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.
All women will soon be able to get the pill and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections from pharmacies at lower cost. The federal government has widened a 12-month trial that was first announced for concession card holders only. The trial is expected to start early next year. The government will cover up to $38 for a pharmacist consultation, and women will pay no more than $25 per script. Health Minister Mark Butler said the change would improve access and affordability. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomed the move, while doctors raised concerns about possible misdiagnoses.
Melissa 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.
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.
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.
