Broadway Cowboy of Australia

It seems like only a year or two ago that David Campbell, the shape-shifting Australian pop singer, was hailed as the next big thing when he became the youngest performer ever to open at the Rainbow and Stars cabaret, now defunct, in Rockefeller Center. But the year was actually 1997, and Mr. Campbell was a 24-year-old eager beaver of seemingly boundless confidence and ambition. Although American stardom eluded him, he went on to establish himself as a top-of-the-line musical theater performer in his homeland while continuing to pay visits to the United States.

Now Mr. Campbell is back, at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, where he opened a five-night engagement on Sunday evening. At 37, he is a garrulous, sock-it-to-’em entertainer: a kind of music-hall cowboy executing the vocal equivalent of flashy rodeo feats as he dashes from one style to another. An unusually physical performer, Mr. Campbell, who is backed by a pop quartet, illustrates songs with broad, decisive gestures that suggest an entertainer still bent on world conquest. 

The show celebrates his recent Sony Masterworks CD, “On Broadway,” whose songs include barnburners like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “Being Alive” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Mr. Campbell’s voice has strengthened and coarsened. He sounds more than ever like Peter Allen, one of his original idols, whose song “When I Get My Name in Lights” opened Sunday’s show. 

The more forcefully Mr. Campbell belts, the more astringent his tone becomes. As he pounded out the Young Rascals’ hit “How Can I Be Sure?,” shading his voice from a high tenor into a hard falsetto, he recalled Freddie Mercury of Queen. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” became a crude showpiece for delivering sustained high notes. One of the most successful numbers was a punchy, swinging “Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls.” 

Mr. Campbell rarely showed his quieter side. But when he relaxed to croon “My Funny Valentine,” he conjured the faraway sound of Chet Baker lost in a reverie; you could discern hints of an introvert hiding under the razzle-dazzle. 

David Campbell performs through Thursday at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue, at 61st Street; (212) 339-4095, feinsteinsattheregency.com.

Source  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/arts/music/01campbell.html?_r=1

Small firms on top for employee engagement

Small businesses are better at engaging employees than their larger counterparts because they offer incentives other than big pay packets, according to a new survey.

The Australian Institute of Management surveyed a total of 3,368 businesspeople about employee engagement, and found small businesses do it much better than their larger counterparts.

According to the survey, 65% of respondents from small businesses say they care about the future of their organisation, compared to 49% of those in large businesses.

Only 10% of people working with large organisations “strongly agree” they feel appreciated by their employers, compared to 26% of those in small organisations.

Thirty three per cent of survey participants said they are considering leaving their employer. Of that number, 50% are planning to leave in the next year.

Susan Heron, chief executive of AIM Victoria and Tasmania, says the survey reveals a high level of employee disengagement in the Australian workplace as a result of poor management.

The survey also reveals that one third of Australian managers admit they are underperforming at work.

“This shock finding reveals too many Australian organisations lack effective leadership and drive, and are delivering substandard outcomes to their customers and other key stakeholders,” Heron says.

“The flow-on negative impact of such underachievement is enormous when you take the big picture view of the Australian economy.”

Heron says big pay packets are not enough to retain employees, with the survey revealing that pay is ranked tenth on the list of factors keeping participants in their current jobs.

“In the survey, pay is ranked well behind ‘no career advancement’ as the key reason people are considering a move,” she says.

“Even for those people who are looking to leave their employer, pay is not the most important motivating factor.”

“Employers need to consider a wide range of engagement factors such as job satisfaction, good relationships with coworkers, new and interesting challenges, feeling valued, training and development, flexible work arrangements, as well as pay.”

Heron says the challenge for start-ups is to understand the skills it requires for success, and to devise strategy with regard to the recruitment and retention of staff.

“In any company it comes down to cash flow, but particularly in a start-up. You want your bottom line to be black and the only way you will get that is with good people,” she says.

“If smaller organisations get it wrong – [with regard to staff recruitment], it can be devastating because there is no room for margin.”

Heron says start-ups have an opportunity to negotiate with their staff regarding employee benefits and offer tailored packages.

According to the survey, the sectors providing the greatest career and employment opportunities are IT and communication services, consulting and professional services, finance and insurance, mining, and education and training.

Survey participants identified the top 10 employee benefits that organisations provide:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Salary sacrifice.
• Mobile phones/laptops.
• Time in lieu.
• Bonus schemes.
• Training/study allowance.
• Work from home.
• Employee discounts on products and services.
• Free car parking.
• Novated leases.

