Friday, 16 January - Like a dark horse

Good morning, it’s Friday, 16 January. In your Squiz Today…

• The Albanese Government’s new hate speech/gun laws hit a snag

• There’s been intense flooding on the Great Ocean Road

• And some delicious weekend wraps

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Squiz Sayings

Said NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, one of 4 astronauts to participate in NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from space. NASA hasn’t confirmed which of the 4 is sick, but has said they’re “fine right now” following a very, very long trip to the doctor…

New hate speech laws run into trouble

The Squiz

On Monday, the Albanese Government will recall parliament early and table its new hate speech and gun control laws in the wake of the antisemitic terror attack in Bondi. The Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill introduces measures like a new federal offence for inciting or promoting racial hatred and creating a national gun buyback scheme. But it’s going to be tricky to get it across the line, with both the Coalition and the Greens yesterday confirming they won’t support it in its current form.

What’s the Coalition’s issue with the bill?

Leader Sussan Ley called the bill “unsalvageable” and “rushed”, raising concerns that the words “radical Islam” don’t appear in it. But reports say other members of the Coalition have different problems - that the new laws will curtail free speech too much - and National MPs are taking issue with some of the new gun control measures. Ley’s comments that the legislation was rushed irked PM Anthony Albanese, who reminded her that she was the one pushing for the government to recall parliament more quickly following the attacks. And Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said while his organisation also had issues with the bill, the Coalition shouldn’t make “perfect the enemy of good” and called for the party to support it.

And where are the Greens coming from?

The party has some different issues to the Coalition - leader Larissa Waters said that it was “complex legislation that may have unintended consequences”, that she was worried it would “shut down legitimate political protest”, but she said the Greens also need to do their due diligence. Her colleague David Shoebridge argued that “surely in legislation designed to fight hate, to fight division… you cannot have national legislation that privileges one religion over others”. With the Coalition and the Greens opposing the legislation in its current form, that means it’s unlikely to pass the Senate following the 2 scheduled days of debate next week. Team Albo will need the support of one or the other to get it done, so let the negotiations begin… 

A fix for an overstuffed suitcase

If you’re anything like us, packing for the holidays means a bulging suitcase... To help with that, Brisbane brand Simplify Living has created vacuum travel bags that compress with a small handheld pump - squeeze the air out and watch your stack halve in size. Genius... Find out more here.

Squiz the Rest

Chaos reigns in Minnesota…

…as US President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to send in the US military to stop protests that have been going on in the northern US state for days. It’s where 37yo Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent last week, while the agency was conducting raids on undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota’s largest city. Yesterday, another man was shot in the leg by an immigration officer - officials say his injuries are “non life-threatening”, and in both cases, the Trump administration has argued the officers were acting in self-defence. But Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey says his city is being “invaded”, and ICE’s conduct is “disgusting and intolerable”.

The next phase begins…

We mentioned yesterday that with little prior warning, the US announced that phase 2 of the Gaza ceasefire plan had begun - 14 weeks after the truce between Israel and Hamas - and now we’re learning more about what it entails… The second phase will see the Israel Defence Forces continue to withdraw, Hamas’s disarmament, a transitional Palestinian authority brought in to replace Hamas in governing the Gaza Strip, and an “international stabilisation force” deployed. They’re major undertakings, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has threatened “serious consequences” if Hamas doesn’t cooperate - including with “the immediate return of the final deceased hostage”. But with few details about how those items will be achieved, there are questions about how soon it’ll all happen…

The fires and the floods…

After the bushfires burning across Victoria this week, which will lead to an independent review, an emergency warning was issued yesterday afternoon for towns along the Great Ocean Road - this time, for thunderstorms, torrential rain and flooding. With caravan parks flooded and several cars washed out to sea, the pictures are something to behold... The State Emergency Service pointed the finger at a storm cell moving across the area just before 1pm, with residents of Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne all in the warning zone. And in Queensland, impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji are starting the clean-up. Yesterday, the state and federal governments promised an extra $26 million in disaster recovery funding for those impacted - on top of $40 million already announced.

