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
Singapore Airlines has pulled the plug on its Canberra service as part of a global downsizing of operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and may not return even if international travel restrictions ease. The Canberra service began three-and-a-half years ago and originally included Wellington. That service was switched to Melbourne in 2018 but the link to the New Zealand capital has...
Opinion
It's been a strange but instructive six or so months since COVID-19 disrupted our lives, some more so than others. It's either a black cosmic joke or there are a few lessons we can take out of the experience. Here are just five that I hope will resonate: 1. Don't mess with nature. Hey, it wasn't our fault. It's the...
News
The Australian Institute of Architects has urged members of Parliament to reject the $500 million redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial in a bid to save the award-winning Anzac Hall from demolition. The controversial expansion plans for the Memorial have been attacked by a range of interest groups and prominent individuals on heritage, philosophical and cost grounds. But in an open...
News
The national president of the Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang will face the ACT Magistrates Court this morning (20 August) charged with supplying firearms that were used in three public place shootings in the Batemans Bay area in December last year. He was also arrested on criminal group related offences. NSW Police are seeking his extradition to NSW. ACT police officers from Taskforce...
News
A former Chief of the Defence Force has called for the half a billion dollars earmarked for the Australian War Memorial expansion to be spent on a research institute for post-traumatic stress to help veterans suffering from the condition. In his submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the AWM development project, Admiral Chris Barrie (retired) said he has also been troubled...
News
Yass, Bowning and Binalong residents have been told to boil their water after the weekend deluge filled Yass Dam to overflowing and affected the shire's ability to treat its water. Yass Valley Council says drinking water in the Yass Water Supply System is unsafe and water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe....
News
The Australian War Memorial has been accused of muzzling its volunteers after it was revealed they had been told they could be dumped if they commented negatively on the Memorial's controversial half a billion dollar redevelopment plans. In the email to volunteers, the Memorial reminds them that they should not publicly comment on the redevelopment, including on radio via talkback...
Property
The first development applications for the proposed cross-border suburb of Parkwood are expected in the next few months after the NSW Government fast-tracked rezoning approval as part of its COVID-19 stimulus measures. Parkwood is the NSW component of Riverview Developments’ proposed Ginninderry cross-border development being delivered in conjunction with the ACT Government. The project will eventually comprise 5000 dwellings and...
News
Less of the Canberra region's paper and plastic rubbish will be going to waste thanks to a $21 million technology boost to the Hume recycling facility announced today. The joint Commonwealth and ACT Government funding is part of the Australian Government’s $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund, set up to expand the nation's recycling capacity in preparation for the waste export...
News
A troop of former Australian War Memorial officials opposed to its controversial $500 million redevelopment will line up before a federal parliamentary committee this week. The Public Works Committee teleconference hearing on Tuesday comes as the Memorial continues to plan for its proposed new galleries despite the project still having to negotiate the approvals process and opposition from a plethora...
News
A 32-year-old Blacktown man has been charged over a spam email campaign against the Labor candidate in the Eden-Monaro by-election, Kristy McBain. The Australian Federal Police arrested the man during a raid at his house and later conveyed him to Parramatta Police Station. He was charged with one count of using a telecommunications service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary...
News
A British researcher is now bound for the Australian National University to continue her pioneering work into how the human immune system can hunt down and eradicate cancer thanks to an $8 million boost from Canberra Airport owner and property developer Terry Snow. One of three inaugural Snow Fellows, Dr Marian Burr will join the John Curtin School of Medical Research...
Opinion
Last week was a mixed one for the Canberra region's women, with a breakthrough in the national capital and yet another male tin ear to an issue that should appall anyone. The ACT Government's announcement that it would set up a permanent publicly funded homebirth program after the success of a two-year trial is welcome, although for those of us...
News
World-leading fire and trauma recovery experts will join a free virtual Community Resilience forum for the NSW South Coast community in Bega next week to support communities and people still grappling with the fallout from the past summer's bushfires. The online forum, on Tuesday, 19 May at 8:45 am, will be hosted by a groundbreaking initiative which is aimed at...
News
Canberra Airport has become the first in the country to install temperature screening technology in its departure terminal, a COVID-19 measure that doctors hope is taken up by other transport terminals as an extra way to rein in the virus. The technology, first developed by electronic security firm EOS Australia for use in schools around the world, measures all human forehead...
Opinion
Forget the fact that we can't drive too far at these days, but Australians seem to be like the kids in the back crying ''are we there yet?'' The nation's COVID-19 containment measures appear to be working and we are the envy of countries where the death toll is and continues to be appalling. It's working so well that commentators,...