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George Clooney's heartfelt message after sad loss

George Clooney has shared a heartfelt message to his Ocean's Eleven co-star, Scott L. Schwartz, who sadly passed away aged 65. "I'm sorry to hear that Scott is gone," he told Variety. "We did three films together and I've never been so gently punched," Clooney continued. "He was a gentle soul and he will be dearly missed." Schwartz, who stood at six feet and 10 inches (approx. 208.3cm) tall, played Bruiser in the Ocean's Eleven trilogy, alongside Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and more Hollywood stars. Clooney's character in the film, Danny Ocean, hires Bruiser to pretend to beat him up during the group's casino heist. Schwartz's wife Misty confirmed he died on November 26 at his Covington, Los Angeles home, according to People. His cause of death is understood to be congestive heart failure. Misty said while he was known for the Ocean's film, she was "most proud of his charity work", which saw him be honoured with the Glass Slipper Award from children's healthcare foundation CHOC. "Most people associate Scott with the movies, but those who know him personally associated him with being a jolly person, so full of life, a strong loving person, foodie and travel aficionado," his wife told People. "Life won't be the same without him." Schwartz is survived by his wife, Misty, and children Angela and Adam. Image: SplashNews.com/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday. A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to The Sun. Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.” They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. “It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. “She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety. “The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny. “She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.” Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. “Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week. “Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.” Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends. Images: news.com.au

Caring

Unimaginable scenes as Baltimore bridge collapses

The tranquil waters of Baltimore's Patapsco River turned tumultuous in the early hours of Tuesday following a catastrophic event that shook the city to its core. The aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has left a community reeling, with one confirmed fatality and six individuals still missing as rescue efforts persist amid harrowing conditions. The calamity unfolded when a mammoth container ship lost power, careening into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the US East Coast. The impact tore through the bridge's supports, sending vehicles and people plummeting into the frigid river below. In the chaos that ensued, heroes emerged as authorities swiftly responded, managing to halt traffic on the bridge, averting further catastrophe. However, the toll was already significant, with one individual confirmed dead and six others, believed to be part of a construction crew, still unaccounted for. As the day wore on, Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace provided updates on the situation, indicating that one survivor had been rescued and rushed to a local trauma centre in critical condition. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard initiated a relentless search for the missing individuals, leveraging sonar technology to scour the depths of the river. The vessel responsible for the devastation, known as the Dali, was under the management of Synergy Marine Group, navigating under the Singapore flag. Although the crew and pilots were reported safe, the repercussions of the collision have reverberated far beyond the immediate vicinity. US President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for the reconstruction efforts: "This is going to take some time," he said. "The people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt." The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge not only claimed lives but also severed a vital link in the region's infrastructure. The Port of Baltimore, a bustling gateway for maritime commerce, now faces significant disruption, with vessel traffic suspended indefinitely. The reverberations of this tragedy extend beyond Baltimore, with logistical challenges expected to ripple along the entire East Coast. As the day progressed, stories of resilience and compassion emerged. Retired Chief Donald Heinbuch, startled from his sleep by the rumbling impact, bore witness to the unimaginable destruction. "Never would you think that you would see physically see the Key Bridge tumble down like that - it looked like something out of an action movie," he said. "And you just think about, most importantly, which is what we all should be thinking about right now, nothing but those families and people that are impacted and those people who are risking their lives right now, for not just Baltimore City and Baltimore County but all over the state, to try to save lives. That should be our focus - the preservation of life. Because no one wants to see that happen, let alone someone in their family someone that they know, be injured in an incident like this." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott echoed the sentiments of a community in shock, emphasising the paramount importance of preserving life above all else. Images: Streamlive | 9News

Caring

Papa Swift vs Paparazzi: Taylor Swift's dad accused of assault

In the midst of celebrations marking the conclusion of Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Sydney, an unexpected and troubling incident has emerged involving her father – Scott Swift. The 71-year-old has been accused of assaulting an Australian photographer, Ben McDonald, in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a Sydney wharf in Neutral Bay. According to reports confirmed by NSW Police, the alleged altercation occurred around 2:30am, following Taylor Swift's final performance in the city. It's said that Taylor and her father had been enjoying post-show festivities when the incident took place, tarnishing what should have been a joyous occasion. McDonald, who serves as the chief executive of Matrix Media Group, recounted the events to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13128721/Taylor-Swift-father-Scott-assault-photographer-Sydney-wharf.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>, shedding light on the confrontation. He stated that Taylor and Scott arrived at the wharf after travelling from Homebush on a luxury superyacht named Quantum. McDonald claims that after they disembarked, Scott allegedly 'charged' at him. McDonald originally thought that it was a security guard, and was surprised when he realised it was Taylor's dad. "In 23 years of taking pictures, I have never seen anything like it," he told the Daily Mail. "He probably decided he needed to defend his daughter, for some reason... She got off the boat, she walked towards security guards who were shoving umbrellas in our faces, and then he charged." Footage capturing the moments leading up to and following the alleged assault has surfaced, providing some insight into the incident. <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13128721/Taylor-Swift-father-Scott-assault-photographer-Sydney-wharf.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The video</a> shows Taylor and her father walking up from the wharf, shielded by large umbrellas held by security guards. Amid the commotion, McDonald attempted to capture the scene, and was obstructed by the guards protecting Taylor and her companions, including Mr Swift. In the aftermath, McDonald reported the incident to authorities. He did not sustain serious injuries, though he described experiencing discomfort and soreness on the left side of his face. Images: YouTube

