THE DREADFUL STORY OF DELAYED CAR INSURANCE
“The insurance company was determined to evade, mislead and delay on its responsibilities,” writes HUGH SELBY.
AUGUST 27, 2026
KEEPING UP THE ACT We need more local politicians. Here’s why
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NEWS / Rise Above turns 40
Well written, well read
Volume 32, Number: 33. Phone 02 6189 0777.
Local support for people to rise above cancer By Tia
PRIEST-WILLIMOTT Helping patients feel safe and supported when cancer is diagnosed, by providing unbiased financial support – that’s the goal of the local not-for-profit organisation Rise Above. And that’s been the goal for the last 40 years. Yvonne Cuschieri, the woman behind it all, started simply by raising funds for 13 local teenagers to attend a program for young people impacted by cancer. In March 1986, she invited friends to help and the first Cancer Support Group meeting was held. Over the next 15 years, the group expanded as the number of requests for help increased. Today Rise Above has become a familiar name for Canberrans fighting cancer. Earlier this year Renée Watson took the wheel as CEO of the organisation. “When you’re going through cancer, life hits really hard and not just because you’ve had that cancer diagnosis,” Renée says. “The impact of the treatment
Rise Above CEO Renée Watson… “There’s no six degrees of separation, Rise Above is very much in the community, and local giving stays local.” Photo: Tia Priest-Willimott means that you often can’t lead a normal life or do normal things which can sometimes be the difference between accessing treatment or not.” While some things have changed over the 40 years – including the name from ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group to Rise Above – the core focus has remained the same. “We provide them with funds to make life a little bit easier. That’s things like food, medicine and petrol that are essential parts of going
through the chemotherapy treatment,” Renée says. “By far, the most used part of the funding is for food and fuel – we give out vouchers that people can use at Woolworths.” One of the biggest growth areas the Rise Above team has seen is funding for supplemental food, which is full of nutrition for people who can’t eat properly. “We’ve got a lot of patients who have head or neck cancers, or the
chemotherapy means that they can’t eat and that supplementation is eyewateringly expensive and very, very hard to get hold of,” Renée says. “So, we’re supporting a lot of people with that because you can’t get better from cancer if you’re not getting properly nourished. “Quite a lot of the funding we raise comes from direct donations from individuals and the nice thing is that every single dollar that gets donated goes straight to the patients. “There’s no six degrees of separation, Rise Above is very much in the community, and local giving stays local.” Some of the organisation’s core costs are covered by grants, particularly one from the ACT Government, as well as an increasing corporate partnership with local businesses. For its 40th anniversary, Renée says they’re introducing a range of activities including monthly patient gatherings which will be really casual and a chance to talk and share. “We’re also working with Music in Canberra to hopefully create a Rise Above choir, then in October, we’re going to do a posh long lunch which will be a big fundraiser,” she says. “Then in 2027, we’ll be finishing the big 12 months with the revived Convoy for Cancer. “This was a massive Canberra annual event where a parade of trucks
and motorcycles would go through the city and into Queanbeyan and then it would finish up with a big festival,” Renée says. Looking to the future, Rise Above plans to keep supporting more locals throughout their entire cancer journey. “There’s this point at the end of the cancer treatment, where it’s almost like the medical system and a lot of the support services just brush their hands together and tell people to almost get back to normal life,” Renée says. “I would love to think that Rise Above is really ideally positioned to see if there is more that we could do to enable people to build those stepping stones to get back to whatever normal life looks like for them.” With 836 local patients supported in the past 12 months, Rise Above continues to provide hope for those experiencing cancer. “People who do support us in any way, whether that’s a donation, fundraising, or volunteering, can know that the support stays local,” Renée says. “Cancer is a pretty horrible thing but we’re about raising hope, making life easier and putting a bit of a silver lining on an otherwise terrible time.” Support Rise Above or register for support at riseabovecbr.org.au or call 6297 1261.
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POLITICS / The Legislative Assembly
We need more local politicians, and here’s why Is it time to modify how we do politics in the ACT? Or, will it mean leaping from the frying pan into the fire? One suggestion is an expansion of the ACT Assembly to 35 MLAs and another to introduce local councils. The goal must be the best interests of Canberrans. David Smith, the Federal Labor member for Bean in the south of the ACT, argued in a recent opinion article: “If our current arrangements are no longer providing the clear local voice and accountability that citizens deserve, we must have the confidence to acknowledge it and the courage to fix it”. Most confronting is his suggestion that “a sensible starting point is a review by the federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories into the operation and effectiveness of the ACT Self-Government Act 1988”. No David! The last thing we need is more patronising overreach of the federal government, interfering again with the ACT. Interference by the federal government regarding Volunteering Active Dying and with same-sex marriage had to be reversed after other Australian jurisdictions caught up with the ACT. Abide by your own statement David
4 CityNews August 27-September 2, 2026
Introducing five electorates with seven representatives in a 35 MLA Assembly would deliver a much more diverse representation and a wider range of views. to cover the range of portfolios. At the same time, they have not had enough Labor MLAs to cover the extensive day-to-day work of Assembly committees. This pressure also means less time for reaching out to their constituents. David Smith argues “this weakens the connection between voters and decision-makers”. He went on to explain: “At the 2024 election, voters elected the first crossbenchers from outside the established parties in more than two decades”. Excellent, this means broader representation. Thomas Emerson and Fiona Carrick were elected following dissatisfaction of large parts of their electorates with the performance of the three major parties. Mr Smith makes the point that “both campaigned squarely on
ACT independents Thomas Emerson and Fiona Carrick… elected following dissatisfaction of large parts of their electorates with the performance of the three major parties. Smith: “Ultimately, any decision belongs to the people of the ACT”. Leave the federal parliament and its committees out of the equation! Mr Smith’s arguments draw the conclusion that if Canberra is to be successful, “stronger local representation, clearer accountability and closer connections between communities and their representatives are how we secure its future”. Firstly, compared to other jurisdictions, Canberra is successful. Secondly, there are certainly advantages in expanding the size of the Legislative Assembly to give greater local representation. The current government has struggled to find competent ministers
stronger local representation… and closer connection between communities and those elected to serve them”. This is just one aspect of the failure of the major parties before the election. No doubt, an increase of MLAs in the ACT Assembly would assist in improving the connection. As an aside, this argument was also put forward when the size of the Legislative Assembly increased from 17 to 25 MLAs just over a decade ago. Two other arguments that are regularly raised include establishing local councils and changing to singlemember electorates. Compared to Tasmania, we are extraordinarily under-governed. An alternative view is that the Tasmanians, with a population quite close to that of the ACT, are comparatively over-governed. They have a Legislative Assembly of 35 MLAs elected, like the ACT, under Hare-Clark. The Tasmanian Legislative Council (or Upper House) has 15 members elected from single districts. Additionally, there are 12 senators compared to the ACT’s two senators as well as 29 local councils. Compared to all states and the NT, the ACT is under-governed. How-
ever, failures in budgeting, allowing development to get out of control, the poor performance in health and education cannot be attributed to the lack of elected representatives. Labor’s Trojan Horse in the arguments for change are the suggestion of single-member electorates. In one of the responses to Mr Smith’s opinion piece, Catherine Rossiter points out “single-member electorates in a relatively homogeneous place like Canberra would probably deliver a huge majority for Labor, which would not be healthy”. She argues that the problem is that “we’ve already had a Labor government in office for far too long. They have become arrogant, entitled and do not listen to the community”. Her solution is simple – vote for more independents. Introducing five electorates with seven representatives in a 35 MLA Assembly would deliver a much more diverse representation and a wider range of views. Isn’t that the point of proportional representation?
