Will helmets be 'spoke in wheel' for bike scheme?

NEWS

By LUKE SHAW

Helmet hire looms as the greatest obstacle to the success of the multi-million dollar CityCycle bike hire scheme that is wheeled out across inner Brisbane from this Friday.


An Independent investigation has shown that efforts by the City Council to attract firms willing to take on the hire or sales of helmets that are compulsory for cyclists in Queensland have met with limited success.
Council has advised that of some 30 responses to council advertising, only seven had been selected by late last week to service the first phase of the bike hire scheme. And while the council could not provide a list of these approved applicants by this paper’s print deadline, the vendors named for specific stations put to council are retail outlets such as bike shops.
The council was asked to name the helmet suppliers for four bike stations in the Valley and New Farm, and council officers named New Farm Bikes near Brunswick Street as the helmet supplier for several of these, including a bike station hundreds of metres away near the Sydney Street CityCat terminal (pictured above). Council hinted that signs could be available at the bike stations to advise users where to go for helmets.
Despite the council advertising for businesses to handle the supply of helmets, Public and Active Transport Chairman Councillor Margaret de Wit insists the council sees the future of the scheme depending on regular users of the scheme bringing their own helmets “the same way they carry an umbrella when it rains or joggers for the gym”.
And in one sentence that could be interpreted as the council laying the ground work for some blame-sharing in case the scheme falters, over helmets or any other reason, she added: “The CityCycle scheme was unanimously supported when it went to council on 10 February 2009.”
In response to our questions, Cr de Wit took the opportunity to promote the project. “I’m sure that once our CityCycle bike hire scheme is up and running residents will realise the benefits of having access to a quick, easy and inexpensive mode of public transport,” she said.
A spokesman said the council would initially provide 20 free helmets to each vendor and CityCycle subscribers would pay $5 to hire a helmet, with a $20 deposit, or $25 to buy one outright. Opposition Leader Councillor Shayne Sutton said she also supported the scheme, but was concerned about its implementation.
“CityCycle has cost Brisbane residents more than $8 million and I’m concerned this could be money down the drain because Campbell Newman can’t figure out how to get helmets on cyclists’ heads.”
Some commentators have suggested that the scheme will falter unless the State Government changes current road rules or gives the scheme some form of exemption so that helmet use is not compulsory, but state MP Grace Grace whose Brisbane Central electorate covers much of the CityCycle rollout said she totally opposed such a move that would put people’s lives at risk.

Talks begin on safer Valley trial

NEWS

By Luke Shaw

Talks have begun on how the Bligh Government’s Drink Safe Precinct will operate when it comes into force in Fortitude Valley in December.

Local licensees have shown support for the two-year trial, particularly increased police numbers, but this might be tested as talks nut out how stakeholders will share this cost – and whether the bigger players will be expected or prepared to take on a bigger share of that burden.
Under the $4.2million trial, three Drink Safe Precincts will operate in the Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville. Police numbers will be increased, taxi zones better supervised and more support services will be made available. The government will fund the first 12 months of the plan, said to cost $2.4 million in the Valley alone, but expects the industry to put its hand in its pockets after that.
The Valley trial will include the exiiting Valley Entertainment Precinct – Australia’s first designated entertainment zone – and Valley Chamber of Commerce executive officer Carol Gordon says talks over coming weeks would need to “rationalise” the roles of exisiting bodies such as the Valley Malls Avisory Committee.
Premier Anna Bligh told a recent Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon that club and pub owners would be approached to cover the increased costs. Premier Bligh said she expected the trial to show positive results and warned that the government would “go back to the drawing board” on the issue if it did not.
This would include revisiting trading hours, which the government had not changed when adopting most of the parliamentary committee’s recommendations. The Queensland Police Union was highly critical that closing times had not been wound back as recommended.
The increased police operations have been welcomed by one of the biggest players in the Valley entertainment scene, Les Pullos whose businesses at the top end of the Valley mall include the Royal George Hotel, Ric’s, Fat Boys and the Bank.
He said the trial was a step in the right direction, and believed that a more visible police presence was critical to the success of the plan.
“A proactive, highly visible police presence dramatically reduces the incidents of acts of public misbehaviour,” Mr Pullos said.
“There’s simply never enough police in Valley Entertainment Precinct at busy times over the weekend.
“On the occasions that sufficient numbers are deployed, such as New Years Eve and Valley Fiesta, the level of problems decrease as a direct result,” he said. Mr Pullos called for four extra squads to patrol the valley on Friday and Saturday nights in addition to the current police roster.
“If it’s safe and feels comfortable then it’s good for business, and of course the opposite is true. “Perception is everything,” he said.

Above: Premier Anna Bligh addresses the recent Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon
with her Deputy Paul Lucas in the audience.

Focus on real life

Photo: Raphaela Rosella

NEWS

A photography exhibition that offers a “voice to those yet to be heard” has opened at the Powerhouse in New Farm.

Eighteen young storytellers from United Way Queensland’s community groups in the greater Brisbane area have taken up the camera to allow others a glimpse into their lives for Local Eyes that runs only until this Sunday 3 October.
“Imagine what Brisbane would look like through the eyes of a 17 year old boy battling to stay engaged with his family and his school?” says Toni Brearley, program manager at United Way Queensland. “What about an adolescent living with cystic fibrosis? Or a young Mum caring for a child with a disability? These are just some of the people taking part in our Local Eyes exhibition – and the results are stunning,”
“By allowing us into their lives, the participants have portrayed a side of Brisbane most of us have never experienced.” Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art conducted photography workshops and Bachelor of Photography students have mentored the participants throughout the past six months.
United Way Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation based in Brisbane. United Way brings together the resources of business, government, organisations and individuals to challenge the social issues faced in our communities.
In Queensland, United Way directs these resources to some 60 not-for profit organisations – each working to make positive differences in individual’s lives.

For more information on the exhibition visit http://www.brisbanepowerhouse.org/events/view/ local-eyes-brisbane/

Another blow to day economy in the Valley

NEWS

Fortitude Valley’s struggling day economy has been dealt another blow, with the departure of hundreds of staff from Urban Utilities in TCB in the Valley Mall.

The organisation has relocated to the CBD, despite efforts by the Fortitude Valley Chamber of Commerce for many months to keep them locally. Chamber executive officer Carol Gordon said the move would “certainly impact on the area.” “But people have the right to relocate, especially if their lease is up.” “It’s not a good outcome but the move will at least give the owner of TCB the chance to do some work on his tenancy”.
She said government departments in particular now had very high standards in what was required and TCB now could “raise the level to meet that market. That’s the reality”.
One local fast food operator described Urban Utilities as the “biggest employer in the area”. He expected his lunchtime sales to be hit as a result of losing 400 potential customers.

Sophia a worthy nominee

Lawyer Sophia Bookallil has been nominated for a CAN (Community Action Network) award for her pro bono work with the Caxton Legal Service.

Ms Bookallil, a solicitor with Hartley Healy, was surprised by the nomination and said it was completely unexpected. “At first, I thought it was a friend playing a joke,” she said. Ms Bookallil started volunteering almost 10 years ago while studying law at the University of New England, and finds the volunteer work she does both fascinating and challenging, and credits her parents with instilling in her a community spirit.
“My parents were like that, I think it’s ingrained in you,” she said. Nick Collyer, the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre Community Development coordinator said the CAN awards, now in their twelfth year, provided an opportunity to highlight people and programs that make a difference through building community and inclusion.
“The CAN Awards are presented to a diverse range of recipients who reflect the vibrant and proactive nature of Brisbane’s inner city.
“These awards shine a light on community leaders - people making a positive difference for the inner-Brisbane community,” Mr Collyer said.
For this year’s nominations there are eight categories, including Environment and Sustainability, Volunteering, Homelessness Services and Community Spirit.
Past recipients included HOTPAC, The Holiday Inn, Walksafe, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crash Beds (Valley/West End), The Independent, Better Housing Projects, Food Connect and Sue Featherstone of Kummara Association.
Nominations are open until October 15 with the CAN Awards ceremony taking place at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday 10 November at 5.30pm. Nomination forms can be sourced through contacting the centre, to download a form or for more information visit the www.newfarmneighbourhood.org.

Luke Shaw

Cooking up a storm in Chinatown

NEWS

Brisbane City Council is presenting open air food nights in the Chinatown Mall from 5pm to 10pm every Friday night throughout spring and summer.

So whether you’re on your way home from work or just starting your night out, swing past the Chinatown Mall’s Grand Awning area to indulge in tasty treats under the stars. Each month a different restaurant and its chefs will take charge of the outdoor kitchens to produce fresh Asian appetizers as well as heartier signature dishes.
The food court will be licensed and entertainment will include live music, street performers and live sport on temporary television screens, as well as market stalls

ETS debate gets an airing

NEWS

Think a robust debate about an emissions trading scheme would be a absolute gas? Or do you just like political discussions?

