TODDLERS CHOOSE THEIR FRIENDS ON WHAT BRANDS THEY LIKE, SAYS STUDY

• From: The Advertiser March 18, 2010 7:21AM

• Young children susceptible to marketing
• They recognise McDonald's, Lego logos
• Study based on Brisbane kindergartens

CHILDREN as young as three are judging their peers on the brands they use.

New research proves what parents have long suspected - children who are still learning how to talk are far more sophisticated and brand-conscious than was previously thought.

Toddlers can recognise some of the world's biggest labels - including McDonald's and Coke - and even choose their playmates on the brands they associate them with, research suggests.

The study, by psychologist Anne McAlister from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is based on the habits of children in Brisbane kindergartens.

The results challenge the accepted rule that children do not understand brands until they are eight.

Dr McAlister said yesterday that the assumption that only older children can be affected by brand advertising was based on flawed studies that had used research methods inappropriate for younger children.

"What they were doing was interviewing and asking children, `What is your favourite brand?' or `What brand of jeans do you want to wear?"' she said.

"If you show them pictures and say `Which one's your favourite?' they can answer that.

"Children in our study were judging other children based on the brands they use, saying things like `I don't want to play with him if they've got McDonald's, I don't want to be fat'."

The research presented the children with the brand-name logos for 50 brands across 16 product categories, such as toys, electronics, clothes and fast food.

About half recognised brands aimed at children, while 20 per cent recognised brands not targeted at them.

Dr McAlister said McDonald's was the most widely recognised brand but others included Hot Wheels, Lego, My Little Pony, Coke, Pepsi, Toyota and even Shell.

Consumer behaviour expert Frank Zumbo said even children aged under three had some awareness of brands.

"Kids are far more sophisticated than we give them credit for and companies invest a lot of time and money reaching out to them. They know the younger they suck them in, the longer they stay," he said.

HIGH COURT THROWS OUT SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-BIKIE LAWS

SEAN FEWSTER, ADAM TODD From: The Advertiser November 12, 2010
PREMIER Mike Rann's efforts to wipe out bikie gangs have unified, politicised and legalised his enemies - and left the state's taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Jubilant bikies say the High Court's rejection of the control order legislation proves the Premier and his Cabinet are "the real outlaws".

The judgment leaves taxpayers liable to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of the Finks Motorcycle Gang to cover their legal costs.

Finks members are now free to associate with other members and the State Government will have to redraft the core of its anti-bikie legislation to ensure it is constitutional.

The High Court's decision, a 6-1 majority, dismissed the Government's appeal against a Supreme Court ruling that the legislation was unlawful.

The law obliged the state's courts to impose control orders on bikies at the request of the Attorney-General and police, without any evidence being tendered.

The High Court ruled that unconstitutional, saying it undermined the independence of judges and forced them to find guilt "based on assumptions".

However, elements of the legislation remain in force - including the Government's right to declare groups criminal.

THE ruling prompted the Finks, Gypsy Jokers, Descendants and other groups to exercise their right to association, by meeting at the Talbot Hotel on Gouger St.

Finks sergeant-at-arms Mick McPherson said the meeting was proof of the State Government's failure.

"Mike Rann wanted to go down in history as the Premier who dismantled the motorcycle gangs - instead, he's the Premier who united, politicised and legalised us," he said.

"He thought he was going to win this court case, and instead he's gotten a back-handed slap.

"Now the Government are the real outlaws, because they've written a law that was illegal to start with."

Craig Caldicott, who acted for the club, estimated legal costs on both sides would "run into hundreds of thousands of dollars".

"If the Government took all the money it's spent on crime-gang taskforces and High Court challenges, and spent it on effective policing, the public would be better served and better protected," he said.

Law Society president Ralph Bonig said it was unlikely the cost to the taxpayer would ever be revealed, as those negotiations would happen between the State Government and the bikies.

"Chances are you will never find out - it will probably end up getting paid out of general revenue," he said.

Attorney-General John Rau said he "wouldn't have the faintest idea" how much costs might total.

But he warned bikie gangs against "popping the champagne corks".

"Rulings such as this obviously present a momentary challenge; but they occur from time to time as part of the normal processes of government," he said.

"Our commitment to dealing with this scourge is unshaken.

"Our policy direction won't change. Our support for the police won't change.

"Our determination to fight organised crime won't change."

Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Harrison said the fight against outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime went on regardless.

"Criminal organisations should take no satisfaction from today's decision," he said.

"We will continue to use the unaffected (laws), together with other strategies, to disrupt the planning and execution of crime."

Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said the State Government had wasted taxpayer money.

"Their inept and shoddy work in pursuing the High Court challenge has needlessly delayed any implementation of constitutional anti-bikie laws," Ms Redmond said.

"A year spent fighting the Supreme Court ruling has left SA no closer to implementing tough, effective anti-bikie laws."

