Squiz Today / 28 September 2018
Squiz Today – Friday, 28 September
SQUIZ SAYINGS
“It’s almost like the first kiss. It’s a very perfect and exciting moment.”
Said British marmalade enthusiast Jane Hasell McCosh of tasting a new one. She’s in Oz to judge the Australian Marmalade Awards. Breakfast at her place must be interesting…
ABC IN CRISIS MODE
THE SQUIZ
ABC chairman Justin Milne yesterday raised the white flag and resigned from the board of the public broadcaster. Milne told 7.30 host Leigh Sales he wanted to provide a “release valve” for the pressure that had built up over a week that started with the board’s sacking of managing director Michelle Guthrie and got worse from there.
WHAT WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK?
Look, Milne isn't going to win Mr Congeniality this week, but there’s no need to start name-calling. In three parts:
• Since Guthrie’s dismissal on Monday, there have been accusations flying thick and fast that Milne tried to compromise the editorial independence of the ABC’s journalists.
• Particularly, he’s been accused of name-dropping former PM Malcolm Turnbull – a friend and former business partner – in his demands to Guthrie. Reports say he instructed Guthrie to fire economics editor Emma Alberici (for editorial mistakes) and political editor Andrew Probyn (for being Andrew Probyn) because of Coalition Government concerns (which they continue to deny).
• Yesterday Milne said no one told him to hire or fire anyone and said he wants what’s in the best interests of the ABC. "It's clearly not a good thing for everybody to be trying to do their job with this kind of firestorm going on."
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
It doesn’t end here. The rest of the board is now under pressure. There are also a number of reviews and inquiries happening that will likely unearth more information about what’s been going on. And keep in mind that Guthrie has lawyered up. Details of her interactions with Milne, the board and others (like MPs and Senators) will probably come to light unless a (taxpayer funded) deal is struck. But for now, the ABC is without anyone filling the two most senior roles in the organisation. What a week…
SQUIZ THE REST
AMERICAN SENATE REALITY SHOW
Christine Blasey Ford has finished testifying before a US Senate committee. She’s the woman who has accused US President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, of assaulting her when the pair were in high school in the early ‘80s. The all-male lineup of Republicans on the committee (who are suspicious of the attacks on ‘their’ President’s candidate) used a female prosecutor to ask their questions. Ford's opening statement where she outlined her version of events was emotional and the bottom line is this – she is “100%” sure it was Kavanaugh who assaulted her. Kavanaugh, who submitted his high school calendar as evidence of his whereabouts, said the process has been "a national disgrace". He denies the accusations.
“VICIOUS ATTACK” ON SYDNEY TEEN
Making much sense of this story is hard. A 19yo disabled woman from Sydney's north-west was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by four of her former friends after a falling out. Reports say she was tied to a chair and subjected to six hours of vicious attacks that included hitting, burning and stabbing, as well as cutting her hair. And then she was thrown into the Hawkesbury River. She was able to swim to shore and was taken to hospital. The alleged attackers are aged between 16-22yo and are now before the courts.
ADULTERY DECRIMINALISED IN INDIA
A 150-year-old colonial-era law banning men from ‘having relations’ (our spam filter-busting term) with a married woman without the permission of her husband (ahem...) has been knocked over by India’s highest court. The man petitioning the court to overturn the law argued (amongst other things) that there was “an erroneous presumption that women are the property of men".
THAT’S A LOT…
A LOT OF HOUSE – And at $100 million, it’s Australia’s most expensive home. Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and wife Annie have picked up Fairwater in Sydney’s Point Piper – home for 100 years of the Fairfax family. And it’s right next door to the $71 million home of his business partner Scott Farquhar.
A LOT OF WEATHER – Yet more bad weather is heading Japan's way… Super Typhoon Trami is expected to make landfall on the Japanese island of Okinawa tomorrow. They’re expecting sea surges, high rainfall and winds.
A LOT OF TORTOISE – Now that’s a headline you don’t see every day… So you know the tortoise we told you about yesterday? He/she was one of a pair that went missing. And yesterday the other one was found after seven years. It’s going to be crowded at Perth Zoo…
HOW ABOUT THOSE FOOTY FINALS?
After a tough and bruising season, footy will be the winner in the end. Here’s what our Squiz’perts say:
AFL WITH AIDO 2.0 – If you need to fake your way through a grand final BBQ tomorrow afternoon, here are the three things you can quote to be credible.
1. The Weather. The forecast for Melbourne is an overcast 14 degrees. That may shock the Eagles given they’ve been home in Perth for a while.
2. The Teams. Collingwood go in as the favourite, having had an extra day off and without the hassle of cross-country travel like West Coast. Expect strong performances from the Eagles’ Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling, but Magpie Steele Sidebottom is also a contender for the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground.
3. The Entertainment. Jimmy Barnes and the Black Eyed Peas will lead the festivities. Working Class Man meets My Humps.
It’s going to be a ripper. Go those Eagles.
NRL WITH GIBBO - The Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm match should be a beauty. Everyone will want the Roosters’ Cooper Cronk to take to the field to play against his old club and his ex-best buddy Cameron Smith, so watch this space. Billy Slater – well what can you say. He is a phenomenal athlete, but for us New South Welsh people who’ve watched him play for Queensland, we think he can do some grubby things, and he's very lucky to be on the field! For those of you following my tipping in the finals series, my head has beaten my heart. So here we go – my heart is definitely with the Roosters, my head says Storm. Let’s hope I’m wrong for this match.
FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
Art, furniture and other bits and pieces from the collection of comedian Robin Williams and his second wife Marsha are going to auction next week. There are some lovely things in there you could bid on but please leave item #93 for us.
If you’re planning on spending some time surfing the inter webs this weekend, check out Accidental Icon Lyn Slater. She’s 64yo and uses fashion as "a solution to the invisibility that often accompanies ageing." And her backstory is a fun read.
The Labour Day long weekend has included a lamb roast since we were knee-high to a grasshopper. This slow-roasted lamb shoulder recipe has been in our repertoire for a few years now, and it'll get a run again this year.
SQUIZ THE DAY
Friday
AFL Grand Final Friday public holiday (Victoria)
National Police Remembrance Day
ABS Data Releases - Regional Population by Age and Sex, 2017; Labour Account Australia, Quarterly Experimental Estimates, June; (and the one we’ve been waiting on all year) Responsible Use of ABS Microdata, User Guide
Interim Report from the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Royal Commission expected to be released today
Golf – Start of the Ryder Cup (Europe v USA) – France (on until Sunday)
Saturday
2.30pm (AEST) – AFL Grand Final – Collingwood v West Coast Eagles – MCG, Melbourne
World Heart Day (so maybe go easy on the footy franks…)
Sunday
1.05am (AEST) – Rugby – Wallabies v South Africa – Port Elizabeth, South Africa
7.30pm (AEST) - NRL Grand Final - Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Macedonians vote on changing their country’s name to the Republic of North Macedonia as agreed with the Greek government
Monday
Labour Day public holiday (NSW, SA & ACT) and Queen’s Birthday public holiday (Queensland)
First anniversary of the killing of 58 people and injuring of 851 when shooter Stephen Paddock opened fire from a Las Vegas Hotel
China’s National Day
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