Then hop along to the Turbine Platform at the Brisbane Powerhouse at 6pm on Thursday 7 October for the latest Politics in the Pub debate, Fiddling While Rome Burns? Does Australia Need an Emissions Trading Scheme?
Although such schemes have been widely adopted overseas, there’s a perception here that an ETS is a political poisoned chalice, explains Nick Collyer, community development doordinator at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre, convenor of Politics in the Pub, now in its eleventh year.
“It’s seen off Turnbull and Rudd, so what’s next for an ETS?” he asks. “New Zealand has one, the European Union has one and Barak Obama wants one: are we dragging the chain again on climate change?
“The ETS is political dynamite, but many of us aren’t even too sure what it is, let alone why it’s stopped some key politicians in their tracks,” Nick says.
Speakers on the night will include newly elected Greens Senator Larissa Waters, Michael Roche from the Queensland Resources Council, green philosopher William Grey, Kellie Caught from WWF and outspoken climate sceptic Malcolm Roberts.
And it's free!

Labor cops music blast

NEWS

The Bligh Labor Government’s refusal to even consider a ‘New Festival Hall’ shows they are deaf to the wishes of Brisbane’s music lovers, the LNP says.

State Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek called for feedback on a proposal to build a new indoor, inner city music and entertainment venue to “fill the hole in Brisbane’s entertainment heart”’.
Mr Langbroek said he was disappointed the Bligh Labor Government was being so negative and was so quick to dismiss the idea. “It is clear Brisbane people want an inner city venue to see the world’s best bands and the concept of a new Festival Hall would add to Brisbane’s ‘new world city’ vibe,” he said.
“If Acting Sports Minister Karen Struthers had been to the Q Song Awards and the Bigsound showcase performances like I have, she would know how much Brisbane music fans lament the loss of the old Festival hall.
“Since the demolition of Festival Hall in 2003, Brisbane hasn’t had a music venue in the heart of the city with a reasonable capacity for world class acts.”
Mr Langbroek said while Riverstage was hosting some great concerts, it was an outdoor venue and there was no guarantee fans wouldn’t be caught out by bad weather, as Powderfinger fans recently discovered.
“It’s great to see Powderfinger’s manager Paul Piticco supporting the idea of a new inner city venue and I hope we hear from more musical identities and the fans themselves about what they want,” he said.
“The reality is the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall is 25 years old and while it has served Brisbane well, it will have to be replaced at some point. “Everyone wants to see the best bands in the heart of the city with the option of going out to a nice restaurant beforehand or to pubs and clubs afterwards.
“Building a New Festival Hall is something the LNP is looking at very carefully, and we want to hear what the people of Brisbane think.”

Things are heating up ... so it’s time to enjoy the outdoors!

PROPERTY Residential

The warmer weather has been a major boost to the developing trend in Australian housing to open up the house to the garden creating indoor outdoor living areas.

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects said the longer hours of sunshine in spring and summer extends the use of the home for entertainment and relaxation Creating versatile indoor outdoor dining areas with the use of folding doors have become a popular extension of the home. Ian Agnew, Queensland state manager of Archicentre, said the warmer weather of spring and summer encouraged the trend of creating versatile indoor-outdoor dining areas under the roof line with the use of folding doors.
This trend is increasingly popular with home owners undertaking Archicentre renovation design reports. Mr Agnew said the thought of spending more than $50,000 to move house, with costs mainly in government taxes and charges, has seen thousands of home owners go on a renovation strategy to improve their existing homes.
“One of the most cost effective ways of increasing the livable areas of the home is to extend out into the back garden through a deck with an indoor outdoor link by opening up the back wall of the home.”
“The trend is seeing the Australian backyard receiving a major make over and a return to importance as people move to spend more time in the open and in their gardens.”
Mr Agnew said this is also placing more emphasis on housing design fitting into the environment with the blending of landscaping and building becoming an important part of the original design brief.
“It’s all about making sitting inside feel like sitting outside," Mr Agnew says. "This is done using rolling doors, retractable roofing or light wells and an energy-efficient design. A complimentary style of flooring creates the illusion of seamlessness.
“A lot of people still love the hardwood deck and it's often the most practical solution," says Mr Agnew. “However, our architects have been having great success with natural stone products and polished concrete.
“Where a deck is not feasible, a courtyard fills the void. Courtyards also create northern aspects and privacy. They seem to be most common on renovations of old properties like semi-detached or terrace houses.”
Leafy pergolas provide sun protection and garden character, but a lot of outdoor extensions have been defined by even more elaborate conservatory constructions with integrated lighting, fans, speakers and kitchenettes. Pools and water features are also popular including lap pools, splash pools, plunge pools and the occasional Olympian pool.

Perfect time for deck check

PROPERTY Residential

Brisbane City Council is urging residents and property owners with a deck or balcony made from timber or constructed before 1946 to undertake a professional structural safety check.

Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee chair Amanda Cooper(pictured) said now was the perfect time to check your deck before the weather warms up.
“During the summer, Brisbane residents love spending time outdoors and it's important to check your deck regularly to ensure it is safe before use,” Cr Cooper said. Cr Cooper said that the safety checks were important and there were warning signs that residents should look for.
“There are a number of common causes of deck failure including corrosion in older or rotting decks, water exposure, termite attacks, lack of maintenance, too many people on the decking areas and poor construction techniques,” Cr Cooper said.
“Older properties are especially at risk as structural weakness is not always visible so these property owners need to be particularly vigilant. “Deck or balcony checks should be carried out by a qualified professional and this is usually quick and easy.
“It is vital that these checks are carried out to ensure that your deck or balcony is not at risk of collapse.” Cr Cooper also reminded those residents or property owners looking to build a new balcony or deck of their responsibilities before carrying out any work.
“Requirements are in place to make sure that decks are safe, complement the existing streetscape and do not cause nuisance for neighbours. “It is important that before any work is undertaken on a deck or balcony the design meets strict building and planning regulations,” she said.

For more information on the safety checks and building requirements for decks and balconies visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/safety or phone council on (07) 3403 8888.

State lagging in housing

PROPERTY NEWS

Predictions of imminent interest rate rises are more alarming for the Queensland housing and construction industry than any other state, its peak body warns.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Queensland) has just released its quarterly industry research report showing Queensland’s housing remains the most affected since the global financial crisis.
“In terms of home building approvals, the Sunshine State is still suffering more than anywhere else in the country,” said UDIA Qld President Warren Harris.
“Approvals had been improving in early 2010 but as interest rate rises started to bite, they dropped again to 22 per cent lower than the pre-GFC 2000’s average,” he said.
“In the context of recent comments from RBA governor Glenn Stevens indicating more rate rises are imminent, we are obviously gravely concerned about the effect that further rises will have. “Mr Stevens this week warned the resources boom is threatening to overstimulate the economy, with domestic economic growth likely to surpass the long-term trend in 2011.
“The Queensland housing industry has been hoping for a recovery in activity – it’s hard to contemplate a further move backwards,” he said. The UDIA (Qld) Development and Construction Industry Performance Report provides a quarterly analysis of key industry data including housing approvals and starts, employment levels and housing demand. The September report raises concerns over continuing low levels of activity with only a minor improvement in employment.
“While there has been some improvement in employment in the last quarter, employment in the construction sector remains down by 24,072 since August 2008,” Mr Harris said.
“Queensland is also still under building. In the 2009-2010 financial year, it is estimated that 8,000 more homes were required to meet population growth than were commenced. “With housing approvals running at 25 per cent below the longer term levels in the last quarter and unit approvals running at 40 per cent below, the undersupply is likely to continue,” he said.
Other findings in the report illustrate the erosion of housing affordability for Queensland families. Queensland is classed as substantially unaffordable with around 65 per cent of Queensland families unable to afford a $434,000 home (Qld median house price).
At this point, each $10,000 price change or 0.25 per cent interest rate change is estimated to exclude a further 20,000 families from purchase. According to the report, the median house price would need to be reduced to $350,000 to be affordable for around half of Queensland’s families.
“This places the Queensland Government under even greater pressure to resolve the uncertainty and quantum of infrastructure charges in the immediate future and to significantly reduce the costs of delays in planning systems and processes,” Mr Harris said.

Where am I?

Don’t you think some buildings spend just far too much money on expensive architraving? Why pay for materials when you can just paint them around your windows, as this quaint little building somewhere in The Independent’s circulation area has done.

