Australia’s Most Mentioned Issues in the News (July 23 – 29, 2016)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to this weekly recap of Australia’s news, powered by iSentia
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has criticized the International Olympics Committee (IOC) for failing to ban the entire Russia team from the Rio games, after the release of the McLaren report on Russian doping last week, which revealed evidence of systemic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The IOC has delegated the decision to individual sports’ federations. Meanwhile, less than two weeks before the games commence, 19 of 31 accommodation buildings in the Athletes Village are yet to pass full safety checks, with teams hinting they may require compensation and the Australian Olympic Committee confirming blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells, and dirty floors.A Four Corners report on Monday night has prompted a Royal Commission into the Northern Territory’s juvenile detention and child protection systems, after footage of widespread abuse and neglect was revealed. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called for the Royal Commission on Tuesday morning and Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said the Labor Party supports the move. There have been calls for the Royal Commission to investigate juvenile detention Australia-wide. Meanwhile, NT Chief Minister Adam Giles has taken over the Corrections portfolio from John Elferink, who will still look after his other portfolios of Health, Children and Families, and Mental Health.Australia is playing in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy, with Australia playing strongly on the first day and the third session on day one and two abandoned due to persistent rain at Pallekele Stadium. Day three saw Dimuth Karunaratne Ieg-before-wicket for a duck, reducing Sri Lanka to 2-6 in its second innings, with Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis pushing his team to lead by 196 runs by the end of day three after making a century. 18 year old David Ali Sonboly fatally shot nine people, including seven teenagers, in Munich last Friday, and killed himself after the shooting. Police have found no links between the German citizen to the Islamic State, or the refugee crisis, and have said it appears to not be an act of terrorism. Reportedly, Sonboly had been planning the attack for a year and victims of the attack had not been specifically targeted.The Democratic National Convention has been held this week, with President Obama and 2016 candidate Bernie Sanders officially endorsing Hillary Clinton as the presidential candidate on Wednesday night. The convention has had many celebrities and past politicians speak, including Bill Clinton, Meryl Streep, and Elizabeth Banks. Quote of the week: ““If I wasn’t nervous I would be stupid… we’re talking about jumping without a parachute, and I take that very seriously.” Stuntman Luke Aikins, before his attempt to be the first person to land safely in a net without a parachute or wingsuit, from 25,000 feet, this Saturday.
