Peta Credlin has hit back at "unnamed sources" who dogged her final months in Canberra by suggesting cabinet ministers and journalists intimidated by her didn't deserve their jobs.
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Speaking at the Future Awards in Sydney on Tuesday night, former prime minister Tony Abbott's chief-of-staff spoke candidly about the "bloody tough" time she had experienced as a senior woman in Australian politics over the past decade.
In her first in-depth public speaking appearance, Ms Credlin said she "refused to be defined by insider gossip from unnamed sources when no one has the guts to put their name to it".
- Bosses at Foreign Affairs have abandoned talks on a new pay deal, which they say is the best they "know of in the APS", telling workers they can take the offer or leave it.
- A disability support group has passed a no confidence motion against Education Minister Joy Burch over her handling of the case of an autistic boy being put in a cage in a Canberra primary school.
- The family of a Canberra soldier killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan has welcomed a coroner's findings that the failure to pass down key orders may have contributed to their son's death.
- A Canberra man has been accused of sexual offences against the woman he allegedly murdered and drove to the south coast earlier this year.
- A man accused of stabbing his wife to death in the bedroom of their Gordon home is set to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
- ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has urged newly installed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make taxation reform a key priority of the federal government.
- New laws require police to notify the Aboriginal Legal Service before asking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to consent to a forensic procedure.
- Europe will force some of its member countries to shelter refugees they don't want after the EU's home affairs ministers agreed on a new plan to relocate 120,000 refugees from Greece and Italy and share them among the 28 member states.
Israel Folau Photo: Dan Mullan
Operation 'get the ball to Izzy' begins when the Wallabies start their World Cup campaign and Israel Folau says he will harness his big-game experience to stand tall when Australia needs him most.
But try-scoring expert Folau says he doesn't feel the pressure to live up to anyone's expectations other than his own as he prepares to conquer the next frontier of his code-hopping career.
- The ACT Brumbies are using the National Rugby Championship as rugby's equivalent of reality TV show The Block, using the Canberra Vikings as a means to complete renovations on several players.
- "A player is going to die from prescription drugs." Those words come from a current player, a chief executive and a leading player manager as a warning after two South Sydney players were rushed to hospital after an adverse reaction to painkillers.
- The Canberra Capitals' terrible recruiting luck has finally taken a turn for the better, with the club poised to sign former WNBA All-Star Renee Montgomery.
- Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop says the FFA wasn't obliged to fly Matildas striker Michelle Heyman back from the US once the national women's team went on strike.
- He's already Australia's greatest finger-spinner of all time but Nathan Lyon believes he is still two years away from hitting his peak.
9.50am: Turns out the police presence on Northbourne Avenue is due to a funeral for a former officer happening in the church there.
9:32am: We've heard traffic was banked up from Northbourne Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue shortly after 9am, with an unconfirmed report of a number of police officers stationed between Rudd Street and Barry Drive.
Let us know if the traffic is still congested or you've seen anything.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info on the morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
Join education staff from the Australian War Memorial as they share stories about some of the outdoor memorials and works of art in the Memorial's Sculpture Gardens during the Floriade festival period. September 21 until October 6.
Or check out the Memorial's Hands on History: kids can try on uniforms, handle real items, and hear incredible stories of Australians in wartime these school holidays. September 21 to October 8.
Murrumbateman is again hosting this year's Australian Cool Climate Wine Show - head along and find out what makes cool climate wines so special. September 21 until September 26.
Explore props and poses in portraits these school holidays through drawing and creative activity at the National Portrait Gallery. September 19 to October 11. Bookings essential.
Botanica showcases Bisonhome's recent ceramic and glass designs among a continuously evolving display of flowers and scents. September 19 to October 11.
Australia's biggest celebration of spring, Floriade, is on at Commonwealth Park until October 11. Open 9am to 5pm. Entry is free.
Canberra Botanical's 2015 artwork exhibition seeks to merge the disciplines of art and science, by exploring the structure of plants and their innate beauty. September 19 to 4 October 4.
If you can't get enough of bright flowers this spring check out the Tuliptop Gardens Festival at the Sutton plantation just of the Federal Highway. Until October 11.
It takes a little while to wash off the slime but Rhys Toms believes it's worth it. Photo: Rohan Thomson
It took Rhys Toms 15 minutes in the shower to wash off 10 litres of "cold" yet "awesome" green slime dumped on his head.
However, the 12-year-old Kaleen student, who is carving out a name for himself as electronic music producer Black Summer, better get used to it.
More slime is bound to flow when he plays to thousands of screaming music lovers at Nickelodeon's family friendly Slimefest in Sydney on Friday, September 25 and Melbourne on September 27.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
Erna Glassford during the Floriade NightFest preview at Commonwealth Park.
The flowers may be closed but the gates will certainly be open.
Around 1500 handmade lanterns stencilled with poppies are strung across a sea of blooms while light and smoke dance across the lake at this year's NightFest.
Today: Partly cloudy. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 25 to 40 km/h in the morning, then becoming light in the late evening. Min -1, max 13.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning, then becoming light in the evening. Min 0, max 14.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning, then becoming light in the afternoon. Min 1, max 15
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Min 2, max 17.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Light winds. Min 1, max 20.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds. Min 1, max 20.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 3, max 18.
