Latest ACT News

Sancho Murphy and Beach Burrito Company's restaurant manager Arthur Gruselle are behind the new LoBrow Gallery and Bar in Civic.

LoBrow Gallery and Bar opens in Civic

Jil Hogan 4:33 PM   LoBrow is trying to claim that word from a negative into a positive in Civic, Jil Hogan says.

Williamsdale solar farm approved by ACT government

Planning Minister Mick Gentleman will release a discussion paper that canvasses more government inspections.

Tom McIlroy 4:26 PM   A controversial solar farm project near Williamsdale has been approved by the ACT government.

Mental health course to help prevent suicide in Mr Fluffy victims

A Mr Fluffy house in Scullin prior to demolition in November 2015.

Katie Burgess 3:10 PM   A Canberra suicide prevention hotline has launched an education program to help prevent those traumatised by the Mr Fluffy crisis from taking their own lives.

The Canberra Times news quiz for January 29

The sign erected outside the cafe on the NSW south coast.

3:05 PM   How closely have you been paying attention to the news this week?

The bar serving up flowers

The Floral Society owner Renee Douros and florist Freyja Spear at the new Floral Bar in Kingston.

Jil Hogan 2:30 PM   It's Canberra's newest bar but it's less drinks and more daisy.

Tiny sausage dogs will race at the Bungendore Show

Mini dachshund Chilli, dressed as a biker dog competes in the Hophaus Southgate Inaugural Best Dressed Dachshund competition.

Kimberley Le Lievre 1:42 PM   The Canberra region's first ever dachshund races will take place on Sunday.

Giant hailstones to batter Canberra

A severe storm warning is in place for the ACT on Friday.

Katie Burgess 1:13 PM   A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the ACT, just days after the capital was hammered by destructive wild weather.

Another 'coward punch' outside Canberra pub

CCTV footage shows the man in the white shirt seconds before he punched the man in the dark shirt to the ground.

12:34 PM   ACT Government to announce "major reforms" to tackle alcohol-related violence after shocking CCTV footage of another one-punch assault in Canberra.

Canberra Contractors fined $82,500 for building site death of Wayne Vickery

Wayne Vickery was killed two weeks for Christmas in 2011.

Megan Gorrey 12:05 PM   A construction company has been fined $82,500 for the death of a worker who was struck by a reversing grader at a north Canberra building site in 2011.

Pregnant woman too scared to walk the streets of Dunlop after dog attacks

Lolli, the miniature fox terrier, was mauled by a malamute dog in Dunlop and suffered a punctured lung and five broken ribs Lolli weighs only 4.5 kilograms whereas a malamute can weigh more than 40kgs.

Megan Doherty 10:57 AM   Dog attacks have had a lasting effect on the mum-to-be who used to take pleasure in walking her pets, Megan Doherty says.

Alleged cigarette thief caught

Police arrested and charged a man accused of stealing $25,000 of cigarettes.

10:03 AM   Man accused of stealing $25,000 worth of cigarettes after breaking into a supermarket in Canberra's inner south last month.

A darkly exuberant musical sex comedy

The Last Time: Caroline is played by Kat Bramston and Christopher is played by Hayden Crosweller.

Jennifer Gall 8:52 AM   This examination of the modern mating rituals of Canberra's youth is disturbing and energetic.

Traffic, weather, top news and today's cartoon in one spot

Canberra mornings thumbnail

6:51 AM   The news, traffic and weather to get you up to speed.

Walking with wombats perk of bush capital

ACT Parks and Conservation senior ranger Colin Schofield during the guided wombat walk at the end of Googong Foreshore.

Clare Sibthorpe 12:02 AM   Only one in five members of the Australian public ever see a wombat in the wild.

Troubled myGov to be taken from Human Services

MyGov was launched in 2013 and is now used by several million Australians as a portal to access their Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support, Department of Veteran Affairs, e-health, and DisabilityCare accounts.

