Australia's Most Mentioned Issues in the News (April 9 - 15, 2016) - CommPRO

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the News (April 9 –
15, 2016)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner and an Australian 60 minutes
crew could be facing 20 years in jail, after being charged in
Beirut over an alleged kidnapping. Faulkner claims her
children were taken to Lebanon by her ex-husband without her
permission, and was looking to be reunited with them. CCTV
footage aired in local media and on Channel Nine appeared to
show her children being snatched from their paternal
grandmother on a busy street by a group of masked men and put
into a car. Lebanese judge Rami Abdullah has said there is “no
chance” the charges will be dropped.

The Federal Opposition has promised to hold a Royal Commission
into misconduct in the banking and financial services industry
if elected this year. Labor leader Bill Shorten called on PM
Malcolm Turnbull to make the same commitment, with Federal
Treasurer Scott Morrison describing the call as playing
“complete politics” and the government reportedly split on
whether to support the plan. Labor is facing criticism as they
opposed launching a similar inquiry last June.

Police have raided the headquarters of the Panamanian law firm
whose leaked documents revealed banking details of wealthy

politicians, business leaders, and criminals. Russian
President Vladimir Putin has described the leak as a US plot
against him, while China has been reportedly censoring online
forums and media to prevent the names of relatives close to
leadership from circulating, and British Prime Minister David
Cameron has been criticized after it was revealed he held
shares in his late father’s offshore fund and received money
from his parents that may have avoided inheritance tax.

Discussions surrounding the Australian steel industry have
been brought to the forefront after South Australian
steelmaker Arrium moved into voluntary administration earlier
this month, with close to 6,700 employees and 1,400
contractors affected, and BlueScope telling a Senate Inquiry
into the future of the industry that closing Port Kembla
steelworks would cost the Illawarra region $2.5 billion.

The Victorian Government will launch an inquiry into the death
of toddler Sanaya Sahib, whose body was found in a Melbourne
creek on Sunday morning. Her mother, Sofina Nikat, has been
charged with her murder, after reportedly confessing she lied
to police that an African man with no shoes snatched Sanaya
while they were at a park in Heidelberg West on Saturday.

Quote of the week: “Dear Doubter, The glasses are good enough.
Regards, Superman” – Actor Henry Cavill, who plays Clark Kent
in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, after walking through
Time Square wearing only glasses as a disguise.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the News (March 25
– April 1, 2016)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for states and
territories to levy their own income tax, naming school
funding as an example where it could be allocated more
efficiently and effectively by states rather than the federal
education department. Turnbull will meet with premiers and
chief ministers in Canberra on Friday for the Council of
Australian Governments meeting, with so far WA Premier Colin
Barnett voicing support for the proposal, and Tasmania and
South Australia leaders describing it as impractical. The PM
acknowledged he would not be able to control whether the
states increased the percentage of tax collected in the long
term.

Australia got bundled out by India in the cricket Twenty20 on
Monday, lead by a spectacular innings from Virat Kohli.
Mitchell Starc was absent due to injury and replaced by fast
bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile, while David Warner was
controversially played in the middle-order. New Zealand was
defeated by England early in the week, with the latter to play
the winner of India versus West Indies on Sunday.

Australia defeated Jordan 5-1 in Sydney on Tuesday night, to
secure a top spot in their group and make it through to the
next round of qualifying. The Socceroos scored three goals in
the one-sided first half – two goals by Tim Cahill – and two
after the break in front of 25,000 people at Allianz Stadium,
despite missing injured captain Mile Jedinak on the field. The
tournament’s conclusion is scheduled for September 2017.

The PM asked Family First senator Bob Day to gather crossbench
votes for the Australian Building and Construction Commission
(ABCC) legislation, as the only independent or minor party
member backing the bill. Turnbull has threatened to call a
July double dissolution election if the bill is again rejected
by Parliament. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said the
government has not reached out to her individually and is
using Day as “some sort of middleman” to “keep a lid on
things”.

Egyptian man Seif Eddin Mostafa used a fake suicide bomber
vest reportedly made of phone cases to force an Egyptair plane
to land in Cyprus, demanding to deliver a message to his ex-
wife and to be given asylum. British passenger Ben Innes took
a selfie with Mostafa on board during the six hour standoff
and posted it to Twitter.

Quote of the week: “That was supposed to be my wave – but I
don’t really mind… I wasn’t going to call him off, you can’t
do that to an ex-prime minister.” – surfing teen Ivy Thomas,
after Tony Abbott was papped reportedly ignoring surfing
etiquette.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the News (March 12
– 18, 2016)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Senators debated late into Thursday over changes to the way
Upper House representatives are elected, with the federal
government and the Greens expected to support the measures.
Thursday was scheduled to be the last sitting day for
Parliament before a seven week break, but procedural quirks,
including stalling by independent senators by introducing
unrelated bills for debate, extended its hours. The
legislation threatens to prevent micro-parties from winning
Senate seats.

The Twenty20 World Cup started last week, with Australia’s
first game against New Zealand this evening, following New
Zealand’s thrashing of the hosts India by 47 runs on Tuesday.
The West Indies also had a key win over England this week
following Chris Gayle’s 47-ball ton, with India set to play
Pakistan over the weekend, a must win game against their
fiercest rivals.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has warned
of riots if he is denied the party’s nomination if he fails to
win a majority of delegates, even though he is almost certain
to have more than the other candidates. Democrat candidate

Bernie Sanders has fallen behind Hillary Clinton by more than
300 delegates, although most pundits say he will stay in the
race to continue to push Clinton further left on a range of
issues. Analysts from Sydney University, the Lowy Institute
and the Australian National University warned a Trump
presidency would be a “disaster” for Australian-US relations,
specifically the ANZUS security alliance, while both leading
candidates have spoken out strongly against free trade.

