Squiz Today – 13 June 2024

The Squiz 

Former Parramatta Eels player Jarryd Hayne has been released from prison after having 2 sexual assault convictions overturned in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday. The 36yo has been detained in a minimum-security jail in Sydney’s west since last year after he was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting a woman – who can’t be named for legal reasons – at her Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final. Yesterday, the court found there was a miscarriage of justice during that trial, as the defence had not been allowed to further cross-examine the complainant, and because of the judge’s direction to the jury about how to treat allegations the woman had lied. But despite Hayne’s convictions being quashed, the door has been left open for another retrial…

Remind me what this case is about…

The allegations against Hayne relate to what happened on the night of September 30, 2018, when the 2-time Dally M winner travelled to the woman’s home after they’d been messaging on Instagram. The court heard Hayne left a taxi waiting for him outside, causing the woman to become uninterested in pursuing anything romantic. But prosecutors accused Hayne of sexually assaulting her as she told him “no” and “stop”, leaving her bleeding. Hayne has maintained the sexual activity was consensual – but the jury accepted the woman’s version of events. Yesterday, the court found the jury was “deprived of evidence” after Hayne’s lawyers accused the woman of deleting text messages showing she consented. It’s also worth noting last year’s trial was the third in relation to this case – the first ended in a hung jury and Hayne was convicted after the second but won an appeal, before being convicted again last year.

So it’s all done and dusted…?

Not necessarily… The court of appeals has ordered a fourth trial, but Justice Stephen Rothman said there’s good reason for it not to go ahead – including that Hayne has “already served significant time in prison”. Rothman said “whether there in fact is a new trial is a matter for the Director of the Public Prosecutions”. That’s something the DPP said it would consider. In the meantime, Hayne’s been released on bail with a number of conditions, including paying a $20,000 surety and being ordered not to contact the complainant or enter the Newcastle local government area. Yesterday, his lawyer said “he’s obviously very happy the appeal was upheld and just wants to get home to his family”.

Consultants called to account

Eighteen months after the PwC tax scandal broke, a Senate inquiry committee released its final report yesterday with 12 recommendations calling for those involved to be named, more regulation and a permanent oversight committee to lift standards in the consulting industry. For a quick refresh, PwC Australia was accused of using its role as a government adviser to obtain confidential information to help its international clients avoid tax. This latest report accuses PwC of not addressing its failures and hiding its own findings to “protect the organisation from further scrutiny and consequences”. But the Greens want even tougher action, including banning PwC from tendering for any government work for at least 5 years and a 15% annual reduction of government spending on consultants, which Senator Barbara Pocock says will “ensure value for money” and “promote public sector regrowth”.

Humming and hawing over Hamas

A UN-backed resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza is hanging in the balance after Hamas asked for various “amendments”. White House national security spokesman John Kirby says the US – which developed the 3-part plan – is “evaluating it right now”. The exact details haven’t been revealed, but Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha says they want to “confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange.” But the group also flagged concerns about whether Israel will commit to a permanent and full troop withdrawal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insists PM Benjamin Netanyahu is committed, but Netanyahu’s comment that Israel will not stop until its goal of destroying Hamas is achieved has cast doubt on the deal. While the indecision continues, our government has reaffirmed its support for Gazans, promising another $10 million in aid yesterday.

Not running out of steam…

Coalition leader Peter Dutton has doubled down on his decision to abandon the Albanese Government’s legislated 2030 climate target before the next federal election, saying he’s “not going to sign up to an arrangement that destroys our economy and sends families and small businesses into bankruptcy”. The Coalition says it would dump the target of reducing emissions by 43% of 2005 levels by 2030 – and not set a new one before the election. Dutton’s copped flak for that – including within his own party, with Liberal MP Bridget Archer calling it “regressive”. And Oz’s coal and gas-fired power plant owners say while meeting the target could be difficult, it’s an important step to reaching our goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Nationals Leader David Littleproud also got involved yesterday by announcing the Coalition’s proposed nuclear power plants will be in Nationals’ seats if they’re elected.

An ultra-fast fashion fight

France is taking an extreme approach to combat ultra-fast fashion – brands like Shein and Temu – by banning advertising and imposing a 10 Euro (about $16) penalty on every item sold. Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Bechu says France is the first country in the world “legislating to limit the excesses of ultra-fast fashion”. The rising popularity of synthetic clothes produced within hours at extremely low prices has long concerned environmentalists, and recently it was revealed we are some of the biggest offenders… Data from the Australia Institute shows Aussies are the biggest consumers of new clothing in the world per capita, buying on average at least one new item every week – much of which ends up in landfill, as we chuck out 200,000 tonnes of clothing each year. That’s prompted calls for our government to take a similar approach and for us as consumers to “realise that cheaper is not always better”.

Check out this News Club episode to learn more about our relationship with ultra-fast fashion.

Feeling bamboozled

If you’re keen to get your thumbs green you might want to think twice before planting bamboo in your garden, as a whole lot of British people have found out the hard way that the giant grass knows no bounds… People across the UK are reporting shoots bursting through flowerbeds, floorboards and even in appliances, decades after it was planted. That’s thanks to a 90s/00s trend encouraging would-be gardeners to use the Asia-Pacific native to build screens to block out the neighbours. And because bamboo can take a decade or more to mature, the problem is only turning up now, often after being passed on to new owners/tenants who had no idea it was busy burrowing away… It can be a costly issue too, leading to disputes with disgruntled neighbours who didn’t sign up for a bamboo partition, so maybe stick with a good old fashioned fence instead.

If you are looking for something to keep you warm during cold nights, Goodreads has compiled a list of the 45 sauciest tomes ever written. The list was topped by Lauren Blakely’s Mister O but it’s spread across three categories – BookTok, romance and romantasy – so there’s something for everyone…

In the US, an increasing number of books are being banned because they are considered controversial by conservative groups. So what did they do when a book about the book ban came out? Well, they banned it, of course…

We know Squizers love a good recipe, so it’s no surprise 2 Aussies had wins at the James Beard Foundation awards – aka the “food Oscars” in the US. Sydney chef/restaurateur Josh Niland’s book on fish butchery* and food writer Hetty Lui McKinnon’s veggie-focused cookbook* were both big winners.

*Buy using this link and the Squiz may earn a little commission.

10.00am (AEST) – The case of Brett Button, the driver of the fatal Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, is due back in court to fix a sentencing hearing date – Newcastle, NSW

11.00am (AEST) – Major Football Australia announcement with CEO James Johnson joined by Matildas and Young Matildas players – Sydney

2.00pm (AEST) – Appeal judgement in the case of Chris Dawson, convicted last year of murdering his wife Lynette Simms in 1982 – Sydney

6.30pm (AEST) – The G7 Summit begins (on until 15 June) – Apulia, Italy

8.45pm (AEST) Golf: US Open begins (until 16 June) – Pinehurst, North Carolina, and watch on Foxtel

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is visiting Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand

ABS Data Release – National population, December 2023; Labour Force, May 

International Albinism Awareness Day 

Birthdays for Red Symons (1949), Stellan Skarsgård (1951) Tim Allen (1953), Chris Evans (1981), Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (1986)

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of poet WB Yeats (1865) and musician Slim Dusty (1927)
• the premiere of the film Grease (1978)