THE ACT Compulsory Third-Party (CTP) Insurance Regulator says CTP insurance premiums charged by Suncorp Insurance for its AAMI and GIO brands will decrease from 17 September 2015 for a number of ACT motor vehicles.

Karen Doran, the CTP Regulator said premiums for AAMI Insurance will decline significantly, with a family car premium falling by $25.00 to $565.00 from $590.00, equivalent to a reduction of 4.2%.

“There will be a smaller fall in premiums for GIO Insurance with the new premium for a family car falling to $559.90 from $568.60, a decline of $8.70 (a 1.5% reduction),” Karen said.

“As part of the new premium arrangements, the after-market discount for the AAMI CTP insurance product will no longer be available.

“These new premiums continue to demonstrate the benefits of a competitive market, with motorists gaining from not only lower premiums, but also choice and higher quality products.

Approval of new premiums by the CTP Regulator follows an extensive actuarial review process.

Licensed insurers are required to charge premiums that will fully fund their present and future liabilities under the CTP legislation, but which are not excessive.

“Based on independent actuarial advice, I am satisfied that the new premiums for GIO and AAMI are both soundly based and are not excessive having regard to their respective circumstances,” Ms Doran concluded.

For more information on CTP premiums in the ACT visit apps.treasury.act.gov.au

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IT’S been around a year and a half since fire gutted Civic’s iconic Sydney Building on East Row.

Thankfully at long last the scaffolding is coming down and the revamped building is looking better than ever!

The next excitement will be seeing what businesses take up the spaces.

Denizens of the bus interchange will no doubt be thrilled to have the footpath back.

[Firefighting photo by Stephen Easton]

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THE ACT Government wishes you to know they will be mingling with the inhabitants of the Westfield Woden next week.

The “popup cabinet” was announced via a tweet.

Meet your Ministers at the ACT Government 'Pop-up Cabinet' on 2-3 September. Visit http://t.co/YMwwBKWwpc for info pic.twitter.com/yh34ljqUx5

— ACT Government (@actgovernment) August 24, 2015

The relevant web-page offers more information.

The ACT Government is holding a ‘pop-up Cabinet’ in Woden on 2 – 3 September. If you live in Woden or Weston Creek you are invited to meet your Ministers and have your say on local issues. Come down to Westfield Woden between 9-3pm on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 September to meet the Ministers at the pop-up Cabinet stand on the ground level near JB Hi-Fi.

As a part of the upcoming ‘pop-up Cabinet’ in Woden on 2 – 3 September, there will be a number of opportunities for direct engagement with Ministers, including face to face meetings, a business forum and a community services roundtable. Please use the links below to request a meeting, or to register interest in attending the forum or roundtable discussion.

This is the first of several pop-up cabinets taking place in town centres across Canberra over the coming months. To find out where we will be next keep checking back here regularly.

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FASCINATING to watch the Abbott Government orchestrating the “war on terror”.

First the obscure backbencher Dan Tehan pretended he hadn’t checked with the PM before calling for an extension of RAAF bombing raids into Syria. Tony responded coyly that no formal request had yet been received; but his earlier comments about legal problems re Syria v Iraq were null and void, he said, because “the morality is the same”.

Tony’s media mouthpiece, the Murdoch press, thought it was a wonderful idea. Vice Admiral David Johnston, the chief of joint ops, weighed in supporting the expansion while warning it would be “a significantly more dangerous environment” and sensibly noting it would reduce RAAF attacks on Iraq targets.

Next, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said scores of young Australians had been stopped at airports on the way to fight with IS.

Then to no one’s surprise came news that the Americans had made it official with a formal request. Golly, if you didn’t know better you’d think Tony was preparing for a khaki election… maybe even the crucial Canning by-election next month.

THE Press Gallery had lots of fun with their reports of Cabinet leaks, especially the PMO’s talking point that Cabinet was operating “exceptionally well”. It ran rather counter to Abbott loyalist Senator Eric Abetz’s outburst that his leaking colleagues were “gutless”.

One of them (tongue-in-cheek) demanded that Tony “rebuke” poor Eric for confirming the leaks. To which Eric replied that his remarks were “taken out of context”. Well of course they were, dear.

SORRY to see Tony Abbott bowing to the Aboriginal leaders’ demands that they will decide the terms of the referendum on constitutional recognition.

