All winter we’ve had to put up with delayed AFL broadcasts into Canberra as Channel 7 decided that Ghost Whisperer was a better prospect.

Now that Finals have come around I was hoping that maybe, just maybe,  Channel 7 would play the game at 8:30 but no - instead we get The Vicar of F*king Dibley!  Surely a Geelong V St. Kilda final would outrate The Vicar of Dibley?

[First filed: Sep 2, 2010 @ 17:50]

Now where did that week go?

And what’s worth doing and seeing around town now that it’s gone?

Just do your thing in the comments to spread the merriment around.

An unusual community notice sighted at O’Connor shops.

Seen something odd? Email the pix to images@the-riotact.com

Last spring I seem to recall that there was a motorbike festival/show type thingy happening either in Civic or around the lake. Back then I barely took enough notice except to realise it was on (I think), but now that my motorbike-crazy partner has been recently Canberranised, we’d really like to attend this year.*

Can anyone remember whether such a bike-fest really did take place? And if so, whether it will be back this year?

Cheers!

*Actually, he would really like to attend. I will probably just nod and smile and pretend to understand the excitement

We frequently get complaints that the racier video and pictures here are pleasing only to men.

Today thanks to the magic of YouTube we present Canberra private school Year 12s gyrating wildly in states of mild undress.

What more can you ask for really?

Enjoy it while it lasts.

The theme of the week for images of Canberra is “new life”. Above is another entry from Pommy Bastard, below is from Skidbladnir.

There’s a slideshow of all the entries below the fold and please send in any Spring inspired local pix to images@the-riotact.com

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1. Kaleen knocking shop:

ACT Policing has exposed an illegal brothel operating within the suburb of Kaleen.

In May of this year information was received from members of the public through the Crime Stoppers web site about suspicious activity at the Kaleen address. Last night (Thursday September 2) ACT Policing obtained and executed a search warrant at the premises with the assistance of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

A female sex worker at the premises was taken into custody and has been charged with an offence under the Prostitution Act 1992 (ACT).

A male sex worker at the premises has been detained by DIAC after being identified as an unlawful non-citizen and conveyed to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre where the processing of his matter will continue.

Police will be opposing bail on the female in court this morning.

—

2. Another one gets away:

A vehicle stolen from a Yarralumla residence was involved in a pursuit with police yesterday afternoon in Tuggeranong (Thursday September 2).

About 2.20pm Police were conducting random breath testing on southbound traffic on Athllon Drive, Greenway when a car failed to stop.

Police followed the car in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop however the car evaded police by making numerous turns and travelling through the Tuggeranong Homeworld Centre car park.

A pursuit was declared as the car drove onto Athllon Drive, southbound, and accelerated away from Police onto Isabella Drive. The pursuit continued for approximately two minutes before being terminated in Gowrie.

The car was identified as a 2008 maroon Holden Statesman stolen from an address in Yarralumla earlier in the day. It was recovered minutes after the pursuit was terminated in Richardson. The driver of the car has not been identified.

Police would urge anyone who may be able to provide further information to assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information may be provided anonymously.

The Canberra Times’ Diana Streak made it to the ANU School of Art yesterday to report on the Chiefly Stanhope’s musings on public art.

Miraculously, since the ACT Government stopped spending so much money on public art, Mr Stanhope has noted less heat in the community on the subject. What could possibly have brought that about one wonders facetiously.

He’s also cunningly linking having a centenary artwork to the general “Percent For Art Scheme”.

(If he doesn’t get what he wants we don’t get what we want.)

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The ABC has the concerning news that Canberra has the highest breast cancer rates in the country:

The report by the Breast Cancer Treatment Group looked at nearly 3,000 patients in Canberra and south-east New South Wales from 1997 to 2007.

It found the ACT has Australia’s highest rate of female breast cancer with about 200 new cases diagnosed in women and one new case in men each year.

But the report shows survival rates are also high.

Any theories?

UPDATE: Katy Gallagher’s media release on this is now online as is the ten year report.

Driving to work at normal peak hour time on Coppins Crossing Road, a cluster of cyclists with an escort vehicle driving along at 20kph up the hill.

The queue of cars behind this bunch of inconsiderate idiots stretched all the way back over the horizon…

Needless to say, there were a few unhappy drivers when they finally managed to overtake those whackers.

[First filed: Sep 2, 2010 @ 9:42]

If there’s one thing the above photo tells us, it’s that you don’t need to do much more than 204km/h to get out of the frame of speed cameras.

