In its submission to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the licensee, Briz31, argued that the mistake had been made because the ads were "filmed in the same style as the program", with one even featuring Webb. Not surprisingly, the authority has declined to take further action.

BAND-AID SOLUTION  With the Government bleeding over the state's crumbling health system, most recently the inadequacy of its redevelopment plans for Royal North Shore Hospital, the Health Minister, John Della Bosca, tried to spruik some good news yesterday by inviting the media to the handover of a $1.96 million cheque from Woolworths, the proceeds of its Fresh Food Kids hospital appeal, at the Jubilee Room in Parliament House. Presumably the minister wasn't expecting the delivery gimmick: a cheque in the shape of a giant Band-Aid. Our spies at the event report that Della avoided being photographed with it.

BUNDY BEAR  After denying that the Government whip, Gerard "Bundy Bear" Martin, had called a group of Opposition staffers "f---ing grubs" while rounding on them during Tuesday's question time, the Speaker of the NSW Parliament, Richard Torbay, announced yesterday that Martin had apologised for his behaviour. Torbay also revealed the humbled MP had written an apology to a female staffer who works for the Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell.

BACARDI BREEZER The drinks giant Bacardi Lion has revealed itself as something of a party pooper by backing out of an industry agreement to hand over $260 million the Government has already collected from the alcopops tax to harm reduction programs if the distillers' lobby manages to kill the legislation in the Senate. A Senate committee was told yesterday the company has written seeking the money back if the tax is overturned.

HOON CHASERSAfter last week's item about the DVD made by harassed residents of Macleay Street, Potts Point, Clover Moore's war on car hoons is gaining pace. Multi-tasking ordinance rangers have received "specialist training" on how to identify hoons and report them to police.

GOT A TIP?Contact diary@smh.com.au or 92822179.WITH HIRSUTE PURSUITS

'TIS the season for carefully cultivated beards. This weekend the annual New York City Beard & Moustache Championships will feature a category for "recession beards", sprouting as a result of the global financial crisis. In May, the biannual World Beard and Moustache Championships will be held in Alaska.

Although Australian history is littered with famous bearded gents, such as Ned Kelly and Henry Lawson, this will be the first year that an Australian team has participated. A group of six from Adelaide will compete at the event and perform, as the musical-comedy act the Australian Bushrangers. Songs from their beard-only repertoire include No Beard, No Good and If Your Dad Doesn't Have A Beard, You Have Got Two Mums.

The leader of the Australian contingent, Michael Bidstrup, plans to put in a bid for the event - which attracts about 250 hirsute competitors, to be held in Australia by 2013 - with the 2011 event booked for Norway.

"We haven't got much against the German beards but we hope to show the world that Australia is a great bearded nation," Bidstrup said.

* Guys And Dolls opening night at the Capitol Theatre

* Miles Franklin Literary Award longlist announced

* Launch of the Taste of Sydney food festival at Centennial Park

* The Leukemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave

* Australian labour force statistics released

* World Kidney Day

WITH MUSIC SALES

AUSTRALIANS are buying more music but spending less on it, as sales of digital music continue to grow. Wholesale figures for 2008, released yesterday by the Australian Recording Industry Association, show an almost 8 per cent drop in 2008 in the combined spending on digital and physical music products, such as CDs and downloads, but a 75 per cent increase in the number sold.

The figures also show the trend towards digital music is continuing. The number of physical items sold declined by 12 per cent while digital sales rose 35 per cent, representing an increase in value of more than $14 million to a total of almost $40 million. Album sales, however, still represent the biggest chunk of the Australian music industry revenue, bringing in more than $422 million last year, a 12 per cent drop on 2007.

ARIA's chairman, Ed St John, said the discrepancy between the volume and value of music sold could be attributed, in part, to the cheaper price tag for digital music, such as album downloads, compared to CDs. He pointed out, however, that digital music was much cheaper to produce.

"From our point of view, there is a better return on digital music," he said. "But that is not necessarily a good thing, because when you start seeing CD shops close you stop seeing music."

Top selling releases from artists such as P!nk, AC/DC and Kings of Leon also contributed to a jump in sales in the last quarter of 2008.

WITH RECESSION CELEBRATIONS

AS THE rest of the world trades champagne for a more recession-friendly quaff, Australians are living in a bubble, with a record number of champagne imports in 2008. More than 3.5 million bottles of French bubbles were imported last year, according to figures released yesterday by the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, the French regulatory body representing champagne grape growers and champagne houses. The figure represents an increase of more than 10 per cent on 2007. Overseas, while Britain and the US continue to be the biggest drinkers, tough financial times have caused champagne sales to drop by 8 and 20 per cent, respectively. Even the French are abstaining from their national drink, with a 3.5 per cent fall in sales, although they still managed to consume more than 180 million bottles.