Children voice their concern over music education - Sydney Morning Herald

Mahalia Barnes receives a hug from a student at Haberfield Public after singing in the annual Music: Count Us In program. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

It's the fun indie folk song 600,000 children sang in unison across the country at lunchtime with a serious message: get music back into our schools.

At 12.30pm (Eastern Daylight Time), school bands in cities, suburbs and towns struck up and children sang Different People (Stand Together), the song penned by musician Josh Pyke and three high school students for Music Count Us In 2012.

"Different people, different places," the students sang, "stand together, singing with one voice."

Former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett joined students in Canberra, while children at The Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children at North Rocks sang too.

But across the country, fewer than one in 10 public schools has a full-time music program, says David Collins-White, the music co-ordinator at Haberfield Public School in Sydney's inner-west, where The Voice stars Mahalia Barnes and Prinnie Stevens led the kids seated in the asphalt quadrangle in singing.

Collins-White, a former principal tenor with Opera Australia, spent the past four weeks getting his young charges ready for today's national singalong. The hardest part, he says, was getting the kids into the rhythm of a pop song.

Research has shown, however, that children who receive a musical education do better in literacy, numeracy, socialising and creative thinking, he says.

Haberfield Public School is unusual in having a music program for all students, which was also helping prepare students for the Asian century, with a dozen Haberfield students having travelled and performed in China recently.

"We could make a connection with the Chinese immediately," says Collins-White. "Music cuts across language."

Yet 80 per cent of primary schools in NSW have no classroom music at all, says Richard Letts, the executive director of the Music Council of Australia, which runs Music Count Us In every year.

"The people responsible for teaching music are classroom teachers, but they don't receive a music education," says Letts.

He says that in a four-year undergraduate teaching degree, future teachers receive only 17 hours of music training for the entire course. Primary students in affluent areas receive the greatest opportunity to learn.

Singer Prinnie Stevens says when she was in primary school she was a quiet girl. "I couldn't look people in the eye, and music helped me to find my voice," she says.

"Every child in every school in this country deserves to be able to learn music. Kids are so fresh and they love music: they don't over-think it."

Her singing partner from The Voice, Mahalia Barnes, says she was lucky to have grown up in a musical family, being the daughter of Jimmy Barnes. "Music definitely needs to be nurtured from a young age," she says.

Both Barnes and Stevens say that as young mothers — Barnes has a daughter, Ruby, 3, while Stevens has a daughter Sania, 7 — their children are being encouraged to sing, dance and play piano whenever possible.

Folau quits AFL, Eels lie in wait - Sydney Morning Herald

Heading to the Parrramatta Eels ... Israel Folau. Photo: Steve Christo

Star rugby league convert Israel Folau has confirmed he will leave the AFL after two seasons with Greater Western Sydney.

The 23-year-old fronted a Greater Western Sydney news conference on Thursday to announce he was leaving the club.

Folau announced in June, 2010 he was joining the Giants and he played 13 games for them this year in their debut AFL season. He averaged just six possessions and one tackle per game. Playing as a key forward and occasional ruckman, he booted only two goals, and cut a forlorn figure as he struggled to read the game.

Although he had minimal on-field impact, securing Folau was a marketing coup for the AFL and their latest expansion team.

Giants chief executive David Matthews said the club supported the decision. He wished Folau all the best for the future saying he would a “friend of the Giants forever”.

He described Folau’s first season as containing “significant achievements’, saying he was part of the team’s first win against the Gold Coast Suns, and showed his best form in his final game, a loss to North Melbourne in round 23.

Matthews claimed Folau had “showed all the skill and flair required” to make it in the AFL.

He described Folau’s decision as “courageous” and said his club supported that decision. He said Folau was an “exceptionally popular person” at the Giants but the club was “not going to stand in his way.”

Giants coach Kevin Sheedy said Folau was “still not sure if he could be a great player [although] I think he could. We’ll all wonder for eternity”.

Folau said that he thought it was the right time to leave.

"In the end I didn’t quite have the passion there I would have been cheating myself…and the club,” Folau said. “I gave it my best shot the last few years.”

Folau left NRL club the Brisbane Broncos to join the AFL on a four-year deal worth approximately $6 million.

As recently as July, Folau refuted claims he was to switch back to his original sport.

At that time, industry sources confirmed he would take a massive pay cut if he were to cross back to rugby league.

The former Australian rugby league representative is on the verge of joining the Parramatta Eels in the NRL under former NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart.

However, Parramatta have denied signing Folau but admit he is a target now that he is available.

Fairfax Media revealed in April the Eels were Folau's most likely destination if he were to switch back to the NRL. Eels recruitment manager Peter Nolan was the man instrumental in luring Folau from Melbourne Storm to Brisbane Broncos and it appears he has again got his man.

Ken Edwards, the newly appointed chief executive of the Eels football club, denied that a deal was done.

"He is the sort of player and person that we are certainly interested in," he said.

"We could see him fitting into the culture that we are building here and we could see him being a part of the club going forward.

"We would possibly have some salary cap issues in the first year we are yet to discuss with the NRL.

"We would be interested and we would seek to talk to his management."

Folau's brother, John, is already in the Eels system.

It is understood the Eels have made contact with his manager and will be keen to snap him up to bolster their backline after finishing with the NRL wooden spoon in 2012.

Folau first season in AFL football was in 2011 in the second-tier NEAFL competition, and he struggled with roles in defence before Sheedy began playing him up forward. Former Essendon legend Sheedy remained positive that Folau would improve in time, saying it was a "bit unfair" that he was compared to youngsters who had played Australian Rules football all their lives.

One former AFL key forward star backed Folau - in June Dermot Brereton labelled Folau's critics "naive".

The other former rugby league star signed up by the AFL at the beginning of its northern expansion, Karmichael Hunt, has fared much better for the Gold Coast Suns, impressing in his two seasons in the midfield, but he had a more solid grounding in the code as a youngster. Hunt remains committed to playing with the Suns, 34 games into his new career. In March, after Folau's humble debut, Hunt backed the big forward's capacity to succeed in the AFL.

Folau played 90 games in the NRL for Melbourne and Brisbane from 2007-10 before switching codes.

He made history as the youngest player to represent Queensland in rugby league’s State Of Origin and is also the youngest member of the Australian league team.

His return to league will fuel speculation that the Giants could recruit former Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett through the national or pre-season drafts.

GWS have the No.1 picks in the two drafts and, with no Folau, they would have ample room in their salary cap to accommodate Tippett’s hefty asking price.

Adelaide are the subject of a major AFL investigation over draft tampering and salary cap breaches.

The investigation relates to Tippett’s last contract with the Crows, signed in 2009.

The Crows face massive penalties if the AFL rule against them.

Tippett wants to play for Sydney, but the Swans were unable to negotiate a deal with Adelaide during the trade period.

with Will Brodie, Adrian Proszenko, Fairfax Media and AAP

Poll: Has Israel Folau made the right call to quit the AFL?

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86%

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Folau set to quit AFL, Eels lie in wait - Sydney Morning Herald

Heading to the Parrramatta Eels ... Israel Folau. Photo: Steve Christo

High-priced GWS recruit Israel Folau is set to leave the Giants, and the AFL, two years into his revolutionary code-changing adventure.

Folau left NRL club the Brisbane Broncos at the end 2010 to join the AFL on a four-year deal worth approximately $6 million.

The Giants have called a press conference with Folau, coach Kevin Sheedy and CEO David Matthews at 4pm, where it is expected it will be announced that he will be switching codes again.

As recently as July, Folau refuted claims he was to switch back to his original sport.

The former Australian rugby league representative is on the verge of joining the Parramatta Eels in the NRL under former NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart.

However, Parramatta have denied signing Folau but admit he is a target now that he is available.

Fairfax Media revealed in April the Eels were Folau's most likely destination if he were to switch back to the NRL. Eels recruitment manager Peter Nolan was the man instrumental in luring Folau from Melbourne Storm to Brisbane Broncos and it appears he has again got his man.

Ken Edwards, the newly appointed chief executive of the Eels football club, denied that a deal was done.

"He is the sort of player and person that we are certainly interested in," he said.

"We could see him fitting into the culture that we are building here and we could see him being a part of the club going forward.

"We would possibly have some salary cap issues in the first year we are yet to discuss with the NRL.