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LEGAL OPINION / a cautionary tale
The dreadful story of delayed car insurance “The insurance company was determined to evade, mislead and delay on its responsibilities on this small claim. What does that mean for large ones?”. HUGH SELBY shares a cautionary tale about car insurance. Remember being read a short cautionary tale as a child, typically illustrated with colour drawings that left nothing to our imaginations? Remember what happened to Harriet when she played with matches? I’m sharing an adult’s cautionary tale, but free of drawings or photos or a video because your life experience is enough. Harriet was fatally unwise to play with matches. I wonder whether there was any insurance aspect to that tale. If so, could the survivors trust or count on those who claim to care? It was a morning peak-hour trip in late October last year when two cars were damaged, but still drivable. One of them strayed into the wrong lane. The drivers exchanged details and went their ways, but not before one of them took photos on his phone. Driver Boris (pseudonym) was in a late-model, leased small SUV with comprehensive insurance. He didn’t
say anything about his insurance at the accident site. Driver Jason (pseudonym) was in a 20-year-old coupe with third-party insurance, so he wasn’t covered for the damage to his car. Boris went missing. All attempts to contact him failed. Jason resigned In The Dreadful Story of Harriet and the Matches, himself to paying to repair Harriet was fatally unwise to play with matches. Is the damage on his car. He there any insurance aspect to that tale? got a couple of estimates. Months went by. Out The short version is that Jason was of the blue, in mid-April, he was in the right-hand lane and had no contacted by Boris’ insurer who reason to move from it. Boris veered wanted his insurance details so that into that lane from the left, damaging his insurer could pay for the damage the right side of his SUV and the to Boris’ SUV. passenger side of Jason’s coupe. “Hold on”, said Jason, “Boris Cut and dried and very simple to caused that accident, not me. He never follow from the photos. mentioned his insurance”. Did the insurer admit liability and “Prove it”, said the big insurer. So promptly settle? Only in your dreams. Jason did. He promptly sent them They came back and said that lithe text messages, his photos, and a ability couldn’t be determined, so how detailed explanation. about each party pays its own costs?
“Two-ing and fro-ing” didn’t change the result, but it did irritate Jason. So he took it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). This is a cost-free way to try and get some insurer nonsense reversed. Mind you, a complainant needs, like Jason, to be tenacious. It doesn’t help to be told, wrongly, that you need dash cam footage if you don’t have independent witnesses. Part of the AFCA process was obtaining all the insurer’s documentation and sharing it with Jason. That happened after the insurer still claimed liability couldn’t be determined and each party should wear its own costs. And, lo, upon an inspection of the insurer files an internal memo was found which relevantly says, “damage to (Boris’ car) suggests that (Jason’s car) was likely in (Boris’) blind spot at time of lane change. Based on damage consistency and positioning, liability likely rests with (Boris’ car) not 100%”. As they say in the movies, “Oops”. It was Jason who found it, not the AFCA people. That’s a bit of a worry. Of course, that’s not the only worry. Why didn’t the insurer pay up when its staffer gave clear advice? Remember that in civil claims the standard of proof is balance of probabilities, or
over 50%, not 100% or near it. Embarrassingly caught out, the insurer made a paltry offer. Jason had offered to take his coupe to a panel repairer of their choice, but they weren’t interested. Jason wasn’t interested in having any more dealings with them and accepted their offer. Did they pay promptly? They did not. He had to follow up by email, phone and email again. Then they paid – this week. As I said in opening, it’s a cautionary tale. This means you want to know the name of the insurer because you wouldn’t want to be treated this way. What with the insurers advertising under various brands it can be hard to find out what entity is taking your premiums and looking for excuses not to pay out. This one has recently had prominent advertising on motorways between Canberra and Sydney. One message claims that in Australia it’s trusted by 4.5 million customers. Another says: “Care you can count on”. It’s up to you whether and on what terms you trust them. Me, I don’t trust Allianz – not at all. They were determined to evade, mislead and delay on their responsibilities on this small claim. What does that mean for large ones? Former barrister Hugh Selby is the CityNews legal affairs columnist.
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A second opinion on hearing loss
– you need professional advice, not a sales pitch 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:
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).
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.
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 “A person without starting point.
These hearing aids are appropriate for many professional qualifications people, however if you 2. Qualifications. Always has no business advising you have great difficulty check the qualifications of about your hearing. hearing in background the person you are dealing noise (for example a They need to belong to a with. A person without professional association with a Code restaurant), then you professional qualifications may want to consider of Conduct, so you know they are has no business advising partially subsidized acting in your best interests, you about your hearing. hearing aids. This is when not their own.” They need to belong to a the government pays a professional association with certain amount, and you – Dr Vass a Code of Conduct, so you pay for additional features know they are acting in your best and benefits. Your decision interests, not their own. should be based on the following: (a) Can you afford the more expensive 3. Independent advice. You should get hearing aids? Don’t go into financial stress independent, professional advice. if you can’t afford them. (b) Are you clear 4. There are a wide range of hearing aids out on the free vs partially subsidized features there. Finding the right hearing aids for your & benefits? Never believe someone who communication needs can be challenging. tells you the free hearings are not good or Hearing aids vary in price and performance. of poor performance, this is simply not true. Bluetooth® connectivity and rechargeable (c) If you try the partially subsidized hearing hearing aids are available on most hearing aids and are not happy, then return them. Do aids, along with apps that allow you to control not keep hearing aids because you think the your hearing aids from your mobile device. Be failure is yours or that you will improve over aware that just because a hearing aid is more time. If the hearing aids are not working for expensive, that doesn’t mean they are the best you in the trial period, then they will not work hearing aid for you. for you in a year or two. 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
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
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COVER STORY / David Hockney
Coming face to face with David Hockney prints By Helen
MUSA “Faces are the most interesting things we see,” the late English artist David Hockney once said. “Other people fascinate me, and the most interesting aspect of other people, the point where we go inside them, is the face.” It is with that thought in mind that curators Magda Keaney and Warwick Heywood have prepared David Hockney: Portraits in Print, opening at the National Gallery on September 5. When I catch up with Heywood, the Kenneth E Tyler curator, International Prints and Drawings, it is clear that this is not an exhibition hastily assembled following Hockney’s death, aged 88, in June. Planning began in 2025, although both curators agree that its arrival now is an especially appropriate way to honour the artist. His death has also provided an opportunity to look deeply into the Hockney archives and those of eminent American printmaker Kenneth Tyler. Hockney and Tyler began working together in the 1960s, developing a highly experimental creative collaboration. After Hockney moved to America, he became the only artist to work at all four of Tyler’s studios, producing some of his most important print works there.
The National Gallery’s relationship with Tyler goes back to 1973, when inaugural director James Mollison purchased Tyler’s private archive of printer’s proofs, rare proofs and drawings. In 2002, during Brian Kennedy’s directorship, the gallery expanded the collection through a combination of gifts and purchases from Tyler, making it the most comprehensive post-war American print collection outside the US. This is mostly a National Gallery collection show, with minor exceptions, Heywood says, made possible by the extraordinary depth of the gallery’s Hockney holdings. With more than 1000 works by the artist, the NGA has the largest and most important collection of his work in Australia. It was also under Kennedy’s watch that the gallery acquired Hockney’s huge painting A Bigger Grand Canyon in 1999. It is far too large for this exhibition, Heywood tells me, but will no doubt be in visitors’ minds, particularly after it was loaned to the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris last year for David Hockney 25 and seen by almost one million people. However, for Heywood and Keaney, the National Gallery’s head curator, International Art, it is Hockney’s experimentation that makes him one of the most exciting artists of our time. The exhibition recalls some of the fun of his early Pop Art work in the 1960s and 1970s, including his celebra-
David Hockney and his dog, Stanley, in New York, January 1991. Photo: Marabeth Cohen-Tyler
10 CityNews August 27-September 2, 2026
Red Celia (1984) by David Hockney, National Gallery of Australia. tion of gay life and community, but a more significant thread is his fascination with friends and family, reflected in some of the remarkable prints he made during the 1970s and 1980s. Heywood stresses that although Hockney returned to portraiture throughout his career, he very rarely accepted portrait commissions. Instead, there were particular faces to which he returned again and again, including his mother Laura, fashion designer Celia Birtwell, partner Gregory Evans and, most of all, himself. Hockney created more than 300 self-portraits. Although the ground-floor exhibition space is not large, the curators believe they have enough room to explore a bigger question: what exactly is a portrait? It is a question Keaney knows well, having worked at the National Portrait Gallery in London, and the
An Image of Celia (1984-86) by David Hockney, National Gallery.
exhibition uses Hockney’s constantly changing approaches to probe the boundaries of portraiture. The show looks, for instance, at the 1980s, a decade that might conjure up images of parties and dancing, but which for Hockney was also a period of intense investigation into technology. He once told Tyler: “I love the way really advanced technology is bringing back the hand again”, seeing in new technology another form of intimacy. That experimental spirit is evident throughout the exhibition. There are etchings, lithographs and photographs, alongside Hockney’s iPad drawings, borrowed from the David Hockney studio. There are also works created through more unexpected processes, including Mylar sheets and fax machines. Yet portraiture remains the key.
