CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Photo: AP PHOTOUS President Donald Trump's tariffs are increasingly clogging up the wheels of a world economy that for decades were greased by predictable and relatively free trade All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBig-name multinationals right down to niche e-commerce players last week cut sales targets warned of job cuts and reviewed their business plans while major economies revised down growth prospects amid bleak data read-outs While financial markets are betting the US and China will pull back from an all-out trade war and that Trump will cut deals to avert higher tariffs on others the sheer uncertainty of where this ends has become a major drag factor in itself "US tariff policy is a serious negative shock for the world in the near term," said Isabelle Mateos y Lago group chief economist at French bank BNP Paribas The uncertainty created by US tariffs has become a major drag on financial markets (AP PHOTO)"The US tariffs end-game may be further away and at a higher level than previously thought," she said of blanket US tariffs currently set at a baseline of 10 per cent alongside higher sector-specific charges on products such as steel Beijing said on Friday it was evaluating an offer from Washington to hold talks over 145 per cent US tariffs to which it has responded with 125 per cent levies Trump's administration has also suggested it is close to deals with nations including India South Korea and Japan to avert more tariffs in weeks to come companies such as Swedish appliances maker Electrolux slashed its outlook while Volvo Cars computer gadget maker Logitech and drinks giant Diageo abandoned their targets on the uncertainty The tariff outlook prompted the Bank of Japan to cut its growth forecasts last week while trade tensions were cited by forecasters in growth outlook downgrades for the Netherlands and the Middle East and North Africa region China's factory activity contracted at the fastest pace in 16 months in April while a similar UK readout showed British factory exports in April shrinking at their sharpest pace in almost five years Strong economic data from Germany could be down to a spike in activity before tariffs take effect (AP PHOTO)Economists were quick to caution that a stronger-looking read-out from export-focused Germany might largely be due to factories front-loading business to get it out of the door before the tariffs took effect while front-loading may also have helped India to a 10-month high in manufacturing growth in April analysts noted the nation - which faces lower tariffs than China and towards which Apple has shifted some output - could end up a genuine winner "India is well positioned to be an alternative to China as a supplier of goods to the US in the immediate term," emerging markets economist Shilan Shah at Capital Economics said predicting punitive tariffs on China were "here to stay" We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy The best local news sent straight to your inbox every workday Make a donation and support the future of journalism and media diversity in the Queanbeyan Police are trying to identify the men and women brawling in Civic last week They want to speak to anyone involved in the brawl in Verity Lane at about 3.05am on April 27 Anyone with information should contact the Crime Stoppers ACT website Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" 21-year-old Jamie Barry and 29-year-old Elliot Smith-Benzie are urgently being sought by police Jamal Fogarty has opened up on informing coach Ricky Stuart he would be leaving Canberra to accept a lucrative contract at Manly for 2026 Labor will move to cut student debt as its first re-election priority with the prime minister claiming a mandate to press forward with housing reform Capital Football Queanbeyan City will be looking to continue the form that saw them crowned Premiers and Champions of the Capital Premier League in 2024 as they join the National Premier League. The NSW side secured promotion with a round to spare against eventual runners up ANU FC last season. Ever dominant in the CPL, Queanbeyan were on the cusp of promotion for the better part of a decade, finishing in the top three in their last five seasons in the second division. The promotion success is the culmination of years of hard work from the club, with Head Coach Goran Josifovski praising all parties involved. “As a coach you’re only as good as your players and the people who work at the club. Without those moving in the same direction, I don’t think you can achieve much” Josifovski said. With Queanbeyan City celebrating their 60th anniversary next year, maintaining a place in the NPL is their number one priority in 2025. “We’re a historic club that has not been at the top table for a number of years and obviously with the 60th year anniversary being a very proud, momentous achievement, it’s nice story to tell.” Josifovski said. Josifovski is looking to build on the foundations and benchmarks he set for the club when named Head Coach in 2022, once again working off another three-year plan that ultimately brought his side promotion success. “We had a target that within three years we wanna make the NPL. We achieved that target thankfully. Expectations obviously changed, but again, we’re entering a three-year phase where we’re hoping to achieve top four status” Josifovski said. Queanbeyan used the offseason to build upon a backline that only conceded 14 goals last season. Shot stopper Nic Middleton returns to the club off an outstanding 2024, while additions of Bernard Rene (sabbatical), Jack Leverett (Tuggeranong) and Kristian Tokic, (O’Connor Knights) sure up an impressive defensive line. The attacking threat will be spearheaded by last season’s CPL top scorer Nicolás Abot, who will be playing in his fourth season for Queanbeyan. Abot boasts an impressive resume in the NPL from his time with the Canberra Tigers, scoring 42 goals in only 49 appearances. For many teams, the jump up divisions can be daunting, but the fiery Macedonian outfit and their diehard fanbase is not lowering their expectations for 2025. “There was definitely pressure to win every game we played last year” Josifovski admitted, “whereas this year I believe our ambition is to win every game”. You can watch all of Queanbeyan City’s NPL and Australia Cup season live and free on Capital Football’s YouTube channel. Football House, Unit 2 / 3 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT, 2600 damaging winds and large hailstones predicted to batter the region as sporting fields drown in the downpour All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBarely a drop of rain had fallen for the best part of a month before it started tumbling down on Tuesday afternoon so much so that a major Queanbeyan sportsground was flooded from end to end The Queanbeyan Tigers closed Margaret Donoghoe Oval for Tuesday's night's scheduled training session but joked the club's newly-established white water rafting team is now on the hunt for members after club officials posted a video of the flooded field The pool of water stretches from goalpost to goalpost with one side of the field completely underwater with the venue's drainage set to be tested before the Tigers face the Eastlake Demons in AFL Canberra's senior competitions on Saturday "Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Southern Tablelands Australian Capital Territory and Snowy Mountains districts Locations which may be affected include Canberra Yass and Mount Ginini," a Bureau of Meteorology statement said "Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Hunter Metropolitan and Central Tablelands districts Locations which may be affected include Gosford Another warning is due to be issued by 6.25pm The State Emergency Service has provided the following advice to people in affected areas: Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon. Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers. We've selected the best reading for your weekend. Get the latest property and development news here. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Get CityNews in your inbox. Daily. The best local news sent straight to your inbox every workday! Make a donation and support the future of journalism and media diversity in the Queanbeyan. Two wanted men, 21-year-old Jamie Barry and 29-year-old Elliot Smith-Benzie are urgently being sought by police.  Both men are wanted in relation to separate family violence incidents. Barry is described as Caucasian in appearance, with a thin build, short blond hair and blue eyes. Smith-Benzie is described as Pacific Islander in appearance, about 175cm (5’9”) tall, with a slim build, short dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is believed to be travelling in a red Holden Commodore with NSW registration FLS88U, which was last seen in the Tuggeranong area. Members of the public are urged not to approach either of the men, but to call 131444 immediately to report any information regarding their whereabouts. