its financial management, respectively.
Stage 1 was delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The government made an upfront capital contribution of $375 million, with the remainder of the capital costs (including any cost overruns over the original $614 million estimate) as well its operating and maintenance costs being bundled into a commercial contract over 20 years.
The cost of the contract was disclosed in the 2015-16 audited financial statements (Note 58, Page 101) as $1.649 billion. In reality, the costs are certain to be higher, in the order of $2 billion because, as noted by the auditorgeneral, some capital and recurrent costs were excluded from the contract. As a result of
The ACT government has advised that the cost of the Stage 2A contract is $577 million which entails, of course, an increase in debt of that amount.
However, this price excludes significant costs related to associated works such as the raising of London Circuit. The total bundle of costs (capital, financing and maintenance) will become visible in the financial statements in coming years. Notably, some observers have estimated that these additional costs may exceed $1 billion and be as high as $1.5 billion. Notably the financial commitments, to date, are in the order of a third of the annual ACT budget.
It has been argued that since Stage 1 commitments are to be paid off over a period of 20 years, and that surely around $80 million in an overall budget spend of around $5 billion at the time, ie in 2016, was affordable and so could not possibly have broken the budget.
While, of course, the dire state of the ACT’s finances cannot be attributed to just this one project it is moot that there was “free” $80 million floating around in the budget at the time. In general, sub-national governments’ budgets have limited flexibility, more so if there is an existing deficit, which was and has remained the case in the ACT.
Constituting around 5 per cent of the taxation revenue, this new spending commitment consumed at the time the totality of real tax growth that was required for other existing services, such as health and education.
The light rail project has had a much greater impact on financial management than the simplistic comparisons of contract payments with the overall budget would suggest. We will discuss these in further detail in a subsequent article.
Is this discussion of any benefit? The scope of the project outlined in 2016 was a citywide network of more than 90 kilometres, and as such, only a fraction of the project has been completed. With more stages to come, and both the ACT and Commonwealth Government’s refusing point blank to release the business case or a cost-benefit analysis to inform discussion on the merits of the project and lessons learnt. We believe further analysis and community engagement is fundamentally important.
Jon Stanhope is a former chief minister of the ACT and Dr Khalid Ahmed a former senior ACT Treasury official.
Revealed: how much light rail is really costing, Page 8
Enter the captivating world of coins at the Royal Australian Mint, operating since 1965.
The Royal Australian Mint plays an essential role as the nation’s sole producer of coin currency and through its collectible coin programs that capture and commemorate Australia’s history and culture.
Thanks to a $6 million upgrade last year, the new museum features interactive displays that will entertain old and young alike. Visitors can design their very own digital coin and see if they have what it takes to produce coins with games that test skills of efficiency and precision.
There are also new wow-factor installations, starting with the coin column as you walk through the entrance. It contains an impressive 24,432 gold $1 coins. And, yes, they’re legal tender!
Wander through the museum and take in the variety of collectible coins that commemorate historical milestones, Aussie icons and unsung heroes.
Featuring quintessential animals such as the kangaroo and koala, major events such as the Olympics and Paralympics, or the end of World Wars, these coins serve as miniature pieces of history, as well as miniature pieces of art.
From the factory viewing platform, gaze over the machines that make millions of coins each year and see the star of the show, Titan, the giant orange robot, lift barrels of gold and silver coins that weigh up to a tonne.
Downstairs, visitors can mint their own coin in the Mint Shop, or enjoy a barista coffee or a bite to eat in the café.
With free entry, tours and parking, the Mint is open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 4pm on weekends.
The Royal Australian Mint, Denison Street, Deakin, ramint.gov.au, call 1300 652 020, email hello@ramint.gov.au
Be transported into the world of coins the moment you enter the museum. Our 15-metre long mural of 12,617 coins – Stories of Change – tells a comprehensive story of Australia’s circulating decimal currency.
These coins are more than just pieces of metal. They are tiny mirrors that reflect who we are and highlight what’s important to us as a nation. Hidden in this sculptural wall are hundreds of special coins – each one containing a unique story of Australia’s history. From commemorating the sacrifice and hard work of those around us, to celebrating the foods we eat to the cars we love, coins are little pieces of history in your pocket.
It also reveals changes in minting technology, such as the addition of colour printing to our commemorative coins. Some of the Mint’s most popular coin designs are on display, including the award-winning $2 Honey Bee, $2 Remembrance (red poppy) and the iconic $1 Mob of Roos.
The wall is designed for visitors to explore and touch the coins, and unlike most museum objects, was created to be tactile and hands-on.
When the Mint first opened in 1965 to enable the upcoming switch to our own decimal currency, the first question that needed to be answered was – what should Australia’s coins look like?
Six artists were selected to compete for the honour of designing Australia’s new currency. The artists – who were from a range of fields including illustration, metalwork and silver smithing – were asked to submit designs around the themes of Australia’s unique flora and fauna.
Kangaroos, koalas, wattle and even a dancing brolga were some of the options put forward. Selected sketches were made into plaster sculptures to show how the design would translate into a 3D image. It was a difficult decision for the judges, but in the end it was the youngest artist –Stuart Devlin – whose designs were chosen for the back of Australia’s new currency.
With his animals filling the entire space of the coin, each delivered a strong presence through patterning – the lyrebird’s fan, the lizard’s frill, the platypus’
plaster.
ripples and the echidna’s many spines. This gives the coins a sense of movement and a liveliness, as well as consistency across the complete set.
Devlin’s designs have remained a constant and much loved part of Australia’s currency for more than 60 years.
Free entry, open 7 days Denison St, Deakin ACT 1300 652 020 | ramint.gov.au
“We could be up for $6.6 billion all up for Stages 1 and 2. By about 2038 we may be paying installments on all three stages – nearly $1.6 billion that year!” Former senior town planner RICHARD JOHNSTON analyses what light rail is really costing the ACT and how long we’ll be paying it off.
New Treasurer Chris Steel has discovered that the ACT has a serious budgetary problem!
Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed’s column (“Budget shock: how Andrew Barr broke the bank” CN February 13) says the government has cracked a one-billion dollar deficit for the first time (actually $1.228 billion) and now has net debt of more than $9 billion, with total revenue this year not quite $8 billion.
In this context have you, like me, been wondering, how much is the tram costing the ACT, how is it going to be delivered, where does the money come from and how long will we have to keep paying?
With the help of some colleagues and other information from various sources, I have come up with a summary table showing likely costs of Light Rail Stages 1 & 2 over about 40 years.
On Stage 1, which you probably thought was all done and dusted, the Capital Metro Contract Summary June 2016 says the ACT entered into an agreement with Canberra Metro PC Pty Ltd for the design, construction and financing of a 12-kilometre light rail service from Gungahlin to Civic and the operation and maintenance of the system for 20 years, following the construction’s “delivery phase”.
The Canberra Metro consortium comprises seven private-sector partners including John Holland, Mitsubishi Corp, Deutsche Bahn Engineering and CAF (light rail vehicle supplier).
It is called a “public private partnership” (PPP), although the ACT’s role seems to be limited to paying out taxpayers’ funds over 20 years, on each contract.
At the end of the Stage 1 “delivery phase” (2019) we understand the ACT paid Canberra Metro a lump sum of $375 million, and thereafter was to make monthly payments over 20 years totalling about $1,275 million (Page 14 of the contract summary) making a total of $1.65 billion in total. These figures appear to allow for inflation at about 5% per annum.
According to Stanhope and Ahmed (CN August 24, 2022) all the proceeds from ACT asset sales (public housing) and Commonwealth incentive payments under the Asset Recycling Initiative program, estimated to total $515 million, were to go to Light Rail Stage 1. There is now a major shortfall in public housing.
