Thursday, 7 December - Look what you made me do

Reducing food waste with Woolworths

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 7 December. In your Squiz Today…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said Communictions Minister Michelle Rowland of a decision to allow Australia Post to ditch daily letter services, reducing the delivery schedule to every second day. It's to help all the parcels we've ordered online get to us faster, and we're totally here for that…

A US connection to the Wieambilla police murder

The Squiz

Nearly a year on from the murders of Queensland police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold and good samaritan Alan Dare at a rural property at Wieambilla in Queensland, officers from America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have arrested a man linked to the "religiously-motivated terrorist attack". Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon yesterday said Donald Day from Arizona was indicted by a grand jury for interstate threats under US law, and that he has been remanded in custody. 

How is he linked?

Let’s start at the beginning… The trio were shot and killed on 12 December last year - the police officers were ambushed as they visited the property as part of a missing person case. The tragedy was labelled as Australia's first fundamentalist Christian terrorist attack. Husband and wife Gareth and Stacey Train and Gareth's brother Nathaniel were killed after a 6-hour standoff with police, and it was later revealed the trio had planned the attack. And yesterday, Assistant Commissioner Scanlon said Gareth Train and Donald Day first connected via YouTube in May 2021. She said Day sent messages about Christian end-of-days ideology to Gareth and Stacey and allegedly made comments "inciting violence in connection to the incident at Wieambilla".

So what happens now?

The FBI is investigating Day’s motivations, and Scanlon says Aussie authorities have "a long way to go" in identifying "any residual threats" posed to the community. That means they want to know if Day or the Trains were in contact with others here... And there's another reason to mention the Wieambilla attack with the National Cabinet agreeing to introduce the National Firearms Register. The register was first agreed to 27 years ago after the Port Arthur Massacre but was never implemented. It will take about 4 years to get up and running, but it means the state/territory gun registers will be brought together into a national database. Noting the Wieambilla attack anniversary next week, Albanese says the decision "represents the most significant improvement in Australia's firearms management systems in almost 30 years and will keep Australia's first responders and community safer".

Day 5: Leftover lovers unite

One of the best things about cooking a Christmas feast is having a fridge full of yummy bits to graze on in the days afterwards. And according to 94% of Squizers surveyed, that means sandwiches/wraps. In the spirit of reducing food waste and supporting Aussies in need, Woolworths is teaming up with OzHarvest for the ninth year running. Since 2014, they've donated approximately 70 million meals, and this year, they're matching donations to OzHarvest through their Christmas appeal. If you want to get in on the action, find out more here.

Squiz the Rest

Shocking allegations against a former shock jock

A big investigation is splashed all over the front pages of the Sydney Morning Herald/Age this morning… Former Sydney radio host Alan Jones has been accused of indecently assaulting several men. The accounts come from a former employee of broadcaster 2GB and others, including a waiter, businessman and singer - each claim Jones touched them without consent. The accounts are detailed, and the men talk about their fear of making an official complaint because of Jones's fame and power. One of the men said at the time it happened to him, Jones was “more powerful than the prime minister.” Jones’s lawyer said he denied the claims and the suggestion he was involved in any alleged assaults was “scandalous, grossly offensive, and seriously defamatory of him.’’

Getting deals done

PM Albanese and the premiers/chief ministers have agreed to try to get the National Disability Insurance Scheme back on track after escalating costs have made it unsustainable. After yesterday’s meeting, Albanese confirmed the states/territories will take back responsibility for kids with mild autism and developmental delays after getting a $25 billion top-up in GST revenue from Canberra, along with an extra $1.2 billion for their hospitals. That’s not where this ends for NDIS reform - Minister Bill Shorten will have more to say when he addresses the National Press Club today. 

And while we’re on governmenty things, the federal parliament has passed new laws to allow for the preventative detention of some of those released from immigration detention in recent weeks. Yesterday, things got a bit heated when Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus was asked to apologise to Australians for putting them at risk - he said he would never apologise for upholding Australia's laws. Reports also say a fourth man from the group has been arrested and charged with a crime after being released. 