Noel Towell 11:30 PM   Malcolm Turnbull's DTO has been critical of myGov, now it has the chance to show it can do better.

Comments 7

Canberra's skills on Kiwis' radar

Robin Poke, Hughes, managed to secure a ticket for the first flight by Singapore Airlines to Wellington, New Zealand, in September.

Clare Sibthorpe 11:30 PM   Singapore Airlines' Capital Express route linking Canberra with Singapore and Wellington opens up many exciting opportunities for exports, tourism and business.

Australian Electoral Commission confirms seat redistribution in Canberra

Recognised: Professor Frank Fenner, who died in 2010.

Henry Belot 8:00 PM   It's official: Canberra's electoral divisions have changed.

Insurers hit with damage claims after Canberra storms

A dramatic storm passes over Australian of the Year ceremony on Monday.

Alexandra Back 7:55 PM   Insurance companies have reported increased demand from customers making claims after a hailstorm battered parts of Canberra the night before Australia Day.

Skywhale draws huge crowds in Brazil and Ireland

Crowds view Skywhale in S?o Paulo, Brazil

Tom McIlroy 11:30 PM   Skywhale seen by millions in Brazil, next stop USA

Hospitals health report damning

An Australian Medical Association report says the ACT's hospitals are struggling to keep up.

Henry Belot and Tom McIlroy 7:26 PM   Peak medical group warns falling funding for "struggling" hospitals could exacerbate already growing waiting times.

Regional cities move to capitalise on Canberra's Capital Express route

Singapore airlines launches its capital express route last week.

Alex McConachie and Katie Burgess 7:16 PM   A regional hub will lobby for domestic air services to Canberra, following the launch of the Capital Express service.

The High Court is operating at a $4.8m deficit

High Court Chief Justice Robert French: The court may be forced to abandon its tradition of holding hearings across the country.

Bianca Hall 6:50 PM   Australia's most senior judge has taken aim at federal government cut-backs, warning that the High Court was operating at a deficit.

Grazier warns hiking rates will force growers off land

Grazier David Watson with a 1924 photograph of Sharrow sheepyards.

John Thistleton 12:15 AM   Woolgrower says Palerang Council has no regard for rate rises impact on Bungendore's rural character.

Australia Day lamb promotion trebles butcher's sales

Queanbeyan butcher Peter Linbeck in the cold storage room with lamb trunks and legs.

John Thistleton 12:15 AM   Vegetarians didn't think the 2016 Australia Day lamb promotion was much chop. But protests did nothing to dent sales.

Bail eased for unions royal commission perjury accused Tuungafasi Manase

Tuungafasi Manase has had his bail continued.

Megan Gorrey 6:25 PM   Court told Canberra man accused of perjury in the unions royal commission could switch his plea to guilty.

Animals and fairy floss for iconic Canberra Show launch

Betty Zhang with her daughter Yuting Hu,3, of Watson checking out the chickens at the Canberra Show's launch.

Clare Sibthorpe 5:10 PM   Canberrans can expect a 'new format' from the Royal Canberra Show in February.

Kambah man paralysed in freak accident dies in the Canberra Hospital

Kambah man John Peers in the Canberra Hospital last August with his partner Vicki Lilley.

Megan Doherty   Kambah man John Peers dies after a brave fight trying to recover from a freak accident in which his neck was broken.

Gang-gang. Treasured (medieval) graffiti honoured on new book

"Horrie" Hancock, founder of Koomarri, in a photograph taken 1968.

Ian Warden 11:45 PM   Those of you who rage against graffiti ("Erase it all, this very instant!" we hear you thunder) may be given some tucker for thought by a new book Matthew Champion's Medieval Graffiti: The Lost Voices of England's Churches.

Hospital warned of mental health bed shortages two years ago

Easton Woodhead will spend the next three months in prison.

Bianca Hall, Adam Cooper   Thomas Embling Hospital warned the state government two years ago that more resources were needed to manage a growing population.

