Media Releases
The Moving Galleries Spring 2007 exhibition, featuring the work of Victorian poets
and artists, was launched today at Flinders Street Station.
The second in a series of Melbourne-based travelling exhibitions, Moving Galleries
Spring 2007 has two new and unique qualities: The 18 artworks are by emerging
Victorian artists who were put forward by Melbourne’s iconic Artist-Run Initiatives,
and the 36 ‘rooku’ poems were selected from over 1000 poems submitted by the
public.
Launching the exhibition at Flinders Street Station, the Minister for the Arts and
Public Transport, Ms. Lynne Kosky, said the Moving Galleries Spring 2007 Exhibition
will add some vibrancy to the city over the coming months as well as bring a number
of important side benefits to Melbourne.
“Moving Galleries builds on Melbourne’s reputation as a creative capital, by enabling
emerging and established Victorian artists to showcase their talent, while at the same
time enhancing the travel experience for Melbourne’s commuters,” Ms. Kosky said.
“Moving Galleries showcases the innovation and creativity for which Victoria is
renowned, as well as enhancing the city’s liveability through initiatives which benefit
the broader community.” Connex will display the Spring 2007 exhibition on the inside of 40 Connex trains until
April 2008.
“Connex is very proud to sponsor this year’s exhibition. It is an innovative way to
bring art and poetry to the people and will make train journeys more enjoyable and
thought-provoking,” Mr Bruce Hughes, Connex Chief Executive Officer, said.
A new initiative – the Moving Galleries Spring 2007 People’s Choice Awards - will
allow the public to vote for their favourite poem or artwork, via the Moving Galleries
website. The successful artist and poet will each receive $500, and a lucky member
of the public who votes will also take away a prize, to the value of $500.
With sponsorship from the Department of Infrastructure and Connex, and the support
of the Committee for Melbourne, Moving Galleries will run bi-annual exhibitions,
launched each spring and autumn, until 2010.
Melbourne’s Higher Education sector has reached a tipping point requiring urgent action, according to the findings of a White Paper to be released by the Committee for Melbourne Higher Education Taskforce.
The Taskforce – bringing together for the first time a coalition of Melbourne’s top universities, businesses, and professional groups – says Melbourne has the potential to be one of the four greatest university cities in the World.
However it has concluded that higher education in Melbourne is now at a tipping point due to the low levels of Government investment, low private sector engagement and investment, regulatory constraints, outdated governance and administration, and increasing overseas competition.
A White Paper to be released by the Taskforce identifies 10 priority recommendations that need to be urgently addressed to ensure that Melbourne’s world class universities do not slip into decline.
The White Paper urges:
• More effective partnerships between universities and industry including the establishment of an annual forum of key Melbourne-based business leaders and vice-chancellors
• Stronger support and recognition from Federal and State Government including a restructuring of ministerial and departmental arrangements for higher education, more effective transport planning, better marketing of Melbourne as a University City, and greater recognition of the role of international students
• A wide-ranging review of the current inefficient and ineffective funding of universities and a re-assessment of university governance to strengthen links to government and industry
The White Paper identifies the university sector as a key economic driver in Melbourne, employing over 27,000 Victorians, with multiple economic spin-off benefits that deliver up to 4% of our GDP.
Melbourne’s universities also contribute one-quarter of Victoria’s research and development spend.
Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne George Pappas said the strength of Melbourne’s University Sector had been highlighted by the release of the first “Global University City Index” commissioned by the RMIT.
Melbourne’s position in the Index - fifth in the world, behind London, Boston, Paris and Tokyo - reflects the city’s performance against four criteria:
• Global university recognition
• Amenity
• Education inputs and performance, and
• Research inputs and performance
Mr Pappas said the Index established the strong world standing of Melbourne’s university sector.
“The index’s findings shows that Melbourne’s university sector is a world class asset, and shows why urgent action is needed to ensure these knowledge assets continue to drive our economic growth,” Mr Pappas said.
Vice Chancellor and President of RMIT University, Prof. Margaret Gardiner AO, and the Co-Chairs of the Taskforce, Mr. David Miles AM, and Mr. Michael Andrew, Australian Chairman of Partners, KPMG, will launch the Higher Education Taskforce’s White Paper at 5pm on Monday, August 20, at KPMG.
THURSDAY 5 JULY, 2007 - Influential business group the Committee for Melbourne today
urged the Federal Government to provide fundamental funding for Victoria’s transport
system which underpins future productivity improvements in the State.