Modelling undertaken by accounting firm PwC says a stand-alone
plebiscite on same-sex marriage could cost the Australian
economy more than half a billion dollars, including $280
million of lost productivity, on top of the cost of running a
nationwide campaign. The firm’s Chief Executive Luke Sayers
said the real cost was three times what has been quoted by the
Federal Government. The Australian Christian Lobby described
the figures as lacking objective credibility, and Liberal
Senator Eric Abetz described the report as skewed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday in
Canberra, a further closening of ties following Bishop’s trip
to Iran last year, the pair reportedly discussing an agreement
to repatriate failed asylum seekers. Refugee advocates
estimate 8,000 Iranians living in Australia could be affected
by any deal reached. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya
Plibersek called for very strong assurances that people are
going to be safe on return, given their “poor human rights
record”.

Quote of the week: “I didn’t really learn too much in rehab
because you’re always sedated… you’ve got a lot of time to
think [in the jungle]”. – Former AFL player Brendan Fevola
after winning I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the News (March 5 –
11, 2016)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Federal government MPs are reportedly making contingency plans
in case the May budget is brought forward by a week as the
Prime Minister considers a July double-dissolution election
over blocked anti-union corruption bills. July would be the
earliest the government could call an election as it waits for
its Senate voting reforms to pass and see microparties voted
out.

Former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova admitted
on Monday to failing a drug test at the Australian Open,
claiming she had continued to take the drug meldonium after it
had been banned because she had neglected to read an email
that included an updated list of banned substances. Former
World Anti-Doping Agency boss Dick Pound said the positive
test should be a wake-up call for tennis. The 28 year old is
facing a four year ban.

Politicians including Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and PM
Malcolm Turnbull attended the Mardi Gras festival in Sydney

last weekend, the first time in Australian history a sitting
Prime Minister was in attendance. The Labor Party’s float had
a message of support for same-sex marriage, and Attorney-
General George Brandis told Sky News on Sunday the government
would hold a plebiscite, estimated to cost $160 million, on
same-sex marriage before the end of the year, if it won the
federal election.

Journalist Niki Savva’s new book The Road to Ruin: How Tony
Abbott and Peta Credlin destroyed their own government
detailed a “perception” in the former federal government that
Tony Abbott was having an affair with his chief of staff Peta
Credlin. Senior Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
confirmed she confronted both Abbott and Credlin about such
rumours, and said both denied the affair. Savva has since
called for Abbott to “disappear into the sunset” and
criticised his recent comments on leaked defense information.

Many US Republican politicians are aghast at the increasingly
likely prospect of Donald Trump becoming the official
presidential nominee of the party as he has continued to rack
up primary wins across the country, while self-declared
socialist Bernie Sanders is continuing to push Democrat
favourite Hillary Clinton, recently winning Michigan in spite
of the polls showing an easy Clinton win.

Quote of the week: “So spare me the lectures about ethics,
dignity, loyalty… from those who won something very precious,
then destroyed it in record time.” – Author Niki Savva in The
Australian, after she announced her book was in its second
reprint in less than a week.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the News (February
27 – March 4, 2016)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Cardinal George Pell has been criticized after giving evidence
at the Royal Commission of child sexual abuse via videolink in
Rome, as he denied knowing about abuse perpetrated by priest
Gerald Risdale and described it as a “sad story” of “not much
interest” to him, agreed to be interviewed exclusively by
Andrew Bolt, and saying he has the full backing of the Pope on
arrival at the second day of his cross-examination. Abuse
survivors rejected a meeting with the Cardinal after he
imposed restrictions, including that survivors not speak to
media about the gathering. Those restrictions have since been
dropped, but after his evidence this week many survivors have
still rejected his offer to meet.

Former PM Tony Abbott told media the current government should
make no changes to negative gearing or superannuation and
instead look to expenditure cuts to solve the deficit issue. A
spokesperson for PM Malcolm Turnbull said all options on
superannuation were still under consideration, and the
government has reportedly abandoned plans to pare back
negative gearing following research that suggested reform
could push households into rental stress. ANZ economist Warren

Hogan said the debate on tax reform, particularly towards
housing, is negatively affecting consumer confidence, after
Australians’ perceptions of our economic outlook fell heavily
last week.

Australian film Mad Max: Fury Road was nominated for Best
Picture and Best Director at The Oscars, and won six Academy
Awards for its production values; Best Costume Design, Best
Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Film
Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing. Singer Sam
Smith has reportedly quit Twitter after he claimed to be the
first openly gay Oscars winner in his acceptance speech, which
was incorrect, Leonardo di Caprio won his first Academy Award
for his role in The Revenant, and host Chris Rock addressed
the #OscarsSoWhite diversity issue head on in his opening
monologue. Spotlight, a movie about child abuse in the
Catholic church, won Best Picture.

The Greens and independent Senator Nick Xenophon have cinched
a deal with the government on Senate voting reform that
prevents a double dissolution before 1 July. PM Malcolm
Turnbull said he still intends to hold a normal half-Senate
election between August and October. Labor and crossbenchers
opposed the bill, which scraps group voting tickets and makes
it impossible for minor parties to get elected through
preference deals.