Hockney repeatedly turned his attention to the people closest to him, while also looking at faces through different artistic lenses. In one series, he explores the moving focus technique; elsewhere, familiar faces are transformed through Cubist approaches. Even before the exhibition has opened, passers-by can see something of its visual energy through the bright colours being used in the installation. The curators have taken their cue from some of Hockney’s frames at Tate in London. “We wanted to introduce a new generation to Hockney,” Heywood says. “We wanted to highlight Hockney’s last few decades that were filled with colour.” David Hockney: Portraits in Print, National Gallery of Australia, September 5-May 9. Free exhibition.
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POLITICS / Is the ABC risking its social licence?
It’s time our unloved Aunty got her mojo back We’ve all had a favourite aunty; that trusted presence in our life; someone who could always be relied upon to unfailingly send a birthday card with a banknote therein and bestow a warm hug. It is perhaps for this familial connection, this constancy, that Australians have always called our national broadcaster, the ABC, “Aunty”. There was a time in Australian broadcasting that Aunty played a major role in our lives. It broadcast agenda-setting and richly entertaining content, and held to account politicians from both sides who were practised in “feeding the chooks” and repelling unsavoury questions. The ABC’s forensic journalism was often an antidote for such political resistance. But over the last decade, the ABC’s broadcast audience has substantially declined. From the year 2015-16 until 2023-24, ABC metro TV audience has gone from 9.2 million (55 per cent) to 6.6 million (36 per cent). How is consumption measured? Five – yes five – continuous minutes of viewing within a 24-hour period. Now, of course, the ABC would quite rightly say that such figures are limited as many have changed their media consumption patterns from watching broadcast TV to on-demand streaming and podcasts.
With Pauline Hanson riding high in the polls, and with known adversity to the ABC, now is not the time for such incandescently stupid own-goals. “Following a torrent of complaint, the ABC did what the modern ABC seemingly does best. It obfuscated and hid behind the veil of editorial guidelines.” Photo: ANAO But such an explanation would too blithely ignore the broader issues at play here. And that is, that something is seemingly happening in the relationship between our national broadcaster and its audience – between Aunty and her nephews and nieces – and it is damaging our trust in the ABC. To this point, the ABC did something recently that caught my attention. In a broadcast TV show, Race Around the World, it featured a participant’s self-made skit within which mining magnate, Gina Reinhardt, was raped, tortured and killed “making her into one big sausage roll, to make something outta nothing”. Following a torrent of complaint, the ABC did what the modern ABC seem-
ingly does best. It obfuscated and hid behind the veil of editorial guidelines. Asked whether the skit was acceptable, Communications Minister Anneka Wells said while she personally found it “unacceptable”, the ABC had “editorial independence” and was satisfied the broadcaster had referred the matter to its so-called independent ABC Ombudsman. After the Ombudsman found the “clearly satirical” piece “did not breach the ABC’s editorial policies”, Reinhardt not unreasonably threatened legal action, naming the ABC chairman and MD as potential respondents. After further reflection, in which senior ABC mandarins may well have engaged in introspection involving thoughts of prolonged cross-examination by a KC, the ABC issued a curt apology to Reinhardt “and to anyone else affected or upset” acknowledging the program “failed to meet community standards”. You think?! “Failed to meet community
standards”! In what world would content, based on the rape, torture and murder of a known and named woman be deemed anywhere close to meeting editorial guidelines? And what sort of judgment was applied by the “independent” ABC Ombudsman to have originally found the skit to satisfy those guidelines? In circumstances where the ABC has clearly got it so very wrong, it is all too easy for it, and indeed the government, to hide behind the veil of “editorial independence”. With independence also comes responsibility; and for too long, the ABC has enjoyed the former without commensurately bearing the latter. At this point, it’s worth noting that while the ABC’s originating legislation requires its board to “maintain the independence and integrity of the Corporation”, the ABC is also an almost fully publicly-funded entity, a “material organisation”, under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act. Section 25 imposes on entities’ personnel a “duty” to “exercise his or her powers, perform his or her functions and discharge his or her duties with the degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person
would exercise” in the official’s place. While ABC management have been keen to trot out the first bit of the statutory equation – the ABC’s statutory independence – they’ve seemingly been a bit loath to also acknowledge its statutory duties of care – including those of their staff as “officials of a Commonwealth entity”. And the result of this one-sided instinct to resist, repel and defend has all too frequently been serious editorial missteps in content that have undermined the community’s confidence. With Pauline Hanson riding high in the polls, and with known adversity to the ABC, now is not the time for such incandescently stupid own-goals. Rather, the ABC needs to re-discover its mojo quickly to re-build confidence with the Australian public. A good start would surely not be broadcasting programs featuring ideation of the rape and murder of named Australian women. Dr Robert McMahon PSM is a visiting fellow at the Australian National University.
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LETTERS / well written, well read
Let loose to: editor@citynews.com.au
Save billions by stopping the tram at Albert Hall Authorities could consider stopping construction of Light Rail Stage2B at Albert Hall. The benefits could include: 1. Stopping Stage 2B at Albert Hall until Stage 1 is repaid in 2039 would defer about $2 billion of costs. 2. Avoids ACT Government debt repayments becoming around 20 per cent of the ACT Budget. 3. Avoiding a possible downgrading of ACT’s S&P Global Rating. 4. Providing access for northside passengers to the Parliamentary Triangle. 5. Some of $2 billion deferred could reduce debt and construct much needed community infrastructure like those deferred in the 2026-27 ACT Budget including Casey Police Station, Molonglo Valley SES Building and the Kingston Arts Precinct. 6. Providing more work for local businesses by bringing forward projects such as playground revamps, sportsground and changeroom improvements. 7. Allowing more government homes to be built, renovated and repaired. 8. Deferring about nine kilometres of Stage2B construction saves around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere and allows researchers more time to develop green steel and concrete. 9. A Woden indoor 50m pool and dive tower could be built earlier for the forecast 150,000 residents. Canberrans would benefit greatly by
dose of dorin
Herman complains Ed Husic wasn’t given the chance to speak at the ALP National Conference. Ed Husic wanted the ALP’s platform to accuse Israel of genocide. Military experts say Israel takes unprecedented steps to avoid civilian casualties, including warning through leaflet drops, phone calls and text messages of impending attacks and setting up humanitarian corridors, achieving a better civilian-tocombatant casualty ratio than in any other recent urban war. And this is despite the Hamas human-shield strategy. No other country acting this way would be accused of genocide. Just more special treatment for Israel. Alan Shroot, Forrest
Media mute on alleged debauchery stopping Light Rail Stage2B at Albert Hall. Money saved could be used to reduce debt and prioritise construction of much needed community projects. Ron Sait, Richardson
Special treatment Israel wants to end Herman van de Brug says that all countries should be treated equally, but Israel receives special treatment (letters, CN August 13). He’s absolutely right, but not the way
6
he means. Every year the UN passes more motions condemning Israel than every other country combined. Israel is the only country that has a standing agenda item at the UN Human Rights Council, while many genuinely human rights-abusing regimes are all but ignored. Palestinian refugees have a UN body devoted to them – UNRWA – while all other refugees come under one other body – the UNHCR. Israel would love the special treatment to end.