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Jamal Fogarty has opened up on informing coach Ricky Stuart he would be leaving Canberra to accept a lucrative contract at Manly for 2026. Labor will move to cut student debt as its first re-election priority with the prime minister claiming a mandate to press forward with housing reform. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAn ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesman said the blue Mazda 2 crashed into a tree along Woods Lane who was in the vehicle at the time of the incident was also taken to the hospital Detective acting Inspector Jonathan Turkich said Police at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Harman Picture by Keegan Carroll"We're trying to establish what's occurred here," he said "I believe [the passenger] is going to be OK how she comes back psychologically is going to be interesting." ACT Policing's crash investigation team is at the location was allegedly driving erratically on Norse Road in Beard and Canberra Avenue in Symonston just before the crash letting [the hospital team] prioritise the medical care of [the driver] and we hope for the best but we plan for the worst sometimes," Detective acting Inspector Turkich said "A single-vehicle collision - it's always difficult to determine exactly what's happened "We'll let the [team] do their analysis and investigation before we comment ..." Picture by Keegan CarrollPolice have asked anyone who had dash-cam footage of the vehicle to come forward on Thursday he asked people to really focus on the road especially during increased traffic flow during holiday periods and long weekends we want people [to be] with their loved ones we don't want to be in a situation where we're delivering bad news to people's loved ones" he said there's people today that are going to get some bad news and we just hope it's not the most terrible news." Email me on bageshri.s@canberratimes.com.au or send confidential tips to bageshri.s@proton.me Today's top stories curated by our news team Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers We've selected the best reading for your weekend Get the latest property and development news here tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Photo: AP PHOTOYemen's Houthi rebels say they will impose a "comprehensive" aerial blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports in response to Israel expanding its operations in Gaza All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that hit near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv in 2024 Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre a body set up in 2024 to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators issued the warning about targeting Israeli airports saying Ben Gurion Airport would be the top target The statement attached an email it said was sent to the International Air Transport Association and the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation Houthi forces called "upon all international airlines to take this announcement into serious consideration .. and to cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers" A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed in March and air and ground attacks have resumed (AP PHOTO)Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas have made no progress Since the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement in March Israeli troops have been carving out wide buffer zones in Gaza squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off the entry of aid trucks Aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster Israel's campaign on Gaza has laid waste to much of the enclave and so far killed more than 52,000 people That Hamas offensive killed 1200 people and led to 251 people being taken hostage Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSTeal independents Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel are clinging on in their election races after strong postal returns for the Liberals All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDr Ryan's margin over Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer in the high-profile seat in Melbourne's leafy inner east has shrunk to 1891 votes following postal returns The former paediatric neurologist declared victory on Saturday night with her husband holding up a "Kooyong we did it!" sign before she addressed supporters But Dr Ryan said she no longer felt safe in the contest declaring the outcome was a "50-50" proposition in (election analyst) Antony Green we trusted," she told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday morning "But postal votes have been very much pro the conservative side so I think at this point Kooyong is very much in the air Independent candidate Zoe Daniel is fighting to retain her seat as postal votes are counted (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Ms Daniel's lead over Liberal candidate Tim Wilson has dwindled to fewer than 100 votes after postal returns The former journalist said on Sunday it would take days for the result to be confirmed If Mr Wilson or Ms Hamer are able to turn the tables on the teals they're likely to be the Liberal's only federal representatives in metropolitan Melbourne Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar has lost his ultra marginal seat of Deakin with Menzies too close to call as up-and-coming MP Keith Wolahan narrows Labor's lead Aaron Violi is projected to hold onto the neighbouring seat of Casey after trailing Labor's Naomi Oakley on the night but fellow Liberal Zoe McKenzie's battle with independent Ben Smith is too close to call who survived a primary vote swing of five per cent against him said the Liberals "double trouble" attack on Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan failed to land with voters "It just didn't cut through at all," he said Labor's Sarah Whitty is ahead of Greens leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne and long-time Labor MP Peter Khalil leads Wills over the Greens former state leader Samantha Ratnam But Lisa Chester's race with Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean in Bendigo Ms Allan claimed credit for Labor's stunning result in Victoria when speaking to reporters on Sunday declaring it wasn't in spite of her government's work but because of it Deputy Prime Minster Richard Marles wasn't so sure suggesting people voted on federal issues and the choice between Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton "I was confident in the context of Victoria .. that as we got closer to the election people would ultimately see that that was the choice," he said Former Liberal strategist turned pollster Tony Barry led off recriminations of the party on election night calling the state branch a "broken institution" He noted state Liberal leader Brad Battin promoted outspoken MP Moira Deeming to become his "representative to the western suburbs" during the campaign as she continues to pursue former leader John Pesutto for legal costs following her defamation trial win Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOSA dog's simple sniff at a music festival could lead to a multimillion-dollar payout in a massive class action lawsuit targeting police strip searches All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThousands of people were strip searched at music festivals as officers allegedly given inadequate training and supervision routinely conducted the inspections over a six-year period An "extraordinary" and unlawful strip search by police at a popular music festival and the conduct of authorities defending it is leading the class action in NSW A woman underwent a humiliating and unlawful search that found nothing (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Raya Meredith alleged she was subjected to assault battery and false imprisonment by police at the Splendour in the Grass music festival in July 2018 after a drug detection dog sniffed in her direction She was stopped and directed to a makeshift inspection area of open cubicles with tarpaulin screens near the entrance A male police officer allegedly walked in to the area where Ms Meredith was being searched as a female officer interrogated and inspected her which was allegedly conducted with inadequate privacy and was threatened with ejection from the festival barrister Kylie Nomchong SC told the Supreme Court on Monday which did not comply with legislated safeguards "This is an extraordinary story … but it is not an isolated one," Ms Nomchong said NSW is accused of deploying large numbers of officers to festivals to do strip searches en masse (Samantha Lock/AAP PHOTOS)The state allegedly deployed large numbers of officers to music festivals with the intention of