Source  http://www.startupsmart.com.au/management/2010-11-30/small-firms-on-top-for-employee-engagement.html

South Australian wine listed as top ten in the world

A Barossa Valley wine has been named as one of the top wines in the world by US magazine Wine Spectator.

The 2008 Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz was placed at number seven by the magazine.

Schild Estate General Manager John Retsas welcomed the win.

“This is a huge win for a family-owned winery like Schild, but also for the Barossa as a whole,” he said.

“This proves that the Barossa Valley really is the greatest region in the world for growing Shiraz.”

According to Mr Retsas, the achievement is partly thanks to the winery’s winemaker Scott Hazeldine, who joined Schild’s Estate last year.

The Barossa Valley winery released a new winery site earlier this year, an investment of $4 million in the Barossa region. Schild Estate Wines has received previous praise from Wine Spectator magazine for its Barossa Shiraz vintages including the 2004, 2005 and 2007 wines.

Wine Spectator Editor at Large, Harvey Steiman, said the 2008 Barossa Shiraz “may rank as the biggest over-achiever in Top 10 history.”

Mr Steiman described the 2008 Barossa Shiraz as “polished, ripe and complex, offering roasted meat and walnut accents to its black cherry, and blackberry, tobacco and liquorice aromas and flavours.”

Source  http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/south-australian-wine-listed-as-top-ten-in-the-wor

China arrests top Australian businessman Matthew Ng

A TOP Australian businessman has been detained by police in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on suspicion of embezzlement. 

 

Mr Ng, 44, is the chief executive of Et-China, a leading travel services group. He is being questioned over the alleged misappropriation of company assets.

The company is based in the tax haven of Jersey and listed on the AIM stock exchange in London and has a joint venture with China's biggest airline, the state-owned China Southern.

A statement by Mr Ng's company and posted on the internet said he had been detained by Guangzhou police as part of their investigations.

"At present, Et-China has no further information about the cause of his detention. As far as Et-China is aware . . . Matthew Ng has not been charged with any offence," the statement said.

Mr Ng's detention follows the arrest and conviction of Rio Tinto's chief iron ore salesman in China, Stern Hu.

Along with three colleagues, Hu was found guilty of taking bribes. Nine months ago he was sentenced to 11 years in a Shanghai prison. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson last night confirmed "the detention of a 44-year-old Australian man, a long-term resident of China, on Tuesday, November 16, on suspicion of embezzling".

"Consular officers in Guangzhou visited the man in detention on November 18 and will continue to monitor his welfare," the spokesperson said.

At Et-China's annual meeting in April, Mr Ng said that in March the company had identified a fraud that had been committed by an employee in GZL during the course of last year.

Before he co-founded Et-China in 2000, Mr Ng, a father of two young children, worked as an investment banker in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, including roles at the Commonwealth Bank and First KL Capital.

Source  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/china-arrests-top-australian-businesman-matthew-ng/story-e6frf7lo-1225961234688

Australia to host world's largest LNG Conference in 2016

Australian Gas Industry Trust Chairman, Ian Little, said the LNG conference Steering Committee’s decision to hold LNG-18 in Australia in 2016 reflected the international gas industry’s esteem for Australia.

“In 2016, Perth will host more than 5,000 international representatives and exhibitors from the global LNG industry,” Little said. “In building on Australia’s success in hosting LNG-12 in 1998, I have no doubt that LNG-18 will be the most successful LNG conference yet.”

The LNG conference is held every three years and alternates between producing and consuming countries. The next LNG conference is scheduled for Houston, Texas in 2013.

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) says the international gas industry’s decision to host LNG-18 in Australia reflects the growing global importance of Australia as an LNG producer.

APPEA’s Chief Executive, Belinda Robinson, said: “Australia is already a world class LNG exporter and we have the most ambitious and most innovative LNG expansion plans of any country in the world.

“We will be the first country in the world to develop a coal seam gas-based LNG sector and we are a strong contender to host the world’s first floating LNG project. By 2016, we will be well on our way to becoming the world’s top LNG producer.”

Little said LNG-18 provides a great opportunity to showcase Australia’s LNG industry and share its enthusiasm and achievements with the rest of the world.

“In bringing thousands of business leaders to Australia, LNG-18 will not only be good for LNG business but will deliver a significant boost to Perth’s local economy and tourism,” he said.

Representatives of the Australian natural gas industry in Houston to promote Australia’s bid include Ian Little, Managing Director, Envestra; Belinda Robinson, CEO of APPEA; Grant King, Managing Director, Origin Energy and Chairman of the LNG-18 Bid Advisory Committee; and Anne Nolan, Director General of the WA Department of State Development. The bid was supported by Australia's leading LNG operators - Woodside Energy, Chevron Australia and ConocoPhillips.