The Sydney Swans sexual assault incident has taken the attention of the nation. Immediately it is being addressed by the mainstem media according to the values of woke culture, its therapeutic idea of truth and language of victimhood, privilege, oppression and blame. The context is that a group of highprofile male sports stars are alleged to have arranged for a small number of women to join them in a hotel room at 4am for “adult entertainment” of some type. I believe both parties are arguably guilty of serious wrongful behaviour in creating the occasion and far more significantly in
the underlying debauchery. Yet the media does not think it is worth a comment. If society is to survive it must conform to the objective truths about our human nature centred on the sacredness of our sexuality and its role in marriage and the family, the institution that has made Western civilisation possible. John L Smith, Farrer
Queensland is starting to look good! Errol MacGregor’s letter (CN August 13) on whether we are getting value for our money from self government is accurate, but overly polite. Please allow me to pick up Errol’s theme in more direct language. The Legislative Assembly does not pass the pub test. Its collective presence falls short in enhancing the tax/rate payers of this place. Some of this is attributable to the voters who keep legging this lot into office; a shame they don’t look more closely at competence, efficiency and proven records, with less focus on popularity, thus spending less time complaining afterwards. The horse has bolted and its too late to slam the gate. We can now only moan about it and hopefully correct our failings at the next election. That said, Queensland is starting to look good! John Lawrence via email
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WHIMSY / Do men need to smell sophisticated?
Why sharp suits matter and the ties that bind “Most women are attracted to the simple things in life. Like men.” – Henny Youngman
To follow on from my last Whimsy column about women’s makeup and heels, men’s grooming and attire have evolved from deep social and biological roots into complex forms of signalling, self-presentation and identity. To take the same approach, I’m looking at the subject from the point of view of evolutionary and social psychology; cultural and fashion norms; psychological identity and self-expression; and social expectations and peer enforcement. Firstly, evolutionary and social psychology. At a biological level, both women and men use appearance to signal fitness, status and control. • For men, muscular physiques or broad shoulders traditionally signal strength, capability, and protection – traits that historically conveyed value in survival and reproduction. • Facial grooming (beards, clean shaves, styled hair) subtly communicate age, dominance, or refinement. • Cologne amplifies scent cues – not in a literal pheromone sense, but as a marker of hygiene and self-care, both subconsciously attractive traits.
The suit and tie evolved as a symbol of authority, wealth and rational masculinity – the male equivalent of a woman’s polished appearance. So, just like make-up and heels, men’s grooming can operate as unconscious signalling. Secondly, cultural and fashion norms. Over time, these primal cues were absorbed into cultural systems of status and respectability. • The suit and tie, for instance, evolved as a symbol of authority, wealth, and rational masculinity – the male equivalent of a woman’s polished appearance. • In many workplaces, the welldressed man signals competence and reliability, even though the clothing may be restrictive (tight collars, stiff
shoes, heat-trapping fabrics). In both cases, fashion functions as a kind of uniform of social power. I noted that in the City of London the bowler hat has been replaced by tight blue suits and brown shoes – the modern equivalent to indicate involvement in professional financerelated industries. Third, psychological identity and self-expression. Many men also use dress and grooming as selfexpression, not just conformity. • A well-tailored suit or a signature fragrance can feel like putting on armour – the same psychological
effect makeup can have for women. • For others, maintaining a strong body or a sharp style reinforces self-discipline and control – inner qualities made visible. So, again, the line between attractiveness and confidence is blurred. Often, the goal isn’t to attract others, but to feel powerful or worthy oneself. Fourth, social expectations and peer enforcement. Just like women, men experience social pressure – though it’s expressed differently. • A man who doesn’t “look put together” may be judged as careless or unsuccessful. • Cultural ideals of male bodies – fit, tall, confident – can be as unforgiving as beauty standards for women. So, while men might not wear high heels, they’re also performing a version of socially sanctioned discomfort – in suits, gyms or grooming rituals. In summary, both women and men use appearance – clothing, grooming, scent, posture – as a language of social navigation. • Women’s signals have often emphasised refinement, beauty, and control, • Men have emphasised strength,
authority, and composure, but both serve the same human goals: to attract respect, attention, or connection — and to project control over one’s environment. Next Whimsy I will look at how these signals shift depending on the context (eg, workplace vs dating vs social power dynamics). That’s where the meaning of make-up or a suit really changes! On a lighter note: A tourist driving in New Jersey gets pulled over by a motorcycle cop on Route 35 for going too slowly and holding up traffic. “Ma’am,” the officer says, “the speed limit here is 55 miles an hour. Why are you only doing 35?” “Oh,” she replies, looking bewildered, “I thought the Route 35 sign was the speed limit.” The cop sighs, then notices her passengers looking pale and terrified. “Are you folks all right?” he asks. “We are now,” one of them says. “But we just came off Route 130.”
Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist.
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Mother and Child
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When your child cannot explain what is wrong, knowing where to turn matters A child’s health concern rarely arrives with a clear explanation. It may begin with persistent stomach pain, difficult mealtimes, delayed growth, changing behaviour or a parent’s quiet sense that something is not right. The hardest question is often simple: who should we see? The Paediatric Practice in Deakin brings childfocused general practice, specialist paediatrics and dietetics together, giving families a clearer pathway from first concern to appropriate care. The team includes paediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist Dr Joe Meredith; paediatric specialists Dr Michael Rosier and Dr Ibrahim Youssef; senior paediatric endocrinologist Dr Tony Lafferty; and childhealth GPs Dr Goldie Snoke and Dr Chris Gilbert. New paediatric dietitian Portia Hawke provides nutritional support alongside the medical team. Together, they care for newborns through to teenagers, addressing general and developmental concerns, ADHD and behavioural assessments, digestive and gastrointestinal conditions, liver and coeliac disease, growth, puberty, thyroid and endocrine concerns, feeding difficulties, nutrition and weight management. For families, having this expertise within one clinic can reduce the uncertainty of navigating disconnected appointments. Many concerns can begin with a child-health GP, with specialist or dietetic input available when appropriate. The result is care designed around the whole child, not just one symptom, with time to listen to each family’s concerns carefully. The Paediatric Practice is now accepting referrals. To discuss which appointment may suit your child, call 02 5137 3630 or visit thepaediatricpractice.com.au
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The Paediatric Practice Level 1, Football House, 5 Phipps Close, Deakin. Call 02 5137 3630 or visit thepaediatricpractice.com.au
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services provides a range of supportive programs designed to promote the health and wellbeing of women, children and families. The Healthy Pregnancy Group and Child Birth Education Classes are offered on an as-needs basis. Women interested in attending can contact one of Winnunga’s midwives to request a class. Sessions cover important topics including pregnancy and birthing, substance use, smoking during pregnancy, SIDS, breastfeeding and nutrition. They also provide a welcoming opportunity for pregnant women to connect with others, share experiences and discuss concerns or issues they may be facing. The Women’s Group meets every Wednesday at Winnunga from 12pm to 3pm and is open to women of all ages. The group provides support, education, referral and advocacy, with sessions covering healthy
eating, children’s nutrition, managing depression, physical activity, arts and crafts and outings. Guest speakers regularly provide information on topics including breast screening, housing, Centrelink and funeral planning. Facilitators also work closely with Winnunga’s wider health services, supporting referrals to GPs, nurses, the dental service, No More Boondah tobacco cessation group, midwifery team and Social Health Team. With practical education, connection and support at its heart, the Women’s Group provides a safe and welcoming space for women to learn, connect and access the services they need. Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services 63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah. Call 02 6284 6222 or visit winnunga.org.au
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Strong Mums, Strong Families, Strong Communities – Support for Your Journey at Winnunga Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services is proud to walk beside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during pregnancy and early parenting, offering support through programs designed to empower, educate and connect.
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The Healthy Pregnancy Group and Child Birth Education Classes are run on an as needs basis. If you would like to request a class, please contact Winnunga. The groups cover information on pregnancy and birthing, substance use, smoking during pregnancy, SIDS, breastfeeding and nutrition. The groups also provides an opportunity for pregnant women to meet and talk about any concerns or issues they’re experiencing.
The Women’s Group meets every Wednesday at Winnunga between 12pm and 3pm. The group is open to women of all ages, and provides support, education, referral and advocacy. Women attending the group have benefitted from a range of health and lifestyle education sessions, including:
When: As requested Where: Meet at Winnunga’s reception area Contact: For more information, or to request a class,
Guest speakers also regularly attend the group to discuss topics such as:
please contact us on 6284 6222.
