Anne John and Ewan Dempster live with their three children in public housing in Red Hill. They turned to the Salvation Army for help during a time of financial hardship. Photo: Jay Cronan
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A major report by the Salvation Army shows an alarming number of Australians living below the poverty line, with many trying to survive on just $18 a day after accommodation expenses.
The survey of people visiting the Salvation Army's network of 262 centres around Australia for help shows one in four missed at least one meal a day as a result of extreme financial stress, half said their situation was worse than a year ago, and 60 per cent of children reported severe deprivation.
"There have been days when I've had to decide between feeding my son, or driving him to school, because I can't afford the petrol," Mr Dempster said.
- The Australian Public Service Commission's internal investigation to find a staff member who leaked information to the media has turned up no conclusive evidence.
- Consumers will pay up to 50 per cent less for many common medicines under changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to be announced by Health Minister Sussan Ley on Wednesday.
- Labor leader Bill Shorten will ratchet up the pace on same-sex marriage next week, forcing his own party and the Parliament to deal with the issue quickly via a private member's bill.
- The Inner South Community Council has questioned whether the government's $1 billion demolition of Canberra's Fluffy houses will save a single life, and says the plan to allow dual occupancy on Fluffy blocks is unfair on the elderly, the less well-off and neighbours.
- A Queanbeyan lawyer has won a defamation battle with online forum ZGeek after its contributors attacked her for disclosing explosive information about jury misconduct in the original trial of Sydney serial gang rapists Bilal and Mohammed Skaf.
- Another long-established Canberra bookstore will be shutting its doors at the end of June. After 30 years, the Civic branch of Clouston and Hall Booksellers has succumbed to increasing rent and decreasing sales.
- At least 800 people have died in a major heatwave across India that has seen roads melt in New Delhi and temperatures near 50 degrees.
Leading from the front: NSW captain Robbie Farah. Photo: James Brickwood
"They hate me but that's fine because I hate them just as much. That's how I want it," Robbie Farah told Fairfax Media.
In tonight's State of Origin opener, Farah will replace Paul Gallen as the most hated man north of the border, but the stand-in NSW skipper insists he wouldn't have it any other way.
- Raiders' half Sam Williams has been cleared to play in Saturday's match against the Broncos, less than two weeks after being hospitalised with a collapsed lung.
- Nick Kyrgios is like the young Boris Becker and Andy Murray will be "under the pump" if he faces the Canberra star in the French Open third round, Former Tennis Australia academy head coach Scott Draper believes.
- ACT Brumbies flyer Joe Tomane hopes they can blow the Pretoria Bulls "out of the park" in the opening 20 minutes, but he's expecting another tight game from the South African province that needs to win on Friday night to force their way into the Super Rugby top six.
- Parramatta's Richie Fa'aoso has escaped NRL suspension after submitting an early guilty plea for his raised forearm that floored South Sydney's George Burgess.
- The new record attendance for ANZ Stadium could be set by a football friendly involving an A-League club and the current English Premier League champions.
- There was a disturbing hint of menace underneath the official Carlton media conference that announced the bitter end of Mick Malthouse's 30-year coaching career, writes Caroline Wilson.
8:34am: There's been a single car crash on Wells Station Road in Harrison. Police say the car is off the road but keep an eye out.
7:40am: Watch out if you're travelling on Ginninderra Drive or Coulter Drive - there's a crash at the intersection in Evatt.
We're not aware of any traffic incidents at this stage.
Drive safely on your commute and let us know if you see any traffic problems on the roads via @canberratimes, but only when its safe to do so.
Accomplished Paraguayan harpist Marcelo Rojas will be accompanied by the Australian pianist James Huntingford in a free concert at 6pm at the Drill Hall Gallery with wine and cheese at the conclusion.
The National Portrait Gallery will host a free highlights tour of its collection focusing on the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at 11.30am every day during Reconciliation Week ending on June 3.
ACT Parks and Conservation Service will undertake a rabbit control program at Pine Island Reserve until June 30 - it will involvepindonethe rabbit
Erin Molan described her sister Sarah Sutton as an 'inspiration'. Photo: Channel Nine
It was difficult not to be moved by Erin Molan's recent interview on The Footy Show with her sister, bowel cancer survivor Sarah Sutton – so imagine being their parents.
Anne Molan and her husband, retired army officer Jim Molan, tuned into the show at their Royalla home with a mix of apprehension and dread knowing they were about to relive one of the most traumatic periods of their life when their eldest child was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.
"This is every parent's worst nightmare," she said.
Mrs Molan has spoken about Sarah's diagnosis in a bid to encourage more people to be aware of the common symptoms of the disease - and to have them checked out promptly - but also to praise the Canberra area medicos who helped to save her daughter's life.
Click cartoon for more David Pope.
Why did the peacocks cross the road at Griffith? Perhaps to put a new spin on the old joke. Photo: Melissa Adams.
Today: Cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the morning and afternoon and light winds. Min, 1, max, 15.
Thursday: Partly cloudy with areas of fog in the early morning and a medium chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min, 4, max, 17.
Friday: Partly cloudy with areas of fog in the early morning. Medium chance of showers, most in the morning. Northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 km/h becoming lighter in the afternoon. Min, 7, max, 15.
Saturday: Partly cloudy with areas of morning frost. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min, 0, max, 13.
Sunday: Partly cloudy with a medium chance of showers. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Min 3, max 13.
