Monday, your (in)complete guide
Some stuff and nonsense you may need to know as you log on for the new week
Some stuff and nonsense you may need to know as you log on for the new week
Good news!
We've hit the half way mark of the six-week federal election campaign.
The bad news
We've hit the half way mark of the six-week federal election campaign.
Poll position
Three weeks to go means the slogans, the sledges and the predictions are set to intensify.
Newspoll, the latest survey of about 1500 voters conducted by YouGov for our silver-foxed cubicle mates The Australian, shows Labor has maintained its lead 53% to the coalition's 47% in the two-party preferred race (where we ask voters to choose between only these two parties).
When voters are asked who they'd vote for right now if we were at the ballot box, many are still leaning toward the independents and minor parties, which pulled in 26% of the vote collectively.
Scott Morrison is still considered to make a better prime minister according to 45% of respondents, whereas 39% think Anthony Albanese would suit the top job.
Get this party started
"No one left behind" was the catch cry of Albanese as he launched the national Labor election campaign in Perth on Sunday. While it may sound like something we'd scream when piling into the Uber after last drinks, it's the motto for the ALP's pitch for your vote. They're also promising "a better future" with cheaper medicines and a commitment to close the gender pay gap under a revamped Fair Work Act.
"You have earned a better future and on May 21, I'm asking you to vote for that better future," Albanese said.
The event included cameos by Russell Crowe, who leant his voice to a video intermission, former PMs Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd and some of Labor's most popular premiers like WA's Mark "State Daddy" McGowan and Peter Malinauskas jetted in from Adelaide.
Here in WA today for Federal @AustralianLabor’s Campaign Launch. Quick catch up with @MarkMcGowanMP before the launch kicks off! pic.twitter.com/wMsNEi2mWF
— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) May 1, 2022
It was a clarion call (read: plea) to undecided voters as Olivia Caisley reports.
Why does Albo want to buy my house?
There's been a lot of banter around how hard it is to buy a house, so both the government and the opposition want to help with that.
Both major parties have now outlined their housing policies.
Here they are:
The Liberal's Home Guarantee Scheme:
- All you'll need is a 5% deposit.
- They'll be 50,000 places available every year.
- It'll be open to first homebuyers and non-first homebuyers to build or buy a newly build house.
- It'll only be available for singles who earn up to $125,000 and $200,000 for couples.
Labor's Help To Buy plan:
- You'll need a 2% deposit and to qualify for a standard home loan.
- There will be 10,000 places available every year for four years to help middle income earners get into the housing market.
- You won't need to pay lenders mortgage insurance.
- It'll only be available for singles who earn up to $90,000 and $120,000 for couples.
However, a Labor government, should Albanese become PM, will take an equity stake of up to 40% in your newly built home and 30% if you buy an existing place.
"Our plan is for Australians to own their own home, not for the government and Anthony Albanese to own your home," Morrison clapped back.
If you were looking to buy within 10km of the CBD, see the cheapest suburbs here.
Steve Irwin got cancelled
The Crocodile Hunter was set to be awarded Australian of the Year in 2004, according to Olympian and former chair of the National Australia Day Council chair Lisa Curry.
That was until this happened...
When these photos of Irwin feeding a crocodile while holding his new born son, Robert, went viral a few weeks before the awards his nomination got torn to more shreds than that chicken carcass.
"It was such a shemozzle that should never have happened," Curry said, while promoting her new book, Lisa: 60 years of Love, Life and Loss.
In an excerpt from her memoir, published in the weekend papers, Curry outlined how the backlash from the media surrounding the photo was "so great" the board had to "revisit" their decision.
They gave the award to Steve Waugh instead.
"Steve was aware that he'd won because, in those days, it was my job to ring the recipients and let them know," Curry wrote. "After speaking with Steve, it was agreed he would withdraw his nomination. He could re-nominate another year."
The Australian legend died two years later.
The White House correspondents' din din
The White House correspondents' dinner returned for the first time in Washington since Donald Trump's media-bashing administration and then Covid saw the dinner put on ice for two years.
It's been a tradition since 1924 for the White House press corps association to host (and roast) presidents at an annual black-tie dinner and it soon became a televised Washington social juggernaut attended by everyone from politicians to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, who used the 2022 event to debut Pete Davidson on the red carpet.
President Joe Biden poked fun at his slumping poll ratings, took several sly digs at predecessor Donald Trump and accepted a roasting from Daily Show host Trevor Noah.
