Wednesday, 23 October - Money can’t buy me love

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 23 October. In your Squiz Today…

• Aussie billionaires in hot water

• The Royal tour wraps up

• And a cocky guest outstaying his welcome…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said ‘King Conker’ David Jakins after being cleared of cheating allegations in a scandal that has captivated the UK. Last week we mentioned the metal replica found in the 82yo World Conker Champion’s pocket, but that thorny chestnut has now been ruled out…

Billionaires behaving badly…

The Squiz

Sydney-based billionaire tech founder Richard White has settled a high-profile lawsuit he launched against a former business associate/lover after new/damaging reports on his private life hit the front pages in recent days. It’s also put his logistics software company WiseTech Global - the largest tech company listed in Australia - into a spin, with its share price falling by more than 18.5% over the past 5 days of trading. 

I feel like there’s a backstory to this… 

Yep. So this all kicked off when White brought legal action against Linda Rogan, a beauty entrepreneur who wanted investment in her business but ended up in a sexual relationship with him. He also bought her a home to live in, but White’s now-wife found out, and Rogan was kicked to the curb. He recently filed bankruptcy proceedings against Rogan over furnishing costs, generating headlines for a month. And now others have come forward… On Monday, Nine’s newspapers reported (paywall) that other female entrepreneurs claim White approached them via LinkedIn with offers of mentorship that veered into the inappropriate, earning him the nickname “the LinkedIn Lecher”. And there are reports of relationships creating corporate governance issues at work... White hasn’t commented, but WiseTech’s board is “seeking further information and taking external advice”.

Right…

Yep, and White’s not the only billionaire causing issues for his company… The founder of Australian Mineral Resources (otherwise known as MinRes) Chris Ellison is also in hot water after admitting to tax evasion yesterday. In a statement, Ellison - one of the biggest names in Australian mining - said he and his business partners ran overseas entities to buy mining equipment to import and sell in Australia before the Perth-based company was listed on the ASX in 2006. Some of the revenue from those entities wasn’t disclosed to the Tax Office - which Ellison describes as “a serious lapse of judgement”. He says “all outstanding tax, penalties and interest that should otherwise have been paid by me has been fully repaid” and settled with the ATO. Still, it’s caught the attention of ASIC (paywall) and been a shock for investors - the company’s share price fell by almost 23.5% over the last 5 days of trading. 

Waste not, want not…

We know Squizers are partial to a new recipe - and with 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to food waste*, it’s a great idea to look for new dishes that use up what you’ve bought. Westfield is also committed to reducing its environmental impact by recycling the organic waste it collects to ensure their destinations are doing their bit. To learn more about Westfield’s sustainability initiatives, check out westfield.com.au.

_{*Source:World Wildlife Fund}

Squiz the Rest

That’s a Royal wrap…

King Charles and Queen Camilla will soon be winging their way to CHOGM in Samoa after finishing their Aussie tour with a barbie, a sheepdog, and thousands of excited fans at the Opera House. The King delighted guests at a community event in Western Sydney - thanking them for the “top tucker” while the Queen donned a flower crown given to her by local kids. The sunny end to their Aussie visit would have been a relief for the Royals after Senator Lidia Thorpe gave them a mouthful at Parliament House on Monday, generating headlines around the world and condemnation from many MPs and Indigenous leaders. Coalition leader Peter Dutton reckons she should give up her Senate seat while former Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney says "I don't think Lidia did herself any favours”... Thorpe insists she’s “looking to get justice for my people".

A plea to end the war

America’s top diplomat Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East to push along talks to end the fighting. Blinken’s on his 11th trip to the region since last year’s 7 October attacks on Israel, and he’s hopeful the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could get negotiations going again. But there’s no sign of tensions easing on the ground - Israel is continuing to target sites linked to Hezbollah. Lebanese officials say 4 civilians, including a child, were killed in one of the latest airstrikes. There’s been a dramatic development inside Israel too… Police have arrested 7 citizens they’ve accused of spying for arch-enemy Iran. Security agencies reckon the group has been gathering intel on military bases and energy infrastructure in the country’s north and received big crypto-currency payments from Tehran for their troubles. 

Scot a lot less Games

Bye-bye badminton, and see ya later squash… Organisers of the 2026 Commonwealth Games have revealed just 10 sports have made the cut for the now pretty-lean event being held in Scotland with 12 axed from the program. There are lots of sports Australia’s pretty good at getting the chop - hockey, road cycling, and diving are gone as well as cricket, triathlon and beach volleyball. These are the Comm Games that Glasgow recently picked up after then Victorian Premier Dan Andrews pulled out of hosting last year, claiming the costs would be too high to host around regional Victoria as planned. Scottish Games boss Jon Doig reckons they “will have all the drama, passion and joy” of previous events. 