The bid to host LNG-18 was put forward by the Australian Gas Industry Trust, an organisation dedicated to providing education, professional development and research to support the natural gas industry, and supported by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.

Source  http://www.pacetoday.com.au/news/australia-to-host-worlds-largest-lng-conference-i

Are Australia’s Bars the Best?

A new report says two Melbourne bars are the tops in the region, beating out competition from Mumbai, New Delhi and Tokyo, among other cities.

Der Raum, whose specialties include German brews, was named the region’s best bar and the 12th best in the world by Drinks International, a magazine covering the global market in beer, wine and spirits. Melbourne rival Black Pearl — currently under renovation — was just behind at No. 13. 

Other Asia-Pacific bars making the magazine’s latest global top 50, out last week, include Q’Ba in New Delhi; Matterhorn in Wellington, New Zealand; and Tokyo’s Star Bar. (The best bar in the world, by its reckoning, is London’s Milk & Honey, with PDT in New York the runner-up.)

But what makes Australian bars so cool? Scene sent reporter Lyndal McFarland to Melbourne’s finest (Der Raum and fellow top-50 member 1806) to find out. For good measure, reporter Cynthia Koons checked out two of Sydney’s top spots, Ivy Bar and Zeta.

Der Raum
438 Church St., Richmond

Cocktails are serious business at Der Raum (German for “the room”), located in the hip inner city suburb of Richmond. The bar itself, with more than 100 bottles of premium and exotic spirits suspended bungee-style from the ceiling, rightly commands attention in an otherwise sparsely decorated but comfortable space. Pull up a chair and watch the skilled bartenders bring Der Raum’s imaginative and comprehensive cocktail list to life with fresh ingredients (and in some cases, liquid nitrogen). Drinks here aren’t cheap but are certainly memorable. No detail is overlooked, from the complimentary amuse-bouche of chamomile vapors to awaken the palate to the oftentimes surprising ways drinks are presented. Der Raum’s Jamaican Black Strap, for example, is served in a brown bottle that could have come straight from the 1920s, complete with brown paper bag. Also try Pharmacy, a delicious mix-it-yourself concoction sure to draw attention. Administer Pharmacy’s syringe of Aperol to a medical jar of pear and roasted capsicum gin, pop in the house-made pill of sherbet, screw the lid on, give it a quick shake and then enjoy. True it its name, Der Raum is strong in German beers; it also has a particularly comprehensive absinthe list, running to 24. Der Raum attracts a mix of well-dressed locals and out-of-towners lucky enough to have heard about this out-of-the-way venue. 

1806
169 Exhibition St.

Named for the year “cocktail” was first defined in print (according to the Oxford English Dictionary), 1806 in Melbourne’s city center is all about history. Its impressive cocktail list maps out a timeline stretching back more than 250 years, from the 1756 Fish House Punch — a rum-based concoction said to be the official refreshment of the oldest club in America — to more-recent tipples like the 20th Century (gin, lemon, Lillet blanc and chocolate), popular in the 1930s. Each comes with a back story and there’s a section for each decade from 1806 to today. The space is cozy and comfortable, with leather lounges and muted lighting, drawing a grown-up crowd. With velvet curtains surrounding the bar, 1806 retains the feel of the theater it once was, with the cocktails and helpful bar staff taking center stage. For those wanting more, on the first Saturday of every month 1806 offers four-hour lessons on how make your own perfect cocktail. 

The Ivy
320/330 George St.

At Sydney’s Ivy Bar, just off a main thoroughfare in the city’s business district, the first floor surrounds an open-air courtyard where paper lanterns hang from a tree, white wicker chairs surround matching white tables and menus and coasters sport the venue’s distinctive yellow-and-white-striped theme. Drinks include Fig-Tree Martinis, Wild Thyme and Elderflower Fizz and Mint Juleps.The bar attracts a see-and-be-seen crowd of young aspiring financiers and girls vying for their attention. On Thursdays, DJs spin a fun mix of hip ’80s music and current electro-pop — at times too loud for conversation. You can get sandwiches, burgers, steak and salads, but don’t wait for a waitress: The Ivy is self-serve. The food is reliable, the French fries are abnormally large and the drinks, served in plastic wine and beer glasses, are reasonably priced. All in all, the Ivy’s worth stopping by for a taste of Sydney’s very own gilded era.