Got an inkling where this is? If you think you know the answer tell us and you’ll have the chance to win a $60 prize voucher to enjoy some tucker and a drink at the Brunswick Hotel in New Farm.
Email your answer to editor@theindependent.com.au to reach us no later than 5pm on Friday week, 8 October 2010. Or drop us the answer in the post by the same deadline to PO Box 476 Valley Q 4006. One lucky winner will be off to the Brunnie on us. Bon appetit!

. Winner of last issue’s competition was Austin Hellier of New Farm who correctly named the carpark in City Care Brisbane’s Alfred Street premises in the Valley as the site of the mural depicted.

It’s all gris – or grigio – for the labeling mill

TASTINGS ... with David Bray

To gris or not to gris – the question
may doubly
Be posed of grigio, such are
The smells and flavours of this newly
Favoured fruit of southern vines.

Enough already. Many among us tend to be confused by pinot gris and pinot grigio – different styles of white wine made from the same grape.

Gris is the richer, a fuller-bodied wine made from riper grapes and often with a touch of sweetness. It’s based on the pinot gris of Alsace, France. Grigio, based on a style of wine made in northern Italy, is lighter, crisper, drier and less complex. It is made from earlier-harvested grapes, which naturally make lower-alcohol wine. They are good dining matches with different foods.
Some of the people who make and sell them reckoned it would be a good idea if gris and grigio had labels indicating their properties. And so it has come to pass.
A new labelling system, the Pinot G Style Spectrum, a visual presentation of a scale from crisp to luscious, is about to show up on some wineries’ bottles.
It was thought up by the Australian Wine Research Institute in co-operation with the bloke behind the idea prime mover, winemaker Kevin McCarthy of T'Gallant winery on the Mornington Peninsula.
Unveiling the spectrum in Sydney, the AWRI's Peter Godden said McCarthy phoned him one day and asked: “Can the AWRI do some analysis which would define the difference between gris and grigio?” It took about three years and the result was launched earlier this month. To qualify for a label, the wine is “fingerprinted” by the AWRI, which scientifically quantifies where on the scale (between crisp and luscious) the particular wine sits.
The label looks easy enough for would-be buyers to understand. The PinotG Style Spectrum labels will be first released on 2010 vintage wines from Foster’s and Cellarmasters wines, with other producers to follow next year.
I reckon it will catch on.
As Mr McCarthy said: “In future, I imagine people will walk into a shop and say, ‘I’d like a PG at three on the scale, please’. Before now we never had an objective scale to describe wine. It’s a whole new language.”

Light up for good cause

The Leukaemia Foundation is holding its annual Light the Night event on Thursday, 7 October at The Parklands, South Bank.

Brisbane is one of 11 Queensland centres holding Light the Night events to remember those who have died from blood cancers, celebrate those who have survived, and give hope to current patients and their families.
The evening culminates in a short walk with participants carrying specially lit balloons: gold balloons for those who have lost a loved one, white for survivors, and blue for supporters of the Leukaemia Foundation and those it helps.
The Brisbane event starts at 5pm with balloon collection and information tents, followed by a program of entertainment featuring Brisbane three-piece indie band wheeleR. For details and to sign up visit www.lightthenight.org.au.


Newstead House concert

Queensland Wind & Brass will perform a free concert at historic Newstead House, Newstead Park on Sunday 17 October from 2.30pm. Sixty musicians under the baton of Paul Kucharski will have Newstead Park resonating with the symphonic sounds of one of Brisbane’s finest concert bands playing a mix of classic and popular tunes. Newstead House is open from 2pm to 5pm on Sundays and 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday. Devonshire Teas are served on the verandahs on Sunday afternoons only from 2pm with last orders taken at 4pm. A small entry fee is charged to view the rooms of the House: $6 Adult; $5 Concession; $4 Child; $15 Family.

PCYC gala set to rock Brisbane

The 17th annual PCYC gala dinner on 6 November promises to be one of the biggest nights of the year in Brisbane with frocks, rock and a brand new Toyota Yaris up for grabs. Iconic Australian performers such as Paulini Curuenavuli, Frankie J Holden, Doug Parkinson, Scott Cameron, No Gravity and Dean Vegas are all set to serenade guests at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with the sounds of classic rock and roll, with people invited to wear formal evening attire or dress up as their favourite rock and roll legend. The event kicks off at 7pm and tickets cost $185 per person, with tables of 10 from $1750. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Kerry Allingham on 07 3909 9557, or email kerry.allingham@pcyc.org.au

Charity work suits Heather to a tee

New Farm student Heather Wareham is one of six people organising the "Tee by Twilight" Charity Golf Day on October 15 in support of the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland.

Heather said she was part of a group of Diploma of Events students from Southbank Institute of Technology undertaking the fundraising project as part of their assessment. The students have formed Ousado – Bold Event People – to organise the golf day on Friday, 15 October at Victoria Park Golf Complex, Herston Road, Herston.
Heather, Ousado’s administration and finance coordinator, said the golf day would consist of 18 four-member teams playing 18 holes on a shotgun start from 10.30am.
“The entry fee is $400 for a team of four or $125 for individual entries and includes a golf cart, gourmet burger lunch, post-game finger food and drinks plus entertainment and prizes," she said.
"There will be three competition holes for nearest the pin, the longest drive and Pin to Win, providing the opportunity to win great prizes." Heather said the golf day would raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation and its work helping patients and their families with support and accommodation.
"The golf day is a great opportunity to get together with friends or work colleagues for a fun day out and help a worthy cause". Heather also said "The support from their sponsors, Design Engineers Queensland and Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia is greatly appreciated by the team and the Leukaemia Foundation" Registrations close tomorrow, 30 September.
To obtain a registration form email ousadoevent@gmail.com or phone 3254 2385 / 0409 840 232.
• The event is an initiative of students from Southbank Institute of Technology as part of their assessment..

Digging deep for suspense

FILMS ... with Tim Milfull


Buried (MA15+
Director: Rodrigo Cortes
Stars: Ryan Reynolds
Rating: 4/5
88-minutes, screening from 7 October

For many, the idea of spending ninety-five minutes sealed in a pine box buried somewhere in the Iraq desert is simply unimaginable. There surely are some who might reconsider the suggestion when told they might be sharing the box with Ryan Reynolds.

In the absence of any guarantees, however, I’d steer away from the idea. Unfortunately, in Buried, truckdriver Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) wasn’t offered any choice when he was bundled into a coffin while unconscious and buried. When he wakes, breathing heavily and desperate for air, the darkness and claustrophobia are almost too much to bear, even after discovering a pocket knife, a torch, a lighter and a mobile phone. Conroy had been at the rear of a private convoy shipping supplies across Iraq, when insurgents ambushed the trucks and killed everyone but him. Now the kidnappers have a ransom in mind, and Conroy has ninety minutes to scrape up five million dollars, or he’ll join his colleagues in the afterlife. For such a simple premise, and what seems to be a remarkably simple production, Buried offers a surprisingly tense experience to audiences. Written by Chris Sparling and directed by his equally unfamiliar director, Rodrigo Cortés, the film is presented in real time and exclusive to the Conroy’s coffin. Ryan – who has come a long way since Van Wilder: Party Liaison – offers an excellent performance delivered under extreme circumstances, and cinematographer, Eduard Grau delivers some impressive footage in such a confined space. Aside from one silly and frankly unnecessary device intended to ratchet up the tension, Buried is an extraordinary example of simple, but satisfying suspense.



Festival fare will give you the shakes, among other things

Lavazza Italian Film Festival
Palace Centro and Palace Barracks
Screening from 6 to 24 October

Screening at Palace Centro and Palace Barracks cinemas from 6 to 24 October, the Lavazza Italian Film Festival again lives up to its reputation as a vibrant and exuberant celebration of one of the world’s richest cinemas.
There are a couple of special treats I’ll be looking forward to, including the screening of What Do You Know About Me?, Valerio Jalongo’s fascinating documentary about Italian cinema since its inception, and this event will be followed by a panel discussion organised by Griffith University.
Touted as one of the most expensive films ever made in Italy, Baarìa charts the evolution of modern politics in Italy, as it follows the lives of three generations of one family. Set in the Sicilian region of Baarìa, Giusseppe Tornatore’s curiously edited saga features a stirring score by veteran composer Ennio Morricone.
Speaking of politics, Draquila – Italy Trembles is documentary-maker Sabine Guzzanti’s scathing examination of the aftermath of an earthquake in the Abruzzo town of L’Aquila, which left three hundred dead, and 70,000 homeless. Guzzanti takes Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his cronies to task for some astonishingly brazen cases of corruption that marred the city’s reconstruction and the relocation of the earthquake’s victims. Often very funny, this documentary will leave you shaking with anger.
In The First Beautiful Thing, (pictured above) directed by Paolo Virzi, we follow the gorgeous Anna (Micaela Ramazotti) through the eyes of her bitter young son, Bruno (Giacomo Bibbiani, & as an adult, Valerio Mastandrea) as she lives a turbulent but passionate life with a series of lovers. And in Gabriele Salvatores’s Happy Family, Alessandro Genovesi’s very clever stage-play transforms into a complex film about the construction of narratives, as Ezio (Fabio De Luigi) begins writing a screenplay, and finds his quirky characters coming to life and trying to influence their own stories.

