Squiz Today – Friday, 8 December

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“A matchy-matchy fashion moment”

That’s what Vogue called Queen Elizabeth’s meet-and-greet with the Nigerian High Commissioner and his wife this week. Fair call.

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SAME-SEX MARRIAGE PASSES PARLIAMENT

THE SQUIZ
Same-sex marriage received overwhelming support from the House of Representatives last night. Just four of its 150 members voted against it (Bob Katter and the Coalition’s Russell Broadbent, David Littleproud, and Keith Pitt). Members who abstained from voting are believed to include Treasurer Scott Morrison, former PM Tony Abbott and a handful of other conservative Coalition MPs. (For the political nerds: names aren’t recorded in Hansard when five or fewer members vote against a bill.) PM Malcolm Turnbull said; “What a day. What a day for love, for equality, for respect. Australia has done it.”

WHAT WENT DOWN?
The fun bits: The galleries were packed with supporters to witness the historic event. There were plenty of cheers and tears as the hundreds of hours of debate ended with a successful vote. And there was singing of The Seekers’ ‘I am, you are, we are Australian’.

To get technical for a moment: The ‘Dean Smith’ bill overturns a Howard Government amendment to the Marriage Act that limited marriage to be between a man and a woman. The law will now read that marriage can be between ‘two people’. Smith’s bill also sets out that ministers of religion can be exempt from conducting same-sex marriages. None of the other proposed amendments for religious freedoms were supported by the parliament.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The bill is expected to be given royal assent by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove today. That means the new marriage law will take effect from tomorrow. And that means any couple racing to be wed can lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage from this weekend. The minimum notice period is one month, meaning the first legally recognised same-sex wedding could take place on 9 January next year. And expect Far North Queensland Coalition MP Warren Entsch to be deified by the gay community – he was singled out for his years of campaigning for the change. Cin cin!

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SQUIZ THE REST

TRUMP’S JERUSALEM DECISION REVERBERATES
Reports about US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem provide an insight into his leadership. Trump was said to be keen to make good on his election promise – a promise that former Presidents have made, by the way. One interesting tussle is that between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Tillerson is said to have warned him against it, while Haley was for it. That will likely add fuel to speculation that Tillerson is increasingly out with Trump while Haley’s star shines. Speaking of (formerly) shiny things – the Palestinians have switched off the Christmas lights in Bethlehem in protest over the decision. And worse, there have been violent clashes in the Gaza Strip and across the occupied West Bank.

FIRES RAVAGE CALIFORNIA
Southern California is facing an unprecedented risk from wildfires that have been threatening the greater Los Angeles area for the last few days. More than 250,000 people have been evacuated and multi-million-dollar homes have been lost to fires that have been pushed along by the strong Santa Ana winds. Authorities are predicting terrible conditions today and further property loses and evacuations. The pictures are incredible.

PARLIAMENTARY MUSICAL CHAIRS
The Nationals party room has voted for Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie to replace Fiona Nash as its deputy leader. McKenzie is a former teacher and uni lecturer, and is a gun enthusiast. She’s expected to go straight into Cabinet – a big jump for a backbencher. Waiting to replace Nash as a senator for NSW is former army big-wig Jim Moylan.

FIRST HOME BUYERS BACK IN VOGUE
After years of watching their home ownership dreams drown in a sea of smashed avo, first home buyers made a comeback in the July-September quarter. Nationally, one-in-four homes sold in the period were bought by a first home buyer. Why? “Deep mortgage discounts, waiving of stamp duty, Bank of Mum and Dad financing, and falling property prices in some suburbs,” says the Australian Financial Review. The next market to pick up: house-warming gift shops.

FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
We could have made this item one, two and three. Welcome to Architectural Digest’s 2017 Hot 100 list. So much gorgeousness it’s hard to know where to look first.

Hopefully you have enough click-throughs to the New York Times up your sleeve to read this in-depth piece on the Weinstein Complicity Machine. It’s incredibly well researched and written and is worth your reading effort.

Season two of The Crown is out tomorrow (it's being released at 8am on Friday in the UK, so there's your maths challenge for the day). Buried the lead there, didn’t we! The Hollywood Reporter has this helpful guide to help you binge-watch it this weekend. As if you needed the help…

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SQUIZ EXTRAS

SQUIZ TIPS WITH THE LOCAL DROP
The Local Drop are hanging out with all the right people. Not only are they our new BFFs, they’ve also collaborated with Collette Dinnigan on a beautiful and premium+ six pack of wines. It’s incredibly presented, the wines are gorgeous and it’s a limited run of just 500 packs. Check it out ASAP - and we get a little commission on any sale. #justsayin'

And remember, you'll be in the running for a $100 Peter Alexander gift card if you've read every email from this week. As Kerry Washington said; "I would wear pyjamas to work every day if it were up to me." In fact, we do.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday

Annual General Meeting - Westpac

ABS Data Releases - Prisoners in Australia, 2017; Housing Finance, October; Managed Funds, September; Household Income and Wealth, Australia, 2015-16

Saturday

International Anti-Corruption Day

Sunday

Human Rights Day