First cab off the rank for budget reactions is Jeremy Hanson from the Liberals:
Attacks on public service job cuts, superannuation, reductions on family tax payments, scrapping the baby bonus, introducing paid parking in the parliamentary zone, ongoing efficiency dividends, potential wage squeezes, reductions in office space, and university cuts are all going to affect the [...]

Taking a browse through Budget Paper 2 we find:
For the Hospital:
The Government will contribute $5.0 million to the Australian Capital Territory in 2014-15 towards the development of a dedicated service for children within the Emergency Department of the Canberra Hospital. This will help streamline and better coordinate paediatric emergency and inpatient services for around 15,000 [...]

Zed Seselja is making noise about the worrying side of the latest crime statistics:
“Whilst there have been improvements in some areas there are still significant areas of concern that need to be addressed. I am particularly concerned about the rise of violent offences in our community,” Mr Seselja said today.
“In recent months we have seen [...]

Joy Burch has the happy news that fortifying Canberra’s schools is paying off:
New security fences erected at ACT Government schools have helped to halve the incidence and cost of vandalism over the past three years, ACT Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch said.
Figures from the Education and Training Directorate show that between 2009 and [...]

The Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson is cunningly offering legislation to expand the Ministry to a sixth Minister.
Before The backbenchers get too excited it’s worth noting Jeremy’s not doing this out of the goodness of his heart:
“Over the past month we have heard the calls from Katy Gallagher on how over-worked her current Ministers are and [...]

ACT Policing is investigating a burglary at a Southside business overnight (Monday, May 13) which involved electronic keys and a silver Hyundai I30 station wagon (ACT registration YJA 52G) being stolen.
The electronic keys allow access to cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and police are aware that a sum of money has already been accessed [...]

Every year the ACT Government promises us that while this year is a deficit, next year they’ll balance the books.
Maybe if all the good little boys and girls were to clap their hands in unison all will be well.
Meanwhile the Liberals’ Brendan Smyth is pointing out just how much money will have to repaid in [...]

Simon Corbell has announced Draft Variation 311 to totally rejig Dickson and send the skyline soaring:
“Variation 311 puts Territory Plan controls in place to start rolling out the initiatives of the Dickson master plan, which include up to six stories in areas and improved pedestrian connections – particularly through to Challis St,” Mr Corbell said.
Other [...]

2CC is tweeting that 22 people were hospitalised by a food poisoning outbreak over the weekend.
Were you hit? And what have you heard?
22 people presented to Calvary and Canberra Hospitals yesterday with food poisoning. More in 2CC news at 10am #canberra #2cc
— 1206 2CC (@2CC) May 13, 2013

UPDATE 14 May 2013 13:10: We’re hearing from [...]

TAMS are very upset that for some kids the closest they can come to living life to the full is spraying YOLO on the heritage hut at the Bendora Arboretum.
Rangers at Namadgi National Park are asking members of the public to report acts of vandalism, after the heritage-listed Bendora Arboretum Hut was graffitied with spray [...]

Simon Corbell is letting people know Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS) have been missing some steps:
Kmart, on behalf of its business Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS), has provided the Commissioner for Fair Trading with court enforceable undertakings under the Australian Consumer Law (the ACL) after the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) expressed concern [...]

Rob, and I mix up the rugby ideas in Duxton, expound on matters rugby.
The beer for review is the Four Pines Vostok rated Stout.
The music is by When Giants Sleep.
You can download it now.
Our tips for this weekend are:
Rob: Chiefs, Rebels, Force, Blues, Brumbies, Bulls, Cheetahs
John: Chiefs, Stormers, Sharks, Crusaders, Brumbies, Bulls, Cheetahs

Normally when there’s hospital data out the Chief Minister can be relied on to put a rosy spin on even the worst numbers.
Today there has been curious silence.
Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson on the other hand has lots to say:
ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said today that the emergency department waiting times over the past three [...]

This just in which will be of interest to some of you:
Become part of a team of trained Volunteer Interpreters who help visitors at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park to better understand and appreciate the natural world.
Volunteer Interpreters provide information and interpretation to visitors at the Visitor Centres at Namadgi and Tidbinbilla as [...]

ACT Fire & Rescue has extinguished a fire in a house on Mackerras Crescent, Theodore.
Fire started in a bedroom and contained to the room.
Three fire pumpers on scene, two commanders and the Breathing Apparatus Van.
Crews are currently conducting air monitoring and ventilation operations and are utilising a thermal camera to ensure there are no hot [...]

