Thursday, 19 March - Walk on the wild side

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 19 March. In your Squiz Today…

• PM Anthony Albanese has called an emergency meeting of national cabinet today to address fuel supply issues arising out of the Iran war

• Preparations are underway as Tropical Cyclone Narelle approaches Far North Queensland

• And it’s just the way you walk… that might be giving away how you’re feeling…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said Historical Aircraft Restoration Society president Bob De La Hunty about actor John Travolta’s old luxury jet, which is sailing (rather than flying) its way here nearly a decade after he donated it. The setback: airworthiness - which is quite important in a plane…

The war hits closer to home

The Squiz

In a close call for Aussie soldiers yesterday, an Iranian projectile fell near the Al Minhad joint air base where they were stationed in the United Arab Emirates. Reports say it fell around 9.15am, starting a fire which caused minor damage to an accommodation block and a medical building. Around 100 Aussies are housed at the base along with soldiers from the UK and US, but PM Anthony Albanese said no one was injured and “everyone is absolutely safe at this point in time”.

What are our troops doing there?

It’s our main base in the Middle East - it's used for training as well as for military exercises, logistics and surveillance. It’s not clear if the projectile was a drone or missile, but it’s the second time the base has been targeted since the US/Israel war with Iran began. Reports say Iran has ramped up strikes on US military bases, transport hubs and oil facilities in the Gulf States, and it continues to target tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In a bid to open up the crucial shipping channel, US forces yesterday launched bunker buster bombs on Iranian missile sites to try and prevent Iran from being able to hit ships passing through. That comes after US President Donald Trump’s request for international help in securing it fell flat, as the Strait’s effective closure continues to cause havoc on global oil supply…

How are we dealing with the oil crisis?

With petrol prices continuing to hurt and talk of rations bubbling up, the PM has called an emergency national cabinet meeting today with state and territory leaders to discuss how to shore up our fuel supply. He said the current crisis was the third major economic shock in a decade and compared it to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And while reports say fuel shipments are safe for the coming month, Albanese said “it’s a different world now … we need to respond to that”. Adding to the discussion, Greens leader Larissa Waters is pushing for free public transport to help drivers struggling with high petrol prices, while Coalition leader Angus Taylor wants extra fuel directed to the ag sector, saying it’s farmers and truckies that need it most. It’ll be a big talking point today…

Gaining some CGT know-how

Capital gains tax - or CGT - has been back in the headlines (and this very newsletter…), with changes being floated ahead of the May Federal Budget. FYI - it’s a tax paid on the profit when you sell an asset, like a house. But in recent years, some say the CGT discount (introduced to simplify the system…) encourages so much property investment that it’s making it hard for people buying homes to live in. It’s a complex issue, but CommBank Newsroom will get you up to speed.

Squiz the Rest

A sombre return

Sticking with Iran for a moment, its state media says the national women’s football team has arrived back in the country from Oz after taking part in the Women’s Asian Cup. The team has been in the headlines following their refusal to sing the national anthem before their first Cup match, for which they were called traitors in Iranian media. That led to concerns over their safety if they did return, and 7 members were originally granted asylum here, before most changed their minds - human rights activists say they may have been pressured into it with threats against their families. Now they’re back, supporters are still very anxious about their well-being, with fears they may be arrested. For the 2 who remained in Oz, they’ve accepted an offer to train with local club the Brisbane Roar this week.

Far North Queensland is in line for another battering…

…with the formation of Tropical Cyclone Narelle in the Coral Sea - and residents in Cape York are being urged to make a plan to shelter or evacuate while they have the chance. Narelle is currently around 600km offshore, but it’s building to a Category 4 or 5 cyclone and it’s expected to make landfall near Cape York sometime tomorrow morning. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting gale-force winds of 200 to 250km/hr, along with heavy rainfall, strong tides and flash flooding. To prepare for the storm, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says emergency crews have been sent in as it “may be the biggest system that many people have seen in living memory”. Stay safe, everyone…

