The midway point of 2022 saw a surge in global news, from the United States abortion ruling in the Supreme Court, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and Caroline Kennedy being sworn in as the US Ambassador to Australia, based in Canberra.

Back at home, there was a political scandal over a $9 million contract at the Canberra Institute of Technology, and a local man, Michael Turvey, 24, built a rental increase calculator to help renters avoid illegal rental increases.  

Caroline Kennedy sworn in as US Ambassador to Canberra

Incoming US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, says she is grateful for the opportunity to represent her country to a “vital ally”.

Ms Kennedy, the daughter of the late US president John F Kennedy, was sworn in on Friday 10 June in New York, the US Embassy in Canberra confirmed the following Monday.

“I am grateful to President Biden for his leadership and for giving me the chance to represent America to our vital ally Australia,” Ms Kennedy said in a tweet.

Abortion ruling step backwards for US: Sussan Ley

The overturning of the right of a woman to have an abortion in the United States is a backward step for the country, said Australian Liberals deputy leader Sussan Ley.

Protests continued outside the US Supreme Court in Washington where the half-century-old Roe versus Wade precedent that recognised women’s constitutional right to an abortion was overturned.

Ms Ley says these issues should be approached with sensitivity and respect.

CIT’s $9 million contracts a concern for taxpayers

Why did taxpayers give the Canberra Institute of Technology nearly $9 million over the past five years to spend on “an unintelligible diatribe of words”, Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee wanted to know.

The ACT Government wanted to know, too, and asked the Auditor-General to audit the CIT’s contracts with Patrick Hollingworth and his consultancy companies.

The value of contracts had steadily escalated from $86,281 in 2017 to $4,999,990 in March – even though the contractor’s services had not substantially changed, Ms Lee remarked. Mr Hollingworth’s latest contract is worth nearly $10,000 a day.

CIT receives most of its funding from the ACT Government, and is accountable to ACT taxpayers, Ms Lee said – but it was unclear what outcomes or results the contractor had delivered.

Canberra rental increase calculator stops landlords’ illegal increases

If you’re a renter in Canberra, have you ever attempted to calculate whether your landlord’s rental increase was within the legal limit?

Well, 24-year-old Michael Turvey had, and found himself unimpressed with the plethora of complicated resources and the drought of accessible information for everyday Canberrans.

Astonished an online ‘rental calculator’ didn’t already exist, Michael took matters into his own hands and built the Canberra rental increase calculator.

Aspen Island renamed to honour Queen Elizabeth II

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presided over the renaming of Canberra’s Aspen Island to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

The manmade isle is situated on the northeastern side of Lake Burley Griffin within a ceremonial precinct known as the Parliamentary Triangle.

Now formally known as Queen Elizabeth II Island, the location is home to the 57-bell Australian National Carillon built in 1970 and officially opened by the late monarch herself as a gift from Great Britain.

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.