• For more information about sessions, events and prices at the Lavazza Italian Film Festival, check out the website: www.italianfilmfestival.com.au




THE BINGE

King of surreal experience

Paul King directed more than 20 episodes of The Mighty Boosh, and it shows in his debut film, Bunny and the Bull, a delightfully surreal experience charting the recovery of an agoraphobic young man reliving a seminal moment in his life through his imagination.

Featuring Edward Hogg as the nervous Stephen, and Simon Farnaby as his best mate, Bunny, there are also cameos from Noel Fielding and Julian Barrett, and some gorgeous set design and editing.

New York, I Love You has its roots in the minds of producers Emmanuel Benbihy and Marina Grasic, who devised the idea of celebrating “cities of love”, and then invited acclaimed directors and actors to collaborate on a series of short films about each city. Paris, Je’Taime was the first, and films about Jerusalem, Shanghai, and Rio de Janeiro are on their way. New York... features productions from the likes of Fatih Akin, Mira Nair and Natalie Portman, and performances from dozens of high-profile actors. Not quite Paris..., but still very entertaining.

David Michôd’s Animal Kingdom (pictured above) is currently performing quite well on US screens after a very successful season in Australia, and big things are expected with the film’s coming DVD release. This gritty drama about a grubby Melbourne family of bank robbers features some fantastic performances from the likes of Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce and the amazing Jacki Weaver.
If you missed Animal Kingdom at the movies, here’s your chance to find out what all the fuss was about. It’s interesting to compare all the kerfuffle about Casey Affleck’s faux-biography about Joaquin Phoenix, I’m Still Here, with the reception of Exit through the Gift Shop, the documentary about celebrity graffiti artist Banksy.
Whether directed by Banksy or his eccentric mate, Thierry Guetta, or by both of them in concert, the doco is still an intriguing and often spectacular examination of the world of street art.

Belligerent Tony turns new paradigm into pig drama

POLITICS ... with Mungo MacCallum

I recently noted that one immediate consequence of the hung parliament was that all bets were off – everything was up for grabs. I was referring, of course, to policy; as Julia Gillard pointed out, circumstances have changed somewhat since she made her election promises.

Even to get through stage A – passage by the House of Representatives – she needs the support of at least four crossbenchers, all of whom have insisted that they will treat every piece of legislation on its merits and vote as independents.
The four nominally supporting her government have also set other terms and conditions which will have implications for policy, most obviously in the field of climate change but in other areas as well.
Clearly this will mean compromise and modification on a number of fronts. And Gillard, by admitting as much last week, was doing no more than stating the obvious. When it comes to Labor’s election platform, all bets are indeed off. What I did not mean, or expect, was that the normal processes of parliament would also be abandoned without any serious attempt at explanation or justification.
I assumed, for instance, that written agreements between the parties would be honoured and that the longstanding conventions would be upheld; that decent and civilised behaviour would prevail. And for this naiveté and optimism I must now apologise. Tony Abbott’s decision to shred the solemn undertaking he gave to abide by the agenda for parliamentary reform has set a new and dangerous low which may result in the system disintegrating into something perilously close to anarchy.
The reason the rural independents insisted that both sides of politics sign the agreement before indicating which of them would have their support was precisely to prevent this happening; to lock both government and opposition into the reform process, to make it genuinely bipartisan. It was always obvious that the provision for pairing the speaker would give the government an advantage, but this was more than adequately countered by other provisions which favoured the opposition and the backbenchers.
Overall, the package was both sensible and balanced. And of course Abbott has said he will definitely stick with the rest of it – the bits that give him an edge. But on the speakership, the government is on its own.
The proposal by Rob Oakeshott is simple enough: the speaker does not have a deliberative vote, so by appointing one of its own as speaker, as is the convention, the government effectively loses one of its numbers, which in a parliament as tight as the present one can be crucial.
The idea was that the opposition should therefore appoint the deputy speaker, who would also forfeit his vote, thereby evening things up. Oakeshott then confused things by nominating himself for the job which was unworkable: as an independent his vote could go with either side, thus making pairing impossible.
But the original idea was perfectly sound: although the opposition started by suggesting it would breach the constitution, the Solicitor-General was adamant that it would not; if the parties chose to come to an agreement, it would be perfectly okay. Ah, said Tony Abbott, so it would only be an informal arrangement, not written into the legislation; oh dear no, we couldn’t have that. Matters of governance are far too important to be left to an informal arrangement. So all bets are off. But wait a minute.
Like many other conventions of government the entire system of pairing, which has been in existence since federation, is an informal arrangement. It is simply a fair and practical means of ensuring that the numbers in the House, which are determined by the electorate, remain unaffected when members – either government or opposition –are unavoidably absent.
The proposal to extend the arrangement to include the speaker may be an innovation, but it is hardly revolutionary. If Abbott is serious, he must be prepared to abolish the idea of pairing altogether – and in fact, that seems to be precisely the situation.
The new opposition whip, Warren Entsch, says from now on even ministers making overseas trips will not be automatically paired. He will have to be satisfied that the trip is on official business and in the national interest: “ guess every case will be treated on its merits, and in any case there is a lot of time when the parliament is not sitting.”
True; so will the rest of the world please rearrange things so as to make sure events and meetings that could involve Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Wayne Swan, Stephen Smith and the rest of them only take place while the Australian parliament is in recess.
And as for backbenchers, well, forget it. In the past they have asked for pairs for all sorts of reasons, but now only crises such as serious illness, bereavement or childbirth (women only) will qualify. Or that’s the current line from Tony Abbott’s ferocious opposition.
In the end it is likely that commonsense will prevail; after all, to have the place run with a modicum of civilisation and decency is as much in the interests of most opposition members as those of the government.
But Abbott has now made it clear that his lust for power is absolute; he will stop at nothing. And he is inviting equally brutal payback.
Labor’s unedifying attempt to bribe Alex Somlyay with the deputy speakership in exchange for the same guarantee as has been given by the independents – no support for votes of no confidence or to deny supply –ended in tears after Abbott’s enforcers paid him a visit.
But by throwing the rule book out of the window, Abbott has indeed ushered in a new paradigm, which he may live to regret. By the way, paradigm is an anagram of pig drama. In this context, it seems entirely appropriate.

Too many metres to meters

FROM MY CORNER ... with Ann Brunswick


This column has on several occasions criticised Brisbane’s new style of parking meters requiring users to key in their vehicle’s registration number. Last week it was my misfortune to use one at South Brisbane.

Driving a car borrowed from a work colleague, it took some time to find an on-street car park near my destination. But by then the time for my scheduled meeting was fast approaching, and my destination was at least an extra hundred metres away.
A walk of about 30 metres from the car took me to the ticket machine, which brings me to another of my regular gripes. Just why does the Brisbane City Council install so few ticketing machines, causing motorists to walk long distances to hunt them down? But back to my more current complaint.
Having reached the ticketing machine I discovered it was the new type requiring my rego number before it would print a ticket for me to place on my dashboard. But, having driven a borrowed car, its rego number was totally unknown to me. Well by then my patience had been exhausted so a random three letters and three numbers were entered and the machine spat out my ticket. The process meant two trips of about 30 metres each, or a total of 60 metres before starting to walk to my meeting.
The alternative of returning to the car to read its rego number would have involved four trips of 30 metres, or 120 metres in total. In any event, running back and forth in my specially made high-heel Blundstones is torture, take it from me. As it was it was touch and go but I made it to my meeting right on time. That would not have happened if it had been necessary for me to double back and check the car’s registration number.
In addition, there would have been time to spare if the BCC would install more ticket machines so motorists did not have walk so far for the privilege of paying the council lots of money.

***

A friend who works in the CBD is constantly puzzled by the number of ambulances that need to slowly snake their way through afternoon peak-hour traffic.

