The Canberra Times Today

Today is June 1, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, Canberrans are still reporting issues with the ACT's new online Covid vaccine booking system, but authorities say problems with the platform have already been rectified, and infectious disease experts and health unions have slammed the federal government's relaxation of aged care rules that have allowed private sector staff to resume working across multiple facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic with one describing it as "disastrous" and a "political decision based on cost".

Today is May 31, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, Canberra should remain the nation's capital, the prime minister should live in the Lodge and the politicians who've become accustomed to mocking our fair city should be forced to spend more time in it, and the highly contentious model of assessments trialled on National Disability Insurance Scheme participants is set to be overhauled, with the Morrison government conceding a "significant amount of work" needs to be done before some form of independent evaluations is brought in.

Today is May 28, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, the ACT will look to speed up its vaccine rollout by making people aged 40 and over eligible for a jab, with an announcement expected early next week, and a Liberal senator has blasted the government's proposed new assessment system for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants as "dehumanising" and "offensive" and said she wouldn't want her autistic child to be subjected to one.

Today is May 27, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, public servants have been wrongly told to avoid activity involving the Labor party, despite rules saying bureaucrats are free to participate in some political activities, local MP Andrew Leigh has told a senior official, and Australia needs a dedicated space ambassador and more space literate public servants capable of recognising smart policy opportunities in the new space race, says a report from the National Security College.

Today is May 26, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, the ACT has fallen behind other states who have allowed under-50s to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as the Health Minister has refused to provide a timeline, saying Canberra had different priorities, and the ACT has imposed new travel requirements for Melbourne and the Health Minister has discouraged travel to the city as another five coronavirus cases were confirmed on Tuesday.

Today is May 25, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, Canberrans who have visited COVID-19 exposure sites in Melbourne are urged to get tested and quarantine as new restrictions are in place for non-ACT residents after four new cases in Victoria were identified, and Canberra Health Services chief executive Bernadette McDonald has resigned, saying she's leaving the ACT to return to her family in Melbourne.

Today is May 24, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, public servants are choosing to work from home in the tens of thousands as Commonwealth agencies permanently embrace remote working despite the easing of Covid social distancing rules, and drivers who buy zero-emissions vehicles will receive free registration for two years from Monday, as part of a $5.1 million ACT government scheme to encourage more people to switch their cars to more efficient alternatives.

Today is May 21, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, Coronavirus made Canberrans hyper-vigilant about hand hygiene and restricting their families' movements, but an expert says a spike in some children's infections might be down to complacency after restrictions eased, and data on vaccine hesitancy could be missing the vital perspective of rural and regional Australians, according to a leading expert.

Today is May 20, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, Canberrans may be spared a huge rates hike in the coming financial year, as ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has signalled further rates rebates may be on the agenda, and the federal government has doubled down on its refusal to accept union-proposed measures aiming to make parliamentary workplaces safer, despite allegations that a staffer was raped in a ministerial office.

Today is May 19, 2021 and this is your daily news briefing from The Canberra Times. In today’s update, an internal review is under way at Clare Holland House after workers complained the Canberra hospice was burdened by a "toxic culture", poor management, and "critical staffing levels", and the National Archives is desperately looking to public donations and paid memberships in a bid to help save its deteriorating collection, but an expert warns the government first needs to get its priorities straight.