news roundup: may 29, 2015

Tampon tax protest outside Parliament House

On Thursday, approximately 50 people (including five dressed as tampons) gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House to lobby against the tampon tax.

National debate about the tampon tax was reignited last Monday after campaigner Subeta Vimalarajah confronted Joe Hockey on Q&A, resulting in Mr Hockey pledging to push the states to remove the tax.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has since vetoed this idea.

 

Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women list 2015

It’s that time of the year again: Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2015 has just been released.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel topped the list for the fifth year in a row, with Hillary Clinton coming a close second. Taylor Swift also joined them on the list for the first time, making it to number 64.

You can find the full list here.

 

Adrian Bayley sentenced to a further eighteen years in prison

The serial rapist who murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher had his non-parole period of 35 years imprisonment increased by ten years due to prior crimes, the court heard on Thursday.

Adrian Bayley, aged 43, was sentenced to eighteen years in jail for attacks against three women prior to killing Meagher.

He will be eligible for parole in 2058

 

Also making headlines this week:

Congress tells US Department of Justice to take online threats against women seriously

Amnesty International barred from Nauru

Scott Morrison compares the dole wait to an Ikea catalogue

Big business is pushing for marriage equality (yay!)

Oxford University appoints first female Vice Chancellor in institution’s 900+ year history

FIFA 2016 game to have female characters – much to male fans’ disdain