G'day mates!
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That's the only proper way to greet people, on this most auspicious of days - May 8. Maaate.
It's going to be a chilly one today mates - a top of just 14 degrees is forecast, and a medium chance of showers this morning.
So, pour yourself a warm drink and let's look at what's making news today.
How's that new weekend timetable looking?
![ACT sub-branch secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Klaus Pinkas. Picture: Jamila Toderas ACT sub-branch secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Klaus Pinkas. Picture: Jamila Toderas](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc756582fmipj2ck7o2cy.jpg/r0_17_5000_2830_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
One of the biggest selling-points of the new bus timetable (yes, apparently there has been some), was there would be more services on the weekends. Problem was, there wasn't enough bus drivers, so services got cancelled.
The Transport Workers Union has called for Canberra's weekend bus timetable to be pared back, after nearly 150 buses were cancelled due to driver shortages.
However the ACT government said the cancellations amounted to just 4 per cent of the services scheduled over the weekend.
Katie Burgess has the story here.
Build me up, buttercup baby, then you let me down
![ACT Minister for Building Quality Improvement Gordan Ramsay, who has reversed his decision to delay the adoption of a new construction standards until September 1 Photo by Karleen Minney. ACT Minister for Building Quality Improvement Gordan Ramsay, who has reversed his decision to delay the adoption of a new construction standards until September 1 Photo by Karleen Minney.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc745nf7qcm811ax0e0eic.jpg/r0_285_5568_3428_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
So let's get this straight. First the ACT government decided the territory would delay introducing a national construction code (that all other states were putting in place on May 1), giving the industry just one day notice.
Then talks were held with industry groups on the weekend, and now the national building code will be adopted on June 1.
Dan Jervis-Bardy explains how it all went down (with a handy timeline) here.
Follow the money
![Anthony Pesec is running for the Senate as an independent. Picture: Jamila Toderas Anthony Pesec is running for the Senate as an independent. Picture: Jamila Toderas](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc747rce17n5ctj53ud7u.jpg/r0_511_5000_3333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Due to Australia's disclosure laws, we generally don't know who is funding politicians and political parties until long after the money has changed hands.
But an independent candidates at the upcoming election has come clean on his funding - and it's a familiar name.
Independent ACT candidate Anthony Pesec has hit back against claims his campaign received funding from GetUp and unions, revealing he has poured $65,000 of his own money into his tilt at the Senate.
He has also received $15,000 from Alex Turnbull - investor and son of Malcolm Turnbull.
Doug Dingwall reports here.
This is your Mother's Day reminder
![Get active this Mother's Day at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: supplied. Get active this Mother's Day at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc704c1m3y8g8aqd3p80w.jpg/r0_137_1817_1159_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Don't say we didn't warn you - Mother's Day is this Sunday.
If your Mum is not in Canberra like mine, get a card in the express post today, sort out some flowers.
I still haven't thought of a gift - there's only so many facials and massages you can buy before it gets boring!
But if your Mum is in Canberra, we have many special activities you could do together - from fun runs to yoga to cocktails (I know what I would choose).
Amy Martin has the full list here.
The Brumbies are lending a hand
![The Brumbies participating in a "Helping Hands" project, making prosthetic hands, which will be sent to children who have lost limbs due to landmines in Cambodia. Picture: Karleen Minney The Brumbies participating in a "Helping Hands" project, making prosthetic hands, which will be sent to children who have lost limbs due to landmines in Cambodia. Picture: Karleen Minney](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc758ple5ru5uzkhhwa0l.jpg/r0_207_3444_2145_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
You often hear about a handy goal or a handy try, but the Brumbies have learnt to be a bit more handy this week.
The team turned up to training on Tuesday thinking they were about to start preparations for their clash against the Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium this weekend.
Instead they were split into groups, told stories about people who lose hands, some who come in contact with landmines, and then built prosthetic hands to send around the world.
Chris Dutton has the story here.
Today's cartoon
![The Canberra Times' editorial cartoon, Wednesday, May 7, 2019 The Canberra Times' editorial cartoon, Wednesday, May 7, 2019](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc758u9q3r0g27s9argf8.jpg/r0_2_1024_676_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)