The Committee’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Teller, said gaining a fairer
share of Federal transport funding under Auslink 2 is critical to maintaining a vibrant
Victorian economy.
“The Committee has contributed to important transport policy decisions affecting
Melbourne over the last three years because it believes efficient transportation is crucial
for productivity improvement, particularly in Australia where most trade occurs in cities,”
Mr. Teller said.
“The Committee is keen to see Victoria receive the investment in roads and rail it needs
to ensure efficiency,” he said.
The Committee would like to see the advancement of Victoria’s transportation system
part-funded by the Commonwealth Government’s five-year Aus-Link 2 Program.
Its call for a fairer share of Commonwealth funding is echoed by the Victorian
Government’s plea for funding to maintain Victoria’s road and rail network in the
document released this week titled, “National Transport Links-Growing Victoria’s
Economy”.
Because transportation systems significantly impact a city's economy and its liveability, in
2004, the Committee for Melbourne created its Transport Taskforce, bringing together a
range of top executives and professionals in both the public and private sectors in the
transport industry for urgently needed debate about the city’s transport needs.
The Taskforce saw a number of its recommendations become Government policy and it
recently completed phase three of its initiatives, after making a submission to the
Melbourne's East West Link Needs Assessment.
Fancy a round of tennis in the treetops of Flagstaff Gardens? Or a quick dip after work at
Docklands Esplanade? These are among the ideas put forward by senior architecture students at
RMIT University in a new exhibition to be launched tonight at Melbourne Central, M:URBAN –
modifying the city.
The exhibition is a collaboration between RMIT’s Urban Architecture Laboratory and the
Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group. With Melbourne’s CBD as their canvas, and a
focus on public spaces, the students have been given licence to transform the city with their
ideas.
The sites canvassed range from the very small to the very large, from obscure and hidden
laneways to highly exposed and prominent places. Major projects include a revamp of Flinders
Street Station, a three-tier sports complex in Flagstaff Gardens, a vision for Docklands
Esplanade, a website to encourage innovative interim uses for car parks and vacant sites, an
extension to Federation Square, and a bubble-like building for Bourke St.
Committee for Melbourne chairman George Pappas said: “As an organisation committed to
making Melbourne the best it can be, the Committee for Melbourne has tracked keenly the
progress of the M:Urban project. The young leaders behind M:Urban have shown initiative,
innovation and commitment and I commend them on these qualities”.
“Now, with the launch of the exhibition and the announcement of the winners of the special
inaugural award just hours away, I am excited to see how the Melbourne community benefits from
the positive, tangible legacies M:Urban will undoubtedly leave behind.”
M:URBAN – modifying the city
Victorian State Architect John Denton will speak at tonight’s launch. Mr Denton will also award a
$1000 prize, sponsored by Australia Post, to the most innovative design. The exhibition will run until July 11 on the Level 2 link bridge between Melbourne Central and
Myer.
The exhibition launch is on Thursday, June 28 at 6pm for 6.15pm until 7.30pm. Please enter
Melbourne Central via LaTrobe St and take the escalators to Level 2.
Wednesday 23 May, 2007 – The Committee for Melbourne has announced the
appointment of Ms. Sally Capp as its Chief Executive Officer, commencing August 2007.
In taking the role, Ms. Capp said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Committee for
Melbourne. I am excited by the challenge of working with the Committee’s broad and
influential Membership to improve our business sector, and ensure the city’s global
relevance and liveability. I look forward to applying my strengths to champion issues and
make a positive contribution to Melbourne.”
Mr. George Pappas, Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, said Ms Capp’s
appointment is a real win for the Committee for Melbourne.
“Sally is the best candidate from an exceptional field of people who expressed interest in
the job. It was a very tough decision given the quality of applicants, which reflects the
standing of the Committee for Melbourne and the high profile of this CEO position.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Sally in moving the Committee’s agenda
forward. With Sally at the helm, the Committee has an opportunity to move up another
step, just as Janine Kirk helped us to do 12 years ago, because, like her predecessor
when she took on the job, Sally is a person who is on the rise,” Mr. Pappas said.
Ms. Capp has had a diverse and rewarding career, enjoying leadership roles within large
and small business environments in blue chip organisations in the private sector. After
holding positions with Herbert Geer & Rundle in Melbourne, and Freehills in Perth, she
set up an investment bank, the Australian Heritage Group, which was listed on the ASX.