routinely doing strip searches en masse between 2016 and 2022 The directions given were "woefully inadequate" and senior echelons of the force failed to ensure officers were properly trained and supervised expose her genitals and remove a tampon during the search - "akin to things that would happen during a sexual assault," Ms Nomchong told the court The state's conduct in defending the claim had also increased the harm to the lead plaintiff and aggravated damages would be sought the state persisted with hurtful allegations and unjustifiable The state conceded in March she was unlawfully strip-searched but has not accepted fault in relation to more than 3000 others part of the class-action NSW Police acknowledged failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023 (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)The state's barrister Julian Sexton SC told the court there may be limitations on damages and the amount that could be paid A sum of $50,000 sought for exemplary damages could exceed $150 million if applied across the class action participants for what are alleged to be systemic failures rather than individual instances NSW Police blamed a change in priorities during COVID-19 public health orders and restrictions when acknowledging failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023 They included a finding more than half of the officers who carried out strip searches in preceding years had not completed specialist training initially scheduled to be heard over four weeks has been adjourned until May 13 with further written submissions due in the coming days National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe self-described nerd took out the title at one of the biggest pop culture conventions in the US dressed as hunky 300-year-old elf Halsin from the video game Baldur's Gate 3 "It's kind of the world's best cosplay crafters all in one space," explained Beaton from the costume and prop-making studio Hench & Scrap Cosplay involves dressing up as characters from films books and video games - often in costumes that feature obsessive levels of detail It's a relatively small movement in Australia when compared to the US and Japan but local cosplayers have been making an impact internationally Australian cosplay designer Clare Beaton has been crowned a global champion Photo: Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOSBeaton's winning Halsin outfit included silicon prosthetic elf ears and facial scars a glowing lantern with flexible resin spikes and shoulder pieces constructed from more than 100 individually embossed leather leaves She said she felt a connection to the seven-foot tall polyamorous game character who has the power to transform into a bear due to Halsin's kindness and affinity with nature She completed the project in her spare time over about two years using skills that ranged from metalwork to resin moulding the Halsin costume helped her to take out the Australian Cosplay Central Crown Championships title for a second time at the nation's biggest gaming convention That win came with a ticket to represent the nation at the US event Beaton is well aware that from the outside cosplayers can seem obsessive and eccentric it's the antidote to a more widespread pop-culture fandom that is based in consumerism "You can be creative and contribute back to fandom and express something you love through doing something constructive," she said Video game costume design is an unusual niche but also a growing industry (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)Her cosplay artistry has taken years to develop after getting her start at 14 working alongside her father at renowned special effects and animation studio Weta FX Her first job was working on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy but she soon found the film industry too specialised for her unique combination of skills she met her business and life partner Oarin Tremont - otherwise known as Scrap - at a gaming convention where they bonded over their cosplay outfits from the same video game Having realised they could make a living creating costumes and props the couple moved from Sydney to Adelaide so they could afford a large fabrication workshop with space for their equipment Most of the clients at Hench & Scrap are video game companies "It's an unusual niche but it's definitely a growing industry," Beaton said "We'll build a project and show off on social media how we make things Beaton will join the cosplay judging panel at the upcoming PAX Aus convention 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(See the privacy policy.) please click the button below to activate your service Check IP access Category: Local news Thrift stores offer affordable and unique clothing items If you were just as likely to follow Hannah Ferguson’s Cheek Media  for political analysis.. Trigger warning: This story discusses sexual assault and rape Consider this your essential guide to dining through the light rail disruption Canberra’s culinary scene is getting hotter than a chef’s temper.. A premier pickleball and padel facility has opened in Fyshwick to bring a new way.. It’s that time of year when Canberra transforms into the dance capital of Australia Raising money to support pregnant and newly parenting mums in need, the Queanbeyan Pramathon is a community event born (pun-intended) from the passionate team of First Steps Pregnancy Support – a charity that opened in 2024 to provide comprehensive care for pregnant women in crisis Serving women in ACT and the surrounding region and providing their services free of charge to priority women (including young mums and mums experiencing homelessness or unemployment) the event aims to raise awareness and funding for the work that they do According to Medical Director of First Steps Pregnancy Support/GP Obstetrician and First Steps Pregnancy Support Centre Manager and Social Worker Laura Lamerton they hope that by bringing over 246 prams together they can continue to create initiatives for pregnant and newly parenting mums in need of a place to call home “The idea for a festival in Queanbeyan that celebrates mums has been something we have thought about for a while But it was actually Nick Fry from Community Bank Bungendore/Braidwood/Crookwell – a big supporter of ours – who came up with the idea of the Pramathon,” says Laura “While we hope the Pramathon might raise some funds our bigger hope is that we bring the community together celebrate our local mums and confirm the well-known fact that Queanbeyan is one of the best places to have a baby and raise a family Originally hoping to break the Guinness World Record of 746 prams pushed simultaneously the team decided to focus on beating the Australian record after learning they’d need to close roads and pay $15,000 to attempt the international record Asking participants to pay a $30 registration fee for their pram (pets in prams are also welcome) Sarah and Laura explain that they thought the Mother’s Day weekend would be the perfect opportunity to bring mums families and community together for an uplifting event in Queanbeyan Park “Really it’s just a fun component of the day that gives us a goal and motivates locals to band together to beat this record We also love the idea of Queanbeyan being known for something really positive and there is not much that is better than a community of many mums (and others) getting out in the fresh air to walk with their children!” they say “The founders of the Australian Book of Records are coming to be the judges of the event and hopefully will present us with the framed record certificate if we are successful.” the day will also include a best dressed-up pram competition “We’d love Mums to sign up for the Pramathon then dress up their pram on the day and join us for the walk!”  says Sarah just a fun walk around the beautiful Queanbeyan Park!” With the funds raised from the day going towards services that range from medical care and social work support to frozen home-cooked meals and a baby boutique of pre-loved clothes Sarah and Laura say that they also hope the event showcases the village of support that we have in the region we have quickly recognised that the biggest need for the women we care for is safe and stable accommodation,” they explain “If you don’t know where you are going to sleep that night and are constantly thinking about how to keep your child safe and in your care then it is hard to focus on anything else.” “First Steps Pregnancy Support has some exciting potential opportunities to begin to expand our services to include accommodation…The Queanbeyan Pramathon is the launch for this arm of our work and we hope it will become an annual event to raise awareness and funding for increasing creative initiatives for pregnant and newly parenting mums in need of a place to call home.” Here’s another instalment of what’s sustaining Team HerCanberra in the