Wednesday, 5 August - Thank you, next

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 5 August. In your Squiz Today…

• Pressure growing to toughen Oz gambling reforms

• Authorities investigate an alleged far-left terror attack

• And Ariana Grande speaks out after announcing a break… 🎤

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

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said Idaho man David Rush, who recruited his family’s help to bag the world record for the fastest time to complete a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos (in less than 4 seconds). Maybe his next WR attempt will feature Snakes and Ladders…

Gambling companies grilled

The Squiz

Oz gambling reforms are back in the spotlight this week, as a senate inquiry scrutinising the Federal Government’s proposed laws takes place in Canberra. The hearings got off to a pretty explosive start with allegations that betting companies offered problem gamblers drugs among other perks to keep them hooked. Responsible Wagering, the sector's peak body, took questions yesterday, along with Sportsbet and Tabcorp.

How did we get here?

Back in April, the Albanese Government unveiled its plans to reform how bookies and betting companies can advertise their platforms - in a nutshell, it aims to tighten the rules around when and how gambling ads can be distributed to Aussies, but it got a mixed reaction. Advocates, along with politicians from the crossbench, Greens and the Coalition said the laws weren’t tough enough - while the industry said they went too far. Labor didn’t have the support it needed to pass its bill, so it went to a Senate inquiry, which is due to hand down its report later this month after politicians return to Canberra after the winter break.

So what’s happened this week?

There’s been a lot of discussion about gambling inducements - these are incentives offered to gamblers to encourage them to keep placing bets. On Monday, former NRL player Luke Bateman told the inquiry unnamed gambling companies offered him cocaine to keep him placing bets back when he was 23yo, and had a gambling problem. Oz’s largest betting agencies dismissed claims they used drugs, alcohol and other perks to lure problem gamblers in. As for what this all means for the legislation - Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says Labor has done more “than any government” to reform gambling harms, but there are growing calls for the laws to go further, so we’ll see how this pans out…
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Squiz the Rest

Authorities investigate ‘far-left terror’ incident

A joint counter-terror team is looking into an alleged arson attack that happened in July last year - which saw a Melbourne defence manufacturer vandalised, and nearby cars set on fire. After the alleged attack happened, a group released a video claiming responsibility, linking the incident to the Israel-Gaza conflict, and threatening Lovitt Technologies to "stop arming Israel or else". The investigation involves officers from Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO, who want to identify the people in the video. AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall says if those involved are convicted, they could face life imprisonment, and reports say it’s the first time Australian authorities have looked into what they consider to be a potential far-left terror attack.

The European Union calls for stronger borders

This has come after 72,000 migrants from Morocco tried to swim and climb their way into the Spanish city of Ceuta on the North African coast on Thursday last week. At least 72 people died in the influx, and while most have returned to Morocco, it’s prompted Spain to put in place a floating sea barrier, and Italy has temporarily suspended passport-free travel with Spain. Initially, several European Union countries expressed concern over Spain's handling of the crisis, but at an emergency meeting overnight, EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner said there was "full solidarity” with Spain. He said the incident had been a "test" of European resilience and border security - which it had successfully passed, as member countries agreed to provide emergency aid to beef up security measures.

The Flying Kangaroo restructures

Qantas is in discussions with consultancy Accenture over the offshoring of up to 1,000 roles to India. Nothing’s been confirmed yet - the airline says it’s looking to “​​accelerate the use of technology and AI” to “modernise” the way it works, but others say it’s about cost cutting (in line with baggage changes at Jetstar…). Marketing, finance, HR and other office roles could be impacted - but any Australian job losses will be under the microscope… Last year, Qantas was ordered to pay a $90 million fine over the largest case of illegal sackings in Oz history, and the Australian Services Union isn’t happy about the latest news… Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen reckons the airline is going back on a promise not to offshore jobs, and says quality of service will take a hit.

Ariana Grande speaks

At the beginning of the week, the singer and Wicked actress revealed she would be stepping back from the spotlight after her current tour ended next month, after what her team called the "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" the star has to deal with. This is largely to do with comments about her physical appearance and health, with speculation increasing over the last few days after the release of her latest album, Petal, which refers to the pressures of fame. It prompted an outpouring of support from her fans, but also more concerns about her weight. Now Ariana has addressed these comments - telling fans it was not true that “negativity” was “ruining things for me” and the decision to take a break was planned a long time ago, and "sometimes when a story comes out that isn't directly from me, it can get a little blown out of proportion".
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Naoero says hooroo to Nauru

We’ve got a new country name to add to the memory bank... The tiny Pacific nation of Nauru (which Oz has pretty close ties to...) is officially changing its name to the Republic of Naoero, matching the spelling and pronunciation used in its national language. President David Adeang says it's about reclaiming the nation's heritage and identity, after Nauru was originally adopted because it was easier for foreigners to pronounce. The switch also means its international country code will change from NRU to NRO, and its about 12,000 people will now be known as dei-Naoero. It’s not the only nation to revert to a traditional name in recent years - it follows Eswatini and Türkiye. So there you go - you can file them all away for your next pub trivia night…

Apropos of Nothing

Fans of the series Ted Lasso will have an extra pep in their step today - the first ep of Season 4 is out on Apple TV. This time Ted’s back at AFC Richmond to coach a women’s team. Can he replicate the success of the men’s side? We believe… 

Not going quite as smoothly is the sequel to the mega-hit Barbie - a report in the New York Times reckons Barbie 2 has stalled over salary negotiations, with Ryan Gosling wanting US$20 million to return to the role of Ken. We’re leaving the Kenough jokes well alone…

Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Eugenie (King Charles’ niece) has given birth to her third child in Portugal - a little girl weighing just under 3 kilograms. No name yet, but fun fact - she’ll be fifteenth in line to the throne…

Squiz the Day

12.30pm (AEST) - Energy Minister Chris Bowen to address the National Press Club on 'Energy security in an uncertain world' - Canberra 

7.30pm (AEST) - The first preview show for A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical - Melbourne

Global Impact Summit begins (until 6 August) 

Miles Franklin Literary Award winner announced

Darwin Festival begins (until 23 August)

The first episode of Season 4 of Ted Lasso drops on Apple TV

International Traffic Light Day

🦪 National Oyster Day

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Joseph Merrick aka ‘The Elephant Man’ (1862), former PM Harold Holt (1908), and first man on the moon Neil Armstrong (1930)

• Humphrey Gilbert claiming Newfoundland for Britain - the first English colony in North America which is often credited as the beginning of the British Empire (1583)

• the capture of Nelson Mandela. He would spend the next 27 years in prison in South Africa (1962)

• The US, the UK, and the Soviet Union sign a partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963)

• the Indian Government announcing it would change the status of Indian-controlled Kashmir from a state to a union territory (2019)

• Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan being sentenced to 3 years in jail after being found guilty of “corrupt practices” (2023)

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