Tuesday, 6 May - Crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man

May 06, 2025

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, 6 May. In your Squiz Today…

  • Labor gets rolling, as the Coalition takes stock

  • Trump plans to reopen The Rock

  • And a mega moose migration…

🎧 Listen to the podcast

🤓 This email will take you 5 minutes to read

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“Piastri is getting the job done.”

Said F1 commentator Martin Brundle of Aussie racing up-and-comer Oscar Piastri after his win at the Miami Grand Prix yesterday. Being the first Aussie to win three F1 GPs in a row in more than 4 decades, he’s fast attaining legendary status…

Taking stock of an election shock

The Squiz

It was largely back to work this week for Team Albo as it gets rolling on its second term after the weekend’s rout. PM Anthony Albanese said he received the congrats of several leaders yesterday, including a chat with US President Donald Trump, which the PM called a “warm and positive conversation”. Albanese said the ongoing tariffs issue did come up in that chat, but is likely to be discussed in more detail when the 2 meet face to face - that might happen around the upcoming G7 summit in Canada in mid-June. As for the government’s next move, the PM says top of mind is a visit to Indonesia and a 20% cut to HECS debt - he reckons the latter will get done as soon as parliament returns, which is TBD at the moment. 

And on the flipside… 

Bit less rosy on the Coalition’s side of the fence… Though shadow treasury spokesman Angus Taylor has been floated as a possible replacement for former leader Peter Dutton, NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes - who will leave the parliament in July - doesn’t seem overly keen on that idea. Hughes told the ABC that she has "concerns about capability" with Taylor - because in her opinion, the Coalition had zero economic policy to sell, and she "didn't know what he'd been doing for 3 years." Not a ringing endorsement… Another name put up was Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, but he ruled himself out of the race last night. But before it gets round to the business of picking a new leader, the Coalition still needs to find out exactly who will have a say in that decision because some seats are still up for grabs… 

Which ones? 

There are 16 electorates still in doubt, and there are a few where independent 'teal' MPs and Liberal candidates are in a tight contest. We'll start with Kooyong in Victoria - after previously claiming victory, current independent MP Monique Ryan walked that back yesterday, and the Coalition's Amelia Hamer reckons she’s a big chance. The electorates of Goldstein (also in Victoria) and Bradfield (in NSW) are also tightening up as postal votes - those who voted before election day - continue to favour the Liberal candidates. There are also 5 seats to be sorted out in the Senate. The upshot is we likely won’t know the exact makeup of this coming parliament for a little while yet…

Summer in the Mediterranean awaits…

If escaping the Aussie winter is on your bucket list for 2025, a Silversea cruise might be the way to go… Just imagine - you, a cocktail and a book in hand as you sail between iconic cities and remote locales in the Mediterranean. Better yet, Silversea is offering up to $7,000 off its ultra-luxury voyages, with up to $500 in bonus credit to spend onboard the ship, for those who book by 31 May with a 10% deposit. To find out more and book your cruise, visit the Silversea website or call 1300 306 872.

Squiz the Rest

Israel's plans expand

Israel has approved a plan to ramp up its military offensive in Gaza with the aim of seizing and occupying the Strip indefinitely - something it hasn’t done since 2005. The plan was passed at a security cabinet meeting last night, and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it involved calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers, and the relocation of Palestinians to southern Gaza "to protect them". Netanyahu said the operation, named "Gideon's Chariots", was aimed at "increasing the pressure" on Hamas to return about 58 hostages still being held in Gaza. Reports say it's not due to start until after US President Donald Trump visits the Middle East next week, which allows a small window for a hostage/peace deal to be negotiated. 

