KEEPING UP THE ACT
Brace yourself as KEEPING UP THE ACT presents a whole new look at Canberra through the eyes of TRAMSFORMERS.
- Opinion
- Lifestyle
Roberto cuts with discipline and a swirl of showbiz
“The customers are the audience. I always build up a show." TIA PRIEST-WILLIMOTT meets a hairdresser who's teaching professional performance.
- Arts & Entertainment
Leon’s loving the ‘lean and hungry’ role as Cassius
Former Narrabundah College student Leon Ford is playing Cassius in Bell Shakespeare's latest production of Julius Caesar, reports HELEN MUSA.
- Politics
Looking for the courage to right tax wrongs
"Currently, our tax system transfers wealth from those who can least afford it to those already seriously wealthy. Will the government have the courage in the next budget to introduce a fairer system," asks columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
- Opinion
Fake news on everything from whales to wind farms
There is fake news on everything from whales to wind farms: Australia is flooded with climate misinformation, says CHRISTIAN DOWNIE.
- Opinion
Is E10 fuel bad for my car? And could it save me money?
Australians are being urged to switch to E10 fuel as the US-Iran conflict continues to put pressure on diesel and petrol supplies, writes ZACHARY AMAN.
- Politics
One Nation has nothing to offer Canberra, but…
"It is hard, very hard, here in Canberra to get elected even if your leader, candidates, policies and campaign are all decent." Political columnist ANDREW HUGHES can't see much future for One Nation in Canberra, but he's not saying never.
- Arts & Entertainment
Nakita promises music, movement and energy
When she hooks up by phone to Sabrina Live! star Nakita Clarke at home in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, HELEN MUSA gets more than she bargained for.
- Opinion
When the gas goes, what’s the plan for keeping warm?
"The decision to close our natural gas network doesn’t make sense. It diminishes household energy and heating security by effectively forcing residents to throw all their energy eggs into one basket with electricity," writes JOE PREVEDELLO.
News
Australia mourns as Israeli ambassador visits Bondi
As the Jewish community mourns the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack Israel's ambassador has visited the site, as Australia considers tighter gun laws.
Update
‘Guilty’: mushroom cook convicted of triple murder
Mushroom cook Erin Patterson intentionally poisoned four members of her estranged husband's family, a jury has found after a week of deliberations.
News
Coroner finds cop who shot indigenous teen a racist
A coroner has found the death of a 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man in a remote community was avoidable, and the former police officer who shot him was racist.
Update
Few clues to motive in ‘horrifying’ Bondi rampage
NSW Premier Chris Minns says women were targeted in the Bondi Junction mass stabbing but lengthy inquiries to come may never conclusively find a motive.
Update
Tech firms ‘taking the mickey’ on teen social media ban
Despite a compliance report saying a large share of teens are still using social media, the government has hailed its youth ban a success.
Win for younger workers with discount pay rates axed
Motorists to wait weeks for fuel pain relief to kick in
Sacked Jackie O sues radio employer for $82m
Fugitive Freeman ‘unlikely’ to have been taken alive
Surcharge fees scrapped in $1.6b consumer victory
‘Man enough’: toxic gender norms hamper dads and kids
Opinion
With breathing there’s a lot to take in
"The air we breathe is far more than empty space – it’s a finely balanced mixture of gases that sustains life," writes Whimsy columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS.
Lifestyle
Meticulous Olivia takes charge at Yarralumla clinic
Canberra’s trusted name in refined, natural aesthetics is growing. In this sponsored post Atelier Medical Aesthetics reveals its expansion with new clinic in Yarralumla.
Sponsored Content
Lifestyle
Breaking down fibre, it’s the next big food fad
The next big Western world food fad is fibre, but how much do you need? DEE-ANN DURBIN warns of the dangers of fibremaxxing.
News
Tech firms ‘taking the mickey’ on teen social media ban
Despite a compliance report saying a large share of teens are still using social media, the government has hailed its youth ban a success.
Update
Win for younger workers with discount pay rates axed
Workers in retail and fast food jobs will be eligible for the full award wage once they turn 18 after a decision from the workplace watchdog.
Update
Motorists to wait weeks for fuel pain relief to kick in
A cut to fuel prices at the bowser will be welcomed by motorists filling up, but people are being told the relief might take weeks to flow through.
National news
Sacked Jackie O sues radio employer for $82m
Both halves of the Kyle and Jackie O Show are now at war with their former employer as radio giant ARN faces a second costly lawsuit.
Update
Fugitive Freeman ‘unlikely’ to have been taken alive
Double police killer Dezi Freeman was probably never going to be taken alive due to his ingrained political ideology, a former hostage negotiator says.
News
Surcharge fees scrapped in $1.6b consumer victory
Removing surcharge fees on card transactions will mean punters know what they owe a business before they head to the till, the Reserve Bank says.
News
‘Man enough’: toxic gender norms hamper dads and kids
Australian parents regularly don't teach young boys domestic duties like cooking and cleaning, which experts say ingrains gender norms from childhood.
Police
Police seek witnesses to Civic assault
Police would like to speak to second man who was assaulted, or anyone who witnessed the incidents.
News
Rapid response a key to bushfire season success
The 2025–26 bushfire season officially ended in the ACT on Tuesday, with fire authorities praising volunteers and pointing to faster detection, earlier warnings and rapid response as key features of the season.
Daily Puzzles
"Currently, our tax system transfers wealth from those who can least afford it to those already seriously wealthy. Will the government have the courage in the next budget to introduce a fairer system," asks columnist MICHAEL MOORE.
"It is hard, very hard, here in Canberra to get elected even if your leader, candidates, policies and campaign are all decent." Political columnist ANDREW HUGHES can't see much future for One Nation in Canberra, but he's not saying never.
