Donna and Mike Hettinger with their daughter Phoebe, four, who was attacked by a dog last year. Photo: Rohan Thomson
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Her parents have called for changes to recently updated ACT laws after the owner of the dog was hit with a minor charge and escaped with a fine.
The dog's owner, David Mark Birnie, 51, was on Wednesday fined $1000 in the ACT Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a charge of being the carer of a dog which attacked a person.
- Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury flexed his political muscle to deliver a win to Telopea Park School over its tennis courts on Wednesday, warning Chief Minister Andrew Barr to consult the community on controversial decisions.
- The Liberal Party's first openly gay federal parliamentarian has vowed to cross the floor in support of same-sex marriage if a bill comes to the Senate for a vote.
- Private car parking operator Wilson Parking has reacted angrily to the ACT government's public comments and legal manoeuvres stopping drivers' registration information from being released for issuing of fines.
- Islamic State has hacked the personal information of Australian Defence Force employees and their relatives, a Victorian MP, and several public servants, and urged home-grown terrorists to attack them, in a chilling online breach.
- ACT Health cancelled a scheduled contract negotiation with the ACT Visiting Medical Officers Association on Wednesday night, refusing to reschedule until their demands were met.
- Two men have avoided time behind bars for their part in a violent home invasion involving a machete.
- Massive explosions have erupted in the major Chinese port city of Tianjin, sending a fireball and mushroom cloud into the night sky.
Wallabies greats have called for Nic White to start against the All Blacks. Photo: Getty Images
World Cup winning Wallabies Nick Farr-Jones and David Campese have thrown their support behind ACT Brumbies halfback Nic White to wear the Wallabies No.9 jersey against the All Blacks on Saturday.
And the man who brought White to Canberra, former Brumbies coach Andy Friend says it's a shame the Australian Rugby Union couldn't hold on to the talented young half.
- Two impressive spells by pace bowler Megan Schutt have left Australia in command of the women's Ashes Test, after Jess Jonassen fell agonisingly short of a century.
- Nobody in the Wallabies team is more aware of the impending challenge at Eden Park than Stephen Moore, who has been a picture of calm, but acknowledges the upcoming Test represents the biggest examination of his fledgling captaincy.
- He's been rated by his peers as the best five-eighth in the game, but Raiders playmaker Blake Austin says he needs to show more composure in pressure situations.
- Ashes 2015: Banning WAGs could lead to divorces, head selector Rod Marsh warns
- Netball World Cup: the Australian Diamonds have thrashed South Africa, while New Zealand has survived a scare from Malawi
- Fans and players will get their first look at the NRL's shot clock next week before it becomes a permanent implementation from next season.
- Raiders fullback Jack Wighton has hit out at the decision to axe the annual City v Country representative fixture from the rugby league calendar.
- They are already household names to Canberra Cavalry fans but pitcher Brian Grening and catcher Jack Murphy look set to come Down Under as Aussies this summer.
10:03am: The Tuggeranong Parkway has been cleared after a multiple crash near Lady Denman Drive earlier this morning closed multiple southbound lanes.
9.20am: One southbound lane on the Tuggeranong Parkway is still closed as police await tow trucks after a multiple crash earlier this morning.
9am: One southbound lane has been re-opened on the Tuggeranong Parkway after a multiple car crash near Lady Denman Drive closed two lanes, causing congestion and delays.
Two cars previously blocking part of the parkway have been moved off the road and tow trucks are on the way, police say.
8:43am: Police say four cars were involved in the Tuggeranong Parkway crash that is holding up southbound traffic near Lady Denman Drive, with two blocking part of the road.
Two southbound lanes are closed and police are diverting traffic via Lady Denman Drive.
8:35am: Southbound traffic is banking up on the Tuggeranong Parkway after a two-car collision at the Lady Denman Drive exit, police say.
One lane of traffic is open but both cars are still blocking part of the road.
8:30am: There's been a crash on the Tuggeranong Parkway's southbound off-ramp, leading on to Lady Denman Drive. We'll bring you more info as it comes through.
The temporary closure of Mount Ainslie Drive, slated for today, has been postponed until next week.
Mount Ainslie Drive will be closed at Fairbairn Avenue from 6am to 6pm, Monday August 17 and Thursday August 20, while the Mount Ainslie radio tower is upgraded.
Today is the 75th anniversary of Canberra's deadliest air disaster.
The story of General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, who was among those killed when a Hudson bomber crashed and burned on the slopes of a ridge near Canberra Airport on August 13, 1940, will feature at the Australian War Memorial's Last Post ceremony at 4.45pm.
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.
Join a tour of the Australian War Memorial's photograph collection and explore what tattoos meant to the men and women in the military. Entry is free, from 12-1pm.
The Australian National University's School of Music will host the band of the Royal Military College from 1pm. Entry is free and you can catch them at Llewellyn Hall.
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.
Canberra International Film Festival programmers Olivier Krischer, Andrew Pike, Alice Taylor and Cris Kennedy. Photo: Darren Weinert - NFSA
With the proliferation of online streaming services, it's hard enough to convince people to venture out to see a movie, and in sea of film festivals it's easy to get overwhelmed.
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Canberra Hospital registered nurse Clare Taylor. A national study shows ACT nurses are working longer hours. Photo: Melissa Adams
Nurses and midwives in the ACT are working longer hours on average than almost all of their interstate colleagues, according to a national report.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics reveal nurses in the territory worked an average of 35.3 hours a week during 2014, the second highest amount in Australia behind the Northern Territory.
The forecast is looking a lot sunnier after snow fell in the capital on Wednesday. Photo: Graham Tidy.
Today: A mostly sunny day with patches of fog and frost in the morning. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day, then becoming light in the evening. Min 0, max 13.
Friday: A mostly sunny afternoon after light morning frost. Light winds. Min 0, max 15.
Saturday: Partly cloudy with patchy morning fog and light winds. Min -1, max 15.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 1, max 16.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day .Min 1, max 15.
