Supermarket Planning Policy

Recent articles just published in The Canberra Times reveal the extent to which the flawed ACT Goverment supermarket policy apparently led to a review of the ACT public service and its outcome: the present directorate structure. As reported earlier, developments at the Canberra International Airport with the advent of Costco and Woolworths have exposed the impotence of the ACT Government in attempting to promote supermarket competition. The ACT Government ignored previous Productivity Commission and Australian Competition and Consumer Commision studies in the construction of the policy and managed to earn the flack of the ACTPLA chief executive.

Living a Healthy Life with Long-Term Conditions

A long-term condition is any condition that lasts more than six months and has slow changes. Some examples are diabetes, asthma, arthritis, heart disease, cancer and chronic pain. Many people live with long-term conditions that impact on their lives physically, socially and emotionally.  Click for further information on a free six week course organised by Arthritis ACT

Questions remain over disused grounds

There are currently 19 neighbourhood ovals and three district playing fields sitting idle at the same time as experts rue the lack of safe and affordable sportsgrounds to assist in helping maintain healthy communities. The ACT Government intends to review the status of these potential sportsgrounds on a year-by-year basis. At current rates some communities could be waiting up to 6 or more years before their ovals and fields are given a red or green light for rejuvenation. Two of these (Lyneham and Watson) are in north Canberra. Can we really afford to have ovals sitting idle in areas with …

Canberra Airport supermarkets

The ACT supermarket policy has just hit a roadblock with the announcement that Woolworths will join Costco in a major wholesale supermarket shakeup, after Canberra Airport was forced to look for a new tenant because of the continuing demise of Brand Depot. The only possible benefit to other supermarkets in the ACT from this development is that Costco might become an alternative wholesale supplier for smaller IGA’s and Supabarn in addition to Metcash, as well as Costco being a competitor to Woolworths in wholesale goods. A wide-ranging newspaper dialogue on this topic has just taken place.

Lifeline calls to be free from mobiles

Mobile phone calls to Lifeline are to become free from anywhere in Australia. The Federal Government says mobile phone companies have agreed not to charge people calling the helpline number. Mental Health Minister Mark Butler says the phone companies will be compensated by the Government. He says nearly one third of all calls to Lifeline are from mobile phones.

NCCC Meeting 22 June – Summary

Talks at the NCCC June 22 2012 meeting were informative. The Greens proposed Rental Housing Bill has been given little likelihood of passing, despite its laudable environmental and social intentions. At the moment only the four ACT Greens members support the bill. Debate in the ACT Legislative Assembly is scheduled for August 2011.