He had it right the first time – it’s a joint operation and should never be allowed to become a “them and us” issue. Alas, that now looks inevitable.

CLOSER to home, there’s a pleasing politesse as we approach the ACT elections. While Andrew Barr is a conscientious Chief Minister, Lib Leader Jeremy Hanson is right to suggest his government is looking increasingly tired. And lame duck Simon Corbell’s decision to retain all his ministerial posts till the election prevents the emergence of an engaging replacement… if indeed one exists.

FORMER Labor Minister John Hargreaves’ call for $50 notes to be allowed in Canberra’s poker machines – which help fill Labor’s campaign coffers – was not helpful. “I am not such a wet sop as to deny people a bit of fun,” he said. Is Mr Hargreaves’ definition of “fun” really pouring the family pay packet into the pokies?

GOOD to see a proposal to restore that Yarralumla eyesore, the Brickworks, to become a lively centre of galleries and coffee shops. Timber specialist Thor Diesendorf is driving the project with a team of Canberra architects. It should be a real asset to the suburb and the city. And not before time.

FINALLY, the kerfuffle over Nick Kyrgios’ nasty sledge at Stan Wawrinka refuses to die. Even his mate Thanasi Kokkinakis weighed in to say it was “out of order”. Nick is now in danger of being defined by it… such a contrast to the wonderful young Aussie golfer Jason Day whose US PGA victory was universally applauded.

robert@robertmacklin.com

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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Treasurer Joe Hockey has delivered yet another address saying income tax cuts must be given. That gets him an easy headline but tells us very little about the government’s plans.

Hockey has also given a hostage to fortune. Asked on radio “will there be cuts to personal income tax rates in the next budget”, he replied: “this is what we’re working on. And the starting point is it’s not just about personal income tax rates. It’s also about the interaction with other taxes.”

If the government is to take personal and perhaps company tax cuts to the election the most obvious point is that it has to find a way to pay for them. That means it must cut spending or rejig the tax system or have a mix of the two.

Hockey rules out an increase in the total tax burden – the Coalition wants “lower” tax overall. He implies there is a whole lot more that can be done on the spending side.

Hockey projects a near contempt for much of what the public sector does. In Monday’s speech titled “The economic case for personal income tax cuts”, he said that while governments had vital social spending responsibilities in areas such as social security, health, education, and law and order “we should not pretend that everything government spends taxpayer money on has an economic benefit. The Australian Bureau of Statistics doesn’t even report on productivity in the public sector because not only is it difficult to economically measure the output of public servants but government spending is hardly an economic value add”.

Hockey is dismissive of the spending needs of the states. “I find it unappealing to dress up increased tax and spending as tax reform. Especially, if it’s the Commonwealth raising taxes to help states increase their spending.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird recently proposed a rise in the GST – which is a Commonwealth tax but with all the revenue going to the states – to finance growing health costs.

Baird was honest in recognising some facts – that health costs will grow and that the system is not full of waste, despite the claims of federal health minister Sussan Ley.

Another reality is that while of course spending in health must be kept under control, in a wealthy society people want sophisticated health services. Some of these can be viewed as consumer choices, although of a special sort, given they are subsidised. People may be willing to pay more tax to ensure they can get the best of services, such as minimum waiting times for important but non-urgent surgery.

If Hockey wants to put the weight on spending cuts in financing tax reform, that’s going to go deep into some key areas. These cuts should be spelled out in detail before the election. We know from the 2013 election campaign that generalised promises that certain areas will be protected simply can’t be trusted.

Spending cuts to finance the tax cuts smack of the approach to fiscal repair Hockey took in the 2014 budget, with disastrous results for the government and for his own reputation. While the 2015 budget adopted a much more pragmatic approach, there is little doubt that a Coalition government re-elected on anything other than a very modest margin would be gung ho once again, though it would probably face Senate problems.

The more logical way to finance tax cuts would be to take to the election plans for a change in the tax mix, to rely more on the GST – through a broader base or higher rate – with adequate compensation for those on low incomes. But there is still no sign this can be achieved because the consent of the states and territories is needed and they are divided.

While Hockey says a range of taxes is being considered, the government has ruled out various options, such as reducing the big tax break for superannuation and changes to negative gearing, that could help somewhat in the heavy lifting of financing income tax cuts.