• Healthy eating • Children’s nutrition
• Breast screening • Housing issues
• Managing depression • Physical activity
• Arts and crafts • Outings
• Centrelink issues • Funeral planning
The group facilitators work closely with other services and programs at Winnunga, and regularly refer to GPs, nurses, the Winnunga dentist, No More Boondah tobacco cessation group, the midwifery team, and the Social Health Team.
YOU’RE NOT ALONE – WE’RE HERE FOR YOU & YOUR BUB. Let’s grow strong families — together. Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm Ph: 6284 6222 | www.winnunga.org.au 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah
Mother and Child
You don’t have to choose between work and being there Not every parent is ready to hand their baby over at the daycare gate. For some, the thought of being across town when your little one needs you simply doesn’t sit right and that feeling is worth listening to. BubbaDesk was built for exactly that. It’s a coworking space in Dickson where your baby is cared for in the room next door, not the other side of the city. Keep breastfeeding. Be there in 20 steps when she needs you. And in between, get a quiet desk, a good coffee and a properly productive day. Experienced, qualified carers, most of them mothers themselves, look after your baby while you work, managing sleeps, feeds and nappy changes. If bub needs you, they’ll come and get you. “Going back to work shouldn’t mean choosing between your career and your baby,” says founder Lauren Perrett. “Members tell us it’s the gentlest way
16 CityNews August 27-September 2, 2026
back, a real working day, with their child just down the hall.” BubbaDesk opened at WOTSO Dickson last September: Level 2, 490 Northbourne Avenue, 8.30am–4.30pm weekdays, with hot desks, six private meeting rooms, dark sleep rooms, a kitchen and café, lift access and all-day parking. Children from babies to three years have their own dedicated space, with every carer holding a Working with Children check and first aid training. Book casual days, or take a membership with discounts on six and 12-month commitments — and for self-employed parents, it may be tax deductible. BubbaDesk Canberra Level 2/490 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson. Scan the QR code for 50% off your first visit.
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Fostering a joy in childcare learning Catering for ages six weeks to six years, Denman Village Early Learning Centre owner Lise Percival says their goal is to foster a joy in learning. “We cater our programs to the children’s needs and interests,” she says. “It’s important that the children enjoy and engage with their experience.” Lise says the centre is committed to providing high-quality care and education to all children that is respectful and nurturing. “The program is responsible for the evolving nature of early childhood environments and is supportive of different learning styles,” she says. Recently receiving an “exceeding” mark from the National Quality Standards (NQS), Lise says the centre is proud to go above and beyond for its children. Acknowledging that leaving home for the first time can be a stressful task for parents and children alike, Lise encourages parents to arrange a tour of the facilities. “Once the child has been accepted, I encourage parents to attend orientation sessions with their child to get them used to the environment and talk to the educators,” she says. “We want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable.” With more than 25 years of experience in education, Lise says it’s a joy to see the personal growth in a social and academic sense in each child. “We prepare the children for their next steps,” she says. Denman Village Early Learning Centre 7 Felstead Vista, Denman Prospect. Call 02 6287 3648 or visit denmanvillagechildcare.com.au
Denman Village Early Learning Centre owner Lise Percival.
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Free perinatal mental health support for parents PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia – supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood. PANDA operates Australia’s only National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline for parents, their families, support people and health care providers. What can perinatal mental health challenges look like? Becoming a parent can be a joyful, happy time, but it can also be complicated, confusing and overwhelming. If you are experiencing thoughts or feelings that affect your daily functioning and wellbeing, it’s a good idea to reach out for support. Key signs that you, your partner or loved one could benefit from support: • Constant worry, often focused on your baby’s health, wellbeing and safety • Feeling nervous, on edge, stressed or panicky • Unwanted, scary thoughts (also called intrusive thoughts) • Feeling that things aren’t right and you aren’t yourself • Feeling teary, sad, low, or hopeless • Difficulty with focus, concentration or memory, ‘brain fog’ • Struggling to connect with your baby or loved ones • Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities you usually enjoy • Feeling angry, frustrated or irritable How PANDA can help: • Free National Helpline • Mental health checklist • Information and resources • Real stories, from real people
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HOROSCOPE Your week in the stars By Joanne Madeline Moore
PUZZLES General knowledge crossword No. 1077
August 31-September 6, 2026
Alex's forklift faces tax issues Alex has spent $50,000 on a secondhand forklift to start a new business. He has sent it away for an $80,000 upgrade. "I can’t use the forklift until the upgrade is done, which I expect to be within the next two or three months," Alex said. "I was hoping you could tell me I can claim the $80,000 upgrade against my other income as a repair.” Unfortunately, the upgrade is classed as an initial repair, I told him, and that cost would be added to the $50,000 he had already spent on the forklift, which would then be its total cost for depreciation purposes. "Therefore, we will use $130,000 as the cost of the forklift," I said. "The ATO specifies the effective life for a forklift at 10 years. You may be able to choose a different effective life. But you would have to have a good reason. Personally, I would stick with the ATO’s effective life of 10 years. "When trying to decide if you can claim a tax deduction for expenditure, there is one golden rule: so you can claim a deduction, you must have income. "As you are not expecting any income for at least three months, any items you buy in this period would need to be depreciated. The tax act specifies that to be able to depreciate an item, it must be either being used or ‘installed ready for use’. Clearly the forklift is not yet ready for use.” Alex said there were also a few accessories he would like to buy, such as forks, hooks and buckets. "I am also thinking of buying a vehicle to transport the forklift to the various jobs. I expect the accessories to cost less than $20,000 each and the trailer to cost about $120,000.” I said there was one piece of good news. Finally the government had agreed that any item of plant and equipment purchased by a small business and costing less than $20,000 can immediately be written off. "So, the forks, hooks and buckets should all be written off in full as soon as they are purchased," I said. "The trailer will also have to be depreciated because of its price, and again we will look at the ATO’s table of effective lives to work out the best way of depreciating that trailer for you. "It is probably a good idea to confirm that you have an ABN, a business name and that you know you will need to be registered for GST and will have to lodge a quarterly BAS. "We can talk about that when you are ready to start your business. It does sound exciting and I wish you well." If you need any information on setting up a business, purchasing depreciable assets or tax deductions contact the expert team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd on 02 6295 2844.
Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd 02 6295 2844
Unit 9, 71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston ABN 57 008 653 683
(Chartered accountant, SMSF specialist advisor and Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892)
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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 No. 229892.
Mighty Mars (your boss planet) squares Saturn on Tuesday, so expect some frustrations and setbacks, especially involving relatives and/or housemates. Don’t let other people (especially family members) dent your confidence or diminish your dreams! Your motto for the moment is from birthday great, entertainer Beyoncé (who was born on September 4, 1981): “Your self-worth is determined by you. Don’t depend on someone telling you who you are.”
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TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 21)
Have you got a long list of domestic chores that you’ve been avoiding? With Saturn and Jupiter activating your home zone, tackle the to-do list with extra energy and enthusiasm. But it would be wise to handle a feisty neighbour or family member with a double dose of diplomacy. And don’t fall into the trap of being persuaded to pursue someone else’s agenda. Have the courage, conviction and fortitude to forge your own path and follow your own dreams.
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Hey Twins… prepare for a split-personality kind of week! The Sun and Mercury (your ruling planet) are visiting practical Virgo, stable Saturn trines Jupiter, and Mercury forms a positive link with manic Mars. So, it will be a stop-start kind of week. Slow and steady as she goes one minute, busy and chaotic the next (especially involving family and/or finances). If you’re feeling a bit down in the dumps on Tuesday, don’t worry. It will soon pass.
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CANCER (June 22 – July 23)
Don’t fall into the trap of undervaluing and neglecting your numerous Crab talents. Mighty Mars is visiting your sign until September 28, so it’s time to express yourself in dynamic and daring ways that make your eyes light up and your heart sing. Be inspired by entertainer extraordinaire, Beyoncé (who turns 45 on Friday): “We all have our purpose; we all have our strengths.” Tuesday is terrific for initiating creative projects and local community connections.