Ambitious Hastie calls out Trump’s war strategy
Government struggles with Middle East ‘stress test’
At last, Assembly acts to protect kids in childcare
What the premier could teach the prime minister
High-speed rail arrives again, but will it ever leave?
One Nation sends shivers down Angus Taylor’s spine
Views
KEEPING UP THE ACT
Brace yourself as KEEPING UP THE ACT presents a whole new look at Canberra through the eyes of TRAMSFORMERS.
Opinion
Fake news on everything from whales to wind farms
There is fake news on everything from whales to wind farms: Australia is flooded with climate misinformation, says CHRISTIAN DOWNIE.
Opinion
Is E10 fuel bad for my car? And could it save me money?
Australians are being urged to switch to E10 fuel as the US-Iran conflict continues to put pressure on diesel and petrol supplies, writes ZACHARY AMAN.
Letters
Tram plan from the shallow end of the think tank
The Federal and the ACT governments will be looking to cut unnecessary expenditure. In this context, light rail stage 2B should not proceed and Stage 2A repurposed as a busway," says letter writer MIKE QUIRK.
Opinion
When the gas goes, what’s the plan for keeping warm?
"The decision to close our natural gas network doesn’t make sense. It diminishes household energy and heating security by effectively forcing residents to throw all their energy eggs into one basket with electricity," writes JOE PREVEDELLO.
Opinion
Canberra embassy closure puts vulnerable Afghans at risk
Closing the Afghan embassy in Canberra would put many vulnerable Afghans at significant risk, writes SUSAN HUTCHINSON.
Opinion
How lowering prescription cost helps health – and the economy
Since July 2022, Canberrans have filled more than 5.3 million cheaper PBS scripts as a result of renewed co-payment policies. The estimated patient savings total almost $46 million, say EMMA McBRIDE & ANDREW LEIGH.
Opinion
Little prospect of a single cent from Tayler’s tilt at the cops
"Even if we're outraged at his crimes, and willing to condone the unnecessary police violence as just deserts, Tayler Hazell has a good legal claim." But, says HUGH SELBY, it's unlikely to take him far as he faces nine years in the AMC.
Opinion
It’s simple, really: are you dusting… or dusting?
"In common usage, when context alone determines the meaning, we’re usually talking about polysemous words (words with multiple related or unrelated meanings)." Columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS returns to the endlessly fascinating English language.
Arts
Leon’s loving the ‘lean and hungry’ role as Cassius
Former Narrabundah College student Leon Ford is playing Cassius in Bell Shakespeare's latest production of Julius Caesar, reports HELEN MUSA.
Craft
The sculptural and materials side of Louis Grant
MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE reviews end to end, an exhibition of the craft of Louis Grant, curated by Consuelo Cavaniglia.
Musical Theatre
Nakita promises music, movement and energy
When she hooks up by phone to Sabrina Live! star Nakita Clarke at home in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, HELEN MUSA gets more than she bargained for.
Music
Unusual musical journey around human existence
"Canberra Choral Society’s Our Stories gave its audience an unusual collection of material and much to reflect upon," says reviewer ALANNA MACLEAN.
Reviews
Confirming the power of radio drama
HELEN MUSA reviews Autumn Days, ArtSound Radio Theatre, an afternoon of monologues and short play readings, mostly by Canberra writers.
Music
The many reasons to adore Lorina Gore
LEN POWER reviews Romance Sublime! a performance by soprano Lorina Gore and pianist Anthony Smith.
Arts & Entertainment
Amita’s cabaret on the dark side
Here's HELEN MUSA's latest Arts in the City column.
Music
Phantom harbourside production lives up to the hype
"There are few musicals in the repertoire so well suited to the dramatic staging offered by Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, and this one lives up to the hype." Arts editor HELEN MUSA reviews Handa Opera's production of Phantom of the Opera.
Music
Ensemble’s raw sound, with gut strings and baroque bows
NICK HORN reviews The Devil’s Violin, a performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra led by guest violinist Ilya Gringolts.
Lifestyle
Roberto cuts with discipline and a swirl of showbiz
“The customers are the audience. I always build up a show." TIA PRIEST-WILLIMOTT meets a hairdresser who's teaching professional performance.
Gardening
Kiwifruit offers shade and autumn harvest
Kiwifruit vines are vigorous growers that reward gardeners with shade in summer and fruit in autumn – if you plant the right mix of male and female vines, writes gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.
Wine
A lesson in wine at the old schoolhouse
Wine writer RICHARD CALVER sits up straight and pays attention as he gets a lesson from master winemaker Ken Helm in a former schoolhouse, a tiny wooden structure, built in 1888.
Health & Fitness
Iconic Vitamin C: is it all it’s supposed to be?
Should you take vitamin C to ward off colds, lower blood pressure or reduce cancer risk? This is what the experts say...
Dining
New faces filling tummies around the bay
On a recent venture to the south coast, dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON "happily munched my way through new and relatively new dining spots in Batemans Bay, and around Mogo and Mossy Point."
Technology
Oil price spikes spark EV interest that’s likely to stay
Our interest in electric vehicles has grown due to oil price spikes. And it’s likely to remain, writes TAUEL HARPER.
Health & Fitness
Heart attack: there’s good news and there’s bad
"If the staff of our medical institutions were not filled by migrants they couldn’t function." After a heart attack, NOEL BEDDOE went looking for answers.
Lifestyle
What’s working from home doing to your mental health?
What’s working from home doing to your mental health? JAN KABATEK and FERDI BOTHA tracked 16,000 Australians to find out...
Lifestyle
Even knowing the science, we still believe in superstitions
I’m educated and a fan of science. So why do I follow superstitions? MICAH GOLDWATER ponders that question.
