Good morning Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Happy Friday everyone. You're almost there - just a couple of more hours until the weekend! We're in for a partly cloudy day with a high chance of showers most likely in the morning - so don't forget the brolly. It will be 11 degrees.
Here's what's making headlines.
ACT spent only 41 per cent of planned capital works this year
The ACT government has spent just 41 per cent of $1 billion worth of capital projects expected to be completed this financial year.
The government spent just $419 million of the $1.02 billion capital works budget for 2017-18, to the end of March this year.
According to an update to the government's capital works schedule shows the health directorate and environment, planning and sustainable development had spent only $84 million and $88 million each so far this fiscal year, out of planned works worth $202 million and $286 million, respectively.
Read Daniel Burdon's story here.
Minister is 'confident' in NGA management after damning report
An audit report says the National Gallery was in a "high risk" financial position but Arts Minister Mitch Fifield has backed it.
The report found that financial management at the gallery was negatively affecting the way it manages its collections, with urgent repairs required to protect works from water leaks that occur when it rains.
Read more from Sally Whyte here.
ACT government to look for private partner for southside cemetery
The Barr government will look for a private partner to run a new cemetery and crematorium in Canberra's south, as it considers allowing graves to be recycled.
The ACT government did not allocate funding for a new cemetery in its 2018 budget, despite a Legislative Assembly inquiry last year recommending the ACT build a new graveyard in Tuggeranong as an "urgent priority".
More from Katie Burgess here.
Government rejects recommendation to keep mental health office independent
The Office for Mental Health will operate as a part of ACT Health despite a consultant report urging it to remain independent of the increasingly fragmented directorate.
The office is now formally established more than 18 months after it was announced as a key election pledge.
Read Daniella White's story here.
Canberra man bequeaths his home to children's charity Camp Quality
And finally, how's this for a good news story. Lionel Moore, who died in March, bequeathed his Watson home to children's charity Camp Quality.
His home at 5 Harding Street, Watson will be auctioned on site at 11am on Saturday, June 23.
Find the reason why he donated his house in Megan Doherty's story here.