LEO (July 24 – Aug 23)
Prepare to sparkle and shine, as Jupiter jumps through your sign (until July 26, 2027). Cat confidence, fiery creativity and generous compassion are highlighted, so make the most of it and do something special as you tackle a personal project or help someone in need. Be inspired by birthday great Freddie Mercury (who was born on September 5, 1946): “You can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.”
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
The Sun and Mercury are both visiting Virgo, so you’re at your energetic, efficient best and your fussy, fastidious worst. On Tuesday, proactive Mars links up with Mercury (your ruler) so it’s a wonderful week to connect, network, negotiate and socialise with like-minded souls within your sphere of influence. At the moment, it’s not what you know but who you know! You could also be approached to contribute your talents to a group, class or club. Calling all Librans! Have you drawn up a wish list of your goals and aspirations for the future? Lucky Jupiter is jumping through your hopes-and-wishes zone (until July 26, 2027). So, start dreaming and drawing up that wish list ASAP. Remember – you can’t hit a target if you haven’t got one! Be inspired by birthday great Beyoncé (who turns 45 on Friday): “My mother taught me the principles of hard work, setting my own goals and visualizing my future.”
Solution next edition
Across
Down
3 To pay out money, is to do what? (8) 7 What describes a puzzling thing? (6) 8 What is a strainer for draining off liquids in cookery? (8) 9 Name the official residence of a sovereign. (6) 10 To be frozen in, is to be what? (8) 11 To go back on one’s word, is to do what? (6) 14 What is an osmotic membrane? (6) 17 Name a small citrus fruit? (8) 18 Which plant is widely cultivated for its showy flowers? (6) 19 To be unharsh, is to be what? (3,5) 20 To have given approval, is to have done what? (6) 21 To be coming to an end, is to be doing what? (8)
1 To be odd, is to be what? (7) 2 To move forward is to do what? (7) 3 To mislead, is to do what? (7) 4 What is a blackberry? (7) 5 What term describes an enclosed fieldwork used as an inner last retreat? (7) 6 Name the rank of a British nobleman. (7) 11 What is a love affair? (7) 12 What might we call a through train? (7) 13 Name another term for charm. (7) 14 Which US labourer works in a pressure chamber? (7) 15 What is a footpath also known as? (7) 16 Name an alternative term for referees. (7)
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LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
Sudoku hard No. 425
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
This week, Jupiter (planet of success) is jumping through your career/life direction zone, plus the Sun and Mercury are visiting your hopes-and-wishes zone. So, stop procrastinating, Scorpio! It’s time to dream big dreams, set ambitious goals, and then work hard to make them come true. Be inspired by birthday and music great, Beyoncé (who was born on September 4, 1981): “As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
It’s a wonderful week for sparky Sagittarians as Jupiter (your ruler) forms a terrific trine with Saturn. It’s a time when good luck meets hard work and opportunity meets preparation. Your special talent for making people feel fabulous – with lively conversation, good humour and generosity – is also emphasised. Your motto for the moment is from music icon Freddie Mercury (born on September 5, 1946): “I love the fact that I can make people happy.”
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
On Tuesday, Saturn (your ruling planet) makes a positive link with prosperity planet Jupiter. So, you’ll find enthusiasm and luck combined with hard work and perseverance will take you far. But you need to be your own cheer squad as you keep on keeping on, with passion and persistence. Your mantra is from inventor and businessman Thomas Edison: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.”
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
Energy and enthusiasm are high but don’t say or do something unintentionally hurtful. Hasty words can upset others, so think before you speak and self-edit along the way. The planets also activate your health and wellbeing zones. So, find time in your busy life to prepare nutritious meals and follow a regular fitness routine. Avoid being a flash-in-the-pan, though! Make sure your noble promises and good intentions can last the distance, so you finish what you begin.
PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
On Tuesday, Jupiter makes a positive link with karmic taskmaster Saturn. You’ll find enthusiasm and luck combined with hard work and persistence will lead to success (especially involving work and finances). So, roll up your sleeves, put your shoulder to the wheel, and get to it! Your motto for the week is from inventor and businessman Thomas Edison: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2026
18 CityNews August 27-September 2, 2026
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Solution next edition
Solutions – August 20 edition Crossword No. 1076
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
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C O L L A R U H E R O H U S B A N D S E T I E R M I N E A T O B D U R A T E E O T E N E T S U R T H U N D E R S A N A R A N E C L E C T I C O L U N C L E S I K E N G I N E E R S X X L O D G E R I I M U T I L A T E L R M D E C E N T
Sudoku medium No. 425
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
INSIDE
Kinn means ‘eat’, it’s hard to choose
WENDY JOHNSON
Second coming for the Gospel According to Paul Jonathan Biggins is back in his celebrated role as Paul Keating and, as he tells arts editor HELEN MUSA, audiences can’t get enough of the ‘retweaked’ second coming of The Gospel According to Paul. The Gospel According to Paul is coming back to Canberra shortly, this time with a brilliant subtitle, The Second Coming. It’s a clear indication there will be a few changes to the smash-hit biographical comedy and political satire about the life, landmark achievements and wit of former Prime Minister Paul Keating. The show’s director, Aarne Neeme, hinted to me in Sydney a week ago that some of the material had been updated, so I phoned creator and actor Jonathan Biggins. If Biggins is to be believed, and he surely is, you’d better book quickly, because the show is packing out venues everywhere. When the new version opened in Penrith, Biggins told me, one woman came up to him afterwards and said: “This is a new show, it feels completely new.” “It’s not,” Biggins assures me, “but there’s a lot of new stuff in it.” That is partly because Paul Keating, the former prime minister at the centre of the show, seems to become more relevant as
people increasingly drift towards populist leaders. It’s arguable that his rigorous approach to leadership is precisely what we need at this time. Biggins has his own theory about Keating’s continuing influence. Perhaps, he suggests, Keating may still have something to do with the political appetite for changes such as cuts to negative gearing. In the theatre world at least, Biggins says, “people just can’t get enough of him,” and especially of Keating’s famous love of verbal sparring. There are certainly changes to the show, with Biggins saying they have taken “things from a different angle”. But at heart, he says, it remains the same show, telling the story of Keating’s life from his birth in 1944 onwards, although it has been “re-tweaked” a little. That re-tweaking is enough to make audiences think they are seeing something completely new, and Biggins has form here. Along with his former Wharf Revue colleagues Phil Scott and Drew Forsythe, he became adept at making small updates to their scripts that somehow made audiences feel they were hearing an entirely new show.
Jonathan Biggins as former Prime Minister Paul Keating in The Gospel According to Paul: The Second Coming… the focus is squarely on what Keating would regard as the lack of quality leadership. Photo: Daniel Boud In this latest edition, the stage Keating casts a critical eye over tax reform, including changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, politicians’ fondness for getting involved in podcasts and, as he considers the rise of Pauline Hanson, which happened immediately after Keating’s days in power, he also reminds us of the “Joh for Canberra” push during the Bjelke-Petersen era. “There are one or two references to America but not much,” Biggins says. The focus, he says,
is more squarely on what Keating would regard as the lack of quality leadership. And that, perhaps, is one of the main points of the show, which argues that the lack of rigorous, substantial leadership is painfully obvious everywhere. Biggins, who is naturally sympathetic to “Mr Keating”, as he likes to call him, is nevertheless prepared to admit that his hero enjoyed the luxury of governing in a time before social media.
The Gospel According to Paul first premiered in 2019 and has since enjoyed seasons all over the country, including no fewer than five in Sydney. “I thought that surely after five seasons people would have had enough of it,” Biggins says. “But it’s selling like hotcakes.” The Gospel According to Paul: The Second Coming, The Playhouse, September 15-20.