entertainment department – from K-Pop… They’re the game-changing Australian women who have fought with passion Sign up HerCanberra acknowledges Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the traditional custodians of the land we work on and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. As an inclusive organisation we also strive to celebrate people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFederal Labor looks to have claimed at least 85 seats in a landslide victory with Anthony Albanese claiming victory just hours after counting began The swing away from the Liberal Party also saw Opposition leader Peter Dutton lose his own seat of Dickson in Queensland In Eden-Monaro, the numbers are looking very likely to see sitting MP Kristy McBain returned Ms McBain had 43.25 per cent of the primary vote according to the Australian Electoral Commission website Incumbent Labor MP Kristy McBain casts her vote on Saturday Picture suppliedLiberal contender Jo van der Plaat was on 32 per cent of the primary vote with a swing of more than 2.3 per cent against her more than 95,000 first preference votes had been counted AS IT HAPPENED: Replay our election night blog, click here Ms McBain was well in front on 58.05 per cent While not wishing to claim victory on Saturday night by Sunday morning Ms McBain was feeling more confident with the numbers "My deepest thanks to our amazing community for putting their trust in me again to represent them," she said "I will continue to work hard for everyone in Eden-Monaro in a positive way that unites us my volunteers and my colleagues - it's a privilege to do this job and I wouldn't be able to do it without them." Ms van der Plaat said she was waiting to see how pre-poll and postal votes fell before conceding as those counts had not yet officially been logged with the AEC tally room I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula, Eden, Batemans Bay and Narooma Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSAnthony Albanese has won a second term as prime minister with Labor claiming victory in the federal election All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWhile it is unclear whether Labor will be able to govern in its own right or be forced to seek a minority arrangement with the crossbench the centre-left party is the only one able to form a government Mr Albanese is the first prime minister to win two elections in a row since John Howard in 2004 Trailing in the polls going into the start of year Labor regained ground on the coalition throughout 2025 following global uncertainty triggered by US President Donald Trump and his tariffs on trading partners Anthony Albanese put Medicare at the heart of Labor's re-election campaign (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Campaigning on reducing living costs Mr Albanese made health a focal point during the election frequently brandishing his Medicare card and pledging to expand access to bulk billing and urgent cares clinics Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was considered the frontrunner going into the election but a lack of detail surrounding key policy costings and a voter association with the policies of Mr Trump caused his his poll numbers to plummet Mr Dutton urged voters throughout the election to ask themselves if they were better off now compared to three years ago but the public has opted for a second term of the status quo Peter Dutton promised voters cheaper petrol and a tax rebate (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The election was dominated by issues on the cost of living following several interest rate rises and high inflation with the prime minister also going on the attack of Mr Dutton's record as health minister during the previous coalition government Despite being ahead throughout the campaign Mr Albanese still sought to play the underdog card with Labor still scarred by its 2019 election loss which polls predicted it would win easily Labor has exorcised its demons of the electoral past and will look to implement its second-term agenda absolutely dripping with history and pleading for a new lease of life to the inspired souls willing to take on a likely labyrinth of red tape and inevitable emotional rollercoaster to bring these gems into the 21st century Aaron Papahatzis of Belle Property Queanbeyan, who lists this week’s Queanbeyan feature property, says the Kathleen Street home has bones going back a century. “This has seen an extension and renovation in recent times, complementing its early 20th century origins,” he says. “I think that success is through an approach that has been sympathetic to its character.” Papahatzis says the owners had sought to preserve its history while elevating it to meet contemporary living expectations. “The result has perfectly blended character with modern lifestyle convenience,” he says. Philip Leeson Architects provides a Heritage Advisory Service on behalf of the ACT Heritage Council. The luxury items owners are demanding in high-end homes Home of the Week: a charming neighbour to The Lodge ‘Pinnacle of luxury’: rare penthouse overlooks entire Canberra skyline Practice principal Philip Leeson says owners and buyers, and their architects and builders, should be aware of comprehensive guidelines that apply to heritage properties and precincts. “Anyone considering buying into either should ensure they understand what that means for renovations or extensions,” he says. “The guidelines ensure the heritage character of a heritage precinct is preserved, but offer flexibility to suit many design interpretations for individual homes.” Leeson says the Heritage Advisory Service provides free advice, a valuable first stop before any big decisions are made. “These insights can really help those going into the heritage process with a greater level of understanding,” he says. Considering renovating a heritage property. Here are some of the key things you need to know before you start. A heritage renovation or extension is not for the faint-hearted. It can easily cost as much or more than a new build, and preservation requirements can push the budget into unwelcome territory. Heritage authorities make decisions within a welter of guidelines, and the application process can demand patience, detailed documentation and strict compliance. Be prepared with an extra layer of research. Heritage properties can need era-specific materials and the attention of specialty tradespeople with relevant expertise. Other considerations include disruptions in supply chains or scheduling that can derail the best-laid plans. Everything old is new again when the 1920s meets the 2020s in this meticulously renovated and extended Queanbeyan home. Its art nouveau and bungalow-style origins, along with sympathetic updates, were recognised when it won the prestigious Heritage Homes Queanbeyan Award in 2021. Another local claim to fame is that the home was built in the 1920s by the then Queanbeyan mayor. It all adds up to a rich history that has delivered a home of great character. That’s found in detail like wide verandahs, high ceilings, cornices, stained glass, golden Cyprus pine floors, a striking fireplace, oak mantlepiece, pendant lighting, and even original light switches. The floor plan is essentially one of two halves: the bedrooms and the living areas. The luxurious main-bedroom en suite is a spa-like retreat, featuring a copper bath, dual shower heads and bespoke fittings. The spacious dining, living and family areas showcase many of the home’s character features and highlight its grand proportions. The renovated kitchen draws in an abundance of natural light and shows off feature brick, plenty of bench space and storage, and classic black and white tiling. The hardware includes a Belling cooktop, copper range hood, and ceramic basins. There’s a surprise bonus loft, perfect as a home office, teenager retreat or maybe as a movie room. The outside offers a covered entertaining area with a built-in barbecue, a shed/studio and a carport on the 639-square-metre block. 2 Baths2 ParkingView listing Originally crafted in 1935 by the Commonwealth Architect the home has undergone extensive renovation to combine heritage character with modern living. 1 Bath2 ParkingView listing Retaining many of its original features of the time this home is move-in ready and ripe for a creative refresh down the track. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate where the ALP election night party was ramping up All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLocal branch members crowded around the livestreamed results wearing "Team Albo" shirts and sipping cans of Albo pale ale The mood had changed in a matter of minutes as results began to swell in showing very early signs of promise for Labor "I'm nervous but optimistic," Jess Martin said "I was on the booths in Singapore in 2019 and the anticipation was very exciting then and we're all a bit scarred from it I think." signs of an early swing towards Labor in Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson were broadcast to the elation of those gathered in the brightly lit function room quite good results so far," Max Pearce said "Handing out [flyers] at shopping centres has been more positive than earlier in the year and probably more positive than the last election." and just past 7pm the event MC addressed the crowd with a few house rules Labor supporters react to early election results at the Labor Election Night function in Sydney I have a feeling we're going to get even happier," she said Supporters said they would be hanging around for the prime minister regardless of how things panned out with the Prime Minister to make a speech at the RSL club once a result was clear Mr Albanese appeared confident as he stood before the cameras delivering carefully rehearsed lines to each of the respective hosts In his earpiece, he could hear the prerecorded words of his opponent, Peter Dutton and laughed that the Coalition leader was using a lot of footy puns his team had done the maths and woven together another theme for his polling day messages Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the morning of election day 2025 Pictures AAP"Something like 140 MCGs worth will get tax cuts because all 14 million Australians will get that," he said "There's been 600,000 Australians [who] have got free TAFE His only stumble came on the figures for urgent-care clinics but it only elicited a minor wince from the Prime Minister's communications chief 1.3 million Australians have visited an urgent-care clinic Anthony Albanese casts his vote at Marrickville West Public School with his son Mr Albanese reflected on the schools he had visited At Winthrop Primary School in Perth on Tuesday a sea of school students gave the weary Prime Minister a warm welcome which he would later describe as uplifting he reflected that he would like to frame a photo taken at that school capturing the hands of excited children reaching out to him Staged as these moments are, a child's excitement can't be faked, and it's likely that visit helped Mr Albanese summon the final ounce of energy to make it through his last days on the trail. but it is mostly about the uncontrollable factors such as the high number of people who voted early after casting his vote in his electorate of Grayndler he hopped on the media bus to take a ride with journalists it was clear the heavy lifting was behind him Miriam Webber is a federal politics and public sector reporter, with an interest in integrity, transparency and accountability in government. She has been a member of the federal political bureau since 2023, and previously worked as the city reporter. Reach her at miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au The ACT Premier First Grade Men's Douglas Cup Grand Final is set to unfold this weekend at EPC Solar Park featuring a thrilling contest between the reigning champions North Canberra-Gungahlin Cricket Club starting from Friday March 21 Defending champions Queanbeyan are looking to go back-to-back after securing last season’s title while North Canberra-Gungahlin is aiming for their first-ever premiership in club history Cricket ACT spoke to Queanbeyan wicket-keeper batsman Mikey McNamara and Norths Captain Nicholas Wood ahead of the big dance Northies probably have the top three bowlers in the competition at the moment with Woody (Nicholas Wood) and Pagey (Hayden Page) who are taking their wickets well and truly fairly on a tough wicket at North's I think we'll have a challenge cut out for us for sure but we’re looking forward to that challenge.” Said McNamara Queanbeyan enters the final with the ambition of securing back-to-back titles having clinched the prestigious Douglas Cup last season with a commanding performance against Weston Creek Molonglo standout contributions from players like Nic Broes and Tyler Van Luin North Canberra-Gungahlin is poised to claim their first-ever premiership in this competition Their journey to the final has been marked by a determined team setting the stage for a historic opportunity to etch their name onto the Douglas Cup Norths captain Nicholas Wood expressed excitement rather than nerves heading into the decider It’s the first time in a final for a few years we’re just really keen… it's been so many years since it’s happened but I think there's a lot of people coming out of the woodwork to support us With Queanbeyan seeking to cement their dominance and North Canberra-Gungahlin pushing for a historic breakthrough cricket fans are encouraged to attend and support local cricket at EPC Solar Park this weekend as these two formidable teams vie for the coveted title Cricket ACT acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and ancestors of the land we live and meet on Cricket ACT acknowledges that other people and families also have a traditional connection to the lands of the ACT and region and we respect this connection to country We honour and pay respect to the Elders in our local communities We celebrate the participation of First Nations peoples and recognise their individual and collective shared connection and history with cricket We are committed to listening and learning about how we as people an organisation and community advocate for equitable outcomes and positive futures with all First Nations peoples First Nations Artwork with thanks to Wiradjuri woman Kalara Gilbert while 10 million have waited for election day Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSAUSTRALIANS HEAD TO THE POLLS TO ELECT THE NEXT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MAY 3 All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHERE'S SOME OF THE DAY'S NUMBERS: * More than 7.38 million people have already voted before election day accounting for about 40 per cent of the electoral roll * About 10 million are expected to cast their ballots on Saturday * There are 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 76 are required to form majority government * 1456 candidates are contesting the 2025 poll with 1126 in the lower house and 330 in the Senate The coalition needs to gain 19 seats to win while Labor can afford to lose two to remain in office (Aap/AAP PHOTOS)* The coalition needs to gain 19 seats from their current 57 which includes vacant seats after retirement former MPs who defected who to the crossbench and seat redistributions * Labor can lose two seats from the 78 they currently hold * The lower house crossbench is made up of four Greens one Katter's Australian Party and nine independent members * Forty of the 76 Senate seats are up for election in 2025 for a six year term * More than 7000 polling places open on election day * 570 pre-polling stations  used for voters who cannot cast their ballot on the day * Overseas polling stations opened during the pre-poll period with 111 voting centres across 83 nations 100,000 election staff are on hand to manage the voting process across the country (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)* About 250,000 pencils available for voters to mark their ballots * More than 55 million ballot papers printed * 100,000 election staff to ensure voting occurs seamlessly across Australia * 12 million official election guides mailed to voters * Democracy sausages will be on the menu at more than 1700 polling booths on election day expected to raise about $4 million for community groups Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSAnthony Albanese says Australia has turned a corner as he celebrates an emphatic Labor landslide victory in the federal election All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLarge swings to Labor across the country has increased the party's majority in federal parliament as the coalition vote plunges to near-historic lows Labor has claimed 86 seats in the 150-electorate House of Representatives to the coalition's 40 securing the prime minister a greater mandate in his second term Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared Australia had "turned a corner" (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Albanese is the first prime minister since John Howard in 2004 to claim back-to-back election wins Declaring victory in front of Labor Party faithful in Sydney Mr Albanese said voters had made a clear choice we will make our way forward with no one held back and no one left behind," he said Australians have chosen optimism and determination Australians have chosen to face global challenges "Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values a future built on everything that brings us together." Peter Dutton apologised to the party faithful for the coalition's crushing defeat (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Of all the Labor gains the biggest scalp was Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson in