WA's first Local Government Inspector, Tony Brown, now has full powers to oversee councils, issue fines up to $24,000, and recommend suspensions. The reforms aim to stamp out poor conduct.
Readers blast Coalition MPs for campaigning to weaken hate speech laws while criticising Albanese on anti-Semitism. Plus, Gaza editorial, ACT debt, and fireworks debate.
Analysis reveals Australia's freedom of information system has become more expensive and secretive, with costs doubling to $97.9 million while full releases halve. Read the full investigation.
After a year outside cabinet, the ACT Greens under Shane Rattenbury aim to prove their creative policy credentials. Can they convince Canberra voters they are serious economic managers?
New tender documents for Canberra's $138 million aquatic centre reveal no dive pool or boards, angering users who expected a like-for-like replacement. Key sports and community assets are now under threat.
Canberra welcomed 2026 with its largest-ever New Year's Eve fireworks over Lake Burley Griffin. The $154,000 spectacle drew big crowds and marked the second year of a three-year contract. Read more about the dazzling show.
Canberra prepares for its biggest NYE fireworks over Lake Burley Griffin. Hotels with lake views are fully booked as a new $462k contract is signed. Free public transport and road closures announced.
Canberra's financial pressures are a direct result of federal funding models and planning restrictions, not local mismanagement. Experts argue the system is broken. Read the full analysis.
Canberra residents demand the ACT Government uses the holiday break to reassess after costly light rail delays, Phillip Pool changes and rising debt. Read the full letters to the editor.
FOI documents show ACT officials discussed closing historic Tharwa Preschool due to one enrolment, as parents claim they were discouraged from signing up. Read the full story.
Canberra Times readers debate Trump's Greenland envoy, ACT pool closures, budget debt, and flag displays in a lively letters section. Read the full community discussion.
Australian governments are squandering a perfect opportunity for budget repair, risking higher interest rates and a weaker economy. Find out why political inaction will hit your wallet.
The annual cost for Canberra's Civic and Braddon flower boxes has surged by more than $100,000. Discover the details of the new contract and who foots the bill.
WA's Labor government spent $46.4m on external consultants in just 10 months, with the opposition slamming the 'alarming' outsourcing rate. Read the full breakdown.
Canberra Times readers argue the Bondi massacre highlights an epidemic of anti-Semitism, not gun laws, and criticise government inaction on campus hate and a 'farce' remuneration commission.
Canberra faces a severe shortage of outdoor public pools as developers replace them with indoor facilities. With a population set to hit 800,000, experts warn the current trend is unsustainable. Read more.
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended the ACT government halt Woolworths' proposed land purchase at Hawker Village until extensive community consultation is completed. Read the details.
The ACT's Auditor-General warns urgent action is needed to fix the territory's budget, with annual interest payments set to hit $1 billion. Read the full report on the fiscal crisis.
Revelations about the Bondi gunman have sparked a national push for tighter laws, but Canberra's outdated, paper-based firearms registry obscures where guns are concentrated. Discover the data black hole.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook forecasts deficits for a decade, with today's primary school children set to pay off a national debt nearing $1 trillion. Read the analysis.
Shire of Murray CEO Dean Unsworth has been awarded the 2025 Local Government Leader of the Year title at the IPAA WA Achievement Awards. Discover his collaborative leadership and key achievements.
The ACT City Renewal Authority has invested $35,000 in a social media campaign, paying local influencers to promote Christmas activities in Civic and Braddon to counter low foot traffic.
Ex-ACTSES chief Anthony Draheim has launched legal action against the government, alleging unfair dismissal. The case follows a series of leadership changes within the Emergency Services Agency.
The ACT government has retracted claims that affirmative consent laws boosted sexual offence reports after a data bungle. Read the full story on the corrected review and its findings.
East Fremantle councillors have unanimously voted to receive superannuation payments, backdated to the October elections. The move aligns the Town with larger councils.
The planned closure of the Vikings Club in Chisholm after 36 years has been labelled a 'slap in the face' to locals. The move highlights tensions over ACT gaming reforms and cross-border competition.
The Canberra Times Marathon is poised for international status with ACT government funding. A new two-day festival format and route via Duntroon and the War Memorial will attract global runners from 2026.
The ACT's $137.8m Commonwealth Park aquatic centre faces a critical design choice: allocate precious land and funds for car parking or prioritise community facilities and public transport access.
A major crash has closed Gungahlin Drive in both directions. ACT Emergency Services advise drivers to seek alternative routes as delays are expected for hours.
The ACT Greens propose a law to ban 'partisan' government advertising, targeting Chief Minister Andrew Barr's monthly column. The government defends its communications as factual.