Squiz Today – Friday, 31 August

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“It's about time we treat cats like dogs."

One bird expert says we need to stop cats from roaming free so they so they don't kill the local fauna. The issue has come up with environmental authorities in Omaui, NZ proposing a cat ban to address the problem. It’s given cat and nature lovers paws for thought…

---

OZ-INDO RELATIONSHIP CRANKS UP A NOTCH

THE SQUIZ
Newly-installed PM Scott Morrison will travel to Jakarta today. Why?

• A free trade agreement between Australia in Indonesia will be inked.

• And Morrison and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are set to announce an upgrade in our diplomatic relationships from a "Strategic Partnership" to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".

WE’RE TAKING OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
It’s gettin’ hot in here… The trade agreement has been described as the most liberalised deal Indonesia has ever signed. In (very) short form, we will get more access to agricultural markets and Indonesia gets to send more people here to work. And on the strategic partnership front, the upgrading of our relationship means a regular schedule of meetings on defence, security and other matters of regional importance.

WHAT’S BEHIND IT?
A lot of work and good relationships. Former PM Turnbull had the Widodos over for a barbie in March. And former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop was text-buddies with her Indo counterpart. But not even a week in the job, it will be PM Scott Morrison signing on the line. With the process to strike a trade deal starting in late 2010 under Labor’s Julia Gillard, four PMs have come and gone during the time it’s taken to negotiate this sucker. Timing, it seems, is everything…

---

SQUIZ THE REST

DUTTON OVERRULED DEPARTMENT
You grant visas to a couple of au pairs and look at the trouble it causes you… We’re talking about Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s granting of a tourist visa to a French au pair after AFL boss Gil McLachlan, on behalf of a rellie, raised her case to Dutton’s office. And another case has been outlined overnight where a tourist visa was granted to an Italian woman who planned to work for a former police colleague of Dutton's. Leaked documents show the Department did not support Dutton’s interventions, but he granted the visas nonetheless. Labor says there are plenty of cases that warrant his intervention, but not these. Dutton has previously said he looked into the cases and thought their deportation would be overkill.

QUICK WORLD NEWS WRAP
TRUMP BLAMES CHINA - US President Donald Trump says China is hampering efforts to bring about the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Why? Because China’s angry about the escalating trade war with the US. “This is not helpful!” tweeted Trump yesterday.

MAY NOT AN ENERGY DRINK FAN - UK PM Theresa May is looking to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 18yo. The drinks have been linked to obesity and health issues with many containing high levels of sugar and caffeine.

GÉRARD DEPARDIEU ACCUSED OF ATTACKING WOMAN – A young actress has accused the French actor of attacking her this month in Paris. Her agent has told media to that she is “devastated”. Depardieu’s lawyer says he denies the accusation.

TPG AND VODAFONE LOOK TO MERGE
When it comes to the size of our telco companies, there’s 1. Telstra; 2. Optus; 3. TPG; and 4. Vodafone. Yesterday, companies 3 and 4 announced they are looking to merge to become a $15 billion business. The competition regulator has to give it the go-ahead, and the deal will now undergo a 12-week review. "No doubt the merger parties will argue it makes them stronger to compete with Telstra and Optus. On the other hand, having four players in the market can be better than three," said ACCC chairman Rod Sims.

WOMEN’S AFL DEATH
The sister of Collingwood footballer Travis Varcoe has died after being injured during a SA Women’s Football League game last Sunday. The 27yo was involved in an accidental clash with a teammate and was conscious and able to leave the field, but collapsed in the change rooms. The Aboriginal woman is not being named out of respect for cultural practices.

BOM’ING THE DROUGHT
The Bureau of Meteorology yesterday said the chances of rain are below average and it’s going to be a hot Spring. Maybe the weather needs an umpire to step in and give it a Nick Kyrgios-style pep talk?

FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
It would have been Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday this week, which led us to this article on the invention of the moonwalk. Jackson debuted his version of it on the Motown 25 TV special (wearing his mother’s sequin jacket), a performance praised by Fred Astaire. “It was the greatest compliment I had ever received in my life and the only one I had ever wanted to believe,” Jackson said.

Hans, the ‘German’ cabaret performer (aka Adelaide’s Matt Gilbertson), did well on America’s Got Talent this week. Sadly, he missed out on making it through to the semi-finals yesterday, but he’s secured his place as Australia’s premier accordion-playing-tap dancer. You can’t help but smile watching this.

Soz. We made the hedgehog meatballs last weekend, and it was meh. So to redeem ourselves, we’re letting you into our top secret recipe section. Skye Gyngell’s roast chicken. Follow the recipe (particularly the cooking technique) and life will never be the same again.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday
ABS Data Releases – Regional Population Data 2016; Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2016

Company Results Announcement – Harvey Norman

Malaysia’s National Day

Saturday

12.00am (AEST) - Aretha Franklin's funeral - Detroit

1:00am (AEST) - Public Memorial Service for Senator John McCain at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC - live streamed

Time TBC - US Open Tennis - Serena Williams v Venus Williams; Ash Barty v Karolina Muchová

Wattle Day

Start of Dementia Awareness Month 

Start of Prostate Awareness Month 

Sunday
12:00am (AEST) - Private Memorial Service for Senator John McCain at the Washington National Cathedral. Former presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama will deliver eulogies

Father’s Day

Start of Legacy Week

Vietnam's National Day