Zeta Bar
488 George St. (Hilton Hotel)

Jazz is playing as you enter the elevator to the fourth floor, where the dark, sultry Zeta Bar occupies a long room with remarkably high ceilings. Clusters of black leather sofas give patrons an element of privacy; those looking for more intimacy can reserve a semi-private alcove across from the bar. At the far end of the room, a large patio opens up to a view of Sydney’s historic Queen Victoria Building — the one sign this isn’t in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. (Zeta was designed by New Yorker Tony Chi.) Zeta’s menu, while difficult to read in the dim lighting, contains an impressive range of cocktails, from a Spiced Agave Margarita to a Grilled Pineapple and Pepper Martini. The featured drink, a Smoked Bacon and Maple Syrup Manhattan (breakfast of champions!) is topped with a strip of American-style bacon, a rarity in Sydney. Despite Zeta’s best efforts to shake the hotel-bar stigma, there’s still the feel of a place designed for clandestine meetings between guests. That’s not to say Zeta doesn’t have style; it attracts a smartly dressed, subdued crowd. For a break from the Sydney pub scene, Zeta’s worth a visit for a classy cocktail and a slice of Manhattan down under.

Source  http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2010/11/23/are-australias-bars-the-best/

Australian, N.Z. Dollars Weaken as Ireland Debt Problems Damp Yield Demand

The Australian and New Zealand dollars fell after the Irish government called elections and Moody’s Investors Service said it may announce a “multi-notch” downgrade of the European nation.

Australia’s currency weakened for a third day versus the yen on concern Ireland’s debt crisis will lead to contagion to other European nations such as Portugal and Spain, damping demand for higher-yielding assets. Both South Pacific currencies also dropped as Asian stocks and commodities including oil and copper declined. 

“Ireland has negative consequences for the whole euro zone and that’s why the euro is being punished,” said Imre Speizer, a market strategist at Westpac Banking Corp. in Wellington. The Australian and New Zealand dollars will trade with “a mild negative tone,” he said. 

Australia’s currency declined to 82.20 yen as of 3:08 p.m. in Sydney from 82.37 yen in New York yesterday. The so-called Aussie fell 0.3 percent to 98.61 U.S. cents. New Zealand’s dollar slipped 0.2 percent to 64.21 yen, and lost 0.2 percent to to 77.03 U.S. cents. 

Ireland’s Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced he would seek an election yesterday after the Green Party said it would pull out of his coalition. He said the vote will come early next year after passage of a 2011 budget. 

Hewlett-Packard Co., based in Palo Alto, California, said yesterday it may reconsider its investment in Ireland should the nation increase its 12.5 percent company tax rate as part of a deal to secure aid from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. 

‘Largely Unconvinced’ 

“Markets remain largely unconvinced about the positive impact of the Irish bailout,” Valentin Marinov, a currency strategist at Citigroup Inc. in London, wrote in a research note. The “controversial issue” of corporate taxes added to “concerns that the rescue package negotiations could be protracted,” Marinov said.

The extra yield investors demand to hold Irish, Spanish and Portuguese 10-year debt rather than German bunds rose yesterday. 

Declines in the New Zealand dollar were tempered after Moody’s Investors Service said the government’s finances were “relatively strong.” The nation’s performance during the global financial crisis “reinforced” its Aaa rating for New Zealand, Moody’s said. 

“Overall the debt levels are still lower than the majority of countries we rate Aaa,” said Steven Hess, senior credit officer in New York for Moody’s. “We see government finances as relatively strong, even though they are not as strong as they were in an absolute sense.” 

Credit Rating 

The so-called kiwi slumped 0.9 percent versus the dollar yesterday after Standard & Poor’s lowered its credit-rating outlook for New Zealand to negative. 

New Zealand company executives kept their expectations for inflation unchanged, a survey conducted for the central bank showed. Inflation will average 2.6 percent in two years’ time, according to the 78 business managers surveyed. The results were published on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Web site. 

Australian bond futures rose, with the 10-year contract for December delivery climbing to 94.53 on the Sydney Futures Exchange from 94.48 yesterday. The implied yield on the futures fell five basis points to 5.48 percent. 

Source  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-22/australian-dollar-falls-for-third-day-versus-yen-on-ireland-debt-concerns.html

Vote for your favourite 2010 tennis moment

SAMANTHA Stosur's French Open run or the record-breaking 11-hour Wimbledon match?

Roger Federer's demolition of Andy Murray in the Australian Open final or Rafael Nadal's third Grand Slam title of the year?

The 2010 world tennis season had a little bit of everything, and we want you to help pick the best moment of the year.