From her vantage point in a low-rise office block near Central Station, she regularly hears the wail of an approaching ambulance’s siren. According to her, on average at least one ambulance a day needs to head into the CBD past her office building after, she presumes, leaving its base at Boundary Street in Spring Hill.
What could be precious seconds are lost as ambulances must slow to a crawl while bumper-to-bumper traffic inches out of its way. Unlike fire brigade trucks which seems to have their sirens blaring even when heading to known false alarms, an ambulance siren usually indicates a real emergency.
So, my friend argues, why hasn’t some highly paid genius in our emergency services bureaucracy thought of stationing at least one or possibly more ambulances in the middle of the CBD at peak hour? They could easily sit at the head of a taxi rank or in some designated parking bay at strategic points around the city, ready for action.

***

The tied result of last Saturday’s AFL Grand Final surely points a need to overhaul the game’s rules. Maybe we should consider the example set by the outcome of our recent federal election. My suggested new rule would have been invoked late in the fourth quarter when a draw was inevitable.

At that time Collingwood and St Kilda would have been allowed time out to vie for the support of three independent players who could join their team and play out the quarter until the final siren blew. Of course given that each quarter of an AFL game runs for only 20 minutes, there would need to be a ban on any of the independent players giving a 17-minute justification of their decision to play for one team or the other.

***

As a fit, youngish thing, I’m all in favour of the CityCycle bike hire scheme that starts on Friday. I really do wish it well. Might even sign up as a subscriber myself, because many of the streets within the scheme’s reach are where I conduct much of my own work.

But I do worry about its likely success. The City Council in its literature makes it clear that the scheme is not designed for tourists. I would have thought that market might have been integral to its success but I suspect council took that line because most of our tourists come from countries where helmets are not compulsory. And the thought of having to deal with brain-damaged OS visitors made it simpler just to say: Non, nyet, no-way José – this is not for you.
Another group that I thought could make the scheme viable are suburban families. Wouldn’t happen often, for sure, but the idea of mum, dad and the kids coming in from the burbs, parking at New Farm and zipping around for the day as a novelty treat would keep the coffers ticking over. But no ... council makes it clear it’s not for recreational use either.
One of the council’s early leaflets gave as a typical user of the scheme a business person who would leave his or her New Farm abode, grab a bike and pedal their way up into the city for a meeting. Sounds okay, in theory. Once you are a subscriber, there’d be no charge if you dock your bike up in the CBD within 30 minutes; no charge when you grab a fresh bike later on and return to home in the same time.
But can I just say this: the thought of a business type doing that at any time stretches credibility a tad; doing it during Brisbane’s many months of hot weather beggars belief.
So we are left to ponder just who will avail themselves of the scheme? Who is going to help recover the many millions of ratepayers’ dollars that have already been outlayed just to get the project to its start date? Who is going to make it a profitable project, week in and week out?
So can I make a bold prediction here? If the scheme is going to rely on inner-city folk using the bikes to go about their business, I’m tipping the overseas firm that has won the right to run the scheme will be going cap in hand to council much earlier than later, asking for a much sweeter set of conditions in the contract to make it work.

Both sides cop a spray over graffiti

NEWS

It’s verbal aerosol cans at 20 paces as Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and his former deputy David Hinchliffe try to cover each other in blame for the removal of a striking piece of street art in Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane-born but now New York-based street artist Anthony Lister took serveral days to complete the work on a wall facing a vacant block of land between Wickham Street and Ranwell Lane. It was painted over last week by staff from the council’s graffiti reduction unit.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman gave the Central Ward councillor the first spray, calling on Cr Hinchliffe to apologise for encouraging the street artist to “illegally vandalise” the building. Cr Hinchliffe fired back in the mainstream media this week, saying the artwork was legal, and that the graffiti reduction unit staff who painted over the work had trespassed.
Mr Lister, who has staged exhibitions in New York and London, was also reported as saying he had been given permission to do the work.
Cr Newman said Cr Hinchliffe as a councillor for more than 22 years would know that anyone seeking to carry out street art must seek approval from the building owner and advise council.
“Commonsense dictates that you would get approval from a building owner before encouraging an artist to paint a mural on it,” Cr Newman said. “Cr Hinchliffe however allowed this to go ahead without the proper approvals and now is jumping up and down about the fact that the mural was removed despite it being illegal.
“Rather than painting the hardworking members of the graffiti reduction unit in a bad light, he should have brought them into the planning process and this would have avoided the whole situation.”
Cr Newman said the unit had previously removed graffiti from the high profile site on several occasions without any incident. “The GRU is very supportive of artwork, but received no notification from the building owner, the local Councillor, or artist that work was being carried out for a mural,” Cr Newman said.
“Cr Hinchliffe is well aware that this notification must be received, but he failed to do the right thing by the artist by refusing to notify the GRU despite being up to his armpits in organising the artwork.
“Cr David Hinchliffe should apologise to the artist for misleading him into thinking that he was legally painting a mural.” Cr Newman said council would like to see the wall to be activated as it is a recurring vandalism hotspot, but the correct permissions must be sought. However he made no apologies for cracking down on graffiti vandals.
“There is a definite line between graffiti and art but when it is on private property and it hasn’t been approved, it is graffiti,” Cr Newman said.
“Graffiti is a blight on the Brisbane landscape and we make no apologies for taking the fight to these vandals to keep our city looking good.
“Members of the Taskforce Against Graffiti and the Graffiti Reduction Unit work in a proactive way with business, police and local artists and they should be commended for their work.”
The Lord Mayor has since announced council would launch a mural database to prevent commissioned street art from being painted over, and that he would like to see the Wickham Street site at the centre of the dispute become a legal public artspace.

Cr Hinchliffe had not responded to requests by The Independent for additional comment on various claims by the Lord Mayor as this issue went to press.

City Hall hits back over wharves

NEWS

The Campbell Newman administration in City Hall has returned fire over Opposition claims that the rezoning of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct was an underhand way of thwarting local opposition to development there.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman released Labor’s “long-held plans” for a hotel and residential apartments at Howard Smith Wharves. He produced a hard copy of Labor’s Brisbane City Centre Planning Strategy which he said clearly outlined their plan to develop the area.
Central Ward councillor David Hinchliffe in our issue of 1 September said the City Council administration would alter the existing park zoning for Howard Smith Wharves to allow for a hotel and convention centre to built there without the public having a right to object to or appeal the move.

But the Lord Mayor hit back, saying the ALP strategy referred specifically to the redevelopment of Howard Smith Wharves and said any redevelopment of the wharves should add activity to the precinct through the establishment of residential apartments, hotel accommodation, speciality shops and recreation facilities.
He claimed the information came to light “as the local councillor was bumped as spokesman on the issue following a series of his own embarrassing flip flops on the project”.
Cr Newman said Cr David Hinchliffe’s chequered past on the issue had compromised Labor’s position on Howard Smith Wharves and the Opposition Leader appeared to have removed him as spokesman on the project.
“It appears the local councillor has been removed as spokesman because of his history on the project, which includes supporting rezoning, hotels, apartments, restaurants and the development of 50 per cent of the site,” Cr Newman said. “This is in stark contrast with our plan for 80 percent of the site to be redeveloped as public open space.
“Cr Hinchliffe’s past has clearly caught up with him and the Opposition Leader has had to step in but Labor can’t hide from their longstanding plan to build apartments and a hotel on the site.”
The Lord Mayor said that in the past, Cr Hinchliffe had said that about half of the site should be developed. Cr Hinchliffe had also repeatedly supported a boutique hotel to be built on site, admitting this on television as recently as 17 May this year. In the 1990s Labor even supported townhouses be built on the site.
While Cr Hinchliffe was the Planning Chairman, he had helped a Brisbane restaurateur to gather information on relocation options, including becoming a “significant tenant” to “anchor the development” at Howard Smith Wharves. In emails to the restaurateur dated August 26, Cr Hinchliffe had cited that advice in the email from officers would be dependant on the park zoning being changed.
“The Opposition have been out this morning protesting plans to change the zoning, but they have failed to be honest with the local community that this was always their plan,” Cr Newman said.
“This is a clear case of the Opposition misleading the community. In contrast, we have been upfront with the public about our plans for Howard Smith Wharves and have been consulting with the community for over three years."

• Cr Hinchliffe was asked to respond to City Hall’s comments but had not responded as this edition of the paper went to press.

City an open house

NEWS

An event that will open the secret doors of some of Brisbane’s most intriguing public and private spaces begins next month. Brisbane Open House, an initiative of the Queensland Government Architect and the Brisbane Development Association, will become an annual event on Brisbane’s calendar, with the first being held on Saturday 2 October.

