Friday, 13 September - Left, right, left, we all fall down

Good morning, it’s Friday, 13 September 👻. In your Squiz Today…

• A loss of honour for some Australian soldiers

• Aged care reforms are passed in parliament

• And Taylor Swift dominates at the VMAs…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said tech billionaire Jared Isaacman as he became the first ever civilian to carry out a commercial space walk. Isaacman funded the trip aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule in what's being claimed as "a milestone in the history of space travel". Honours don’t come much higher…

A loss of honour

The Squiz

Some of our most decorated Australian Defence Force (ADF) commanding officers have had their service medals stripped by Defence Minister Richard Marles following allegations of war crimes being carried out in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016 under their watch. It’s part of the Albanese Government’s response to the Brereton Report - a 4-year-long inquiry conducted by NSW Supreme Court Justice/Major General Paul Brereton that was handed down in 2020. The allegations are “arguably the most serious” made against ADF personnel in our history, Marles says, and “this will always be a matter of national shame”.

Back it up a bit…

The Brereton Report’s key findings are here, but there’s a lot that hasn’t been publicly shared… What has been shared are claims that 23 Australian soldiers were behind the murders of 39 Afghans, with some forced to do so by their senior officers. As for the names of those who have lost their medals, Marles wouldn't say, citing "privacy concerns". He did say it’s fewer than 10 officers, and former ADF Chief Angus Campbell - one of the highest-profile commanders in the Middle East during the years in question - isn’t one of them. It also doesn’t include Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, who’s under investigation for war crimes - allegations he denies.

So what happens now?

The government has finalised its response to 139 of the 143 findings in the Brereton Report, with the last 4 linked to the potential prosecution of officers accused of war crimes. Marles yesterday warned that any prosecutions “pursued by the Office of the Special Investigator will take years to complete”. As for how his announcement yesterday has gone down… The Australian Special Air Service Association and RSL criticised the timing - days after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s final report was made public. Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie called it “absolutely atrocious”, saying she was “terribly worried about the mental health of our veterans”. But Coalition Defence spokesperson Andrew Hastie - a former elite soldier himself - is focused on who’s being blamed and “how far it reaches up the chain in assigning responsibility”.

Your fresh market update…

At the Squiz, we’re all about giving you the useful stuff. So, we’ve teamed up with Woolies to share their top weekly fruit and veg picks. Here’s what to grab this week:

🍓 Strawberries - These babies are sweet and juicy. Which is just how we like our news, come to think of it…

🍌 Organic bananas - We're calling them out because they're high in the nutrients you're looking for in your 'nana hit. And this week, they're on point.

🥦 Broccolini - The taller/more charismatic cousin of broccoli, it’s good value ATM.

🍅 Gourmet tomatoes -They're the classic tomatoes you see on the shelf - choose them slightly firm and bright red for a taste sensation.

Squiz the Rest

A father’s touching tribute

The father of the 2 boys found dead in their home in the NSW Blue Mountains on Tuesday issued a statement honouring his sons yesterday, calling them “happy, funny, outgoing boys”. Nick Smith said he “cannot understand” how 11yo Russell and 9yo Ben were “taken this way” and asked for privacy as he deals with the “unimaginable pain and distress”. The boys’ mother Trish Smith was also found in the home suffering from what reports say are self-inflicted wounds - she was arrested and remains under police guard in hospital. Premier Chris Minns says “every help” will be provided to the family, while a spokesperson for the boys’ school says counselling and wellbeing support is being provided to students/staff. The Police investigation into what happened is ongoing.

On ya bike, Mike 

After a pretty bruising 2024, Mike Sneesby - the boss of Nine Entertainment, the country’s largest commercial media organisation - has called time after 3.5 years in the top job. It’s been one of the “most challenging” years of his career, he said - that’s one way of putting it after Nine’s share price dive, strikes, and harassment allegations levelled against the broadcaster’s former news director. Oh, and the company’s chair Peter Costello also stepped down after a run-in with a journo at Canberra Airport... The company’s finance chief Matt Stanton will hold down the fort as a global search for a new boss commences. Sneesby might be dreaming of an exit package like former Qantas chief Alan Joyce following yesterday’s disclosure that he was paid $3.4 million for his last 2 months in the job. That’s a pay rate of $38.80 for every minute of that time… 

Aged care costs go up for long-term sustainability

A deal that will see some self-funded retirees and pensioners cough up more for their aged care has been sealed with the Coalition coming to an agreement with the Albanese Government. Aiming to slow the cost growth rate of aged care from 5.7% a year to 5.2%, it's expected that $12.6 billion will be saved over 10 years. PM Anthony Albanese reckons the reforms are the "greatest improvement to aged care in 30 years", and Coalition leader Peter Dutton said older Aussies will maintain their "dignity as they age". And despite the increased cost to those entering the system - whether that be for residential care or assistance at home - the industry's stakeholders also seem pleased… Older Persons Advocacy Network boss Craig Gear said the reforms have the potential to "create a financially sustainable aged care system for future generations." Here's how the new plan will work…

It’s the most wonderful time of a footy fan’s year…

The NRL and AFL are both officially at the pointy end of the season… Rugby League fans will be kicking off their finals series with the top 4 teams vying to make it straight through to the preliminary finals - that’s the Penrith Panthers v the Sydney Roosters tonight and the Melbourne Storm v the Cronulla Sharks tomorrow. And over in AFL’ville - Sydney Swans and Geelong fans get a rest after their wins last weekend - they will face the victors of Port Adelaide v Hawthorn tonight, and GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions tomorrow. Where is this heading? Those in the know are favouring a Penrith v Storm NRL Grand Final and a Swans v Geelong premiership game in the AFL. May your team be a winning team, whoever they are… 

