Canberra Now: PM wades into escalating Ramsay Centre showdown
Good morning Canberra,
Pack your umbrella today because there is a 90 per cent chance of rain. The maximum temperature is forecast to be a chilly 13 degrees, with an overnight low of 5 degrees.
Here's the news.
More drama over scuppered Ramsay Centre
The political fallout from the ANU's decision to scrap the Ramsay Centre continues, with Prime Minsiter Malcolm Turnbull now entering the fray.
On Thursday, Mr Turnbull became the latest Liberal politician to wade into the furor over the course, which was to be funded by the John Howard-headed Ramsay Centre.
The prime minister said he was "very surprised" by the ANU's decision and would be speaking to vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt personally.
Progress on 'restrictive practices' reforms
A new watchdog position has been established in the ACT to oversee the use of restrictive practices by schools and disabilities services.
Legislation establishing the position comes in the wake of a scandal revealed in 2015, in which a 10-year-old boy with autism was placed in a blue cage inside a Canberra school.
The "senior practicioner" role will help phase out the use of restrictive practices, as well as providing guidance and advice, Youth Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
Union input baked into new laws
Union consultation has been baked into a major set of health and safety reforms proposed by the ACT government.
Opposition MP Andrew Wall said the legislation would need close scrutiny.
“Anything that favours the rights of unions over the rights of local businesses and local workers won’t receive the support of the Canberra Liberals,” he said.
Social media freeze after weather bureau union stoush
Management are keeping a close eye on weather bureau staff as a testy pay dispute heats up.
According to the Community and Public Sector Union, staff have been told that "additional quality control" was needed ahead of forecasts going live, and that all social media posts needed to be reviewed.
The union has criticised the actions as "heavy-handed".
Confessional subject to reportable conduct scheme
Priests in Canberra will soon be forced to break the seal of confession to report child abusers.
All three parties in the ACT Legislative Assembly supported the bill to extend the mandatory reporting scheme to cover churches, although three Liberal politicians spoke out about their concerns.
The new laws will require religious organisations' "activities, facilities, programs or services" to report allegations, offences or convictions related to children to the ACT Ombudsman within 30 days and launch an investigation from July 1.