Wednesday, 1 July - I like the way you work it

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 1 July. In your Squiz Today…

• Fuel prices are set to rise as new financial year changes start

• A legal setback for US President Donald Trump

• And 20yo Aussie Maya Joint faces Serena Williams at Wimbledon… 🎾

🎧 Listen to the podcast

🤓 This email will take you 6 minutes to read

🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster and Sophie Felice

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said Naomi Osaka about the inspiration for her white kimono-style Wimbledon entrance ‘fit. It follows her jellyfish debut on Rod Laver in January, and her court-ure vibe at the French Open. It’s already got us wondering what she’ll wear for the US Open in August…

Pumping up prices

The Squiz

The buffer that’s been softening the blow of fuel prices for Aussie motorists over the past 3 months is being halved from today - meaning the price of filling up is set to rise. The federal government’s excise discount is dropping to 16c/litre, which it reckons will still save motorists $11 per tank of petrol. These new measures will be in place until 2 August, and are in response to ongoing uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East, specifically around the Strait of Hormuz. On that note, the consumer watchdog has warned retailers to ensure prices stay fair, and savings are passed on to customers.

Back it up a bit…

Global energy prices have bounced around since the conflict began, whilst Iran blocked crude oil tankers from getting through the Persian Gulf… Here in Oz, unleaded reached record highs of $2.53/L and $3.19/L for diesel, but in the last few weeks prices have dropped even lower than pre-war levels… That’s because it looked like the US and Iran were making progress on ending the conflict, signing a ceasefire of sorts. This led to heaps of drivers rushing to fill up their tanks before today’s changes took effect, and the ACCC warning petrol stations against taking advantage of the price change and bumping up their profits. The Treasurer Jim Chalmers has echoed this sentiment, while admitting the new higher fuel costs will only add to our inflation headaches.

What else is changing today?

With the new financial year starting, there are a few other bits and bobs to get across. First up, every Oz taxpayer will get a personal income tax cut, and working Aussies will be able to claim a $1,000 instant tax deduction when they file next year’s return. The national minimum wage is going up to $26.44 an hour, and paid parental leave rises to 26 weeks. Your boss will be required to pay your super at the same time as your salary - making it easier to track contributions. And new rules banning Coles and Woolies from price gouging are coming in, with fines of up to $10 million if they don’t play ball. Snail mail’s becoming more expensive, and finally, a new registration system designed to protect people from being scammed by dodgy texts is coming into effect. Phew…

Claude, AI for scientific discovery

Researchers at Australia's Garvan Institute are partnering with Claude to do what wasn't possible before: analyse genomic data at massive scale to understand how our genes cause rare diseases, and accelerate treatments to cure them. When science and AI come together, the future of human health gets a little brighter. Try Claude here.

Squiz the Rest

A blow for Donald Trump

The US Supreme Court has ruled that babies born in the US have a right to automatic American citizenship - which is something President Donald Trump really wanted to change. He signed an executive order removing birthright citizenship on his first day back in office last year - and this has been a key part of his immigration agenda. In a social media post, he said the verdict was “bad for our country,” and he would appeal to Republicans in Congress to change the law… But legal experts say that’s unlikely to happen because it would require the support of two-thirds of Congress, as well as all 50 states. Analysts say it’s the biggest legal setback to his presidency since it ruled against his tariff regime earlier this year.

Gambling laws are on the table

Changes to the Albanese Government’s proposed laws restricting gambling advertising are set to be introduced to federal parliament today, ahead of its winter break. Under the new laws, the number of gambling ads would be capped at 3 per hour between 6pm and 8.30pm, and banned during live sports broadcasts. Labor has come under fire from the Greens and some independent MPs who argue the laws don’t go far enough and should entail a full ban. The legislation will need support from the Coalition or the Greens to pass, but Communications Minister Anika Wells says only minor tweaks have been made after consulting with the industry. Still, the government will push for the laws to be passed as soon as possible so they can come into effect in January.

