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Grove Studios Academy, in partnership with the University of Canberra, will deliver a new Bachelor of Creative Industries in Contemporary Music Practice. The course will give students a direct pathway into the degree.
Advocates say stigma still stops drug users from getting health care, even though the ACT decriminalised small amounts of illicit drugs in 2023. Speaking at a Canberra memorial for overdose victims, Hayley Shaw described nearly dying from an overdose at 14 and her friend Daniel's death at 29, after he struggled to get adequate pain relief during cancer treatment. GP Ben Harkness said some users avoid mainstream services for fear of judgement.
The Canberra Loy Krathong Festival returns to Ping Ping Thai Food in Kambah on Saturday 31 October, running from 11 am to 6 pm. Entry is free and includes cultural performances. The program features a live band, a tribute show to Thai rock musician Sek Loso, Thai dance, Thai boxing, a Thai fashion show and a pageant competition. Loy Krathong is traditionally held around the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar and is associated with gratitude and new beginnings. Food and drinks are available to purchase, and some prize-based activities carry a small fee.
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Get the appThe Irish Film Festival returns to Canberra's Palace Electric from Friday 6 to Monday 9 November, with its biggest programme in 12 years. The lineup spans dark comedy, horror, music, family drama and documentaries about Ireland's past. Opening the festival is Chasing Millions, an Irish-Australian co-production inspired by Belfast's 2004 Northern Bank heist. Festival director Enda Murray says Irish filmmaking now feels more confident. The 2026 event also marks 80 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Ireland, and the Irish Embassy has backed it as part of that anniversary.
Dozens of Olympic and world champion rowers will compete at this weekend's Golden Oar regatta on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Organisers say the event features more international stars than before, with prize money of $200,000. Croatia's Martin and Valent Sinkovic, who won three Olympic gold medals, return after starring at the 2025 event. The regatta starts on Friday, 30 October, at Black Mountain Peninsula, near the Red Shed, and runs until 1 November 2026. Twenty-four rowers from the Australian National Training Centre will take part.
The ACT Government has signed contracts with Acusensus Australia and Orikan Australia to modernise the Territory's traffic and parking systems. The Acusensus contract is reportedly worth $63 million over five years, rising to $210 million if two five-year options are exercised. A staged rollout is expected to begin in mid-2027. The move comes as a petition led by John Mikita calls for an independent audit of the infringement system. The government says public servants still decide whether to issue an infringement, and it remains confident in existing systems.
Belgravia Leisure has introduced allied health services at three of its Canberra recreation centres, so people can book physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics around their workouts. A physiotherapist is available at Stromlo, and an exercise physiologist and dietitian are based at Gungahlin. Sessions are open to the whole community, not only members. Patients managing chronic conditions can access discounted rates through a GP care plan, and eligible people can use Medicare, DVA, NDIS, HICAPS or workers' compensation. Belgravia says all its allied health staff are accredited.
A series of public sector events is scheduled between November and December. They include a First Nations women's leadership masterclass in Darwin on 4 and 5 November and the NT Governance Forum on 6 November. Leadership and policy courses for APS and NSW public servants run in November. The Regulatory Reform in Practice Summit will be held in Canberra and virtually from 1 to 3 December, with Kelly Wood of the Department of Finance among the speakers.
The Sydney Roosters have withdrawn their contract extension offer to off-contract halfback Sam Walker after the two sides failed to agree on terms. The club said the parties could not reach an agreement despite months of talks. Walker is free to speak with NRL rivals from Sunday. The move follows the Canberra Raiders withdrawing their offer to Hudson Young earlier on Monday. Walker remains contracted to the Roosters for 2027.
The Suburban Land Agency released more land than planned in 2025-26, but its income was $22.9 million below budget. Income reached $406.4 million, up from $237.3 million the previous year. Some mixed-use sites, including blocks in Molonglo, have struggled to sell. The agency blamed softer market conditions, higher interest rates and deferred settlements. It has budgeted for income of $434.3 million in 2026-27, with land releases expected to increase in coming years.
Federal MPs have expressed support for Helen Haines, the Member for Indi, following an incident outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. Mary Aldred, the Member for Monash, spoke in Parliament and sent her love and prayers to Dr Haines and her family. Ms Aldred also called for a better integrated approach to parliamentary security. She raised concerns about a mental health crisis in regional Australia and said the threats and abuse faced by public figures must be addressed.
Federal Parliament paused on Monday to pay tribute to Indi MP Helen Haines, who is recovering in a Melbourne hospital. Police allege Brendan Nugent, 43, drove a four-wheel-drive into her as she collected items from her car outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for lower temperatures in political debate, warning of rising rage and aggression. Opposition leader Angus Taylor described the attack as a national tragedy. Politicians across parties spoke about threats against MPs and their staff, and a donation page in her name had raised more than $1.2 million.
NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has threatened to suspend all of Moree Plains Shire Council for three months and appoint an interim administrator. The Minister's letter cites conduct at council meetings, repeated police involvement and strained relations between councillors. Mayor Susannah Pearse said the council would respond by 6 November and that an extraordinary meeting will be held on 2 November. The council is expected to argue strongly against suspension. Neither the Minister's office nor the Office of Local Government has explained why they did not act earlier to keep councillors and staff safe.
A woman held captive by a man at a Lyneham home in June 2024 has told an ACT Supreme Court pre-sentence hearing the abuse left her with lasting trauma. Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, was found guilty earlier this year of 20 charges, including forcible confinement and rape. The woman, then 24, escaped and ran naked onto the street, where police found her. In her statement she described crippling PTSD and panic attacks. Fulivai will be sentenced at a later date.
Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, was found guilty of 20 charges at the ACT Supreme Court, including sexual intercourse without consent and unlawful confinement. His victim told the court he had held her captive for two days at his Lyneham home in June 2024. She escaped naked and was found by police. Prosecutors said he posed a significant risk to women and called for a significant prison term. His barrister argued rehabilitation should still be considered. Justice Belinda Baker reserved her decision and will sentence Fulivai, who remains in custody, at a later date.
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Get the appMelissa Evans and Mauro Vecchi have renovated a townhouse designed by architect Bert Reid in 1982. They kept the original design, including the sunken conversation pit, slate floors and angled walls. The kitchen and bathrooms were updated, with a coral marble bench and handle-free cabinetry added. The couple and their two Russian Blue cats now live in the home, which they say feels special to live in.
Kirsten Tibballs has shared a spooky recipe for Spider Nut Cookies, taken from her cookbook Chocolate All Day. The recipe combines peanut butter cookies with a milk chocolate honey ganache truffle, which sits on top as the spider's body. Chocolate legs, eyes and red chocolate blood complete the design. The cookies are baked at 170 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes and then cooled at room temperature before the decorations are added. The recipe makes 30 to 35 cookies.
Zoë King spent 20 years in the Australian Army as a Signals corps officer before moving into consulting and technology leadership. She now works with Defence and federal government organisations at Kinetic IT, focusing on Australia's sovereign technology capability. King says she joined the Army to find purpose and challenge, and that asking for help with mental health is a strength. She advises others to follow their values rather than copy another person's path. She also said empathy is a key leadership strength.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has been criticised by crossbench MPs Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall over his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines. Ryan called his speech tone deaf, while Steggall said he did not read the room. A 43-year-old man has been charged over the alleged attack, which left Haines losing both legs. Taylor rejected any link between robust parliamentary debate and political violence, and said judges should come down harder on offenders. Steggall said media, election advertising and social media should also take care with their words.
A Canberra mother, Dr Liz Allen, has received a letter saying her nine-year-old daughter no longer meets the criteria for a specialist appointment at the public paediatric allergy clinic. The daughter had been referred in January 2024 after several anaphylactic reactions. Dr Allen said the decision was made without contacting families and warned children could die from preventable reactions. Canberra Health Services said it is reviewing outpatient services so people with the greatest clinical need can be seen sooner. Opposition health spokesperson Mark Parton will move a motion calling for the original waitlists to be honoured.
The ACT government has opened expressions of interest for the Canberra House Pattern Book Design Competition, a national search for designs of dual occupancies, townhouses and terrace homes. The aim is to help the territory reach its goal of enabling 30,000 new homes by 2030. The pattern book will be a library of pre-approved, architect-designed plans that projects can build without a development application. Planning minister Chris Steel said the initiative builds on the territory's missing middle reforms. Expressions of interest close on 4 December 2026.
Canberra Health Services has removed patients from outpatient waitlists after a review of its criteria, with about 1,000 letters sent. Liz Allen said her daughter, who has had anaphylactic reactions, was removed from the paediatric allergy clinic list after almost three years of waiting. The service said it is working through more than 40 waitlists and is prioritising patients in the highest categories. Opposition Leader Mark Parton criticised the process and said he would move a motion calling on the government to honour the original waitlists.
A future Coalition government would scrap funding for renewable energy projects, electric vehicle subsidies and social housing to pay for income tax cuts, according to leader Angus Taylor. He said the savings would add $31 billion to the federal budget bottom line, more than covering the plan to index income tax brackets to inflation. Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said banning non-citizens from welfare and NDIS payments would add another $2 billion. Treasurer Jim Chalmers accused the opposition of not explaining how it would fund $110 billion in unfunded commitments.
Thomas Markle Snr has denied allegations that he stored hundreds, if not thousands, of child sex abuse images at his Philippines home. The images were allegedly found by his son, Thomas Markle Jnr, who reported him to detectives. Markle Snr said he had never had sex with anyone under 18. Buckingham Palace said the matter was for the Sussex Household. Meghan said she had raised concerns years earlier with the Metropolitan Police, which confirmed it received a letter in 2019 and is reviewing how it handled the matter.