Squiz Today – Monday, 27 September

THE SQUIZ
As climate policy tensions between federal Nationals’ pollies go from simmer to boil, one of the party’s Victorian-based MPs Darren Chester says he will “take a break from organised meetings, events and activities in The Nationals Federal Parliamentary party room”. He says he’s frustrated “with the repeated failure of the leadership to even attempt to moderate some of the more disrespectful and offensive views expressed by a minority of colleagues.”

WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?
There’s a big climate change summit in Glasgow coming up in November. At that United Nations’ hosted COP26 meeting, world leaders will assemble to confirm their commitments to more urgently tackle global warming. Not onboard with Australia cutting emissions harder: Nationals’ backbenchers Matt Canavan and George Christensen, and Resources Minister Keith Pitt. They say resources industry jobs are more important than “demands from foreign countries or the United Nations”. Side note: you should also know that Chester is no fan of Nats leader and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce… Chester was sacked from his Veterans’ Affairs ministry by Joyce after the party’s leadership change in June.

SO WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
It’s about more than some narkiness inside the Nats… The Morrison Government is seemingly edging towards a more ambitious emissions reduction target. Last week, PM Scott Morrison told US President Joe Biden that he’s working on an “Australian plan” that is thought to include a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Treasurer John Frydenberg said he’s on board with that. And on Friday, Joyce said he has “no problems” with such a plan if regional communities and industries are protected, but his Nationals colleagues will get the final say on the party’s official position. “Australia remains a pariah whilst we don’t adopt net zero by 2050,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese said yesterday. All of this needs to be settled ahead of COP26, so Joyce and Morrison have a big few weeks ahead of them…

Getting geared up to open up

PM Morrison reckons COVID-weary Aussies will be able to have “their lives back” in time for Christmas, “and that’s within the gift of governments and that’s a gift I’d like to see us give them.” As vaccination rates climb, he says that state and territory governments should “honour the arrangement” made with Aussies, “and that is once you get to 80% vaccination, it is very clear that you can start opening up.” As NSW hit 60% fully vaccinated yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would outline the state’s freedom roadmap this week, including how and when the unvaccinated people can emerge from lockdown. For now, it’s a big day for the state’s swimmers… As for the other state with a big lockdown, fully-vaxxed Victorians can do more from this week, and the Melbourne travel radius has been expanded.

Canadian ‘hostages’ home as Huawei exec returns to China

Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou has arrived back in China to a hero’s welcome after 3 years in custody in Canada. She’s the daughter of the massive Chinese technology and telecoms company’s founder Ren Zhengfei, and she was arrested in Canada in 2018 at the request of the US over allegations of fraud. China was livid and arrested several Canadians, including ‘the 2 Michaels’. Far less funny than the 2 Ronnies, Michael Spavor (a business consultant) and Michael Kovrig (a former diplomat) were arrested for “endangering national security”. Long story short, US prosecutors did a deal with Meng that saw her released on Friday, and China released the Michaels and allowed them to go home. Critics of China say the men’s release shows hostage diplomacy was behind their detention all along. 

Swiss back same-sex marriage

That’s the projection with some counting yet to do after the vote in a referendum to change Switzerland’s marriage laws wrapped up a few hours ago. Analysts think there is more than 60% support for same-sex marriage, and the change will bring the country into line with most of Western Europe. A socially conservative nation, church groups and political parties ran strong campaigns opposing same-sex marriage, saying it would undermine the traditional family. Pro-change campaigner leader Antonia Hauswirth said she was “happy and relieved”. Also still counting: election workers in Germany following their national election. Reports say it’s close between outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU and the centre-left SPD for first place…

Demons break the drought, it’s Rabbitohs v Panthers, and the Wallabies’ hat-trick

• The Melbourne Demons broke their 57-years-long premiership drought on Saturday night by beating the Western Bulldogs by 74 points in Perth. The Dogs were in front at halftime, but a stirring gee-up from Melbourne skipper Max Gawn set them on the path to glory. Quoting former coach/motor neurone fundraising juggernaut Neale Daniher, Gawn said “when all is said and done, more is said than done” – that is, actions speak louder than words. Voted best on ground: Melbourne’s Christian Petracca.

• The NRL is set for its grand final with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers winning their preliminary finals to take centre stage in Brissie next Sunday night. It’s the first time the game will be held outside of Sydney. Cue the mind games…

• And it’s been a mixed bag for Australia on the international stage… The Wallabies are hot to trot with their third consecutive win, this time against Argentina in Townsville on Saturday arvo. Our women’s one-day cricketers were not so lucky. They went down to India in Mackay yesterday, breaking a 26-game winning streak. All good things must come to an end…

Global citizens gather… globally

Not feeling it this Monday? How does a distraction like a 24-hour music extravaganza with some of the world’s biggest acts sound? We’re talking The Weeknd, BTS, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay – all beamed in from around the world. You won’t be watching live – the Global Citizen Live concert was yesterday… But you can watch it here, and there are still opportunities to participate. Unlike other big music benefits, Global Citizen isn’t asking for cash – it wants viewers to “display their voices” via social media and signing petitions. That’s effective in showing national and corporate leaders that action on issues to do with tackling things like poverty and COVID-19 are needed, they say. Global Citizen was started by former Young Aussie of the Year Hugh Evans, who said he wanted to “create a global moment of unity.”

As Nirvana’s iconic debut album Nevermind turned 30yo on the weekend, the man who was the naked underwater baby on the cover has escalated his protest against it. Spencer Elden is pushing for publisher Universal Music to cover up his male bits from all future album covers. He has previously called the artwork “child exploitation and violation of privacy”.

Adhering to Elden’s wishes was Adelaide Hills cyclist Peter Stokes. He traced Elden’s face by riding his bike and tracking his journey in his own tribute to the album’s anniversary.

And one for the Ted Lasso fans… Behold 80s pop icon Rick Astley’s response to the last episode of the popular Apple TV+ show/COVID antidote. You’re welcome. 

Queen’s Birthday public holiday in Western Australia

7.30pm (AEST) – NRL – Dally M awards ceremony – live on Foxtel or Kayo

World Tourism Day

The Guardian’s Bird of the Year poll opens, with 50 shortlisted species to choose from

Birthdays for Gwenyth Paltrow (1972) and Lil Wayne (1982)

Anniversary of:
• French scholar Jean-François Champollion announcing he has deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone (1822)
• the physics journal Annalen der Physik publishing Albert Einstein’s paper which introduces the equation E=mc² (1905)
• WC Handy publishing the first blues song, Memphis Blues (1912)
• the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring about the environmental impacts of pesticide use in the US (1962)
• George and Amal Clooney’s wedding (2014)
• the death of Hugh Hefner (2017)