The ABC over the weekend had the thrilling news that the world famous public servant who injured herself having sex on a work trip and claimed compo is having her payment challenged in the highest court in the land:
Comcare initially allowed the claim, but then reversed the decision.
After a long legal battle, the full bench [...]

With the 2011 Yellow Pages propping my third monitor up acceptably I had wondered what purpose the 2013 edition could serve.
Fortunately at a Dickson apartment complex I saw the package made a very handy door stop.
It does make one weep for the businesses who have paid vast rivers of gold to be included.
We’d certainly like [...]

Police are urging elderly people and vulnerable community members to be vigilant after recent reports of a conmen using scams to gain entry to homes.
ACT Policing has received several reports of suspicious behaviour of late, particularly in the Belconnen suburbs, of a man offering to paint house numbers on the driveways for an amount of [...]

This just in!
Three Canberra paintballers have earned selection in an Australian squad to play a test match against a New Zealand team in Sydney on Friday 17 May. This international match is a first for the sport in Australia.
David Turner and Mark McElligott from Canberra’s Uprising and Mitch Hackett who plays for Sydney team [...]

[ 17 May, 2013; 4:00 pm; ]

TAMS are letting us know there’s a twilight stroll through Gubur Dhaura coming up:

Immerse yourself in Canberra’s Ngunnawal culture and enjoy an autumn sunset with a twilight stroll through Gubur Dhaura in Franklin on Friday 17 May at 4pm.

“Gubur Dhaura means ‘red ochre’ in Ngunnawal language, and this is a great opportunity to hear how [...]

As seen in Dickson over the weekend.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

Calen Robinson has sent in this quirky look at ANU’s new UNA sculpture by Wolfgang Buttress.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

ACT Policing have arrested and charged an 18-year-old Queanbeyan man and three teenagers following the assault of a bus driver in Russell on Saturday (May 11).
Around 3.40pm, police responded to a report that a Deanes bus driver had been assaulted.
The bus driver was assaulted on the bus and again outside of the vehicle, after he [...]

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an armed robbery of the SPAR Express Supermarket in Ngunnawal last night (Saturday, May 11).
Around 8.50pm two men, both armed with a knife, entered the supermarket on Jabanungga Avenue and demanded money from the female cashier.
The employee has complied with the demands and the offenders left with a till [...]

As Canberra descends into an orgiastic celebration of all things Skywhale Hannah has sent us a picture of her cake.
We welcome all submissions of Skywhale related home crafts.
Or indeed any interesting pictures related to Canberra.
Email them in to images@the-riotact.com .

The Australian has grim news of just how the Gillard Government is going to plug the gap of its runaway spending.
With the bodies of EL1s and 2s it seems:
Finance Minister Penny Wong said the public service would be asked to find $580 million in savings to help fund the NDIS and Gonski.
The savings, over four [...]

This in from ACT Policing:
– ACT Policing is responding to an incident at Westfield Belconnen where a man has been injured.
– Police received the report about 3.05pm that a man had fallen from the 3rd floor.
– Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.
– The man has been conveyed to The Canberra Hospital in a [...]

The late season flurry appears to have kicked in for the Raiders with Foxsports reporting a big home win:
Canberra centre Blake Ferguson has starred again for the Raiders, bagging a hat-trick of tries to help his NRL side thump Newcastle 44-14 in their NRL clash at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
In typical Raiders fashion, they overcame [...]

The Centenary Team have let it be known that Skywhale might be slipping the surly bonds of earth tomorrow morning.
Or it might not depending on the weather which isn’t looking good.
Check the Centenary website from 5am for confirmation.
[Photo by Deref]

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an indecent assault in Chisholm yesterday evening (Saturday, May 11).
About 5.30pm the victim, a 27-year-old woman was walking across the Chisholm District Playing Fields towards Isabella Drive when she was grabbed from behind by an unidentified man.
A struggle has ensued with both falling to the ground and the man [...]

We’ve had some photos in from this morning’s flight of the Skywhale over Canberra.
Hannah sent in the above with this:
The Skywhale launch this morning was really great. People were whooping and clapping as it took off, and Robyn Archer got us to “hip hip horray” it.
And Deref sent in a bunch:

Here’s the full slideshow:

Got some [...]

Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) wishes to advise the public that, weather permitting, a controlled burn will be conducted tomorrow, Saturday 11 May 2013, within The Pinnacle Nature Reserve.
[Courtesy TAMS]