Hockey stresses that the government wants a “fairer” tax system as well as lower tax. But he send out contradictory signals about who he thinks it should be “fairer” to. He speaks of the burden on lower income people moving into work, and bracket creep pushing lower- and middle-income earners up the tax scale. He’s also concerned about the large proportion of the overall income tax take that is falling on a small proportion of high-income earners.

Hockey glosses over the problem that cutting income tax would mean that fixing the budget would be pushed out even further if spending cuts were used to help finance tax relief.

“We still have a budget to balance,” he said. “And it will be managed through continued discipline on spending decisions. We are undeterred in our mission to pinpoint government waste; to stop spending money where it doesn’t need to be spent.”

Hockey thinks both objectives can be pursued simultaneously.

This have-it-all language sounds like aspirational ideology rather than reality.

None of this is to say tax reform is not needed, or to deny that cutting income tax would have a positive impact on the economy. It’s rather that Hockey says the government is in a “conversation” with the Australian people about tax reform, but at the moment he’s leaving the hard talk for later. In its defence, the government points out that we are not at the green paper stage yet, let alone the tax reform white paper, which comes next year.

Listen to the latest Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast with guest, Nationals MP Michael McCormack, here.

Michelle Grattan is Professorial Fellow at University of Canberra

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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RESEARCHERS at ANU and the University of Sydney have developed a world-first radio-tracking drone to locate radio-tagged wildlife.

Lead researcher Dr Debbie Saunders from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society said the drones have successfully detected tiny radio transmitters weighing as little as one gram. The system has been tested by tracking bettongs at the Mulligan’s Flat woodland sanctuary in Canberra.

“The small aerial robot will allow researchers to more rapidly and accurately find tagged wildlife, gain insights into movements of some of the world’s smallest and least known species, and access areas that are otherwise inaccessible,” Debbie said.

“We have done more than 150 test flights and have demonstrated how the drones can find and map the locations of animals with radio tags.”

Researcher Oliver Cliff, from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) at the University of Sydney, said the technology had generated international interest.

“Lots of people are trying to do this. It is not an easy process, but we believe we’ve come up with a solution,” he said.

“We’ve had interest in our system from all around the world. We are still doing some fine tuning but we’ve achieved more than has ever been done before, which is exciting.”

Dr Saunders, a wildlife ecologist, came up with the idea eight years ago to track small dynamic migratory birds such as the endangered swift parrot.

The new system, funded by an ARC Linkage Project Grant and Loro Parque Foundacion, has been built and tested over the past two and a half years with Dr Robert Fitch and his team at the ACFR at the University of Sydney.

The robot consists of an off-the-shelf drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The custom-built miniature receiver and antenna provide real-time information on radio-tracked wildlife, which are mapped live on a laptop.

ANU Associate Professor Adrian Manning, also from the Fenner School of Environment and Society, has helped the team by attaching VHF and GPS collars on bettongs at Mulligan’s Flat.

“Radio tracking of collars manually is very time consuming,” Adrian said.

“Early indications are that the drones could save a huge amount of time. If you have two operators working and they can put the drone up in two bursts of 20 minutes, they can do what would take half a day or more to do using ground methods.”

Details of the new research tool were presented at Robotics: Science and Systems.

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The blossom of Malus ioensis plena... one of the most spectacular crabapples.

Hillier’s “Manual of Trees and Shrubs”, which I consider my bible, lists 130 varieties of crabapples.

One of the most spectacular crabs is Malus ioensis plena. This is one of a North American species, classed as the most beautiful flowering crabapple with its semi-double soft pink fragrant flowers. In 1940, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded it the Award of Merit.

Another stunningly beautiful crabapple is M. floribunda, whose crimson buds open to white or pale pink flowers. Introduced into Western gardens in 1862 from Japan, it is one of the earliest to flower with small red and yellow fruit.

M “GORGEOUS” is the one for making crabapple jelly. A small, densely rounded tree with pink buds opening to single, white flowers. The large crimson to orange-red fruit appears in late autumn.

For a stunning display of fruit you cannot go past M. “Golden Hornet”. The single, white flowers are followed by a profusion of bright yellow fruit that stays on the tree until late autumn/early winter. It was also given the Award of Merit in 1949.

