Australia’s Most Mentioned Issues in the Media (February 5 – 12, 2016)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s news, powered by iSentia
After months of speculation, Industry Minister Christopher Pyne confirmed on Thursday the federal government will not increase the GST, after PM Malcolm Turnbull suggested he was not convinced an increase would deliver economic growth. The focus on tax reform has not shifted ahead of May’s budget, with superannuation tax concessions, negative gearing and state land taxes back under the media spotlight after the government abandoned its plans to release a tax white paper this year.Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made a public request for PM Malcolm Turnbull to let the 267 asylum seekers affected by the recent High Court ruling stay in Australia, rather than be deported to Nauru for detention. The Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia premiers followed suit, along with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Public protests have been held around Australia, with the slogan “Let them stay” becoming popular on social media.The PM has released the eighth annual Closing the Gap report, which focuses on Indigenous disadvantage. It outlines no progress towards improving the life expectancy gap, which is still at 10 years, and showed little progress in halving the gap in employment outcomes. Two objectives are on track, specifically the target to halve the gap in child mortality by 2018 and a target to improve Year 12 attainment by 2020. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used his Closing the Gap parliamentary address to renew calls for a target to reduce Indigenous imprisonment rates.Human Services Minister Stuart Robert is facing questions from the Opposition after he tagged along with a major Liberal Party donor when he was Assistant Defence Minister to a mining deal with the Chinese government-owned company Minmetals, on what he claims was a private trip to China. The PM has ordered the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Martin Parkinson to investigate Robert’s role and look into any conflicts of interest.Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss confirmed his retirement from federal parliament on Thursday, which created a vacancy for the leadership of the National Party. Truss denied the PM had pressured him to stay or go, and Deputy Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce will reportedly run unopposed in a ballot for the party’s leadership. Turnbull is expected to reshuffle his Cabinet over the upcoming weekend.Quote of the week: "Imagine, Senator, if I said you were 'womansplaining'…I’m quite frankly appalled.” – Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, after Labor Senator Katy Gallagher said she enjoyed his mansplaining of Liberal party room processes, as he reportedly interrupted her line of questioning.