MOMENT 1 - Roger Federer's demolition of Andy Murray in the Australian Open Final.

Scottish player Andy Murray was hoping to end a 74-year drought for British men at Grand Slams, but he copped a hiding from Roger Federer, going down in three sets.

After the match, an emotional Murray said: "I can cry like Roger. It's just a shame I can't play like him", referring to Federer's tears after losing the same tournament the previous year.

Top tennis moments of 2010

Watch it here.

MOMENT 2 - Sam Stosur's run to the French Open final.

 

Australian Samantha Stosur emerged from a harrowing series of high pressure matches to book a berth in the final at Roland Garros.

She played one of the matches of the tournament and of her career in taking down Serena Williams in three enthralling sets in the quarter-final, but could not replicate her form in the final, losing to Italian Francesca Schiavone.

Watch it here.

MOMENT 3 - Inser and Mahut's record-breaking Wimbledon match.

It was the stalemate to end all stalemates, and was eventually dubbed the "greatest match ever" after breaking the record for the longest tennis match.

When John Isner and Nicholas Mahut stepped on court in the first round at Wimbledon, no one expected that two days later, after 11 hours and six minutes of matchplay, the pair would still be out there.

The pair could not penetrate each others' serve in the deciding set, until the Frenchman Mahut finally cracked to hand American Isner the match, 70-68 in the fifth set.

The final set alone lasted eight hours and 11 minutes.

Watch it here.

MOMENT 4 - Rafael Nadal wins US Open

Rafael Nadal became only the sixth man in history to have won all four Grand Slam titles when he won the US Open in September.

In taking down Novak Djokovic in four sets, it also meant Nadal had won three Grand Slams in a row, after winning Wimbledon and the French Open earlier in the year.

Watch it here.

MOMENT 5 - Kim Clijsters wins second straight US Open.

Kim Clijsters, announced her return to the game's top flight when she won the 2009 US Open, and she backed it up this year with a crushing 6-2 6-1 win over Vera Zvonereva in the final.

Clijsters beat Samantha Stosur, Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams on her way to collecting the title.

MEANWHILE, Australia's most outstanding elite tennis player will be named on December 3 at the Australian tennis awards.

Women's star and world No. 6 Samantha Stosur is expected to figure prominently at the awards and could take home the Newcombe Medal

The prize is named after Australian tennis legend John Newcombe, the winner of 17 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

The Australian Tennis Awards will feature categories for Community Tennis, Tournaments, Athlete Development and Coaching, and awards such as the Volunteer Achievement Award, Most Outstanding Club, Excellence in Officiating, Junior Athlete of the Year, Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability and Coaching Excellence in both Club and High Performance categories.

Source  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/pick-your-best-2010-tennis-moment/story-e6frf9if-1225959197704

Australia shares ease 0.2 pct as global woes hurt

Australian shares slipped 0.2 percent on Friday, taking losses to the second straight week as investors fretted over Ireland's debt woes and a possible Chinese interest rate hike.

Investors sentiment was also weakened after the country's top IPO in more than a decade was indicated to have pulled in bids at the lower end of the indicated range. [ID:nSGE6AH0K2]

But dominant telephone firm Telstra (TLS.AX

TELSTRA FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

2.620 +0.060 +2.340%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

TLS.AX , 2.620, +0.060, +2.340%) bucked the trend, gaining 2.3 percent after it affirmed its earnings and dividend guidance, and said it was addressing the problems which it viewed had led to a "materially undervalued" stock. [ID:nSGE6AH0K0].

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO

S&P/ASX 20019 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Value Change % Change

4629.2 -10.9 -0.2%

* Australian indices

* International indices

.AXJO , 4629.2, -10.9, -0.2%) lost 10.95 points to 4,629.20, according to latest available data after slipping in late trade as investors closed positions. It lost 0.7 percent for the week.

"Markets remain on edge as the increase in volatility and low volumes this week can attest," David Taylor, an analyst at CMC Markets said, referring to the waning risk appetite and late sell off.

"It's likely attention will remain on the three 'flash points' of the world international stage: Ireland and the euro zone, China and the US," he added.

Uncertainty about the Irish crisis eased after Dublin agreed to work with a European Union-International Monetary Fund mission on steps to shore up its battered banking sector. [ID:nLDE6AH0HV] [ID:nLDE68T0MG].

But investors remained sceptical that any rebound in risk appetite would be sustained, with fiscal problems still severe in Ireland and other peripheral euro zone countries, and many investors inclined to cut risk exposure before year-end.