The symbols and ceremony of The Grand Hall at The Masonic Temple in the city centre (see below); the 180-year old excavations by convict gangs that underpin one of Brisbane's oldest buildings, the Commissariat Stores; the 1100 pipes of the old Wurlitzer organ from the city’s Regent Theatre, from the tiniest metal tubes to 10 metre wooden funnels, locked away under the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) – these are some of Brisbane’s historic and architectural gems that will be unlocked for Brisbane Open House.
It will open the secret doors of at least 15 buildings – behind the scenes at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland State Library; the spectacular new view of the Brisbane River from the Tri Generation Plant high up in the new Santos Place; the story behind the structure of the Kurilpa Bridge, and more.
Visitors to these buildings and spaces will be given detailed insights from the architects, engineers, planners and users on how they work and what they mean.
Brisbane Development Association executive director John Pettit says the initiative aims to enrich understanding of the city through encouraging residents and visitors to explore, re-examine and engage with Brisbane’s built environment. “We all love our city but don't always get the chance to explore its history and see inside some of our most iconic developments,” Mr Pettit said.
“Visitors will be granted the rare opportunity to explore these developments, in some cases for the first time.
“The mix of historic and modern architecture and engineering is truly fascinating. Simply seeing these buildings from the street makes it difficult to grasp the complexity of design on the inside.
“We hope that Brisbane Open House will open our residents’ eyes to these curious spaces and develop a new appreciation of the wealth of architecture and engineering nestled around our city.”

Masonic Temple the first to open its doors

One hundred and fifty years of Freemason history and architectural intrigue will be unlocked on Saturday 2 October when the lead doors to the Masonic Memorial Temple will swing open for the public to take guided tours of one of the oldest buildings in the state.

Locked behind its giant corinthian columns in Ann Street, the Masonic Memorial Temple is a trove of Freemason history as old as Queensland. The 1930s heritage-listed building is still the centre of Freemason activity in Queensland today, yet its history and architectural intrigue remain a mystery to many. Built as a shrine and monument to accommodate large Masonic events, the grandeur of the Temple’s ceremonial spaces, particularly the Grand Hall and the Court of Remembrance around the Memorial Urn, is stunning.
Designed by Lange Powell, himself a Freemason, during 1928-1930, the Temple was built solely from Queensland materials – sandstone from Helidon and marble from Chillagoe in north Queensland, while its furniture was built on-site during construction using local cedar, maple and silky-oak timber.
It originally cost $260,000 to build and is today heritage listed with a value of more than $14,000,000.
The United Grand Lodge of Queensland’s Deputy Grand Secretary Graham Schulz said the lodge was thrilled to be part of the Brisbane Open House. “We are very proud to be part of Brisbane’s living history network, having celebrated our 150 years last year. We are as old as Queensland itself.”

Ambassadors sought for fundraising quest

COMMUNITY Noticeboard

The Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland is seeking energetic, innovative and dedicated people across the state willing to meet the challenge of raising money in their local community as part of the Foundation's fundraising Quest.

The Foundation’s Regional Community Fundraiser for Greater Brisbane North, Kathleen Reid, (pictured) said she was now recruiting potential Quest Ambassadors for the fundraising program running until 24 June 2011.
Ms Reid said anyone – male or female – contemplating becoming a Quest Ambassador should be aged between 12 and 85 as at 25 June this year.“All you need are bright ideas and lots of energy for raising funds.
Previous Ambassadors have organised fashion parades, luncheons, golf days, sell merchandise and shopping spree raffle tickets or host charity auctions,” she said. “It’s a very direct and satisfying way to support the Leukaemia Foundation and the patients and families it assists every day." Ms Reid said the Quest was one of the Foundation’s major fundraising events.
“Quest has been held every year since 1983 and in that time has raised an estimated $27 million for the Leukaemia Foundation,” she said.
“The money raised is directed towards helping patients and their families and funding medical research projects.” Anyone interested in being a Quest Ambassador should phone 1800 804 444 or Kathleen Reid on 3318 4458 or 0402 386 218 or visit the foundation’s website www.leukaemia.org.au.

Got a drug problem?
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Where am I?

Seeing street art is in the news at the moment, we thought we’d ask where this piece of legally commissioned and much-admired wallwork is?

If you think you know the answer tell us and you’ll have the chance to win a $60 prize voucher to enjoy some tucker and a drink at the Brunswick Hotel in New Farm. Email your answer to editor@theindependent.com.au to reach us no later than 5pm on Friday week, 24 September 2010. Or drop us the answer in the post by the same deadline to PO Box 476 Valley Q 4006.
One lucky winner will be off to the Brunnie on us. Bon appetit!

Winner of last issue’s competition was PAUL OKON who correctly named the building top feature we ran as being part of the Alliance Hotel in Spring Hill.

Whitsundays worth a look

PROPERTY NEWS


Investors seeking to capitalise on low sales activity can snap up a bargain in the Whitsunday property market, according to new research released by PRDnationwide.

House prices have dropped by 7.4 per cent over the six months leading up to March 2010 – to record a median price of $455,000. However, given the strong performance of this market over the past 10 years, this median still represents a very strong growth of 10.8 per cent per annum despite the recent fall in demand.
Jim Midgley, PRDnationwide managing director, said the latest finding revealed that the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach Area makes owning your dream home more attainable for those on a budget.
“Due to the price growth being stalled, the Whitsunday property market demand has softened considerably,” he said.
“To the smart investor who is in the situation to ride out the bottom of the cycle, now is the time to pick up bargains in one of Australia’s premier beachside destinations.” Report author, PRDnationwide research director Aaron Maskrey, said a resale analysis revealed houses sold within 2010 yielded annual capital growth figure of 5.5 per cent per annum for the region.
“The unit also market presents a fantastic opportunity for investors to capitalise on prices that are still below the peak experienced before the GFC,” Mr Maskrey said. The Whitsunday apartment market experienced a 10.8 per cent increase in median unit price to record $360,000.

Distorted view from on high

PROPERTY News

With the current apartment boom and the trend to buy “off the plan” many buyers may find the view they saw on the brochure may be vastly different to what they end up with after having spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects has warned.

Queensland state manager of Archicentre Ian Agnew said buying an apartment on the 15th floor of a highrise apartment building was a far different situation than purchasing a three bedroom home in the suburbs.
However, many people fail to understand the importance of nailing down every detail of their proposed apartment purchase before signing the contract of sale.
Mr Agnew said one of the biggest issues for people is just reading the plan and understanding just what 85 square metres of floor space really means in relation to space and how the living areas may connect with service areas such as the bathroom and laundry. “Even more important is which way will the living areas face? - Will they attract sunlight? - Will the view be across a park or the bay as featured in the brochure, or will you be looking straight at the wall a few metres away of the high rise building next door?”
Mr Agnew said Archicentre, well known for its pre-purchase housing inspections, is also carrying out an increasing number of 'Off The Plan Apartment Inspections' to provide people with an accurate assessment of what they are actually buying. The “Off the Plan Apartment Inspections” is where the architect would attend the display unit with the client and help them assess the floor plan and specifications for the apartment.
“These inspections assist the apartment buyer establish many basics such as whether the display unit they are being shown is the standard unit or premium unit with the upmarket kitchen and bathroom appliances and fittings, the standard of tiling and even the number of coats of paint.
“The heights of ceilings in off the plan buying is a key issue, especially as the floor space is usually comparatively small when compared to a house. It is important to have the same measurements which are in the display unit written into the contract of sale for the apartment being purchased.
“It is also important to establish in writing what is included in the apartment such as carpets and window furnishings or blinds, and what is an optional extra. Insulation in the apartment and noise barriers from neighbouring apartments, and double glazing on the windows also need to be considered.
“Where people are wanting to combine two smaller adjoining apartments as an investment and lifestyle strategy having a larger apartment at first and then scaling back to close one off to rent for retirement income in the future, it is vital to ensure these modifications can be built into the original design so they are cost effective in the future.”
Mr Agnew said “off the plan” buyers should not only be interested in the construction of their own apartment but should also look at the community facilities being provided within the apartment and the standards of construction as they will become responsible for any legal issues and repairs once they take ownership through the Owners Corporation. Larger apartment towers often provide facilities such as swimming pools and gyms for the residents.
“The major issue for anyone buying apartment 'off the plan' is to seek independent professional advice to ensure they are well informed, as once they sign on the dotted line buying 'off the plan' it is extremely difficult to reverse the decision when their apartment is built and the final payment is required,” Mr Agnew said.

A case of unbalanced reporting

FROM MY CORNER .... with Ann Brunswick

Thankfully the dancing in the streets that accompanied the final decision of two federal independent MPs to announce their choice of party to lead our nation has now died down. Honestly, it was almost impossible for me to steer my trusty Land Rover home on that afternoon after being forced to navigate around and through mountains of ticker-tape, balloons, and empty champagne bottles.