Mr McPherson said the clubs would continue to fight "whatever the Government puts in our way".

"This law was never really about bikies and, hopefully, the community realises we've won this for them," he said.

"That's why I'm not wearing my colours today - I want to show I'm just like you. I work like you, I pay taxes like you and I have the right to come out and have a drink with my friends."

The Law Society's Mr Bonig said the anti-bikie laws "went too far".

"It took away an individual's fundamental right to independently refute and challenge allegations made against them and impaired the independence of the courts," he said.

KEY BIONOMICS SHAREHOLDER INVITES BIDS FOR STAKE

CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL, BUSINESS EDITOR From: The Advertiser November 10, 2010

Bionomics chief executive Dr Deborah Rathjen. Source: AdelaideNow

ADELAIDE drug development company Bionomics has been put into takeover play by its biggest shareholder.

Venture capital company Start-up Australia announced last night it was inviting bids for its 27.76 per cent stake in Bionomics.

"The successful tenderer must subsequently make a takeover bid for all the ordinary shares in Bionomics," Start-up said in a statement to the stock exchange after the market closed.

Managing director of Start-up George Jessup said Bionomics had made great progress in advancing its drugs for cancer, anxiety and multiple sclerosis.

"The market has not rewarded the company for the progress it has made," he said.

"We believe the broader international market will value the company more highly and our intention in inviting tenders is to obtain a value for all shareholders that reflects the value of the company's assets."

Bionomics has a market capitalisation of about $100 million.

Below Start-up on the share register are Link Traders with a 9.9 per cent stake and the Australian National University investment arm at 7.4 per cent.

No other shareholders held more than 5 per cent as at October 31.

Managing director Deborah Rathjen said prior to the ASX announcement last night the board had not been aware of Start-up's intention to sell.

"The board is currently discussing the process and we are working on a response," Ms Rathjen said.

She expected the board would make an announcement to the market today.

Bionomics shares spiked up 14.6 per cent yesterday to 31.5c but Ms Rathjen attributed this to the success of trials and recent media coverage not the Start-up move.

Start-up has appointed investment bankers Ferghana Partners, based in New York and London, to assist its sale process.

Start-up said tenders would be accepted until March 31 next year but reserved the right to amend its timetable.

GILLARD CONFIDENT OF G20 REFORMS

Paul Osborne From: AAP November 10, 2010

Julia Gillard meets President Lee Yung-Bak of South Korea in Seoul ahead of the G20 summit. Source: AdelaideNow

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard says she is confident an agreement on international economic reforms will be sealed during her trip to South Korea.

Ms Gillard flew into Seoul on Wednesday, ahead of the Group of 20 leaders meeting and amid a massive security crackdown in the South Korean capital.

Her first port of call was a meeting with President Lee Myung-Bak at his official residence, the Blue House.

Ms Gillard told Mr Lee she was looking forward to a very successful G20 meeting.

"Significantly we will deliver the reform to the IMF (International Monetary Fund), and I'm pleased we've been able to work on those and work alongside you," Ms Gillard said.

"We will deliver the financial stability rules which are so important for the future.

"That means this G20 here in Seoul, development will be centrally on the agenda."

A discussion on global growth would provide a framework ahead of future structural reform, Ms Gillard said.

Officials are moving closer to a communique on banking reform and other social and economic measures to be approved by G20 leaders on Friday afternoon.

The UK's Financial Times has reported the section on banking reform is likely to involve a two-tier system.

One tier would comprise about 20 global banks, mostly based in the UK, Europe and the US, whose failure would pose a risk to the international financial system.

The second would be a country-by-country list of banks that are important within their home economies, but would pose little danger to the world if they failed.

The move would mean many big banks in nations such as Australia, China and Japan with little presence overseas would be exempted from new financial rules designed to shield the world financial system from downturns.

But it is understood talks on currency exchange rates, which have attracted heated debate in the lead-up to the summit, are unlikely to produce a clear result.

Treasurer Wayne Swan, who is also in Seoul, says there is a consensus among finance ministers for more market-determined exchange rate systems and a commitment for G20 members to refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies.

The leaders are also expected to commit to tackling global trade imbalances, but would issue "indicative guidelines" rather than set targets.

Korean authorities have placed a ban on protests or rallies within a 2km radius of the conference venue at Coex - Asia's biggest underground shopping mall - which houses the convention hall where the talks will take place.

About 60,000 military and police are on duty ahead of the arrival of world leaders, as small groups of protesters gathered in Seoul's CBD highlighting issues including human rights and poverty.

Ms Gillard will on Thursday morning lay a wreath at Seoul's War Memorial of Korea to mark Remembrance Day, with a number of Australian veterans also attending.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

About 17,000 Australians served in the war and 339 were killed.

Mr Lee thanked Australia for its role in the war in his remarks to Ms Gillard.

"We will never forget that," he said.