Australia TODAY analyses the main stories in the front page of Australia's major newspapers on 18 March.
The Australian
Australia's top national security officials will today hold an urgent meeting to
brief ministers on Australia's response to Friday's terrorist attack in
Christchurch, offering a review of the threat posed by right-wing extremists.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have united to condemn the failure of social
media giants such as Facebook to crack down on the spread of violent hate speech
after footage of the Christchurch massacre - in which 50 people were killed -
was live-streamed over the internet.
The Financial Review
A desperate Morrison government could spend up to $12 billion a year to deliver
bigger personal income tax cuts and help it pass the "fairness" test with low-
to-middle income voters, according to a new independent budget analysis.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Intelligence agencies on both sides of the Tasman are scrambling to work out how
accused terrorist Brenton Tarrant evaded detection while planning his massacre
in Christchurch, amid concerns of further violence by far-right extremists.
The Age
Abdul Aziz, the man who has been described as a hero after he attacked and
chased off the terrorist at the Linwood Mosque, is an Australian citizen who
lived in Sydney for 27 years after leaving Afghanistan as a refugee.
The West Australian
Facebook is under mounting global pressure over its handling of offensive
content showing the Christchurch massacre. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern said yesterday she would raise concerns directly with Facebook about
whether live streaming should be stopped.
The Advertiser
A majority of South Australians oppose controversial plans for deepwater
drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight, an Advertiser poll has found.
Almost 60 per cent of 844 respondents to the YouGov Galaxy poll were opposed to
the proposal by Norwegian firm Equinor. A quarter were in favour and 16 per cent
were uncommitted.
The Herald Sun
Counter-terrorism police are monitoring dozens of Victorians with extreme right-
wing views amid fears that they pose a growing risk to the public. Chief
Commissioner Graham Ashton said yesterday police had stepped up monitoring of
known extremists following Friday's massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand, which
left 50 people dead.
The Daily Telegraph
Australia's leaders yesterday united to condemn social media giants such as
Facebook for failing to do enough to stop hate speech.
The Mercury
The state government says it is determined to push ahead with controversial
anti-protest laws that have once been rejected by the High Court. Police
Minister Michael Ferguson said a revised version of the legislation would be
introduced into state parliament this week.
The Canberra Times
They were new fathers. Loving mothers. Adored sisters and brothers. Cherished
aunts and uncles. Best friends. Admired colleagues. March 15, 2019, will be
forever remembered as the blood-soaked day a gunman walked into two Christchurch
mosques and killed 50 people.
Abdul Aziz, the man who has been described as a hero after he attacked and
chased off the terrorist at the Linwood Mosque, is an Australian citizen who
lived in Sydney for 27 years after leaving Afghanistan as a refugee.
The Courier-Mail
Thousands of people on both sides of the Tasman have come together to mourn the
50 victims of Friday's horrific Christchurch massacre.
