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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

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ISSN 1447 4611

S TATE EDITION Vol 46 No 1549 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969

See our ad, Page 23 ‘Trader’

Boarding Kennel and Cattery Pick-Up and Delivery. All over Melb.

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Phone 5965 2242 www.pawsandclawsresort.com.au

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PHONE 0418 883 335 See Observer Trader P9 Grosvenor in Cairns Holiday Apartments

Fully Self Contained 1 and 2 bedroom apartments Looking to escape the cold this winter; then head on up to Cairns - always warm!

■ 3AW Nightline’s Philip Brady and Bruce Mansfield (pictured) lost one-third of their radio audience in the latest ratings released yesterday (Tues.) by new survey company, GFK. Their figures dropped from 15.5 to 10.2 It was also a horror survey for ‘Drive’ presenter Tom Elliott (pictured left) whose ratings dropped from 10.3 per cent to 8.3.

More on Page 38.

Visit www.grosvenorcairns.com.au or email info@grosvenorcairns.com.au

or ring 1800 629 179

MERIMBULA, NSW 2014 VACANCIES AVAILABLE

Details of 2014 packages on Page 2

www. darwinsbarrabase.com.au

BEACH ST APARTMENTS

See our full-page ad, P10 of ‘Trader’

1 Beach St, Merimbula, NSW 2548 Phone: (02) 6495 2205 w w w.beachs tr eetapartments.net.au .beachstr treetapartments.net.au

TURN TO ‘OBSERVER TRADER’ PAGE 8

AFL TEAM FOR TASMANIA To AFL Commission, Commis ommission, To AFL C ommis sion, take notice

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Door-to-Door delivery, Australia wide Open 9am-5.15pm Mon.-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun 243 Sea Kale Rd, Robinvale. Phone: 5026 3955 See Page 11, ‘Observer Trader’ section

See Observer Trader P22

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Fax: (03) 9822 9821 www.mattressesgalore.com.au info@mattressesgalore.com.au 10% EXTRA DISCOUNT FOR MENTIONING MELB. OBSERVER Details: see ‘Observer Trader’ Page 12

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AND CONTRACTORS Manufacturers and distributors of an extensive range of tillage equipment and components Phone: (07) 4633 0624 Mobile: 0422 399 544 www.tilco.com.au barry@tilco.com. au Turn to Page 14 of ‘Observer Trader’ section

See ad on Page 20 ‘Trader’

See ad on back page Page 17 ‘Trader’

Page 2 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 12, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - Page 3

Melbourne Observer Advertising Press+Online+Google+SocialMedia+Editorial Advertisers’ Index References to ‘Trader’ denote the 32-page liftout in this edition All 4 Paws & Claws Resort ....... Trader P23 Jenny Pihan Fine Art ................... Trader P30 Anchor Right ...................................... Page 29 Kemizo ............................................... Page 51 Australian Greyhound Muzzles ........... Page 48 Maleny Magic Patchwork & Quilts .... Page 30 Barry MCVilly Pty Ltd ................ Trader P24 Mandalay Apartments .................... Trader P27 Beach Street Apartments ........... Trader P8 Mansfield Sambar Safris .................. Page 27 Bertie Elliott ...................................... Page 52 Maroondah Sports Club ........... Trader P21 Bon Trading ...................................... Page 23 Mattresses Galore ..................... Trader P12 Braemac Energy ....................... Trader P19 MCVilly Timber .......................... Trader P24 Burong Equestrian Centre ............ Trader P29 Camberwell Sewing Centre ................ Page 33 Metro Cinemas Boronia .............. Page 55 Campbellfield Uniting Church ............ Page 6 Michael’s Trailers ...................... Trader P9 Carbon Farmers of Australia ............. Page 24 Mountain Creek ............................... Page 26 Charla-J Antiques .............................. Page 53 Needleworx ....................................... Page 33 CMS International (Autosol) ..... Trader P13 Off The Hook ..................................... Page 29 Coolum Baywatch Resort ......... Trader P18 Play DVDs/Rare Music ............... Trader P10 Crafty Angels ..................................... Page 31 Productive Gardens ................. Trader P15 Darwin’s Barra Base ..................... Page 2 Robinvale Wines ...................... Trader P11 Dofine Pty Ltd .................................. Page 25 Scootersmart .......................... Trader P14 E-Cell ........................................ Trader P12 Sea Change Safety Cove ............ Page 56 Echo 4x4 ................................. Trader P25 SGI Consulting Group ................ Trader P22 Entertainment Australia ............ Trader P5 Shop Inside .............................. Trader P7 Everything Fabric .............................. Page 32 Strathburn Station ............................ Page 26 Formula Ford Experience Aust. .... Trader P32 Gilmour’s Comfort Shoes ............. Trader P25 The Travel Centre ............................. Page 34 Golden Days Radio .................... Trader P16 Tilco ......................................... Trader P20 Grosvenor In Cairns .................. Trader P3 Tribute Funeral Services ........... Trader P6 Gutzbusta ....................................Trader P28 Tunit Australia .......................... Trader P17 Ivanhoe Cycles .................................... Page 5 K & J Woolley’s Plumbing ......... Trader P4 Jack Strap .......................................... Page 28 Wooling Hill Garden Estate ......... Page 54