Brisbane It's the first time an opposition leader has lost their seat at a federal election with Mr Dutton losing to Labor's Ali France Mr Dutton said the election was not the result the coalition was after and accepted full responsibility for the party's loss "We didn't do well enough during this campaign that much is obvious tonight," he told party supporters in Brisbane "I've always wanted in public life for the best for our country and the best for every Australian "It's an historic occasion for the Labor Party Ali France celebrates unseating Peter Dutton with Steve Miles (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Dutton also apologised to other coalition members who lost their seat on election night who have lost their seats or their ambition and I'm sorry for that," he said "We have an amazing party and we'll rebuild." The coalition is on track to one of its lowest ever primary votes since the party was formed in the 1940s Labor has picked up marginal seats such as Leichhardt in Queensland Sturt in South Australia and Deakin in Victoria Labor supporters cheer as early results show a swing against Peter Dutton in the seat of Dickson (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)But it could lose the formerly safe seat of Bean in the ACT to an independent Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was proud of the campaign Mr Albanese and Labor had run there is an element of relief but overwhelmingly gratitude to the country but also to our local communities," he told ABC TV was able to maintain the focus on the things that really matter that people are focused on in their day-to-day lives." Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOSSluggish retail spending and stagnant trading volumes are yet another reason for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRetail trade rose a lower-than-expected 0.3 per cent in March for an annual pace of 4.3 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday despite hopes of a 0.3 per cent uptick for the month this is a rather weak set of data highlighting the slow recovery in consumer spending in Australia," AMP economist My Bui said Food-related spending in supermarkets and grocery stores is the main driver of growth (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)After first quarter inflation data earlier this week showed headline and underlying inflation falling into the Reserve Bank's target band the retail figures gave the central bank even more reasons to cut the cash rate at its May 20 meeting "The household consumption recovery is still sluggish and there are big downside risks to global demand from Trump's trade war," Ms Bui said "Retail sales account for 30 per cent of overall household consumption; thus today's data does not present an optimistic outlook for Q1 consumption growth." Friday's figures implied the Reserve Bank's cash interest rate cut in February had little impact on spending in March That cut to 4.10 per cent was the first in four years consumption growth fundamentals remained healthy with the labour market in a tight position and inflation trending lower "Interest rate cuts and greater government support through election promises will keep some momentum in consumer spending," he said the hit to confidence and heightened uncertainty generated by tariff announcements will hold spending back in the coming months." Retail spending continued to grow at a steady pace ABS business statistics head Robert Ewing said with food-related spending in supermarkets and grocery stores the main driver of growth Turnover for the month totalled $37.3 billion Food retailing had the largest rise in turnover footwear and accessories rose 0.3 per cent in the month The Reserve Bank cash interest rate cut in February had little impact on spending in March (AP PHOTO)The Australian retailers Association welcomed a month of steady growth but said conditions continued to be challenging household budgets remain tight and retailers are operating in a highly competitive and volatile environment with rising business costs," chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown said "Any signs of stability in consumer spending are a welcome boost to business confidence but we remain far from a retail recovery." The statistics bureau also released the producer price index a measure of inflation for sellers of goods and services It rose 0.3 per cent in the March quarter to be up 3.7 per cent over the year The PRD network has strengthened its presence in the Canberra region by opening PDR Queanbeyan along the ACT-NSW border The new office is owned and managed by Dan and Martina Woodford who have been longstanding network members since they established PRD Bungendore in 2017 If you check the box above before you log in you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return even if you close your browser and come back later The new Queanbeyan office marks the duo’s second agency under the PRD banner and aims to cater to the growing demand for real estate services in Queanbeyan Martina Woodford said the expansion into Queanbeyan will offer services and local expertise that represent PRD “Our goal is to continue growing while upholding the high standards of service and genuine care for our clients who have been at the heart of our success,” Martina said reflecting on the pair’s plans for the Queanbeyan office “We’re not just another real estate agency – we’re a team who genuinely cares offering personalised advice and a client-first approach that sets us apart.” noting the Woodford duo’s leadership and ongoing contribution to the network “Dan and Martina Woodford have become integral members of the PRD network and I have no doubt that PRD Bungendore and the new PRD Queanbeyan office will continue their success,” he said “Opening their second office at Queanbeyan is a strong start to the year for PRD and continues PRD’s strong legacy of supporting and assisting our offices in their expansion goals.” Hadley added that the launch of PRD Queanbeyan is part of a broader expansion strategy for 2025 with several new offices expected to open across the network throughout the year Photo: Stephanie Gardiner/AAP PHOTOSWhen Australia's first prime minister Edmund Barton took office in 1901 the little school in Borenore had already been teaching rural kids for 25 years All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOn Saturday voters in the central western NSW village braved a 12C morning to cast their ballots at the historic school to help form the 48th parliament nestled between wineries and apple orchards outside Orange Voters arrive to cast their ballots at Borenore Public School (Stephanie Gardiner/AAP PHOTOS)Under the school motto of "wisdom through knowledge" volunteers put on a spread of country classics sponge cakes with lashings of whipped cream and piping hot pumpkin soup but Borenore is smack-bang in the middle of a heated battleground in the electorate of Calare The National Party has been campaigning hard to unseat defector Andrew Gee citing the party's opposition to an Indigenous voice to parliament and his desire to assist local flood victims free from political constraints The Nationals are also attempting to fend off popular Climate 200-backed independent Kate Hook National Party leader David Littleproud speaks to a supporters in Orange (Stephanie Gardiner/AAP PHOTOS)Party leader David Littleproud made a last-minute flying visit to Orange standing with the Nationals Calare candidate outside the busy polling place at Bletchington Public School "I've got to go back home and vote for myself in Chinchilla otherwise I'll be in trouble," Mr Littleproud quipped to a supporter He said "quiet Australians" were turning out to vote for change in regional and remote seats like Lingiari "You never take this beautiful thing called democracy for granted and you should have to fight for every vote," Mr Littleproud told reporters "It's the democracy that over 100,000 Australians have lost their lives defending and we're the custodians of it." It was all smiles between Nationals candidate Sam Farraway and Independent MP Andrew Gee (Stephanie Gardiner/AAP PHOTOS)Despite their political differences Mr Gee and Mr Farraway stood side-by-side on Friday as voters lined up to cast their votes at a bustling pre-polling place in an Orange church with Mr Gee pointing out to one constituent that he preferenced Mr Farraway at four but only earned a seven on the Nationals' ticket "Happy voting," Mr Farraway said to several passers-by as well as regaining other Victorian seats Photo: AAP PHOTOSVictoria will likely hold the key to Labor and Liberal fortunes on election night All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Liberals are desperate to make up ground on Saturday in the state once dubbed the "Massachusetts of Australia" by John Howard because of its progressive leanings The coalition holds just 10 seats in Victoria