The ACT signed another contract, in December 2023, with Canberra Metro for Light Rail stage 2a, a 1.7-kilometre extension from Civic to Commonwealth Park. It was reported on March 20, 2024, that the total costs of stage 2a would be about $1.46 billion, including “retrofitting the existing
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fleet to enable wire-free operations” and “raising London Circuit” – about $130 million.
I have assumed for the table that the ACT will have paid for raising London Circuit in 2025 and will pay Capital Metro about $300 million as a lump sum at the end of the light rail delivery phase (expected 2028). The ACT will then pay off the remainder over 20 years (as per Stage 1). The Commonwealth is expected to make a contribution of about $300 million to the ACT for this project. Note that these figures are in $ 2024.
There seems to be no cost information available from the government on stage 2b, from Commonwealth Park, across the Lake, and on to Woden.
A paper by Max Flint, of Smart Canberra Transport (March 11, 2024), says: “The most probable build cost now for stage 2b (10.1 kilometres) is $2.33 billion”, plus another $1.17 billion for operations and maintenance over 20 years, $3.5 billion in all (presumably in $ 2024).
I assume Mr Flint’s figures include a new rail bridge over Lake Burley Griffin by the ACT government to follow Commonwealth work upgrading the existing road bridges, which will presumably also be complete by 2028.
I have assumed for the table that the new rail bridge may cost about $150 million (the recently completed two-lane road bridge over
the Clyde River at Nelligen reportedly cost $148 million), and be completed by say 2033. Canberra Metro could then be contracted to build Light Rail stage 2b, if all necessary approvals etcetera have been obtained. It may be necessary, of course, to break this into substages, given the complexity of issues such as getting from State Circle to Adelaide Avenue (or alternatively taking the route through Barton) and providing stations accessible across the Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen grade-separated motorways.
So we could be up for $6.6 billion all up for Stages 1 and 2. By about 2038 we may be paying installments on all three stages – nearly $1.6 billion that year!
That marks the end of payments on Stage 1, but potential ongoing installments of about $150 million each year until we finish paying for stage 2a in about 2047. That’s assuming, of course, the government doesn’t decide to enter more long-term contracts for light rail!
Richard Johnston is an architect and town planner, and formerly a senior executive in the ACT Planning and Land Authority. He is a life fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Might be time to defer divisive tram trip to Woden – Letters, Page 10
“I
took a walk in Central Park and got all excited when I thought I saw a robin redbreast. Turned out to be a pigeon with a knife wound.”
–David Letterman
Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, a group of bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs.
Specifically, they are descend ants of small, feathered theropods that lived during the Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. Modern birds are classified as avian dinosaurs, making them the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs after the mass extinction 66 million years ago.
Canberrans lucky enough to have a garden will have an abundance of dinosaurs visiting, including Red Wattlebirds, Superb Fairy-Wrens, Noisy Miners, Pied Currawongs, Australian Magpies and Magpielarks, Gang-Gang Cockatoos, Galahs, “Punk” Pigeons (Crested Pigeons), Satin Bowerbirds, Blackbirds and so on. Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are common, too, but not popular because of their destructiveness and pillaging of fruit trees.
especially in sugarcane fields in Queensland.
A pest species in Canberra is the Common (Indian) Myna. They were first introduced to Australia in the 1860s, being brought in to control insect pests in agricultural areas,
They quickly adapted to Australia’s environment, thriving in urban and suburban areas. Their spread was aided by their high reproductive rate.
Over time, Indian Mynas have become one of the most invasive species in Australia, contributing to ecological disruption by displacing
native birds and animals, spreading diseases, and occupying nesting sites.
No doubt readers are keen to know why some birds hop and others walk, so I’ve done some in-depth research.
I’d noticed that birds with shorter legs often hop. Birds that hop stay ready to take flight at a moment’s notice as hopping allows them to launch quickly into the air.
Birds with longer legs tend to walk or run. Walking is energy-efficient for birds that spend more time on the ground, where walking allows them to forage for food more efficiently. It clearly takes an effort to fly. Our local magpies will run to greet us from 100 metres away.
Therefore, it seems that whether a bird hops or walks is shaped by its leg structure, evolutionary adaptation to its habitat, and need for energy-efficient movement.
Birds also exhibit diverse flying styles depending on their anatomy, habitat, and behaviour. Continuous flapping flight is the most common, with steady wing beats for sustained movement.
Small to medium-sized birds often engage in “bounding” flight where the bird alternates between flapping its wings to gain altitude and folding them against its body to glide downward in a slight arc. This creates a characteristic “up-and-down” pattern of flight.
Bounding flight is energy-efficient for birds with relatively short, rounded wings, as it reduces the need for constant flapping. It’s particularly suited for quick, manoeuvrable
flight in gardens or across open areas.
On a lighter note: After a long course of psychiatric treatment, the psychiatrist deems the patient cured.
“So,” says the psychiatrist, “what are you going to do now careerwise?”
“Well,” says the patient, “as you know, I have qualifications that will allow me to take on a range of high-powered professional jobs. But given all the stress involved, it might just be more satisfying to go back to being a magpie.”
Ted takes his pelican to the vet because it’s cross-eyed and asks if there is anything that can be done for the bird.
“Well, let’s see,” says the vet and picks up the bird to have a good look at it. He soon turns to Ted and says: “I’m afraid I’m going to have to put him down.”
“What,” says Ted “just because he’s cross-eyed?”
“No,” says the vet, “because he’s really heavy.”
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
Brake &
Tyres, steering & suspension
YES we do air conditioner servicing
Certified EV technicians on site
Have you ever been curious about the care provided to a loved one after their passing?
We invite you to join the ACT InvoCare team, at our Mortuary Open Night.
The event will feature a guided tour of our support centre facilities, offering insight into our compassionate services.
The light rail (LR) extension to Woden continues to divide the community.
Some see the project as essential in meeting the future transport needs of the city and in reducing car use. They argue high patronage and the increase in development around the Gungahlin-to-Civic Stage is evidence of LR achieving these aims.
The positive attitudes are understand able, but they have been formed in the absence of an informed understanding of the costs and benefits of the project.
The government has portrayed the choice as between LR and car use, failing to acknowledge other strategies to reduce car use, especially the potential of bus rapid transport (BRT).
Analysis for the Civic-to-Gungahlin stage indicated BRT would produce a similar level of benefit as LR at half the cost. Improved technology, in evidence in the Brisbane Metro, demonstrates BRT can provide a level of comfort and service comparable to LR, at lower cost.
Why didn’t the government analyse the relative cost of alternatives for the extension to Woden?
Given its high accessibility to employment, services and facilities, the Northbourne Avenue corridor was identified for higherdensity development in the Territory Plan in the early 1990s. It is hardly surprising the increased demand for higher-density housing has resulted in significant redevelopment in the corridor. It also led to increased
and Kingston, areas not served by LR.
In an environment of high levels of debt, uncertainty, unmet health and social housing needs and the need for resources to construct housing, how could the construction of the highly expensive and disruptive LR stage 2a be a priority?
Deferring the extension to Woden should be considered and the penalties involved disclosed.
Mike Quirk, Garran
Struggling to make ends meet; major health cost and servicing problems; expensive legal, judicial, educational systems; a costly and complex quasi-parliamentary set-up; over reliance on land charges; beholden to property developers; making a meal of light rail; limited local public service skills; struggling municipal services; a complex conflicting and compromised land-leasing and zoning system… the list goes on for
Apart from areas clearly needing Commonwealth planning and design controls (mostly already defined in the National Capital Plan), maybe it’s time for the ACT to become part of NSW, and to have several
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
In the letter “Three flags at the same time is nonsensical” (CN February 13) it’s claimed the Labor government’s practice of displaying the national flag and the two First Nations flags together “was done for purely crass political reasons and nothing else”.
This criticism could equally apply to Peter Dutton’s desire to remove the two First Nations flags as an attempt to curry favour with those who opposed the Voice.
