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.