"We would be interested and we would seek to talk to his management."

Folau's brother, John, is already in the Eels system.

It is understood the Eels have made contact with his manager and will be keen to snap him up to bolster their backline after finishing with the NRL wooden spoon in 2012.

Folau played 13 games this season for GWS, averaging just six possessions and one tackle per game. Playing as a key forward and occasional ruckman with the expansion team, he booted only two goals, and cut a forlorn figure as he struggled to read the game.

He ahd played in 2011 in second-tier NEAFL competition, and struggled with roles in defence before coach Kevin Sheedy began playing him up forward. Former Essendon legend Sheedy remained positive that Folau would improve in time.

The other former rugby league star signed up by the AFL at the beginning of its northern expansion, Karmichael Hunt, has fared much better for the Gold Coast Suns, impressing in his two seasons in the midfield, but he had a more solid grounding in the code as a youngster. Hunt remains committed to playing with the Suns, 34 games into his new career.

Folau played 90 games in the NRL for Melbourne and Brisbane from 2007-10 before switching codes.

He made history as the youngest player to represent Queensland in rugby league’s State Of Origin and is also the youngest member of the Australian league team.

His return to league would also fuel speculation that the Giants could recruit former Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett through the national or pre-season drafts.

GWS have the No.1 picks in the two drafts and, with no Folau, they would have ample room in their salary cap to accommodate Tippett’s hefty asking price.

Adelaide are the subject of a major AFL investigation over draft tampering and salary cap breaches.

The investigation relates to Tippett’s last contract with the Crows, signed in 2009.

The Crows face massive penalties if the AFL rule against them.

Tippett wants to play for Sydney, but the Swans were unable to negotiate a deal with Adelaide during the trade period.

with Adrian Proszenko, Fairfax Media and AAP

Poll: Has Israel Folau made the right call to quit the AFL?

Yes

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Total votes: 2258.

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Vote now: Free agency

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Top of delist: the pick of the league's bargain bin - Sydney Morning Herald

Richmond discard Mitch Morton proved a handy forward option for 2012 premiers and recycling kings the Sydney Swans. Photo: Pat Scala

Which of the AFL's recently delisted players have a genuine chance of being picked up in the national or pre-season drafts? Most have undoubted talent, many have played well or at least been highly-touted at some stage of their careers. Many are "in-between" players – those who are third tall forwards or defenders, or fringe midfielders. Coaches crave versatility but players without set roles are often easiest to jettison. Key position players are thin on the ground among the ranks of the rejected.

There appears to be two likely outcomes for a handful of these unfortunate players: a more permanent role at a lesser performed club, where they can add strength and experience in a number of positions; or a specific role at a strong club in flag contention, where their talents appear to be one of the final pieces of the premiership jigsaw puzzle.

Often it is not pure talent that decides a player's fate, but his body type and skill set, and whether there are clubs with those particular needs. Hence, the following assessment is not based on who is the "best" player, but who is most likely to find a new home.

Reigning premiers Sydney are the league's recycling kings, and the AFL is nothing if not slavish in following the leader. So delisted players should retain some hope.

2012 CAST-OFFS: THE TOP 10 PROSPECTS

Ricky Petterd (Melb) 24, 54 Courageous, high-flying half-forward with a decent engine. Injury-plagued, but if his confidence is restored by a fresh start, he could add an X-factor to a good team's forward line.

Good for: Collingwood. The Magpies forward line could do with another versatile marking option.

Sam Lonergan (Ess) 25, 79 Tough as teak, wholehearted inside midfielder.

Good for: GWS. Protects elite kids from heavy traffic load at the stoppages, fulfilling a role originally earmarked for the delisted Stephen Clifton.

Matt Campbell (NM) 25, 82 Speedy goalsneak who might thrive if given number one small-forward duties, after competing with Lindsay Thomas at North Melbourne.

Good for: Melbourne. With Austin Wonaeamirri and Ricky Petterd departing, and Aaron Davey struggling, the Demons forward line could do with some pace and crumbing nous to complement new talls Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes.

Cruize Garlett (NM) 23, 32 Pacy midfielder with neat skills who is handy around goals. Too many similar types at North; could thrive if given a starting role.

Good for: Melbourne. The Demons are crying out for leg speed and sure ball-handling in their midfield.

Matthew Bate (Melb) 25, 102 Big-bodied, versatile, long-kicking left-footer. Some rough edges, but the still-young ex-Demon will surely still attract suitors keen for strength and experience in the midfield and forward line.

Good for: Western Bulldogs. Could he become a big-bodied tagger in the Cameron Ling mould? If not, they could still do with a robust forward.

Jacob Surjan (PA) 27, 121 Tough, experienced back pocket, once a lynchpin of the Power leadership group. Young enough to make a difference as a small defender if he gets his body right.

Good for: Richmond. The Tigers could do with a cool head able to combat the league's small forwards.

Tom Gillies (Geel) 22, 13 Tall defender cruelled by Geelong's back-half riches. Sought keenly by Hawthorn last year, should still find suitors now despite stagnating in 2012.

Good for: Melbourne. If he comes up, proves a straight swap for ex-Demon defender Jared Rivers, now with Geelong.

Bret Thornton (Carl) 28, 181 Adaptable tall who showed talent when used as a leading third forward, but remains a viable third tall defensive option.

Good for: GWS or St Kilda. In the absence of genuine readymade key defenders, this canny campaigner should appeal to teams lacking big men down back.

Brad Symes (Adel) 27, 80 Versatile mature-age ball magnet who maintained good SANFL form.

Good for: GWS. Young team needing solid citizen for a couple of years, in the Danny Stanley (Gold Coast) mould.

Paul Bower (Carl) 24, 70 Athletic half-back who struggled with injury and confidence problems, but at his best was a rebounding option off half-back.

Good for: Brisbane. The Lions have lost Josh Drummond and could do with rebounding support option for Pearce Hanley and tall defensive option for (former Saints cast-off) Matt Maguire and the green Niall McKeever.

Jonathan Simpkin (Geel) 25, 4 Beefy midfielder who showed enough class in stints at Sydney and Geelong to suggest he would prosper in a weaker midfield.

Jay van Berlo (Fre) 24, 32 Gutsy, committed low-possession utility who fell behind Matt de Boer in the pecking order under new coach Ross Lyon. A potential tagger?

Andrew Collins* (Carl) 23, 11 Smooth-moving, former Tiger lead-up half-forward likely to get a second chance to establish himself at the Blues after two-injury-marred seasons at Visy Park.

Kyle Reimers (Ess) 23, 60 Sporadically dynamic small half-forward, combative and confident.

Cameron Wood (Coll) 25, 48 Former Magpie and Lions back-up ruckman who stagnated at Collingwood in 2012. If given a full-time number one role, might still realise his considerable talents. Good hands, decent kick for goal.

Lucas Cook (Melb) 20, 0 Key position prospect taken with pick 12 in the 2010 draft. He will get looked at for those facts alone, so few key position prospects are there in the market.

Mark Seaby (Syd) 28, 120 Capable ruckman/forward who fell behind in the Sydney pecking order. Young enough to make a contribution, but may again struggle to get the number one ruck berth he needs for regular game time.

Other delisted AFL players, as of 31 October:

Andrew Strijk (WCE) 25, 13

Gerrick Weedon (WCE) 21, 1

Liam Jurrah (Melb) 24, 36

Tom Schneider (Haw) 20, 0 ?