WHILE the rose is a superlative plant, not all roses deserve the praise that is often attributed to them, say the well-known Tesselaar’s Nursery notes.  Anthony Tesselaar says that while new roses are released every year, this does not necessarily mean they are better. For example, he considers Rosa “Mr. Lincoln”, first released about 40 years ago, with its dark-red, velvety flowers and enticing scent as the best red, romantic rose and still available today. Incidentally, now’s the time to get on with planting new roses before their full flush of new spring growth. Also it’s time to complete pruning all bush roses without delay.

Covers of the “Yates Garden Guide” from 1944 and the first edition of “The Canberra Gardener” from 1948.

The Yates book had at least seven impressions with 170,000 copies printed. Much of the advice in both books is applicable today.

The current “Canberra Gardener” is the 10th edition, published in 2010. It still contains the best advice for newcomers moving here or those just starting their first garden and is still a best seller, available from most bookshops.

WHILE on the subject of books, I saw a copy of the newly revised “The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control” at the Botanic Gardens’ bookshop. With the latest and safest organic solutions, it’s highly recommended as a complete guide to maintaining a healthy garden and yard the earth-friendly way.

Jottings…

• It’s safe to plant out potted perennials appearing in garden centres as the weather warms.
• Water and liquid feed regularly spring bulbs in pots with warming days.
• Finish mulching the whole garden in the next couple of weeks.
• Now is an ideal time to plant out potted herbs. Instead of a dedicated herb garden plant amongst the general shrubbery to discourage pests.
• Look out for Yates’ new “Nature’s Way” certified organic citrus and ornamental shrub spray, pyrethrum based with canola oil.

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SHANE Rattenbury has launched new, publicly available, cyclist crash data to help to identify crash “hot spots” across Canberra.

“A great number of Canberrans ride their bikes for both convenience and enjoyment and our cycling rates are quite good. The 2015 National Cycling Participation Survey showing that almost 82,000 people in the ACT ride their bike at least once a week,” Shane said.

“The ACT Government has a goal to increase the number of regular cyclists significantly. One part of achieving this is to continue improving cyclist safety.

“The new public data shows information about crash locations, the type of crashes and the number of people involved. Using this data we have also been able to create a heat map of bike crash locations in the ACT.

“This data will allow the Government to identify roads and paths that may need improvements, to make riding in Canberra safer.

“This is not about putting the onus of safety on cyclists. Under the Government’s ‘Vision Zero’ approach to road safety, we need to focus on creating safer environments for people cycling, and car drivers also have a responsibility to take care for more vulnerable road users. Nevertheless, it is useful for people to see and use data about accident hotspots and risks on their routes.

“The release of this data is timely, as just recently I met with teams who participated in the Univative Canberra Challenge, a team-based competition designed for university students to exercise their problem-solving skills to address real world problems.

“The teams came up with innovative ways to encourage better crash reporting, and I am hopeful that by utilising some of the ideas put forward by the students, as well as working with the community, we can use this data in new and innovative ways to improve cycle safety in the ACT.

“Making cycling safer is part of many government initiatives aimed at creating an environment where healthy lifestyle choices are the easier choice for Canberrans,” said Mr Rattenbury.

To view the cyclist crash data visit act.gov.au.

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Yesterday, RSPCA ACT Inspectors asked the public for help on another horrific case involving a severely burned kitten that was dumped at the Weston shelter last Thursday night.

RSPCA ACT can now confirm that briefs of evidence against two people are being compiled to be submitted to DPP for prosecution in relation to this case.

Chief Executive Tammy Ven Dange thanked the community for helping RSPCA ACT Inspectors, “We are thankful that both the media and the greater Canberra community were so quick to share this story. As a result, we will be able to pursue some level of justice for the horrible injuries this poor kitten suffered.”

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THE ACT Government is advising road users that two rural roads in the ACT have closed due to recent snow and wet weather.

Mount Franklin Road is now closed at Aggie Gate and Boboyan Road is closed to all traffic except four-wheel-drive vehicles from where the road becomes dirt.

Angle Crossing also remains closed at this stage.

For information on road closures please call Access Canberra 13 22 81 visit tams.act.gov.au

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JOY Burch has announced the appointment of the principal for the new school at Coombs today.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the first principal of the school at Coombs is Ms Kate McMahon,” Joy said.

“Kate has proven experience as a school leader across a number of different schools in the ACT and overseas, including most recently as the principal of Red Hill School.

