Latest ACT News
Teenager denies hitting aunt with bat
![A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his 60-year-old aunt with a baseball bat.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/g/1/4/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glm3ae.png/1449908887795.jpg)
Matthew Raggatt 7:28 PM A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his 60-year-old aunt with a baseball bat in a bizarre set of incidents, which allegedly saw three generations of a family involved in a public fight in Gungahlin.
Megalo celebrates 35 years with world's longest screen print attempt
![Megalo Print Studio and Gallery artistic director Ingeborg Hansen and programs manager Megan Hinton celebrate the studio's 35th birthday by creating the longest screen print of the studio's timeline.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/m/3/7/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glm1ac.png/1449905594414.jpg)
Georgina Connery 6:33 PM The Fitters' Workshop in Kingston was brimming with excitement as Megalo staff got ready for Saturday's record breaking attempt to create the World's Longest Screen Print.
Men face court after $30,000 worth of suspected stolen property seized in Griffith
![Suspected stolen items found at a home in Griffith on Friday.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/y/o/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllyoj.png/1449896639131.jpg)
4:03 PM Two men are set to face the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning in relation to stolen property and burglary charges.
Canberra's best Christmas lights this year?
![This Christmas tree in Canberra's centre has shattered records with its numerous lights - now it's oyur turn Canberra.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/8/z/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gljcbi.png/1449868225907.jpg)
Katie Burgess 8:09 AM Canberra has snagged a world record for our Christmas light display in Civic. Now it's time for the rest of the city to shine.
The Big Issue puts out its 500th edition and provides an immeasurable leg-up for Peter
![Peter sells The Big Issue magazine in Civic.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/k/h/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glli0i.png/1449825702988.jpg)
Megan Doherty 11:30 PM Peter, a vendor for The Big Issue in Canberra, still shudders as he remembers being homeless in Sydney.
Ambulance service welcomes new paramedics amid emergency services overhaul
![ESA Commissioner Dominic Lane, pictured in December.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/g/d/6/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll6ci.png/1449825136010.jpg)
Megan Gorrey The ACT's ambulance service has welcomed nine new intensive care paramedics, including the last cohort to be qualified under the territory's vocational training scheme.
About Town: Friends of the Australian War Memorial Christmas party
![John and Marlene Lee of Charnwood.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/u/o/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllva2.png/1449824973860.jpg)
Supporters of the Australian War Memorial gathered to celebrate Christmas.
Canberra ranked on tourism spending, visitor numbers
![Floriade is one of Canberra's biggest tourism events.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/n/v/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllel2.png/1449823431927.jpg)
Alexandra Back Canberra's spending on tourism is outstripped by the NSW south coast, the Hunter Valley and the Sunshine Coast, but it spends more than Hobart and Darwin, a new interactive website shows.
Fire at West Belconnen Resource Management Centre
![Smoke from the fire, which has spread towards Macgregor.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/j/4/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllfzb.png/1449822303869.jpg)
Emma Kelly Multiple fire crews are working to extinguish a fire in West Belconnen Friday afternoon.
New public housing properties ready for moving tenants
![Executive director of Housing and Community Services David Matthews with Housing Minister Yvette Berry.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/m/e/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll2a1.png/1449821954628.jpg)
Tom McIlroy The rundown Owen Flats on Northbourne Avenue will be empty before Christmas as the ACT government continues its relocation of about 2500 public housing tenants across Canberra.
ACT trauma surgeon warns drivers to slow down over summer
![Canberra Hospital trauma surgeon Dr Ailene Fitzgerald says telling a family their loved one can't be revived doesn't get easier with experience.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/7/0/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk5xo.png/1449821183253.jpg)
Megan Gorrey 11:30 PM When drivers' bodies are torn apart in serious crashes on the ACT region's roads, Canberra Hospital trauma surgeon Dr Ailene Fitzgerald is among those tasked with putting them back together.
Celebrating and examining photography
![Hayley Boyle, Unlimited Authority (2015) in Akin to Lust at PhotoAccess.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/k/y/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkl0l.png/1449820377010.jpg)
Peter Haynes Three CIT graduates who received PhotoAccess residencies are showing the varied and impressive results of their opportunity.
Freakshake queens Anna and Gina Petridis open new Patissez cafe in Canberra
![Freakshakes](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/4/c/5/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllgm0.png/1449820167730.jpg)
Natasha Rudra 11:30 PM It's been a very big year for Patissez.
An exhilarating experience
![Quidam's show-stopping banquine act.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/z/j/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkyis.png/1449819793434.jpg)
Michelle Potter Cirque du Soleil's Quidam is the show of the year and not to be missed.