Will Young (Adel) 22, 2

Josh Dyson (BL) 21, 1

Brad Harvey (BL) 20, 0

James Hawksley (BL) 23, 32

Bryce Retzlaff (BL) 21, 11

Sam Sheldon (BL) 23, 43

Cheynee Stiller (BL) 26, 100

Blake Bray (Carl) 20, 0

Mitch Carter (Carl) 21, 0

Nick Heyne (Carl)22, 3

Rohan Kerr (Carl) 20, 0

Matthew Lodge (Carl) 19, 0

Simon Buckley (Coll) 25, 26

Jonathon Ceglar (Coll) 21, 0

Paul Cribbin (Coll) 20, 0

Daniel Farmer (Coll) 20, 0

Shae McNamara (Coll) 27, 0

Luke Rounds (Coll) 21, 6

Lachlan Smith (Coll) 19, 0

Trent Stubbs (Coll) 20, 0

Kirk Ugle (Coll) 20, 3

Brendan Lee (Ess) 25, 2

Anthony Long (Ess) 21, 0

Michael Ross (Ess) 21, 2

Gavin Roberts (Fre) 21, 0

Jordan Wilson-King (Fre) 19, 0

Orren Stephenson (Geel) 30, 8

Piers Flanagan (GC) 20, 3

Sam Iles (GC) 25, 26

Hayden Jolly (GC) 20, 6

Alik Magin (GC) 21, 8

Lewis Moss (GC) 20, 0

Josh Toy (GC) 20, 13

Stephen Clifton (GWS) 25, 5

Rhys Cooyou (GWS) 21, 1

Tim Segrave (GWS) 20, 0

Jarrad Boumann (Haw) 23, 2

Michael Osborne* (Haw) 30, 163

Adam Pattison (Haw) 26, 66

Jamie Bennell (Melb) 22, 57

Jai Sheahan (Melb) 19, 0

Leigh Williams (Melb) 22, 0

Malcolm Lynch (NM) 24, 2

Brad Mangan (NM) 21, 0

Ben McKinley (NM) 25, 48

Ben Speight (NM) 22, 10

Gavin Urquhart (NM) 24, 41

Ben Warren (NM) 23, 29

Mitch Banner (PA) 22, 19

Mitch Curnow (PA) 20, 0

Jarrad Irons (PA) 20, 3

Simon Phillips (PA) 25, 9

Steven Salopek (PA) 27, 121

Daniel Webb (PA) 23, 0

Andrew Browne (Rich) 22, 12

Dean MacDonald (Rich) 20, 0

Addam Maric (Rich) 22, 31

Gibson Turner (Rich) 19, 0

Jeromey Webberley (Rich) 24, 16

Piva Wright (Rich) 19, 0

Warrick Andreoli (StK) 20, 0

Daniel Archer (StK) 21, 1

Raph Clarke (StK) 27, 85

Sam Crocker (StK) 20, 0

Jason Gram (StK) 28, 154

Brett Peake (StK) 29, 118

Dean Polo (StK) 26, 77

Nathan Gordon (Syd) 22, 2

Eugene Kruger (Syd) 21, 0

Jack Lynch (Syd) 19, 0

Dylan McNeil (Syd) 21, 0

Brett Meredith (Syd) 23, 16

Jarred Moore (Syd) 26, 68

Anton Hamp (WCE) 20, 0

Michael Mascoulis (WCE) 19, 0

Ryan Neates (WCE) 21, 0

Callum Papertalk (WCE) 20, 0

Tom Hill (WB) 21, 0

Andrew Hooper (WB) 21, 7

Brodie Moles (WB) 26, 17

James Mulligan (WB) 23, 3

Matt Panos (WB) 21, 0

Justin Sherman (WB) 25, 138

* Collins and Osborne will continue to train with their respective clubs, in the hope of being re-listed in the preseason draft.

Watson 'felt sick' watching Scott's British Open meltdown - Sydney Morning Herald

The five-time British Open champion Tom Watson felt sick for days after witnessing Adam Scott's meltdown on the last four holes of this year's championship, but believes Scott will benefit from the experience.

Watson spoke with the Australian golfing media on Thursday in a conference call from the US, before his first appearance in the Australian Open since 1985.

Watson will take part in this year's event at The Lakes early next month.

The 63-year-old is a gentleman and a statesman in the sport he has graced since the early 1970s.

Not once did he appear frustrated by the background noises emanating from journalists' phones during the call, which variously sounded like an aviary, a children's playground and a basketball game. He simply soldiered on.

He has never played The Lakes, not the old Lakes nor the new one redesigned by Mike Clayton three years ago, but has done a virtual tour of the course on the club's website.

“It's a beautiful golf course," he said. "It's exquisite. I was quite surprised by the shortness of the opening holes … you could probably get off to a good start and shoot some low scores.”

Watson has arranged a practice round with Scott on the Tuesday of tournament week. He will fly in on the Monday evening from South Africa, where he is playing in the senior section of the Sun City Challenge.

“I hope to get a little bit of a scoop from Adam. I'm at a disadvantage because I haven't played The Lakes before. Hopefully going around the world my body will adjust rapidly and I'll be in good shape when the tournament starts on the Thursday,” he said.

His mention of Scott begged the question of his collapse at Royal Lytham when, after leading by four shots with just four holes to play, he bogeyed all four holes to “hand” the Claret Jug to the South African Ernie Els, who shot a four under 68 in the final round.

“I felt sick for several days after watching it. Those types of collapses always stick in your craw as an observer, and that can happen to me.

" How it affects him? You just have to watch and see what he does in the future. It certainly tears you up inside.

“The disappointment is severe. My caddie [the late] Bruce Edwards said after making a double bogey, or triple, 'All right. Carry on. It's over. You can't do a damned thing about it.' You have to learn from your mistake and what you did, and build up the strength from that week. I saw a lot of wonderful swings from Adam Scott, and Ernie Els played a magnificent last round.

“I think it will fortify Adam. In the early part of my career I choked away a bunch of tournaments. Asked about it later in my career, I said, 'I've learnt to win by losing and correcting my errors'. As a result, I think I built a level of confidence in my ability to perform under pressure.”

The great man himself still has nightmares of his missed two-metre putt to win the 2009 Open Championship, and then his loss in a four-hole playoff to fellow American Stewart Cink. “I didn't sleep that night. Whether it was my last opportunity to win [a sixth Open], it probably was. Probably is the operative word. I'm a realist as far as my capabilities,” he said.

Having said that, he certainly doesn't dismiss his chances of contending, maybe winning, a second Australian Open next month to add to the title he won back in 1984 at Royal Melbourne. His appearance, with a few dollars of incentive cash, is, he says, far from ceremonial.

He has shortened his backswing, as many ageing bodies tend to demand, and Watson's father, who always told him to shorten his backswing, would be pleased.

“I've had a couple of injuries this year [restricting his Champion Tour schedule to just six events] but I'm back in good form again.

I've taken dad's advice to heart from when I was a kid to shorten my backswing and [now] I have visions of Peter Thomson's nice compact swing, short of parallel.

“I think I'm worth a few dollars. What are my odds now?” he asked.

Probably shorter if the turf accountants are reading this as they frame their market.

Singapore beating us on tourism: Packer - Sydney Morning Herald

The Crown boss, James Packer, says Australia is not keeping up with countries like Singapore in the race to win over Chinese tourists.

Packer, who wants to build another casino in Sydney, said Singapore was a case study of how a country with a well-mapped-out strategy can transform its tourism infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs by attracting a larger share of the Chinese tourist market.

"Ten years ago in Singapore there were growing concerns about flat tourist numbers and complaints from some tourists that the country had nothing new to offer," he told a tourism and transport forum conference in Canberra.

"In 2004 the government decided to build two of the world's largest integrated resorts with an extremely diverse range of leisure and entertainment activities, including casinos.

"Just two years after the opening of those integrated resorts Singapore is reaping the economic and employment benefits beyond anyone's expectations.

"Singapore received 1.5 million Chinese visitors in 2011, an increase of 34 per cent on 2010 and a 68 per cent increase on 2009, before the integrated resorts [Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa] opened.

"It became imperative to build or lose out to rival countries. Given the success, integrated resorts are now being planned or developed in Vietnam, Korea, Philippines, Japan and in Europe."

Mr Packer said 80 per cent of Chinese travellers going overseas for the first time visited a casino and that they wanted luxury experiences, including high-end shopping.

"Unless we appreciate what the rising Asian middle class want and unless we cater for their desires, we have little hope of taking advantage of the opportunity [of booming Chinese tourist numbers]."

Mr Packer said Australia also had to streamline its visa process for Chinese tourists.

"Let me give you one guess who has the world's best practice in visa processing. Yes, it is Singapore. Currently the average processing time for a visa to Australia is two to five days, compared with a one- to two-day turnaround via an online application to Singapore.

"To make this even harder, Chinese tourists coming here have to download the visa application, complete it in English, and then post it to an Australian consulate with their passport.

"That means they will be without their passport for up to five days. I don't know about you, but the day I put my passport in the hands of any postal service is the same day I will put my credit card details on the internet."