Oz house prices plummet

Home values have seen their biggest monthly drop in more than 3 years, with experts saying the market slowdown that started in Sydney and Melbourne is spreading to other capital cities. Prices are still rising in Brisbane and Perth, but much more slowly, and in Adelaide, they’re flat. Property tracking company Cotality says national home values are down 0.4%, which marks a ‘significant shift’ in the weakening housing market. Experts say this can also be seen in auction clearance rates (which we mentioned yesterday) and the number of properties listed for sale. Cotality says the 3 RBA rate rises, the impact of the Middle East conflict hitting energy costs, and the Federal Government’s tax changes are driving the downturn. It doesn’t think we’re about to see a sharp price slump, though - a “gradual drift lower in housing values” is more likely.

The fight of her life

20yo Aussie Maya Joint has been doing us proud on Wimbledon’s centre court this morning against none other than 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. (Imagine the nerves…). Joint took the first set 6-3, with commentators saying she’s playing some of her best tennis in recent months. (We are crossing our fingers and toes that it continues - you can watch on Stan Sports). Oz hopeful Alex de Minaur got off to a nervy start, but beat Argentine player Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets, with sports journos saying the Demon ‘oozed confidence’. It’s also been a great morning for our women’s T-20 cricket team - they’re through to the World Cup final, after beating the West Indies by eight wickets in London. They’ll play either England or South Africa at 1130pm AEST Sunday night - you can watch on Prime Video.

Is it worth it? Let me work it

Hot tip: doctors and teachers are top of the list when it comes to the most attractive jobs. A recent survey of 20 professions ranked doctors at 8.77 out of 10 and teachers at 8.71. The data found that compassion, intelligence and public service were valued highly in a partner, so it’s no surprise that vets and therapists also scored well. Real estate agents were in fourth spot, with accountants fifth, while police officers and construction workers were down the list, scoring 7.85. Additional research found that corporate ‘finance bros’ gave people the ick, and lawyers were deemed to work too hard and too long. And while we’re on deal-breakers - the title of most unattractive profession goes to dentists, only narrowly beaten by journalists and, possibly shocking no one, politicians.

Apropos of nothing

More than 12,000 yodelers have arrived in Basel for the Eidgenössisches Jodlerfest - Switzerland’s national yodelling festival. With temps nudging 39C, performers have taken to cooling their lederhosen in fountains to beat the heat…

It’s Territory Day today, which also means it’s Cracker Night - where people are legally allowed to buy and set off fireworks without a licence… The council and the mayor have asked Darwinians to be safe and not go off too hard. 

And put it in your calendars, 7 July is the annual sale of all the weird and wonderful things left behind at Sydney Airport, as well as unclaimed items from Australia Post. Among them, a wedding dress, a rice cooker and a circular saw. Bargains await… 

Squiz the Day

The 2026-27 financial year begins

12.30pm (AEST) - Tim Duggan, the Digital Publishers Alliance chair, will address the National Press Club on “Big Tech, Bigger Questions: The Future of Australian Media”. That’ll be followed by a panel Q&A with our very own Squiz founder and MD Claire Kimball and Natalie Harvey, the CEO of Mamamia - Canberra 

ABS data release: valuing nature's contribution: a national ecosystem accounting perspective, 2026; building approvals, May 2026

A meeting is expected between envoys from the US and Iran to move peace negotiations forward - Qatar

🎆 Territory Day, which commemorates the Northern Territory gaining self-government from the Australian Commonwealth in 1978

Coming of the Light festival, celebrated by Torres Strait Islanders, which commemorates the arrival of the London Missionary Society on Erub Island in the Torres Strait in 1871 and led to the adoption of Christianity 

Elle, the prequel to Legally Blonde, begins streaming on Prime Video

Tartan Day

Canada Day - anniversary of the foundation of Canada in 1867

Independence Day in Rwanda

International Reggae Day 

International Chicken Wing Day

Birthdays for Blondie singer Debbie Harry (1945), musician John Farnham (1949), and F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo (1989)

Anniversary of:

• the birthday of Princess Diana (1961)

• the SOS morse code signal becoming the worldwide standard for help (1908)

• the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, one of the biggest battles of WWI (1916)

• the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (1921)

• the release of the Sony Walkman (1979)

• the establishment of the International Criminal Court (2002)