Here’s the story from the AFP:

ACT Policing is appealing for witnesses to a motorcycle travelling at high speed on the Tuggeranong Parkway yesterday (Wednesday, 1 September).

At approximately 1.38pm, police commenced a pursuit of a motorcycle from the Tuggeranong Parkway Stromlo, which terminated 1 minute later due to speed and loss of visual contact. Speeds from the motorcycle reached in excess of 204Km/h.

The motorcyclist failed to stop initially for excessive speed through the 40km/h and 60Km/h roadwork’s zone at the Glenloch Interchange.

Superintendent of Traffic, Mark Colbran said this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“This is extremely reckless driving that could seriously endanger the life of the rider, other road users and those working at the roadworks.

“In the event of a collision, the speed at which the motorcycle was travelling would result in almost certain death of the rider and anyone else involved. With our road toll already at 17 this year, this is something we are trying to avoid at all costs,” he said.

The motorcycle is described as a predominantly black road bike, with possible red stripes. The bike appears to be a MV Augusta 1000cc make and model. Police believe the rider is male, of large build and was wearing a black, possibly ARAI branded motorcycle helmet.

Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the motorcycle or who know the identity of the rider to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.

Any thoughts on the bike model and helmet rioters?

An increasingly exasperated Chief Minister has announced that he’s sending Allan Hawke in to clean up the ACT Public Service.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Government wanted to be sure that the configuration of the public sector remained appropriate for meeting the broad-ranging needs of government and to deliver on the Government’s agenda for the remainder of the term, particularly in relation to major priorities such as sustainability, housing affordability and transport, which crossed traditional agency parameters.

Dr Hawke has been asked to examine:

– the capacity of existing public-sector structures to support the government of the day with strategic and direction-setting advice;
– effectiveness in delivering on government policies and objectives;
performance and accountability mechanisms;
– how existing structures differentiate between the roles of policy and regulation;
across-government coordination of service delivery; and
– structures that would improve resilience and innovation across the public sector.

While Dr Hawke has run many Commonwealth departments (Defence, Transport & Regional Services, and Veterans’ Affairs) one has to wonder if perhaps a more local government focus would help.

Sadly Mr Stanhope is already comparing this review to the infamous Costello review which justified sweeping public policy changes without ever being made public.

[First filed: Aug 30, 2010 @ 7:52]

In recent months, challenges to the ACT drink driving laws have created much hype in the ACT community. Off the back of this controversy, the ACT Government has released the Roadside Drug Testing Bill for public comment, ahead of its recent introduction into the Legislative Assembly.

Ben Aulich & Associates was the firm behind the recent successful challenge to the drink driving legislation in Canberra. The firm argued the breath testing device was not properly authorised because the Government failed to include an umlaut in the Notifiable Instrument, and successfully challenged the police officer’s authorisation to carry out the test. As a result, their client was found not guilty.

Ben Aulich established himself as one of Canberra’s leading criminal lawyers, practicing with one of Canberra’s largest law firms, Meyer Vandenberg. His success drove him to set up Ben Aulich & Associates in 2007, a specialist legal firm, practicing exclusively in criminal law. They are the only legal practice in town which is completely dedicated to criminal law.

Ben Aulich says “I work in criminal law because it’s what I enjoy, it’s what I am good at, and there is an ongoing stream of clients who need quality representation in the courts”. Ben says “At first glance, the Roadside Drug Testing Bill may look sensible, but when you scratch the surface, I have some real concerns”. Ben says “On the face of it, I am concerned that innocent people will be found guilty of things they have not done. There seem to be some big holes in the proposed legislation”.

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Maxine Cooper’s Investigation into tree management practices – Interim Report is dated 16 April 2010 but has appeared on the TAMS website overnight.

The recommendations are so sensible that it boggles the mind they need to made.

UPDATE: Mr Stanhope has now announced that he’s working on the recommendations:

The ACT Government has commenced work on each of the seven recommendations contained in the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment’s interim report on the street and park tree removals undertaken by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.

The report looked at the process for removing trees classified as ‘dangerous’ and ‘hazardous’.

“The ACT Government has a proud history of preserving the amenity of our unique urban forest. We welcome this report as it enables us to further refine our procedures and communication methods,”
Mr Stanhope said.

“We agree with each of the seven recommendations included in the report and have already commenced implementing them.

What is Questacon doing?

It is losing it’s fun, so my kid says.

Why? is it funding or bad management?

I am not happy, and as a regular it is sad they lost their science education focus.

Where can my kids learn science? I heard CSIRO has kids stuff

Has Canberra lost it’s science education? Or am I a paranoid parent?