It wasn’t that people particularly wanted Julia Gillard and her Labor Party to stay on the treasury benches, it was just a display of sheer public exuberance at the fact we now have a federal government at all. Yes, don’t worry, all that was a joke. In fact most of my acquaintances had become quite accustomed to having no federal government at all.
Many wondered why, if we could stumble along without one for the best part of three weeks, why not for the next three years? But that is now not to be.
Which brings me to the treatment the online news site brisbanetimes.com.au gave to the news last Tuesday that Julia Gillard would continue as our PM. As you are by now no doubt aware, NSW independent MP Tony Windsor was first to make a few brief remarks that signalled his support for a Labor government. He was followed by fellow independent Rob Oakeshott whose speech revealing his support for Labor prompted, according to usually reliable sources, a phone call from Fidel Castro urging him to get to the point.
But, as soon as Mr Oakeshott made his intentions clear, internet news sites splashed the result. In the case of brisbanetimes.com.au they accompanied their story with a graphic featuring scales and images of Julia Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott (above).
Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to grasp the concept entirely, delivering a graphic that showed Abbott outweighing Gillard by a considerable degree. To my mind Gillard, as the winner of the independents’ support, should have outweighed Abbott. Or was it some subliminal embrace on the part of the Fairfax media group of Abbott’s continued assertions that the Coalition parties gained more votes and more seats at the August 21 poll and should have been entitled to first crack at forming a government?

***

Speaking of websites, The Courier-Mail, like other news organisations is constantly in search of fresh content for its own site. But to my mind it seems they need to keep a closer eye on what they upload. Of course videos are a popular way to attract visitors to your site as well as keeping them there.

The more interesting videos you have on your site the more people will click on them and drive up the number of visitor numbers which in turn you can show advertisers to justify you ad rates.
Well the other night my eye spied a video on the Courier’s website about a new apartment development at Milton. So naturally a few clicks of my mouse took me to it. The video was obviously supplied by the property developer and was an animated flyover of a new high-rise apartment block being built next to Milton railway station across from the famous Fourex brewery.
It was quite short but mildly interesting because it gave me a fairly good idea of how the proposed new apartment block will loom 30 storeys over its neighbours. But there was also a vague sense in the back of my mind that something was missing from the video.
A repeat viewing soon revealed what it was – the huge chimney stacks that themselves have loomed over the suburb for decades. I guess the developer just forgot they were there. Just like they forgot they had promised to build their development over the railway line but were allowed to built it next to the station because it was cheaper. And our brave civic and state leaders let them.

***

Back on the federal election briefly. Were you one of the people convinced by the commentariat to protest against the sacking of Queenslander Kevin Rudd as PM? Or for that matter, were you swayed by those suggesting it would be a fine idea to make your vote a protest one against the arguably lamentable Bligh government.

Well, guess what? You’ve woken up this morning with Anna Bligh still as Premier and hospital orderly. You’ve woken up and Kevin Rudd has still been sacked as PM – as the federal ALP caucus had every right to do under the laws of that party and the land, and a move which most sensible commentators say avoided a total rout of Labor at the polls.
If you voted against Labor because you seriously thought they hadn’t done a good job, I  mightn’t have a single bone to pick with you.
But if you are one of those people silly enough to have wasted your federal vote in such a mindless way, for such stupid reasons, take a bow! You’ve still got Anna, Kevin’s still not the PM, you’ve wasted a vote you get only once every three years to make a difference federally, and most importantly, you’ve still got a Labor Government nationally.
One, I suspect, that will vehemently deny otherwise but who no longer gives a flying rat’s about the Sunshine State and its citizens.

There’s no treason why this can’t work

POLITICS .... with Mungo MacCallum

Treason doth never prosper. What’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.

Sir John Harrington was clearly familiar with the code of the Australian Labor Party. The mob who brought down their leader on June 24 have indeed prospered, and anyone who now accuses them of an act of treachery runs a severe risk of kneecapping.

In some cases inviting the hangmen to the feast was probably justified. Bill Shorten has long been regarded as one of Labor’s brighter young Turks – even as a potential prime minister himself – so his ascent into the ministry was inevitable. Mark Arbib is more of a borderline case. He wasn’t responsible for any serious screw ups in Employment Participation and so deserved to retain his place as a junior minister. Whether he had earned a promotion involving extra and rather more serious responsibilities is, of course another question. And then we come to his fellow sinister senators, Don Farrell and David Feeney.
They have become parliamentary secretaries, hardly the height of power. But hey, it’s the first step up the greasy totem pole, and given that neither has ever shown the slightest interest or aptitude for anything other than conspiracy and self-aggrandisement, other more talented aspirants may well feel aggrieved.
Given that any hint of grievance in a minority government can easily escalate into terminal conflict, Julia Gillard is going to have to display quite extraordinary tact and diplomacy in dealing with it. And that applies in spades when it comes to the independents who gave her the numbers to form government in the first place.
It should not be forgotten that three of the four are themselves turncoats. Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott deserted the National Party and have never been forgiven for it, and never will be; as a result they are sensitive to the point of paranoia. There are hardheads in the ALP who are deeply apprehensive about their political stability. There is a Labor adage that a man who will rat once will rat again. For the moment they have prospered beyond their wildest dreams but this does not mean they will remain satisfied for three years.
And then there is Andrew Wilkie, an even looser cannon. Wilkie was once a member of the Liberal Party, then became a fervent Green; he is now in the Labor camp. At least he, like the archetypal serial rat Billy Hughes, has so far drawn the line at joining the Country Party, now the Nationals; but he can hardly be said to have settled down.
And while the fourth evangelist, Adam Bandt, seems at least to be firmly committed to his role as a Green collaborator with the government, his party is full of fanatics who will be urging him to push Labor to its limits and far beyond. The party room will be a constantly seething stew of competing interests and egos with the potential to boil over at the slightest miscalculation on the part of the chef. And Gillard is notoriously lacking in the skills of the kitchen.
This is not to say that the exercise is an impossible one. Minority governments are, after all, the natural state of democracy. Many countries have never known anything else and their diverse coalitions have not only survived but have proved remarkably effective.
It should not be forgotten that even Australia is government by coalitions more often than not; we have only recently emerged from 11 years of one. Few people noticed because the senior partner, the Liberals, sat so firmly on the junior Nationals that they seldom emerged as a separate voice. But John Howard in fact led a minority party.
In one sense Gillard is in a better position. Labor, as is almost always the case, is the largest single party in parliament and the most disciplined. If it can get through the next three years as a stable and effective administration it will have indeed proved itself as the natural party of government.
The biggest worry is that it will be too concerned about stability and not enough about effectiveness. And in this context it should summarily dismiss and ignore the querulous bleating from the opposition losers and their media cheer squad that Labor’s hold on office is somehow illegitimate.
There is only one test of legitimacy: the ability to command a majority of votes in the House of Representatives. Everything else is irrelevant. But even on the pseudo tests put forward by Abbott and his fellow innumerates Labor wins.
In its own right it holds as many seats as the Liberals and National combined; they cannot claim Tony Crook, who sits on the cross benches. Labor won more primary votes than any other single party – nearly 8 per cent more than the Liberals. The progressive parties, Labor and the Greens, easily outpolled the conservatives – the Liberals and Nationals. And when the two-party preferred vote is finalised, Labor will be comfortably ahead on that too.
By Abbott’s own reckoning, this gives Gillard more legitimacy than Howard had in1998 or for that matter Bob Hawke had in 1990 or even the sainted Sir Robert Menzies in 1954. But In any case, Abbott’s own reckoning is of no public interest.
Gillard is Prime Minister and will remain so until she loses the numbers in the lower house.
The silliest single verdict on the subject came, predictably, from Barnaby Joyce. Summing it up for his electors, he informed them gravely: “To be honest we won but the independents just didn’t agree.” Well actually, senator, the voters didn’t either. Talk about déjà vu: in 1974 the hapless Liberal leader Bill Snedden took a few seats from Gough Whitlam’s Labor government, but not enough. For months he went around the country assuring the punters: “We didn’t win, but we didn’t lose.”
Well, mate, just look at the scoreboard, Read about it in the newspapers.
And we don’t mean last Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph, whose front page consisted of a truly vicious cartoon of Julia Gillard and the headline: The Big Steal. Not only rancid but wrong. You lost. Get over it.

Lisbeth fires up .... again

FILM ... with Tim Milfull

The Girl who Played with Fire (MA15+)
Director: Daniel Alfredson
Stars: Noomi Rapace, Peter Andersson
Rating: 3.5/5
129-minutes, screening from 23 Sept

The second in Stieg Larsson’s The Girl who… series comes to Australian screens next week, and armies of the books’ fans will be loyally tromping into cinemas to see how Lisbeth and Mikael deal with their latest adventure.

