Squiz Today – Thursday, 9 March

WA GETS SET TO VOTE THIS WEEKEND

THE SQUIZ
What do you mean you had no idea there's a state election this weekend in Western Australia? No wonder they have a complex... For some weeks, Labor have been the unbackable favourite to win this weekend. Led by Mark McGowan, Labor needs to take 10 seats from the Liberal-Nationals to form government, and pollsters predict they will do that and then some. The Colin Barnett-led Liberal-National government has been in office since 2008. Notably, they have done a preference deal with One Nation in the hope it will improve their chances of a win. It's something they didn't do last election, and something other Liberal-National election campaigns federally and in other states have refused to do. 

WHAT ISSUES ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
In recent years WA has undergone a significant economic adjustment with the dominant mining sector suffering the impact of lower commodity prices as well as investment in new projects falling away. This has had a major impact on state revenues so it's no surprise that managing the finances and plans to rev up the economy have been front and centre for both the major parties. 

AND IS ONE NATION LIKELY TO GET A FEW VOTES?
Well, we'll see. A poll on the weekend had their predicted vote at 9%, quite a bit lower than many were expecting, and not enough to assist the Barnett government over the line. One Nation's campaign hasn't been without its issues either.  Yesterday, Pauline Hanson was accused of ageism after she made clear that long-time party president Ron McLean (87yo) and secretary Marye Daniels (79yo) would not be allowed to run as candidates. The duo have lawyered-up and accused Hanson of ageism (which is at least a different ‘ism’ to the one she is usually saddled with). Not that Hanson seems the least bit perturbed. She is in town and will host a ‘Pots and Pizzas with Pauline’ pub event tonight. Hanson in a pub with free beer - what could possibly go wrong?

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SQUIZ THE REST

YUUUGE DRUG BUST IN SYDNEY… ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID THE GYM
Australian Border Force officers announced yesterday they had pulled off one of their biggest drug busts ever, intercepting a shipment of methamphetamine masquerading as protein powder. And you wondered why your morning smoothie was filling you with so much vim and vigour! In late February, Customs discovered a sea cargo consignment of 396 containers packed full of 540kg of ‘ice’, street value $324 million. The drugs were replaced with a harmless powder and forwarded to their intended recipients. Sting! The alleged traffickers apparently all knew one another from the gym, proving yet again nothing good happens at that unholiest of places.

STREAM A LITTLE STREAM OF ME
The ACCC yesterday released its annual telco report. But wait! It was actually quite interesting. Turns out we’re paying 2.7% more for internet services but getting a lot more bang for our buck with mobile data downloads increasing by 69% on last year. Mobile phone service prices fell 1.8% and fixed line prices (is that even still a thing?) fell 1.8%. Good news if like us you’re planning some quality couch time this weekend.

FEELING HOT HOT HOT
Because we’ve only just met, we should spend a few moments talking about the weather, right? As luck would have it, the Climate Council yesterday released a report confirming what our sweat glands already know – it was a hot, hot summer. Now, we get there is a lot of push and pull on climate change science, so here’s just the facts on what went down. More than 200 meteorological records were broken over the summer months. Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra had their hottest summer on record, while the West experienced its wettest. And if you think you were hot, spare a thought for poor old Moree in NSW which had 54 consecutive days over 35 degrees. If deodorant sales there didn’t peak for the corresponding period we’ll be seriously worried.

DEAR NORTH KOREA, PLEASE STOP
Just when you thought it was safe to cross the demilitarized zone, North Korea broke international sanctions on Monday when it tested four missiles – with three coming down in Japan’s economic zone. Yikes. In response, the US started rolling out a missile defence system in South Korea. China has asked North Korea to cease and desist. Watch this space. 

I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND
Did you have a good International Women’s Day? Manage to get through it without sparking a social media sh*t-storm? Well, you did better than Canadian first lady, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. Posting a pic to Instagram of her and international dreamboat hubby PM Justin Trudeau holding hands, Sophie encouraged followers to celebrate the day by recognising the men in their lives. “Take a picture holding hands with your male ally & share it on social media using the hashtag #TomorrowInHand” To say this went down like a four-day-old salmon sushi roll in some quarters would be an understatement. “Oh hell no” is about the most polite we’re willing to repeat.

SQUIZ THE DAY

World Kidney Day

ABS data releases on Managed Funds, Industrial Disputes and Building Approvals

6.30pm - Pots and Pizza with Pauline, Paddington Alehouse, Mt Hawthorn WA