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STREAMING
Home may be for the heart, but not the brain here Netflix has become known for its audacious marketing spectacles in recent years, but what it conjured up for its new thriller film might just take the cake. Crowds on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles swarmed a billboard in recent weeks after they realised a person was actually living inside it. Netflix actually built a house into the structure and from below people could peer up into the windows to see a person unable to get out. Cue the flood of phone footage. No surprises it went viral and so did the new film the stunt was concocted for. It’s called The Last House and it follows a family of four who mysteriously get sealed inside their own home. The doors don’t open, the windows don’t break and resources are quickly dwindling. The big question: is something trying to stop them from going out? Or is the danger lurking within? It’s certainly a fun premise for a 100-minute thriller flick. With Past Lives star Greta Lee and recent Oscar nominee Wagner Moura up front and centre, there’s also no shortage of talent on screen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite execute as well as it could have. Cooking up a great concept like this requires a hell of a pay off and, sad to say,
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off on the screen. But that’s not going to stop Warner Bros finding a way. Streaming must leave no stone unturned in giving every possible superhero their own movie or TV show in the name of profit and despite Green Lantern’s track record, he is no exception. How then, does one reinvent it for a modern audience? The Last House and it follows a family of four who Enter the moodily titled mysteriously get sealed inside their own home. Lanterns, a new series on the ending to this one is pretty divisive. HBO Max that tries to flip There’s still enough tension to be wrung the script for the era of subscriptions. out of the experience for those who find This one doesn’t put its main character themselves particularly intrigued by the in emerald tights, but instead a worn premise and its marketing. out corduroy jacket, depicting him as a They may just find themselves grumbly space cop trying to solve a dark frustrated by some dumb writing decisions mystery on earth. though. So essentially a gritty crime drama, but Home is where the heart is but in this with superpowers. case maybe not where the brain is. Truth be told, I don’t hate it. Bloodline star Kyle Chandler plays the lead role of IN the age of superhero supremacy the Green Lantern here (aka Hal Jordan), the DC comics character Green Lantern has wielder of a magic ring that allows him to become somewhat forgotten. create tools and weapons through sheer Perhaps for good reason. willpower. The 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds is widely regarded as one of the worst comic book movies ever. While popular on its glossy, coloured pages, the character has never really taken
He’s not flying through the atmosphere on other planets and fighting tentacled aliens though. In Lanterns, the hero has to use his wits and his powers to crack open a murder case right here, down on Earth. The whole thing’s got a dusty, grimy True Detective feel about it that works surprisingly well. Since Chris Nolan’s incredible Dark Knight trilogy wrapped up and spawned a million attempts at emulation, people complained about superhero adaptations becoming too dark. In response, the style actually shifted. Most of these blockbusters are now brightly coloured quip fests. In an ironic full-circle moment, the gritty, grounded superhero escapade now feels like the exception rather than the rule and, despite Green Lantern being considered one of the lamest heroes out there, perhaps this finally represents a chance for him to become “cool”. The road is laid for this to be a hit. Let’s hope the producers commit to the unique creative choices here, rather than hitting the brakes right at the green light.
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TREASURE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES
MUSA This year is the 20th anniversary of Canberra’s Stellar Company. Formed in 2006 by Jolanta Gallagher, under the name of the Australian Talented Youth Project, it was re-formed during the pandemic and now works across 16 suburbs in Canberra with communities of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Now Sing Australia has invited the Stellars to present a series of dance performances as part of its National Gathering in October, alongside 800 choir members at Sydney Opera House. What a way to celebrate, they’re saying. Donations would be welcome at donorbox.org/support-stellar Canberra writers and literary figures have featured in the shortlist for the 2026 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Journalist and author Tom McIlroy is shortlisted in non-fiction for Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting that Changed a Nation, along with novelist Merlinda Bobis, historian Emily Gallagher and children’s author Sandy Bigna are among ACT writers recognised.
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Well-known Queanbeyan portrait artist Julie Ballis, a long serving member of Portrait Artists Australia, is on the cover of the most recent issue of the Portrait Society of America’s Down Under Newsletter, compiled and written by Janelle Hatherly. Ballis was awarded a NSW Monaro Service Award medal in 2018 for her services to the art community. To celebrate 100 years of the Australasian
The Stellar Company… dancing at the Sydney Opera House in October. Photo: Andrew Sikorski Performing Right Association and 90 years of the National Film and Sound Archive, the two organisations have launched The National Songbook, recognising the songs that have helped shape Australia’s cultural identity. Each year, culturally significant songs will be selected for induction and preservation by a panel of industry experts spanning songwriters, composers, media and academia. The National Library of Australia’s major exhibition Wangka Wakanutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre is now available online at library.gov.au. The self-directed exhibition features illustrated books
created as literacy tools for Papunya schoolchildren, alongside stories, drawings, photographs, manuscripts, ephemera and oral histories exploring first contact, Dreamings, community life, plants and animals. Opera Australia has unveiled its 2027 program. Constantine Costi’s new production of Puccini’s La Bohème and Sir Jonathan Mills’ Eucalyptus, both make their Sydney Opera House debuts, while Scottish Opera brings its steampunk production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Sir David McVicar presents a world premiere staging of Tannhäuser, and Simon Phillips’ Aussie take on Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love returns. citynews.com.au
DINING / Kinn Thai, Civic
Thai food with lots of choices When Kinn Thai moved to its new location on Bunda Street, it expanded in size by a whopping amount. The fitout is funky and the food menu vibrant, delicious and stacked with classic Thai and modern Thai dishes. Kinn means “eat” in Thai and – trust me – it’s hard to choose. Kinn Thai combines table and bench seating. Tip: You may get a cool draft if seated near the front door in winter… we asked to be moved and staff quickly and kindly obliged. Once settled in, it was a question of what dishes to choose? A sensational, seasonal starter was the lobster in betel leaf ($7.50 each). The juicy chunks of sweet lobster on a fragrant betel leaf hit the mark and were enhanced with nashi pear, green mango, fresh mint, fried shallots and a superior green chilli dressing. It was a great start. Another winning dish was the San Chow Bow ($7 each), with the duck finely minced with crunchy water chestnuts and earthy mushrooms, all served in a crunchy lettuce cup. A photo of perfectly placed slices of grilled beef inspired us to order this dish ($35). Sadly, the meal lacked finesse with presentation when served but we couldn’t complain about the tender beef, the veggies stir fried “just so” and a punchy, smoky Nam Jim Jaew dipping sauce. Rich and creamy was the Panang curry, which you can order with chicken ($25), braised beef ($26) or prawns ($29). Our tender chicken absorbed the wonderful flavours of the rich and creamy curry (just enough sauce to coat). The apple eggplant and eggplant remained firm, the chilli added heat and the basil brought to the dish fresh, sweet and savoury notes.
An immaculate translation of Indian flavor Modern Indian Dining Bar & Restaurant Chunks of sweet lobster on a fragrant betel leaf enhanced with nashi pear, green mango, fresh mint, fried shallots and a superior green chilli dressing.
The coconut salad… poached chicken and lobster tail mixed with cashew nut, chilli and a combo of Thai herbs. Photos: Wendy Johnson
Our favourite meal was the coconut salad, a generous serve of poached chicken and lobster tail ($31). The meat and seafood were mixed with cashew nut, chilli and a stunning combo of Thai herbs. It was served in a creamy coconut milk dressing, and we added further intrigue by squirting a wedge of fresh lemon on top. Kinn Thai’s wine menu is tiny, with one sparkling, four whites, four reds and a rose. BYO was therefore the go with us, with a bottle shop just down the way ($5 per person). Kinn Thai is a master of mocktails (non-alcoholic and $13
or $14) and mixes up a decent range of classic cocktails (up to $20). The end of our Kinn Thai experience was disappointing. Even though we still had wine in our glasses, staff told us they were closing just before 2.30pm, and we were rushed out the door. Our reservation was for 1.15pm, and the website promises 90-minute bookings. No such luck for us.