Global miners BHP Billiton (BHP.AX

BHP BLT FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

43.610 -0.190 -0.430%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

BHP.AX , 43.610, -0.190, -0.430%) fell 0.4 percent and Rio Tinto (RIO.AX

RIO TINTO FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

84.300 -0.100 -0.120%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

RIO.AX , 84.300, -0.100, -0.120%) slipped 0.1 percent on concerns about a Chinese rate hike. China is the biggest consumer of Australian resources. Separately, consultations with Australia's mining industry on a planned profits-based tax have concluded, the government said, adding negotiations were "constructive" [ID:nSYU010699].

Bank shares fell on European woes as investors feared the cost of fund will rise more for deposit deficient Australian banks. No.2 lender and top offshore debt issuer Commonwealth bank of Australia (CBA.AX

CWLTH BANK FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

48.810 -0.710 -1.430%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

CBA.AX , 48.810, -0.710, -1.430%) led losses with a 1.4 percent fall at A$48.81.

Murchison Metals (MMX.AX

MURCHISONM FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

1.220 +0.055 +4.720%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

MMX.AX , 1.220, +0.055, +4.720%) jumped 4.7 percent to A$1.22 after it said it had secured a $100 million bridge finance facility.

Oil and gas explorer Karoon Gas (KAR.AX

KAROON FPO19 November,2010

19/11/2010 21:11 Sydney, Australia.

Price Change % Change

8 +0.100 +1.270%

* Company overview

* Real-time quote

KAR.AX , 8, +0.100, +1.270%) fell as much as 9 percent to A$7.15 during trade after it scrapped a $1 billion float at its Brazilian unit, citing poor market conditions. [ID:nSGE6AH0KX]. But recovered to close 1.3 percent higher as investors felt the more than 20 percent fall since Nov 5 as excessive.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index <.NZ50> fell 0.38 percent to 3,268.15. (Reporting by Narayanan Somasundaram & Adrian Bathgate; editing by Balazs Koranyi) 

Source  http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8144303

The Australian's writers take prizes

THE Australian's WA editor, Tony Barrass, and reporter Paige Taylor have won two top prizes at the West Australian Media Awards.

Barrass last night won the Clarion Prize for the greatest contribution to West Australian journalism during the year.

"He was the first reporter who went to jail for protecting his sources," Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance state president David Cohen said. "He has always been an upholder of the code of ethics. He is a senior figure admired by all."

Barrass spent five days in jail after refusing to reveal the sources behind a story published in Perth's Sunday Times in 1989.

Taylor was a co-winner of the prestigious Lovekin prize for the best work by a newspaper journalist, for her series on outback loan shark Sam Tomarchio, who was charged with illegally operating a money-lending business after Taylor revealed he controlled the welfare payments of hundreds of Aborigines.

The other co-winners of the Lovekin were Gary Adshead and Sean Cowan, from The West Australian, for their 10-part crime series "Perth's dark underbelly".

Taylor also won the print news prize for her series of articles on Christmas Island.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/the-australians-writers-take-prizes/story-e6frg996-1225952882643

Tiger Woods out to rediscover his game in Australia

Tiger Woods justified his ranking as the world's second-best golfer Thursday with a workmanlike 2-under-par 69 in the first round of his Australian Masters title defense in Melbourne.

"It could easily have been 4-, 5-, 6-under-par today, but I'm right there," Woods said. "I'm only four back as of now."

"I really played well. I hit a lot of good shots and gave myself a bunch of looks early for birdie, and every putt was left a little bit shy."

The clubhouse leaders were locals Alistair Presnell and Adam Bland, who made the most of perfect early conditions to shoot 6-under 65s. Those with a later start, including favorites Sergio Garcia of Spain and Colombia's Camilo Vilegas, had to contend with a blustery wind.

"If I could've holed a few more putts, it could've been a really good round," said the 34-year-old, who last week lost the number-one ranking he had held for more than five years. "I've certainly not hit the ball like this in a first round. I hit it pretty good in China last week but not like this today."

At this stage last year, Woods had won five of the 16 tournaments he had played in. So far this season, he is without a win from 10 starts and has only finished in the top 10 twice - including last week's share of sixth in Shanghai.

If he keeps on failing to hole those putts, Woods would mark the end of a horrible 12 months Sunday by losing the last title he holds.

Days after last year's Australian Masters victory, Woods' world was turned upside down by stories of sex romps with any number of women other than his wife.

He is now divorced, millions of dollars poorer and without the game that once intimidated opponents.
Even his swing is in rehabilitation with new Canadian coach Sean Foley taking it apart and putting it back together again.