Clash of the codes' giants will divide the city - Sydney Morning Herald

David Pocock and Gary Ablett will play on the same day across town in Canberra next April.

Greater Western Sydney has lauded Canberra's ''great'' leg of the AFL fixture, while describing the clash with an ACT Brumbies game as ''inevitable''.

The final make-up of the fixture was announced yesterday, with Manuka Oval set to host the Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs in rounds five and 15 respectively.

As revealed in The Canberra Times, the Giants will also play St Kilda (round three) and Essendon (NAB Cup, round three) in the ACT next year.

But the Suns game on April 27 is the same day as Brumbies recruit David Pocock's first clash against his old team, the Western Force, at Canberra Stadium.

When the Giants and Canberra Raiders had a similar clash in August, GWS chief executive David Matthews said the major football codes should hold a ''sit down'' to avoid any clashes in the future.

That clearly hasn't happened.

But Matthews said scheduling clashes would always be a problem.

''I think because of the calendar of elite sport that Canberra is now building up, there's inevitably going to be some clashes. It's always preferable for big events to avoid big events,'' he said.

Despite the clash, Matthews said it was a ''really strong'' fixture, allowing the Giants to build on past rivalries, as well as bring a couple of big Victorian clubs to the nation's capital.

Former Essendon coach and current Giants mentor, Kevin Sheedy, will not only test the Manuka lights but his wits against the Bombers' favourite son, James Hird, in the pre-season.

Another big name, St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt, will descend on Canberra in April.

The Giants and Western Bulldogs will again fight it out for the Prime Minister's Cup on July 6.

Originally, the PM's Cup was going to be GWS's first home-and-away game in Canberra each year, which would mean it would be playing the Saints for it in 2013, but it has decided to stay with the Bulldogs - fitting, considering Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the Bulldogs' No. 1 ticket holder. The Bulldogs previously played their home game against the Sydney Swans at Manuka before the birth of GWS.

Matthews was excited the Giants would continue their rivalry against fellow fledgling club Gold Coast in the ACT. GWS brought up its first-ever AFL win against the Suns - by 27 points - here earlier this year, and Matthews wanted to play the Gold Coast in Canberra ''every year for the next 10 years''.

He was tipping the Giants would win a couple of games in the ACT.

''You'd like to win them all, but certainly Gold Coast would be feeling the pressure of coming to play us at Manuka again,'' he said. ''And I think we were very competitive against the Western Bulldogs and, probably in the end, a bit unlucky … and Sheeds would be desperate to get a win against his old side.''

GWS will again start its NAB Cup campaign at Blacktown against the Sydney Swans, with Carlton also playing in the three-way opening round on February 24. And the two Sydney clubs will again kick off their seasons proper with a derby at ANZ Stadium. The Giants will play the Swans, Melbourne, Suns, Port Adelaide and Essendon twice, with premier Sydney the only one of those teams to make the finals in 2012.

'Sham' transaction: Eric Roozendaal received $44000 car, inquiry told - Sydney Morning Herald

Will feature in the first part of the inquiries ... former minister Eric Roozendaal.

Eric Roozendaal collected a $44,000 car without paying a cent and without asking to see any registration papers even though he was the state's roads minister at the time.

The transaction in 2007, which was facilitated by the family of Labor kingpin Eddie Obeid, has become the centre of the opening segment of a five month public inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

In an opening address, counsel assisting the Commission, Geoffrey Watson SC, said the transaction was a "sham" designed to disguise a financial benefit conferred on a cabinet minister.

"Financial benefits like the one here can be provided as an inducement for corrupt conduct," he told the inquiry on Thursday.

Arrium sold off after suitors terminate bid - Sydney Morning Herald

Shares in Arrium have plunged this morning after a foreign consortium claimed it would walk away from its bid to take over the iron ore and steel producer.

Arrium shares was down almost 13 per cent this morning to 68.5 cents.

The stock was fetching 85 cents mid-afternoon on Wednesday shortly after the consortium had lodged it's second, improved takeover offer.

The offer of 88 cents per share was rejected by the Arrium board on the grounds it "significantly" undervalued Arrium.

Independent analysts agreed, suggesting that a price "well above" $1.10 would be needed.

As part of the rejection, Arrium refused to even enter negotiations or due diligence with the consortium.

The refusal to allow due diligence "deeply disappointed" the consortium of Noble and Posco, which declared late yesterday it would no longer seek to engage with Arrium, while also dismissing the notion of a hostile bid direct to shareholders.

Investors seem to be taking the threat seriously this morning, dragging Arrium shares significantly lower.

The stock has not been this low since around the time of the original offer on October 1.

Buying the steelmaker, which changed its name in July from OneSteel to reflect its increasing focus on iron ore, would have given the consortium Asia's third-biggest steelmaker by output, a potential 9 million metric tonnes in annual supply of iron ore as well as access to as much as 13 million tonnes a year of port capacity in South Australia.

"In the absence of the offer, Arrium's share price should trade in line with our target price, which incorporates a discount given its debt position," Deustche Bank analysts Emily Behncke and John Hynd wrote in a research note dated yesterday. "We remain concerned about Arrium's debt position, its exposure to the volatile iron ore price," the Australian dollar exchange rate and likely asset/goodwill writedowns.

Arrium had net debt of $2.14 billion as of June 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

It is "business as usual" for the company after the bid was terminated, Arrium's external spokesman, Tim Duncan, said yesterday. The 88 cents-a-share offer was "highly conditional" and involved "significant transaction risk" as the group needs to hold talks with Arrium's lenders, the company said in an earlier statement yesterday.

Iron ore accounted for more than half of Arrium's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in the financial year ended June 30, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Arrium rejected the initial 75 cents a share bid on October 1. Since then, the steelmaking ingredient has gained 14 per cent to $119 a ton.

"They were probably right to reject both offers particularly the first low-ball one," Gavin Wendt, senior resource analyst at Mine Life in Sydney, said yesterday. "But this does place pressure on the company to deliver what they say they will and the share price is likely to reflect that."

with Bloomberg

Yow Yeh eyeing off NRL comeback in 2013 - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

The pain is there with every step but the fear of never playing rugby league again is finally gone for young Brisbane winger Jharal Yow Yeh.

Seven months after experiencing a sickening leg injury, Yow Yeh at last is able to talk confidently about playing the game he loves dearly.

It's a massive mental step for the 22-year-old who, only a few months ago, found it a struggle just to stand up.

He remembers the demons in his head telling him: "You can't even walk - how the heck are you ever going to run again?"

Well, he is running and his target is a NRL comeback in the early rounds of 2013.

Yow Yeh's private fears and doubts came out of a harrowing five months in hospital with doctors battling a series of complications as they rebuilt his lower right leg with titanium plates and a hardware store full of pins and screws.

As a distraught Yow Yeh lay in agony on a Perth football field back in March, his rugby league career looked as shattered as his lower right leg.

The unedited video of the incident is still difficult to watch.

His foot buckled under the weight of 100kg South Sydney rival Dylan Farrell, bent, then finally snapped, his bone spearing through his skin and blood-soaked sock.

It was the beginning of a hellish ride for the kid who literally had the world at his magical feet after scoring a try on debut for both Queensland and Australia at just 21.

But with the help of Broncos physiotherapist Luke Anning and people like podiatrist Al McCullough, who has designed special boots to help support Yow Yeh's foot, things are at last looking up.

While reluctant to make predictions, Anning said the plan was for Yow Yeh to be doing light field running and training by Christmas.

"Everything is starting to turn around for me. I am running on a treadmill and feeling confident one again," Yow Yeh told AAP.

He doesn't talk much about the days, weeks and months spent confined in hospital undergoing countless operations, skin grafts and fighting off the constant threat of infection.

At one stage, the battle swung from saving his playing career, to saving his foot.

Another time, he was flattened when told he had to undergo an osteotomy, surgery which required cutting the bone and repositioning it with doctors unhappy at how it was setting.

Thankfully those dark days have been replaced by a resolve to prove critics who doubt he'll play again wrong.

The big question is will his injury rob him of some brilliant footwork, blistering speed and aerial athleticism?

Yow Yeh, who has scored 33 tries in 60 games for Brisbane, accepts he probably won't play representative football next year.

He also accepts he might even have to switch positions if he doesn't have the same agility.

"Don't expect the old Jharal when I first come back," he smiles.

