Site Inspection @ The Royal Australian Mint Time: 3:30pm to 5pm
Future Directions Debate – Planners Play God too often When: Thursday 26 February Where: Club Level, Uni Pub, London Circuit Canberra City Time: 6pm to 8pm Proudly sponsored by Zenith Cite and HBO+EMTB
Site Inspection @ Attorney General’s Department Barton When: Wednesday 18 March Time: 3:30pm to 5pm Proudly sponsored by Knight Frank Australia Topic: Property Market Outlook 2009 Guest speakers: Craig James, Chief Equities Economist, Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Kevin Stanley, Regional Director Australia New Zealand, CB Richard Ellis and Cameron Kusher, Senior Research Analyst, RP Data When: Thursday 19 March Time: 12pm to 2pm Venue: Hotel Realm, Barton Proudly sponsored by Commonwealth Bank of Australia For more information on upcoming events, membership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Antoinette Perera on 02 6248 6902 or email Aperera@propertyoz.com.au
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B A R T O N
Sunday 15th March 2009 Commences at 10am till 4pm Free Entry • Fashion Parade at 12pm Two Elegant Venues • Variety of Wedding Packages Garden Ceremonies • Up to 160 Guests Belmore Gardens, Barton ACT 2600 Telephone: Email: conference@brassey.net.au http: //www.brassey.net.au Canberran Owned and Operated
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Division Lunch
Cross benchers flexing muscles THE parliamentary sittings of the past few weeks have really seen the cross benchers flexing muscle to perform their function. Federally and in the ACT, the voters have forced a move from the arrogance and bullying tactics of majority governments to sensible consideration of legislation and proper review by parliaments. The Senate has taken the urgency of the stimulus package seriously. On the one hand, the Greens, and Senators Fielding and Xenophon understood the need for the package and, on the other, the requirement for a fast turnaround of the legislation. Two days of parliamentary enquiry is extraordinarily fast for any parliament, but it did provide time for briefings from the Treasury and greater understanding of the goals of the package. In the wash up, Xenophon was able to extract considerable concessions, including meeting the needs of the people in the Lower Murray. He has only one vote. The power was placed in his hands by Malcolm Turnbull in declaring blanket opposition to the legislation and the other cross benchers considering their concessions adequate. Xenophon’s brinkmanship only delayed the stimulus package an extra day. In the ACT, the Greens have joined with the Liberals to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act. Secrecy has only a very limited place in a State or Territory government for the protection of commercial interests or specific advice to government by public servants. However, these protections really need to be very short lived in the interests of open-
By Michael Moore ness and accountability. The minority government means that all MLAs are now engaged more fully in the process. There is a more active cross bench and a much more active Opposition. The Assembly passed a motion of “serious concern” with a cautionary note from the Leader of the Opposition Zed Seselja: “[Attorney General, Simon] Corbell should pay careful attention to the message the Assembly sent him today: the days of hiding poor performance behind a majority in the Assembly are over”. Such a motion has no real status, but provides groundwork for the possibility of a “no-confidence” motion in a Minister that would force a resignation. This seventh Assembly is still in its infancy, but early indications are that the Greens will ensure that there will be much vigorous debate and a much more robust parliamentary process. The same is true of the Greens, Family First and Independents in the Senate. The first parliamentary sittings of 2009 make it clear that Chief Minister Jon Stanhope cannot simply take the Greens for granted any more than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd can afford to ignore the cross benchers in the Senate. Michael Moore is a former independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and as minister for health.
Hypers
CHIEF Minister Jon Stanhope has urged Canberrans to be alert to the presence of European wasps, with 350 nests reported so far this breeding season. “European wasps can become very aggressive at this time of year,” he said. “Anyone who finds a nest should keep away from it and seek assistance by a qualified pest controller.” Further information was available from the European wasp hotline on 6162 1914. If stung, a cold compression should be applied to the area to help reduce pain and swelling. Medical attention should be sought if breathing becomes difficult or swelling occurs away from the sting.
Scholarship partnership
ACTEWAGL CEO Michael Costello, left, ANU vice chancellor Ian Chubb and ACTEW Corporation managing director Mark Sullivan at the launch of a $2 million partnership with the ANU to help secure the corporations’ future workforce, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and research scholarships. The undergraduate scholarships will be available from Semester 1 and will include a range of undergraduate scholarships focusing on engineering, IT, finance and economics, as well as postgraduate and research scholarships commencing in 2010.
Trust surveys lake
The National Trust of Australia (ACT) is inviting people to participate in a study of the social value of Lake Burley Griffin and its setting with a 30-minute questionnaire on its website at www.nationaltrustact.org.au/survey/. National Trust Heritage Officer Dr Peter Dowling said information from the study would be presented to the relevant planning authorities as evidence of the social value of the lake. Deadline for responses to the survey is Friday, March 6.
Theatre winner
JULES Baggoley is the winner of the Canberra Theatre’s double pass to the year’s theatre season. “CityNews” thanks the hundreds of entrants for their participation.
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AAMI Black Opal Stakes Day. Thoroughbred Park ~ Sunday 8th March 2009
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