ACT Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr prepares to deliver the budget in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Photo: Graham Tidy.
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A $160 million public housing rebuild is a centrepiece of an ACT budget that also hits Canberrans with hikes in fees and charges.
Declaring himself "as much the mayor of Canberra as I am the bean counter and treasurer", Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the budget was "unashamedly about Canberra's suburbs".
Strapped for time this morning? Here's our quick guide to get you up to speed, with a wrap of budget stories below.
- In other news: Sepp Blatter has said he will resign as president of FIFA in the wake of a widening corruption inquiry, an extraordinary turn just four days after he was re-elected.
- The ACT's senators are involved in a slanging match over gay marriage as tension mounts in federal parliament on the issue.
- Julia Gillard claims she was intimidated and bullied by Kevin Rudd when things didn't go his way during a political tactics meeting.
- A Canberra child abuse victim was molested so many times that she hung a wind chime from her door to wake her up when her stepfather approached.
- Public servants at the Fair Work Ombudsman could be paid bonuses worth hundreds of dollars if they can improve their record for showing up to work.
- Most of the 458 people on board a cruise ship on China's Yangtze River remain unaccounted for more than 18 hours after it capsized in torrential weather.
Meanwhile, the Budget includes:
- Paid parking in the city in the evenings, on weekends at an extra $5 million over four years.
- $14.8 million over two years to slash elective surgery waiting lists, add more mental health services.
- A $375 million capital contribution for the light rail line to Gungahlin.
- Rates increases from July: we break them down suburb by suburb.
- A fifth judge for the ACT Supreme Court to ease pressure on the justice system.
- $30.3 million for a new north Gungahlin primary school and a high school feasibility study.
- The ACT Public Service will grow by about 300 staff.
- But the budget lacked a focus on effective urban renewal strategies and the residents of Canberra's suburbs, according to the Canberra Liberals and community leaders.
Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco signed with the Raiders last year before using the round 13 rule to get out of his contract. Photo: Getty Images
Raiders chief executive Don Furner agrees with the scrapping of the NRL's controversial round 13 rule, but wants to see the impact of the 10-day cooling-off period.
In the wake of the Daly Cherry-Evans fiasco, the NRL announced on Tuesday that players will have 10 business days to change their mind before a contract is registered.
The proposed rule needs the approval of the Rugby League Players Association and will be an interim measure pending the NRL's "Whole of Game" review.
- ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says Christian Lealiifano and Robbie Coleman are starting to gel so well the expected absence of Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua will have minimal impact against the Western Force in Perth on Friday night.
- The Raiders have conceded 50 unanswered points during the opening 20 minutes of their past three games corresponding with their slide down the ladder.
- If Sydney FC fancy themselves as the Chelsea of the A-League, last night marked a reasonable opportunity to measure up. Sydney acquitted themselves ably, at times even impressively in a 1-0 loss.
- Stephen Dank says he does not give "a flying f---" that the World Anti-Doping Agency is appealing the decision to drop 21 charges that Australian sports drug authorities laid against him.
- The establishment of a video referees bunker next season would enable the NRL to introduce a captain's challenge, announce judiciary charges at full-time, reduce interchanges and enhance the value of the broadcast rights, as well as helping match officials to make decisions faster and more accurately. You can take a behind-the-scenes look inside a bunker here.
9.42am: That crash at the Moore Street at Gould Street intersection in Turner has been cleared, police say.
9.16am: Two cars have collided at the Moore Street at Gould Street intersection in Turner. Drive carefully in the area and try to avoid the intersection - the vehicles are still on the road, police say. Officers are on their way.
9:04am: There's been a crash on Moore Street at Gould Street in Turner - try and avoid that intersection if you can.
8:51am: Good news if you're driving through Woden - those traffic lights on Yamba Drive and Hindmarsh Drive are working again.
8:40am: There are a number of traffic lights out on Yamba Drive and Hindmarsh Drive due to a power outage. Officers are directing traffic in the area but cars are moving more slowly, police warn.
Traffics lights not working on Yamba Drive include the Kitchener Street, Wisdom Street and Launceston Street intersections. There's also one set of lights out at the Hindmarsh Drive and Palmer Street intersection.
7:20am: Both northbound lanes on the Tuggeranong Parkway were closed after a crash this morning, but police say they've now re-opened.
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.
Australian of the Year Rosie Batty will address the National Press Club in Canberra.
Master instrumentalists Stefano Bollani and Hamilton de Holanda will delve into the musical heritage of South America, performing Brazilian love songs, tangos and originals at the Street Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets: from $50.
Sydney Theatre Company and Perth's Barking Gecko Theatre Company take Colin Thiele's Australian classic Storm Boy to the stage at the Canberra Theatre from 7pm tonight. Tickets from $35.
The Jesus Christ Superstar AIS Arena Spectacular featuring Canberra's finest musical theatre talent continues from 7.30pm tonight. Tickets from Ticketek.
The Capital Jazz Project continues until June 8, with a range of international, national and ACT-based artists. More information and tickets via the Street Theatre.
Charlene Liau is the first ACT resident to win Australia's young planner of the year. Photo: Matt Bedford
Young Canberra planner Charlene Liau has taken out the top gong at the Planning Institute Australia's national awards.
The humble 27-year-old said she felt she was out of the running for the outstanding achievement by a young planner award and was shocked when she won the accolade.
Click cartoon for more David Pope.
James Turrell's 'Virtuality squared' 2014 'Ganzfeld': built space, LED lights is one of the artworks that has drawn thousands to Canberra in recent months. Photo: Supplied by the National Gallery of Australia
Nude gallery tours?
Spaced out visitors raving about brain tingles and new states of being?
Canberra may never be the same once James Turrell leaves the building this coming long weekend.
The long-running blockbuster retrospective by the world-renowned American artist, which ends on Monday, has marked a turning point for the National Gallery of Australia, the only institution in Australia to host the exhibition.
Today: Areas of severe morning frost. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds. Min -5, max 13.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Morning frost. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Light winds. Min -4, max 11.
Friday: Patchy morning fog and a possible early shower. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds. Min -1, max 14.
Saturday: Sunny. Light winds. Min -3, max 15.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 0, max 16.