"Next year is going to be a real test for me to see where I'm going.

"I probably won't play any representative football, although I'll be busting my bum to make those teams.

"If I can't fit on the wing, I hope Anthony (coach Anthony Griffin) puts me somewhere else because I don't ever want to leave this club.

"I'll play off the bench if I have to. I don't care.

Arrium shares dive after suitors terminate bid - Sydney Morning Herald

Arrium, which rejected a $1.2 billion offer from a Noble Group-led consortium, headed for its biggest decline in six weeks after the bidders decided to drop their takeover attempt.

The stock fell as much as 15 per cent to 67 cents, set for its biggest decline since September 13, and traded at 68 cents, well below the 75 cents a share initial bid. The benchmark stock index was down 0.8 per cent.

The group, having raised its offer by 17 per cent to 88 cents a share, decided to walk away because Arrium's board rejected the second bid and refused to engage, Martin Debelle of Citadel PR, an external spokesman for the consortium, said yesterday. Deutsche Bank cut its recommendation on Arrium to sell from hold and predicted the stock will retreat toward its 12-month price target of 71 cents a share.

Buying the steelmaker, which changed its name in July from OneSteel Ltd. to reflect its increasing focus on iron ore, would have given Noble and Posco, Asia's third-biggest steelmaker by output, a potential 9 million metric tons in annual supply of iron ore as well as access to as much as 13 million tons a year of port capacity in South Australia.

"In the absence of the offer, Arrium's share price should trade in line with our target price, which incorporates a discount given its debt position," Deustche Bank analysts Emily Behncke and John Hynd wrote in a research note dated yesterday. "We remain concerned about Arrium's debt position, its exposure to the volatile iron ore price," the Australian dollar exchange rate and likely asset/goodwill writedowns.

Business as Usual

Sydney-based Arrium had net debt of $2.14 billion as of June 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

It is "business as usual" for the company after the bid was terminated, Arrium's external spokesman, Tim Duncan, said yesterday. The 88 cents-a-share offer was "highly conditional" and involved "significant transaction risk" as the group needs to hold talks with Arrium's lenders, the company said in an earlier statement yesterday.

Iron ore accounted for more than half of Arrium's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in the financial year ended June 30, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Arrium rejected the initial 75 cents a share bid on October 1. Since then, the steelmaking ingredient has gained 14 per cent to $119 a ton.

"They were probably right to reject both offers particularly the first low-ball one," Gavin Wendt, senior resource analyst at Mine Life Pty in Sydney, said yesterday. "But this does place pressure on the company to deliver what they say they will and the share price is likely to reflect that."

BLOOMBERG

Virtual meetings on the rise - Sydney Morning Herald

Experts say virtual meetings are best used where there is an existing relationship. Photo: Tamara Voninski

Ross Dawson has workers collaborating on projects all over the world.

"We have a global team of designers, developers, writers and project managers," says Dawson, chairman of consulting and publishing company Future Exploration Network.

"Being able to communicate effectively with distributed teams is core to what we do."

The workers communicate using voice, video and software which allows them to share documents and see changes in real time from different locations.

Improved communication tools such as video conferencing and document sharing software have contributed to the rise of the virtual meeting and allow business owners and managers to deal with staff, manage projects in several locations, and meet clients without leaving their office. And of course, the old-fashioned telephone still plays a major role.

With a quick return trip from Sydney to Melbourne taking the best part of the day after travel time to and from the airport and costing several hundred dollars, there are considerable efficiencies to be gained from holding virtual meetings.

Dawson says the technology saves him a lot of travel.

"We use a lot of screen sharing so we can see what each other is doing on a desktop, particularly things with design or mock ups, where we can see the work that is being done by other people in a team and work together effectively on it," he says.

The key to effective collaboration on a project by a dispersed team is making sure everyone is fully briefed and is clear on what's involved in the project and what's expected, he says.

But Dawson adds that it is more difficult to build trust and an effective working relationship using virtual communication.

"You do need to build common experience to be able to have a good working relationship, to have a feeling for who they are as a person and know their working style and how to communicate with them effectively in order to work well together," he says.

For this reason Dawson prefers to engage staff based at the company's Sydney headquarters, but it's not always possible.

Dawson says he still travels to see clients, although people are becoming more willing to accept video "as a substitute for face-to-face meetings in terms of getting to know each other and having the trust".

Simon Ross is the CEO and founder of Express Virtual Meetings, a company which facilitates audio and video meetings. He agrees there are occasions when face-to-face are required.

"The face-to-face meeting is important where you don't have a relationship and you want to size up the other party, whether it's their body language, their visual cues, whether they're looking at you – using those visual cues to establish the relationship," he says.

Virtual meetings are best used where there is an existing relationship and the interaction is more routine "and those visual cues are less important than getting on with the work in hand".

A lot of not-for-profit organisations use Express Virtual Meetings' services to hold committee meetings.

"People will dial in from all around Australia, they might be somewhere remote in WA, and they want to do it from the comfort of their own home," he says.

"They don't want to jump on a plane and travel just to talk about a routine committee matter.

"A lot of the time they can share the documents over our web conferencing application. They can actually edit the documents in real time. It might be a budget discussion, so you can have your spreadsheet up on everyone's computer, making the changes and those changes are seen in real time."

Ross says the market for virtual meetings is growing at about 10 per cent a year and despite the increased capabilities of video conferencing, audio conferencing remains by far the most popular, because a lot of people would prefer not to be seen.

Jamie Therous, managing director of ASX-listed Corporate Travel Management, says the company uses video conferencing for routine internal meetings, but on other occasions there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings.

One example is for winning customers. "To win business you've got to be travelling, you don't want to try and win a customer over a video conference, that's a bit impersonal," he says.

"It's a competitive landscape and in most cases, to win big business, particularly overseas, you're building a relationship and I challenge anyone to build a relationship over video."

The other reason for face-to-face meetings is staff management. "Great businesses are about having a cohesive team. It's important to have face-to-face meetings so you can really interact and reinforce key messages with your team," Therous says.

Survival of the hippest - Sydney Morning Herald

All part of the trend ... hip restaurants and bars provided rescue from the retail downturn. Photo: Ben Rushton

CLOSE to 15 years ago, the people of Newtown achieved the unthinkable - they ran Ronald McDonald out of town.

After pressure from residents who wanted food with more organic and natural qualities, the fast food giant was forced to retreat, one of the first McDonald's to close. This classic case of inner-west nimbyism turned King Street in Newtown into the booming high street of today.

And the figures tell it all. According to the latest data from CBRE real estate agents and researchers, vacancy in King Street stands at just under 6 per cent, which is the lowest of all the prime strips in Sydney.

Royal strip flush with eating and entertainment options ... King Street, Newtown. Photo: Ben Rushton

And the reason is simple: food and alcohol. Darling Street in Balmain, Young Street in Neutral Bay, Harris Street in Pyrmont and the Falcon Street/Pacific Highway end of Crows Nest are all part of the trend which has provided rescue from the retail downturn which has denuded Oxford Street, Paddington, and Double Bay.

CBRE vacancy rates show Oxford Street is at 15.04 per cent, up from 7.84 per cent 12 months ago. Double Bay is on 12.5 per cent, up from 7.47 per cent.

Real estate agents say it is the ''Melbournisation of Sydney'', with small bars, pubs and coffee shops taking over from fashion.

New bars, new restaurants, renewed buzz ... Darling Street, Balmain. Photo: Steven Siewert

Megan Lowder, senior manager of retail services at CBRE, said while fashion-based precincts have been hit, food-based strips have been relatively resilient to the change in retail spending.

"It is likely consumers will maintain a cautious attitude in terms of discretionary spending on fashion for the remainder of the year,'' she said. ''However, they appear to be happy spending on restaurants, cafes and bars."

The relaxation of development regulations over the years has also led to an explosion of high-density living along the more popular strips.

No longer known for the casino and little else ... Harris Street, Pyrmont. Photo: Marco Del Grande

With the new apartments have come people who want a vibrant community.

Open the small bars, vamp up the pubs and offer high-quality cafes, restaurants and providores, and voila, a tired locale is transformed into a must-go zone.

Maxx Mancuso, from Laing & Simmons, attributes the strips that are working to the influx of residents.

''The growth of areas such as Pyrmont has seen a two-fold influence on Harris Street and a flow to Balmain,'' he said.

