Govt health levy backdown after 'trainwreck' budget punishes ratepayers and businesses, critics say

The ACT has abandoned a $250-a-year health levy less than a week after it was announced and will instead charge residential ratepayers $100 and hike payroll tax for big businesses after tense negotiations with the ACT Greens. Jasper Lindell reports on the backdown announced late yesterday.

Agencies that approach more suppliers in panel procurement are less likely to need to amend the contract, reinforcing the necessity of engaging multiple suppliers in the procurement process. Connor Pearce and Ray Athwal took a deep dive into contract data published on AusTender to reveal the link.

A man has been accused of physically assaulting and racially abusing a pair of teenage girls he had met at a Belconnen shopping centre, Tim Piccione reports.

Josh Papali'i's big week continues with his surprise call-up to Queensland's State of Origin camp. Melanie Dinjaski and David Polkinghorne report on what Big Papa's arrival means for the Maroons and one of his Raiders teammates.

And a very, very cold June is officially over, and today we're starting with a warmer morning of about 7 degrees with a forecast top of 12 and a very high chance of showers later in the day.

John-Paul Moloney, managing editor