NRL Roosters player Mitchell Pearce has been fined $125,000
and banned for eight weeks over the Australia Day video
controversy that landed the halfback in strife during the pre-
season, the heaviest fine imposed on an Australian rugby
league player in history. Pearce has returned from a month
spent at a rehabilitation clinic in Thailand.

Quote of the week: “You want black nominees every year, you
need to just have black categories… there is no real reason
for there to be a man and a woman category in acting.” – Chris
Rock at the Oscars

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (February
13 – 19, 2016)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

After losing six ministers in five months, PM Malcolm Turnbull
unveiled a major ministry reshuffle over the weekend, with
Barnaby Joyce sworn in as the new Deputy Prime Minister of
Australia on Thursday morning. Steve Ciobo has been named
Trade Minister, Darren Chester as Infrastructure Minister,
Alan Tudge as Human Services Minister, Matt Canavan as
Minister for Northern Australia, and Dan Tehan as Minister for
Defense Materiel and Minister for Veterans Services. The
number of women in Cabinet has been boosted to six, while the
total in the executive has risen to 10, with a total of 17
portfolio changes. Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Fiona Nash,
has added Regional Development and Regional Communications to
her existing Rural Health portfolio.

The PM used a morning press conference in Queensland this week
to assure Australians the government “will not be taking a
proposal to increase the GST to the election”, dropping the
potential $33 billion revenue stream. The Labor Party has
pledged to remove negative gearing for existing homes and
reduce capital gains tax concessions from 50 per cent to 25
per cent, after a research paper said the changes would
provide incentives for increased housing supply and lead to
greater price stability.

After weeks of protests in Australia, New Zealand PM John Key
said it was “potentially possible” for New Zealand to take in
some of the 267 asylum seekers facing deportation to Nauru
after the recent High Court ruling, saying “the offer is
there” but that “historically the Australians have said no”.
Key will meet with Malcolm Turnbull on Friday for the annual
Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting. Meanwhile, Serco
guards employed by the Department of Immigration have
reportedly barred a former Save the Children worker from
visiting Baby Asha and her mother at a Brisbane hospital, who
doctors are refusing to discharge due to safety concerns.

Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell has
been criticized after claiming he is too ill to travel to
Australia for the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse,
and will testify via video link from Rome. A controversial
song penned by Comedian Tim Minchin and aired on Tuesday night
has so far attracted over $175,000 of donations to pay for
abuse victims to travel to Rome to give evidence.

The Grammy Awards debuted Taylor Swifts new hair cut and saw
Beck and Sir Paul McCartney denied entry twice to a “VIP after
party” after a security guard reportedly didn’t recognize
them. Ed Sheeran won the song of the year with Thinking Out
Loud, and Swift’s 1989 won album of the year.

Quote of the week: “I write this to you my brothers while
still $53 million in personal debt… Please pray we overcome…

This is my true heart” – Entertainer Kanye West on Twitter,
after releasing a new clothing line and album this year.

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.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (January
23 – 29, 2016)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

The Australian Open moved away from the Australian focused
stories of the first week, Lleyton Hewitt’s retirement and
Nick Kyrgios’s shorts, to focus on who would win the first
grand slam of 2016. World number one Serena Williams took just
over an hour on Thursday to win 6-0, 6-4 against fourth seed
Agnieszka Radwanska and advance to the women’s final, where
she will meet seventh seed Angelique Kerber. Andy Murray has
apologised for his on-court behaviour after swearing at his
own player’s box as he defeated David Ferrer on Wednesday,
while world number one Novak Djokovic defeated world number
three Roger Federer in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

Retired Chief of Army David Morrison was named by PM Malcolm
Turnbull as the Australian of the Year, so far naming domestic
violence, the gender pay gap, and the republican movement as
his focus for 2016. Morrison retired from the army last year

and is now chair of Diversity Council Australia, receiving
global coverage in 2013 after a speech calling on soldiers who
could not accept women in the military to ‘get out’ racked up
nearly two million views on YouTube.

Government MPs, including Environment Minister Greg Hunt,
Minister for International Development Steve Ciobo, and
Minister for Justice Michael Keenan have voiced their support
after PM Malcolm Turnbull described the renewed push for
Australia to become a republic as a low priority. Turnbull
said that following the 1999 referendum defeat, the best time
to try again for an Australian head of state would be after
the end of the Queen’s reign.

Wednesday’s Big Bash final at the MCG between the Sydney
Thunder and Melbourne Stars saw a record 80,000 crowd, with
Mike Hussey getting one last win on Australian soil over
brother David as Usman Khawaja smashed 70 off 40 balls to
guide last year’s wooden spoon Thunder to the title. Despite
his red-hot form, Khawaja was left out of the Australian squad
for the T20s against India.

Sydney Roosters player Mitchell Pearce was caught on film
trying to kiss a woman, pretending to thrust into a dog, and
urinating on furniture, with the video reportedly sold for
$60,000 to news outlets. In 2009, Pearce was questioned by
police over a brawl involving teammates, and in 2012 Pearce
was arrested and fined after an altercation with a woman at a
bar in Sydney’s Kings Cross. The NRL is deliberating further
action, with the organisation’s gender adviser Catharine Lumby
rejecting the idea that the NRL’s culture is inherently worse
than any other sport.

Quote of the week: “Now can we stop talking about my body?” –
Barbie to Time Magazine, after Mattel broke its 57 year old
mold and introduced three new doll shapes – tall, petite, and
curvy.

