Squiz Today – 19 June 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s tour of Oz wrapped up in Perth yesterday, but it’s the actions of his officials that are in focus as the fallout from the ‘blocking’ of Aussie journo Cheng Lei during a press conference in Canberra on Monday continued to pile on. PM Anthony Albanese initially said he “didn’t see” the incident but yesterday he changed tack, calling it “ham-fisted” and confirmed our officials complained to the Chinese Embassy. But Coalition Leader Peter Dutton says Albanese should have called it out sooner by raising it with Premier Li on Monday, while ​​former Home Affairs boss Mike Pezzullo labelled it a “desecration” at the heart of our democracy.

What’s this all about?

You’re all over this because we reckon you remember Cheng Lei. She was a presenter at a Chinese state-owned English language broadcaster when she was arrested in 2020 and spent 3 years in jail for allegedly sharing state secrets. She always denied the charges and after a lot of advocacy by our officials, she returned to Australia last October. On Monday, Lei was at an official event between Albanese and Li in her current role as a Sky News reporter – some say that was a bit cheeky, but others say she is well within her rights as an Aussie journo. What happened is that Chinese officials blocked the camera’s view of her to prevent footage showing Lei and Li in the same frame. Albanese called it “clumsy”, but critics say he should have reacted more strongly. For her part, Lei says the Chinese officials “shot themselves in the foot” by their actions because it’s dominated talk about the trip for a couple of days.

Did it impact the end of Li’s tour?

Nope – he and Albanese put on a united front in Perth yesterday at the Australia-China CEO roundtable alongside mining and renewable energy reps. That’s a notable event because our exports to China totalled $320 billion last year, with three-quarters – mostly iron ore – coming from Western Oz. Albanese said those partnerships and investments are crucial, “even as we take steps to secure our economic sovereignty” to enable job growth in our critical minerals sector – part of the government’s Future Made in Australia plan. Li also visited a lithium processing plant, highlighting China’s focus on the critical minerals it needs for industries like electric vehicle manufacturing. Later, Li declared the visit a success at a banquet featuring rock lobster – even though the crustacean trade sanctions haven’t been lifted. Experts reckon the lingering impact of those sanctions means the relationship is still fragile. Easy does it…

Steady as she goes

The economists got it right – as predicted, the Reserve Bank has left the cash rate on hold at 4.35% for the seventh month running. It’s held rates steady because of something we’ve been warned of for a while now – that “inflation remains above target and is proving persistent”. Governor Michele Bullock reiterated that in her post-board meeting press conference yesterday, saying “we’re at a really complex part of the cycle” in the fight to bring inflation back within the 2-3% target – she now expects it to be “some time” before inflation gets there. Before the next meeting on 5-6 August, they’re keeping an eye on the June quarter consumer price index (CPI) data – which tracks the changing values of everything we produce. The Stage 3 tax cuts also land on 1 July – so expect more analysis about how they’ll affect inflation, too…

The nuclear debate heats up

The Coalition is set to reignite the national energy debate when it reveals the locations of its proposed nuclear power plants today, ending months of speculation over where they’ll be built. Reports say the locations were approved last night at a shadow cabinet meeting and they’ll be unveiled to the full party this morning. Details of the plan, including the number of plants and exact locations, have remained top-secret but reports say at least 2 are earmarked for Queensland (paywall). And The Australian is reporting Coalition Leader Peter Dutton wants the scheme to be Commonwealth-owned and operated (paywall), similar to the Snowy Mountains Hydro and the NBN. Dutton’s been under pressure to reveal details of the Coalition’s energy policy for months and today’s announcement is expected to generate even more heat around the topic… 

A meeting of the minds

Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in North Korea’s capital Pyongyang to rub shoulders with his old mate/hermit kingdom leader Kim Jong Un. The Kremlin describes it as a “friendly state visit” between the pair, but they’ve got plenty of business to run through… They’re tipped to sign a security pact, and reports suggest Putin might ask Kim for more weapons for Russia’s war on Ukraine. It’s the first time Putin’s been in Pyongyang for 24 years, but the leaders have been in regular contact and last met in Russia in September. Kim says they’re working together to overcome sanctions imposed on them by the US and its allies, related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs and Russia’s war in Ukraine. That’s got the US feeling iffy about their “deepening relationship”…

From one extreme to another…

If you’re in the south/east of Oz right now, you’ve probably been reaching for an extra layer as a prolonged cold snap has us shivering towards Friday’s winter solstice – aka the shortest day of the year. Bureau of Meteorology forecasters say the “chilly conditions” have lasted for “quite a long time” already, and will stick around for most of this week. Brr… As for athletes heading to Paris for the Olympics next month, they’ve been warned to expect “the hottest Games on record” – potentially posing health dangers. Forecaster Météo France says there’s a 70% chance the country will swelter through hotter summer conditions than normal this year. And it’s not a one-off – the International Olympics Committee reckons “heat stress experienced by elite athletes will continue to rise” as the effects of climate change hit.

Loving the other potato

If you are suffering from the cold and need an immunity boost, consider buying some purple sweet potato – the 2024 international vegetable of the year. It was announced back in January as part of Veganuary, but now it’s winter here the root veg is coming into its own, making it the perfect time to get into it. High antioxidant levels and other nutritional benefits are key advantages, but nutritionists say even if you can’t find the violet version, other colours like “red and copper, offer lots of benefits, like vitamin A and C, and beta carotene.” And their long shelf life makes them cozzie livs friendly. It’s perhaps no wonder we’re already loving all the variants as production is up 95% since 2013 and last year Aussies consumed 3.15kg per capita. You know our love of the spud so no need to convince us… 

Tasmania has opened applications for 10 ‘odd jobs’ – it’s not a DIY push but a plan to attract more winter tourists. Ranging from ‘wombat walker’ to ‘cave conductor’, the unpaid jobs last a couple of days, but the successful candidates will receive free travel, hotels, food and memorabilia for their stay…

What you probably won’t see in Tasmania this winter is the new fashion trend being pushed by Gucci – short shorts for men. Coming in a range of fabrics and colours, there’s potentially something for every man. It reminds us of a simpler time…

Police in California are used to extreme car chases, but their extended trotter chase for pet pig Pickles has gone viral. He was eventually caught and reunited with his owners – the officers decided not to charge him with resisting arrest…

8.00am (AEST) – The 2024 River Reflections conference to discuss the future of water management in the Murray-Darling Basin starts (until 20 June) – Albury, NSW

Juneteenth public holiday in the US, marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans

World Sickle Cell Day 

Red Apple Day supporting Bowel Cancer Australia  

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 

Birthdays for Aung San Suu Kyi (1945), Salman Rushdie (1947), Boris Johnson (1964), and Paul Dano (1984)

Anniversary of:

• the first celebration of Father’s Day in Washington state (1910)
• the British Royal Family renouncing its German names and titles and adopting the name of Windsor (1917)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show musical debuting in London (1973)
• Garfield, created by Jim Davis, first appearing as a comic strip (1978)
• the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for the illegal deportation of hundreds of children from Ukraine (2023)
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting China – the first time an American official of his seniority has visited since 2018 (2023)