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.