Most Mentioned Issues in the
Australian Media – 2015
                      Editor’s   Note:     Welcome   to   this
                      2015 recap of Australia’s news, powered
                      by iSentia

Australia’s involvement in the conflict in Syria and Iraq
increased this year, starting with claims that up to 400
Australians were fighting with Daesh terrorists in the Middle
East or actively supporting them from home. The first attack
in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo office was followed by former PM
Tony Abbott announcing Australia would assist the US with air
strikes in Iraq and Syria. National security became a hot
topic in local media as the Federal Government announced new
laws to ctrack potential jihadists, including storing metadata
for up to two years, and police raids revealed an alleged
ANZAC Day terrorist plot in Melbourne. Europe tried to cope
with hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing the war zone,
and a second, larger coordinated Daesh attack in Paris in
November, as the conflict entered its eighth year with no end
in sight.

Following the unpopular 2014 budget, leadership pressure
significantly rose on Tony Abbott when he gave Prince Philip a
knighthood, leading to a surprising attempted leadership spill
in February with 40% of the party room voting for the spill,
despite there being no declared challenger, with much media
reporting that Abbott was given six months to improve, with

considerable focus on his Chief of Staff, Peta Credlin. In
September, with the government still well behind in the polls
and Bill Shorten neck-and-neck as preferred Prime Minister,
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull challenged and won
the party room vote to become Australia’s fifth prime minister
in five years.

After a series of criminal trials in 2006 following their
arrest for drug smuggling as part of the Bali Nine, Andrew
Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to execution by
firing squad by the Denpasar District Court in Indonesia, with
an appeal dismissed in 2011 and pleas for clemency rejected by
the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, on 22 January this
year and the two men were killed by firing squad on 29 April.
The Australian Federal Police was criticised for informing
Indonesian authorities about the drug syndicate’s plans rather
than arresting them in Australia.

Domestic violence survivor Rosie Batty was named Australian of
the Year, with then PM Tony Abbott announcing she would also
sit on a Council of Australian Government Panel on family
violence, to help implement a national domestic violence order
scheme. In March, the government announced $230 million
towards the scheme, and a series of domestic violence-related
murders received extensive media coverage throughout the year.
Organisation Destroy the Joint says 78 women in Australia have
lost their lives to domestic violence this year.

The 2015 Cricket World Cup was hosted by Australia and New
Zealand in February and March, and after seven weeks of
cricket those were the two teams left standing in the final,
with England crashing out to Bangladesh in the preliminary
stage and early favourites South Africa and India going down
in the semi-finals. In captain Michael Clarke’s international
swansong, the Australians dominated the final, bowling out the
black caps for 183 and getting the runs with more than 15
overs to spare to win their fifth World Cup.

Quote of the Year: “I want it to be a surprise for you” – Then
Education Minister Christopher Pyne plays coy with Sky News’s
David Speers in the soon to become infamous “I fixed it”
interview.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (November
28 – December 4)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

PM Malcolm Turnbull spoke at the UN climate change conference
in Paris on Monday, and pledged Australia will contribute at
least $1 billion over the next five years to developing
countries for climate mitigation, although this will come out
of the existing foreign aid budget . Meanwhile, Opposition
Leader Bill Shorten has committed to a 45 per cent emissions

cut by 2030. Turnbull’s pledge has reportedly been compared
unfavourably with new Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who doubled
the previous government’s funding to $2.65 billion over five
years.

At least 14 people have been killed in San Bernardino,
California after a mass shooting by multiple gunmen at the
Inland Regional Center. At least 17 people have been injured.
Two suspects have reportedly died in a shootout with police
hours after the attack, with one identified as an inspector
with the county health department and another rumoured to
still be on the loose.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced he will
start referring to ISIS as Daesh, with officials believing the
name Islamic State legitimises the terror group. Reportedly
Daesh leaders do not like the term as it means crush in
Arabic, and France has been using the term for a few months.
After a vote passed the British Parliament, Britain has joined
the bombing campaign against militants in Syria. Australian
fighter jets carried out their first air strike on IS targets
in September.

Australian Matt Jones survived a close final round to outlast
world number one Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott to win the
Australian Open on Sunday by one shot. The win has Jones on
the verge of securing a place in the US Masters and jumping 30
places to number 51 in the world. Meanwhile Rod Pampling shot
a course record 61 in the final round to almost catch Jones.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called for Special Minister
of State Mal Brough to stand aside over his involvement in the
Peter Slipper affair, after contradictions between Brough’s
interview with 60 minutes and answers to Labor in Parliament
early in the week. Since 2012 Former Speaker Peter Slipper has
faced allegations of misused travel entitlements and sexual
abuse, with abuse accusations dropped and the ACT Supreme
Court finding him not guilty of defrauding the Commonwealth

after Slipper’s appeal in February this year.

Quote of the week: “If I’d been knocked over by a bus on the
morning of the coup, I would have gone to the Pearly Gates and
given an upbeat assessment” – Former PM Tony Abbott, speaking
with Fairfax this week

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (November
21– 27)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news,             powered             by            iSentia

PM Malcolm Turnbull told Parliament on Wednesday that men must
lead by example to address violence against women, calling for
a significant cultural change in Australia on White Ribbon Day
and releasing new research that shows blaming domestic
violence victims and downplaying its severity remains common.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced a Labor government
would include five days paid domestic and family violence
leave in the National Employment Standards, which would
include working with unions and business to discuss the
rollout, with the Federal Government describing it as
“absolutely worth considering”.

Turkish authorities say it shot down a Russian warplane,
claiming it had violated Turkey’s airspace near the Syrian
border and ignored 10 warnings on Tuesday, one of the pilots
was killed by Turkmen Syrian rebels, while the other was
rescued and claims that the plane was never in Turkish
airspace and received no warning. A US official suggested the
Russian jet was in Turkish airspace for less than 30 seconds.
The incident has continued discussions surrounding Daesh and
Australia’s military presence in Syria following the terrorism
attacks in Paris.