“Kate’s strong educational leadership skills over the last 16 years as a school leader combined with her creative, strategic and innovative thinking will be invaluable assets to build this school up into another quality Canberra public school.”

The new school at Coombs will cater for preschool to year 6 students and is scheduled to open for the start of the 2016 school year. The school will cater for students in Coombs and Wright, the first suburbs being developed as part of the new Molonglo district.

The school will be the first community facility provided in the Molonglo Valley and will provide a range of facilities such as community meeting rooms, a school hall and sports court with community storage areas and a community oval.

“Schools are always at the heart of any thriving and close-knit community, and the new school at Coombs is no different. Kate’s passion and experience in developing strong learning environments and student outcomes, and building relationships between the school and the community will be invaluable.

“I would like to wish Kate all the very best in her new role educating and shaping the lives of the young people of the Coombs-Wright area. I have full confidence that this new school is in very good hands, and will become another one of the magnificent, high quality learning spaces that Canberra is so proud of,” Ms Burch concluded.

[Photo: Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch with the inaugural principal of the new school at Coombs, Ms Kate McMahon. The pair met to tour the school construction site today.]

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ACT Electoral Commissioner Phil Green says the Marion Lê Social Justice Party has been removed from the ACT’s register of political parties.

The registration was cancelled at the request of the party.

Five parties remain registered in the ACT:

• Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
• Liberal Democratic Party
• Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
• The ACT Greens
• The Community Alliance Party (ACT)

More information about registration of political parties can be viewed on the Commission’s website.

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TERRITORY and Municipal Services are warning that traffic using Morshead Drive and Pialligo Avenue will be transitioned to the outer two lanes in both directions between the Monaro Highway roundabout and Woolshed Creek bridge overnight from 6.30 pm tomorrow until 5.30 am Thursday 27 August 2015, weather permitting.

“These traffic arrangements are part of the Majura Parkway project and will allow for the closure of the single inside lanes in each direction so a new median island and stormwater infrastructure can be constructed,” a spokesperson said.

“Works to widen this section of road by constructing new outside lanes have been underway since April in order to provide easy access to the Majura Parkway on-ramp, northbound, and Monaro Highway on-ramp, southbound.

“The works starting tomorrow are expected to take approximately nine weeks, weather permitting, and will be conducted outside peak traffic times to reduce the impact on motorists.

“The ACT Government apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

Jointly funded by the Australian and ACT Governments, the Majura Parkway is a $288 million investment in our regional transport network and is the single largest road infrastructure investment ever made in the ACT.

For more information, including daily construction updates, visit majuraparkway.act.gov.au

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THERE was some concern last week that the burgeoning army of flacks and carpetbaggers who encircle the people’s servants on Capital Hill have grown so numerous that the cavernous Parliament House can no longer safely contain them.

Alternative arrangements are being sought and, having spent eight years of my life in the corridors of power, besides standing ready as the nation’s servant, I have a few helpful suggestions to make.

John Griffiths.

Aside from the beautiful interior gardens of the building (well worth a visit on an open day if a parliamentary pass eludes you) the surrounds of the building contain numerous sporting facilities.

Aside from the gym and swimming pool inside the building the outer precinct contains a sports oval, six tennis courts, and a basketball court.

Thanks to the main building being built on a hill there’s pretty ample opportunity to build more low-impact office spaces on these largely unused facilities without disturbing the parliamentary sightlines.

But before taking such drastic measures there are two large chunks of the building being put to uses largely unknown in similar democracies.

Having a Ministerial Wing built into the parliament building is a real bastardisation of parliamentary democracy. In my opinion, the executive government should not be sharing space with the legislature.

Ministers already have vast departments across Canberra in which they could set up their offices.

One could argue that the departments would be run much better without absentee ministers. Certainly, it might help with the problem of ministerial offices transforming into mini departments.

And then one’s thoughts turn to the Parliamentary Press Gallery, with offices taking up the top floor of the Senate side of Parliament.

Journalists do traditionally need access to the viewing spaces of Parliament.

A decade ago they also needed access to the Parliamentary TV service, which could be tuned to either house of parliament or any committee room.

These days the internet makes that available to anyone anywhere.