I’m one of the guilty few that hasn’t read the novels, but I’m well aware that the plot of the film is necessarily less complex than the novel. Despite this, director Daniel Alfredson, who helmed the first adaptation, offers an even more tense ride this time, putting both his cast and the audience through some harrowing paces. For the benefit of the ignorant, Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) returns to Sweden from her lush hideaway in the tropics to ensure the continued subjugation of her former tormenter and legal guardian Bjurman (Peter Andersson).
But the latter has some shady connections that mean Lisbeth’s homecoming is noticed by the wrong people, and soon she is framed for murder and on the run. Mikael Blomqvist, fresh from his incarceration for defamation, and on the hunt for new leads for a story about sex slavery, is suddenly concerned for Lisbeth’s safety, as she is credited for one murder after another.
The good news – and there’s no bad news– is that Alfredson once again succeeds in unnerving the audience with tight plotting, freakish scenarios, and two or three abhorrent new villains.
David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, and The Social Network) is currently filming the Hollywood version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, with Daniel Craig taking on the Mikael Blomkvist role, and relative unknown Rooney Mara wearing Lisbeth’s tattoo.
How and whether Fincher and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Steven Zaillian transport a very Scandinavian story to US shores remains to be seen, but they’ll have to work hard to satisfy Larsson’s Legion.




Ethnics targeted with ethics and humour

The Reluctant Infidel (MA15+)
Director: Josh Appignanesi
Stars: Omid Djalili, Archie Panjabi
Rating: 3.5/5
98-minutes, screening from 16th Sept

There’s not exactly a surplus of comedies about Moslems at the moment but the fact that there are two playing on Brisbane screens this week is interesting – and take note, these aren’t derogatory films but affectionate and sometimes poignant portrayals of a much maligned section of our community.

While Chris Morris’s Four Lions tackles the much more controversial territory of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorist acts with very funny (and really quite tragic) consequences, director Josh Appignanesi takes a more restrained route, concentrating on the impact of fundamentalism on a relatively ordinary Moslem family.
Taxicab company-owner and lapsed-Moslem, Mahmoud (stand-up comedian, Omid Djalili) delights in tormenting his Pakistani wife, Saamiya (Archie Panjabi) by teaching his young daughter jihadi slogans and arming her with a plastic scimitar. Their twentysomething son, Rashid (Amit Shah) is desperate to marry the beautiful Uzma (Soraya Radford), but knows his new step-father-in-law, the ultra-radical celebrity cleric, Arshad El Masri (Yigal Naor) will drive his very moderate father nuts.
Surprisingly, when Mahmoud finds out about his soon to be in-law, he eventually becomes the epitome of patience and understanding, determined to keep things smooth for his son. But things become complicated when Mahmoud finds his birth certificate in his late mother’s belongings, and realises that he was adopted, and worse, from Jewish birth parents.
With a wedding looming, and the prospect of reuniting with his long-lost father aggravated by a very stubborn rabbi (played to hilarious effect by Little Britain’s Matt Lucas), Mahmoud’s only hope lies in calling on the misanthropic cabbie, Lenny (The West Wing’s Richard Schiff) for guidance in how to be a good Jew. All the elements are here for a very funny film, and while Appignanesi and his cast and crew are careful to treat all of their ethnic targets with respect, they still manage to find the amusing sides to these cultural collisions.



A fine figment of the imagination

The Tree (M)
Director: Julie Bertucelli
Stars: Aden Young, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Morgana Davies
Rating: 3/5
97-minutes, screening from 30 Sept.

Writer-director Julie Bertucelli’s beautiful 2003 film Since Otar Left focussed on migration in Europe. Almost seven years later, Bertucelli has resurfaced, directing The Tree, a French-Australian production filmed entirely in and around south-west Queensland and adapted from Judy Pascoe’s novel, Our Father Who Art in the Tree.

The Tree has a spectacular opening, with Aden Young’s Peter driving a Queenslander from the Outback to the coast. After picking up his charming young daughter, Simone (Morgana Davies) from a rail siding, where she is playing chicken with trains, he returns home, and life forever changes for the O’Neill family.
Charlotte Gainsbourg plays Peter’s wife, Dawn, and within minutes of the credits, her character is numb with depression, and almost unaware of her kids’ existence.
While the nearly adult Tim (Christian Byers) struggles to keep his family together, and the much younger Charlie (Gabriel Gotting) worries about his mother, Simone realises that the massive Moreton Bay Fig shading their sprawling house might just offer a connection with their missing father.
Bertucelli draws an unusually naïve performance from the well-respected Gainsbourg as Dawn, but The Tree is really much more about how the O’Neill children cope with grief and loss, and the three young actors deliver excellent performances to complement those of the adults, including the gruff, but empathic Marton Csokas as George.
This is a charming, beautifully shot film, but be quick and see this one, as films like this don’t hang around too long in Australian cinemas.

Australia’s other Red Centre

WINE ... with David Bray

Coonawarra came to town and it was good. It was good to see that this long-established and highly respected wine-producing area is determined not to be left behind by comparative newcomers.

Coonawarra – from a local Aboriginal word meaning honeysuckle – is the source of some our best wines, especially the reds. So much so that the enthusiasts like to call it Australia’s other Red Centre.
The reputation is built on a cigar-shaped ribbon of red soil, about 27 kilometres long and 1.8 kilometres wide. This long skinny strip contains the most sought-after vineyard dirt in the country. The locals call it terra rossa and reckon that when the sun hits the soil, it positively glows a vibrant rusty red.
But wait, there’s more: this fabulous topsoil covers a bedrock of porous limestone, helping winter drainage and summer moisture retention. Over many years this has made Coonawarra one of the world’s great cabernet sauvignon regions, producing low-yielding and intensely flavoured grapes, helped by the cool to moderate climate of long dry autumn days and cool nights. This happens quite a long way from the big smoke, in south-east South Australia, about 375 kilometres from Adelaide and a bit more from Melbourne.
There are about 20 wineries here, a few more cellar door outlets. Some of them have been here for a long time, by Australian standards.
Go back to 1890, when the enterprising settler John Riddoch set up the Coonawarra Fruit Colony. The son of a Scottish crofter, Riddoch made his money as a storekeeper on the Ballarat gold fields before buying Yallum Estate from where he represented his district in parliament and entertained members of the royal family.
Good times and ordinary ones followed. In 1936 a glut of grapes, especially from irrigated areas, together with Coonawarra’s distance from the market, led to the government offering Coonawarra growers $9 an acre to rip up their vines and convert the land to dairy farms. By the end of the 30s, only 600 acres still stood.
Things really began looking up with major development here, as in the Australian wine industry generally, in the early 1960s. In 1993 the first moves took place to have the Coonawarra region determined as a Geographical Indication in Australia. This designation describes a specific region, protecting the integrity of the label and safeguarding consumers. Big controversy, but that’s another story.
There are now about 13,590 acres of vineyards planted, half of them to cabernet sauvignon. The southern end of the Coonawarra terra rossa soil enters the township of Penola, which has been home to such notable people as the poets John Shaw Neilson, Will Ogilvey, Adam Lindsay Gordon, the prominent theologians Mother Mary MacKillop (soon to be Australia’s first saint), Father Julian Tennyson Woods, the explorer Larry Wells and later, the noted Australian arctic explorer John Rymill.
As I said earlier, all this happens quite some way from Brisbane town and those southern cities. So the grape growers and winemakers have to co-operate and work particularly hard to promote their wares.
Hence the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations and Barrel Series Wine Auction, which are scheduled for October 15 to 17. The Coonawarra Vignerons Association brought its people to Brisbane (and to the other capitals) to showcase their wares, specifically more 100 wines, including those of vintage 2009 that will be auctioned. There will be 20 cases of each wine on offer, sold in five-case lots. The average price last year was $60 a bottle.
Here were names you would know and some you might not. Seven of them were chosen for this year’s auction to “represent the vintage and style variations within Coonawarra”. They are DiGiorgio Family, Katnook, Lindemans, Penley, Reschke, Wynns, Yalumba The Menzies. The others on show were Balnaves, Banks Thargo, Blok Estate, Bowen Estate, Brand’s Laira, Flint’s, Highbank, Hollick, Hundreds of Coma, Jim Barry, Kidman, Koonwarra, Ladbroke Grove, Leconfield, Magellan, Parker, Patrick T, Penley Estate, Petaluma, Punters Corner, Raidis Estate, Redman, Rymill, Zema.
They are an impressive lot, wines of real quality. One more thing. Proceeds from the auction go to prostate research, a subject quite close to my heart.

• More information about the cabernet weekend, including the auction is at www.coonawarra.org