In 2004, Ms. Capp moved back to Melbourne to take up the role of Head of Office of the
Chief Executive at the ANZ Bank, later becoming a Regional Executive in Corporate
Banking. In 2006, she set up and became Managing Director of the ProVending Group.
Ms. Capp is passionate about many aspects of life. She is the mother of two boys, a
non-Executive Director of the Collingwood Football Club, and a Trustee of the National
Breast Cancer Foundation.
Ms Capp has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce from the
University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company
Directors.
Her leadership and business skills have been recognised through several award
programs including the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
The Minister for Energy and Resources, Victorian Communities and
Government Business, The Hon. Mr. Peter Batchelor, today launched a
project, initiated by the Committee for Melbourne, helping the Victorian private
sector work more effectively with customers in financial hardship.
“The Committee-led Utility Debt Spiral (UDS) Project has caused a profound
change in behaviour and philosophy amongst private sector companies,” says
Mr. David Teller, Acting CEO of the Committee for Melbourne.
“The UDS Project has done this by generating a new set of guidelines for
energy and water retailers which, significantly, demonstrates how the private
sector can deliver social benefits while also benefiting private companies,” Mr.
Teller says.
The UDS Project guideline does not constitute regulation, but reflects good
business practice, where sustainable and appropriate payment solutions have
been mutually agreed by customer and retailer.
Run from 2004 to 2006, the UDS Project brought together, for the first time in
Melbourne, water, gas and electricity retailers, relevant senior government
officials and non-government organisations - in all, 25 organisations.
Beyond the utility industry, there is also significant interest among the
telecommunications, banking and infrastructure sectors which face similar
issues and challenges around working with customers experiencing financial
hardship.
The UDS Project exemplifies how the Melbourne Model (developed by
Committee for Melbourne) is utilised to generate consensus-based and
innovative solutions to seemingly intractable systemic issues impacting large
and often vulnerable populations in such a way as it benefits all participants.
The Committee for Melbourne’s strategic goals include encouraging a
competitive business sector and enhancing Melbourne’s liveability.
The Committee for Melbourne has welcomed Premier Bracks’ announcement
today of Terms of Reference for the East-West Needs Assessment.
Committee for Melbourne supports the State Government's initiative, led by
Sir Rod Eddington, to generate the best possible transportation solution for
linking Melbourne’s East and West.
“The Committee for Melbourne congratulates the State Government on being
open and receptive to the array of ideas and expertise present in Melbourne
that can contribute towards the generation of new transportation solutions,”
says Mr. David Teller, Acting CEO of the Committee for Melbourne.
“In the interest of generating the best possible solution, we would encourage
contributors to the Assessment to maintain a high-level focus on the ideal
long-term transport outcomes that will support the growth and liveability of our
city ,” says Mr. Teller.
A submission reflecting the Committee’s policy will be made to Sir Rod
through the Transport Taskforce forum which was established in 2004 to
address the rising economic and lifestyle costs of congestion.
The Committee’s Transport Taskforce policy positioning statements
emphasise transport congestion as a major limitation on Melbourne’s future
growth. In 2005, the Taskforce warned that the cost of congestion in
Melbourne would double from $4 billion annually to $8 billion by 2015 with
over 60 per cent costs to business, the freight industry in particular.
The Committee for Melbourne’s strategic goals include encouraging a
competitive business sector and enhancing Melbourne’s liveability.
January 30, 2007 - Influential business group the Committee for Melbourne and
Victoria’s biotech industry peak body, the BioMelbourne Network, have
expressed support for the announcement of a new $30million Medical Research
Commercialisation Fund as a vital first step in addressing the current shortfall in
early-stage funding for medical research companies in need of expansion capital.
“The Committee has long been advocating for market failures to be addressed in
the Venture Capital industry and this is a welcome addition which will stimulate
that industry,” Mr George Pappas, Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne
said.
The announcement of a multi-million dollar venture capital fund vindicates the
Committee for Melbourne’s long-held view of the need for a mature venture
capital industry to support innovative global industries such as biotech to grow
and prosper in Victoria.
“The future economic growth and prosperity of our city, state and country
depends on the development of more innovative, export-oriented and
technology-based industries,” Mr Pappas said.
“I congratulate the State Government, and superannuation funds Westscheme
and Statewide, on the direction they have taken today and look forward to the
announcement of further, urgently needed funds to address the gap in vital, latestage
funding for companies wanting to grow,” he said.
