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Canberra Today 25°/29° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Leigh reports from the burger frontline

HIGH-profile ABC journalist Leigh Sales, who is on maternity leave from presenting the “7.30” program, found herself in Kingston in a tedious queue at the re-located Brodburger cafe in the Canberra Glassworks. She passed the time tweeting. You need to read from the bottom up.

 

Bourke and the art of cringe

ONE of the hottest podcasts in Canberra right now is the cringe-worthy interview between Education Minister Dr Chris Bourke and 2CC Drive presenter Mike Welsh.

The minister fumbled and mumbled as the award-winning broadcaster probed about a bullying case at an ACT high school.

Bourke, who appeared not to be entirely across the issue, was smashed by Welsh over his lack of communication with the concerned parent of the bullied victim.

“You’re an absolute failure as a minister,” Welsh said in the interview, Welsh: “You’re office has had the information from the Opposition, from Kate Lundy’s office and from the father, all of which has apparently gone missing.”

Bourke: “Nothing’s gone missing.”

Welsh: “Again I will ask you, are you fully across your portfolio as Minister for Education?”

Bourke: “Yes I am.”

The interview, described as “embarrassing” by the Opposition made its way into the Assembly’s Question Time when Liberal education spokesperson Steve Doszpot asked whether Bourke stood by his comments that he was confident with the way the department had handled the matter.

“Yes, I thought it was an embarrassing display by Mr Welsh of confected outrage,” Bourke said, and after some interjections from the Opposition: “In fact, it echoed the earlier press releases put out by Mr Doszpot with further confected outrage. Mr Speaker, I am satisfied with the directorate’s handling of this matter.”

Doszpot said later: “This is not the case of a man who could do better, this is a man who clearly tries his hardest, but is just not up to the job.”

To listen to the interview visit http://2cc.net.au/podcasts.html and go to “12 Most Popular”.

 

Club’s not leaving the House

FALSE alarm! Well, kind of. When the news hit that Canberra House would be redeveloped and tenants needed to be out by October hit the media last month, it certainly was news; news to the building’s biggest tenant, the Canberra Club.

According to Canberra Club president John Bundock, the first time he heard about it was on the radio!

Mr Bundock said his home phone and email was inundated with messages from people concerned with the club’s possible relocation.

But in an email to members he’s attempted to put minds at ease saying: “The club has not been given notice to vacate” and that, as part of its lease agreement, the club is entitled to at least nine months’ notice if the landlord wanted to redevelop the premises.

Mr Bandock told “CC” that although they were aware the landlord Prime Space Property Investment had intentions of redevelopment, no notice has been sent to the club.

“We’d like the certainty, but unlike other tenants we have a nine months’ provision,” he says.

The Canberra Club is a 30 per cent shareholder into the Canberra House Trust and, although it’s a “minority share”, Mr Bandock would still like to see some urgency put on whether or not the building will be redeveloped.

 

When chiefs gather

IF you ever wondered where former chief ministers go to… “CC” can tell you – it’s Tosolinis! The ACT’s first Chief Minister Rosemary Follett was seen in animated conversation in a dark corner of the popular city coffee shop with our last CM Jon Stanhope the other morning.

 

Chairman Len steps down

THE indefatigable Len Goodman has stepped down after a huge 13-year contribution as chairman of Burgmann College. The ANU college has been the alma mater of political luminaries such as former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, former Liberal powerbroker and senator Nick Minchin and current former rock icon and present Federal Schools Minister Peter Garrett.

 

The iToddler trolley

WE’VE done iPad as a watch (“CC” March 22), now iPad as a toddler pacifier. Snapper to the Stars Silas Brown spotted this happy toddler, Zac, enjoying a movie on an iPad from inside a trolley while his mum was shopping at the new Majura Park Shopping Centre.

When asked if Zac enjoyed the set-up, his mum – who didn’t want to be photographed – replied: “Well I like it because it keeps him quiet!”

 


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