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.
