ACT education minister Joy Burch tours the new Coombs Primary School on Monday. Photo: Rohan Thomson
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Canberra's government teachers have called on Chief Minister Andrew Barr to sack Joy Burch as education minister, passing a no-confidence motion in her and questioning her competence.
It is the first time teachers in the ACT have formalised their opposition to an education minister and signals a complete breakdown of relations between the union and the minister.
The ACT Branch Council met over the weekend to discuss potential industrial action relating to its current stalled Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
- In budget news, the Abbott government will commit a further $450 million to the fight against homegrown terrorism as it warns of a dangerous new trend towards teenagers, some as young as 14, taking up the cause of violent extremism.
- The federal government will also spend up to $400 million in extra funds to create a dedicated new border enforcement agency, to start operating from July 1.
- Treasurer Joe Hockey has unveiled new measures to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational companies and extend the GST to digital downloads, the so-called "Netflix tax".
- The Commonwealth says it does not know how much empty office space it is paying for, as a review is ordered of the tens of thousands of empty public service desks around Australia.
- Victims of domestic violence will soon be able to extend interim protection orders without facing their violent partners in court, the ACT government has announced.
- Work has started on one of the first development sites on the Kingston Foreshore peninsula.
- A serial armed robber will be forced to pay back the thousands he looted from Canberra businesses during a one-year rampage.
- The ACT's domestic violence case workers say they have been attacked, threatened and verbally abused by perpetrators on the job as staffing pressures mean they increasingly operate alone.
Canberra's Michael Matthews celebrates after crossing the finish line of the 136km third stage of the Giro d'Italia Photo: Fabio Ferrari
Michael Matthews has burst from the pack to win a bunch sprint to claim the third stage of the Giro d'Italia and consolidate his lead atop the overall standings.
Matthews, riding for Australia's Orica-GreenEDGE team, picked up a 10-second time bonus for the stage win on Monday to stretch his lead, which he took on Sunday after finishing seventh on stage two.
- While Nick Kyrgios will be the latest Australian to earn a seeding at Roland Garros, one of only five Australian men to reach the last 16 at the French Open in the past two decades, Scott Draper, does not believe that will necessarily equate to a deeper passage through the clay court major.
- "He's one tough bugger." No one can argue with Canberra Raiders forward Sia Soliola's assessment of Sam Williams after he put the team ahead of his own health by playing with a collapsed lung in Saturday's win over Gold Coast.
- The ACT Brumbies forward pack needs to muscle up to restore pride, but scrumhalf Nic White says unlocking back-line strike weapons will be crucial to saving their season.
- ACT Brumbies captain Stephen Moore says positivity is the key to staying in the Super Rugby finals hunt, imploring his team to ensure a promising season doesn't fizzle in Johannesburg out this week.
The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve ring road, which was closed on Monday due to high winds, has reopened.
Work has started on a series of road safety improvements on Yamba Drive in Mawson, O'Malley, Farrer and Isaacs.
Drive safely on your Thursday morning commute and let us know if you see any traffic problems on the roads, via @canberratimes but only when its safe to do so.
All eyes will be on Canberra tonight as Treasurer Joe Hockey releases the 2015-16 federal budget about 7.30pm. Visit canberratimes.com.au for the latest news and analysis.
Members of the ACT Nursing and Midwifery Network will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial at 1.30pm. The ceremony acknowledges nurses who have served in the Australian Defence Forces and coincides with International Nurses Day.
The film In the Shadow of Ebola will screen at the National Museum at 12.30pm. It tells an intimate story of a family and a nation torn apart by the recent Ebola outbreak.
Polish Australian Club president Barbara Alwast. The club will reopen this month after it was razed by a fire police believed was deliberately lit in January 2014. Photo: Matt Bedford
More than a year after Canberra's Polish White Eagle Club was gutted by a fire, the club begins a new chapter with an official reopening this Saturday and president Barbara Alwast said there is a lot to be excited about.
Despite the tumultuous year in the club's history, Ms Alwast is feeling positive about its future.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
Nearly 600 migrants thought to be Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were rescued from two wooden boats stranded off the coast of Indonesia's northern Aceh province on Sunday. Photo: Ronu Bintang
More than 2000 migrants in six boats have been rescued off the coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia, including women and children weak from a lack of food and water and needing medical treatment.
More than 1000 of them were dumped by traffickers in shallow waters off the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi. The migrants are believed to be long-persecuted Rohingya Muslims.
Today: A possible shower, plus a severe weather warning for damaging winds of around 50 km/h with peak gusts of 90 km/h. Min 6, max 14.
Wednesday: Possible shower. Min 2, max 12.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min, 0, max 15.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 2, max 18.
Saturday: Sunny. Min 3, max 18.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Min 3, max 18.