The letter also claims, quite erroneously:
“Less than a handful of other countries worldwide display more than one flag simultaneously”. All 29 member countries of the European Union display together their national flags and the EU flag.
Many people have allegiances to more than one flag. I’ve seen Indian flags at the cricket, Croatian, Greek and Italian flags at soccer, and the Eureka flag at union gatherings, just to name a few.
Why have we begun getting our knickers in a knot over flags when there are so many more important matters to be addressed in First Nations affairs? The answer is because
Peter Dutton stirred the political pot.
Bill Bowron, Wanniassa
I was amazed by Andrew Barr’s gall (CN February 13) to claim that under his government “service delivery performance was better than average”.
My strong memory is that hospital wait times in emergency and for surgery were among the poorest in the country .
I was also amazed at him touting his financial management performance. I well remember him claiming that building the Gunghalin Drive extension as a two-lane highway (and then converting it to four lanes), was fiscal responsibility. He also refused to state how much extra it cost. This is the greatest example of Orwellian political “Double Think” I can remember.
He also presided over the dog’s breakfast redevelopment of Canberra Hospital, which to my mind was both costly and the result very disappointing.
Peter
Jenny Stewart’s column “Advance Australia ... before it’s all too late, please” CN, February 13-19) has addressed the sickness of a declining, but still affluent, Australian nation.
I am sure Australia with its vast expanse and natural resources will survive and prosper as an evolving nation.
The challenge for the current Australian nation, with its roots in the Anzac spirit and egalitarianism, is does it want that culture to survive? If so, a fertility rate of 1.5 won’t do it.
If I were to be critical of Jenny Stewart’s analysis of the pathway for Australia to a “distinctive presence in the arts, science, technology and innovation” it is her emphasis on the role of government without any mention of the fundamental role of the family.
The family Australia needs is built on fidelity and sacrifice, not materialism. If a child suffers adversity but has love, it will be better for it. It gives the child the emotional security necessary for learning.
Thus, in education, if we send students to university who can’t even spell or recite the multiplication tables, there will be no engineers or scientists and hence no innovation.
John L Smith, Farrer
Watching the announcement of the June closure of the Burangiri respite health facility, I feared to think how the news, presented almost jauntily by the very fashionably dressed health minister, would be received by the clients and their carers making use of this essential service.
There is no compassion here. Many are low-income clients, not having the means to arrange alternative care when being discharged from hospital or needing respite care. My disabled, pensioner brother was one such client after heart bypass surgery.
Justification of the decision to close is placed on the federal government not providing funds and the need for upgrading. Surely, with the great lack of such facilities in the ACT, the government could see the need to maintain and upgrade this facility, which has given essential care over many years.
Maybe, if our elected representatives were unfortunate enough to experience the hardships of many of the clients, this decision would not so easily be made. Empathy is totally lacking here.
E Mary Barker, via email
Canberra is truly lucky to have such impressive public galleries and exhibitions.
While everyone knows about Pompeii, there is another in the National Museum that is worthy of note, but strangely not found on its website. The Great Kimberley Wilderness virtual-reality adventure takes you on an unforgettable journey soaring over the red cliffs, gorges and waterways with commentary by Luke Hemsworth, scientists and traditional owners in locations tourists would never get to.
It shows four times daily, lasts 35 minutes and is well worth the $20. Another exhibition until April at the National Archives is 20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.
The quality of these images must be seen to be believed. It is a real privilege to see 20 years of winning nature photographs (mostly animals) on display in the same room. The whole family will love it, and it’s free. What a spectacular country we live in.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria
The federal Opposition recently highlighted how much the public service was spending on welcome to country ceremonies.
They obtained records through freedom of information that, they said, revealed more than $450,000 was spent by 21 government departments across Australia on welcome to country ceremonies in the past two years.
James Stevens, the opposition spokesman on government waste, noted that
among the biggest spenders on the list was the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which spent $41,801, at an average cost of $1266 per ceremony.
Enough is enough, get rid of it; it’s a nonsense, go-nowhere sore that lingers to many people’s dismay.
John Lawrence via email
It reflects poorly on our community that columnist Robert Macklin thinks it is fine for him to use his regular Gadfly column to angrily attack religion, especially Christianity, and to ridicule and offend people who have faith in God.
In CN 25 July 25, he called people who pray mad and declared the bible to be full of fables and fanatics. In CN January 2, he asserted that anyone with faith is delusional and the only way to ensure progress and achievement and save the planet is the victory of scientific truth.
Alas his assertions in support of his “new atheist” fundamentalism are superficial and flawed.
Mr Macklin suggests that the scientific method stands for truth in opposition to the fantasy of religion and names, as its heroes, Socrates, Galileo, Copernicus, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.
What he fails to acknowledge is that many of these scientists held a belief in God at the same time as they pursued
scientific discovery.
In CN January 30, the latest target of Mr Macklin’s animus towards religion is David Brooks, a well-regarded journalist who writes for the New York Times.
Mr Macklin laments that Mr Brooks set out in his NYT column his “spiritual saga from woe to go”.
Mr Macklin mocks Brooks’ experience of seeing his fellow subway travellers as having souls “that gave them infinite value”.
Mr Macklin questions why Brooks didn’t attribute souls to all the other creatures of the universe.
I would encourage Mr Macklin, an apparently experienced journalist and author, to heed his fellow journalist’s attitude and learn to respect people who have a very different view about faith in God and the hope and authentic meaning it offers.
Mr Macklin is, of course, entitled to put forward his opposing position but he has to back it up with something more than offensiveness and ridicule.
Paul Ross, Googong, NSW
While there are many who are cheering Sam Kerr’s recent victory in the English Courts, I am not one of them.
Kerr’s behaviour, during her drunken taxi ride, after a night out partying in London and afterwards in the Twickenham Police Station, was both despicable and disgusting.
She has disgraced herself, the women’s soccer game, her English football club Chelsea, Football Australia and the Matildas, the national team she’s been privileged to captain since 2019.
Kerr called Police Constable Lovell, “f***ing stupid and white”, later stating in court: “I believed (they) were treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the colour of my skin”.
Football Australia needs to grow a moral backbone and spare us from their platitudefilled, media releases.
Sam Kerr should be stood down from the Matildas, both as team captain and team member, effective at once and indefinitely.
Declan Mcgrath, via email
In his Gadfly column “Trump’s climate call is America’s day of infamy” (CN, February 20) Robert Macklin noted US President Donald Trump’s second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Trump is now leading America (and its submissive ally, Australia) in the opposite to the “Paris direction” with a battlecry to the oil and gas industries: “Drill, baby drill”.
Mr Macklin is right about “a sucker being born every day”. Why else would the Australian government continue to struggle in the mess that was left behind by former prime minister Scott (“five ministries”) Morrison?
Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Providing a free, accessible disputeresolution service to deal with complaints about discrimination and vilification, ACT Discrimination Commissioner Karen Toohey says the Human Rights Commission strives to meet the needs of the public.
The commission deals with complaints on the grounds of sexuality, gender identity, sex characteristics and HIV status.
“We deal with complaints about access to health ser vices, gender identity and sexuality conversion practices, privacy and human rights complaints,” she says.
“The process enables LGBTQIA+ community members to try and resolve their concerns through a confidential complaint-handling process.”
Closely involved in developing recent ACT laws to prohibit sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, Commissioner Toohey says the commission provides a complaint mechanism for people who have concerns about these practices.
“We know from community members that some of the current public discourse around trans rights is having a negative impact on access to health services and other public services,” she says.
“We deal with complaints about access to health services and provide people with guidance on what matters might fall within the remit of the discrimination and vilification provisions, protecting people from unfavourable treatment due to gender identity or sexuality.”
The commissioner says this enables people to self-advocate or, where they choose, to use the complaint process to resolve their concerns.
The commission regularly engages with LGBTQIA+ individuals and organisations to ensure people are aware of the services provided.
