I'm very pleased to introduce you to my new website - The John Elliott Report.  Click here to watch my introductory video.

This video is part of our ongoing series covering the Great Wineries of the prestigious Coonawarra Region. This week JDE reviews the multi-award winning Majella Wines About Majella The Lynn family have been residents of the Penola - Coonawarra district for over four generations, starting out as Store-Keepers and then graduating into grazing. The property on which Majella now stands was originally owned by Frank Lynn, and bought by his nephew, George, in 1960. George and Pat Lynn kept Merino's for wool production on their farm about ten miles away, and had always wanted some good Coonawarra country for their up-and-coming prime lamb enterprise. Viticulture, however, was not on their agenda until 1968. Click here for more information

Watch Master Chef Niko prepare one of Italy’s most famous and exquisite dishes: nowadays rarely found even in Italy. Or click here to watch on YouTube Niko’s Porchetta Ingredients: 7.5kg whole suckling pig 2 kg minced pork shoulder 2 chopped onions 8 garlic cloves 3 handful fresh sage 3 handful fresh bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 handful fennel seeds 500 gms fresh chestnuts 1 litre white wine 1 litre water Method: Get your butcher to completely debone the pig leaving head intact and on • Preheat oven to 180.C in order to roast chestnuts • Slit chestnuts on one side and place in hot oven for 20-25 mins • Wrap cooked chestnuts in newspaper to allow to sweat • After 15 mins whilst still warm peel chestnuts removing both the shell and skin • Chop roughly and set aside • Place onions, garlic, sage, rosemary and fennel seeds in a food processor • Blend to a paste and add along with the chestnuts to the pork mince • Season with salt and pepper and amalgamate all ingredients by hand • Lay pig flat and line deboned body with the bay leaves • Form the mince into the shape of a sausage and place on top of pig • Gently bring up both sides ...

Late last year the Federal Government gave Treasury Head Ken Henry the job of reviewing our creaky, antiquated and over-complicated tax system. Given, however, that tax and welfare really represent two sides of the same coin, I think someone else should be assessing what changes could be made to our entrenched system of government handouts. One of the biggest problems all modern welfare systems have is the need to assist those who have fallen on hard times (through unemployment, poor health, advancing age, or whatever) with the need to preserve the incentive to find work. The progressive withdrawal of various welfare benefits as employment is regained, for example, often causes people to avoid earning extra money – this disincentive is known as a welfare or poverty trap. Australia has lots of such welfare traps because the overall system that governs handouts is absurdly complicated. We have old age pensions, unemployment benefits, family tax benefits (Parts A and B), baby bonuses, temporary stimulus payments, first homebuyers' grants, carers' benefits, and so on ad infinitum. To make this plethora of payments even more mind boggling, some are means tested at varying levels while others are not. Some, such as Aboriginal specific welfare, is also ...

Given the unprecedented level of government intervention in the Australian economy, financial reality dictates that soon we’re going to have to scale down public support for favoured industries. Billions of our dollars have and will continue to be spent propping up the banking, agricultural and automotive sectors – and I think it’s time this was stopped. The Big Four Banks are coming under renewed criticism after the Commonwealth (or CBA) increased its variable homeloan rate by ten basis points last week without a corresponding move from the RBA. A recent study from our central bank suggests that interest rate margins for the larger commercial lenders have returned to pre financial crisis levels, a conclusion that suggests the CBA may be profiteering from its improved market influence. Currently the Federal Government guarantees the borrowings of the Big Four Banks at a cost of just 70 basis points, while smaller banks and other lenders pay up to 150 basis points. It’s time the subsidy to the large banks was ended, as otherwise their market power will almost certainly expand to damaging levels. Turning to that perennial recipient of government aid, the agricultural industry, and the picture that emerges is somewhat different. Support for farmers doesn’t ...

While I don’t think very much of Gordon Ramsay’s idea of directness, in fact it’s appalling, matters have got out of hand with the latest ‘polite’ word for describing that room of the building where we undertake the daily disposal of our bodily wastes. I want to know what was wrong with lavatory, toilet and our very own ‘dunny’? Why is it now being called a ‘bathroom’ when in most cases (offices, restaurants, footy grounds) it does not contain nor need to contain a bath for the purpose for which it is to be used? The most extreme mis-usage I have heard of was by a woman who used it as a verb to describe the process by which her dog defecates on the nature strip. In a similar vein, can we please find a better word or description than ‘partner’ for an unmarried person in permanent relationship with another? When someone is introduced to me thus: “And this is my partner Claire”, I am tempted to ask, “Business or conjugal?” but my manners thankfully get the better of me. If you hear any other new mealy –mouthed words or expressions to describe every day matters creeping into ...

