It is not the practice of the government to produce advice, says Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra ATTORNEY-General Mark Dreyfus says the solicitor-general’s advice supports the wording of the proposed change to the constitution on the indigenous Voice to parliament referendum, but is refusing to publicly release it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week revealed the question to be put to voters – between October and December – and the new section of the constitution outlining how the Voice will work. Repeatedly pressed on whether the advic ..read more

Chris Minns says his government will work on behalf of all the people of NSW. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) By Luke Costin and Phoebe Loomes in Sydney PREMIER-elect Chris Minns has promised to build a government of which all NSW can be proud following his definitive election victory which shattered coalition hopes of a historic fourth term. Labor took at least nine seats from the government in Saturday’s contest with a statewide two-party preferred swing of seven per cent. Even before his swearing-in, the Labor leader was on the front foot as new state leader on Sunday, making his first direct ..read more

The Strathnairn charity house on in Makinson Street. THE Strathnairn Charity House, a four-bedroom, architect-designed home in Makinson Street, was sold at auction on Saturday for $1,596,600. It was bought by a couple already living in the Ginninderry development at West Belconnen.  Proceeds from the sale of the home will go to local charities, including Hands Across Canberra, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House and Canberra City Care Charnwood. The Ginninderry Joint Venture and Master Builders ACT collaborated on the design and construction of the house, while the build was le ..read more

THE Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Canberra and Yass this afternoon. The yellow area depicts the storm-affect area, according the bureau. It says the weather situation is a very moist environment supporting storms capable of producing heavy localised rainfall. It warns that storms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the ACT,  including Canberra, and Yass Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Snowy Mountains and an earlier warning has been cancelled. Goulburn Airport r ..read more

NSW voters have until 6pm to cast their ballots as the state goes to the polls. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) By Peter Bodkin and Farid Farid in Sydney Voting is under way in the NSW election as the major parties’ leaders make a desperate last-minute attempt to sway undecided voters. More than 1.5 million people had already cast their ballots when early voting closed on Friday night, representing around 28 per cent of the state’s 5.5 million voters. Premier Dominic Perrottet is seeking a fourth consecutive four-year term for his Liberal-National coalition, while Labor leader Chris Minns i ..read more

A combined image shows (left) NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and (right) NSW Labor leader Chris Minns during a NSW Leaders Debate (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi) Final NSW Newspoll gives Labor a thumping lead, reports election analyst ADRIAN BEAUMONT. The NSW state election is today. Polls close at 6pm AEDT. Votes cast on election day should be counted quickly, but large pre-poll booths are likely to take until late at night or next week. ABC elections analyst Antony Green said that as of Friday, 28 per cent of enrolled voters had voted early in-person and a further 10 per cent had applied for a p ..read more

Leicester Fainga’anuku has scored a double in the Crusaders’ 35-17 win over the Brumbies in NZ. (David Rowland/AAP PHOTOS) By Alex Mitchell in Canberra A SHORT-handed Brumbies line-up has been brushed aside in Christchurch, smashed 35-17 by the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Pacific clash. Two tries for gun winger Leicester Fainga’anuku snuffed any hopes the Brumbies had of pinching an upset win on their first trip to NZ for the season. With seven Wallabies on the shelf through a combination of injuries and rest, the Brumbies were rarely in the contest and never led in the 18-point loss. Stand ..read more

Prop Josh Papali’i (c) will return from a calf injury for Canberra’s round-four trip to Newcastle. (Scott Radford-Chisholm/AAP PHOTOS) By Alex Mitchell in Canberra JOSH Papali’i’s return to an already-stacked Canberra pack has coach Ricky Stuart looking to his middle to carry the Raiders forward. The Samoa and Queensland prop will join star teammate Joe Tapine in the front row when Canberra travel to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon in pursuit of their second straight win. With a loaded bench including three more in-form props – Pasami Saulo, Emre Guler and Corey Horsburgh – the Raiders will look ..read more

Housing and Suburban Development Minister, Yvette Berry… “she and her staff seem to be ignorant of research and policies on solar, energy efficiency, landscape design, biodiversity, green-infrastructure and urban climate change,” writes Paul Costigan. “Yvette Berry, as housing minister, has the unenviable reputation of being a failure in the adequate provision of social housing,” writes “Canberra Matters” columnist PAUL COSTIGAN. RECENT opinion pieces highlighted the ACT government’s badly managed planning authority and how they continually ignore their own rules and then object when they are ..read more

Pineapples… need a lot of sun and humidity to get them growing in our region. Pineapples, being tropical plants, struggle with our frosts and cold winters outdoors, but anything is possible with a glasshouse, or as an indoor plant with warmth and a lot of loving care, says gardening writer JACKIE WARBURTON. Jackie Warburton. PINEAPPLES (Ananas Comosus) have long been a favourite in Australia and were planted as far back as 1838 in Queensland, where the heritage-listed Queens Gardens currently stand in the centre of Brisbane.  Pineapples are terrestrial bromeliads and need a lot of sun and ..read more