Our advertisers are making news The Adventures Craft ad feature ■ Melbourne Observer readers are great craft of Barry MCVilly fans. Amongst our craft advertisers this week

are: ■ Maleny Magic Patchwork & Quilts ■ Crafty Angels ■ Everything Fabric ■ Camberwell Sewing Centre ■ Needleworx Our friends at The Travel Centre, Norfolk Island, have fascinating news for those interested in quilting (see Page 34).

● News from The Travel Centre

● Barry MCVilly on the job ■ Observer advertiser Barry MCVilly is a professional hunter. In this week’s edition, we have a number of businesses together in a Hunting and Fishing feature: ■ Mountain Creek Game Park ■ Strathburn Station ■ Mansfield Sambar Safaris ■ Jack Strap ■ Off The Hook ■ Anchor Right Barry’s forebear, Niccolo Machiavelli, said: “Never was anything great achieved without danger” and “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.”

PHOTO: IKON IMAGES

Page 4 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 12, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

E-Mail: mark@localmedia.com.au

Switched on, ready to rock ■ As a teenager living in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, VFL Park was, in many respects, an extension of my own backyard.

During the 80s, come most Saturday afternoons, my best mate, Frank and I would paint our faces yellow and brown, proudly don our heavy brown duffle coats, strap on our stackhat helmets and jump on our bikes to ride the few kilometres to VFL Park to watch our beloved Hawks play.

Although I was a 'proud, passionate and paid-up' Hawthorn Football Club member during the late 90s, I never missed a home game until my life suddenly changed following the

Broadcast Porch Thoughts

arrival of our first-born child.

Like any hawk with clipped wings,

● Garry Lyon: "If you can no longer play the game at the elite level, the next best place to be is in the Triple M commentary box. The environment reminds me of my playing days - without the physical wear and tear, but with plenty of emotional carnage."

I was forced to the sidelines. Going to weekend games had suddenly become out of bounds, and I needed to find another way to remain connected and keep the brown and yellow running through my veins.

After my second child was born two years later, I was close to hanging up my boots. I needed to be part of the live footy action on a weekly basis. On the FM dial, I found a group of passionate guys who kept me at the game from home for years.

"A meat pie with sauce, thanks!"

Now in its 18th season, the Triple

M Footy Show returns this coming Friday night at 6pm, bringing us live and entertaining coverage of the round-one clash of the 2014 premiership season.

The mighty Collingwood Pies take on the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium.

With a mix of engaging personalities, including some the game's most celebrated and decorated players, media and club representatives, 15 years on, when I venture off to the city these days to watch the mighty Hawks, I always take my iPod. In the Great Southern Stand at

● James Brayshaw: "Triple M Footy is a classic ... we are very lucky to broadcast the world’s greatest game with our best mates ... Long may it last"!

● Jason Dunstall: "I love calling the footy on Triple M because I find myself taken along for the ride, just like our listeners. A unique blend of footy intellect, humour, enthusiasm and entertainment with a variety of personalities...that's my sort of call!" ● Wayne Carey: "Because it's like going to a game of footy with my mates and talking about the game I love."

● For all Triple M 2014 AFL news, views, opinions, fixture information, on-air schedules or to listen live online visit www.triplem.com.au or tune into 105.1 FM.

the 'G' or somewhere up high (yet a lot closer to the on-field at Etihad), no matter which of their talented onair team members has their microphones switched on, I'm one happy piggy (sorry Jason!)

On behalf of their live listeners, members of their online community, their legion of loyal fans around the country and expats tuning in from countries including the United Kingdom and New Zealand, I caught up with some of the 2014 team members and asked them why they love calling the footy on their Triple M Footy Porch.