World number one golfer Jordan Spieth’s first shot in the
Australian Open was a birdie, but he ended round one tied
nineteenth alongside Australian Adam Scott, saying “it’s been
a while” since he had to play in such windy conditions. Spieth
won last year’s event and it was just his second title since
turning pro. The tournament continues at the Australian Golf
Club in Rosebery NSW until this Sunday with over $1 million
set as prize money.

Just a few days before PM Malcolm Turnbull heads to the Paris
climate talks, which are aiming to produce a global agreement
on a path to significantly reducing carbon emissions, and amid
confirmation that 2015 will by some distance be the warmest
year since records began, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says
he will take significantly steeper emissions cuts than the
Turnbull government to the 2016 election. Labor’s plans
include a return to an economy-wide price on carbon, support
for which lost Turnbull the leadership of the Liberal Party in
2009 and many believe cost both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard
their jobs. Shorten is proposing a 45 per cent reduction in
total emissions from 2005 levels within 15 years, while
Turnbull has stuck with the Abbott Government’s target of
26-28 per cent.

Two people have been confirmed dead, at least 13 people have
been hospitalised and 16 homes destroyed by a major bushfire
in South Australia’s mid north. A number of schools are closed

today as preliminary investigations suggest the blaze in
Pinery was not deliberately lit. At Gawler, some roads have
been reopened, but fire authorities have clarified the blaze
could still pose problems.

Quote of the week: – “I feel a bit weird… I don’t think there
were any women nominated in this category at all” Triple J’s
Matt Okine, winner of Best Comedy Release at the ARIA Awards
last night.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (November
14 – 20)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

The coordinated terrorist attacks in various locations in
Paris last Friday night (Saturday morning Australian time)
that killed over 130 people, totally dominated all media this
week. ISIS were quick to claim credit for the attacks, while
condemnation came from world leaders gathering for the G20
summit in Istanbul, which was completely overtaken by the

Paris attacks, discussion of security measures and the fight
against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Media coverage moved to French
police operations, an apartment siege in Paris leading to one
suspect blowing herself up and the death of the alleged
ringleader.

While Australia’s batsmen made plenty of hay yet again as the
sun shone in Perth for the second Test against New Zealand, so
did the Black Caps, two huge first innings scores ruling out
the chance of a result, as Dave Warner and Ross Taylor both
scored big double centuries and the end of the match became
more of a farewell to retiring Australian quick Mitchell
Johnson.

Searing temperatures and high winds last weekend in South
Eastern WA led to massive bushfires near the town of Esperance
that quickly took four lives, three backpacking farm workers
who had been attempting to save a horse and a local farmer who
had been alerting neighbours to the danger. Despite a cool
change during the week, the return of 40+ temperatures has
seen the fires flare again.

PM Malcolm Turnbull headed straight form Europe to the APEC
Summit in the Philippines, where he had his first official
meeting with US President Barack Obama, the pair agreeing that
troops on the ground would be counter-productive in Syria and
that there must be a political settlement. The summit had
hoped to focus on economic issues, but security issues
following the Paris attacks dominated media coverage.

Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, who had become an
international phenomenon following his domination of opponents
during the 1995 World Cup and throughout most of his career,
died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Auckland on
Wednesday, aged 40. Rugby figures from across the globe hailed
Lomu as the first superstar of the professional era of the
game.

“They were both growing and glowing in this very distinct
shade of red” – Dr Kate Follette of the University of Arizona,
where astronomers claim to have seen a planet in the process
of forming for the first time.

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (November
7 – 13)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

An asylum seeker was found dead on Christmas Island after he
escaped from the Australian-run detention centre on Saturday
morning. Riots followed the Iranian’s death, with Immigration
Minister Peter Dutton confirming the damage bill to be over
$10 million. Seven detainees believed to be involved have been
moved to a Perth prison facility, including five New
Zealanders, one Togan and one Afghan. Meanwhile, 14 asylum
seekers, including seven children, have drowned after their
boat sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast while trying to reach
Greece. Turkey has reportedly surpassed North Africa as the
main launching point for asylum seekers heading to Europe and
currently hosts over 2.2 million people from the war in
neighbouring Syria.

Australia cruised to a 208-run win at The Gabba on Thursday,
with an unchanged side set for today’s match in Perth, which
is likely to be a sweltering 36 degree start to the second
Test. David Warner scored a century in both innings, and New
Zealander Kane Williamson is seen as the main threat after he
scored a century in the first Test. Steven Smith received some
criticism in the media for having a go at his new ball
bowlers, who will have the benefit of the bouncy pitch.

A Parliamentary Library study suggested it would be fairer on
households to bring back the carbon tax than increasing the
GST to 15%, as is currently “on the table” according to PM
Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison. Morrison denied
Australia has a “revenue problem” but has hinted at wider
changes to the tax system, including superannuation
concessions and addressing bracket creep. Former Cabinet
Minister Eric Abetz called for the government to slash
spending instead of looking to “gouge” more tax from well-off
Australians.

Dual England international Sam Burgess will return to the NRL
with the South Sydney Rabbitohs next year, after only one
season in rugby union culminating in a controversial and
unsuccessful Rugby World Cup campaign. Burgess had been
heavily criticised by English fans and media following their
loss to Australia which dumped them out of the tournament.