The managing director of City Commercial, Warren Duncan, said the same applied to Potts Point, where old hotels and offices have been converted to upmarket apartments. The residents want equally high-quality food and pubs and services.

The same recipe has been applied to the other contenders, as ajudged by the criteria of low vacancy, solid rents for landlords, high foot traffic, diverse offerings and high-density residential.

In the late 1970s, when Clem and Despina Tsakalides closed their King Street chicken shop at 6 o'clock every night, planks of wood were nailed across the windows to stop pub patrons smashing them on their way home.

It's a far cry from today, when the shop serves lattes at 11.30pm to people wearing suits and Elvis costumes alike, on their way home.

Such has been the evolution of the area.

Peter and Spiros, sons of Clem and Despina, who now run the business, say their first memories are of the flat they lived in above the shop. They remember being allowed to play in the street after closing, ''when all the people had gone''.

''By the mid-1980s King Street started to change. While dad still boarded up the windows of the shop each night, we noticed there was less crime and more families in the neighbourhood,'' Peter says.

''But between 2000 and 2010, the redevelopment of pubs and new apartments led to the biggest changes. Now its one of the more expensive streets for rent in the inner west.''

Spiros is quick to agree, saying he knows when he is approaching home when he sees a woman in a fairy costume eating a chicken roll at 11 at night in the shop and Elvis is standing over the road at the pub.

''The evolution of the street has been great to watch, spurred on by the redevelopment of the pubs and restaurants in the area,'' Spiros said.

Royal strip flush with eating and entertainment options

In the past two months, more pubs have changed hands and opened along the street than in any time during its past.

While it has always been populated by students and workers from the adjoining industrial suburbs of Waterloo and Alexandria, the new owners of the Marlborough, Bank and Newtown hotels are keen to take the pubs to a new level of food, beverage and entertainment offerings.

But the demograhics of the suburb dictates that other businesses such as small boutiques, nail shops and hairdressers remain well represented. The conversion of industrial warehouses into apartments has also brought new patrons to the district, all of whom demand another level of offerings.

No longer known for the casino and little else

Having been known more as the home to the Star casino and not much else for many years, this strip has been brought back to life thanks to high density apartments and the influx of new businesses that are not related to the casino.

The area also been dubbed the media centre of Sydney with Google, Fairfax Media and the ABC, Seven and Ten networks all stationed in the area.

With the new tenants all keen to eat and drink, more pubs, small bars and upmarket eateries have opened to make it a vibrant high street.

New bars, new restaurants, renewed buzz

Although this street has been busy for many years, the revamping of the Unity Hall Hotel with the new Workers Bar and the appearance of many other new bars and restaurants have given it a fresh lease of life.

The redevelopment of surrounding suburbs such as Pyrmont has brought a new wave of visitors who want good food and entertainment.

The senior manager, retail services, at CBRE, Megan Lowder, says prime strips that have a higher proportion of cafes and restaurants, such as Darling Street, are faring better than those predominantly comprised of fashion retailers.

Tom Watson says broomstick putter not golf - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

American great Tom Watson claims using a broomstick putter is just not golf and does give players an advantage.

Golf's rule makers are poised to outlaw the use of long putters at the end of the year, though any ban would unlikely come into effect before 2016.

While the broomsticks have been around a long time, they have become increasingly prominent on the main tours in recent years with many leading players, including Australia's Adam Scott, making the switch with good effect.

Three of the past five major championship winners have used a long putter and calls are growing louder and louder for broomstick and belly putters to be banned.

Eight-times major champion Watson, heading to Sydney next month for the Australian Open at the Lakes course, has battled his own putting demons for much of his career but has never really been tempted to ditch the traditional blade.

"I think what they're going to do - and it's kind of common knowledge - the US GA and the R & A are going to ban the anchoring of the putter on any part of the body," said Watson in a teleconference with Australian golf writers on Thursday.

"I've never felt the broomstick putter was a stroke of golf.

"I may be in the minority, but one of the things that you see in teaching golf here in America, a lot of kids are being taught to use the long putter and I think it probably gives you an advantage.

He added: "It's helped a lot of people."

"I tried it once. I hit three putts with it from about 40 feet.

"I left my first putt 20 feet short; I hit it fat. I knocked my next putt about 15 feet by and finally hit my third putt kind of the right distance.

"So that's the extent of my practice with the broomstick.

"There are definite advantages with it because you take it back and basically the pendulum, the weight of the putter, will carry it through the impact area.

"There's really no chance to jerk it too much if you keep pretty still."

Supporters, though, including reigning US Open champion Webb Simpson, argue that technological advancements in drivers have had far more impact on the game.

Sydney to host all-star corruption hearing - ABC Online

By court reporter Jamelle Wells and staff

Updated November 01, 2012 09:11:10

A major corruption hearing involving former New South Wales Labor ministers and premiers begins in Sydney today.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations against former ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian MacDonald, as well as former treasurer Eric Roozendaal, who is still an MP.

It will first investigate allegations Mr Obeid's family gave a car to Mr Roozendaal while he was roads minister in 2007.

ICAC will also look at the purchase of land in Bylong Valley by Mr Obeid's family before Mr MacDonald granted coal exploration rights when he was mining minister.

The hearing will also look at how four Hunter Valley mining licences were issued.

Former premiers Kristina Keneally, Morris Iemma, and Nathan Rees will give evidence.

The hearing is expected to run for several months.

Meanwhile the State's Greens will refer Liberal backbencher Scot Macdonald to the independent corruption watchdog over claims he received gifts from a coal seam gas company.

Jeremy Buckingham says the disclosure of pecuniary interests shows Mr Macdonald was given flights and accommodation from CSG company Santos.

He says the MP accepted the gifts while he was serving on an inquiry into the safety of coal seam gas.

"He was flown to Tasmania, he attended a conference where he was boosting for the coal seam gas industry while he was having his trip paid for by them," he said

"We think that's outrageous, we think it's a breach of the code of conduct, we think the stink that emanated from the former Labor government when it came to mining and gas is now infecting the O'Farrell Government."

The State Government has declined to comment on the allegations.

Topics: political-parties, government-and-politics, corruption, law-crime-and-justice, state-parliament, states-and-territories, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted November 01, 2012 08:42:43

Doctors shun Defence's new insurer - Sydney Morning Herald

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Doctors baulk at defence health plan

Defence healthcare in Australia is shrouded in doubt because doctors are shying away from a newly privatised health scheme. Reporter David Wroe discusses the problem.

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A DOCTORS revolt threatens to cripple military healthcare, with just one in 10 specialists so far signing on to a newly privatised medical scheme for the Defence Force.

Under changes set to be finalised on Monday, all Defence personnel being treated in Australia, including soldiers wounded in Afghanistan, will be handled by Medibank Health Solutions, an offshoot of the government-owned health insurer Medibank Private.

But the $1.3 billion contract to outsource treatment has sparked a backlash from many doctors who say the fees being offered by Medibank are too low.

They also say the changes compromise the professional relationships between GPs and specialists. Under the changes, military doctors who presently refer patients to specialists through their own trusted networks will instead make referrals through a Medibank call centre to ''preferred providers'' signed on with the health fund.

The Australian Medical Association and the federal opposition warn that military personnel might have difficulties accessing good-quality specialists because of the low take-up of the contracts.

The country's largest operator of private hospitals, Ramsay Health Care, was yesterday still negotiating with Medibank. Industry sources told Fairfax that Ramsay had significant concerns with the terms being offered.

Many doctors say the fees being offered are up to 50 per cent less than what they now charge.

Early results from an online survey by the AMA indicate fewer than one in 10 specialists now treating defence personnel will continue to do so.

Stephen Milgate of the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons said experienced and well-established specialists ''are walking away from the contract''.

Orthopedic surgeon Stephen Doig on Friday operated on what he said would be his last Defence Force patient, having spent 21 years helping injured air force personnel in Victoria.

''I've always worked for the army because I enjoy it,'' Dr Doig said. ''But the whole arrangement of this is totally wrong.''

Chris Scott, director of hand surgery at Liverpool Hospital, the nearest public hospital to Sydney's Holsworthy Barracks, wrote in a blog postthat the fees were too low. Dr Scott, who also has a private practice, wrote that it was ''unlikely that I will attempt to retain Defence personnel in my practice''.