There are also the press-release boxes, where photocopies of media releases are dutifully shoved into pigeonholes, a process which seems almost medieval when a single email list would suffice to service all who wished to sup of the public discourse.

Finally, the press-release box area contains a button with an electric bell. The important (or mischievous) can ring the bell to summon scribes to pay attention to them. Again, an email list could achieve much of the same function of alerting reporters to a media event.

There’s precious little good reason in 2015 for the press to have offices inside Parliament House. Most press galleries make do with a building nearby.

However, there are a number of bad reasons that bear thinking about.

If a political operator wishes to influence a journalist, perhaps with a juicy leak, it’s easier when occupying the same building.

It’s not entirely clear that entertaining and facilitating the dark arts is worth the expense.

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ACT Policing executed two search warrants yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2015) at a residence in Chisholm and business in Phillip.

About 8.00am, members of the Criminal Investigations Crime Targeting Team executed two section 187 Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 search warrants after information was received from the public.

A male person of interest was present at the Chisholm residence and subsequently transported to a car detailing premises in Phillip as that search warrant was being executed.

Police located an extensive amount of property believed to be stolen and estimated to be worth in excess of $300,000. The items included power tools, collectable minted coins, household and personal items, jewellry and watches. A large quantity of wine and spirits was also located, one bottle worth in the vicinity of $4,000.

The property is believed to be directly derived from a drug offence.

Investigations are ongoing.

Police are urging anyone who may have information that could assist police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via act.crimestoppers.com.au and quote reference number 5828686. Information can be provided anonymously. Police remind people they should not report crime information via Facebook and Twitter pages.

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JEWELLER and co-proprietor of Manuka jewellery store Briolette, Diana Thompson, has a not-so-secret life as the author of her first romance novel “Winterflood’s Passion” – a story set in the Southern Highlands that’s already been called “the Bowral bodice ripper”.

Author Diana Thompson.

“Charlotte could not have imagined the turn her life would take after this chance encounter.”

Thompson launched the book in her temple of bling and will be signing copies at the Canberra Centre Dymocks, 5.30pm, on Friday, August 28.

Carlo wins an award

FORMER Civic restaurateur Carlo Tosolini, whose iconic Bailey’s Corner eatery closed suddenly at Easter when the landlord unhappily changed the locks, has been feted with the Lifetime Achiever award at the Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.

Described as the industry’s “night of nights”, it recognised ACT operators who “provided exceptional service, demonstrated culinary excellence, and delivered great ambience and value for money across 25 categories”.

Other winners of the major-award categories included Sage, Braddon – Restaurant of the Year; Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Yarralumla – Caterer of the Year and Charlie’s Sala Thai Restaurant, Greenway – Consumer Vote Award.

In congratulating the winners Restaurant & Catering Australia’s CEO John Hart said: “The winners should be proud of their achievements, as they have been rigorously reviewed in one of the most objective awards systems, which looks at the entire dining experience, rather than a single food or service dimension.”

Bewilderingly, the association’s media release listed the winner of the Canberra Social Media Award to Coffee Amigo, which is based in John Street, Salisbury, an outer northern suburb of Adelaide.

Pig’s passed!

LIKE Kit Carson, the famous US frontiersman and tracker, the Queanbeyan City Council contractor has steadfastly tracked, trapped and killed the Wild Pig of Mount Jerrabomberra.

The pig, which is unfunnily blamed for biting a woman defending her dog against the fearful feral, has been stalked since last month with cameras and traps placed on the mountain.

Goodness knows what the tracking process has cost the council, but it has stoically reminded visitors that the mount is not an area where dogs are to roam off leash and to report any sightings of feral pigs. There are more?

Falling out of favour

WISH them luck as you wave them goodbye… “The Canberra Times” topped the nation with the highest circulation fall of any metropolitan newspaper in the year to June.

The breathtaking 18.91 per cent collapse in sales takes the paper’s average weekday circulation to 19,492, a sad shadow of less than half its former self. Likewise the flagship Saturday, down 11.21 per cent to 30,280 and Sunday, down 9.99 per cent to 20,312.

And why would anyone buy it when they are giving their news away online where, paywall free, readers can enjoy unfettered access to writers of the “Times”, “The Sydney Morning Herald” and “The Age”. And better still, a feature of the daily, free tablet app is a digital version of that morning’s paper. Nuts or what?

