About Ian Bushnell
Ian Bushnell is a career journalist and a former News Editor and Chief of Reporting staff at The Canberra Times, where he was at the centre of some of the capital’s biggest stories.
A Canberra resident since 1995, he and his partner have raised three children here and takes a keen interest in politics, urban development, health, education and sustainability issues.
He has found Canberra to be the most liveable city in Australia, and that it’s a reputation worth fighting for.
He enjoys the ACT’s bush environment and its rich cultural offerings including music, theatre and sport, although as a Collingwood supporter the Giants will always be that other Sydney team.
A lover of fine reds, he believes Canberra is blessed to have so many great wineries on our doorstep.
All Articles
News
A military veteran and the current Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Matthew Anderson, has been appointed the next director of the Australian War Memorial after a formal selection process. Mr Anderson, a former army officer, will replace outgoing director Dr Brendan Nelson, who will leave the role at the end of this year. Mr Anderson will be responsible for...
News
More outside recruitment and partnerships, a return to common pay and conditions, and an accelerated take-up of digital technology are part of the prescription for an Australian Public Service that may not be broken but is in need of serious repair, according to the Thodey Review released on Friday (13 December). It has made 40 recommendations, most of which Prime...
News
National home goods and apparel retailer Harris Scarfe, which has four stores in the ACT and two in coastal NSW, has been placed into receivership and will immediately go on the market to be sold as a going concern. The news could not come at a worse time, two weeks before Christmas, for its 1800 staff nationwide. Harris Scarfe has...
News
Canberra's first family of philanthropy, the Snows, have a launched an Australia-first charitable foundation dedicated to funding the brightest and best medical researchers from across the nation and from around the world. The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) is looking to fuel a new wave of medical innovation by providing generous, long-term funding and leadership support to outstanding researchers...
News
The ACT Government hopes the independent evaluation of this year's pill testing trial that backed the harm-reduction measure will help other jurisdictions overcome their opposition and save lives at future music festivals. The evaluation conducted by the ANU found the Groovin the Moo festival trial was implemented as planned, the service was well received by patrons and stakeholders, and it...
News
New retail and hospitality areas have opened at Canberra Airport in the first stage of its revamp of services at the terminal. Travellers and airport visitors in need of food and refreshment will now have a choice of three new restaurants and cafés, while a large news, travel and gift shop will be able to meet other needs. The gift...
News
The economy won out over the environment, not enough people warmed to Bill Shorten and a lot more voters, to paraphrase Australian Democrats' founder Don Chipp, just didn't trust the bastards. That's the verdict of a major study of the 2019 Federal Election from the Australian National University. The latest Australian Election Study found trust in government has reached its lowest...
News
The number of Federal Government departments will be slashed from 18 to 14 as part of an overhaul of the Australian Public Service announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison today. The changes, which take effect from 1 February 2020, will consolidate department functions and mean the departure of five Secretaries. It is unclear what impact there will be on jobs...
News
The National Gallery of Australia has permanently removed three Indian sculptures from the national collection and will voluntarily return them to the Indian Government after new information emerged regarding their ownership history. National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich said the Gallery and its staff were committed to the ethical collection of cultural material and best-practice collection management. “We are...
News
Work on the planned Monaro Highway upgrade will start sooner than expected with both the Federal and ACT governments bringing forward funding for the project. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the Commonwealth would fast-track $30 million to the 2020-21 financial year as part of its infrastructure reset to boost the national economy, and the ACT would contribute $15 million....
Opinion
This week, eastern Australia faced a heatwave that threatened yet another bushfire calamity, with not a skerrick of real rain on the horizon. The ACT and Southern NSW have escaped the blowtorch so far but by the middle of the week it was 37ºC, and that damn wind just won't let up. On everybody's lips who matter – farmers, scientists,...
Arts & Culture
The rest of the Skywhale family will be joining mum next year in Canberra's skies with the National Gallery of Australia unveiling Patricia Piccinini's planned new work as part of its 2020 program launched on Wednesday. Considered one of the most divisive and talk about artworks in Australia, the multi-breasted hot air balloon sculpture Skywhale, commissioned for the Canberra centenary in...
News
Queanbeyan-based charter bus operator Deane Transport has gone into administration in a bid to restructure the debt-laden business. It has appointed national restructuring firm Vincents as administrators but will continue to trade while seeking a new partner. Company principal Brenton Deane said Deane's operations had grown rapidly in recent years and demands on capital were likely to become overwhelming. “We’d love...
News
Official plans for the controversial nine-year $500 million Australian War Memorial Development Project include a new southern underground entrance, refurbishment of the main building, a new larger Anzac Hall connected to the main building, an extension to the Bean Building and public realm works. The Memorial has submitted a referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, including a Heritage Impact...
Arts & Culture
Tickets have gone on sale for the National Gallery of Australia’s major summer exhibition, Matisse & Picasso, which opens on 13 December and celebrates one of the most momentous relationships in modern art. The NGA says the exhibition showcases the artistic rivalry and turbulent friendship of two giants of modern art, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Featuring over 200 paintings,...
News
Canberra is to have its first five-star Meriton hotel, with plans released for a 16-storey, 250-suite development in Allara Street in the city. Billionaire developer Harry Triguboff acquired the 1734 square metre corner site at 40 Allara Street from Australian Unity for $23 million in July, saying at the time that going to the national capital was a logical progression for the...