WINE / Finisterre range
Off to the ‘end of the earth’ for this wine Last Christmas Ron Molloy, sales manager at Robert Oatley Wines, gifted me four wines from the company’s Finisterre range. All cost around $40 a bottle, so it was a generous gift: a 2024 grenache, a 2023 chardonnay, a 2021 shiraz and a 2019 cabernet sauvignon. The weekend just gone, we finished the last of the four bottles, the 2019 cabernet sauvignon. It was shared with family at a Sunday night dinner, with my son indicating that he had tried wines from this range previously and had been impressed with their drinkability The Molloy gift is so much better than a lottery ticket, as one friend gave me in the holiday season. That gift resonates with there’s a 99 per cent chance this will be a loser, just like you. In any event, the name Finisterre derives from the Latin finis
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Robert Oatley Finisterre range… the sourcing of grapes is reflective of the care that goes into making this range of wines. terrae, meaning “end of the earth” and, according to the company’s website, is said to be applicable to the wines so labelled because the “constant pursuit of quality finds us amongst the great viticultural regions of Australia, each offering a unique combination of earth and climate, allowing vines to flourish and produce fruit with great balance.” This sounds hyperbolic, but the sourcing of grapes is reflective of the care that goes into making this range of wines. For example, the 2023 chardon-
nay is sourced from grapes “selected from a range of sites across the Margaret River region, from Karridale in the south through to Wilyabrup in the north”. This chardonnay had a hint of butter from some of the grapes being subject to malolactic fermentation, and a finish that gave a peachy flavour, like many styles of chardonnay that are pleasing and “drinkable” as opposed to the style that hits you around the head with butter and oak. Back to the recent dinner: the 2019 cabernet sauvignon was softer than anticipated, with the label indicating that this wine could
have been cellared for 15 years. The grapes were also grown in Margaret River. It was smooth and balanced and went well with the beef dish that was the main course with the tannins, albeit subdued, still doing the job of cutting through the slowcooked beef and Guiness-based sauce. A pleasant wine. The grenache was my least favourite of the wines provided. It was made from grapes grown in McLaren Vale. It was a light wine made to be consumed on a hot day slightly chilled, with very forward fruit flavours, principally raspberry with a floral edge. But the shiraz was very much to my preference. This is a blend of selected parcels of shiraz from the Blewitt Springs, Willunga, and McLaren Flats districts of McLaren Vale. There was a very real brightness to the fruit in this wine, with a refreshing blueberry back palate and a touch of spice in the finish. It was very easy drinking and had some depth although a longer cellaring would only see this wine improve. Four bottles disappeared over seven months, each one worth opening and sharing, drinkability plus. That’s about the highest compliment I can pay a wine.
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Raler EARTHWORKS
A four-year cycle is easy to remember and works well. Crop rotation not only helps the soil, but it also helps the plants to grow better. In many ways, we are companion planting, too, and encouraging good and bad insects to live in the garden. The ecology should work itself out and not need any assistance from spraying. Remembering what was in the vegetable patch last summer is a good start to beginning a crop-rotation routine. There are four main groups that prefer to be grown together and use what is in the soil with little fuss. After planting legumes (peas and beans) , always put in plants that don’t flower, such as brassicas that benefit from, say, nitrogen left in the soil from peas and beans. The other two to remember are all root
crops, such as carrots and onions that follow the brassicas into the soil and, finally, the popular Solanum family – tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. These use lots of energy from the soil to grow fruit and flowers. They should be planted after onions and roots. The final rule is that cucurbits (cucumbers, pumpkins and corn) are unfussy floater crops and can generally be planted anywhere. Adding lots of organic matter to the soil gets vegetables growing and cropping fast. Crop rotation is a terrific solution to get good soil fertility with the least amount of work in the home garden. FLOWERING now is a terrific little plant called sweet box, (Sarcococca confusa). It has dark small glossy leaves and does well as a small hedge in shady areas where every other hedging plant of the box family would struggle. The scented cream flowers are highly fragrant. Slow growing, it lends itself to shaping and clipping to formal shapes or topiaries. After flowering it produces little black berries. Lightly prune a few
times a year to keep it in shape. GROWING hops in our climate is possible due to the number of chill hours that are needed and their uses in the garden are plentiful. Hops (Humulus lupulus) are technically a bine and not a vine. A bine raps its stem around its support and a vine has tendrils or suckers to climb. The support, trellis or arbour necessarily needs to be strong to support the fast growth – an astonishing 30 centimetres a day. The total annual growth is a phenomenal six to nine metres in a season. It makes a terrific annual screen as it grows vertically and horizontally over a frame. Its foliage is fragrant while they are young and keeps its aroma while growing. Different varieties have different aromas from fruit and spicy to lemongrass and pine. Hops have a vigorous root system and growing in pots can be tricky as they need root room to grow. Hops are long lived plants and are said to live up to 25 years if grown in the right spot.
Planting hops at least a metre apart with six hours of full sun will allow the horizontal branches to gain sunlight and provide good airflow. Hops like a rich soil with a pH of about 6-7. Rhizomes are best planted in spring when the soil has warmed up and with their fast growth, they need lots of water to begin with to grow well. In the first year they need to strengthen their roots, so keep them trimmed to about a metre tall. From the second year they will grow to have good root structure to carry future growth. The flowers are called seed cones, or strobiles, and are primarily used to add bitter flavour to beer. Young shoots and leaves are more palatable than older leaves and can be stir fried or used to make soap. Hops are wind pollinated, so if you want flowers then they will pollinate better if planted in groups and not in rows. Prune to the ground in winter when the frost has damaged the foliage and cover thickly with mulch, water and fertilise in spring when there is new growth.
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Sweet box… does well as a small hedge in shady areas. Photos: Jackie Warburton
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Hops… long lived plants and are said to live up to 25 years if grown in the right spot.
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The citrus bud mite… difficult to see by the naked eye, but its damage to flowers and fruit is clearly visible.
The vibrant grevillea Lady ’O’… will flower for many months of the year. Photos: Jackie Warburton
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Citrus care for spring success By Jackie
WARBURTON Citrus trees can be a little fussy to grow in our climate. Through winter their foliage can turn yellow under stress, but it will usually green up again in the warmer months of the year. The most important factors in successfully growing citrus are good drainage, protection from the wind and consistent watering. Citrus can be grown in pots, but they need a little more care than trees planted in the ground. Use a good-quality citrus potting mix with as much organic compost as you can. All citrus will benefit from an addition of manure in the next month or so. Once the soil warms, the nutrients will become available and spring growth will be off to a good start. While most citrus begin their flowering growth early in spring, now is the time to spray for summer pests such as stink bugs, aphids and citrus bud mites. Citrus stink bugs are small and orange when young, turning black as they mature through summer. If disturbed, they spray a caustic chemical that can kill young fruit and new tip growth. It can also burn skin if it comes into contact with it.
Black citrus aphids can cause shoot tips to wilt and leaves to curl. Small infestations are easily controlled by squashing the insects by hand. If the infestation is too great, an organic insecticide can be used. An issue I have seen more recently is citrus bud mite. This mite is difficult to see with the naked eye, but the damage is clearly visible through severe distortion of flowers and fruit. The mites are small, cream in colour and feed on flower buds early in spring. If the buds survive, the resulting fruit is often badly deformed. Citrus bud mites can multiply rapidly in a single season, causing unusual fruit growth and deformity. Fortunately, the fruit is still edible, but the skins should be disposed of in the green bin rather than the home composting system. If there is deformed fruit on the tree, remove it to help prevent mites infecting new flowers and fruit. All of these problems can be controlled by applying eco oil to the bark, leaves and stems of citrus trees every few weeks until the flowers open. FLOWERING now in the garden are the wattles and grevilleas. With careful planning they can provide a brilliant display while attracting bees early in spring, when fruit trees need pollinating. Wattles produce brilliant yellow flowers in time for Wattle Day on the first day of spring (September 1). They contrast beautifully with grevilleas such as Lady “O”, with its vibrant
fire-engine red, spider-like flowers. Given enough protection and the right position, this mediumsized shrub will flower for many months of the year. This shrub grows to about 1.5 metres tall and, once established, is easy to care for. While it is a cross between G. victoriae and G. rhyolitica, it is now one of the best-recognised grevilleas for growing in our region. Like all grevilleas, it needs good drainage. Once established it requires very little care. A light clip after flowering will keep it in shape. Avoid hard pruning; a little, done often, is the key to keeping it compact and flowering well. Yellowing leaves on grevilleas can indicate an iron deficiency. This can be corrected by applying iron chelate or a native fertiliser such as Bush Tucker for Native Plants, sprinkled lightly around the base of the shrub and watered in. jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au
Jottings…
• Add lime to asparagus befo re they emerge in spring. • Continue to pick leafy gree ns in the vegetable patch. • Sow seeds of zucchini, pum pkins and cucumbers. • Remove sticky weed befo re it sets flower.
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