By Tom Elliott Last week Japanese beverage company Kirin announced its intention to make a takeover offer for the 53% of local brewer Lion Nathan (producer of brands like Tooheys and Fourex) it doesn't already own. As Kirin has been a long term investor in the Australian ready-to-drink market, it will almost certainly be successful in its latest bid. But the removal from the ASX of yet another large Australian company raises the following issue: Is there a limit to the level of foreign ownership of local businesses we should allow? As I remarked in last week's piece on interest rates, since its formation Australia has always relied on capital from overseas to bolster local investment levels. Countries from which funds have traditionally been sourced include Britain, the US, Japan and, most recently, China. Indeed, in the resources sector Chinese buyers have been extremely active, with substantial investment proposals currently on the table for RIO Tinto, Oz minerals and Fortescue Metals. And returning to brewing for a moment, it's worth noting that Australia's other great beer maker, Fosters, has on its register a 5.3% shareholder by the name of Molson-Coors – a giant of the North American market, and one whose intentions ...

The recent and sudden rise of the A$ vs the US$ and, to a lesser extent, the Yen and the Pound has been greeted with adulation by many commentators. Newspapers refer to our currency as the 'Aussie Battler' as though, like Lleyton Hewitt perhaps, it was engaged in a grueling tennis match with a more fancied and foreign opponent. In reality, however, a surging A$ is the last thing this country needs. During the Asian financial crisis of 1997, for example, our currency fell below 50 US cents after being sold off as a proxy for the economies to our immediate North. Yet in this selling lay Australia's salvation, for the weak A$ kept our exports ultra competitive while at the same time restricting the growth of imports. This kept local manufacturing healthy, and with it unemployment down. Unfortunately, far too many of us forget about export performance and focus solely on the cost of potential overseas holidays when we pass judgement on the relative value of our dollar. Right now it is indeed true that a trip to the US, UK or mainland Europe is probably as chap as it's been in decades thanks to the weakness of those countries' currencies. ...

Early this week both the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) delivered some sobering news for prospective homebuyers. Despite the depredations of the Global Financial Crisis, house prices in Melbourne have jumped sharply in 2009 with the median across metropolitan areas gaining a staggering 11%. While this is undoubtedly good news who've already taken the plunge into the property market, it's most dispiriting for those growing tired of spending their weekends at open-for-inspections and auctions. Is there a solution to the housing affordability crisis? I suspect there is, but it requires close analysis of why home prices have continued to rise. At its most basic level, the housing market is like any other, ie it's governed by the laws of supply and demand. Demand Factors 1. Bank lending – thanks to some prodding by the Federal Government, Australia's banks have continued to lend funds for house purchases. In the absence of this credit, the market would undoubtedly collapse as few people can afford to buy a house with savings alone. 2. Increased Immigration – Australia is bringing in approximately 250,000 people a year, almost 100,000 of which are settling in Melbourne. As many of these immigrants ...

Over the past fortnight much has been written about the startling (to some) revelation that Australia's population is set to almost double (to 40m people) over the next 20-30 years. In addition, inhabitants of Melbourne, Sydney and Greater Brisbane (which will eventually incorporate the Gold Coast) may soon be forced to rub shoulders with, respectively, 6.5m-7m fellow residents. As per my article last week, the current birthrate of 1.9 children per female implies that all of the forecast population growth mentioned above must come via net immigration – a factor over which Australian Federal Governments have substantial control. Given that this control exists, any debate over immigration levels, and by inference over population levels, requires an assessment of the pros and cons of 'creating' many more Australians. Here then is my two cents' worth: Pros of a higher population 1. Our economy is more likely to grow, although this by itself is no guarantee that average living standards per head will improve. 2. Australian companies have more local customers and therefore enjoy improved profitability – perhaps, although with a greater number customers also comes increased competition. A good example of this is the ferociously competitive American car market, which has not been ...