ACT Human Rights Commission. Lower ground, 56 Allara Street, Canberra. Call 6205 2222 or visit hrc.act.gov.au
Founded 32 years ago to provide social interaction and share the joy of singing, the Qwire choir is a proud LGBTQIA+ organisation run by volunteers.
“Our Qwire founders insisted that we be non-auditioned and welcoming of everyone, which remains at our core,” says musical director Callum Tolhurst-Close.
Volunteer run and offering visibility and advocacy through their songs, Callum says Qwire has sung at commitment ceremonies, weddings, funerals, naming day ceremonies for their transgender members, community commemorative events including World AIDS Day and candlelight memorial services.
“Being part of celebrating new lives and giving honour to lives ending has always been important to our commitment to being visible and loud,” says Callum.
With more than 160 members, convenor James Collier says Qwire provides a great deal of informal
support to its members in a practical and emotional sense.
“Almost everyone in Qwire has a story that starts with being encouraged by the visibility of others to our younger selves,” says James.
Starting the year with a bang, Callum says Qwire will perform a new interpretation of Henry Purcell’s 1689 opera Dido and Aeneas in a concert titled These Precious Hours: Dido Reimagined.
“This performance reinterprets The Aeneid text as a queer love story and the opera, which will be performed in its entirety, will be accompanied by contemporary works responding to the themes of the opera.”
Canberra Qwire. Hall Street, Lyneham ACT. Contact enquiries@canberraqwire.org.au or visit canberraqwire.org.au
One of the most urgent legal challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community is domestic and family violence, says partner and family lawyer, Daniel Magnussen.
“At Farrar Gesini Dunn (FGD), we recognise that the legal system has been historically shaped around heteronormative structure, often failing to reflect the reality of LGBTIQ relationships, families and experi ences.” he says.
“We established our legal service which is a dedicated practice designed to provide specialist legal advice tailored to the unique needs of LGBTIQ individuals and families.”
The firm specialises in family law, family and domestic violence, prenups and binding financial agreements, gender identity and transition matter, surrogacy and adoption, LGBTQIA+ children’s rights and estate planning.
Fellow partner and family lawyer Kasey Fox says their firm has taken a pledge to raise awareness about domestic and family violence in the LGBTQIA+ community.
“For the past two years, we’ve hosted an awareness breakfast to recognise LGBTQ Domestic Violence Aware ness Day and highlight the need for better protections and support services,” she says.
Daniel says inclusivity is at the core of their practice by ensuring that clients feel safe, respected and heard.
According to Kasey, studies show that up to 62 per cent of LGBTQIA+ people will experience domestic, family or intimate partner violence in their lifetime but are less likely to report it or recognise it.
“At FGD, we are working to shift these narratives by providing a specialist legal service that ensures our clients can access tailored advice and supporting survivors or domestic violence by ensuring they receive legal protections.”
Farrar Desini Dunn. 1/10 Rudd Street, Canberra. Call 6115 9000 or visit fgd.com.au
At Farrar Gesini Dunn we recognise the unique barriers that the LGBTIQ community face when navigating the legal system.
We seek to break down these barriers by providing a specialised service to LGBTIQ clients who are dealing with LGBTIQ family law issues or who would prefer to see a lawyer with experience in, and an understanding of, the unique issues and barriers facing members of the LGBTIQ community.
Life would be bleak without our animal friends. In this feature we meet some of the best pets and animal specialists in Canberra.
Courtney Smith isn’t your average entrepreneur.
CEO of the Completely Group, her pet-rescue charity is Completely Rescue.
“The motivation to start Completely Rescue stemmed from a profound love for animals and recognising the urgent need for a dedicated effort to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome pets,” she says.
Courtney says her goal was to create a sup portive environment where every animal could receive the necessary care and preparation for a new life in a loving home.
“Each pet is assessed by a veterinarian and receives necessary medical treatment before behavioural assessments are conducted to understand the animal’s needs and tempera ment,” she says.
“Prospective adopters are thoroughly screened, including interviews and home visits.”
Courtney says Completely Rescued welcomes financial donations through its website to directly offer support care, medical treatment and rehoming.
“We would love to see more foster carers and are always grateful to welcome new volunteers,” she says.
“Training is provided for all volunteers to ensure they feel confident and can make a significant impact.”
Financially supporting this service is Completely Dogcare, a centre that offers doggy daycare, grooming services and training sessions.
0408 111 046 or visit completelydogcare.com.au and completelyrescued.com.au
Discount Glass has rapidly gained a reputation for installing quality pet doors, which allow easy access in and out of the home for cats or dogs without compromising the home’s security, says co-owner Olivia Rogan.
Olivia says this is a particularly popular service to allow cats outside in a contained environment.
She says each pet door they install is unique to the needs of the pet and the layout of the home.
On average, Olivia says Discount Glass measures, quotes and installs about 20 pet doors a week.
Proudly family-owned since 1986, Discount Glass is the longest established glazing business in Belconnen, says Olivia.
“Glass can make a big difference to the house in many ways people might not at first think,”
“We install glass that helps with comfort, safety, practicality and decorative purposes.”
Discount Glass offers no-obligation, free quotes and assessments to give people options that work for them and their home.
“Our team is like a little family in themselves, and we really love helping others with their glass solutions,” she says.
Discount Glass, 4 Purdue Street, Belconnen. Call 6253 1099 or visit discountglass.com.au
At Completely Rescued we provide love, care & security for neglected & abandoned animals. We ensure all basic vet work is undertaken & then we work hard to find loving new homes where every animal gains a fresh start in a loving home!
• We work in the community & pounds by assisting with animal surrenders
• We are volunteer based & self-funded making our efforts even harder, so we welcome donations from anyone big or small in the community
• Completely Dogcare is our Corporate Partner & assists in providing space for us to socialise & train any of our trauma dogs.
We are a boutique doggy daycare, offering a safe & fun haven for dogs of all shapes & sizes. We pride ourselves on interaction, training & affection with your furry pal!
• Boutique facility with indoor & outdoor spaces for all types of weather.
• Casual and Regular Sessions + small and big dog designated days.
• Basic obedience training to advanced behaviour modification.
• Tailored care from our friendly and knowledgeable staff.
• We provide support to Completely Rescued through our centre directly to dogs needing the extra assistance + financial support to assist the Rescue in all they do.
Enquire to adopt Support our cause here
Dining at the Restaurant and Catering Association’s Awards for Excellence in 2024, Stella’s by the Lake isn’t just a hotspot for humans, but for four-legged friends as well.
“Stella’s by the Lake was inspired by our deep love for dogs and our vision of creating a truly welcoming space for both humans and their furry companions,” says manager, Ashlinn Reid.
Named after one of their late, beloved dogs, Ashlinn says Stella’s is a tribute to the joy, love and companionship that dogs bring into humans’ lives.
Ashlinn says they wanted to build a community focused cafe where dog lovers could gather, enjoy great coffee and food while letting their dogs socialise in a beautiful lakeside setting.
“Our passion for hospitality and dogs has shaped Stella’s into what it is today,” she says.
no-nasties-added dog treats, Ashlinn says there are plenty of delicious options for dogs including pupcakes, puppachinos and retail dog treats.
“Beyond treats, we make sure the pups are comfortable by providing dog beds, water bowls and even a dog lead outside if you need to step in quickly!”
Ashlinn says each dog that visits Stella’s gets the VIP (Very Important Pup) treatment.
Until the end of March, Ashlinn says they are offering a $10 coffee and cake deal for any cake of choice paired with a small coffee.
“It’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself while enjoying the lakeside views!”
Stella’s By The Lake, 63/1 Beissel Street, Belconnen. Open 7am-2pm, Mondays to Sundays. Call 6253 0370 or 6105 9497.
Parrots, finches, doves and quail are among the birds ready to interact at the Canberra Walk-in Aviary, says owner and manager Mick Logan.
