Good morning Canberra,
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Good news, friends. It'll be cooler today with a predicted top of 28 degrees and a high chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. There could even be a thunderstorm! I can't keep up.
Let's take a look at today's headlines.
From 'serial detachment' to public service minister
The Coalition's new public service minister has previously accused Canberra public servants of "serial detachment" from the rest of Australia, advocated for job cuts and proposed formal employment exchanges with the private sector.
Higgins MP Kelly O'Dwyer will replace Michaelia Cash representing public servants and women in the Turnbull ministry. She has previously written in favour of "devolving power" away from Canberra-based departments and agencies, suggesting big business believes the public service does not understand the impact of policy or Australia's economic realities.
Read Tom McIlroy and Doug Dingwall's story here.
ATO cuts 4600 jobs in four years
We have another story from our public service reporters Tom McIlroy and Doug Dingwall, who report that the Australian Tax Office has lots 4600 staff in four years, according to agency annual reports.
Labor's acting shadow Assistant Treasurer Matt Thistlethwaite said the cuts had made life harder for the office's remaining staff.
Mr Thistlethwaite said the job cuts coincided not only with multiple web outages, but also billions of dollars in consultancy fees.
An ATO spokeswoman said it managed cuts to prevent any impact on revenue collections or service delivery, and had maintained balanced workloads for staff.
Read the story here.
Secular society 'a challenge for Christians'
Outgoing Anglican bishop Stuart Robinson has listed a secular society without an understanding of Christianity and Jesus as the greatest challenge facing people of his faith.
After 10 years in the role, the bishop of Canberra and Goulburn will leave the diocese in March for Vaucluse in Sydney.
Bishop Robinson said he was keen to impress upon his successor the importance of addressing a secular Australia.
You can read the story here.
The Kingo prepares for biggest night of the year
The Kingston Hotel is preparing for an influx of patrons on December 24 - apparently its biggest night of the year.
Bree Winchester reports more than 2000 people are expected to head to the iconic pub in Canberra's south on Sunday night to ring in the holiday.
Read more here.
Artist and sons to fight murder charges
Also, in case you missed our report yesterday, an Archibald Prize finalist and and two of her sons accused of killing the family matriarch in Canberra's inner south more than two years ago are set to fight the charges at trial.
Melissa Beowulf, 60, and her sons Bjorn Toren Beowulf, 29, and Thorsten Halley Beowulf, 31, were each charged with murder in August over the death of her elderly mother-in-law in 2015. They pleaded not guilty.
Police were called to the Red Hill home of Katherine Helene Panin, 81, following a report a woman had fallen down stairs on October 12 in 2015. She later died in hospital.
Read Megan Gorrey's story here.