Mr Tim Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the BioMelbourne Network, an
initiative of the Committee for Melbourne, also praised today’s announcement.
“This is a welcomed addition to strengthening Melbourne’s position as a leading
global centre for medical research,” Mr Murphy said.
“This early-stage fund should stimulate other superannuation funds to look at a
raft of venture capital opportunities from early-stage through to expansion for
innovative small-to-medium enterprises,” Mr Murphy said.
January 11, 2007 – Ms. Janine Kirk AM has resigned from her position as Executive
Director of the Committee for Melbourne to take up a senior role leading Ernst & Young’s
Government practice in Victoria.
Ms. Kirk, the Executive Director of the Committee since July 1995, will commence her
position as Partner at the professional services firm in March 2007.
“Although I am sorry to be leaving an organization about which I am passionate, it is time
to take on a new challenge using the skills and experience I have developed at the
Committee in delivering a broad range of projects for the benefit of the city and
community of Melbourne,” Ms. Kirk said.
Ms. Kirk said she felt privileged to have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of
committed individuals from Melbourne’s business community, universities, arts
institutions, unions and community groups to achieve the many positive outcomes
delivered by the Committee over the past 12 years.
Mr. George Pappas, Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, said the Committee was
naturally disappointed to lose Janine’s commitment to Melbourne and her outstanding
leadership skills but understood and supported her decision to take on the new role
which offers her a unique opportunity to build on her talents and experience.
“Janine has assisted in the building of a strong platform to help carry the Committee
forward, ensuring it is well placed to continue its unique role of bringing together
business, community and government to work collaboratively to address major issues
impacting on Melbourne and Victoria,” Mr. Pappas said.
Under Ms Kirk’s leadership, the Committee initiated projects including the establishment
of the BioMelbourne Network, Melbourne Cares, Melbourne Prize, United Nations Cities
Programme, and the Committee’s young leadership development program, the Future
Focus Group.
Among a number of other important objectives achieved during Ms Kirk’s tenure as
Executive Director were:
• The release of the Transport Taskforce’s groundbreaking report which first raised
the issue of the financial impact of traffic congestion on the future development of
the city;
• The Government’s adoption of a raft of measures proposed by the Transport
Taskforce in its second policy paper addressing public transport;
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• The publishing of the Committee’s Expansion Capital for Innovation Taskforce
report and the submission of key findings to a Federal Government review of the
Venture Capital Industry;
• The Committee’s appointment as the International Secretariat of the United
Nations Cities Programme - the only UN Secretariat in Australia;
• The launch of the Committee’s Utility Debt Spiral Prevention Project Study;
• The Committee-initiated Digital River Taskforce’s ‘Digital Building
Telecommunications Access Guideline’ being launched as the Australian
standard by The Australian Building Codes Board;
• The Committee becoming the first organisation outside the United States to
participate in a United Nations sponsored ‘Adopt-a-Minefield’ program and raise
funds to clear a minefield in a village in Cambodia;
• The adoption of several Future Focus Group projects as Committee for
Melbourne projects, including: ‘Moving Galleries’ displaying art and poetry on
trains; the Magic Pudding Sculpture in the Royal Botanic Gardens; and the
Flinders Street Station Taskforce.
Mr. Pappas said that while Ms Kirk leaves a wealth of lasting legacies to the city, the
Committee’s high profile, influence and standing - which Ms Kirk helped to build - will
enable it to attract highly capable candidates for the position of Executive Director.
During her time with the Committee, Ms Kirk’s contribution to the city was recognised
with her being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday
Honours in 2006; awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal; and more recently
receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Monash University.
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 was today awarded to Helen Garner, who is
published by Picador, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Australian literature and
to cultural and intellectual life.
The Melbourne Prize Trust, in conjunction with the Committee for Melbourne, today
recognised the achievements of Helen Garner and other Victorian writers at an awards
ceremony and exhibition-opening, at BMW Edge in Federation Square, Melbourne.
At $60,000, the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 is the most valuable prize of its kind in
Australia. Helen Garner will receive $30,000 in cash, provided by the City of Melbourne to
undertake an international travel scholarship, and $30,000 in cash provided by Tattersall’s and
the Melbourne Prize Trust. An Italian language and cultural course is also offered by the
Italian Institute of Culture.