Aung San Suu Kyi has won her seat in Myanmar’s election, with
her National League for Democracy Party also taking 80% of
seats declared so far, but still just short of a majority
owing to the military controlling 25 per cent of the
Parliament. In the wake of her win, Suu Kyi has called for
national reconciliation talks with the military and said the
president will “have no authority” and “will act in accordance
with the decisions of the party”.

Quote of the week: “I shook hands and I don’t want to wash my
hands. With both of them! I hope I will get lucky” – an

Indonesian woman after meeting Australia PM Malcolm Turnbull
and Indonesian President Joko Widodo

Australia’s Most Mentioned
Issues in the Media (October
30 – November 5)
Editor’s Note:   Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s
news, powered by iSentia

Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the Melbourne
Cup, riding long-shot Prince of Penzance at 100-1 to victory.
She is the eighth of 11 Payne siblings to have a career in the
horse racing industry. Heavy favourite Fame Game finished
thirteenth, and three time runner up Red Cadeaux did not
finish the race and was taken to a trailer after suffering an
injury. A video of a woman pushing a Victorian police officer
into a bush has gone viral and she was arrested soon after.

The All Blacks defeated the Wallabies 34-17 at the Rugby World
Cup final over the weekend, after surviving a stunning two-try
fightback, and are now the first back-to-back world champions.
 A drop goal and long-range penalty by NZ’s Dan Carter was a
decisive point in the tournament in the final 10 minutes.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika called out the “disingenuous”

actions of a photographer who exposed his team’s tactics on
the eve of the high-stakes clash, releasing a photo of their
scrum sheet.

The Reserve Bank again decided to keep interest rates on hold
yesterday, with the Australian dollar receiving a boost and
the big four banks announcing they will increase mortgage
rates. Smaller lenders are following suit, with most to rise
mid-November. Governor Glenn Stevens hinted that the next
change, if any, would “almost certainly” be an easing, not a
tightening, of monetary policy.

PM Malcolm Turnbull says increasing the GST to 15% is “on the
table” as part of fair tax reform, with Opposition Leader Bill
Shorten calling for Turnbull to be more transparent about his
intentions. Turnbull pledged that any tax changes would not
create disadvantages to vulnerable and less well-off
Australians. Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen says the Federal
Opposition will campaign against a rise to the GST.

US authorities reportedly believe the Russian plane that
crashed in Egypt was brought down by a bomb planted by the
Islamic State or an affiliate. No Australians were on board
and all 224 passengers and crew were killed. Foreign Minister
Julie Bishop said the irony won’t be lost on people that
Russian President Putin is calling for a full investigation
into the tragedy.

Quote of the week: “To those who say women aren’t strong
enough: get stuffed” – Michelle Payne, 2015 Melbourne Cup
winner

Get Ready for the 6th Annual
U.S. Media Literacy Week

Hundreds of events will support media
literacy education the week before U.S.
presidential election
CommPRO Editorial Staff

                         The National Association for Media
                         Literacy Education (NAMLE) is hosting
                         the 6th annual U.S. Media Literacy
                         Week from October 26-30, 2020, to
                         call attention to the need for media
                         literacy education in the United
                         States. Hundreds of organizations,
                         institutions, schools, educators,
practitioners, and supporters are coordinating efforts to
raise awareness about the importance of developing strong
media literacy skills and habits to create positive social
change    and    increase     civic   engagement     in    our
democracy. #MediaLitWk will be promoted through public
outreach activities, classroom lessons, film screenings,
virtual events, panel discussions, and more. Details can be
found at MediaLiteracyWeek.us.

This year the theme focuses on NAMLE’s definition of media
literacy, which is “the ability to ACCESS, ANALYZE, EVALUATE,
CREATE, and ACT using all forms of communication.” Each day
will highlight one of those key components and offer resources
for people to learn more about how they relate to media
literacy. U.S. Media Literacy Week is sponsored by Facebook,
Thomson Reuters, Amazon Studios, Trend Micro, Nickelodeon, and
TikTok.

“In a year where the overflow of information is overwhelming,
the need to teach media literacy skills has never been
clearer. U.S. Media Literacy Week allows us to amplify the
importance of
media literacy education as a vital cornerstone of democracy,”
said Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of NAMLE. “By
highlighting the incredible grassroots efforts and the passion
of our educators, organizations, and institutions, we hope to
see media literacy grow to be highly valued and widely
practiced in this country.”

As the leading voice, convener and resource for media literacy
education, NAMLE and its partners coordinate efforts to
amplify the role of media literacy as an essential 21st
century life
skill and to highlight how media literacy is crucial for a
participatory democracy.

Highlights of U.S. Media Literacy
Week 2020 Include:
● NAMLE and Thomson Reuters have launched a media literacy
contest for students and classrooms. Students will answer “How
do you decide whether a piece of information you saw or heard
is trustworthy?” Winners are eligible for a mentorship with a
Reuters journalist!
● NAMLE and Reuters will co-host a kick-off event for U.S.
Media Literacy Week on Monday, October 26, about the
intersection of journalism, fact checking and media literacy,
with a dialogue between high school students and real world
journalists.
● On Monday, October 26, NAMLE and Facebook will bring
together a panel of first time voters to discuss issues
relevant to them and the importance of being civically
engaged.
● Members of the National Media Literacy Alliance are also

planning events throughout the week. For a full list of
events, check out the events page on the Media Literacy Week
website.
● On Wednesday, October 26, NAMLE and Amazon Studios will host
a special discussion about All In: the Fight for Democracy, a
film with Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic gubernatorial
candidate from Georgia, that examines the issue of voter
suppression in the United States.
● NAMLE will host two events for Netflix Films. On Monday,
October 26, a screening and discussion about The Claudia Kishi
Club, a film about the portrayal of the iconic Japanese-
American character from The Baby-Sitter’s Club books. On
Thursday, October 29, participants will watch clips and
discuss the documentary Disclosure, which explores transgender
representation in the film and television industry.
● On Friday, October 30, NAMLE, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting
Labs, and the Center for Information and Research on Civic
Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University will be
closing out Media Literacy Week with an event focused on youth
civic engagement.