after voters in the Melbourne seats of Kooyong Chisholm and now-abolished Higgins turned on the Morrison government in 2022 Aston then fell in a once-in-a-century by-election loss to Labor following the resignation of former frontbencher Alan Tudge held by independent Monique Ryan was among seats that turned on the coalition in 2022 (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said at least a dozen seats across the state were held by five per cent or less following boundary changes "This is a real battleground state this time around," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP Dr Ghazarian reckons the Liberals must reclaim Kooyong Chisholm and Aston to restore their previous base while picking up at least one outer suburban seat like McEwen lost to teal independents Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel respectively that once former heartland of the Liberal Party Needing 19 seats to form majority government the Liberals have been running hard in Victoria amid collapsing support for the state Labor government Their campaign has tried to link Anthony Albanese with unpopular premier Jacinta Allan but Dr Ghazarian said voters generally differentiated between state and federal politics Labor is facing a battle on its left flank from the Greens in Wills and Macnamara while the Liberals are under threat in Wannon from former Triple J presenter turned independent candidate Alex Dyson Labor hopes to steal one or both of the Liberal-held eastern Melbourne seats of Deakin and Menzies to offset any losses Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar clung on in Deakin by 0.2 per cent in 2022 but the margin has been notionally cut to 0.02 per cent making it the most marginal seat in the nation they can't even consider winning the election," Dr Ghazarian said All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFollowing allegations of harassment and personal attacks directed at Eden-Monaro's Labor MP Kristy McBain and her campaign volunteers the Liberal party said the concerns cut both ways A spokesperson for Jo van der Plaat's campaign said the Liberal candidate's Goulburn office had received a handwritten note threatening it would be burnt to the ground One of its campaign vehicles had also allegedly been smeared with human faeces, an incident condemned by both sides and now being investigated by police. The campaign had also turned very personal Ms McBain spoke up following reports Liberal pre-poll booth volunteers were telling voters she "let Tathra burn" during the 2018 bushfires Human faeces is smeared across a Liberal Party campaign vehicle during a contest both sides have decried as "nasty" and "personal" president of the Liberal Party's Merimbula-Eden branch Scott Kennedy said Ms van der Plaat had been called "an ugly moll" who "needs a new photo taken" I was advised by one of our volunteers that a Labor volunteer looked at them and remarked 'you've got d---head written all over you'." A note left on the doorstep of the LIberal Party's branch office in Goulburn Picture suppliedAnd just as Ms McBain noted numerous instances of defaced and stolen campaign corflutes the Liberal branch said it had endured the same "There is always a level of argy bargy in election campaigns and in the main the contest is generally not especially heated in our region," Mr Kennedy said our branch has a respectful relationship with our local Labor opponents "The Liberal team will actively pursue the election of our candidate Jo van der Plaat There are very few people I talk to who appreciate that ongoing politicking and scare campaigning and slagging people off For her part, Ms van der Plaat said her view was that more decency on the campaign trail would result in better representation in Parliament "That's another reason why I put my hand up - I don't think there's enough decency left," she said "You go and watch Question Time - I took my kids last year and they were like 'this is worse than a schoolyard "There are very few people I talk to who appreciate that ongoing politicking and scare campaigning and slagging people off "My view is you should be out talking about policies because the most important person here is the voter "It's not what you have against me or I have against you It's about saying we put the voter front and centre and we want to be telling you what we've got to offer you "And if they continue to see this slagging off We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Photo: AP PHOTOA power outage has hit several regions of Indonesia's resort island of Bali with efforts underway to restore services to those affected state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara says All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe island's airport was also affected but inbound and outbound flight traffic continued the airport's operator said on its Instagram page State utility PLN said it was investigating the cause of the outage and working on restoring the power connection "The recovery process is currently being carried out gradually," its spokesperson in Bali I Wayan Eka Susana said in a statement Images shared on social media showed road traffic delays in Bali as a result of the outage and long lines at airport check-in counters Friday's blackout comes days after a massive outage hit Spain and Portugal plunging tens of millions of people into darkness on the Iberian peninsula National Premier League side Queanbeyan City came from a goal down twice to prevail in an epic Hahn Australia Cup clash against CPL side Belconnen United winning 3-2 to move on Round Five of qualifying It was the underdogs that took the lead just under half-an-hour into the match With the initial shot parried away by Queanbeyan ‘keeper Nick Middleton Jake Bishop ghosted in unmarked at the back post to hammer the ball home and give the Blue Devils the lead Queanbeyan went searching for a quick response with chances of their own but were unable to find an equaliser in the first half I which the Blue Devils defended well An hour into the encounter and Queanbeyan had found their equaliser A long ball from Marko Savkovic found Abot at the back post with the Argentinian heading back across goal for Johnny Hajdu to tap home from close in With the game looking like it would need an extra thirty minutes to separate the sides three goals in the last seven minutes of play set up a grandstand finish Getting on the end of a perfectly weighted through ball slotting the ball home to give Belconnen the lead and seemingly a place in the Quarter Final draw as substitute Sanuel Aba gave his side a fighting chance with five minutes left on the clock with the rebounded save falling to Aba for the equaliser With only two minutes left of the regulation ninety minutes Blazevski lobbed the ‘keeper from range with a stunning strike simultaneously breaking Blue Devils’ hearts and sending Queanbeyan into the next round Labor's Anthony Albanese has been offered the same opportunity All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePeter Dutton at Agfest in northerrn Tasmania and our country better off today than three years ago That's the critical question for Australians at this election the Albanese government focused on the Voice referendum which sought to divide our country by ancestry and race They've continued to spend taxpayers' money irresponsibly - a staggering additional $425 billion since coming to power which has fuelled inflation Australians have experienced the worst collapse in living standards in our country's history - and in the developed world debt will pass $1 trillion for the first time With Labor's renewables-only energy policy trainwreck your electricity bill hasn't come down by $275 as Anthony Albanese promised on 97 occasions You're now paying up to $1300 more than promised Manufacturers have closed or moved offshore And there's warnings of blackouts and brownouts It's brought in one million people in just two years - that's 70 per cent more migrants than in any other two-year period in Australia's history There's been more pressure on infrastructure and services Medicare bulk billing has fallen by 11 per cent nationally Anthony Albanese's weak leadership and bad decisions have also compromised community safety and national security Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels Youth crime is a problem in many parts of the country Labor granted tourist visas to 3000 people from a terrorist-controlled war zone before conducting thorough checks It released 300 hardcore criminals from immigration detention into the community - with one-third having reoffended And it's turned a blind eye to Chinese Communist Party military aggression and Russian provocation here's another critical question: How much worse off will you and our country be after three more years of Labor Australians can't afford three more years of a bad Labor government especially one where the