Canberra Now: News in 90 seconds for Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Hi there Canberra,
Our run of stellar weather looks set to continue today, with the mercury forecast to go as high as 31 degrees.
The bad news is that this golden patch looks like it is going to peter out just in time for the weekend, with a 90 per cent chance of rain on Saturday afternoon.
Never mind, here's today's local headlines.
Government pressured on energy compromise
Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg.
Photo: Alex EllinghausenThe federal government must overhaul its centrepiece power policy or suffer defeat, the ACT government has warned.
Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is due to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, when he is expected to issue a rallying cry to states and territories to sign up to the national energy guarantee.
But the ACT government has received expert advice that casts serious doubt on aspects of the package.
Nicole Hasham reports.
Driver devastated after friend's Summernats death
Alister Spong arrives at the ACT Supreme Court for the trial over his friend Luke Newsome's Summernats death.
Photo: Jamila ToderasOn January 5, 2017, Alister Spong was lapping the Summernats cruise route, a ring road around the Canberra showground where the festival is held.
On the back of his truck's flat bed tray was his wife and his best friend, Luke Newsome, and two other friends.
Mr Spong was attempting a burnout in his revamped ute when it suddenly lunged forward, throwing his friend off the flat bed tray and killing him, prosecutors told a jury at the opening of his criminal trial on Tuesday.
Search for man stalled for 29 days
The family of Tad Kahsai leave the ACT Magistrates Court during an inquest into his death.
Photo: Sitthixay DitthavongA 61-year-old man walked out of Calvary Hospital in 2015.
It was not until 29 days later that ACT Policing began the search for Tad Kahsai, who would later be found dead in bushland around the hospital.
A coronial inquest is currently investigating the failings that led to Mr Kahsai's death.
Roberts riding Games wave
Canberra javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts.
Photo: Dion GeorgopoulosCanberra javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Roberts might be donning some extra bling when she marries coach Mike Barber at the end of April.
The 26-year-old is a realistic chance to win a gold medal on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night, to add to the bronze medal she won at the Glasgow Games four year ago.
She'll walk out on to Carrara Stadium full of confidence from the personal-best 64.57m she threw in Brisbane two weeks ago.
It ranks her as the second biggest thrower in the Commonwealth over the last year, behind countrywoman Kathryn Mitchell.
Roberts chatted to David Polkinghorne about balancing wedding preparations with her quest for gold.
Greens won't back pokie cash swap
Greens minister Shane Rattenbury says poker machine authorisations are not a licence to print money.
Photo: Sitthixay DitthavongA proposal to give cash grants to clubs that surrender their poker machines will not be backed by the ACT Greens.
Clubs will be forced to forfeit their licences from April next year, as the government cuts the number of authorisations from 4985 to 4000.
But Mr Rattenbury said the Greens would not support a "simple payout" for poker machine authorisations, saying they were a "privilege" not a "right to print money".
Katie Burgess has the details.
Wighton's future in his own hands
Canberra Raiders fullback Jack Wighton at training on Tuesday.
Photo: Jamila ToderasJack Wighton's future is in his own hands, Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says.
Stuart will leave Wighton to decide if he is prepared to play at NRL level this week as he deals with the pressure of facing nine charges in court.
Wighton's welfare is Stuart's top priority and the Raiders mentor says the fullback has handled the scrutiny surrounding his looming court date well following his return to training.
Today's cartoon
Illustration: David Pope
