Monthly Media Index: July 2007

The first month of the new financial year delivered the following top Australian media stories (see below). Many thanks to Patrick Baume, Senior Analyst at Media Monitors for putting this together for Slice. Enjoy Slicers!

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• Dr Mohamed Haneef – The detention, arrest, charging in relation to the failed Glasgow airport attack, release on bail, re-detention, dropping of charges and ultimate release of Dr Mohamed Haneef was easily the biggest news story of July, with the AFP, the DPP and the Minister for Immigration all under intense media pressure for their part in the saga.

• Federal indigenous intervention plan – The Federal Government’s takeover of many remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory was hotly discussed in the media, with heavy criticism from some groups but polls showing majority support for the move.

• Climate Change – Climate change remains near the top of the news agenda as it has for the last nine months, with the Federal Government making more concessions with a solar hot water rebate, while the Opposition continued to claim the PM is asleep on the job.

• Water policy – The attempted Federal takeover of the Murray-Darling river system was big news this month, as former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks stepped away from negotiations, claiming the Plan was dead, while the Federal Government pledged to go ahead with the takeover without Victoria’s agreement.

• Federal Liberal leadership – The speculation about the Liberal leadership resurfaced this month after criticism of the PM by the Treasurer in a soon to be released Howard biography, although a poll claiming 30% of people would be less likely to vote for the Liberals with Peter Costello as leader nor his own ruling out of a challenge dampened media discussion fairly quickly.







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