December 15 will mark the 65th anniversary of the unveiling of Ethos, Tom Bass's monumental sculpture in Civic Square. Unveiled in 1961 as the first public sculpture in Canberra, it was funded largely by public donations through the then Chamber of Commerce. The anniversary presents an opportunity for the ACT to recognize the civic spirit depicted in the artwork, which remains relevant today.
A new history walk-talk focusing on Civic's social history through its public art is being developed with CMAG, with Ethos as the first stop. The walk is preliminarily scheduled for May as part of efforts to enliven the city.
In other news, Prime Minister Albanese's recent national address calling for calm has been noted, but questions remain about the infrequency of such addresses since March 2020, given the challenges of floods, fires, and heatwaves exacerbated by climate change.
Traffic light sequencing on Drakeford Drive during peak hours has been criticized for increasing fuel consumption due to stop-start driving. Restoring proper sequencing could improve efficiency.
A positive experience with My Aged Care and the ESA fire ACT number was reported, with firefighters promptly replacing outdated smoke alarms and providing advice on maintenance.
The Commonwealth Grants Commission's 2026-27 GST update highlights fiscal challenges for the ACT, including formulaic lags and structural misapplications that hinder recognition of the territory's unique needs. The Productivity Commission's inquiry into 2018 GST reforms is seen as a potential circuit-breaker to address these issues.