Medibank executive Andrew Wilson rejected suggestions there would be clinical interference under the new arrangements and stressed the call centre would relieve administrative burdens.

''I don't think people have really understood what has been put in place,'' Dr Wilson said. ''This is not a change that will lead to any interference in clinical care.

He said 2500 specialists had so far signed on with Medibank, as had 3000 allied health professionals and 112 hospitals. More were expected. Australia has about 25,000 specialists.

Some areas such as the ACT, where more than 5000 defence personnel are based, face serious shortfalls, doctors say.

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Handbag Hit Squad hypocrisy damages merit-based success - Sydney Morning Herald

'It is all too easy to ignore the facts when playing the 'woman' card.'

IMPLAUSIBLE though it may sound, there is another ''women's issue'' just as hypocritical and unsubstantiated by fact as the current campaign by Labor's ''Handbag Hit Squad'' against Opposition Leader Tony Abbott - the campaign by Australia's ''literary ladies'' over alleged gender discrimination in the world of words.

Last week Monica Dux bemoaned women being written out of the literary world in journals, magazines, newspapers and awards, and identified a current ''gender fury'' in public life. Nikki Gemmell melded these issues beautifully in her column in The Weekend Australian Magazine last weekend, echoing assertions that women's voices are marginalised or ignored in publications, and professing Mr Abbott is not a ''decorous gentlemen'', a disingenuous way of repeating allegations by senior Labor women that the Opposition Leader is sexist. However, none of these claims withstand scrutiny.

Politically, the facts are that Mr Abbott does extensive charitable work for women in need, employs a female chief of staff in what is the most senior Coalition staff position in Australia and has a strong record of employing women in senior roles. This is not the behaviour of one who is sexist. The refusal of the Handbag Hit Squad to dismiss, or support the removal of, the Speaker of the House of Representatives for his offensive and bizarre remarks about women and their anatomy summarises their hypocrisy.

Similarly, attacks on the Miles Franklin Award for Australian literature are tenuous. The award began in 1957 when comparatively few female authors were achieving publication yet the well-worn narrative is that women have only won the award 14 times and thus the prize is prejudiced against women. This ignores the merit-based nature of the award, and the troubling portrayal of female characters presented by the majority of male and female winning authors over the past decade or so goes virtually unremarked.

But, of course, it is all too easy to ignore the facts when playing the ''woman'' card, for the facts so often present an inconvenient truth.

There is a growing body of evidence, anecdotal though some of it may be, from the literary sphere and closely related theatrical sphere that suggests women bear a large degree of responsibility for their alleged, and statistically questionable, under-representation in both fields.

Australia's senior literary editors, including The Age's Jason Steger and The Sydney Morning Herald's Susan Wyndham, have publicly stated that women are less likely to pitch for work in Australia's journal and broadsheet literary pages.

The Australia Council's Do you really expect to get paid?, an economic study of professional artists in Australia by David Throsby and Anita Zednik, found that while about 50 per cent of male and female artists (from all artistic fields including writers) both had children in their care during their career, 81 per cent of women felt this had restricted their work compared with just 48 per cent of men.

In the closely related realm of theatre, the Australia Council's Women in Theatre report lamented women's under-representation in playwright and directing roles. The report claimed that those responsible for selecting playwrights and directors were perpetuating a male-friendly ''feudal system of patronage'' that is ''protectionist'' and ''elitist''.

Meanwhile, in the very same report, women professed a lack of confidence, a lack of assertiveness and discomfort in informal networking and self-promotion necessary to pitch their work and suitability for these jobs. Furthermore, Women in Theatre found women are much more likely to have a ''flexible'' career path, work part-time, and support their partner's career over their own.

If women are not applying or pitching for work, are failing to promote themselves, and are assuming more responsibility for their domestic life than their partner with the resultant predictable career ramifications, claims of industry sexism and prejudice are tenuous indeed.

What is troubling about these debates is the impact they must be having on young women. The establishment of the women-only Stella Prize for literature and the behaviour of Labor's Handbag Hit Squad communicate clear messages that women still cannot compete on an intellectual basis with men.

The literary implication is that women need their own special award to be recognised for they are incapable of merit-based, mixed-sex competition. The political implication is that women are incapable of defending themselves on a policy basis and so must resort to personal attacks for political gain.

It also sends a message that where it suits their purposes they will not take action against those who denigrate women or stereotype them.

Undoubtedly, the last vestiges of a once-patriarchal society still influence the lives of Australian women, but Handbag Hit Squad-style hypocrisy will not change this and, in fact, can only damage the plight of women who believe in merit-based success built on hard work and ability, not quotas or affirmative action, to succeed.

Nicolle Flint is a PhD student at Flinders University.

More roads will just lead us nowhere - The Age

Illustration: Edd Aragon

"I am not the only urbanist in the room," Tim Williams, the chief executive of the Committee for Sydney, said last week. It was true. Place was full of them. Urbanism is positively the new black. But he wasn't the only Tim Williams in the room, either.

The other Tim Williams is an urbanist at the opposite end of the hierarchy. The creator of Super Sydney, trailblazer project for this year's Sydney Architecture Festival, he has an ear to the sunburnt ground, listening for the voices of the people.

Consultation, if you believe the hype, is this government's middle name. But which is more likely to produce the kind of city we want, top-down, or bottom-up?

And which is the government's $10 billion WestConnex road project? It appears populist but, as a moment young people are choosing to drive less and live denser, is it?

Will WestConnex (despite its horrible name) save NSW's ailing economy, as its proponents testily insist? Or is it, in the words of transport elder Ron Christie, "back to the 1950s … a real LA-type solution"?

It happened that, on the tram en route to that Meeting of the Tims, I met an elderly couple from Vancouver. They sought somewhere ''interesting'' for their last half-day in Sydney. Darling Harbour? I suggested. Pyrmont? Barangaroo?

As I sketched the background they were dismayed by how far and how recently Sydney has cleansed itself of industry.

"In Vancouver," they said, "we're trying to keep this stuff in the city so that people, and freight, don't need to travel so far."

In Sydney, I was ashamed to realise, just voicing such ideas still brands you as a boat-rocking leftie. How did our urban debate become so polarised? Can anyone still think that environment and economy are foes, instead of short-term and long-term views of the same thing?

The Committee for Sydney reincarnates Rod McGeoch's 1997 creature of the same name. Remember that lobby group for those least in need, the rich and powerful? I thought it had finally vanished from lack of interest but apparently not, for the new committee gleams stiffly like a Thatcher hairdo, stiff with the same old power-myopia.

It's very open. Anyone can join, for a mere ten grand (plus GST). And anyone can speak, as long as they're CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation.

The committee, whose board includes Sally Loane (now spin-meister for those well known philanthropic urbanists Coca-Cola Amatil) and former Howard hatchet-man Max Moore-Wilton, proudly spruiks such membership benefits as the "opportunity to meet … key decision makers", "access to leaders in private, public and not-for profit sectors" and the capacity to "influence key policies''. (Does saying something three times in different words mean it's hyper-important?)

It has not been idle. Last month alone the committee hosted five events: a briefing with the Network Rail CEO, David Higgins, lunch with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, drinks for the London & Partners CEO Gordon Innes, drinks for Asian Cup Football CEO Michael Brown, and lunch with Landcom CEO John Brogden.

Whew. Talk about big issues. Just keeping track of which friend is CEO of what, this week, would fill those little gaps between your investment decisions all by itself.

The committee also blogs, with posts like ''CFS congratulates Business Events Sydney'' or ''CFS commends Planning Minister''. Surprisingly, there are no comments. (Well, there's one, in six months, a spirited discussion on intermodal freight interchange by the smart and indefatigable social activist Lynda Newnam. But she's no CEO, and there's no response).

As to policy, it's a bit thin. On transport, Sydney's bleeping-red issue, Tim #1 concedes that "the car … is now seen as a liability." Yet he insists that WestConnex is "an inevitability," not worth discussing. A $10 billion inevitability.

So that's city-planning orthodoxy; top-down stuff, forbiddingly abstract. Super Sydney inverts and subverts this model. Tim Williams #2, having lived and worked in Paris, developed it from a couple of Parisian projects - Sarkozy's 2009 Grand Paris, and the current, 196-council Paris Metropole.