- Mark Richardson

● Danny Frawley: "I love calling footy on Triple M, as we can be ourselves whilst still delivering a great product. Triple M footy is all about being insightful, irreverent, entertaining and above all, having total respect for the greatest game on earth. That is why MMM RROOOCCCCKKKSS footy."

● Luke Darcy: "You can't ever replace playing the game, but Triple M Footy is as close to the inner sanctum as it gets. Calling the game with the best in the business while sitting in the best seats in the house is the most fun you can possibly have at work!"

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - Page 5

Page 6 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 12, 2014

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne

Observer Canberra

with Michelle Grattan

The 75% TV rule is politically messy for the Coalition but not the main game ■ Malcolm Turnbull’s suggestion that the 75 per cent “reach” rule for TV networks should be changed is not as radical as it sounds.

It is certainly much less of an issue than liberalising the cross media provision, although it is hogging much of the debate about where the government might go on media policy.

In fact last year there was agreement between Labor and Coalition members of a Parliamentary committee on such a change – with the proviso that strict attention must be paid to protecting local content.

The inquiry was set up as part of the Gillard Government’s shambling attempt to bring in media reforms, which spectacularly collapsed.

But the committee, which reported in June, laid the basis for change.

In this regard, its membership is important.

At the time of reporting, ALP left winger Doug Cameron was chair, Turnbull (now Communications Minister) deputy chair, and mem-

By MICHELLE GRATTAN Professorial Fellow at University of Canberra

www.theconversation.edu.au bers included Barnaby Joyce, the Nationals then Senate leader (now the party’s deputy leader).

The committee recommended abolishing the current rule that no network can reach more than 75 per cent of the national audience - on the condition of legally enforceable undertakings to safeguard local content in regional Australia.

It said there should be a clear definition of local content needs that made sure “regional viewers have access to appropriate levels of high quality, locally devised, and locally presented programming”.

In their “additional comments” Coalition MPs, including the two Nationals, dwelt on local content obligations, saying no relaxation of the reach rule should be entertained until there was a

precise definition set out in legislation. Determining that definition would not be easy, they said, emphasising the need for consultation.

Nationals MPs are now taking fright and obviously the devil would be in the detail if a deal within the Coalition (including with rural Liberals) were to be achieved.

The deregulation, which would allow networks to acquire affiliates, could be messy politically because there would be push back from some local communities with strong lines to Coalition MPs. Maybe removing the reach rule might have been easier for a Labor Government.

Given its stand last year, Labor would not have much credibility if it suddenly opposed the change but, after walking away from the Stephen

Conroy package, it has no media policy so who knows.

The ownership issue – scrapping the rule that one owner can have only two out of TV, radio and print in one market - is a completely different matter. This is the sharp edge of media change.

Labor wanted to go in the opposite direction to where the Coalition is pointing. It sought to impose a public interest test on mergers and acquisitions – in other words, another restriction. The Abbott Government is talking about removing the restriction that is there, leaving just the competition requirements to be met.

That would facilitate Murdoch taking over Channel Ten if he wished, as well as Fairfax getting into television (or television into Fairfax).

This is an area of big prizes and added clout.

If the government goes ahead it will pose an interesting test for Labor.

Kevin Rudd took on Rupert Murdoch during the election and came off second.

● The debate about media ownership will inevitably revolve around Rupert Murdoch Labor communicaMurdoch might also It should not be forgottions spokesman Jason be able to do so under the ten in all this just how Clare was anxious on existing rules but that is frightened politicians can Monday to deflect ques- complicated by the role of be of powerful forces in tions. Painful lessons have his son Lachlan, who is the commercial media, been learned. chairman of Ten and has whether they be owners, Turnbull emphasises radio interests). particular outlets or strong that no decision has yet Tony Abbott was play- individual voices with folbeen made. He said on ing it cool: “Now we’re lowings.

Monday: “I’m not advo- not rushing to change …

Rarely do they go out cating this change … We’re not interested in of their way to enrage we’re having a discussion picking unnecessary them, as did the Gillard about it.” fights, we’re not interested Around the govern- in taking sides between Government and then ment they know that in the one commercial operator Rudd.

Usually they try to feed end, this would come and the other. down to a debate about “So we’ll be consult- the lions, or their chosen what the Coalition might ing with the community, ones, in small and big be doing for Murdoch (al- we’ll be consulting with ways. Everyone is waitthough Turnbull said the sector. We hope that ing to see what meat Murdoch had not indi- a consensus might might come on offer from cated he wanted to take emerge as to the way for- the Abbott Government.

- Michelle Grattan over Ten. ward.”