Staff concerns about asbestos exposure on campus at UC

The University of Canberra

Tom McIlroy   The University of Canberra has moved to reassure staff that strict asbestos safety procedures have been followed as part of external building works.

Counting sheep and sleeps

Canberra's SAFIA will play the Groovin the Moo 2016 festival.

Jil Hogan   The Groovin The Moo 2016 line-up has been revealed with a predominantly Aussie group of artists touring for the rural music festival, including Canberra's own SAFIA.

Gang-gang. 100 Years Ago. Can we play at the beach while the war's on?

Vintage postcard of fun at the beach.

Ian Warden 11:45 PM   It was so very like analytical "Clio" of Melbourne Punch that 100 years ago this week she felt the need to analyse how on earth people could still have so much fun in a time of war. .

Canberra man committed for trial on child sex charges

The man is accused of sending the girl a picture of his penis.

Alexandra Back   A 60-year-old Canberra allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old girl and shared explicit images with her online.

Police comb bushland near Calvary Hospital for missing man

Tahadesse Kahsai pictured leaving the Calvary Hospital on December 30.

Police focus their search for missing Canberra man, Tahadesse Kahsai on bushland near Calvary Hospital.

Bermagui cafe owner receives death threats

The sign erected outside the cafe on the NSW south coast.

Albert McKnight and Katie Burgess   South coast espresso bar owner says he has been subjected to vandalism and death threats since a photo of a controversial Australia Day message went viral.

Crossing generations

Stephen Multari and Diana McLean in 4000 Miles.

Ron Cerabona   Amy Herzog's play explores the relationship between a grandson and grandmother, among other issues.

Car rolls over on Barry Drive

Car flipped on to its roof on Barry Drive, O'Connor. One lane westbound closed to traffic.

A major Canberra road was closed in both directions after a car flipped on its roof after hitting a light pole on Thursday morning.

Traffic, weather, top news and today's cartoon in one spot

Canberra mornings thumbnail

The news, traffic and weather to get you up to speed.

The Rubens to play Groovin The Moo

The Rubens, who took out top spot in Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown, are on the line-up for the 2016 Groovin The Moo festival.

Jil Hogan   Triple J Hottest 100 winners The Rubens will play Groovin The Moo as part of a lineup with a predominantly Aussie group of artists.

This man beat Centrelink's system and he says you can too

Tom Wade used the Commonwealth government directory to contact senior executives in the Department of Human Service when he couldn't get through to Centrelink using the official channels.

Noel Towell   "Where did you get my number?" Medicare boss demands.

Comments 179

Australia expects public servants to work longer hours, agency boss claims

Bosses at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority want their public servants at their desks for 45 minutes each week in return for a 2 per cent pay rise.

Noel Towell   Longer hours for public servants a "community expectation" CASA public servants told.

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Man denies possessing child porn

Police are assessing 100,000 images on computers seized from David Walshe's home.

Megan Gorrey   A man has pleaded not guilty to child pornography offences after police allegedly found 100,000 images on his computers.

Village plan to guide future development of Tharwa

Minister for Planning Mick Gentleman said the final document would align with the ACT Planning Strategy, which promoted Canberra as the "bush capital".

Emma Kelly   The ACT government is developing a village plan for Tharwa to guide future development of Canberra's oldest settlement.

Plan for criminal infringement notices for low level drink-driving

The ACT government will consider new criminal infringement notices.

Tom McIlroy   Some criminal infringements notices are under the spotlight in a new ACT government discussion paper. Tom McIlroy explains.

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Unis defend standards but condemn imperfect ATARs

The ANU says its system of publishing guaranteed ATAR cut-offs is one of the most transparent in the country.

Eryk Bagshaw and Emma Macdonald   University chiefs are publicly condemning the ATAR system amid an outcry that many students in NSW were being admitted to study without meeting the academic requirements in any case.