Compared with Paris's 196 councils, Sydney's 42 seems modest. Still, over several months, interviewers headed to each of them, filming 12 conversations with 12 people about what people wanted for their city. The full, 504-video collection is available on the website.

My favourite so far is Ben from Marrickville, who says, somewhat bashfully: "I'd like to see public treehouses … really big ones, and you can, like rent it for a couple of hours and go up there … ''

Beauty's quite big, parks and fountains. (Locals love Blacktown and Mount Druitt, in particular, for their visual charms). Diversity, community, arts, friendliness and safety all figure highly. I haven't heard any calls for roads, although I believe there are some. But the overwhelming consensus is a clarion call for transport.

On this, vox pop accords with every visiting urbanist this year (and there have been a few). London School of Economics Professor Ricky Burdett, New York City chief urban designer Alex Washburn, and the deputy mayor of Paris, Pierre Mansat (in launching Super Sydney last week); each, unprompted, offered the same insight. Sydney desperately needs public transport.

So why this massive road project?

Infrastructure NSW argues thus: "Sydney's road network serves 93 per cent of passenger journeys, and most growth in transport demand over the next 20 years will be met by roads."

Especially, of course, if you keep building more roads.

This is the essence of conservative thinking. It's why top-down produces business as usual, because that's what feeds it.

But in fact we don't need more roads: if anything we should convert Parramatta Road to full-on public transport. As a former Federal Court judge, Murray Wilcox, AO, QC, argues, this project demands we ask, "who benefits?"

"If it's commuters," he said, "wouldn't they benefit more from public transport? If not commuters, then why do it at all?"

An answer is provided by EcoTransit's satirical WasteConnex vid, available on YouTube.

"WasteConnex," croons the voice over, "is the highest priority project … sucking $10 billion out of public transport and freight rail projects and delivering it to construction, consulting, and finance."

That's your "inevitable." Frankly, I'd prefer public tree houses.

2013 fixture: club by club analysis - Sydney Morning Herald

2013 AFL fixture in full

ADELAIDE

Connolly says: Crows have clearly done the best of the top-order teams, seventh best draw on Age formula, play three of last year’s top eight twice but none of the other top four teams.

BRISBANE

Connolly says: Improving Lions could be one to watch with the AFL’s fourth-best draw, a lot easier than this year, with return clashes against GWS, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

CARLTON

Connolly says: Blues have done well in commercial terms with 11 Friday or Saturday night games, and OK on football front with road trips all well spread. Tough run at start though.

COLLINGWOOD

Connolly says: Pies had toughest draw of 2012, and only fractionally easier this time. Play the grand finalists twice each, and have two lots of consecutive six-day breaks to tackle.

ESSENDON

Connolly says: Bombers have done pretty well for a team in the eight most of year, this draw ranked sixth best. Only meet two finalists twice and get a return clash against GWS.

FREMANTLE

Connolly says: Dockers had much easier draw this year, but improved performances lead to tougher handicaps. Decent run home, though, if Freo can hang in there. WA derby to start.

GEELONG

Connolly says: Preparation the big issue for the Cats, the only side to have a triple-header of six-day breaks, and back-to-back later on. First game at Simonds not till round 10, either.

GOLD COAST

Connolly says: Slightly easier run at it for Suns next year, don’t play any of the 2012 finalists twice and four of the bottom six twice.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Connolly says: AFL fledgling gets a good deal, though two clashes with local rival Sydney makes for tougher draw than Suns. Won’t play at Skoda home until round seven.

HAWTHORN

Connolly says: Hawks have clearly the toughest deal. Play every other member of 2012 top eight in first seven games, and all five return clashes against top eight teams.

MELBOURNE

Connolly says: Statistically the best draw in the competition. Demons play only one top eight team twice, only once in Perth and get to face both Gold Coast and GWS twice each.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Connolly says: Has copped a very tough whack. Roos face three of the top four twice, have two trips to Perth, more six-day breaks than anyone and a very challenging start to the season.

PORT ADELAIDE

Connolly says: Power has done very well. Plays only two finalists twice, has return games against GWS and Gold Coast, and no consecutive road trips. Might need the help, though.

RICHMOND

Connolly says: Middle-of-the-road draw for Tigers, the upside only one return bout with a finalist from this year, the down to trips to Perth. Nice finish with four of last five at MCG.

ST KILDA

Connolly says: Probably toughest draw of this year’s non-finalists, though decent start. Plays seven games outside Victoria, including New Zealand, and has consecutive six-day break.

SYDNEY

Connolly says: Has got off pretty lightly for a reigning premier. Swans get benefit of two GWS clashes and nice start to season, though finish is pretty challenging.

WEST COAST

Connolly says: Second toughish draw in a row with two lots of consecutive six-day breaks and travel factor always adding to task. Four of first six games at home some consolation.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Connolly says: Dogs haven’t been afforded much largesse for poor performer, several better-placed rivals with better draws. Easily toughest run of 2012 bottom four teams.

How casino dodged tender trap - Sydney Morning Herald

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How the rules were changed

The NSW government relaxed its own rules on unsolicited projects just weeks before James Packer bid for a casino licence at Barangaroo in Sydney.

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• Click here to read the original December 2006 Working with Government Guidelines. See page 18 (2.4) and page 26 (3.3)

• Click here to read the new August 2012 Public Private Partnerships Guidelines. See page 9 (3.6)
  

STRICT guidelines for determining when private proposals to the NSW government can bypass a competitive tender process were watered down shortly before James Packer put forward his plan for a $1 billion hotel and casino at Barangaroo.

It can be revealed that a requirement for ''independent evaluations'' of a project to justify not going to tender were removed two weeks before the proposal by Mr Packer's Crown Ltd was formally lodged with the state government on September 6.

Well connected ... James Packer. Photo: Andrew Meares

The change was made on August 17, a week after the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, met Mr Packer to discuss his proposal.

The revelation will place more pressure on Mr O'Farrell to justify not putting to tender a possible second Sydney casino licence being pursued by Mr Packer, which could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to NSW.

Mr O'Farrell announced last week that Mr Packer's six-star hotel and casino project for Barangaroo had received cabinet approval to proceed to stage two of a three-stage ''unsolicited proposals'' assessment process.

Mr Packer wants to include VIP-only gambling rooms in his proposed six-star hotel to make the project profitable and needs the government to issue a second Sydney casino licence when the monopoly licence held by the Star casino expires in 2019.

Mr O'Farrell defended the decision to deal directly with Mr Packer and not put the casino licence to tender by arguing that Crown was uniquely placed to deliver the project. ''If this proceeds, the second gaming facility will be here through Crown at Barangaroo,'' he said.

But documents show that in August the government altered its policy to remove the requirement for independent evaluation as to whether a project should be allowed to avoid a tender process.

The NSW government's Working With Government guidelines, in place since 2006, state any requests to bypass a competitive tender process must be approved by the budget committee of cabinet.

They say when a direct negotiation is being proposed, ''the reasons for, and net benefits of, not undertaking a competitive tender process'' must be fully demonstrated. ''Approval will only be granted where the proponent can show that there would be no viable competition for the delivery of the proposal's essential outcomes.''

This would always involve ''independent evaluations'' by the responsible government agency confirming that better value for money would be achieved by circumventing a tender process. The guidelines have been an integral part of the government's unsolicited proposals policy in place since January. But in August they were replaced with the government's Public Private Partnerships Guidelines which do not include these requirements.

Mr O'Farrell said last week that during a meeting with Mr Packer on August 10 he had ''pointed him to the unsolicited proposals policy which had been at that stage in place for more than eight months''.

A spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which oversees the policy, said the new guidelines were introduced on August 17. Mr Packer formally submitted his proposal on September 6.

The spokesman said the proposal was assessed by the department and Treasury, and the new guidelines ''maintain the need for cabinet approval to enter direct negotiations with a proponent (ie proceed to Stage 2)''.

A spokesman for Mr O'Farrell said the changes were made by the department and were ''minor administrative changes and clarifications to keep the document up to date and relevant".

A Crown spokesman said the company ''has - and is - following the process set out on the NSW government website. Crown is unaware of any change to the process''.

Mr O'Farrell has played down the potential cost of a licence to Mr Packer because ''this VIP gaming facility is not a full-blown casino''.