"We practice, we talk, we text all the time about what I'm feeling, what he wants me to do, what my misses are, what the fixes will be," the American said.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/10/2418833/tiger-woods-out-to-rediscover.html#ixzz153pJMYP8

Mentoring Essential Say Top Business Women

Top Australian business women believe that mentoring young women would prove more valuable than 'quotas' in improving gender equality at senior levels of business.

Almost three quarters of respondents (72 per cent) to a survey of state winners and finalists of the 2010 Telstra Business Women’s Awards nominated mentoring programs for talented young women as vital for greater gender equality.

Eighty-three per cent of the women surveyed said mentoring should be an essential component of a positive business culture while almost two-thirds of the women (65 per cent) said they have enjoyed the benefits of a mentor during their business careers.

Only 15 per cent favoured gender quotas in the hiring, retaining or development of women as an initiative to aid gender equality. The second-highest ranked measure was flexible working conditions and locations (60 per cent) while 40 per cent of respondents nominated practices that encourage women to apply for new roles.

The survey conducted during the past fortnight and consisting of 68 successful business women from across Australia.

The responses were split almost equally on the question of whether business should comply with government-enforceable quotas, if established, on the number of senior and middle management positions occupied by women, subject to competency standards.

Thirty-nine per cent supported the proposition but 42 per cent said business should not have to comply with quotas. While 34 per cent of those surveyed believed it should be mandatory for businesses to set publicly-reported, measurable targets for the number of women at senior and middle management, 54 per cent did not agree.

When asked to nominate the biggest obstacles to women progressing to senior roles:

• 68 per cent chose the difficulties of juggling work and life responsibilities;
• 57 per cent said women’s confidence held them back; and
• 35 per cent nominated a lack of awareness about the value that gender equality can deliver to business performance.

Lack of affordable, reliable childcare was nominated by 71 per cent of those surveyed as one of the biggest obstacles to women returning to work after having children. Sixty-three per cent chose a lack of flexible working arrangements while 38 per cent said the paucity of female role models managing senior business roles was another of the key barriers.

Forty-five per cent of those surveyed said they had experienced barriers in their career advancement that they attributed to gender bias.

Telstra Chief Marketing Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador Kate McKenzie said the 2010 Awards finalists and winners surveyed were successful business women whose views provided a valuable insight into issues currently facing women in the workplace.

“McKenzie says these women are business owners or managers in a diverse range of industries, government and Not for Profit organisations whose achievements inspire others.

The national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, now in their 16th year, will be held in Melbourne on 11 November, where the 2010 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year will be announced.

Source  http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2010/11/mentoring-essential-say-top-business-women

Australian scientist honoured with top awards

An Australian-born chemist and microbiologist has received two of the world's most prestigious scientific awards.

Professor Jillian Banfield, who was born in Armidale, has received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science and is one of five women receiving the L'Oreal-UNESCO award recognising exceptional women in science.

The awards acknowledge her groundbreaking research into how microbes alter rocks and interact with the natural world.

Professor Banfield, who is based at the University of California, Berkeley has used the awards to plead with the Australian Government to give its scientists more support.

"I think that the universities have suffered tremendously from underfunding and defunding in Australia," she said.

Professor Banfield receives $US100,000 in recognition of her contributions to science.

Source  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/10/3062418.htm?site=newcastle

PM honours Australia's top titles

An early history of Sydney and the fictional tale of a child raised by a pack of wild dogs have won the $100,000 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.

The Colony: A History Of Early Sydney by archaeologist and historian Grace Karskens was the winner of the nonfiction award, while Eva Hornung's Dog Boy was recognised in the fiction category.

The Literary Awards - Australia's richest - were established in 2008 by then prime minister Kevin Rudd to recognise and honour talented local writers.

In addition to the fiction and nonfiction categories, this year the awards were expanded to include young adult fiction and children's fiction.

Bill Condon was awarded the young adult fiction award for Confessions Of A Liar, Thief And Failed Sex God, while the children's fiction award went to Lorraine Marwood for Star Jumps.

All awards are worth $100,000. 

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Arts Minister Simon Crean presented the awards in Melbourne on Monday morning.

"Winning a Prime Minister's Literary Award is a great achievement and due recognition of an author's contribution to Australian writing, our literary tradition and our cultural landscape," Mr Crean said in a statement.

"Each of these authors is a worthy winner. 

"These terrific books promise to engage, inspire and reward their readers - and these are the characteristics of great literature."

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/08/3060399.htm?section=justin

Australia named second best place in world to live by United Nations

The United Nations has named Norway as the country with the best quality of life in the world, followed by Australia and New Zealand.