What Squizers think about a big issue of our time

So… You know how we’re a bit obsessed with media literacy? We only created a whole Sqiuz Kids side of the business to help the next generation become critical consumers of news and information… Well, it’s Media Literacy Week, and to mark the occasion we’ve pulled together some findings from the big survey more than 6,000 Squizers did for us earlier this year. The top line is the vast majority (90%) said they are worried about kids’ ability to discern quality information from rubbish online. As for what to do about it, an overwhelming majority say it is extremely (75%) or very important (21%) that steps are taken to give kids media literacy education. Squiz Kids’ chief wrangler Bryce Corbett couldn’t agree more… “It’s our firm belief that teaching media literacy is the best way to safeguard our democracy - it’s that serious,” he said. Hear hear, BC. 

You can access that report - including what Squizers think about their news sources and paying for news - here. 

Cocky wanna brioche? 

A Coles supermarket in Western Sydney has solved a feathery conundrum that’s had customers in a flap for weeks. A cockatoo, who store workers named Mickey, moved in 4 weeks ago, and refused to leave - even bird experts were struggling to get him out. And with one manager keeping him fed (on brioche) and watered each night, who could blame him? The store called in wildlife rescue organisation Feathered Friends, who said it was a tough assignment and even the “reassuring” presence of a second cockatoo “Old Lady Doris” brought in to help didn’t work. “He just needs to chill out, relax and come down without thinking that people are going to try and catch him” rescuer Ravi Wasan said. That happened last night, and NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe says he’ll be freed into the wild ASAP. May the wind be at your back, Mickey…

While we’re banging on about media literacy…

It’s a big week for us here at The Squiz, particularly for our Squiz Kids team, who just released Newshounds 2.0 - a new/improved version of the acclaimed media literacy resource for primary school classrooms. We’re proud of the role we take in teaching the next generation to be critical consumers of news, and now thanks to Squiz Kids and the Google News Initiative, accessing curriculum-aligned lessons for the classroom is simpler than ever. Check out what Newshounds is all about here, and if you know a primary school teacher, share it with them while you’re at it.

Apropos of Nothing

In a list of 2024 pop culture icons that will dominate this year’s Halloween costume scene, the likes of Beetlejuice and Sabrina Carpenter were topped by our very own Raygun. Now, just pause for a moment and imagine hordes of Rayguns ‘hopping’ on the streets on Halloween… Glorious/terrifying… 

Speaking of jams, an Aussie hiker got herself into a tight spot after reaching for her mobile phone in a crevice and becoming wedged upside down between two boulders. Her 7-hour ordeal’s made international headlines after a 500kg rock had to be moved to free her…

And Australian director Adam Elliot has done it again. His new film Memoir of a Snail is the first stop-motion animation to win the Best Film Award at the London Film Festival. Having previously won an Oscar for Harvie Krumpet in 2004, he’s making clay while the sun shines…

Squiz the Day

9.30am (AEDT) - Bruce Lehrmann will find out if his appeal against his defamation loss to Network Ten can go ahead - Sydney

12.00pm (AEDT) - Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender will address the National Press Club on ‘The Power of Balance: economic reform from the sensible centre’ - Canberra

5.30pm (AEDT) - Netball: Constellation Cup Game 2, Australia v New Zealand - Auckland, and watch on Kayo

King Charles and Queen Camilla depart Australia for Samoa to attend CHOGM

Rural Medicine Australia’s conference begins - Darwin (until 26 October)

Property Congress 2024, featuring guest speakers Cathy Freeman and Jonathan Thurston, begins (until 25 October) - Townsville

The Clean Energy Council’s All Energy Australia Conference begins (until 24 October) - Melbourne

Adelaide Film Festival begins (on until 3 November)

Mole Day (which is actually about chemistry…) 

World Snow Leopard Day

Liberation Day in Libya, marking the anniversary of  the end Muammar Gaddafi's regime (2011)

Birthdays for actors Ryan Reynolds (1976) and Emilia Clarke (1986)

Anniversary of:

• the first plastic surgery being performed (1814)

• the release of Britney Spears' debut single Baby One More Time (1998)

• Apple releasing the iPod (2001)

• the release of Adele's single Hello, which would become the first song with more than a million downloads in its first week (2015)