Thank you, Fairfax shareholders for this wonderful community service, though heaven knows how they turn a buck from Fyshwick these days.

The very long black

AND from Will Glasgow’s “Rear Window” column last week in “The Australian Financial Review”: “While we were sitting in Silo cafe in the Canberra parliamentary suburb of Kingston on Thursday morning wondering how it could possibly take 40 minutes to make a long black, the nation’s regional networks were descending on Parliament House – once again.”

Third time lucky?

POPULAR Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall is so determined to see a multiplex cinema (among other, bigger things) built that he revealed on 2CC’s “CityNews Sunday Roast” news program his intention to stand for the third time at next year’s September council elections. Queanbeyan elects its mayor directly and at the last election in 2012 Tim scored a primary vote of 54 per cent in a Melbourne Cup field of candidates, something of a record he says.

Cutting the cost of living

A 2015 analysis of housing costs by the ACT Council of Social Service and ACT Shelter found that Canberra households spend an average $328 a week on housing, which is a whopping $63 a week higher than the national average.

Timely then that local community group SEE-Change is holding a talk on cutting the cost of living and the cost of home ownership, as part of its Sustainability Talks Series.

It’s at the Belconnen Library, 12 Chandler Street, 2pm-4pm, Sunday, August 30. Entry is $5 ($2 for members). More information at see-change.org.au

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The Bold Bandannas. Photo by Chris Fitzgerald

Rosemary heads up the “lively” Bold Bandannas, a Relay for Life team made up of mostly retired preschool teachers from all over the ACT.

The team started in 2000 and has so far raised more than $245,000 for cancer research.

Rosemary Drabsch… “Once I latch on to something it’s with a passion and I don’t give in easily.” Photo by Andrew Finch

Rosemary says the Bold Bandannas started when she saw a Relay for Life advert on her preschool-assistant payslip.

“I thought, why not, so I stood up at an ACT-wide preschool staff meeting and asked if anyone wanted to form a team. We had 12 people interested and in the first year we raised $1600.”

Rosemary says the team grew over the years, as did the amounts raised, but one year its total was $9000 and she says she knew they could do better.

“It was okay, but I felt embarrassed and after that my commitment intensified,” she says.

“Every year after that we raised more and more – last year was almost $28,000. That’s more like it!”

As well as participating every year in the Relay for Life at the AIS, the Bold Bandannas have hosted trivia nights, dinners, theatre parties and a regular charity stall at Fyshwick Markets, as well as selling homemade pickles and jams, and Rosemary’s handmade dress-up clothes that she sells to preschools.

Rosemary also raised $3000 shaving off her straight, waist-length hair last year.

“Cutting my hair off was so liberating, it took no time at all to wash or get ready in the mornings,” she says. “It’s also grown back curly which is interesting!”

Rosemary says the Bold Bandannas’ success wouldn’t be possible without community support.

“So many organisations are consistently generous to us, including Curves, Deakin Soccer Club, Southern Cross Club, the Irish Club and Cooleman Court,” she says.

“The staff at the Cancer Council are also supportive to the team… Nothing is ever too much trouble.”

Rosemary says she retired at the end of 2012, but finds that fundraising is now a full-time job.

“I’m always sewing, cooking, sending emails and organising events,” she says.

“I couldn’t do a lot of it without my husband – he has taken over cooking dinner, as I’m always in the sewing room!

“He’s become more supportive of me along the way, as he realises that I’m not giving in.”

Rosemary credits her determination to the team’s success and says that if she makes a commitment, she sticks to it.

“We are the only team who has walked in every relay since we started,” she says.

“Over the years we’ve lost two of our team to cancer and some are survivors, which makes us more determined to carry on.

“Once I latch on to something it’s with a passion and I don’t give in easily.

“There is no one that can say they haven’t been touched by cancer, and by continuing to donate money to research we are fighting that cause in the hope that one day they will find a cure.

“While I’m able, I’ll continue fighting.”

All preschool staff, past and present from across the ACT, are invited to the Preschool Staff Dinner, Deakin Sports Club, Grose Street, Deakin. Saturday, September 19. Tickets $60 each, bookings to 6288 7752.

The post The cancer warriors who never say die appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

CANBERRA’S Hindmarsh has been appointed to deliver the new College Of Computer Sciences and the Mathematical Sciences Institute at the Australian National University, continuing a partnership with the university that has spanned over 15 years and resulted in the delivery of over $640 million in cutting-edge educational projects.

