Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
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Tony Abbott has successfully killed off a backbench push to legislate for same-sex marriage in a snap policy meeting that delivered a substantial win for the embattled Prime Minister and his conservative backers on Tuesday night.
But his surprise tactical manouevre has also sparked fury among moderate Liberals, straining the government's internal relationships and potentially weakening Mr Abbott's hold on the leadership.
- Tony Abbott privately told supporters two weeks ago that he would not allow Parliament a free vote on gay marriage, and was prepared to use "tricky processes" to get his way.
- The ACT government has rejected a call for alcohol and drug testing of prison staff, but will boost random testing of inmates.
- Canberra's biggest building union has slammed plans to put the resurrection of the Australian Building and Construction Commission to a Senate vote next week.
- The ACT government has given its strongest indication yet of a preference for the light rail line to extend to Russell, with Minister Simon Corbell describing it as "enormously attractive" on Tuesday.
- The ACT government has welcomed the Auditor-General's recommendations to protect the lower Cotter catchment after a report warned of a potential "catastrophic failure".
- Creating increased awareness of domestic and family violence in the Canberra community will help change attitudes and reduce risk from the issue, the ACT government said on Tuesday.
- Metal fragments recovered from a field in eastern Ukraine may be the 'smoking gun' that proves a Buk surface-to-air missile shot down flight MH17 last year.
Matt Toomua is hoping to push his way into the Wallabies front-line XV. Photo: Ben Rushton
While the ACT Brumbies flyhalf was happy to be one of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika's "finishers", he still has his eyes set on being in Cheika's starting XV in the Bledisloe Cup decider against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.
- Patty Mills had a few boxes to tick but no reservations about accepting a late call-up to join the Australian Boomers side to face New Zealand.
- Jess Jonassen is on the verge of a memorable century on debut having rescued Australia from the depths of a day one horror show in the one-off women's Ashes Test.
- The Canberra Raiders forward pack has been overhauled from one of the NRL's oldest and experienced to arguably the youngest and most exciting.
- Aaron Woods wanted David Shillington rubbed out for the year but Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor insists he has no issue with the Canberra Raiders prop escaping suspension for his head butt in Monday's 20-18 loss to the Tigers.
- The loss to NZ that had been described as a kick up the bum proved the catalyst for a timely return to Netball World Cup normality for an Australian team that recovered to beat England in Tuesday's qualifying rounds.
- Greater Western Sydney will carry a decimated midfield into their crunch clash with Port Adelaide this weekend.
- David Warner told former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy why he was wrong to suggest off-field distractions for players, primarily the presence of their partners of tour, were to blame for their on-field Ashes problems.
Best Festival Ever, a show combining theatre, board games and science, kicks off at The Street Theatre from 7pm. Tickets $20.
Rug up and embrace winter with a degustation dinner, wine tastings performances and more at various Canberra region venues as part of this year's Fireside Festival. Until August 31.
From a pinecone fashioned in 1923 out of clayey soil turned at the site of provisional Parliament House to porcelain bowls which celebrate Canberra's native plants and hills, A Potted History Of Canberra celebrates the diverse ceramics created in the region at Canberra Museum and Gallery until August 30. Free.
Curator Matthew Jones talks with actor Jack Thompson at the launch the National Library of Australia's new exhibition Heroes and Villains: Strutt's Australia. Photo: Rohan Thomson
That's the hope of Matthew Jones, the curator of Heroes and Villains, the National Library's retrospective of the mid-19th century English painter.
Solar Panels are being installed at the new IKEA Canberra store. Photo: Jay Cronan
The enormous 26,000 square-metre store is expected to attract 1 million shoppers each year. Store manager Mark Mitchinson promised the doors will open in November, and says he is feeling the pressure to deliver.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Areas of light morning frost. West to northwesterly winds of 20 to 30 km/h in the morning becoming lighter in the evening. Min 0, max 12.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min -1, max 15.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 0, max 15.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 1, max 16.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Light winds.Min 1, max 15.