DOMESTIC
Climate change – After several months in the shadows in the first half of the year, the climate change issue has been front and centre again since the release of the Government’s Green Paper on an emissions trading scheme, with discussion on tax breaks for effected export businesses, how to measure offset schemes and further warnings about sea levels this week.
Qantas safety – The pressure has stayed on Qantas this week, with further flight delays due to safety issues, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority announcing a detailed review of Qantas’s engineering practices.
Liberal leadership – The Canberra Press Gallery remains obsessed with the Federal Liberal leadership, almost all of the speculation focusing on Peter Costello possibly taking on the leadership after rejecting it nine months ago, meanwhile Mr Costello has refused to say anything before the release of his memoirs next month.
Grocery prices – The Government unveiled its new grocery price watch website to lukewarm interest this week following the release of the ACCC review which found the large increase in prices had been caused by a variety of factors such as the drought and transport costs, but not lack of competition.
Murray Darling crisis – Federal Water Minister Penny Wong came under attack this week for admitting there was little the Government could do to save the Lower Murray lakes from ecological collapse, claiming there was simply not enough water in the system to make a difference, while the Opposition and conservation groups claimed immediate action would save the wetlands.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US Presidential race – The race to replace George Bush in the White House started to turn nastier this week, with both sides claiming the other is using race as an issue and each campaign attacked the others credentials on foreign affairs and the economy.
In other international news - The U.S. Government has achieved its first conviction at the military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, with Osama bin Laden’s former driver convicted of supporting terrorism; the deadliest mountain in the world, K2, claimed another 11 climbers’ lives after an avalanche; and renowned Russian political activist and author Alexander Solzhenitsyn died aged 89.
BUSINESS NEWS
Interest rates – The Reserve Bank held rates steady again this month, but stated in their meeting minutes that signs of the economy slowing meant a fall in interest rates was likely within the next few months, with business commentators now almost universally predicting a drop in September.
In other business news - Better than expected employment figures were released this week, with resource rich states propping up a softening employment market in NSW and Victoria.
TALKBACK
Qantas safety and scheduling issues were number one on talkback this week, while the Didak and Shaw incident had plenty of AFL fans hot under the collar; the upcoming Olympics was number three on talkback this week, while grocery prices could only manage fourth, with some anger over perceived inaction from the Government.
SPORT
With the opening ceremony only hours away the Olympics is set to completely dominate the media for the next two weeks, the smog over Beijing remaining a big concern; Sonny Bill Williams is still under pressure to return to Australia for court hearings as he begins training with Toulon; and Heath Shaw and Alan Didak look unlikely to play for Collingwood again after being suspended for the season following their drink driving incident.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Penny Wong and Prime Minister Rudd are set to join Saddam Hussein and the Ba'athists of Baghdad"
Opposition Water spokesperson Greg Hunt subtly points to the consequences of allowing the Lower Murray lakes to collapse
Tracking the media, monitoring the message
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