Squiz Today – 24 June 2024

The Squiz 

With sittings resuming for both houses of the federal parliament today, the Coalition’s nuclear power plans are set to be the major talking point… The debate was full steam ahead over the weekend with questions over the cost dominating. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said estimates have given the policy a $387 billion price tag, but renewable energy body the Smart Energy Council reckons it could cost anywhere from $116-$600 billion for about 3.7% of the national energy supply by 2050. 

That sounds a lot for not much… 

Well, the Coalition’s Energy spokesman Ted O’Brien doesn’t agree with that assessment of the scheme. Yesterday, he said each of the 7 sites named last week could host multiple reactors, which would increase the output. “One of the lessons we learned from overseas, in order to get prices down, you need multi-unit sites,” O’Brien said. But Plibersek pointed out that countries like Germany are closing nuclear power plants over cost and safety concerns. “On every analysis internationally, renewables are cheaper” she said. And while simmering over the weekend, the debate turned personal… On Saturday, Coalition leader Peter Dutton said Labor ministers posting memes/cartoons about the plan shows PM Anthony Albanese is “a child in a man’s body”. So get ready for some robust words as our pollies return to Canberra today… 

What else will they be talking about? 

Umm, it’s more about what’s missing from it… Back in March, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said they were seeking extra powers to make it easier to deport non-citizens. They said the legislation was urgently needed after the government was ordered to release hundreds of immigration detainees – many of whom were criminals. That legislation was widely criticised at the time for being “incredibly undemocratic” and “far-reaching”, and last month, Labor delayed debate in the Senate – until this week. Now, reports say it’s quietly stepping away from them altogether, along with its proposal for new religious discrimination laws – both proposals the Coalition has been pushing for action on. Sometimes it’s what’s not being said that’s the real talking point. So let that bit of wisdom sink in for your Monday… 

IDF under fire

A video of an injured Palestinian man strapped to the bonnet of an Israeli military jeep and driven past multiple ambulances during a raid of the West Bank city of Jenin drew international criticism yesterday. The IDF concedes it was a “violation of orders and standard operating procedures” that does not “conform to the values of the IDF”. They claim Mujahed Azmi was injured during a counter-terrorism operation and they were taking him to an ambulance, but his family disputes that. It came as at least 42 Palestinians were killed during Israeli strikes in Gaza City, including at the Al-Shati refugee camp. The IDF acknowledged the strikes but claims they targeted “2 Hamas military infrastructure sites”. The incidents have put more pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also confronted by thousands more protestors at another ceasefire rally on Saturday.

Supermarkets forced to play fair

Aussie supermarkets will have to comply with a mandatory grocery code of conduct or risk facing huge fines. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will apply all 11 recommendations from a review of the code, carried out by former Labor minister Craig Emerson earlier this year. The review aimed to lessen the power imbalance between big grocery chains and small suppliers, as well as helping out consumers with prices at the checkout. Under the new code, Coles, Woolies, Aldi and Metcash (which runs IGA) would be fined up to $10 million, three times the benefit they gained from the breach, or 10% of their annual turnover – which could amount to billions of dollars – for serious breaches. Chalmers said the new code will help suppliers and consumers to get better deals from the supermarket giants. “This is about getting a fair go for families and a fair go for farmers,” he said. 

Adelaide triggered

A shopping centre in Adelaide was evacuated and locked down yesterday after a brawl broke out between 2 groups of armed boys. Two people were injured as crowds ran towards the exits at Westfield Marion shopping centre, south of Adelaide. SA Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said officers were called around 3pm after reports of several boys – all thought to be under 18yo – fighting with “expandable batons” in the food court. He said there were “some reports of a knife involved” and that prompted the centre’s emergency lockdown protocol – which it’s recently reviewed after Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction attack. A 77yo woman and a teenage girl were treated for minor injuries after the evacuation. Police are searching for the youths involved, and Duval said he’s “confident” they’ll be found. He said the attack didn’t appear to be random and there’s no ongoing threat to the public.

Crushed in the Caribbean

Australia’s Men’s T20 World Cup campaign took an unexpected blow yesterday following our shock loss to Afghanistan – our first ever – after they scored a compelling 21-run victory. Glenn Maxwell made a valiant effort, batting like a champ and registering a spectacular half-century, while Pat Cummins achieved a back-to-back hat-trick, but it wasn’t enough… The Aussies just couldn’t overcome some crucial half-centuries from Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, paired with some top-notch bowling by Player of the Match Gulbadin Naib. The historic loss means Australia will need to defeat India in tomorrow’s Super Eight clash to keep their dream of qualifying for the semi-finals alive. Speaking after the match, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh conceded they’d simply been “outplayed” saying “they just played a really good game of cricket”.

Getting royally raucous

There’s nothing like a bit of dad dancing, and even royal fathers aren’t immune to bopping along to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off, as Prince William proved at her concert in London on Friday… He attended the Eras gig with his 2 eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte as part of the celebrations marking his 42nd birthday. The famous family even got some selfies with Swift before the show, which Tay Tay later posted to her socials along with a birthday message for the future king saying “Happy birthday M8! London shows off to a splendid start” highlighting how chummy they are. Kensington Palace replied with a similar picture on X – aka Twitter, saying, “Thank you @‌TaylorSwift for a great evening!” Not in attendance was Princess Kate who stayed home with their youngest Prince Louis. He’s still all danced out after his jig last weekend… 

He might officially be hideous, but 8yo Pekinese Wild Thang still makes our hearts sing after being crowned the world’s ugliest dog in California. It took a while for the judges to be convinced that he’s not a cutie – this was his 6th attempt at the title.

Heaps of people feel too intimidated to strip down to their swimmers in public. That’s being addressed in New York where beach lovers of all sizes have been encouraged to let it all hang out…

And while mystery enthusiasts were still pondering how another shiny monolith had appeared in the Nevada desert, authorities have taken it down. Police in Las Vegas say it was removed over public safety concerns – definitely not because it’s part of an alien conspiracy…

Both Houses of Federal Parliament sitting (until 27 June) – Canberra

From 8.00pm (AEST) – Wimbledon qualifying (on until 27 June) – London, and watch on the BBC Sports website

International Day of Women in Diplomacy

Birthdays for Mick Fleetwood (1947), Australian champion sprinter Raelene Boyle (1951), Mindy Kaling (1979), Solange Knowles (1986) and Lionel Messi (1987)

Anniversary of:

• The first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (1978)
• Julia Gillard becoming Australia’s 27th Prime Minister (2010)
• the longest match in tennis history, where American John Isner defeated France’s Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon after 11 hours and 5 minutes of play over 3 days (2010)
• the resignation of UK PM David Cameron after the Brexit referendum supported leaving the EU (2016)
• women being allowed to drive for the first time in Saudi Arabia after the ban was lifted (2018)
• the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, effectively criminalising abortion in much of the nation (2022)