Monte Bovill

For the first time in 15 years, ACT public school staff are going on strike in a two-hour work stoppage that will see all public schools, including specialist schools and preschools, keep their doors closed until 10:30am on Friday.

The ACT's public education system will be significantly reformed after a review of resourcing found schools operated much like "independent small businesses".

Today's ACT budget will deliver measures to make the territory the first Australian jurisdiction to remove stamp duty for all first home buyers, the government says.

During practice at this Canberra football club, players discuss the ways they are saving money. Meanwhile, the ACT government has unveiled a suite of measures to better balance its finances and help those doing it tough.

This year's ACT budget reveals rates will increase for most Canberra home owners, along with the territory's deficit, but the controversial health levy introduced last year will be ditched.

The World Health Organization made the landmark decision nine years ago to list snakebite envenoming as a "Category A Neglected Tropical Disease", in recognition that snakebite numbers had become a global catastrophe.

Barbara Belmonte, an ACT public housing resident, has been waiting weeks for her heater to be repaired amid the sub-zero temperatures of a Canberra winter — and she's not the only one.

A government that's been in power for almost 25 years is unlikely to have an unblemished record. But while ACT Labor ministers have weathered controversy on many occasions, Yvette Berry was different.

Rachel Stephen-Smith takes over as ACT deputy chief minister from Yvette Berry, who resigned last week after the Integrity Commission made "serious corrupt conduct" findings against two senior public servants in her education portfolio.

A government that's been in power for almost 25 years is unlikely to have an unblemished record. But while ACT Labor ministers have weathered controversy on many occasions, Yvette Berry was different.