Everyone Can Participate
All are welcome to participate in Media Literacy Week for
FREE. Anyone interested in becoming a Media Literacy Week
participant can fill out the registration form here. It’s up
to each
individual, educator and/or organization to decide how they
will participate and we offer different levels (Supporter,
Educator, Organizer, and Creator) and suggestions of ways
people can join.
If participants are organizing events, NAMLE is asking all
U.S. Media Literacy Week partners toregister their event on
the Global Media and Information Week website to show support
and
alignment with global activities.

U.S. Media Literacy Week (October 26-30, 2020) has been
scheduled to align with Australia’s Media Literacy Week,
Canada’s Media Literacy Week and UNESCO’s Global Media and
Information Literacy Week (October 24-31, 2020). This global
movement illustrates the growing need for media literacy
education in today’s information age.

Customer Conversations                                are
Aimed at AI Says 5WPR

Ronn Torossian, CEO, 5WPR

Until a couple of years ago, who would have thought consumers
would embrace AI and chatbots?

A fall 2019 survey by global tech company LivePerson revealed
that more than 70% of respondents in the UK, France, and
Australia used AI in the past year. Here in the U.S. and

Germany, participants had a better than 50% rate. AI is on
the rise. Of those polled, 80% of Americans used AI for
customer care last year, increasing from 67% in 2018. In
response to the increased demand, 67% of the 307 brands
surveyed by Forrester Consulting and NICE inContact said they
intend to increase their AI funding over the next year. In yet
another recent global survey, MIT Technology Review Insights
found that 87% of the 1,000 brands in 11 different industries
had already employed AI. Nearly half (41%) reported improved
customer experience as a benefit.

What Others Are Saying
Technology research and consulting company OMDIA reported that
today’s consumer wants easier access to self-service
solutions. Business consulting company Accenture went on to
state that well-designed bots can now resolve 80% of
interactions with customers, something digital PR can help
with a lot. And global research and advisory firm Gartner
predicted that by 2021 50% of brands will spend more on
developing bots than traditional mobile apps.

Removing Stress
Self-serving resolution and assistance via AI can be
timesaving and helpful except when it stresses consumers with
the often-customary responses of “press one for… or press two
for… or press three for…” Similarly, asking the same question
several times is often the norm, quite frustrating to
consumers, and must be discontinued.

Well-informed and up-to-date live agents are the best solution
to removing these stress points, but it’s also not realistic.
It’s easier and faster to regularly update chatbots with the
correct information and data to answer the most frequently
asked questions, removing a lot of stress and load on agents.
They can be better utilized to handle more complex issues with
customers.

The Future
Historically, brands have measured customer satisfaction on
such things as how long a customer was on a call with an agent
or chatbot, whether the issue was resolved on that first call,
and the comments received afterward.

The studies mentioned earlier point to consumers’ willingness
to engage in conversational AI if they can also speak to a
“live” person, when necessary. Giving customers control over
the option empowers them, and gains their confidence and
loyalty.

What raises the importance of AI are heightened consumer
expectations for 24/7 customer service. This extends the value
of AI and increases the demand and necessity for faster
advancements in technology.

AI for brands that sell products can also help increase sales.
Bots that simply inquire if a customer wishes to add such
things like a $5 purchase to get free shipping or purchase a
second item to take advantage of a “buy two, get the third
free” promotion often boost revenue.

Smaller brands that rely on live agents to serve customer
queries and issues may consider investing in an automated call
center. There are several on the market, and any serious
consideration in such an investment should address the
following questions: Will it help deliver better customer
service? Will it result in increased revenue? And will it
foster stronger customer loyalty?

About the Author: Ronn Torossian is
                          CEO of leading PR agency 5WPR.

Michael    Terpin    –    The
Godfather    of   Crypto     &
Blockchain – Keynote Speaker
at IRTA’s Virtual Convention
CommPRO Editorial Staff

Michael Terpin

The International Reciprocal Trade Association, (IRTA), is
pleased to announce that Michael Terpin will be the keynote
speaker at its virtual convention at 12:00pm EST on September

23rd, 2020. Michael is a top-tier crypto/blockchain influencer
and known as the “Godfather of Crypto & Blockchain.” Michael
will cover the development of crypto & blockchain, its current
status, and vision for how alternative payment systems can
pivot to maximize their opportunities during the Covid-19 era.

IRTA easy-to-use interactive     virtual    convention   website
at: https://irta.pathable.co/

The virtual convention is being three days in a row, September

23rd to 25th, 2020, from noon to 4:00pm EST and includes eleven
sessions led by the finest speakers that IRTA has ever
assembled in its forty-one-year history.

Other globally renowned speakers include:

* Giuseppe Literra, Co-Founder of Sardex & Local Pay,
Sardinia, Italy * Will Ruddick, Founder of the Grassroots
Economic Foundation * Dr. Lee Oi Kum, SME Visionary,
Innovative Asian & Australian Business Models* Caroline
Macdonald, CEO, BBXI, Australia * Tom Greco, Author & Expert
in Private Exchange Networks & Community Currencies * Dariusz
Brzozowiec, Co-Author of University Research Paper on Levels
of Economic Security in Regions During Covid-19 in Poland.