The aviary is great fun for all ages.
Now is the best time to get up close and personal with a range of friendly, free-flying birds, he says.
“While not all birds will interact with you, visitors get the chance to observe, up close, species of birds that otherwise would be hard to see in the wild,” Mick says.
“We provide a small plate of food and a tub of mealworms and you can wander around and feed
great time feeding the birds, taking photos or just observing our feathered friends.”
The aviary is a 1000sqm planted walk-in enclosure that has more than 600 birds from about 65 different species from Australia and the world, Mick says.
“We accept student and senior concession cards,” he says.
The aviary is open every day, 9am-5pm, with last admissions at 4.30pm.
Canberra Walk-in Aviary, unit 13, Federation Square,
Manager Sue Booth says South Pacific Hemp stocks a leading range of sustainable pet care, offering nutrient-rich hemp products that support pet health naturally.
According to Sue, hemp is a powerhouse ingredient for pets due to its essential fatty acids, protein and antioxidants, all of which helps promote healthy skin, joint health and digestion.
With a wide range of pet-friendly hemp products, Sue says she offers everything from calming support for anxious pets to treats that are allergen and sensitive stomach friendly.
“We offer treats to improve coat health and have a variety of hemp-based pet products to offer a natural, plant-powered boost for furry friends of all ages,” she says.
“With South Pacific Hemp, pet owners can choose eco-friendly accessories and nutrition products, knowing they’re making a difference for their pets and the planet.”
Hemp is a perfect choice for humans and pets alike, says Sue.
Naturally filtering UV light to protect skin, Sue says hemp resists bacterial growth and prevents odour.
“Hemp breathes excellently and has four times the strength of cotton, so it won’t weaken when washed,” she says.
South Pacific Hemp, 84 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Call 0431 318898, visit southpacifichemp.com.au or email sthpacifichemp@gmail.com
For Sandy Borgo, owner of Charlie & Chums, dogs are so much more than just a pet.
“Dogs are always there for me and I for them,” she says.
“My dogs are my solace in life and I’m not the only one, many people find their pets are their best friends. They keep you active and give you happiness in life.”
Sandy’s love for dogs encouraged her to buy a particular keychain while travelling in Venice, and when she returned home she was inundated with compli ments on it.
“Everybody just marvelled over it, they thought it was fabulous,” she says.
Sandy says that although it was from Venice she knew they must’ve had to buy it wholesale from somewhere.
“So I sat there and searched the internet,” she says.
“I started with that, jewellery and a small amount of pet products, in pop-up stores, and then progressed into a shop for four years.”
Sandy is now online only, but she still has a huge range of products available.
“I’ve got dog collars and leads, dog and cat wooden plaques, and bright metal dog and cat metal plaques,” she says. “The bright metal plaques list the pet traits.
“We have dog hooks and dog-treat jars.”
Also available is giftware, including spec holders, ladies’ ponchos, scarves and brooches, says Sandy.
Sandy says she also has sculptures of dogs and cats made from old 44-gallon metal drums, from the company Think Outside.
Charlie & Chums. Call 0402 097580 or visit charlieandchums.com.au
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By Jackie WARBURTON
Most annuals – such as pansies, petunias or vincas – are tough little plants that grow well in full sun or part shade.
In pots, they’re a great way to have a good show of flowers and colour for the whole season. They also grow well in small spaces.
Small perennial plants, such as cyclamens and bedding begonias, are also considered as potted colour and can be grown in pots and swapped out when the seasons change.
Both can be long lived. Cyclamens go into dormancy in the warmer months when bedding begonias are growing well. Swap over the begonias for cyclamen, but keep the dormant plants out of full sun with little to no water until spring and swap them around again.
Over time, both clumps will grow to a great flowering display that doesn’t have to be replaced.
Using natives in a potted display is also possible and use short-lived native perennials such as straw flowers, scaevolas or brachyscomes.
Potted colour can be planted in the ground in small pots or even used in large urns in the middle of the lawn as a feature.
There are lots of choices to get a colourful display, but remember to choose plants that will fill, thrill and spill the entire pot so the flower display shows overall balance and not look like a mess of colour.
To have a display of winter colour that will survive frosts, they will need to be planted by the end of March to get them growing strongly before the cold weather sets in.
Plants to try this winter are polyanthus, English daisies, pansies, brachyscomes and a new native for me to try, Conostylis candican, with bright yellow flowers.
All potted colour plants will need
to be mulched and will require more regular watering because of their shallow roots.
SUNFLOWERS (Helianthus annuus) are in bloom in Canberra at the moment and are a quick-growing annual that not only flowers, but encourages parrots and bees to the garden.
Some can grow as high as two metres, but there are dwarf varieties suitable for courtyards and smaller gardens.
Collecting the seed of sunflowers for sowing the following year is easy and can be done once the petals have fallen from the flower and the flower head is dry.
Cut the flower head off the top of the plant, place it into a paper bag and keep dry over the winter months. In early spring, lightly tap the flowerhead and all the seeds should fall out into the bag. They can be sown into punnets in September and planted into the garden in October when the soil has warmed.
Sunflower seeds are grown for their oil and also as an edible snack.
Wild sunflowers have multiple heads on a plant, and a hybrid sunflower will have one flower at the apex of the plant.
Wild sunflowers are more than likely to self-seed, whereas hybrids may need to be bought every year.
Sunflowers will face east at maturity to capture the morning
sunlight and attract the most pollination.
A COUSIN of the sunflower is the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Fortunately, Jerusalem artichokes won’t self-seed, but are propagated by tubers underground. If not kept in check, they spread really quickly to where there is moisture in the garden. In many cases, once you grow them, you will have them for life. They are considered a nutty vegetable and versatile in the kitchen as well.
Harvest by pulling the entire plant when it begins to fade and white tubers will be just beneath the soil. Brush off soil around the tubers and wash well before preparing.
jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Have autumn bulbs ready for planting next month.
• Direct sow root vegetables where they are to grow.
• Deadhead summer perennials such as cat mint, lavender and salvias.
• Fertilise all fruit trees for strong growth before winter.
By Helen MUSA
They’ve sold out in Wagga Wagga, they’ve added a new show in Fremantle and they’re soon coming to The Q – The Waifs are among the real stayers in Australia’s folk scene.
Often styled avant-garde folk heroes and praised for their affable natures, the group got together in 1992 and it’s pretty much the same as it was from the outset, with Joshua Cunningham on lead guitar mandolin, ukulele and lead vocals, Donna Simpson on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and her sister Vikki Thorn on lead vocals, harmonica and rhythm guitar.
For years The Waifs have been backed by David Ross Macdonald on drums and percussion and Ben Franz on bass and additional guitar, and are joined this time by Tony Bourke on keyboard.
The Waifs were formed in August 1992 in Albany, WA, as a folk-rock band when the Simpson sisters, Donna and Vikki, met then-18-year-old - Cunningham, a Moruya farmer’s son who was playing bass guitar for a band in WA.
Their newly-styled “WAiFS” group then
when we talked and because they’ll be laying down a new record this year, so will be trying new songs.
“But we’ll also be returning to some favourites from the back catalogue, also looking at numbers and seeing if we can refine them.”
“Lately we’ve been doing a lot of songs with a reflective quality, more in the country vein, but songwriting is an ongoing process and you follow the inspiration wherever it leads you.”
And, no, he at least would never want to retire.
“It’s the furthest thing from my mind, playing music is what I do…We love what we do and it hits the spot with a lot of people,” he says.
Cunningham believes that in part the secret of their success is actually that most of the time they are living apart.
travelled the country in a Kombi van as their fame grew over the 1990s.
The 2003 album, Up All Night, reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, winning four ARIA Awards. Two further top-five albums were issued.
The Waifs have three top 50 singles –London Still, Bridal Train and Sun Dirt Water – and founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002 with fellow musician John Butler and manager Phil Stevens.
They supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival. They’re all things to all fans. Writing of their Up All Night album tour to Canberra Theatre in 2023, CityNews reviewer and Waifs enthusiast Cassidy Richens described them as variously “masterful yet humble, tight yet spontaneous” and “distinctively different and remarkably clear and technically brilliant”.
While the core trio originally met in WA, when I caught up with Cunningham by phone to Geelong en route home from performing in Tasmania with his partner, I learned that The Waifs are now scattered all over the country.
“But we’ve always kept up the identity of the band over the years,” Cunningham boasts. He couldn’t say precisely what they’ll be playing when they come to Queanbeyan because they hadn’t even started rehearsing
Although he and the sisters first worked in WA where they both now live, Cunningham lives on the central coast of NSW, Franz in Melbourne, and McDonald in Candelo near the south coast region, Cunningham’s old turf.
“We don’t get together as much as we would like, but we all play music that brings us close together,” he says. “The world has become very small these days.”
The Waifs, The B, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, March 14.
Iceland has been voted the safest place to live in the world 12 times. On average, there’s only one murder committed each year.
However, Icelandic crime writers ignore these statistics, writing relentlessly dark stories of crimes of passion, serial killers and the dangers of the environment.
Ragnar Jonasson, who has a law degree and works as an investment banker while writing crime fiction, is considered one of the most successful writers of Nordic Noir.
He is the award-winning author of the international bestselling Hulda series and the Dark Iceland series. His international best seller The Darkness is being adapted for TV, while Ridley Scott is producing Outside as a feature film.
Death at the Sanatorium begins in 1983 at a sanatorium outside Akureyri, in the north of Iceland. Once it had been a hospital that treated patients with tuberculosis, which had been one of the biggest
from multiple perspectives, Death at the Sanatorium is a cleverly crafted whodunit.
Jonasson is fascinated by the golden age of crime fiction, even translating 14 of Agatha Christie’ s novels before turning to crime writing himself. As a result, his novels reflect the classic style of the past.
PASCAL
Engman, on the other hand, has been variously described as the rising star of Swedish crime fiction, the new Swedish crime-writing sensation and the best-selling Swedish author in the millennial generation.
Engman, although initially a journalist, published his debut standalone novel, The Patriots in 2017, before beginning a series about police detective Vanessa Frank. Of the four titles published in Sweden only two have been translated into English. The Widows is the second after Femicide, which won the 2023 Petrona Award for outstanding Nordic crime fiction.
The Widows begins with an undercover policeman murdered in a Stockholm park.
Nearby, the police discover the body of a young woman. The initial investigation focuses on the death of the policeman but Vanessa Frank recognises the body of
the young woman and begins a personal, tandem investigation into her death.
Vanessa Frank works in the National Homicide Unit. Her boss, Mikael Kask, considers her one of the best detectives he has worked with. She’s brave and works hard but “kept her distance from her colleagues. A lot of people thought she was difficult, but not Mikael. He was fascinated by her. She was charismatic in her own subtle way. And she was beautiful”.
Engman skilfully weaves together multiple seemingly disconnected narrative threads. A father is guilt ridden after his nine-year-old son is critically injured by a hit-and-run driver; Nicholas is working as a bodyguard, protecting the family of Johan Karlstrom, the head of one of Europe’s largest online gambling business; Molly Berg, a high-class escort, becomes the unwitting witness to the murder of a politician, while Hamza Mansour intervenes to save the life of his old teacher from a gang of teenagers.
Eventually the threads and the characters combine, as Engman’s novel explores the most frightening of threats in the modern world.
Engman makes his intention in The Widows clear in his epigraph from Omni News, which reported that: “At least 400 ISIS terrorists have been trained to commit atrocities in Europe. They have been organised in different cells to carry out a wave of bloody attacks”.
The Widows is a slow burner but persevere because it gathers pace with a climax worthy of any Hollywood action thriller.
To say that Ottoman Cuisine is a fine-dining institution is an understatement and it’s no wonder the anticipation of its reopening in its original building in Barton created a next-level buzz.
Established in 1992, Ottoman Cuisine has a long list of awards for its superb Turkish cuisine and expectations were justifiably high when a friend and I visited for lunch.
We were seated, given menus and water and then waited and waited for service, baffled because the restaurant – while busy – was far from packed.
After 25 minutes we flagged a waiter down and explained we had been patient enough. The response was: “Excellent and what do you want to eat?”
I explained we wanted to order wine first and that the situation wasn’t “excellent”. We were taken aback by the waiter’s continued abruptness.
To be fair, the waiter recalibrated with multiple apologies and offered to take a starter and two glasses of wine off the bill. Matters calmed down and we were back to the Ottoman we know so well and love.
The food was exceptional and so was our wine.
Chef and owner Serif Kaya focuses on classic Turkish cuisine steeped in history. He and his team aren’t afraid, however, to push boundaries with a fantastic range of modern flavours and twists.
A dish Ottoman is famous for is zucchini flowers ($24) and these didn’t disappoint. They were crispy on the outside and filled with wonderful goat’s feta and halloumi cheese. The flowers arrived with a light lemon yoghurt sauce and brought back memories of dining at Ottoman in days gone by.
Another out-of-this-world dish was the duck
rolls, a chef’s special ($25). The light filo pastry rolls were filled with tasty, shredded duck combined with onions, currants, pine nuts and herbs. The pomegranate and yoghurt sauce was perfectly balanced, and the dish was pretty with ruby red pomegranate seeds and vibrant fresh mint leaves.
We chose veal as a main ($42), which we could not fault. The thin slices of tender veal, wellseasoned with mild Aleppo chilli, were carefully chargrilled and arranged on a leek and potato skordalia. A well-executed, flavoursome lemon mustard sauce was drizzled on top.
We shared a Fatush salad, a generous serve for $16. It was a delightful combo of baby cos (some
with mild Aleppo chilli, were chargrilled and arranged on a leek and potato skordalia.
a bit wilted), tomato, and cucumber.
The mains came out instantly after the entrees (a short pause would have been appreciated) and we were not asked if we wanted dessert.
Ottoman Cuisine’s wine list is exceptional, with a wide price range. Local and regional wines are celebrated, and our handcrafted 2023 Nick Spencer Tumbarumba Chardonnay was reasonably priced at $65 a bottle.
My friend wrote the Ottoman and received a swift, genuine response apologising for the service. Good on them.
Four blokes over 60 arrange to meet for lunch. One of the four suggests that with the Thai food we compare a Canberra riesling with an oldworld riesling, a German or Austrian.
He investigates choices at a local wine merchant and chooses a Schloss Vollrads Estate Riesling 2023, a semi-dry (which strangely means it will have sweet notes) from the Rhine region in Germany. He pays $30 for this wine.
The company’s website indicates that: “Nature is on our side as all vineyards around Schloss Vollrads descend down to the Rhine in a southerly direction.”
It is an organic winery. I say to my mate: “Hah, you just want us to get Schlossed!”
The wine we choose to compare it with is a Nick O’Leary 2024 Riesling, which I had bought from the Yarralumla IGA and costs around $25 a bottle from some major outlets and $28 direct from the winery.
I was aware that this was a truly Canberra wine, with the company’s website confirming that it is a Canberra regional blend, consisting of nine different vineyard parcels. It is a standout having won Best Wine of Show at the
2024 Canberra and Region Wine Show as well as the Best Canberra District Riesling. An awardwinning wine for that price: as one of our number commented: “Great value.”
After bringing us two wine glasses each and taking our order, there was a considerable period when we could taste the wine as an aperitif, which reminds me – I called the incontinence hot line recently but was asked to hold.
In any event, the wines were well chilled and changed markedly as they warmed slightly (it was a hot day so we put them in the kindly provided ice bucket) and as they were consumed with food.