The $25 million building will include accommodation and support spaces for both the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Institute as well as shared collaborative and teaching spaces.

The facility is being designed by dwp|suters in association with Clarke Keller Architects and will span approximately 6,340sqm in total. Hindmarsh anticipates construction will commence in December this year with completion scheduled in early 2017.

Hindmarsh ACT State Manager Construction, David Colbertaldo, said the project builds on the long-standing partnership between Hindmarsh and the ANU.

“Over the years Hindmarsh has partnered with the ANU on projects of different size and scope, ranging from $1 million to $240 million in value, and we’re proud of the contribution we’ve made on campus. This new facility will further reinforce the University’s position as a global leader and Australia’s premier teaching and research institution,” David said.

In a separate new appointment, Hindmarsh has also been appointed to deliver a comprehensive $3 million refurbishment of the ANU’s Peter Baume Buildings on University Avenue.

The College of Sciences Precinct incorporates the Teaching, Chemistry, Biosciences, Wes Whitten, Hancock West and Central Plant Buildings, as well as The Fenner School of Environment & Society.

[Photo by Stephen Dann, attribution licence]

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SIMON Corbell says the benefits of public transport and physical activity in the fight against obesity were highlighted at a Heart Foundation (ACT) public seminar on active living.

“While the ACT is the healthiest place in Australia in terms of life expectancy, with lower rates of major illness and more active and healthy lifestyles, rates of obesity in our city have significantly increased in recent years, raising concerns around the continued health and wellbeing of our community,” Simon said.

“Almost two thirds of ACT adults are overweight and a staggering one in four is obese. For children, 25 percent fall into the overweight or obese category. Action needs to be taken now to address this growing rate of obesity.

“Incorporating exercise into our daily commute is proven to be highly effective in increasing physical activity, which in turn can help us maintain better health. Even the smallest steps in a person’s day can contribute to keeping them healthy. This is as simple as walking to and from a bus stop or riding a bike for part of the journey to school or work then catching the bus the rest of the way. In the near future, light rail will also contribute to the active transport mix.

“One of the many health benefits associated with light rail is that it will provide better connectivity and accessibility to the city, promoting active transport and decreasing the time people spend in cars. Light rail stops will be easily accessible and within walking distances in areas that are already densely populated or set to become more populated in the future.

“Research indicates that people are prepared to walk up to one kilometre for light rail; a much higher distance than for buses. By walking to a light rail stop to get from home to work or school and back again, a person could complete an extra three kilometres of walking per day compared to driving.

“Cities around the world with integrated active transport networks flourish and grow, generate economic opportunities and jobs, create great places to live and achieve positive health outcomes.

“The ACT Government’s commitment to active transport initiatives, including the delivery of a city-wide light rail network, will ensure the continued health and wellbeing of our city.”

The Heart Foundation (ACT) public seminar series is being delivered as part of the Active Living Program which is a partnership with the ACT and the Foundation to support the meaningful inclusion of active living principles into policies, design and practice in Canberra.

The post Miracle tram to cure obesity appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

Andrew Wall

ANDREW Wall will move to protect newsagents when he tables legislation in the Legislative Assembly next month to ensure only small businesses will be able to sell and promote lottery products in the ACT.

“I have been working with newsagents and stakeholders on a solution to this potential business risk since alarm bells sounded following the expiration of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) struck between the NSW government and Tatts that banned the sale of lottery products in large retail operations for the next five years,” Mr Wall said today.

“It was apparent that there were no protections or restrictions on who could sell lottery products in the ACT.

“Lottery products make up a huge percentage of business for ACT newsagents. The primary intention of this legislation is to maintain the status quo and ensure newsagents and dedicated kiosks remain the first point of sale for lottery products.

“This Bill is modelled on similar legislation enacted in Queensland and will ensure that lottery sales by ACT newsagencies will not be overtaken by large supermarket chains.

“While members of the ACT Labor government are left scratching their heads about what to do, I have been working with newsagents on the best solution for this potential problem.

“We need to safeguard the future of our local small businesses. The legislation I will bring to the Assembly on September 16th ensures that ACT newsagents remain a viable part of our local shopping centres. I urge the government to support this Bill,” Mr Wall concluded.

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