The Australian Open kicks off…

…on Sunday, although that’ll be little comfort to those who bought tickets to this week’s Opening Week thinking they’d be seeing the real stuff. Yesterday, organisers hosted the official draw - and it wasn’t amazing news for local hope Alex ‘the Demon’ De Minaur, who’ll be playing world #56 Matteo Berrettini, who he’s 2-3 against in singles matches. As far as what to look out for this year, on the men’s side we’ve got World #1 Carlos Alcaraz going for a career Grand Slam (he’s never won here) and world #2 Jannik Sinner going for 3 on the trot. On the women’s side, American Madison Keys will be trying to defeat top chances Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek to go back-to-back, while there are high hopes for local #30 seed Maya Joint. One way or another, it’ll be aces…

Screaming yourself horse

If you’re ever ridden a horse and felt it could sense you were a bit nervous, well, you may have been right… Some research out of France had people watch either horror movies (stay with us) or more uplifting movies, and then tested how horses reacted to the different scents triggered by their experience. It found that the horses were more likely to startle, keep clear of their handlers and had higher heart rates around those who watched the horror movies, and were more relaxed around the others. The research suggests horses can ‘smell’ fear, and while more tests need to take place to verify the research, it could be important for improving how horses are trained if the findings hold up. And anyone who thinks they won’t is just a neighsayer…

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

Oscar contender Hamnet is out in wide release this weekend, and we’ve seen it… It’s about the loss of a child, so fair warning before you go that this isn’t an easy watch - but the performances from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are phenomenal, to be sure… 

For some lighter fare (although not that much), the music biopic Song Sung Blue is also a good time at the movies - it stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as a Neil Diamond tribute act with a remarkable (and sad) story - and plenty of Sweet Caroline, to boot…  

We’re all about quick and delicious when it comes to lunch/dinner meal prep here at the Squiz, and that’s why we’re keen on these San Choy Bow lettuce wraps from RecipeTinEats. Pork or chicken, veggies, a tasty sauce, all wrapped in lettuce? Yes please…

Squiz the Day

Friday
9.30am (AEST): State funeral for former Nationals senator The Hon Ronald Boswell AO (Brisbane)

It’s the first day of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which is on until 25 January. Last year the festival attracted 40,000 people to the streets of Tamworth. 

It’s International Hot and Spicy Food Day 🌶️

National Nothing Day in the US... A day to celebrate... nothing

And a birthday for supermodel Kate Moss (1974)

Anniversary of 

• Muammar Gaddafi officially being named Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in Libya, 4 months after leading a coup against the monarchy (1970)

• The premiere of BBC's landmark nature series Life on Earth presented by David Attenborough (1979)

• The US announcing the start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait (1991)

• The death of Australian photographer Frank Hurley (1962)

• The death of former Liberal senator Jim Molan at the age of 72 (2023)

Saturday
11.00am (ACDT): Stage 1 of the Women's Tour Down Under cycling race - Adelaide, watch on 7 Plus

11.00am (AWST) SailGP, raceday 1 - Perth, watch on SBS

6.00pm (AEST): Boxing - Nikita Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa - Brisbane, watch it on Kayo 

7.30pm (AEST): The inaugural opening ceremony for the Australian Open, featuring Crowded House - Melbourne, watch it on Channel 9

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds tour Australia for the first time in 17 years, beginning in Fremantle today

The Geelong Beer Festival returns for 2026, which celebrates the region’s best in food, drinks, arts, and entertainment 🍺

International Mentoring Day, which coincides with Muhammed Ali’s birthday as a day to promote understanding and appreciation of the role of mentoring in personal growth and inclusion

Birthdays for actor Jim Carrey (1962), former First Lady Michelle Obama (1964) and Aussie netball legend Liz Ellis (1973)

Anniversary of 

• the start of the 13-year-long prohibition on alcohol (1920)

• the birthday of Betty White (1922) 

• the start of the Gulf War in Iraq (1991)

Sunday

The Australian Open begins - Melbourne, watch on Channel 9 and 9Now

The Midsumma Festival begins, running until 8 February. The festival is a celebration of queer arts - Melbourne

The Portuguese presidential election begins - there are 5 frontrunner candidates and one will need over 50% of the votes cast to win. If that doesn't occur, a run-off will be scheduled for 8 February, the first time in 4 decades that’s happened 🇵🇹

World Religion Day, which is observed annually to promote interfaith understanding, peace, and the harmony of spiritual principles

National Winnie the Pooh Day - US, commemorating author A.A. Milne's birthday (1882)

It’s World Snow Day, but it probably won’t be much of an event in Australia with this weather…

Birthdays for former PM Paul Keating (1944) and actor Kevin Costner (1955)

Anniversary of:

• Captain James Cook coming across the Hawaiian Islands, which didn’t end well… (1778)

• the first ship of the First Fleet arriving in Botany Bay (1788)