Squiz Today – Tuesday, 18 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Balenciaga Shopping Bag - €1,595”

Fresh from the success of their Ikea-inspired ‘blue bag’, Balenciaga doubled down and released a shopping bag that looks like, well, the luxury brand's paper shopping bag. If you have a cool $2340 that you need to part ways with you’ll want to be quick – reports say they’re selling like hotcakes.

---

MAJOR SECURITY SHAKE UP ON THE CARDS

THE SQUIZ
PM Malcolm Turnbull’s Cabinet will today consider a proposal to reorganise the federal government’s national security agencies.

The What: The restructure will bring the Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Border Force and Department of Immigration under one minister (hot fave is Peter Dutton). This would create a new super ‘Home’ or ‘National Security’ portfolio.

The Why: To ensure seamless information sharing on national security matters and terrorist threats – and to act quickly when required.

The When: There would be a transition period, but reports say the aim is to have the new arrangements in place by the end of this year.

OHHKAY… SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
Turnbull hasn’t always been a fan of the concept but times have changed, and he was at pains yesterday to say national security isn’t an issue you can “set and forget”. Reports say some ministers who currently have responsibilities in the area aren’t big fans. Justice Minister Michael Keenan (who currently has responsibility for the Federal Police) yesterday said our current arrangements are pretty good – in fact, 12 terror plots have been stopped in the last three years. But there are some high-powered supporters as well. So it should be an interesting discussion.

BUT AREN’T STATE POLICE FORCES THE ONES WHO RESPOND TO TERRORISM INCIDENTS?
Great observation! Turnbull seems to have pre-empted that question by yesterday announcing he’s offering more training for police with Defence Force experts and plans to embed Defence personnel with police around the country. It’s up to the states to decide if they want the help or not – but with the military might on show yesterday who would be brave enough to say no?

---

SQUIZ THE REST

AUSTRALIAN WOMAN KILLED BY POLICE IN MINNEAPOLIS
Justine Damond, a 40yo former Sydneysider, was shot and killed by police in Minneapolis on the weekend. The local paper says police were responding to Damond’s 911 call about a disturbance in an alley near her home. “Damond, in her pajamas, went to the driver’s side door and was talking to the driver. The officer in the passenger seat pulled his gun and shot Damond through the driver’s side door, sources said.” Police are meant to have ‘body cameras’ on when responding to incidents to record what goes down, but they weren’t in this case much to the frustration of investigators. Justine’s fiancé and family, the Mayor and local community have demanded answers. Reports say Damond was a yoga/meditation teacher who was to marry in a few weeks.

NEW PROPOSAL FOR AN INDIGENOUS VOICE
To recap: there’s been a lot of discussion over the last few years about recognising Indigenous Australians in our Constitution. A couple of months ago, a forum in Alice Springs agreed that inserting words of simple recognition wasn’t enough and that a constitutionally enshrined ‘voice to Parliament' (aka an Indigenous representative body) should be pursued. Fast forward to yesterday, and the idea took a step further with the Referendum Commission recommending the change. Malcolm Turnbull said it was “a big new idea” that would need more discussion.

AUSTRALIAN BUPA MEMBERS’ DATA BREACHED
A malicious act by an employee at insurer Bupa’s British office has exposed the personal details of 20,000 Australian customers. Bupa yesterday confirmed the information breach had to do with their global division which provides international health insurance for travellers or people who work overseas. Which means they’re keen for everyone to know if you’re a member of their Aussie health insurance arm, it’s all tickety-boo. Nothing to see here. Move along…

JUDGE ORDERS AMBER HARRISON PAY SEVEN’S LEGAL COSTS
Is it the biggest case of corporate bullying in Australia’s history? A case of a scorned lover’s attempt at revenge gone wrong? Or just a great big messy melodrama in which, at the end of the day, no one is the winner? All of the above, we suspect. A Sydney court yesterday ordered Amber Harrison, the former love interest of Seven CEO Tim Worner, to pay the TV network’s potentially yuuuge legal costs. After an eight-month, very public dispute, the judge wasted no time pouring scorn on both parties, but Seven said they were pleased with the outcome. Harrison intimated she would file for bankruptcy – but that it wasn’t over yet. Stay tuned…

CHINA CRACKS DOWN… ON WINNIE-THE-POOH
There’s been some attention of late on China’s censorship regime following the death last week of prominent human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. Social media is tightly controlled, and this interesting/quick piece looks at how Winnie-the-Pooh fell foul of authorities. Surely it's nothing some hunny couldn’t fix. 

MIRANDA’S GORGEOUS WEDDING
If we were a successful model/businesswoman marrying a handsome tech billionaire, we would have picked the exact same dress. She's stunning, and clearly pretty happy with her life choices, as this Vogue video/article shows. What's a bit more confusing is the ‘24 hours with Miranda Kerr' video at the bottom of the link. We're a bit lost for words, which is unusual for us… 

SQUIZ THE DAY

Former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will be appointed an Honorary Companion in the Order of Australia - Canberra

ABS Data Release - Sales of New Cars, June

Nelson Mandela Day

Bank of England to release a new £10 note featuring Jane Austen to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her death