Squiz Today – Tuesday, 15 October

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“I do have all your notes in front of me.”

Was ABC Radio National Breakfast host Geraldine Doogue’s opening salvo in an interview with Federal Minister for Water Resources David Littleproud yesterday after the Prime Minister’s office accidentally sent the government’s talking points to the media. Oops...

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MILLIONS FOR THE MAN CLEARED OF WINCHESTER MURDER

THE SQUIZ
David Eastman, the Canberra man who was jailed for almost 20 years for the 1989 murder of Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester, was yesterday awarded $7 million in compensation after he was found not guilty of the crime last year. It was more than the $3 million the ACT Government had offered him, and less than the $18 million he was seeking, with the court picking a figure to recognise the hardships Eastman faced in prison.

BACK IT UP A BIT…
Winchester's killing was described by authorities as the end of Australia’s innocence. At the time of his murder, he was the head of Canberra’s police force making him the highest-ranking serving police officer to be assassinated in our country’s history. Eastman, a former Treasury official, had been battling police over an assault charge he said prevented him from getting another job. While some believed Winchester’s killing was a mafia hit, police had recordings of Eastman’s mutterings confessing to the murder. But after years of appeals, an inquiry in 2014 led to his release, and a retrial last year cleared him of the crime.

SO THAT’S THAT?
We’ll soon learn if the ACT Government will pay Eastman or seek to have the amount cut. Eastman’s lawyer said his 74yo client “would like to now get on with the rest of his life, if possible.” Winchester’s family, who said they were extremely disappointed by Eastman's not guilty finding last year, did not comment yesterday.

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SQUIZ THE REST

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SYRIA TO THE KURDS' RESCUE

As the Kurds reach out to the Syrian Government for support to try to halt Turkey's offensive against them, experts yesterday pointed to the perverse consequences of America’s withdrawal from the region. Syria is a sworn enemy of most Western nations, yet the Kurds, America’s ally until a week ago, had to turn to it for assistance. The other issue getting plenty of airtime is the opportunity the crisis represents for Islamic State to make a comeback in the region. And as America pulls all its troops from the area, reports say President Donald Trump is getting ready to impose economic sanctions on Turkey over the extent of the incursion. One US official described the situation as “total chaos,” the Washington Post reported.

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AND IN BREAKING WORLD NEWS...

QUEEN OUTLINES THE PLAN - It’s kinda like parliamentary karaoke - the Queen takes the UK PM’s words and delivers them via ceremony packed with tradition. And QEII has done precisely that for Boris Johnson overnight, unveiling his policies on crime, health, the environment and Brexit. But with no majority in the Commons, commentators said it is a plan for an election, not a plan to govern…

VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN HONG KONG - Police have warned that lives are at risk after a small bomb exploded and a police officer was stabbed as pro-democracy protestors clashed with authorities again overnight. That comes as China’s President Xi Jinping warned that anyone attempting to divide China will end up with "bodies smashed and bones ground to powder". Hong Kong wasn't named, but everyone knew what he was talking about…

JAIL FOR CATALAN LEADERS - Spain’s justice system has cracked down hard on nine Catalan separatist leaders. They’ve been handed prison terms of between nine and 13 years for sedition over their roles in the 2017 push for separation from Spain. Three others were fined. The verdicts brought thousands of Catalan independence supporters to the streets of Barcelona in protest.

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UNDERSTAFFING IN AGED CARE THE BIG ISSUE

More than half of our nursing homes are understaffed, research commissioned by the Aged Care Royal Commission has revealed. Bringing it up to an acceptable level would require a 20% increase in staff hours in facilities across Australia, while achieving best practice would take a 50% bump. So far, the problems of understaffing and underskilled staff are the most significant issues for the Commission. Meanwhile, news of the death Commission chair Richard Tracey after a short illness shocked legal circles.

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GET READY TO SIZZLE

So here’s the plan. Between now and beyond the end of summer, we’re going to be at risk of heatwaves and bushfires, but we’ll likely have fewer cyclones, floods and thunderstorms. The weather bureau yesterday said you won’t have much use for a brolly for quite a while with 'hot and dry' becoming the theme for summer. And those conditions apply across the country, so no matter where you go, take your BO-basher with you. The prediction builds on the highest average daytime temperatures on record for the first nine months of this year, while average rainfall levels are the fourth lowest on record.

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ONLINE GAME GOES DOWN AS A NEW PLAYER RISES

It was Fortnite, the massive online multiplayer game (250 million people around the world play it…), that faded to black yesterday. Was a server down? Was the game over? Turns out it is likely to be part of a buildup to the launch of a new chapter. Experts said the outage - a black screen - was "the most-watched gaming event in history." Meanwhile, there's a star on the rise as 15yo tennis protege Coco Gauff became the youngest player to win a WTA title in 15 years. It was an incredible result after she lost her qualifying match to enter the comp, getting through as a 'lucky loser’. Which has become our new favourite term of endearment.

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JACKMAN v REYNOLDS - THE NEXT INSTALLMENT

Need to look busy at your computer today with your earphones in? Here’s the latest in the most handsome feud going around. Note: that one link has all you need to review the tit-for-tat exploits that have been going down between Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds since 2015. You're welcome.

SQUIZ THE DAY

9.30am (AEDT) - Telstra’s Annual General Meeting - Melbourne

11.30am (AEDT) - Minutes of October meeting of the Reserve Bank board released

ABS Data Releases - Overseas Arrivals and Departures, August; Census of Motor Vehicles, 2019

International Day of Rural Women

Global Handwashing Day

10th anniversary of the ‘boy in a runaway balloon’ fake news story