Squiz Today – Friday, 17 May

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.”

Said former PM Bob Hawke in one of his most famous quotes. "I'm very proud of it in one way and very disappointed that all the other, many brilliant things I've said are never mentioned,” he later said.

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BOB HAWKE, DEAD AT 89

THE SQUIZ
Political giant Bob Hawke died yesterday aged 89yo. A Rhodes scholar, reformer and larrikin, Hawke had a big ego, but he was also a big talent and was a leading figure in Australian politics from the 70s through to the early 90s.

GIVE ME THE HIGHLIGHTS
• After successfully leading the union movement, Hawke was made the leader of the Labor Party not long after he entered the parliament, leading it into government in 1983. And in partnership with Treasurer Paul Keating, he set about brokering an accord between the unions and businesses, deregulating the financial system, establishing compulsory superannuation, amongst many things.

• Wife Blanche d’Alpuget said; "Among his proudest achievements were large increases in the proportion of children finishing high school, his role in ending apartheid in South Africa and his successful international campaign to protect Antarctica from mining.”

• Hawke also liked the races, sport, and women. He split from wife of almost 40 years Hazel (with whom he had four children, one dying in infancy) when he left office, and married biographer Blanche d’Alpuget in 1995 after a long and sometimes difficult affair. And he was an epic drinker back in the day making the Guinness Book of Records for downing a yard glass while a student at Oxford. But he gave up the booze for his time as PM saying he didn’t want to embarrass himself or the nation.

A picture gallery of a life well lived is here.

WHAT DID PEOPLE SAY?
Blanche d’Alpuget, his biographer and second wife - “Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian - many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era.”

Paul Keating, Hawke’s Treasurer and successor - “Bob possessed a moral framework for his important public life... He understood that imagination was central to policy-making and never lacked the courage to do what had to be done to turn that imagination into reality.”

Barrie Cassidy, host of ABC TV’s Insiders and Hawke’s press secretary - “What did I most admire about Bob Hawke? He abhorred racism. And bigotry. Hated both.”

Bill Shorten, Labor leader - "Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke. But his legacy will endure forever.”

PM Scott Morrison- "It was his ability to connect with everyday Australians with a word, with that larrikin wit, with that connection and an understanding of everyday Australian life that we will most remember Bob Hawke.”

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SQUIZ THE REST

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YOUR GUIDE TO THE ELECTION

Saturday, 18 May. The day we’ve all been waiting for, World Whisky Day. Oh and don’t forget there’s a federal election… Like a good drop, the candidates have been aged over the election campaign and longer, and now present themselves for judging. And we've got you covered for a quick look at the numbers, who's fronting the TV coverage, where to get your democracy sausage, and our drink selection. All the important things...

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ACCUSED KILLERS ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN AUSTRALIA

US website Politico yesterday broke the news that two Rwandan nationals accused of the brutal murder of Western tourists in Uganda in 1999 were let into Australia as part of the asylum-seeker agreement brokered between former PM Malcolm Turnbull and former US President Barack Obama. You might remember that current President Donald Trump didn’t much like the deal, and the report suggests Australia offered to take the men to smooth over tensions with Trump. Asked about it yesterday, PM Scott Morrison said; "I can confirm that the two individuals were subjected to strict security and character checks by our security agencies." Commentators said they expected it to be an urgent issue for the incoming government.

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MORE JOBS, BUT HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Our unemployment rate ticked up 0.1% to 5.2% yesterday - but not because there were fewer jobs. In fact, 28,400 new jobs were created in March, double the number analysts were expecting. The rate was up because more people were putting up their hands for work. Our participation rate of 65.7% is the highest on record and has been driven by record female participation. The primary concern in the numbers was the rise in the rate of underemployment to 8.3% - that's workers who have a part-time or casual job and would like to increase their hours. Economists say it’s all building to an interest rate cut in our near future.

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KYRGIOS UNFILTERED

Rafael Nadal is a “super salty” loser. Novak Djokovic "has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked". And Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco, well, “ he thinks he's God's gift”. Those character assessment, courtesy of Aussie tennis brat Nick Kyrgios, were offered up during an interview he did with the New York Times. An interview which, after a week spent doing underarm serves and another meltdown overnight, will not help him win this season’s Mr Congeniality title…

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GO KATE

The other big contest this weekend (if you don’t include competition Aldi Snow Gear Sale shopping...) is Eurovision. And with Kate Miller-Heidke representing Australia in the grand final that kicks off from 5am on Sunday morning (AEST), it’s hoped that her mum can be a bit more attentive than she was for the semi-final on Wednesday. And no matter how she does, her Australian made bendy pole will be remembered as a winner. And for a smile, the footage of her being rolled into place is a cack.

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FRIDAY LITES - THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK

Glamour photography - does anything encapsulate the 80s/90s better? What happened to one of the biggest glamour photography chains in the US is an interesting tale of changing times.

Confession time: our go-to karaoke song is George Michael's Careless Whisper. Pray you never have to witness it… And then you see three 10yo kids do it like this…

And we haven’t run this past the people we’re spending election night with, but this is probably what we’re eating. A nice chilli con carne, modified with a bit more beef mince for the anti-kidney bean and anti-pork people.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday
ABS Data Release - Data by Region, 2013-18

Constitution Day - Norway

Anniversary of the first laws of Australian Rules Football published (1859)

Saturday
Federal Election

International Museum Day

Sunday
5.00am (AEST) - Eurovision’s Grand Final - on SBS

6.30pm (AEST) - A-League Grand Final - Perth Glory v Sydney FC - Optus Stadium, Perth

Last round of voting in India’s Elections

Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s first wedding anniversary

Save the Children, the first global movement for children, commemorates 100 years of caring for vulnerable children around the world

Anniversary of the birthday of Dame Nellie Melba