Monday, 13 January - It's now or never

January 13, 2025

Good morning, it’s Monday, 13 January. In your Squiz Today…

  • The Coalition’s campaign train leave the station

  • More tough days ahead for firefighters in LA

  • And viva las Parkes as Elvis is celebrated in fine fashion

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“The beer was the most important part, to be honest…”

Said a spectator after taking a spectacular diving catch in the crowd during the first match of the Women’s Ashes - without spilling his beer. Australia’s day was also winning…

Dutton hits the launch button

The Squiz

PM Anthony Albanese kicked off last week by swinging into campaign mode, and Coalition Leader Peter Dutton followed suit yesterday in Melbourne. At a Liberal party event in Chisholm, a seat the Coalition lost in 2022 and is keen to have back, Dutton laid out his plan to make the Albanese Government the first since 1931 not to be elected for a second term with the slogan 'Let's Get Australia Back On Track'. Dutton says a change is essential because "a newly elected Coalition Government is a last chance to reverse the decline" in the nation's social and economic settings.

What’s the Coalition’s platform?

Dutton put 3 economic goals in bold - fighting cost-of-living pressures, building a stronger economy, and cutting government waste. On energy, he pledged to “ramp up domestic gas production” and talked up his nuclear power plan. Housing also got a big run - the Coalition promises $5 billion to infrastructure projects like power and sewerage that it says will "unlock" up to half a million new homes by getting stalled housing projects going. He also promised to increase Medicare funding, an area Labor says is under threat. There was nothing new in policy - but there was a sense of urgency... Dutton said the upcoming election is “a sliding doors moment for our nation” and promised to reflect the “views, values and vision of everyday Australians”.

Does Team Dutton really have a chance of winning?

Quite possibly… The Coalition is polling well above where they were at the last election and ahead of Labor. But to win, they need to pick up 21 seats - and that's a tough ask. To give you a sense of how big that mountain is - Tony Abbott won 18 seats in 2013, and Kevin Rudd won 23 in 2007… And Dutton is facing the added challenge of popular independents. Climate 200 - the organisation behind the Teals (aka the group of independents who won several Coalition-held seats in 2022) - is successfully fundraising and going after more seats currently held by the Coalition. So with the prospect of a minority government - where either Labor or the Coalition governs with the support of minor parties and independents - it’s game on from the major parties…

Squiz the Rest

LA continues to burn

Firefighters from Mexico and Canada have landed in Los Angeles to help overwhelmed local crews fight the still-out-of-control wildfires as authorities warn of worsening conditions over the next couple of days. More than 38,000 acres have burned in multiple fires fanned by catastrophic winds and dry heat over the past week, and at the latest count, about 12,000 structures have been destroyed. Over the weekend, cadaver dogs were brought in to help search for bodies - and the death toll has since risen to at least 16 people. One of those has been confirmed as Australian man Rory Sykes - he was a 32yo who lived with cerebral palsy. His mum Shelley Sykes called him "a wonderful son ... a true humanitarian”. This link with some maps and before/after pics is a good one.

North Korean soldiers captured

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his forces have captured 2 injured North Korean soldiers, and the pair have been given medical treatment “as stipulated by the Geneva Convention”. It’s the first time North Korean soldiers have been captured as prisoners of war since an estimated 11,000 of them were deployed in December to bolster Russian troops along the frontlines. Since then, Zelensky says Russia has been trying to cover up their involvement by executing any wounded North Koreans. The captured pair don’t speak Russian, Ukrainian or English but are “talking to SBU investigators” via interpreters. Reports say the men thought they were going to Russia for training, not to fight in the war…

A community on edge

NSW Premier Chris Minns has warned of “a massive escalation in antisemitic hate crimes” as authorities confirmed the latest attack on Sydney’s Newtown Synagogue included attempted arson. It happened in the early hours of yesterday, with cameras capturing 2 people on bikes arriving at the synagogue around 4.25am. Police say they spray-painted offensive graffiti on the fence and tried to set the synagogue on fire before riding away. Police Commissioner Karen Webb called it “an escalation in the level of criminality”. It comes a day after swastikas were painted on the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah (about 13km away) and several other attacks last year. As the investigations continue, Minns says he’ll review the state’s vilification and hate laws in the coming weeks.

Rain on the tennis parade

The first day of the Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne yesterday - with a backdrop of heavy rain and thunderstorms… That derailed play on the outside courts, but spectators weren’t put off - and it was worth braving the weather, with defending champ Aryna Sabalenka starting her campaign off strong with a straight sets win against American Sloane Stephens last night. From there, men’s world #2 Alexander Zverev beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille, also in straight sets. Of the Australians competing, 4 were up, but none scored a win. As for what to expect on and off the court over the next 2 weeks, this piece is your friend. And if you want to get up to speed on the favourites (including Aussie star Alex de Minaur…) and how to watch them, you can do that here.

Can’t help falling in love…

The King of Rock 'n' Roll's legacy is alive and well if the 2025 Elvis Parkes Festival is anything to go by… The final count’s not in yet, but it’s estimated that 25,000 fans made their way to the NSW’s Central West to get all shook up on what would have been Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday weekend. The festival is the biggest celebration of Elvis in the southern hemisphere and brings in around $11 million for the region’s economy, meaning local businesses love it tender… Elvis lookalikes (and other hound dogs) took part - and age isn’t a deterrence if 9yo Jay Elvis is one participant to go by… You can see all the photos here.

Apropos of Nothing

Scientists say 2 Queensland humpback dolphins may have been acting as each other’s ‘wingman’ after being tracked rocking up to a breeding spot together 11 years on the trot. You scratch my flipper, I’ll scratch yours…

If you’ve ever wanted to watch the breeding season of the northern royal albatross, well, neither have we… But we’ve still got you covered. Millions have watched the feed of just that live from New Zealand’s South Island since it began in 2016 - and it’s on again for 2025….

And because a third story about the mating habits of animals would have been a bit weird, here's musician Macy Gray, who was deeply unhappy about being the first voted off The Masked Singer UK. Gray - dressed as Toad in the Hole - wandered off stage after learning she was eliminated.

Squiz the Day

It’s all happening at the Australian Open tennis… For the Aussies:

  • 11.30am - Ajla Tomljanovic v American Ashlyn Krueger

  • 12.40pm - Jordan Thompson v Germany’s Dominik Koepfer

  • 5.00pm - Maya Joint v American Jessica Pegula

  • 7.00pm - Nick Kyrgios v Brit Jacob Fearnley - Melbourne, and live on 9Now

Birthdays for actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1961), Patrick Dempsey (1966) and Orlando Bloom (1977)

Anniversary of:

  • the death of Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon/Princess Margaret’s ex (2017)

  • the false emergency alert warning of an impending missile strike on Hawaii (2018)