green-Teals and extreme-Greens hold the balance of power Between more of the same under Labor - a weaker Or much needed change under the Coalition - for a stronger And we have a plan to get our country back on track We will provide immediate cost-of-living relief by halving the fuel tax saving you $14 every time you fill up - about $750 a year around 85 per cent of taxpayers will get back up to $1200 they've paid in tax We will address our energy crisis by getting more gas into our domestic system which will reduce wholesale gas prices by 23 per cent Power bills and costs across the economy will come down And we will shore-up our nation's future energy security Australia will become a nuclear-powered nation We will rein-in wasteful government spending to get inflation and interest rates down And we will re-energise and grow the economy Mafia-like mobs in our building sector will be stopped We're aiming to have 400,000 new apprentices in training including the bricklayers and electricians we need to boost housing and civil construction we will get stalled and new projects up and running We've got tax breaks coming to support small businesses there will be no tax on unrealised capital gains I will be a Prime Minister who restores the dream of home ownership By banning foreign investors and temporary residents from purchasing existing homes for two years By investing $5 billion in infrastructure to get housing projects off the ground By allowing Australians to access up to $50,000 of their super to help with a first home deposit And by letting Australians deduct the interest they pay on up to $650,000 of their mortgage We have more money committed to Medicare than Labor We will invest $500 million in women's health and $400 million in youth mental health And we will incentivise junior doctors to work as GPs classrooms will be places of education - not indoctrination And there will be practical action to improve Indigenous lives - not symbolic gestures With a $750 million package to crack down on crime we will combat the cartels and disrupt the drug trade We will again deport non-citizen criminals And we will lift defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP over five years we must re-tool the Australian Defence Force to deter a larger adversary and protect our national interests If I'm given the great honour to lead our country I will make the tough and responsible decisions To create certainty for our country amidst international uncertainty To set us on a course to achieve the economic prosperity and national security we need for the future And I will remind Australians of the things that unite us: our common citizenship I will proudly stand in front of our one national flag The difference between a bleak future and a better future comes down to common sense I have every confidence that the common sense of Australians will elect a Coalition Government to get our country back on track All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were dispatched to the scene at Point Lonsdale "It's believed the chopper was seen crashing into water off Fellows Road just after 10am," Victoria Police said "There were three people onboard the aircraft All three people managed to make it to shore and were located by passersby who contacted emergency services." Victoria Ambulance helicopter spotted circling the water (main image) and the crashed helicopter (inset). Picture FlightTracker24/9 NewsA flight tracker site showed a Victoria Ambulance helicopter circling the area The helicopter lapped the coastline east of Point Lonsdale a number of times before flying in the direction of Melbourne were airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries A second man was driven to Geelong University Hospital with serious injuries popular among domestic and international tourists near the start of the Great Ocean Road that spans the state's southern coastline The town is 103 kilometres southwest of Melbourne and 28 kilometres southeast of Geelong Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Queanbeyan’s Child and Family Health team were on-hand at Pop Up Play Time in the Park at Railway Park in January to join in the messy play The Child and Family Health Nursing team work closely with the Queanbeyan Children’s Interagency Group to improve outcomes and opportunities for children supporting programs and events throughout the year The team recently helped Campbell Page’s Helping Hands Program and Treehouse Queanbeyan bring the Snuggle ‘n Sing program to Bungendore aligning the program dates with their weekly services in Bungendore creating an even more accessible and supportive space.  Southern's Queanbeyan Child and Family teamTen new families have joined the program during Term 4 2024 and our Child and Family Health Nurse is now a regular attendee at the program providing extra support and helping families feel comfortable discussing their health concerns.  We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture Photo: AP PHOTOBritish comedian and actor Russell Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFollowing a theatrical event in Bournemouth in 1999 it is alleged that while the woman went to the bathroom Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her on the bed The 49-year-old was granted bail at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday as he spoke only to confirm his name date of birth and address and that he understood his bail conditions during a short hearing He was charged by post last month with one count each of rape Brand is charged with with one count each of rape Brand listened intently to the details of the charges as he sat in the dock The court heard another of Brand's alleged victims is alleged to have been grabbed by her forearm by the actor as he attempted to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in 2001 The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Brand met in Soho in 2004 He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother's Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005 Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks It took the comedian more than two minutes to walk the short distance from his vehicle to the court door as photographers attempted to get a shot of his arrival following his flight back to the UK from the US He did not speak to reporters as he walked in or out of the court building The charges came following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023 in which several women accused him of rape In a video previously posted on his X account Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence Brand will appear at London's Old Bailey on May 30 for a plea and trial preparation hearing There’s a sentence we’d never thought we’d write including a wheelie-bin inspired circus show Combining the exceptional skills you’d see during Cirque du Soleil with a household wheelie bin as their muse these three dexterous dummies aren’t just talking trash – they’re turning it into pure entertainment gold Coming to The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, for one hilarious hour, the Trash Test Dummies will take audiences on a journey filled with side-splitting slapstick ordinary wheelie bins are transformed into an extraordinary playground of possibilities – from sleek cars to secret hideaway trenches All we can say is one person’s trash really is another person’s theatrical treasure the Trash Test Dummies have been collecting accolades faster than garbage day – including Best Children’s Presentation at Adelaide Fringe Festival in both 2015 and 2016 and earning runner-up honors for the Children’s Choice Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016 Artistic Director (and original Trash Test Dummies creator and performer) This means that kids can come with their parents and grandparents and there’s something for everyone,” says Jamie this world-class troupe will take fun to new heights with riotous stunts and an astonishing display of balance Our audiences tend to laugh their way through the whole thing.” and what promoters describe as “epic immersive action,” this performance promises to be anything but a waste of time Blurring the lines between the impossible and possible Jamie says that the Trash Test Dummies believe in encouraging imagination expansion through play “If we can get even some of our audience members to run with the idea that anything is possible This might just be the only time you’ll tell your children Tickets are selling fast – and unlike your household waste collection this is one pickup you won’t want to miss Has anyone else been counting down the days Tackling mental health one downward dog at a time HerCanberra acknowledges Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the traditional custodians of the land we work on and pay our respects to elders past As an inclusive organisation we also strive to celebrate people of all backgrounds