At the time of writing this article, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests that Australia's population will have passed the 22 million mark. As a ten year old in 1977, I recall completing a school project on our country which marvelled at its then total of 14 million people – a number which now appears absurdly low. What is missing with most of the media commentary on this milestone is a debate about how big Australia's population should be, as opposed to simply how large it might become if current immigration and birth trends continue. Business leaders often argue that our economy can but improve if we keep increasing the number of local citizens, as such growth will lift both sales and profits and allow domestic markets to expand. Environmentalists, on the other hand, suggest that natural resources such as arable land, fresh water and unpolluted air will soon be depleted if people keep multiplying at the current rate. Rarely, however, is the opinion of the average Australian voter sought on this issue. Are we ever asked by political leaders how large we'd like our various cities to become? Do people who enjoy the still available solitude of the bush get ...

It was pleasing to see two of Foster’s top selling beer brands, VB and Carlton Draught, were 2 of the top 10 Australian TV commercials as judged by the credible marketing website Anthill Magazine. The VB ad launched in the mid-70’s with the theme “matter of fact I’ve got it now” was used to position VB as a working man’s beer. The Carlton Draught ad was a block-buster one launched in 2005 which had mass exposure on Australian television and also the internet. This received strong reaction from consumers and the advertising industry. No doubt the success of this format was behind Foster’s recent use of the big ad concept for Victoria Bitter where they have used high profile actors and sportsmen to produce a very entertaining commercial. Once again positioning VB as a beer for the masses. Although the Qantas advertisement of “still call Australia home” missed out on the top 10 ranking there is a growing momentum that this 10 year old successful theme could be used by the Australian Tourism department to replace the disastrous TV commercial program which greatly offended the English. I have many memories of Qantas which was frequently used by ...

Based on the recent Australasian annual event held by the Australasian Property Auctioneers to select the best auctioneer I was astonished to see that New Zealanders have won the last three year’s top prize. It is about time the Australian auctioneers reinstated their position as the self confident, quick witted, with a strong gravely voice which was the envy of auctioneers world-wide. Perhaps its time they went back to public speaking classes to improve their articulation and communication to restore Australia to the top position and forget about the gavel.. One suggestion to prevent the New Zealanders continuing to win this top prize is for the Australasian Association to change the rules where every auctioneer has to start their auction demonstration by introducing an opening vendors bid of $666,666.66. This should cause a stutter or two. The New Zealanders place their auctioneers in high esteem. In the 1980’s they awarded one of their self-made stock and station agents a knighthood to Sir Roderick Weir who was Chairman of Crown Corporation Limited, a public listed New Zealand company.

Sept 3, 2009 THERE’S A TIME AND A PLACE… AND THIS ISN’T ONE OF THEM INTERNATIONAL ETIQUETTE EXPERT IN AUSTRALIA TO FANCY US UP Astounding statistics from the ‘McDonald’s Mealtime Manners’ survey have revealed that Aussies love to burp at the dinner table and even lick their plate. Surprised by the results, McDonald’s Australia is flying in etiquette guru Gill Harbord to give the whole country a lesson in good old-fashioned manners! McDonald’s has teamed up with the terrifying teacher to launch its new Angus Beef range and prepare Australia for a fancy dining experience they will never forget - the new Angus Beef range is just a little more fancy than your usual burger and Gill Harbord is on hand to ensure that Australians are up to scratch with their mealtime etiquette. “There is nothing wrong with having a more casual attitude to mealtimes when dining with close friends or at home. However when we are asked to step up to a more fine dining experience, there are certain things we should be aware of, and burping or licking knives is simply not appropriate or acceptable,” said Gill Harbord, known as the headmistress of Eggleston Hall on the popular TV series ...