King Kyle is dethroned

Sydney radio host Kyle Sandilands has signalled it’ll be lawyers at 10 paces after he was sacked by his employers Australian Radio Network (ARN) yesterday. Sandilands had been suspended for 14 days following an on-air argument with his co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, which led to the cancellation of the duo’s long-running radio show. After that elapsed, he confirmed that his contract had been terminated, and he accused ARN of using the spat as an excuse to get out of the 10-year, $200 million contract they signed the pair to in late 2023. He says he doesn’t “accept it” and it’s “over to his lawyers” now. You can read his full statement here, as well as ARN’s official notice to the ASX, but yeah - this one is far from over…

One state showing One Nation on the rise

That state is South Oz, which has an election coming up on Saturday - and where all eyes are going to be watching how Pauline Hanson’s party performs at the polls. While current Premier Peter Malinauskas and his Labor government are expected to romp it in and retain power, it’s likely a race for second place - with a poll yesterday showing that One Nation is on 22%, ahead of the Liberals on 19%. That puts One Nation as a contender to be the official opposition in the state, and the Liberals in real danger of a wipeout in the lower house. But experts say preferences may keep the Libs as the opposition, as the Labor government is putting them ahead of One Nation. It will be a very interesting watch on Saturday evening…

Gait expectations

It turns out that how we walk might be giving away a fair bit about our mood, according to new research. A study out of Japan asked volunteers to gauge how people were feeling simply by watching footage of them walking - but removing all other identifiable hints about their emotions, like facial expressions. It found that the volunteers were able to pick up on the emotions being portrayed at a higher rate than a random guess - and that specific movements indicated specific emotions. Large swings of the arms and legs were generally a sign of anger or aggression, while small, reduced movements indicated fear and sadness. Another study found your gait is harder to fake than other emotional giveaways, so this research could be used in surveillance to flag threatening people - be careful about swinging those arms and legs about in public…

Apropos of Nothing

A possum/master of disguise surprised travellers in Hobart Airport yesterday after it was found hiding amongst a bunch of stuffed toys in one of the airport gift shops. He was escorted out after leaving his plush location and taking a walk through the terminal… 

Two men have been charged with smuggling more than 2,000 live queen ants out of Kenya, stashed in test tubes and tissues. Reports say there’s a growing demand for the ants in Europe and Asia - because people are quite antsy to keep them as pets… 

And the world’s largest light show is opening tomorrow in the small Western Oz town of Albany - and artist Kari Kola says the installation is so big it’ll be visible from space. Lighting the Sound will be open until 29 March if you can get to Albany, or space, before then…

Squiz the Day

9.30am (AEDT) - Cricket: Women’s T20 International Australia v West Indies at Arnos Vale Ground - St Vincent, watch on Kayo 

9.00am (ACST) - The first public hearing of a Senate inquiry into the impact of microplastics and other toxins on human health will get underway - Adelaide

10:30am (AEDT) - On National Close the Gap Day, the 2026 Report from the Close the Gap Campaign will be launched with a free online event featuring 3 presenters sharing “insights from their work advancing justice, equality and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” - you can watch that event here

12.30pm (AEDT) - Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to deliver a key pre-Budget speech at an Australian Business Economists event. Reports say he’ll put big tax and productivity reform on the agenda, you can read more about that here - Melbourne

PM Anthony Albanese will chair a virtual national cabinet meeting of state and territory leaders from Tasmania to discuss fuel security

EU Summit - the first European Council summit of 2026, where EU leaders will meet to discuss regional policy and security (until 20 March) - Brussels 

ABS data release: Quarterly tourism labour statistics, December 2025; National, state and territory population, September 2025; labour force, Australia, February 2026

Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary will wrap up their 6-day visit to Oz with a trip to Hobart - Mary’s first official visit to her home state since she became Queen in 2024

The National Gallery of Victoria will open the Future Country Exhibition

Ugadi or Yugadi, also known as Samvatsarādi - New Year's day in the Hindu Calendar

Project Hail Mary will be released in Australian cinemas 

Birthdays for actors Glenn Close (1947) and Bruce Willis (1955)

Anniversary of:

• the first stone being laid for the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona...it is unfinished to this day (1882)

• the Lumière brothers recording the first footage ever using their newly patented cinematograph (1895)

• the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932)

• the beginning of the invasion of Iraq by American and British-led forces (2003)