Squiz Today / 27 July 2018

Squiz Today – Friday, 27 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Working two days a week didn't give me enough time to devote to the pub and re-reading the complete works of Shakespeare. So now that I work zero days that issue has been addressed."

SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin has resigned with her last broadcast on Sunday. Long may she keep up the fashionable sass


BRING IT: SUPER SATURDAY BY-ELECTIONS

THE SQUIZ
After nine weeks of campaigning, the year’s most anticipated weekend (for psephologists anyway) is here. The resignations of MPs caught up in the citizenship cluster disaster, and one who just up and quit, has led to five by-elections across four states, all tomorrow. Yeehaw!

GIVE ME THE SEAT BY SEAT…
That’s the spirit. Let’s move clockwise around Australia:

Longman, Queensland – Won by Susan Lamb from the Coalition in 2016 with One Nation preferences, Labor's margin is just 0.8%. This time, One Nation is preferencing the Coalition’s ‘Big’ Trevor Ruthenberg, the confused medal recipient.

Braddon, Tassie – Labor’s Justine Keay won the seat from the Liberals’ Brett Whiteley(definitely not to be confused with the artist) last time with a 2.2% margin. Preferences from local fisherman Craig Garland (who has good flanno/beard game) could help Labor.

Mayo, SA – Rebekah Sharkie from the Centre Alliance (aka the former Nick Xenophon Team) beat Liberal minister Jamie Briggs in 2016. Sharkie is favoured against Georgina Downer who has family ties to the seat.

Fremantle, WA – Held by the ALP’s Josh Wilson with a margin of 7.5%, the seat has been in Labor hands for 80 years. The Liberals aren’t running a candidate. (For an excellent 'staring off into middle distance' shot, look no further than here.)

Perth, WA – The only by-election not forced by citizenship issues. First-time Labor MP Tim Hammond resigned to spent more time with his family. Again, no Liberal is running. Labor’s Patrick Gorman, party state secretary and a former Rudd-man, is tipped to win.

GIVE ME THREE TALKING POINTS…
1. 1920 was the last time an opposition lost a by-election to the government. That’s why all eyes are on Labor and leader Bill Shorten in Braddon and Longman.

2. Where’s Pauline Hanson? Well, she has been on holiday in Scotland and Ireland. Promising she would be present in Longman tomorrow, One Nation has not confirmed if it will be in person. Let the games begin…

3. And let's do it all again. With a federal election due in the next year, a strong showing by PM Malcolm Turnbull's team will start the hares running on an early election.

We like to pair our electoral events with a theme drink. This time it’s sloe gin cocktails for something different.


SQUIZ THE REST

NINE LIVES FOR FAIRFAX
Said to be the biggest shakeup in the history of Aussie media, Nine and Fairfax announced yesterday that they would merge. The $4.2 billion deal will create a big media company covering TV, streaming, newspapers, radio, online news and real estate advertising assets. The business will be called Nine, meaning the Fairfax name will disappear from corporate Australia after 177 years. Some lauded the emergence of a strong cross-platform media player. Others expressed concern about the future of journalism in Oz. The transaction has to get past Fairfax shareholders and the competition regulator. The companies hope the deal will be done by the end of this year.

A BAD DAY IN THE FACEBOOK OFFICE
Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have had some bad days the last year. But the last 24 hours are said to be the worst with the company losing US$100 billion in value after announcing it missed sales growth expectations and has upped its spending. Investors weren’t swayed by sales revenue being up 42% on last year and the better forecast for profit - they are concerned that recent privacy scandals will hit the company’s bottom line. To add insult to injury, China withdrew its approval of the social network this week. Sometimes it’s just not your day/week/year.

QUICK WORLD NEWS WRAP
PAKISTAN ELECTION – Microwave-challenged former cricket star Imran Khan has declared victory. The incumbent party is claiming vote rigging.

TRUMP SMITTEN – US President Donald Trump yesterday declared his love for the European Union and sealed it with a kiss. The romance is based on a joint commitment to a trade truce and ultimately no tariffs. It’s probably just a phase…

US EMBASSY TARGETED IN BEIJING – A single attacker detonated a firework-like device. No one was hurt, apart from the bomber who injured his hand.

MAC BANK APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE CEO
Long-time Macquarie Group executive Shemara Wikramanayake has been announced as CEO Nicholas Moore’s successor. She currently runs Macquarie's $495 billion asset management arm that is responsible for a third of the group’s profit. As one of 14 female ASX top 200 CEOs, the move makes Wikramanayake Australia’s most senior female executive.

SADDEST DECISION OF DICK’S LIFE
Aussie adventurer/businessman Dick Smith is closing his food business and says Aldi is to blame. He claims they exploit cheap labour to keep prices down and businesses like his can't compete. Aldi denies the claims. Dick Smith Foods has 13 products including things like tomato sauce and cereal. Some say the business met its end because consumers don't want to buy his products. It’s hard to tell why OzEmite never caught on...

FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
The longest lunar eclipse of the century is happening in the early hours of Saturday morning. Here’s some info for you to decide if you can muster the cares to get up and see it.

It's easy to fall out of touch with people who were once good friends. Here are some tips on how to get back in touch. But first, ask do you really want to? An interesting read.

Cute dog photos. Award-winning ones. Because sometimes you just need to.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday

ABS Data Release - Producer Price Indexes, June; Migration, Australia, 2016-17; Motor Vehicle Census, January

White Ribbon Night

Strive To Be Kind Day (in memory of Allison Baden-Clay)

Anniversary of Lance Armstrong winning a record-tying fifth straight Tour de France title (2003)

65th anniversary of the Korean War armistice

Saturday

From 3.14am (AEST)/2.44am (Darwin/Adelaide)/1.14am (Perth) - Lunar eclipse

World Hepatitis Day

Anniversary of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' birthday (1929)

Sunday

Tour de France wraps up

Global Tiger Day

Anniversary of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding (1981)

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