About Karyn Starmer
Karyn Starmer is a second career journalist working in print, radio and digital media after completing a Masters in Journalism. Karyn began her working life as a financial markets trader for an international bank but wandered away from Sydney in search of a better balance of life. While immersed in her local South Coast community, Canberra is her second home - she spends a lot of time on the Kings Highway.
Passionate about the changing media landscape, telling stories and building a thoughtful, intelligent voice is at the heart of all her work.
All Articles
News
As cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 explode across the country, employers and employees are faced with the dilemma of whether to request or provide rapid antigen testing results as a precaution rather than as a response to a public health order. ACT Health currently requires anyone at high or moderate risk of getting COVID-19 from exposure to a...
News
Four new board members were appointed at the Canberra Business Chamber annual general meeting held on 29 November. In a tough year for ACT businesses, the Chamber maintained steady membership numbers after growing by 20 per cent in 2020. The Chamber reported an operating surplus and the launch of new services for members. "In a difficult year like 2021, more than...
News
Canberra-based company Racing and Sports has had a successful listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with shares climbing 6.6 per cent following the company’s $29 million initial public offering (IPO). Listing as RAS Technology (RTH) on 23 November, 2021, Racing and Sports, the holding company’s main subsidiary, is a technology, data, digital and media company that services the global...
News
If there is one thing COVID-19 lockdown taught many of us, it's that everyone being at home together, all day every day, day after day, may not be the path to the best of happy family memories. Juggling work from home, Zoom school, seemingly endless nights of television and meal preparation has tested even the most patient of us. So...
News
Businesses intending to rely on their insurance policies to cover the impact of COVID-19 have been dealt a significant blow in a test case that means insurance companies may avoid paying billions of dollars in claims. As the pandemic broke out in the early months of 2020, interrupting everything from travel to trade, many businesses went looking to see if...
News
As the Territory readies for a resumption of business, with fingers crossed for a smooth transition and no further lockdowns, financial advisors have reported a last-minute rush of businesses and sole traders applying for the ACT's Business Support Grant by the 7 October deadline. RSM Australia senior advisor Young Han said there has been a mix of businesses rushing to claim...
Expert Advice
Dealing with a relationship breakdown is tough no matter what the circumstances, whether it comes about through mutual decision or a necessary escape from family violence. Apart from the emotional upheaval, working out how to share financial assets, determine custody arrangements or seeking protection from family violence is unfamiliar territory for most people. And seeking help or advice from a...
News
Tuesday (14 September) saw the widely anticipated announcement of an extension to lockdown to 11:59 pm on 15 October, and with the Barr Government yet to reveal a specific roadmap out of lockdown, many Canberra businesses are still facing weeks of uncertainty. In response, business support grants have been topped up with eligible businesses receiving up to an extra $30,000....
News
Last week we saw tentative first steps in the ACT Government's cautious approach to bringing business back online with the resumption of some residential construction. There is still much debate surrounding the pace of the government's approach. Industry groups are urging the government to consider some remaining issues, including a lack of specific support for micro-businesses, the importance of a...
News
Championing causes and speaking for people without a voice is something of a family trait for Canberra lawyer Kate Waterford. As the daughter of Jack Waterford, the legendary former editor-in-chief of The Canberra Times, Kate has inherited a desire to help people and also acquired her father's love of books. Kate recently purchased the Waterford's family home from her parents, and...
News
In a sign of significant generational change, Snedden Hall & Gallop Lawyers has announced the appointment of three new directors to the experienced leadership team of the 60-year-old Canberra law firm. Julia Bridgewater, Emily Shoemark and Amber Wang are all senior lawyers currently practicing at Snedden Hall & Gallop. Julia has a wide range of expertise in all aspects of...
News
Recently celebrating 10 years since inception, a milestone for any organisation, Project Independence has a new CEO to usher the organisation into its next decade. It is her first role in the community sector but Dianne O'Hara comes to Project Independence with a wealth of experience. She brings to the organisation business development skills and experience working with government and...
News
We have all heard the awful tales of dodgy plumbers. From leaking taps to flooding floors, and the dishonesty of those who take payment but disappear without finishing the job. The ACT plumbing industry was hit particularly hard in the wake of an ACT Supreme Court finding against a Canberra company for false and misleading representations in 2019. Master Plumbers ACT...
Expert Advice
A shocking story about a relationship between a Victorian magistrate and his junior court clerk has highlighted the need for people to seriously look at their superannuation death benefits and their overall estate planning regardless of their age. Magistrate Rodney Higgins and Ashleigh Petrie, 45 years his junior, began a relationship in 2019. The multi-decade age gap sparked frenzied media coverage...
News
As Victoria follows NSW into yet another lockdown, the V-shaped recovery is looking a little wobbly, but Bendigo Bank economist David Robertson has given the territory a cautious thumbs-up. The latest round of quarterly economic data for the ACT is a mix of results, showing Canberrans are utilising government stimulus measures to improve their stay-at-home life while the capital's property...
Expert Advice
Like most of us, the Australian Taxation Office faced a year of change in 2020, and their focus was on stimulus measures and supporting businesses rather than debt recovery. But, as the economy wakes, the giant is stirring once again and it's looking for its tax dollars. "The reality is, during 2020, the ATO was much more lenient," says RSM...