Pair allegedly stole $57,000 of brass from National Library of Australia
![A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his 60-year-old aunt with a baseball bat.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/g/1/4/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glli4w.png/1449906912365.jpg)
Christopher Knaus More than $57,000 worth of brass was stolen from the National Library of Australia in an early morning caper last year, a court has heard.
Police chief hints at tougher liquor laws despite reported drop in alcohol-fuelled violence
![ACT chief police officer Rudi Lammers, left, has urged people to have fun but be safe over summer.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/m/r/5/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glliwi.png/1449818593042.jpg)
Megan Gorrey 11:30 PM Tougher measures are being considered to crack down on drunken violence in Canberra next year.
Kingston's new designer hub
![David Traylen and Chris Lloyd, the founders of CARDIF in Kingston.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/n/4/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll9s6.png/1449817548096.jpg)
Jil Hogan It's the dilemma many makers face when starting out – where to make once your work outgrows the kitchen table.
ActewAGL partners with Panasonic in the solar power revolution
![Rachael Turner of Forde with her 5.2kW solar power system that has a battery storage system.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/d/n/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllauu.png/1449816867648.jpg)
David Ellery ActewAGL teams up with Panasonic for the next step in the solar power revolution.
A touch of magic
![Typography artist Gemma O'Brien will be decorating Canberra Centre's hoarding in the lead up to Christmas.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/e/r/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glla3d.png/1449815270950.jpg)
Jil Hogan Canberra Centre may be filled with hoarding at the moment but they're at least putting it to use from this weekend, and using it to add an extra bit of Christmas cheer.
Christopher David Navin acquitted of murder of Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber
![Navin went to Clarenza, a property near Grafton, after the killing. He then burnt the knives and threw them in a dam near where he camped.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/m/h/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllcmw.png/1449819370584.jpg)
Michael Inman Christopher David Navin has been acquitted of the murder of Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber
Marist 'missed opportunity' to remove paedophile
![Brother Kostka abused students for decades at a string of schools across Australia](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/t/6/7/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllaq2.png/1449813822262.jpg)
Christopher Knaus Marist's failure to act on notorious paedophile allowed abuse to continue, Royal Commission finds.
Murder victim farewelled at funeral service
![Andrew Carville was last seen alive on November 4. His body was discovered on defence land at Majura on November 19.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/3/u/k/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllgio.png/1449813427430.jpg)
Megan Gorrey North Canberra man's body was found in grassland more than two weeks after he went missing.
Burlesque legend brings the bump, strut and look to Canberra at age 68
![Las Vegas nude magician Dusty Summers in her heyday.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/a/o/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll466.png/1449813017908.jpg)
Megan Doherty At the age of 68, burlesque legend Dusty Summers can still bump, strut and give "the look".
Chief Minister signals reshuffle before February resumption of parliament
![Andrew Barr photographed a year ago as he prepared to succeed Katy Gallagher as ACT Chief Minister.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/1/p/y/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk4na.png/1449812896406.jpg)
Kirsten Lawson At the top of Mr Barr's mind will be the imminent departure of Simon Corbell and the patchy performance of Joy Burch
Dubious honour for enterprise agreement
![Michaelia Cash, the prime minister's lead voice on the public service.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/y/b/0/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllbsu.png/1449811908483.jpg)
Phillip Thomson IP Australia offer bites the dust (again), as Agriculture opens up agreement to ballot.
Hit-and-run driver found guilty of culpable driving
![A Batemans Bay man has been found guilty of culpable driving after a hit-and-run incident.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/s/d/0/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gllbzt.png/1449811606780.jpg)
Michael Inman A Batemans Bay man who trashed his car to cover a hit-and-run has been found guilty of culpable driving.
Police seek public's help to find missing Lyons man Robert Jacob
![Robert Jacob was last seen on November 30.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/i/v/8/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll69k.png/1449811579629.jpg)
Megan Gorrey Police have sought the public's help to find a missing Lyons man as they investigate a series of reported sightings as recent as Tuesday.
Canberra's best tourist attraction named
![Founding director of Questacon, Professor Mike Gore.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/w/1/2/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkxfm.png/1449809952846.jpg)
Canberra's top tourist attraction has been named in the 2015 Canberra Region Tourism Awards.
Union urges politicians to reject latest pay rise
![Businessman.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/4/c/f/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkaqe.png/1449809926670.jpg)
Markus Mannheim Independent tribunal says an increase is needed to attract high-calibre people to public office.
Domestic violence victims remembered at time of 'heightened fear and anxiety'
![Yaping Wang holds a sign at a rally on the lawns of Parliament House to remember women who lost their lives to domestic violence this year.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/j/l/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll67w.png/1449809919231.jpg)
Megan Gorrey The names of 78 victims allegedly killed by a partner were written on cards strung up on the lawns of Parliament House.