Neither frank nor fearless

Victoria's Ombudsman has dropped a scathing report about the state’s public service, saying it’s marked by “creeping politicisation” and a “culture of fear”. Deborah Glass cited a case of a bureaucrat losing their job after providing unwelcome advice and has taken aim at the over-reliance on consultants under former Premier Dan Andrews. She also called out too-cosy relationships between ministerial staffers and ministers. Speaking of staffers, Glass also pointed out Andrews had about the same number of personal staff as the PM and NSW Premier combined… The newish Labor Premier Jacinta Allen has defended the government, saying there's "not one example of partisan political hiring in the Victorian public sector". But the Coalition reckons the report is "the most serious and most damning indictment in the last 10 years of the Victorian Government". 

It’s getting hot in here

Australia's first major heatwave of the summer is here, and it's set to be a scorcher, with temperatures to top 40C in quite a few spots across the country. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a 3-day heatwave warning, with South Australia and NSW expected to cop the worst of it. But before you start thinking it's record-breaking stuff, senior meteorologist Dean Narramore says it's actually not that unusual. Meanwhile, if you’re living on the Queensland coast, it’s time to dust off your cyclone plan with Tropical Cyclone Jasper brewing off the coast of the Solomon Islands. It’s expected to ramp up to a Category 4 tomorrow (which is strong…), and could impact the not-so Sunshine State next week. The Bureau reckons the region "north of Mackay" is most likely to feel the brunt - but it's still too early to know precisely where Jasper will go.

Rockin’ reaches #1

Talk about a Christmas miracle… Brenda Lee's festive classic Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree hit the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart 65 years after it first jingled into our hearts. The song has seen a 30% surge in popularity this year - thanks to a big TikTok campaign and a new music video. And if you're trying to do the maths on Brenda's age - the child star was just 13yo when she first recorded the tune in 1958… She's made it to #2 on the charts before, but until now, she had been beaten to the top spot by Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You. Proving Americans are already deep into the holiday spirit, Wham’s Last Christmas also topped Taylor Swift in the charts this week.

Strutting into summer...

...in a pair of OCA low sneakers from Cariuma. They’re celeb-approved, crafted for comfort, and made with sustainable materials. Perfect for a leisurely lunch, tackling end-of-year errands, and summer escapades. Plus, they come in a rainbow of colours to mix and match with your wardrobe. A great treat yo’self gift, you can get 25% off with the code SQUIZ25.

Apropos of Nothing

Taylor Swift has won Time’s Person of the Year - it called her a "source of light" in a "divided world." As we outlined in Squiz Shortcuts recently, she's had a massive year with music releases, a mega tour, and a record-breaking film. In response, she’s had a few things to say about her career ups and downs… 

And muso Troye Sivan has won Australian GQ’s Man of the Year gong. He's had a tremendous year, winning 4 ARIA Awards and 2 Grammy nominations, he's released his own successful lifestyle brand and infiltrated American pop culture in a big way… 

December is rom-com Love Actually’s time to shine - and this year, lovers of the iconic movie have another reason to feel festive… Star Martine McCutcheon has teased a special reunion project is on the way to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. And no, we couldn’t believe it’s been 20 years, either…

Squiz the Day

12.30pm (AEDT) - Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services Bill Shorten addresses the National Press Club - Canberra

7.15pm (AEDT) - Men's BBL Cricket Opener - Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars - Brisbane

ABS Data Release - International Trade in Goods, October 

Hanukkah begins (until 15 December)

International Civil Aviation Day 

Christmas Jumper Day 

Anniversary of:

• the deaths of Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero (43BC) and British naval officer William Bligh (1817)

• the attack on the US Naval Base in Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (1941)

• the premiere of the first Star Trek movie (1979)

• the passing of same-sex marriage legislation through the Australian Parliament (2017)

Got a Shortcut idea for us?

Next week’s Squiz Shortcut is up for grabs… If there is a news topic you would like the team to give you the backstory to the news story, hit reply to this email.

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