Greg Tourelle: Trans-Tasman row silences the voice

SYDNEY - It doesn't take much for a trans-Tasman scrap to fire up, even when there isn't one.

News that New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark had vetoed pop Australian singing legend John Farnham from singing at the Anzac Cove commemorations had headline writers and radio shock jocks salivating.

Exclusive: Kiwi Insult to Farnham at Gallipoli, headlined Sydney's Daily Telegraph on its front page.

Trouble was, it wasn't quite right.

Clark had decided with Australian prime minister John Howard at the Apec meeting in Chile last November that it would be inappropriate to have a concert at the Anzac Cove ceremonies.

So while Farnham, who had been asked by Australian Office of War Graves about his availability to perform at Gallipoli, was subsequently ditched, it wasn't exactly because Clark vetoed him.

She hadn't even heard of him before, which gave an incredulous aspect as the story unfolded yesterday. Farnham is one of Australia's best known singers, but pop is clearly not the PM's musical preference.

Before the real situation emerged, Sydney radio 2GB talkback host Chris Jones had a real spray at Clark and anything Kiwi.

"It's a stupid ban by the Kiwis. How dare they? They're the junior partner in this collaboration," he spouted.

An elderly woman caller said she would write and apologise to Clark for Jones calling her an "ignoramus". She was against singing at Anzac Cove and thought Farnham couldn't "even reach a high note".

Farnham's manager Glenn Wheatley stoked the fires, even invoking the most infamous of cricket incidents when asked by Jones about the "veto": "Maybe she's getting even with us for playing the underarm," he replied.

Wheatley was at pains to say that it wasn't going to be rock concert and that Farnham had been studying some old digger songs that might be appropriate for the ceremony. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and You'll Never Walk Alone were two mentioned by Wheatley.

Unfortunately, Jones had some of Farnham's hits in mind. "Imagine the song Touch of Paradise being sung as the sun rises as casts its orange hue over the ocean and mountain range at Gallipoli. Or an acoustic version of Burn for You as the crowd readies itself for the dawn service. I'd be a blubbering mess."

Wheatley said he had also proposed that New Zealanders Tim and Neil Finn should also perform at the concert. This was news to the brothers, whose record company said were "surprised and saddened" their names had been linked to the event in a negative way.

Late in the day, Clark tidied the matter up.

She said she had spoken to Howard in Chile after learning from her officials of a proposal for an event like a rock concert at Anzac Cove.

"I expressed my concern and our officials concern and what I believed reflected the concern of New Zealanders about that to Mr Howard and he also expressed some reservations about a concert," she said on Close Up at Seven.

"I happen to have great respect for those who lost their lives at Gallipoli and I don't want myself to be seen to be part of an occasion which does not have dignity.

"I think it's very, very important that this particular area, which was a killing field and where families lost loved ones ... this has to be dealt with in a proper way."

The Australian government also released a statement, backing her comments.

"That a different programme was ultimately developed is no way a reflection on Mr Farnham who many will agree is a gifted singer and performer," said a government spokesman.

The different programme is said to feature a string quartet and a didgeridoo player, but Clark said it had yet to be finalised.

She is having talks in New Zealand this weekend with Howard. It's a fair bet he will be carrying some John Farnham CDs in his luggage as a gift.

- NZPA