Additionally, the $30,000 Best Writing Award was awarded to Christos Tsiolkas for his work
Dead Europe, published by Random House. The Best Writing Award is for a piece of
published or produced work in any genre, by a Victorian writer 40 years or under, which is an
outstanding example of clarity, originality and creativity. The Prize is supported by the Sidney
Myer Fund, Readings and Hardie Grant Publishing.
Melbourne Prize Trust Executive Director and Founder, Mr Simon Warrender, declared the
inaugural Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 a resounding success, with a high number of
entries across both Prize categories and a successful exhibition of finalists’ works at
Federation Square.
“The Prize has been made possible by a collaboration of forward thinking partners who have
come together to offer a prize that will position Melbourne and Victoria as a vibrant centre for
great writing,” said Mr Warrender.
“The 2006 Melbourne Prize is unique in that it recognises literary excellence and creativity
across various vocation stages and offers significant rewards for a Victorian writer’s body of
published and produced work, while identifying literary talent across all genres.
“As a community, it is vital that we demonstrate the value we place on excellence and
creativity as an important part of our cultural tapestry. I hope the public exhibition of finalists’
works serves to remind us all of the calibre of our writing talent and the written word’s power to
inform, educate, persuade and share experiences,” said Mr Warrender.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Gary Singer, said the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 provided an
opportunity to recognise the wealth of writing talent in Victoria.
“The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 acknowledges and celebrates our talented writers.
We hope the City of Melbourne’s $30,000 international travel grant will assist the winner with
their creative pursuits and that the Prize helps to position Melbourne as the cultural capital of
Australia,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said.
Executive Director of the Committee for Melbourne, Janine Kirk AM, was delighted the public
had a chance to view the finalists’ works at Federation Square’s Atrium.
“Through the unique exhibition of the finalists’ works, all Victorians have the opportunity to
experience first-hand the talent of our local writers and their contribution to our lives,” Ms Kirk
said.
A public display of the five Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 and 10 Best Writing Award
finalists’ works is currently being held at the Atrium in Federation Square, the Trust’s exhibition
and event partner, until 27 November 2006. Attendees at the free exhibition have the
opportunity to cast their votes for the $3,000 Civic Choice Award, supported by the Melbourne
Prize Trust. The word ‘Literature’ is spelt out across the Atrium in 2.4 metre high orange
letters; the finalists’ works are displayed both within the shadows of each letter and elsewhere
throughout the display. The exhibition content can be viewed online at
www.melborneprizetrust.org
Mr Warrender said: “Given the quantity and quality of entries in this year’s Prize, the Awarding
Committee and Advisory Group’s task was not easy. The team has done a great job and we
are lucky to have such esteemed literary professionals to judge this year’s winners”.
The Awarding Committee comprises Hilary McPhee AO, Professor Brian Matthews and Mark
Rubbo OAM and the Advisory Group consists of Louise Swinn, Steve Grimwade, Stephen
Armstrong and Rod Morrison. There were 120 entries across both Prize categories.
Melbourne Prize for Literature 2006 – finalists included
Helen Garner
John Marsden
Alex Miller
Dorothy Porter
Hannie Rayson
Best Writing Award – finalists included
Azhar Abidi, Passarola Rising, Penguin Viking
Ben Chessell, The Heartbreak Tour
Neil Grant, Indo Dreaming, Allen & Unwin
Sonya Hartnett, Surrender, Penguin Viking
Mary Ellen Jordan, Balanda: My Year in Arnhem Land, Allen & Unwin
David McCooey, Blister Pack, Salt
Ross Mueller, Construction of the Human Heart
Carrie Tiffany, Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living, Picador
Christos Tsiolkas, Dead Europe, Random House
Henry von Doussa, The Park Bench, Thompson Walker
About the annual Melbourne Prize
The annual Melbourne Prize is the prize of the city for the city and is run over a three-year cycle,
commencing with the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture in 2005, the Melbourne Prize for Literature in
2006 and the Melbourne Prize for Music in 2007. The cycle will commence again with the Melbourne
Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008. A main prize of $60,000 is planned for each year, plus other award
categories tailored specifically to benefit each sector.
Listed on the Australian Federal Government’s Register of Cultural Organisations, the Melbourne Prize
Trust, in conjunction with the Committee for Melbourne, coordinates the annual Melbourne Prize along
with three Founding Partners, including Cornwell, Ernst & Young and Minter Ellison. Sponsors and
patrons provide additional generous support.
For further information please visit www.melbourneprizetrust.org