NEWS DESK Power cut THE state government is offering “a new tool” to help users save money on their power bills, following the release of figures showing that nine out of 10 Victorians are paying too much for electricity. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio says the Victorian Energy Compare independent price comparison tool lets Victorians enter data online from their smart meter or power bill to find the best offer. The average Victorian household spends about $2800 on energy bills every year, which represents about 2.3 per cent of the average household income and up to about seven per cent of income for lower income households. Government data shows most Victorians could save hundreds of dollars by switching electricity plans. Ms D’Ambrosio says 90 per cent of Victorians who have compared their offers using the energy comparison tool have found electricity offers that could save them money, with half of the users finding offers that could save them more than $330 a year. Victorian Energy Compare replaces My Power Planner. “It is the only independent comparison tool in the market that has every generally available electricity, gas and solar tariff and lets consumers use their own energy usage to find the deal that can save them most on their bill,” Ms D’Ambrosio said. “Despite the fact that regularly reviewing energy plans is proven to be one of the most effective ways to save on energy bills, one in three Victorians have never switched electricity or gas retailers. Victorian Energy Compare can be found at www.vic. gov.au/victorianenergycompare
The men who remade the news By David Harrisson THE Melbourne Press Club last week commemorated the death of Graham Perkin, one of Australia’s great journalists, 40 years ago. He was vitally alive in that room for the many who worked with him, and for those honouring the legend he has become, an enduring and inextinguishable presence in the annals of Melbourne. Ranald Macdonald, a former managing director of David Syme and Company who now lives at Flinders, appointed Graham Perkin editor and with him revived The Age, making it a newspaper of world renown. He spoke at the commemoration dinner. This is an edited text of his address:
The two of us Graham for nine all-too-short years led The Age from the front, from the middle and from the sides. It is one hell of a job being editor. The pressures are enormous, particularly when you are charged – as Graham, at the age of 36, wanted to be charged – with making the paper the best, the most relevant and the most influential and trusted journal that you can. Graham first identified the best talent from within the company and brought in talent from without. Then he nurtured, encouraged and cajoled to get what he wanted from a terrific group of journalists, photographers and cartoonists. It was a very large team with a captain who, to use a football expression, was the undisputed Brownlow medallist. He was, after
GRAHAM Perkin all, a Walkley Award winner and a terrific writer. [Macdonald returned from Cambridge University in the late 1950s, “flaunting a brand-new degree in law and history”, to learn the family business from the editorial floor to the board room.] Anyone new to the reporters’ room in 1959 could see immediately that the driving force was Graham. He just dominated with his ideas, his encouragement and his leadership. He had the respect of all. When I became managing director my good fortune was that he was still
there. He was appointed editor in 1966 – it was a no-brainer. He became a close friend and partner. Our approach to what needed to be done melded, matured and expanded. For nine stimulating years things happened. The paper grew in impact and in reputation – and not just as the “Spencer Street Soviet”. Then, in 1975 the Graham Perkin era tragically ended. [Perkin died at home of a heart attack early on 16 October.] This evening is about Graham Perkin and his influence on Australian journalism – and the reputation he gave The Age nationally and internationally.
Graham believed that newspapers were, as he put it, “a public trust, as well as a private business”. He introduced the concept of telling readers about what we were doing and who were doing it. He believed in the need for public trust and The Age’s role in representing it in challenging the decision makers, in holding their collective feet to the fire – and in allowing readers to know what was happening and why. Both of us believed that democracy only works if you have a free and questioning media, which provides an early warning system so the community can have its say before decisions are made behind closed doors. Graham’s one-eyed allegiance to the Melbourne Football Club should also be mentioned – he said that having a managing director being equally one-eyed about Collingwood [Macdonald was Magpies’ president for four years in the 1980s] provided him with a steady second income. Melbourne won most encounters in those days, though on the golf course Graham was less successful, as his approach was purely physical – the further the better was his motto. He was great company, had a terrific sense of humour – the Savage Club was his environment rather than the Melbourne Club. Graham filled a significant place in my life with nothing off-limits for debate and discussion – including the perennial theme of how to make The Age a better paper. His name will live on as a symbol for all that was best in Australian journalism – and still can be.
“Come and be surprised”
NEW MIDWEEK CONCESSION AND LATE RATE FROM 3PM NOW AVAILABLE
OFFICIAL HANDICAPS FROM $119
Now with even better green fee rates including Midweek Concession and Late Rate from 3pm plus flexible season pass options, the all new Rosebud Public Golf Course provides more spectacular value than ever before!
Elizabeth Drv, Rosebud VIC 3939
5981 2833
www.rosebudpublic.com.au
1198241-DJ39-15
Dandenong Mowerpower | PH: 03 9791 2600 www.dandenongmowerpower.com.au 4 models All your available
mowing needs
4WD Made in Japan
www.therazorback.com.au PAGE 12
info@dandenongmowerpower.com.au
Southern Peninsula News 20 October 2015
www.walkermowers.com.au