Canberra Morning Briefing: Post-Festival Reflections and Parliamentary Scrutiny

Monday Morning: A City Catching its Breath

Good morning, Canberra. After a weekend that saw the city’s heart swell with cultural pride, Monday arrives with a noticeably slower pace. The mood across the capital today is one of quiet reflection and recovery. Thousands of us spent the last 72 hours navigating the vibrant stalls of the 28th National Multicultural Festival or hunting for treasures at the Lifeline Bookfair at EPIC. There is a palpable sense of community satisfaction today, even if we are all a little weary from the late-summer humidity and the excitement of the city's largest events.

The Big Talking Point: Estimates and the Aftermath

The primary focus for the city today is two-fold. First, at Parliament House, the political gears are grinding into high gear as Senate Estimates sessions begin. Running from today through Thursday, these hearings are set to dominate the local and national news cycles as government departments face intense questioning. It is the first major round of public accountability for the year, and the atmosphere in the Parliamentary Triangle will be charged with its typical high-stakes energy as bureaucrats and politicians clash over the 2026-27 budget projections.

Closer to home, residents in South Canberra and Tuggeranong are starting their week assessing the impact of last night's volatile weather. Following a weekend of extreme heat and total fire bans, the Bureau of Meteorology issued severe thunderstorm warnings late Sunday night. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding risks kept the ACT State Emergency Service on alert. While the "Extreme" fire danger has finally dropped to "Moderate" this morning, the transition from record-breaking 37-degree heat to storm recovery has been a major talking point at the water cooler.

Feel-Good Canberra: A Worldly Success

The "feel-good" story of the day remains the resounding success of the National Multicultural Festival. In its 28th edition, the festival once again proved to be the crown jewel of the capital’s calendar. From the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy display at the Canberra Museum and Gallery to the 170 different cultures represented through food and performance, the event successfully transformed the city center into a global stage. Furthermore, the massive turnout at the Lifeline Canberra Bookfair over the weekend ensures that our local crisis support services receive a vital funding boost, thanks to the generosity of Canberra's book lovers.

• Parliament Watch: Senate Estimates hearings commence today for major federal departments.
• Weather Check: Temperatures are expected to be milder following Sunday's storms, with cleanup continuing in suburbs affected by heavy rain.
• Commuting: Standard school-run traffic returns as Term 1 hits its stride, and special festival transport timetables have now concluded.