Reopening the Rock

US President Donald Trump scored plenty of headlines yesterday when he announced his latest plan - to rebuild and reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison to hold “vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders”. Known as ‘The Rock’, it’s a former maximum security prison on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Its inmates (including famous ones like gangster Al Capone…) were exposed to the Bay’s harsh sea conditions, and maintenance expenses ran so high that it closed as a prison in 1963. Since then, it’s been a popular tourist attraction and the site of several blockbuster films… Speaking of movies, the Prez had Hollywood on his mind too - ordering a 100% tariff on all “films produced in foreign lands” which is expected to have a big impact locally. The Aussie film industry has called on our government to move to protect it…

Tassie’s stadium hits a hurdle

Tasmania’s contentious new waterfront AFL stadium hasn’t had the smoothest of rollouts, and now the state government has backflipped on plans to bring in private investment to help fund it. Instead, it'll take out a loan tipped to be worth around $200 million, which comes on top of the $630 million it's already committed to, along with the Albanese Government and the AFL. Eric Abetz, Tassie's Business, Industry and Resources Minister, said it'd been advised that public investment would be too risky/could threaten timelines. FYI - the state government is racing against the clock to build the stadium under its agreement with the AFL, and Abetz says that "without a stadium, there is no Tasmanian AFL team". That wouldn’t please the Devils’ founding members… 

Looking fine and dandy

The Met Gala gets underway today with celebs taking to New York for fashion’s night of nights at the museum’s annual fundraiser for its Costume Institute. You’re probably familiar with the mix of gorgeous and garish looks that litter the red carpet, but behind all the glitz is the museum’s exhibit, which this year follows the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” - the first to focus on menswear in over 20 years. It'll feature up-and-coming designers and will showcase the history of black dandyism - vibrant self-expression through fashion - in the US, with Lewis Hamilton and A$AP Rocky among the night’s hosts. With a single ticket setting you back $113,020, you can expect a pretty elite crowd - we’ll stick to streaming it… 

At a moose end

On the off chance you’ve got a spare 14 days and you’re out of things to watch, we might have found a solution… Back in 2019, broadcaster SVT - the ABC of Sweden - conducted a bit of an experiment by airing a 24-hour online livestream of Swedish moose making their long, slow migration to the country’s north. And it was a hit - so much so that they’ve been doing it every year since. Last year’s version attracted 9 million viewers, and this year’s version, which included 478 hours of footage, has just wrapped up and was just as successful - it’ll be back again next year for more thrilling moose action. If you’ve not got much on, you can check out a full day of the livestream here. No skipping, now…

Apropos of Nothing

In a puppy playdate for the ages, the world’s smallest and tallest dogs have met up for a barking good time. Reginald, a horse-sized 7yo Great Dane from Idaho, came snout to snout with 4yo Pearl the Chihuahua from Florida, proving friendship comes in all shapes and sizes. 

The new Marvel movie Thunderbolts* ran away with the box office this weekend, making well over $100 million at cinemas in the US. The film stars Florence Pugh as one of a ragtag bunch of superhero misfits forming an unwilling team - but with a reported budget of over $270 million, it’s still got a way to go to turn a profit… 

And New Zealand have smashed Australia 31-7 in the Women’s Rugby Sevens World Championship in LA. As 2024 defending champions, Australia had earlier bested Canada 26-15, but it wasn’t enough for the team to match the Kiwis’ power and precision on the field.

Squiz the Day

7.30am (AEST) - The Met Gala red carpet begins in New York, stream it live on YouTube

9.00am (AEST) - The Australian Wind Industry Forum begins - Melbourne 

10.00am (AEST) - US far-right commentator Candace Owens (Farmer) is appealing in the High Court over Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s refusal to grant her a visa for a speaking tour in November 2024 - Canberra

Jury selection begins in the federal trial of music mogul/rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Coombs, accused of a criminal enterprise using his business empire to engage in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, bribery and obstruction of justice - New York

ABS Data Release - Building Approvals, March; Monthly Household Spending Indicator, March

No Homework Day

Birthdays for former UK PM Tony Blair (1953), actor George Clooney (1961) and Prince Archie (2019)

Anniversary of:

  • George V being made King of Great Britain after the death of his father Edward VII (1910)

  • Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1997)

  • the founding of SpaceX by entrepreneur Elon Musk (2002)

  • King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla being crowned in the first coronation service in the UK in 70 years (2023)