The German wine was affected by secondary fermentation. In my understanding, this is where
sugar not previously consumed by the yeast restarts alcoholic fermentation with carbon dioxide forming small bubbles in the wine.
Two of the gathered four didn’t mind this effect and said it added to the wine’s complexity. Personally, I didn’t like the sweet notes at the back of the palate or the hint of bubbles on the tongue.
It didn’t have the “swampy” flavour that some inadvertent secondary fermentation brings, so that was a bonus: it was not deeply flawed.
The colour was much paler yellow than the local wine but certainly changed in texture when consumed with the spicier of the Thai dishes, especially the chicken curry, as the sugar offset the hit of chilli and rounded out the flavour of the food.
The local wine has a bouquet that is lemony, with a floral hint, the colour golden.
It has a good acid line that assists to cut through the oiliness of some of the Asian dishes, although this characteristic was not complementary with the beef massaman curry.
My mate who’d bought the German said that he got a crisp apple flavour from the wine and enjoyed it more when it was not accompanied by the Thai food.
I preferred this wine with the Thai chicken salad and thought that they were well matched with the acid cutting through the salad dressing.
All round we thought the comparison was a good idea, as it stopped us talking about politics and the forthcoming election. But I couldn’t help sneaking in my political comparison joke: What’s the difference between democracy and feudalism? With feudalism, it’s your count that votes!
Join us at the Canberra Soroptimist Club
International Women’s Day Breakfast 2025!
Friday 7 March 2025 at 6.45am for 7am start Canberra Deakin Football club - 3 Grose St, Deakin
Proceeds for the breakfast will fund scholarships for migrant and refugee women studying at Canberra Institute of Technology. $50 per person (students: $30)
Guest speaker Ms Glenda Stevens, CEO Fearless Women
Live music by Air and Grace
Further info email: sicanberra@siseap.org
Soroptimist International Canberra
Talking to the names making news.
Sundays, 9am-noon.
By Helen Musa
Matriarch of dance and former Canberra CityNews Artist of the Year, Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, must be heaving a loud sigh of relief as her creative arts centre, Mirramu, is about to turn a new page.
Succession is a hard act to pull off, but now her former collaborator and choreographer Vivienne Rogis, who had been living for some years in Victoria, where she added Pilates instructor to her list of credentials, has returned to Canberra with her family and has joined Dalman as her as assistant director at Mirramu, on the shore of Lake George.
Rogis has released details of the starting project for 2025’s inaugural program, a two-day workshop called Prelude, designed to awaken creative practice.
Suitable for all comers, Prelude will see Rogis joined by Dalman, visual artist Gabby Willmott and writer/teacher John Irving, the latter planning to help bring to light participants’ lost stories.
Rogis, who says she believes in the power of movement as art, fun, medicine and community, has lately
been focused on the way Pilates can help people reach their movement goals, including pain reduction, prehab and rehab and will no doubt introduce some of that into her workshops.
At a recent private gathering, leading Canberra dance practitioners, many interested in healing
through dance, met at Mirramu to hear Dalman and Rogers outline their plans for the future in this anniversary year, which marks 60 years since Dalman founded the Australian Dance Theatre.
After leaving the ADT and Adelaide, she founded Mirramu Creative Arts Centre in 1989 and then Mirramu
Dance Company in 2000, telling Aboriginal Elder Matilda House that the name had come to her in a dream. Rogis, for her part, said coming back to Canberra with her family had been a process of revitalisation, and that she was very excited to be
She and Dalman, she said, were often mistaken for mother and daughter and in a real sense Mirramu had been “a special family”. She had her dreams too, partly enabled because she was living in the Dandenongs close to nature. While in Victoria she created art events in a garden and got into many community projects, including the Paved Festival in the town
She and Dalman are still talking about the details, but some highlights will include a big event for the winter solstice, a performance involving current Australian Dance Theatre director and former Dalman protégé Daniel Riley in late October, and a mini art gallery – luckily Rogis’ husband is an expert on building “tiny” houses and will construct two of them on the property. Maybe they’ll even get a coffee cart, too.
Prelude, Mirramu Creative Arts Centre, Lake Road Bungendore, March 9-10. Inquiries to viviennerogis@gmail.com
Eminent artist Bernard Ollis’ newest solo exhibition, Time Travelling, is intended to transport viewers across eras and places with his signature whimsical style. Aarwun Gallery, Gold Creek, March 7-30.
The Winston Churchill Trust is holding eight virtual information sessions on how to apply for fellowships, grouped by topic areas including Arts and Trades, Education, Science, Technology, Environment and Inclusion. Visit churchilltrust.com.au
Five-piece band Blue Grassy Knoll is pairing its comic and musical timing to the onscreen works of Buster Keaton with three banjo-fuelled live scores for Sherlock, Jr., One Week and Cops. The Street Theatre, March 6.
Local talent will be well represented at the coming Cobargo Folk Festival (February 28-March 2). Notably, Shortis and Simpson have written and produced the show Five Years Later for a cast of 80 plus to
A detail from an illustration in Bernard Ollis’ Time Travelling solo exhibition.
mark five years since the fires swept through the town.
Canberra string whizkids the Phoenix Collective will make their Sydney Opera House debut in the Utzon Room on March 2, playing Mozart, Greenhill, Sollima and Shostakovich before returning to All Saints Ainslie with their concert American Dreams on March 21.
More good news about proposed parking closures around Llewellyn Hall. Now the ANU has confirmed that not only will the School of Art & Design- Rep carpark not close at any stage of the light rail project, but that the Childers
Street-Peter Karmel car park will reopen.
Landlubbers are invited to a night of music and storytelling as Mikelangelo and Van Diemen’s Fiddles, joined by Dave McNamara on accordion and Luke Plumb on mandolin, bring shanties and maritime melodies to Windsong Pavilion, Four Winds, Bermagui, March 2.
Saltbush is an experience where children play, explore and perform as they embark on a journey through Australia’s river country, cities, deserts and the sea. Guided by the story of two friends and their spiritual companion, it uses cutting-edge technology such as sensors and infrared cameras so that kids become an integral part of the show. The Playhouse, March 4-8.
By Joanne Madeline Moore
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Venus (the planet of love, money and relationships) is now reversing through your sign. So expect a tricky time when you may feel as if an area of your life is stalling or even going backwards. Weigh up the pros and cons of any choices you make. And – if you can – delay making important decisions until after April 13, when Venus turns direct and things will run more smoothly. Saturday is good for sporting activities and physical pursuits in the great outdoors.
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
With Venus now in retrograde mode for six weeks, you may feel restless, stressed or just out-of-sorts. Mercury and retro Venus are both visiting your solitude zone, so you’ll also feel like being on your own. Privacy and self-reflection are paramount, and activities like meditation, contemplation and relaxation are recommended. As actress/writer Shirley MacLaine (a fellow Taurus) observes: “The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.”
GEMINI (May 22 – June 21)
Jupiter is jumping through your sign, which encourages you to tap into your inner confidence and build bridges with others, especially at work. But has an old relationship finally run out of steam? Or is a fair-weather friend criticising your behaviour and holding you back? Retrograde Venus pushes you to review your partnerships and peer group, discard negative influences, and surround yourself with positive people who support your Gemini dreams.
CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Tread extra carefully with work colleagues and acquaintances, Crabs, as Venus is now reversing through your career/reputation zone. Deft diplomacy and clever cooperation will get you a lot further than sulky moods and emotional manipulation. Vigorous physical exercise and proactive goal-setting are encouraged, as dynamic Mars charges through your sign (until April 18). Saturday’s terrific Sun/ Mars trine favours leadership, ambition, travel and adventure.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Venus (the planet of love and relationships) is now retrograde until April 13. So expect other people to annoy, puzzle or frustrate you, as they make odd decisions, stir your emotions or confuse your mind. Don’t try to work out where they are coming from! Aim to be understanding and open-minded. As Swiss psychiatrist (and fellow Leo) Dr Carl Jung observed: “The shoe that fits one person pinches another. There is no recipe for living that suits all cases.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
Mercury and retrograde Venus stimulate your intrigue zone, so no secret is safe as you uncover clues and pick up on cues that other people miss. Be careful what you unearth because you could stir up current issues or problems from the past. Lust and loot also loom large, as you work through matters involving trust, intimacy, shared possessions or joint finances. Be extra patient, as retro Venus complicates communication, frustrates plans and stymies progress.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
With Venus (your ruler) now reversing through your relationship zone, the next six weeks is not the best time to join a dating site, start a romance, propose, move in together, get married or renew your wedding vows. Be patient and wait until after April 13. Expect to be more introverted and your social life will be quieter than usual. You’re in the mood for solo leisure activities like walking in the park, reading a book, journal writing or listening to music.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Watch out for stubbornly holding a fixed position: you’re probably not seeing the full picture. If you listen to family, friends and colleagues then you’ll gain a much wider perspective. If you are at the receiving end of some stern words from a loved one, accept the criticism with good grace and then move on. Your quote for International Women’s Day is from fellow Scorpio, Vogue editor Anna Wintour: “I try to remain very open to what others have to say.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Venus is retrograde for the next six weeks, which will boost your temperamental tendencies, and you could end up alienating an authority figure (like your boss) or a loved one (like your partner). Hopefully you won’t put too many noses out of joint, as Jupiter encourages you to be more philosophical when communicating with others. Sometimes you need to lose a minor battle in order to win the war! The weekend’s a good time to go on an adventure with a relative.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Retrograde Venus pushes you to adjust your home/work ratio so it’s much more balanced and family-friendly. But loved ones won’t behave in predictable ways this week, so don’t even try to anticipate what they will do next. And avoid butting in, being a bossy Goat, and offering (well-intentioned) advice. Close friends and relatives need to make their own mistakes and follow their own dreams. So astute Capricorns will back off, calm down and recalibrate.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
Adventurous Aquarius: are you feeling restless and rather impetuous? This week you may feel impatient as you continue exploring the long and winding road to more personal freedom. The future beckons, and you’re in a mad hurry to get there. But Venus is now reversing through your local travel zone, so slow down and savour each special moment along the way. On Saturday, get your adrenaline going with some vigorous physical exercise in the fresh air.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
This week the Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune are all transiting through your sign. So it’s time to be the most creative, communicative, wise and compassionate Piscean you can be. Your motto is from writer (and fellow Piscean) Dr Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” However – with Venus reversing through your money zone – be extra careful with financial matters.
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2025
4 What are the titles of emperors of Japan? (7)
8 Name another term for lucerne. (7)
9 Which radioactive element is the basis of nuclear reactors? (7)
10 Name that part of the skull that encloses the brain. (7)
11 Which name is popularly used to refer to the USA? (7)
12 What is a written summary, note, or memorandum? (6)
14 Who is the treasurer of a college or university? (6)
18 To be harsh in manner, is to be what? (7)
21 Name a mythical tribe of female warriors in South America. (7)
22 To be more mirthful, is to be what? (7)
23 Name a colourless, flammable liquid obtained in the distillation of petroleum. (7)
24 Who was the Biblical disciple and companion of the apostle Paul? (7)
1 Name a silver-white divalent metal occurring in limestone, gypsum, etc, symbol Ca. (7)
2 Which term describes anything worthless or discarded? (5)
3 That which is unlawful is considered to be what? (7)
4 Name a political movement among the Kikuyu of Kenya, aimed at driving out European settlers. (3,3)
5 What is an alternative name in cards for the Jack? (5)
6 What are small ornamental table napkins? (7)
7 Apia was formerly the capital of which group of islands in the Southern Pacific? (5)
13 What is a patent medicine known as? (7)
15 Kyiv is the capital of which eastern European republic? (7)
16 Name the male of the domesticated fowl. (7)
17 To be close at hand, is to be what? (6)
18 To confess is to do what? (5)
19 What is a decree issued by a sovereign or other authority? (5)
20 Name a specific poisonous product that might cause tetanus, diptheria, etc. (5)
Eleni came to see me about the records she needed to keep for work and her rental property.
I told Eleni it was always a good idea to get her records straight before the end of the financial year.
"I know that home offices are always an important issue and the ATO has specified the records that need to be kept," I said.
"If you provide timesheets to your employer that is a sufficient record. Alternatively, you can keep a diary or electronic record showing starting and finishing times every day and exclude your lunch break. An estimate is not acceptable. If you don't have these records, you cannot claim.
"Remember also that if you claim home-office expenses, using the fixed-rate method, you will not be able to claim for your phone, internet, stationery or computer consumables. But you can claim depreciation on your electronic equipment and office furniture.
“If you do not have a home office claim and you are claiming your phone and data you need to keep a log of use for a representative month and then extrapolate that across the year.
"I have read a few tax cases recently where phone use was disallowed because the phone bill was in the wrong name. If you are claiming the phone bill in your company it is critical that the phone bill is in the company name and not in your personal name." Eleni said she was concerned about the home office as she only worked from home one day a week, but used her phone and data a lot.
I told her that if her phone and data claim was greater than her working-from-home claim, then she should just claim phone and data, there was no need to claim her working-from-home costs. I then turned to her rental property with the news that the ATO was getting more and more information concerning rental properties.
"These data match information received from property managers as a result of some testing done in 2021, which estimates that the incorrect declaration of rental income resulted in a loss to revenue of $10.2 billion," I said.
"They now also receive information from insurance companies.
“Among the areas of significance to the ATO is repairs. There are many cases on the topic of repairs. The one that comes up regularly is whether the item is a repair or a capital improvement.
"A repair can be claimed in full, but a capital improvement has to be depreciated over several years, usually 40.
"So when you have to make repairs, please provide us with the invoices so we can ascertain the status.
"If you have extended your loan for a purpose that is not related to the property, for example purchasing a new car, the interest has to be apportioned as to a deductible component and a non-deductible component.
“I should also mention that as a result of changes made to the Tax Agent Services Act and the Code of Professional Conduct there is a greater obligation on tax agents to keep appropriate records and report significant breaches of the code to the Tax Practitioners Board. "In addition, you have to provide ID for verification purposes. You should expect to see more questions and more administrative obligations from July 1, when the new law starts.”
If you need help with record keeping or the new professional requirements contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.
Disclaimer
This column contains general advice, please do not rely on it. If you require specific advice on this topic please contact Gail Freeman or your professional adviser. Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic
Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS is an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service operated by the Aboriginal community of the ACT.
In Wiradjuri language, Winnunga Nimmityjah means Strong Health. The service logo is the Corroboree Frog which is significant to Aboriginal people in the ACT.
Our aim is to provide a culturally safe, holistic health care service for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT and surrounding regions. The holistic health care provided by Winnunga AHCS includes not only medical care, but a range of programs to promote good health and healthy lifestyles.
Our services include:
• GP and Nursing
• Midwifery
• Immunisations
• Health Checks
• Men’s & Women’s Health
• Hearing Health
• Dental
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Dietician (Nutrition)
• Counselling
• Diabetes Clinic
• Quit Smoking Services / No More Boondah
• Needle Syringe Program
• Mental Health Support
• Healthy Weight Program
• Healthy Cooking Group
• Mums and Bubs Group / Child Health
• Optometry Service
• Psychology and Psychiatrist
• Community Events
• Groups
Winnunga AHCS is a national leader in accreditation, was one of the first Aboriginal community controlled health services to achieve dual accreditation under RACGP and QIC standards. Winnunga AHCS has been at the forefront of setting a national agenda for quality improvement in Aboriginal community controlled health and continues to advocate locally and nationally for best practice standards in operational and governance areas of Aboriginal health services.
CLINIC hours | MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9am-5pm
Ph: 6284 6222 | 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah www.winnunga.org.au
