News

After almost a decade of sustained enrolment growth of around 2 per cent a year, enrolments in ACT schools grew by only 0.4 per cent in the last year to 82,175, the latest Schools Census showed. In a continuing trend, schools in Tuggeranong continued to be under-subscribed while enrolments were strong in Canberra's north, pushing some schools near capacity. The...

It seems long grass was the bane of many Canberrans' existence last year - so much so that 16,920 requests for assistance with grass, trees and shrubs were submitted via the Fix My Street portal. A total of 46,831 requests were lodged to Fix My Street in the 2021 calendar year. Potholes and anything else related to roads, parking and vehicles...

Both the 50 and 25-m pools at the Gungahlin Leisure Centre will be out of action for the winter, with the smaller program pool closing this month for maintenance. The ACT Government said routine maintenance work on the program pool was due at the end of 2022 but to reduce peak season disruption at the Centre; it would close from 16...

As students returned to the classroom today, it's been revealed the ACT's work health and safety regulator attended five of the territory's public school campuses in term one. The revelations follow the highly publicised events at Calwell High School last term when WorkSafe ACT barred all year 7 and 8 students from attending campus. Inspectors found a school campus rife...

Homeowners who remove a tree on their property would need to plant an additional two trees or pay $600 per tree they cannot replant under proposed new laws the ACT Government has put forward. Property developers would be subject to even stricter requirements to make up for lost canopy cover. Depending on the size and location of the tree they...

The Tesla Model 3 raked in the sales across Australia last year, and although there might be a spot of bother with supply at the moment, it shows no sign of slowing down. According to the Electric Vehicle Council, 15,054 units of this electric American sedan were sold in 2021. And while Tesla is coy about releasing exact sales data...

The Federal Government appears to have opened a front in the culture wars in the midst of an election campaign by moving to force Commonwealth public servants to take three key national holidays on the observed date and not substitute them for another day off. The move may provoke controversy as limiting the options of those who may not wish...

Queensland researchers are trying to get to the bottom of why and where Canberra drivers speed in a new online survey funded by the ACT Government. The Queensland University of Technology received funding for the research under the ACT Road Safety Fund Community Grant Program and is undertaking the work through social media to find out just what we're thinking...

It took 52.2 days on average for matters reported via the ACT Government's Fix My Street portal last year to be resolved, Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel has confirmed. In response to a question in the ACT Legislative Assembly, Mr Steel said officers may already have inspected the area and that in some cases, immediate repairs could...

Reports that the ACT Government may abolish the three per cent sales tax on used EVs have been met with one question from the sector: why isn't it already in place? Ion DNA sells used EVs imported from overseas. Owner Rob Ogilvie said he was charged stamp duty on two sales about eight weeks ago. At the time, he approached...

Weeks of recent rain are behind us, giving way to perfect autumn days just in time for the Easter long weekend. No matter where you are in the region - be it Goulburn on the Southern Tablelands, Cooma in the Snowy Mountains, Bega on the South Coast or Canberra itself - expect crisp nights and cool autumn days, perfect for...

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a collision between a car and a cyclist last night (Tuesday 12 April) on Gungahlin Drive, where the driver allegedly failed to stop. Officers received reports of a collision between a red Holden Barina and a cyclist in the bike lane of the northbound lanes of Gungahlin Drive, just past the Caswell Drive off-ramp....

Salmonella has been detected in Coles Baby Spinach, causing the supermarket giant to recall stock across all its ACT, QLD and NSW stores (excluding Lavington, Albury and Deniliquin). The recall is for Coles Baby Spinach (60g, 120g and 280g varieties) sold in supermarkets, Coles Local and through Coles Online. The affected products are: Coles Baby Spinach 60g, use by 13...

New cat containment laws to better protect native wildlife and cats themselves have been warmly welcomed by the RSPCA. They will come into effect from July. Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel announced the Territory will also move away from the controversial 'trap, neuter, release' policy it currently employs to 'trap, neuter, adopt'. All cats will need to be registered...

Canberra motorists renewing their passenger car's registration over the next 12 months will receive a refund of about $20 as the ACT Government catches up with lower insurance premiums under the Motor Accidents Injuries (MAI) scheme. Third-party insurance is a compulsory part of vehicle registration in the ACT. It previously took the form of Compulsory Third-Party (CTP) insurance but was...

In a bid to alleviate the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on petrol prices, the tax on every litre of fuel dropped from 44.2 cents per litre to 22.1 on Budget night, so if you've filled up in the past few days, you've probably noticed it's not as painful as it was a fortnight ago. It's not just you. Industry...