Squiz Today / 06 December 2018

Squiz Today – Thursday, 6 December

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Instead of ‘bring home the bacon’, say ‘bring home the bagels’”

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has listed some sayings we can change to avoid being ‘speciesist’. We know you like to keep up with the latest lingo…


CHRIS DAWSON ARRESTED

THE SQUIZ
In what was arguably the most hotly anticipated arrest in the country, police swooped on a Gold Coast property in the early hours of yesterday morning and arrested Chris Dawson – the subject of the popular true-crime podcast The Teacher’s Pet. Later in the day, Dawson was refused bail and is expected to be extradited to NSW today where he will be charged with the murder, almost 37 years ago, of his wife Lynette.

ASSUME I’VE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK...
Where have you been? We’ll keep it brief:

• Mother of two Lynette Dawson disappeared from her northern Sydney home in 1982. Her husband, Chris, a rugby league professional and local PE teacher, moved his 16yo girlfriend into the family home days later.

• Police initially treated Lynette as a missing person despite the misgivings of her friends and family. But two subsequent coronial inquiries determined that she had been murdered, most likely by her husband. The Director of Prosecutions (DPP) didn't previously bring charges against Dawson, saying there was insufficient evidence.

• This year’s podcast by The Australian’s Hedley Thomas stirred it all up again and uncovered new evidence and witnesses, prompting police to reopen their investigation. Reports say Joanne Curtis, a woman at the centre of it all, has also contributed new evidence that led to Dawson’s arrest yesterday.

WHO SAID WHAT?
Lyn’s brother Gregg Simms - “We’ve had a cry, we’ve cuddled, we’re just completely over the moon that something has finally happened.”

Peter Dawson, Chris Dawson's brother - “There is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters. Chris will be found innocent.”

Hedley Thomas, the journalist who pursued the case – “The world has embraced Lyn. All victims should be cared for like this.”


SQUIZ THE REST

MORRISON FACES DEFEAT OVER REFUGEE CARE
Reports this morning say Labor and the Greens have support from enough independent MPs to legislate for faster medical treatment for asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island and Nauru. In a challenge to the government’s authority, the group are expected to use their numbers today – the final day of the parliamentary year - to remove all children from Nauru (reports say 10 remain there) and allow others to transfer to Australia more quickly when recommended by a doctor.

QUICK WORLD NEWS WRAP
WASHINGTON SEND OFF FOR BUSH - Former President George HW Bush was remembered as a public servant and leader at his funeral overnight in Washington DC. Son and former President George W Bush said his dad missed his wife Barbara after her death earlier this year. But he liked watching police shows on TV with the volume right up and sharing ‘colourful’ jokes with his mates over email. "He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country," he said. Bush will be buried in Texas tomorrow.

MAY'S BREXIT BUMPS CONTINUE – Historic, but not in a good way. For the first time ever, UK Government MPs were found in contempt of Parliament for refusing to publish the full legal advice they received about the Brexit deal. The advice was eventually released. The situation wasn’t helped by a new poll that found falling support for the UK’s departure from the European Union. MPs vote on the deal next Tuesday.

TURKEY ISSUES WARRANTS OVER KHASHOGGI KILLING – It wants two Saudi men who are said to be close advisers to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to return to Turkey to face charges over the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi. ‘Unlikely’ is what pundits say.

WE’RE SLOWING DOWN
And not because it’s nearly Christmas. Our economic growth rate has slowed to 2.8%. That’s significant because it’s quite a way off the 3.5% the Reserve Bank had predicted, and the 3% the government's budget is based on. Low wages growth, a slowdown in consumer spending and a collapse in savings were some of the stated reasons for the surprise result.

NANNA’S PIE RECALL
An urgent national recall was issued by food authorities last night for 600g Nanna's family apple pies sold at Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Foodland and other independent supermarkets with a best-before date of 21 October 2020 and 22 October 2020. Reports say glass may be in the pies following an equipment failure by the manufacturer. No other products are affected.

AUSSIES ACTING UP
Our home-grown film celebs kept it classy at the AACTA Awards overnight, where the Warwick Thornton-directed Sweet Country swept the pool with six gongs, including best picture. The full list of winners is here. And here's some red carpet action.

Speaking of award ceremonies... American comedian Kevin Hart has been named as the host for next year’s Oscars. He’d campaigned for the job and yesterday said “now it's time to rise to the occasion." No pressure…

DRESSING UP, DRESSING DOWN
Looking for some online outrage? Today’s instalment comes from the mismatched outfits worn by singers Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran during a performance at South Africa’s Global Citizens Festival last weekend. Some people have a lot of feelings on what it says about gender standards. Others said it’s par for the course. "Ed and Beyoncé together look like roughly 75% of heterosexual couples," said one. You decide.

SQUIZ THE DAY

11.00am (AEDT) - Cricket Test Match - Australia v India - Adelaide

First of the final two days of Dreamworld Inquest - Gold Coast

Anniversary of Nelson Mandela's arrest for political activities in South Africa (1956)

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