DOMESTIC
2020 Summit – This weekend 1,000 prominent Australians are meeting in Canberra to discuss a whole range of ideas across all policy areas for implementation by 2020, with the results of the discussions to be narrowed down to ten firm proposals for the Government to examine.
Quentin Bryce – The Governor of Queensland and former lawyer Quentin Bryce was announced as Australia’s first female Governor-General, taking over from Major General Michael Jeffrey. Her appointment was applauded by both sides of parliament and women’s groups.
Climate change – Clean coal became the focus this week, with two environmental groups joining with the coal industry to call for swift action on carbon capture technology, with many green groups criticising the move as taking money away from renewable energies.
Childcare policy – The PM threw his own proposal in to kick off the 2020 ideasfest, calling for “one stop shop” childcare centres across the country, containing long day care, pre-school, health centres and more. The Opposition Leader said while it sounded great the cost would be prohibitive.
Plastic bags – Environment Minister Peter Garrett failed to get the national agreement on a tariff on plastic bags he was looking for at a COAG environment meeting, prompting the SA Government to announce it was going it alone in an attempt to eliminate plastic bag use.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Zimbabwe – International criticism started to turn to the African Union this week following no movement from Robert Mugabe to yield power, as it was told by the UN Secretary General that African democracy was under fire and a speedy resolution to the situation needed to be found.
Pope visiting the US – In the first papal visit to the White House in almost thirty years, Pope Benedict XVI used the occasion to criticise the American Catholic church for not cracking down hard enough on paedophile priests.
BUSINESS NEWS
Petrol prices – As the price of oil went well over US$110 a barrel and bowser prices over $1.50, the Government announced a new Fuel Watch scheme forcing stations to announce prices in advance, aimed at increasing competition, critics said the plan would reduce discounting, not increase it.
Opes Prime – The Federal Court is hearing from investors in the failed stockbroking firm as regulators try to work out what happened and who owns what in the wake of the spectacular collapse.
In other business news - Virgin Blue shares took a beating after the company revealed it expected a profit slide due to oil prices; and insurance giant IAG was quick to reject a takeover bid from rival firm QBE.
TALKBACK
While big bad Barry Hall was number one on talkback as well as across the media; there was plenty to talk about this week, with the 2020 Summit inspiring plenty of discussion, some excited by its potential while others questioned the cost and purpose; petrol prices were a favourite topic as always and the use of plastic bags had many critics but also a few supporters.
SPORT
Barry Hall – The big Sydney Swans full forward was rubbed out for seven weeks after claiming a brain snap as his excuse for punching West Coast’s Brent Staker in the head, with Hall supporting a move to red cards in AFL.
Other sport news – The Olympic Torch Relay continues to get plenty of coverage, with the concentration in Australia on what role Chinese security personnel will play in the Canberra leg of the relay, and South African Trevor Immelman took home the green jacket in the US Masters Golf.
Tracking the media, monitoring the message
2020 Summit – This weekend 1,000 prominent Australians are meeting in Canberra to discuss a whole range of ideas across all policy areas for implementation by 2020, with the results of the discussions to be narrowed down to ten firm proposals for the Government to examine.
Quentin Bryce – The Governor of Queensland and former lawyer Quentin Bryce was announced as Australia’s first female Governor-General, taking over from Major General Michael Jeffrey. Her appointment was applauded by both sides of parliament and women’s groups.
Climate change – Clean coal became the focus this week, with two environmental groups joining with the coal industry to call for swift action on carbon capture technology, with many green groups criticising the move as taking money away from renewable energies.
Childcare policy – The PM threw his own proposal in to kick off the 2020 ideasfest, calling for “one stop shop” childcare centres across the country, containing long day care, pre-school, health centres and more. The Opposition Leader said while it sounded great the cost would be prohibitive.
Plastic bags – Environment Minister Peter Garrett failed to get the national agreement on a tariff on plastic bags he was looking for at a COAG environment meeting, prompting the SA Government to announce it was going it alone in an attempt to eliminate plastic bag use.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Zimbabwe – International criticism started to turn to the African Union this week following no movement from Robert Mugabe to yield power, as it was told by the UN Secretary General that African democracy was under fire and a speedy resolution to the situation needed to be found.
Pope visiting the US – In the first papal visit to the White House in almost thirty years, Pope Benedict XVI used the occasion to criticise the American Catholic church for not cracking down hard enough on paedophile priests.
BUSINESS NEWS
Petrol prices – As the price of oil went well over US$110 a barrel and bowser prices over $1.50, the Government announced a new Fuel Watch scheme forcing stations to announce prices in advance, aimed at increasing competition, critics said the plan would reduce discounting, not increase it.
Opes Prime – The Federal Court is hearing from investors in the failed stockbroking firm as regulators try to work out what happened and who owns what in the wake of the spectacular collapse.
In other business news - Virgin Blue shares took a beating after the company revealed it expected a profit slide due to oil prices; and insurance giant IAG was quick to reject a takeover bid from rival firm QBE.
TALKBACK
While big bad Barry Hall was number one on talkback as well as across the media; there was plenty to talk about this week, with the 2020 Summit inspiring plenty of discussion, some excited by its potential while others questioned the cost and purpose; petrol prices were a favourite topic as always and the use of plastic bags had many critics but also a few supporters.
SPORT
Barry Hall – The big Sydney Swans full forward was rubbed out for seven weeks after claiming a brain snap as his excuse for punching West Coast’s Brent Staker in the head, with Hall supporting a move to red cards in AFL.
Other sport news – The Olympic Torch Relay continues to get plenty of coverage, with the concentration in Australia on what role Chinese security personnel will play in the Canberra leg of the relay, and South African Trevor Immelman took home the green jacket in the US Masters Golf.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
the ALP…is going to conduct an audit, That is like bin Laden auditing Al Qaeda to check for terrorism
NSW Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner discussing developer donations
Tracking the media, monitoring the message
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