IRTA’s state-of-the art virtual convention software will
assure everyone has a terrific virtual engagement experience.
All attendees will be able to communicate with speakers,
sponsors, exhibitors and every attendee via chats and break-
out rooms.

For more information about IRTA’s virtual convention, please
contact Ron Whitney, President & CEO,         ron@irta.com,
757-393-2292,    or   Patty   Weston,   UC   International
Broker,   patty@irta.com, 407-951-6797.

Virginia’s Governor – Ralph
Northam to Welcome Attendees
to IRTA’s Virtual Convention

IRTA is proud to announce that the Governor of Virginia –
Ralph Northam will be providing welcome remarks for the
opening of IRTA’s Virtual Convention at noon on Wednesday,
September 23rd, 2020.

Governor Ralph Northam

IRTA’s virtual convention website is now accessible on
your mobile phones, desktops or laptops, and tickets can be
purchased on the website by Clicking Here.

The virtual convention is being held from noon to 4:00 pm EST
over three days from September 23rd through 25th, 2020.

Globally renowned speakers include:

* Giuseppe Literra, Co-Founder of Sardex & Local Pay,
Sardinia, Italy
* Will Ruddick, Founder of the Grassroots Economic Foundation
* Dr. Lee Oi Kum, SME Visionary, Innovative Asian & Australian
Business Models
* Caroline Macdonald, CEO, BBXI, Artamon. Australia
* Tom Greco, Author & Expert in Private Exchange Networks &
Community Currencies
* Dariusz Brzozowiec, Co-Author of a University Research Paper
on Levels of Economic Security in Regions During Covid-19 in
Poland.

See the “schedule” tab of the virtual convention website to
review the full slate of speakers, seminars and virtual social
events, which include a Welcome Reception, UC Trade Fair and
Awards Ceremony.

This is the biggest international event of the year in the
barter and alternative currency industries.

Note: Exhibitor placements are still available, but limited in
number. Exhibitors information will remain on the site for one
year. For more information about exhibitor spots, or the
virtual convention in general, please contact Ron Whitney,
President & CEO, ron@irta.com, 757-393-2292, or Patty Weston,
UC International Broker, patty@irta.com, 407-951-6797.

          IRTA’s Advocacy Role
              Ron Whitney, IRTA President & CEO

IRTA is the only barter industry association that pro-actively
 advocates to preserve, protect and enhance the global barter
                          industry.

 IRTA’s forty-one years of advocacy accomplishments have been
critical to the advancement of the barter and trade industry.

IRTA successfully lobbied U.S. Congress for trade exchanges to
 be recognized by the IRS as third-party record keepers. The
TEFRA Act was signed into law by President Reagan in 1982, and
as a result effectively legitimized the barter industry in the
                             U.S.

IRTA’s Vice-Chairman, ANNETTE RIGGS & IRTA’S CEO, RON WHITNEY
 AT THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK (IDB),
             JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, NOVEMBER 2015.

   IRTA’s Global Board of Directors meets regularly to set
    strategies for the advancement of the barter and trade
industry and to create innovative new programs. For instance,
   most recently, IRTA submitted a comprehensive report on
 December 22nd, 2015 IRTA to the International Islamic Trade
  Finance Corporation, (the economic development arm of the
 Islamic Development Bank, IDB), titled “IRTA Report for the
       Development of an OIC Multi-Dimensional Credit
               Clearing/Counter Trade System.

Every Fall IRTA holds an Annual International Convention in or
  near the U.S., as well as periodic European/Asian Chapter
   Conference meetings in Europe or Asia. IRTA also offers
additional training and educational meetings in other regions
   around the world to educate and improve the professional
 competence of those in the Modern Trade and Barter Industry.

  In 2020 IRTA is holding a global virtual convention from

                 September 23rd to 25th, 2020.

IRTA’s 41 Years of Advocacy
      Accomplishments:
      Secured passage of the “Tax Equity and Fiscal
  Responsibility Act of 1982” (TEFRA) which recognized
   barter exchanges as third-party record keepers and
mandated barter exchanges report the barter sales of its
    members via a 1099-B form, “Proceeds From Barter
           Exchange & Brokerage Transactions.”
Established Code of Ethics and voluntary self-regulation
for the commercial barter industry. Secured introduction
   in Congress of H.R. 4201, Commercial Barter Self-
                     Regulation Act.
      Conducts research on legal, accounting, tax and
 regulatory issues and monitors IRS, SEC, FASB, FTC and
                             EU.
     Secured $100,000 for legal fund to defend barter
  companies against IRS use of “John Doe” summonses in
                          audits.
     Obtained Civil Aeronautics Board ruling allowing
             unrestricted barter of air travel.
Curbed trade exchange deficit spending through education
                    and self-regulation.
 Developed model contract setting forth legal powers and
 responsibilities of trade exchanges and their clients.
    Lobbied successfully to defeat adverse regulatory
            legislation in California and Iowa.
 Helped protect the public by exposing fraudulent barter
                 operations in California.
 Representative for the Modern Trade and Barter industry
    with the IRS by serving on the IRS’s “Information
      Reporting Program Advisory Committee” (IRPAC).
Re-wrote the barter portions of the www.irs.gov site for
       the IRS that pertain to the barter industry.
 Created and maintains an industry-recognized worldwide
   trade broker certification RTB and CTB programs to