Listed below are what I believe are the greatest wines in Australia. I have not tried to designate particular years rather the best in each variety over time. Chardonnay 1. Giacconda from Beechworth in Victoria - Clearly the best Chardonnay 2. Leeuwin Estate Art Series from Margaret River - WA The rest of the wines listed below I cannot rank in order but they are all great wines: - Cullen from Margaret River WA - Bindi Quartz from Lower Macedon Vic - Sauaterre from Beechworth Vic - Yattarna – Penfolds from Barossa Valley SA - Petaluma Tiers from Clare SA - Pierro from Margaret River WA Cabernet Sauvignon 1. Rockford Basket Press from Barossa Valley SA 2. Cullen from Margaret River WA 3. Tally from Balnaves from Coonawarra SA 4. Majella from Coonawarra SA 5. Penfolds 707 from Barossa Valley SA 6. Parker Estate First Grade Terra Rossa – Coonawarra SA 7. Moss Wood – Margaret River WA 8. Punters Corner – Coonawarra SA Shiraz 1. Grange Hermitage Adelaide Hills SA – clearly Australia’s greatest wine. Must be kept at least 10 years before drinking. It is stand alone. 2. Henscke Hill of Grace from SA 3. Jasper Hill from Heathcote Victoria 4. Grant Burge ...

Another installment in our ongoing series covering the Great Wineries of the prestigious Coonawarra Region. This week JDE reviews Balnaves of Coonawarra. Balnaves is a small family owned wine company located in the heart of the famous Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip. Since the planting of the first 5 hectares of vines in 1976, the vineyard has grown steadily and now covers a total of 56 hectares of Coonawarra Terra Rossa soil. The principal variety planted is Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for 70% of the area whilst the addition of Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay make up the total vineyard area of 58 hectares. The vineyard is divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, which take into account depth of soil, trellis design, vine clone and row direction. The quality of wine produced from these small blocks is evaluated each year and recorded. This practice proves the validity of the French concept of "terrior" or the effect that microclimate; geological features and other factors have on the quality of the wine produced. Such effects are clearly seen in the small Balnaves vineyard at Coonawarra. Over the years Balnaves has received considerable recognition amongst it peers by receiveing the following ...

Punters Corner in the Coonawarra region. Centrally located in Australia's premium wine district of Coonawarra, Punters Corner is a boutique winery and home of the 2000 Jimmy Watson Trophy. For your local stockist ring 08 8737 2007 or email cellardoor@punterscorner.com.au Click this link for more information on Punters Corner

Thank you Luke for your excellent contribution; you're not a bad pilot either. Shirley Green has a real bee in her bonnet about the use of slang, such as 'servo' for service station, in newspaper reporting, specifically the Adelaide Advertiser. We're all proud of the ability of Australians (Aussies) to modify and abbreviate words and thereby enrich our own version of English and our literature, but I think she's right. Let's keep the vocabulary of published news and opinion, whether written or spoken, simple but complete, leaving it to the reader to abbreviate it in the retelling: "There was a barney at the local servo this arvo," is perfectly fine over a beer. Not a day goes by without me hearing a common clanger or two. Here are a few of them: * The use of the word 'same' when ninety-nine times out of a hundred it should be 'identical'. No two people can have the same car unless they share it but they may have the same model of car; * 'centred around' when it must be either 'centred on' or 'revolve around'; * 'more regularly' when it should be 'more frequently'; and, * the one that really grates, 'hone in' when it can ...

This weeks restaurant review is on one of Melbourne's best asian and chinese restaurants located in Albert Park, Asiana. Click here to watch JDE with Asiana owner Randolph. Asiana Restaurant 181 Victoria Ave Albert Park, VIC 3206 Phone: (03) 9696 6688 Owner: Randolph Cuisine: Asian, Chinese Open: Lunch and Dinner Restaurant Features: Licensed & BYO, Vegetarian Options, Outdoor Dining Payment Types: AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa For location map of Asiana click here

This relevant and detailed report has been provided by one of JDEREPORT's subscribers with the author's approval to allow us to publish it in full. I encourage anyone interested in the ongoing water debate to read the PDF document. multi-state-water-transfer-proposal-summary ____________________________________________________________________________ This post began in March 2009 I understand the new Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, is seriously examining a pipe line from the Ord River down the west coast of Australia to Perth.  Currently only 3% of the water from the Ord River system is used commercially.  The rest goes out to sea and is wasted. The pipeline, if and when implemented by the WA Government, will greatly increase the opportunity for irrigation farming wherever the pipeline goes. Why wouldn’t the Federal Government embark on a study to build a pipe line from the Ord River to the head waters of the Darling River?  This could solve the problems of the Murray/Darling system once and for all.   Its benefits, I believe, would be similar to those of the great Snowy Mountain scheme which were implemented many years ago. The Australian Government needs to take strategic actions to improve water availability in Southern Australia now. This would be a very worthwhile study.