The more things change… 

…the more they stay the same - and so it was at yesterday’s MTV Video Music Awards. Killing it was Taylor Swift as she bested Beyoncé’s record for career solo VMA wins with 30 wins. On that theme, Swift took out a record fifth video of the year award - her first was in 2009 when the artist formerly known as Kanye West stormed the stage and said “Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time”. He preferred Single Ladies - and we kinda agree… But enough of that, some other names honoured include Eminem (best hip-hop), Lenny Kravitz (best rock) and Katy Perry (iconic performance). And Chappell Roan claimed the best newcomer gong (and if she didn’t, she probably could have fought them for it, medieval style…) as Sabrina Carpenter won song of the year with Espresso. But the VMA’s are actually about what they wore - dive in here. 

Wanna be in the Saturday Squiz?

NSW’s Woy Woy branch of the Country Women’s Association is posting vintage recipes online to help those trying to serve up delicious meals while saving a few pennies. Which made us wonder…

Wanna see the results? Click here to get the Saturday Squiz delivered to your inbox.

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

Speaking of those fabulous musical women, here are 2 long-reads to get your teeth into. Rolling Stone’s feature on Chappell Roan and GQ’s on the business of Beyoncé will have you leading the pop culture conversation. 

Ever gone in for an important handshake and completely stuffed it to the point where it still haunts you? Comedy-musical duo Flo & Joan summed it up for us with this catchy ditty…  

And if you need something for the barbie this weekend, these lemon/oregano lamb skewers with a cucumber yoghurt are a winner. It’ll make enough for 4 people as a main and is easy to scale up. Add a leafy salad, and that’s a done/delicious deal.

Squiz the Day

Friday
9.00am (AEST) - Representatives from the car industry will appear at a parliamentary inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles - Canberra

10.00am (AEST) - Sandown 500 Supercars round - Springvale, Vic

12.00pm (AEST) - Welcome home event for our Paris Paralympians - Sydney

7.30pm (AEST) - The world premiere of Oscar by the Australian Ballet, about Oscar Wilde - Melbourne 

7.10pm (ACST) - AFL: Semi-final, Port Adelaide v Hawthorn - Adelaide, and watch on Kayo

7.50pm (AEST) - NRL: Qualifying final, Penrith v Sydney Roosters - Sydney, and watch on Channel 9

Queensland public schools finish up Term 3

Start of the Content Byte Summit (until 14 September) - Sydney 

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Roald Dahl (1916) and Shane Warne (1969)

• the release of Nintendo's first-ever Super Mario Bros game (1985)

• the premiere of Law and Order (1990)

Saturday
3.00am (AEST) - Athletics: Diamond League finals (until 14 Sep) - Brussels

3.30am (AEST) - Men's Cricket: Second T20I - Australia v England - England, and watch on Kayo

9.25am (AEST) - Nationals leader David Littleproud to address the Nationals Annual Federal Council - Canberra

12.00pm (AEST) - Welcome home events for Paris Paralympians in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth

12.00pm (AEST) - Swimming Australia Awards - Brisbane

4.05pm (AEST) - NRL: Qualifying final, Melbourne v Cronulla - Melbourne, and watch on Channel 9

7.30pm (AEST) - AFL: Semi-final, GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions - Sydney, and watch on Kayo

7.50pm (AEST) - NRL: Elimination final, North Queensland v Newcastle - Townsville, Qld, and watch on Channel 9

11.30pm (AEST) - Rugby Union - Women's International: Wallaroos v Ireland - Ireland, and watch on Stan Sport

NSW Local Council elections

Floriade begins in Canberra 

Start of Police Week (until 29 September)

World First Aid Day 

Anniversary of:

• the debut of The Golden Girls (1985)

• the deaths of Princess Grace of Monaco (1982) and actor Patrick Swayze (2009)

• Malcolm Turnbull ousting Tony Abbott as PM and leader of the Liberal Party (2015)

Sunday
6.00am (AEST) - Sydney Marathon, set on an inner-city course and finishing at the Opera House - Sydney

9.00pm (AEST) - Motorsport: F1 Azerbaijani Grand Prix - Baku, Azerbaijan, and watch on Kayo

1.00pm (AEST) - Welcome home event for Paris Paralympians and Olympians - Adelaide

4.05pm (AEST) - NRL: Elimination final, Canterbury v Manly - Sydney, and watch on Channel 9

7.00pm (AEST) - Tennis: Davis Cup group finals, Australia v Spain - Valencia, Spain, and watch on 9Now

11.30pm (AEST) - Men's Cricket: Third T20I - Australia v England - England, and watch on Kayo

CleanUp Conference (on until 19 September) - Adelaide

World Lymphoma Awareness Day 

Start of Dementia Awareness Week (until 22 September) 

International Day of Democracy 

Independence Days for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua

World Afro Day

It’s Prince Harry's 40th Birthday where he is set to receive a massive inheritance thanks to his late great-grandmother the Queen Mother

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Marco Polo (1254) and Agatha Christie (1890)

• Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovering penicillin (1928)

• google.com being registered as a domain name (1997)

• the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games (2000)