‘Senator McConnell, don’t you think it’s strange that you and the devil have never been seen in the same place at the same time?’ — Trevor Noah jokes about Sen. Mitch McConnell while showing off his Australian accent skills at the #WHCD pic.twitter.com/P7LG4jZCd7
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 1, 2022
Aussie journo Jonathan Swan, who made headlines for his inability to edit his face when interviewing Trump, was the big winner of the night.
Swan was awarded the press corps version of the best and fairest award for his "fearless" reportage.
Another Aussie was there. Miranda Kerr, and her Snapchat CEO of a husband Evan Spiegel, rocked up. Kerr departing from her usual European high fashion looks, wore a gown (especially made for her) by a sustainable and "inclusive" American label.
Happy Met Gala Eve
Speaking of Ms Kardashian. Check out this bananas theory about why she may wear the dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang Happy Birthday Mr President to John F. Kennedy back in 1962 to this year's Met Gala, where the theme is America: An Anthology of Fashion.
We'd love to see it.
Pigs can officially, and legally, fly
It is now lawful for pets to travel on planes with their owners in Australia.
Qantas and Jetstar have categorically ruled out lap pats on flights, but Virgin Australia are still considering.
The goodest of boys, Guide Dogs, will always be allowed on planes.
"Pestminster"
We think Canberra is bad, hold onto your #MeToo placards because the House of Commons in the UK is embarking on (another) review into harassment in the workplace.
There was a meeting last week called to quell growing unease among conservative female MPs about the ever increasing claims of sexual misconduct in Westminster.
"Instead it had the opposite effect, reigniting the so-called 'Pestminster' scandal and plunging parliament back into a crisis over sleaze," The Times of London reported. "The grenade detonated during a 65-minute session in which more than a dozen women recounted their experiences of misogyny, sexual harassment and bullying. Two female MPs, one a minister, said they had seen a male MP watching pornography on his phone in the House of Commons chamber."
The pollie watching porn has since been suspended and now there are about 56 MPs under investigation for sexual harassment.
This is in addition to the drama of last week when Angela Rayner, the deputy opposition leader over there, was blamed for distracting prime minister Boris Johnson for crossing and uncrossing her legs in the House of Commons.
Oh and also there's been revelations overnight in the UK that during those lockdown breaking parties hosted by Johnson and his team in 2020, a "Sexist of the Year" award was handed out.
Rayner has asked for a please explain.
I have just written to the PM on the @thesundaytimes revelation that a ‘Sexist of the Year’ award was presented at a Downing Street Xmas party.
— Angela Rayner 🌹 (@AngelaRayner) May 1, 2022
Boris Johnson must answer why sexism in his office appears to be celebrated and rewarded.
The public have a right to the truth. 📮👇ðŸ»
Introducing Princess Isabella
Princess Isabella of Denmark has made her public debut. Having just turned 15, the third in line to the throne was confirmed into the Church of Denmark - a right of passage for members of the Danish crown as they start their official royal journey.
Look at this cuddle from her grandmother, 82-year-old Queen Margrethe. Also that doggo!
And look how proud her mum, Aussie born Crown Princess Mary, is.
Big "this ones's for the girls" energy.
A Scott and Charlene reunion?
Kylie Minogue has confirmed she'll make an appearance in the final ever episodes of Neighbours.
A new Olympic era
We've got a new Australian Olympic chairman after long serving boss John Coates retired after 32-years in the gig.
Newbie Ian Chesterman is keen to get the government to do more to push more kids into sport, tackle obesity and engage with places like Fiji and Tonga to get serious about gold medal glory every four years.
Chill out, what ya yellin' for
Because this happened.
Every night since the start of her Sour tour Olivia Rodrigo has been performing Avril Lavigne's seminal 2002 hit, Complicated.
Over the weekend at her Toronto show, Lavigne pulled a Shania Twain and joined Rodrigo on stage to belt out the pop-punk banger.
Fun fact: Rodrigo was born a year after Complicated was released.
And on that note, I'm off to get another strong latte and apply another layer of the strongest retinoid I can find.
Meghan Markle’s favourite face gym is opening in Australia, Greta Thunberg publishes Andrew Tate’s contact details
All the news that's fit to mint.
Emily Ratajkowski joins the competitive world of online dating, Nick Kyrgios quits at the last minute
All the news that's fit to mint.