The Human Development Report 2010 calculates the wellbeing in 169 countries, taking into account health, education and income, which are combined to generate a score between zero and one. The countries are grouped into four categories: very high, high, medium, and low.

The index found that Norway with its 81 years of life expectancy and average annual income of $US59,000 was the best country in the world for quality of life – top of the list for the seventh time since 2001.

Also leading the world in human development is Australia, which was placed second in the index – a position that it has held for a number of years.

Australia’s high quality of life, relaxed lifestyle and growing economy has traditionally been a major factor in encouraging skilled migrants to move to the country. The most popular source country for those who emigrate to Australia is Great Britain.

Britain was placed 26th in the index, with the high levels of inequality in the UK leading to slower progress in human development. 

New Zealand, the United States and Ireland, in order, were placed in the top five. 

Zimbabwe came in last among the 169 nations ranked, behind Mozambique, Burundi, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Source  http://www.visabureau.com/australia/news/05-11-2010/australia-named-second-best-place-in-world-to-live-by-united-nations.aspx

Australian cities in world top 10 for industrial property rents

Three Australian cities are among the world’s most expensive places in which to rent industrial property, but a property expert claims that start-ups shouldn’t be overly concerned.

According to CB Richard Ellis research, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane placed 7^th, 9^th and 10^th respectively, with rents of $112.90, $105.75 and $103.12 per square metre for the second quarter of the year.

Tokyo topped the list, followed by London, San Paulo, Singapore and Amsterdam.

CBRE global chief economist Raymond Torto told The Australian Financial Review falling demand for industrial and logistics properties in 2008 and 2009 have brought rents back to 2003-2005 levels.

Robert Papaleo, director of strategic research at property consulting firm Charter Keck Cramer, says the research isn’t overly valid for start-ups.

“[CB Richard Ellis] would probably be looking at prime institutional-type industrial properties rather than the sort of properties that start-up businesses would be likely to have,” Papaleo says.

“They’d be industrial warehouses and distribution centres and factories – not obsolete, secondary industrial leftover bits and pieces that you’d typically find start-up businesses in.”

However, Papaleo says high rents will hurt larger businesses, which could affect start-ups.

“[Start-ups are] going to have be mindful of it because it will certainly be a significant overhead for a lot of businesses,” he says.

“I think there would be some indirect impact because obviously the rents at the top of the tree are going to filter all the way down.”

Papaleo says start-ups who do rent high calibre industrial property may have to think outside the square if the overheads get too large.

“I’m imagining lots of start-up businesses will be small businesses that don’t have the ability to move, pack up readily and go to another city, for example, that might not be as expensive,” he says.

“I think ultimately, start-up businesses – if they can’t afford the rents – will seek the next best alternative, which may in fact be working from home; the garage, the study or wherever it might be.”

Source  http://www.startupsmart.com.au/planning/2010-11-04/australian-cities-in-world-top-10-for-industrial-property-rents.html

Australia wins best health building in the world

BVN Architecture, one of Australia's largest architectural practices with offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, won the Health Category award at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) this evening (Wednesday 3 November) in Barcelona for the Youth Mental Health Building at the Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) in Camperdown, Sydney.

BVN National Director James Grose said, 'this building was designed to take into account many diverse requirements and constraints, it had to provide a human scaled and tactile environment for mental health patients on one hand and address an inner-city streetscape that combines residences and the remnants of the industrial character of Camperdown on the other'.

The jury recognised the sophisticated intervention that addresses these various requirements, by giving it the Health award over other entrants from around the world, including a hospital in the UK by Norman Foster and Partners.

The BMRI is part of the Faculty of Medicine of The University of Sydney focussed on research into mental health and clinical issues relating to the brain.

The Youth Mental Health Building consists of two floors of consulting and patient interaction and two floors of research laboratories.

The challenge was fitting this new facility into a group of existing buildings - the result is a design that is integrated into the streetscape with a translucent glass box sitting on top of an existing facade making a rich and interesting contribution to the neighbourhood.

Mr Grose commended his clients, particularly Prof Ian Hickie and Dr Max Bennett for their support through the creative and design process of this now world acclaimed project.

'This World Architecture Festival award is a tremendous confidence booster for Australian architects,' he said.

´For some time now Australian architecture has been defined on the world stage by its derivation from the unique landscape. As urban projects become more prominent, Australian design is incrementally making our cities equal to anywhere in the world,' said Mr Grose.

Source  http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/78497/20101104/australia-wins-best-health-building-in-the-world.htm