Marital comedy where everything is verse
![Peter Robinson plays senior public servant Barry in Geoff Page's Cara Carissimo.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/f/a/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk49b.png/1449820001322.jpg)
Ron Cerabona Geoff Page's new play satirises Canberra attitudes and aspirations.
Warning signs in salt and uranium
![Artists Ken and Julia Yonetani stand in front of their work USA 2013 a chandelier made from uranium glass.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/c/y/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk2hp.png/1449808699266.jpg)
Ron Cerabona An art installation at NGA Contemporary has some pertinent points to make.
The Canberra Times news quiz for December 11
![The ACT Government and the National Capital Authority have announced a competition to guide the next 10 years of landscape development at Mt Ainslie.
George Wootten and Hannah Barrington from London take a selfie with the view from Mt Ainslie.
9 December 2015
Photo: Rohan Thomson
The Canberra Times](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/j/1/n/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glld9e.png/1449808540110.jpg)
How closely have you been paying attention to the news this week?
Canberrans jump and jive for Swing Dance
![Canberra Swing Katz, from left, Casey Crockford of Lyneham, Phee Mackay of Amaroo, Katherine Gregory of Ainslie, Pip Reville of Nicholls, Chayla Ueckert-Smith of Downer, Erin Brennan of Stirling and Molly Campbell of Turner during rehearsal at Majura Community Hall in Dickson.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/c/7/j/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glc7gw.png/1449807605776.jpg)
Georgina Connery Retro revellers and sharply dressed jitterbugs are making moves at the Canberra Swing Katz dance school.
Return of the poster
![Liam from Nicholls' Star Wars poster from The Canberra Times in 1977 which marked the release of the first movie.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/e/r/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glla0h.png/1449807109930.jpg)
Jil Hogan A long time ago in a newspaper far, far away. Actually, it was this newspaper that ran this special poster marking the release of the very first Star Wars back in 1977.
Dining: Suburban hotspots
![Joe's Bar in Griffith.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/2/8/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk1lv.png/1449709744315.jpg)
Gemma Varcoe A bar and restaurant renaissance has hit the capital, with scores of trendy eateries opening up across suburban pockets of Canberra. Here are our favourites.
Empty wine bottle sells for more than $10,000 at Canberra auction
![This empty imperial of Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier sold for more than $10,000 at a Canberra charity auction.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/9/h/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll0kk.png/1449799138765.jpg)
Katie Burgess It's not unheard of to pay through the nose for a good bottle of wine but what about for an empty bottle?
'Demtel man' to replace Mark Parton
![Tim Shaw will replace Mark Barton as 2CC's Talking Canberra host.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/4/o/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gll46s.png/1449798068344.jpg)
Katie Burgess 2CC has a new breakfast host. But wait, there's more...
Cash on the attack: New figures show 'wildly inflated' union action
![Minister Michaelia Cash.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/x/6/s/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk6rr.png/1449791265367.jpg)
Phillip Thomson Figures reveal stop work participation at each agency. And it's low, prompting accusations of union exaggeration.
Weekend road closures are in place for Canberra triathlon series
![Some Canberra roads will be closed this weekend due to a triathlon.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/0/p/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk0nf.png/1449782100346.jpg)
Triathletes competing in the T3X Endurance Series will take to roads around Canberra this weekend.
Traffic, weather, top news and today's cartoon in one click
![Canberra mornings thumb thumbnail generic](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/y/f/m/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkuxg.png/1449777950858.jpg)
The news, traffic and weather to get you up to speed.
Bendigo car crash, Cathy Marsh, remembered at memorial service
![Keane Marsh with his mother, Cathy, who died in a car crash near Bendigo on December 6.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/k/o/y/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkozd.png/1449776023482.jpg)
Emma Kelly Close to 100 balloons were released over Lake Burley Griffin Thursday evening in memory of Canberra's Cathy Marsh.
Alleged child sex victim calls defence barrister 'maggot', storms out
![The jury at ACT Supreme Court hears evidence in a historic child sex abuse case.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/v/0/p/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkqw4.png/1449738838265.jpg)
Christopher Knaus Sisters, brother bore 'silent witness' to each others abuse, Crown says.
Canberra-Sydney freight train service revives hopes for rail expansion
![Corporate services manager of the Canberra Rail Museum, Bruce Blain with freight being loaded to leave Canberra by rail.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/j/e/u/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gliz1u.png/1449783458515.jpg)
John Thistleton Freight trains opening opportunities for more rail services out of Canberra.
Thieves strike again near Gunning
![Farmers Theresa and Craig Robinson, with their children Alya and William, are living in fear after the crime wave.](/web/20151212095924im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/d/g/n/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkbci.png/1449775567578.jpg)
Emma Kelly, John Thistleton Two men seen running from a garage at Gunning are suspected of being involved in a crime spree across the Southern Tablelands.