Squiz Today / 01 June 2018
Squiz Today – Friday, 1 June
SQUIZ SAYINGS
“The t-shirt shirt”
Premium fashion house Balenciaga has been manna from heaven for The Squiz. First was the Ikea-style bag, then the world’s most expensive supermarket bag. Today, it’s the t-shirt shirt. Price = $1,400. We’ll take two.
AMAZON TO GEOBLOCK AUSSIE SHOPPERS
THE SQUIZ
You’d remember that the federal government is applying the GST to all overseas online purchases from 1 July, right? Yesterday, Amazon announced it would block Aussie online shoppers from purchasing goods from its US and UK sites from the start of July so that it doesn’t have to muck around with compliance. Instead, we will only have access to Amazon’s Aussie site, which has a fraction of the range.
HANG ON… I HAVE TO PAY GST ON MY ONLINE SHOPPING?
You already do if you’re online shopping with Australian retailers or spending more than $1,000 with international online retailers. But after years of lobbying by Australian retailers to level the playing field, the government decided to apply the GST from 1 July to the 36 million shopping orders that are valued under $1,000 and sent to Australia from international retailers every year. That’s a lot of shopping.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Breathe. It might soften the blow to know that eBay and Alibaba have said they don’t have plans to follow Amazon’s lead. And, of course, there’s a tonne of local online retailers that are worth checking out. But if you’re an Amazon devotee, you might want to get your order in for the stuff the Aussie site doesn’t yet have.
HELPING REGIONAL COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE
PRESENTED BY QANTAS
Qantas isn't just an excellent way to get to 48 towns and cities in regional Australia. They also supported their economies to the tune of a combined total* of $5 billion last financial year.
And they supported more than 40,000 jobs, including 5,000 in Qantas' supply chain - like those at 75 regional wineries that produced the six million bottles of high-quality vino Qantas served to their passengers. They must have a big cellar...
*Combined direct and indirect economic contribution and facilitated tourism
SQUIZ THE REST
NORTHERN TERRITORY LAW AND ORDER
Three big developments yesterday:
• The 24yo charged over the alleged assault of a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek earlier this year was released after police said they’d got the wrong man. He had been held on remand for three months in Alice Springs. Police said they have arrested another man over the assault. They may now face a hefty compensation claim.
• More troubling news from Tennant Creek. The Australian reports that authorities are investigating allegations of inappropriate behaviour between a 5yo girl and another child aged under 10yo. The matter has been referred to the child welfare department.
• Former NT Police Commissioner John McRoberts was yesterday found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice. While in the top job, he was found to have frustrated a fraud investigation into a local travel agent - who he just happened to be having an affair with.
MORE JOIN REDRESS SCHEME
Yesterday, the Anglicans, Salvos, Scouts and YMCA joined the redress scheme to compensate survivors of institutional child abuse following the Catholic Church's lead. With all state and territory governments (except WA) also committed, four out of five survivors will be covered by the $3.8 billion scheme. Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said he was hopeful that WA would be signed up within the next couple of weeks. And he’s putting pressure on the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Uniting Church and other religious organisations to also get on board.
CANBERRA SHENANIGANS
As Parliament rose yesterday for a two week break, federal pollies would have been happy to leave behind a fraught couple of weeks in Canberra. Yesterday’s two main issues:
• Pauline Hanson was close to tears in an interview last night over personnel problems. NSW Senator Brian Burston has said he would break ranks and support PM Turnbull’s corporate tax cuts. But maybe something more is playing out here – wild rumours are circulating, but it all boils down to Burston being on the outer with Hanson. So reports say Burston is shopping around for another party to join. Strange days indeed…
• Health Minister Greg Hunt apologised for using “strong language” during a meeting with Katherine Mayor Fay Miller. Hunt also ‘fessed up to having a “strong discussion” with a former Health Department boss. Labor cried; “pattern of behaviour”. Hunt said; “My fault, my responsibility.”
QUICK US NEWS WRAP
• Prep for US President Donald Trump’s will-they-won't-they summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is going full steam ahead. Kim sent close confident Kim Yong Chol to New York to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to continue the diplomatic schmoozing. Maybe opening a hamburger joint in North Korea might help?
• Another battle kicking off is one around trade. The US is implementing the steel and aluminium tariffs on its three biggest trade partners – Canada, Mexico and the EU – by the end of this week.
• And on this one, we’ll apologise first. But making headlines yesterday was the famous-for-being-famous celeb Kim Kardashian West's visit to the White House. She was there to advocate on behalf of a woman serving a life sentence for drug offences.
FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
Celeste Barber, the queen of the Instagram parody, is hilarious. But you’re probably all over her work. For another take on the genre, check out Emanuele Ferrari. Our favourite is his toast-face.
We remember seeing this story in the US media - an ‘heiress’ who turned out to be a fake but had racked up some impressive bills in the meantime. This insiders account is quite gripping.
We had a tickly throat a few weeks back that needed killing ASAP, particularly now we have a podcasting career ahead of us. So we cooked up a batch of this fragrant chicken soup, froze a couple of serves, and we’ll be back for another batch this weekend. You only have to smell it to know it’ll do you good.
SQUIZ THE DAY
Friday
Economic Data - CoreLogic Housing Sales Data (May); Australian Industry Group Performance of Manufacturing Index (May); HIA New Home Sales (April)
Samoan Independence Day
National Donut Day
Start of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Start of National Burns Awareness Month
Anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birthday (1926)
Saturday
Italy's Republic Day
Birthday of Steve Smith, former Aussie cricket captain (1989)
Sunday
Mabo Day
Anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack (2017)
Suzi Quatro's (1950) and Rafael Nadal's (1986) birthdays
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