Happy Friday, Canberra!
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We're well and truly on the other side of Anzac Day now and the rain looks set in for most of the morning as we creep towards a forecast top of 19 degrees.
Here's what's making news:
ACT only state to delay building rules
![Minister for Building Quality Improvement Gordon Ramsay, who has delayed the adoption of new national building standards for the ACT. Photo by Karleen Minney. Minister for Building Quality Improvement Gordon Ramsay, who has delayed the adoption of new national building standards for the ACT. Photo by Karleen Minney.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc745nf7qcm811ax0e0eic.jpg/r0_285_5568_3428_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Turns out the ACT is the only jurisdiction to have delayed adopting new national construction standards.
While the government argues the industry needs more time to adjust to these "substantial changes", the decision has come as a surprise to the ACT's peak building group, which wasn't made aware of the delay until the day before the updated code was due to be adopted.
Dan Jervis-Bardy has the latest from the ACT's inquiry into building standards here.
Inside our new electorate of Bean
![Kostas Stavraki is the owner of Freddy Frapples fruit and vegetables shop in Weston Creek. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong Kostas Stavraki is the owner of Freddy Frapples fruit and vegetables shop in Weston Creek. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc752nph8xxy117z138go0.jpg/r0_279_5449_3355_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Welcome to our brand new electorate of Bean. Ringed by mountains, this sprawl of south-side suburbs even extends 2000km off shore to Norfolk Island.
A vein of disaffection with politics runs through its heart, including frustration at lopsided government attention to Canberra's northside.
Ahead of the looming federal election, Doug Dingwall paid Bean a visit for this story.
New support homes to give more freedom
![Angie Ingram, CEO, Mental Health Foundation ACT.
A new, purpose-built home in Canberras north allowing individuals with a long term mental illness to live in a community with support in place to assist their recovery. Picture: Jamila Toderas Angie Ingram, CEO, Mental Health Foundation ACT.
A new, purpose-built home in Canberras north allowing individuals with a long term mental illness to live in a community with support in place to assist their recovery. Picture: Jamila Toderas](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7564yrccb7516ober2cy.jpg/r0_260_5000_3073_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Cooking, cleaning, budgeting, not leaving the heaters on when we leave home: these are some of the things most Canberrans, in a way, take for granted.
But for people with acute mental health conditions, such household chores can be difficult.
The ACT government is set to open four support homes, plus one five-bedroom sharehouse, where residents will benefit from support 16 hours a day.
Finbar O'Mallon has the story.
Stoush over MyWay data
![Transport minister Meegan Fitzharris joins community members on the light rail. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong Transport minister Meegan Fitzharris joins community members on the light rail. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc74yy8uw0s69z6etmko2.jpg/r0_350_6720_4130_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Within hours of announcing a record number of passengers on Canberra's public transport network, minister Meegan Fitzharris was facing accusations of fudging the numbers.
Katie Burgess takes us through the debate for this story.
Sydney Dance Company steps into 50th year
![Sydney Dance Companys 50th Anniversary bursts into life with a formidable triple bill starring Rafael Bonachela's Cinco. Picture: Karleen Minney. Sydney Dance Companys 50th Anniversary bursts into life with a formidable triple bill starring Rafael Bonachela's Cinco. Picture: Karleen Minney.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7566ed6zyz912cj7y2cy.jpg/r0_290_5568_3422_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
When Rafael Bonachela first played the music he planned to use for this week's triple bill performance in Canberra, his dancers told him he was crazy.
The artistic director at the Sydney Dance Company is back in town as the dance group turns 50.
Amy Martin has more from rehearsals.
Today's cartoon:
![The Canberra Times' editorial cartoon for Friday, May 3, 2019. The Canberra Times' editorial cartoon for Friday, May 3, 2019.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7569sf7w3c337cr2gfl.jpg/r0_0_1024_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)