Legal

Great Scott! Michael J. Fox poses with new pup

Michael J. Fox has a new furry friend, and fans are saying the pup resembles the dog from the Back to the Future movies. The 61-year-old icon shared a post on Instagram featuring himself snuggled up with his adorable new dog, whom he named Blue. The star captioned his post, “Hey Blue, welcome to your new home!” Fans of Fox flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the new pup as well as comparing the dog’s looks to Dr Emmet Brown’s dog in the Back to the Future trilogy. The dog featured in the trilogy, the infamous Einstein, was a similar breed to Fox’s new furry friend. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpePqBRr3A5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpePqBRr3A5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a> </div> </blockquote> People wrote comments such as, “Einstein came back using the time machine,” and “Aww he looks like a baby Einstein!” The dog in the films was a fully grown sheepdog that went on some serious adventures with Fox’s character, Marty McFly and Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd. Several A-list stars also took to the comments on Fox’s post. “Oh my gosh!! So cute 🥰,” wrote Julianne Moore. Jennifer Grey from Dirty Dancing expressed her thoughts through a series of emojis, commenting, “💞🐶👅🐶👅💞," Fox is known to be a dog lover, having mourned the loss of his previous dog, Gus, in April of 2021. When he announced the loss of Gus on Instagram, he captioned his post, “Gus - great dog and loyal friend, we'll miss you.” The actor has mentioned several times how much of a “wonder dog” Gus had been over the years. Image credit: Instagram/Reddit

Family & Pets

Neighbours star facing sexual assault charge

Content warning: This article includes discussion of sexual assault. Former Neighbours star Scott McGregor has been charged with one count of sexual assault after a night out at a popular Melbourne pub. McGregor, who played police detective Mark Brennan on the soap from 2013 to 2020, was charged in relation to an incident at St Kilda’s Hotel Esplanade, or ‘Espy’, on Sunday, February 20. The <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/scott-mcgregor-charged-over-incident-at-a-st-kilda-bar/news-story/df4b8b360ec09602c462f9a5f5101b2d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a> reported that McGregor was charged by detectives from the Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Investigation Team last week. The 41-year-old actor and model will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January in relation to the charge. Despite his lengthy stint on Neighbours and appearance in 940 episodes, fans were disappointed when he didn’t appear on the show’s final episode in July, which saw the return of many of the show’s alumni. The star, who has also appeared in Underbelly, Offspring, and Winners & Losers, lives in Melbourne with his wife Bianka and two children. Image: @scottymcgregor (Instagram)

Legal

“A tragedy for our nation”: Reason for Scott Morrison’s firing 16 years ago revealed

The woman who sacked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison from Tourism Australia has finally opened up about the mysterious end to his time there and shared how she was “gobsmacked” that he went on to become PM. Mr Morrison’s firing from Tourism Australia in 2006 has long been shrouded in mystery, but Fran Bailey - who was Tourism Minister at the time and ordered the Chair of Tourism Australia to fire Mr Morrison - has now spoken about the decision in a brutal interview with the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-was-gobsmacked-when-he-became-prime-minister-20220826-p5bd19.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday Age</a>. Ms Bailey reportedly chose to finally speak on the record after she was left incensed by the revelations that Mr Morrison <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/andrew-bolt-leads-the-charge-on-scott-morrison-tirade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secretly swore himself into five additional ministerial positions</a> while he was Prime Minister. "What has changed my mind is that all of those characteristics that make up Scott Morrison – the secrecy... the supreme belief that only he can do a job, the lack of consultation with those closest to him – those characteristics were evident 16 years ago, and perhaps we’re seeing the end result of those now," she told the paper’s longtime columnist, Jon Faine. Echoing a common criticism of Mr Morrison, Ms Bailey said he took a bullying approach to his work, which eventually led to those in senior positions having less trust that he could do his job. "It came down to a complete lack of trust. It’s not something that I have stewed over for all those 16 years, but I certainly have become very concerned as he worked his way through the ministry, and I was gobsmacked when he became prime minister," she said. "Because I knew what he was really like to work with, and I think that’s been a tragedy for the Liberal Party and it has been a tragedy for our nation." Ms Bailey is one of many critics calling on Mr Morrison to leave Parliament following the revelations, as former High Court judge Virginia Bell is expected to head an inquiry into his actions and hand down a report on November 25. The inquiry will examine Mr Morrison’s ministerial appointments and the functioning of departments, government business enterprises and statutory bodies. It comes after advice released last week from Australia’s solicitor-general found that Mr Morrison didn’t break any laws, but that his actions undermined the principles of “responsible government”. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Surprise surprise: ScoMo crash-tackling a child has gone viral

Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally shoulder-charged a small child while playing soccer in Tasmania - and the internet has had plenty to say about it. Mr Morrison was playing a training game with the kids while campaigning in the seat of Braddon when he made a run towards the ball, not seeing the small child in his path, before colliding with them and becoming entangled on the ground. “I’m surprised he hasn’t been taken to hospital,” he joked. Luca Fauvette, the child in question, was fine. Both Mr Morrison and the soccer club made statements about the collision on Facebook, with the PM praising the boy for being “such a good sport”. “You may have seen we had a bit of a collision at club training tonight at the Devonport Strikers Football Club in Tasmania,” Mr Morrison wrote. “I spoke to Luca and his mum Ali tonight to check in on him and he was in good form. “Great to be able to have a good chat to him about his love of football and to hear he’s had three hat-tricks in his budding career already.” "Our club values are determination, effort and respect," the Strikers said on Facebook. "We think Luca showed plenty of determination and effort to stop the PM scoring at all costs! "The latest star of the election is ok and looking forward to being the star of the show at school tomorrow!" After footage of the incident emerged on social media, it quickly went viral and prompted jokes from all corners. “In ScoMo’s defence, the kid is a United fan. Play on,” tweeted Tim Barrow. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The chaser sums it up … <a href="https://t.co/dODQ5HfgXF">pic.twitter.com/dODQ5HfgXF</a> — Justin Brash 🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇦🇺🍸📷🐱 (@just_brash) <a href="https://twitter.com/just_brash/status/1526846679366127622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote> “I trip over small children, dogs, hoses and my own feet on the odd occasion. Happy to make my clumsiness a headline if required,” Catherine Wilcox added. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Won’t tackle the cost of living. Will tackle an actual child. — Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) <a href="https://twitter.com/unionsaustralia/status/1526836955602104320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote> Even 14-year-old journalist Leonardo Puglisi - who made headlines for interviewing Mr Morrison - got in on the fun, joking that one of their “reporters” was injured in “retaliation” for their tough questions. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/6NewsAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@6NewsAU</a> is prepared to launch legal action against the PM after one of our reporters was injured tonight We understand it was retaliation from the PM for our tough questions during our interview with him <a href="https://t.co/hRb3JUPw3o">https://t.co/hRb3JUPw3o</a> — Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) <a href="https://twitter.com/Leo_Puglisi6/status/1526898992025460737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote> Others used it to make political points about the Liberal Party’s policies heading into this weekend’s federal election while others suggested that Mr Morrison wouldn’t fare well in the election as a result. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I mean if ever there was a visual representation for the LNP’s climate policy… <a href="https://t.co/syEzi4hOQo">pic.twitter.com/syEzi4hOQo</a> — Tosh Greenslade (@ToshGreenslade) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToshGreenslade/status/1526835259618529280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote> “Surely this bloke can’t survive after Saturday. He’s a national and international embarrassment,” Cody Murray wrote on Facebook. “Just got so sad thinking about how that kid that ScoMo hit will never grow up and use their super to pay for 6% of a house deposit,” journalist Cameron Wilson tweeted. To see footage of the incident, head <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDDLSAvOzIU&ab_channel=TheAge%26SydneyMorningHerald" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty Images

News

Bon Scott’s brother discusses AC/DC frontman’s death for the first time

For the first time since the rockstar’s untimely death in 1980, Bon Scott’s closest friends and family have spoken out about his success and reliance on vices. Bon’s brother Derek said while Bon’s devil-may-care attitude was a key part of his public persona as a rockstar, it would eventually lead to his downfall as his penchant for risk-taking would backfire. Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, was found dead in a car in London in 1980 after a night of heavy drinking, drug use and partying at just 33 years old. Bruce Howe, a close friend of the rockstar, said he would rely on dangerous vices while on the road, specifically when boredom would set in. “That‘s when he would start taking risks, doing wild things,” Howe said on the ABC’s Australian Story. “On days when he was bored, there was no future, there was only now.” “He didn‘t give a bugger about whether he lived or died the next day. He’d try anything — magic mushrooms, marijuana, alcohol — and he would take risks on his motorbike.” “I said, ‘You are going to f***ing kill yourself. Do something about it!’” Speaking for the first time on the death of his brother, Derek Scott said Bon’s alcoholism had always worried those closest to him. “He did get bored very quickly,” he said. “That was the biggest problem. When he got bored, he drank.” “He never worried about tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.” When Bon Scott joined AC/DC and rose to international fame, his stardom became another vehicle of self-destruction. “Within the next 12 months, they were expected to be one of the biggest acts on the planet,” Murray Engleheart, author of the book AC/DC Maximum Rock and Roll, said. “The next album was going to be the one that was really going to kick them over the goalposts.” But after barely five years of AC/DC becoming a global act, the Bon Scott era was over. “Bon’s passing as he did, on his own in a car in the freezing cold, after all his hard work and all his heartbreak getting there, was just an incredibly sad, lonely and unglamorous way to go out,” Mr Engleheart said. Mr Howe said he was gutted by the news of his death, but knew deep down that an early death was always a possibility for his friend. “He drank far too much,” Mr Howe said. ”I did wonder if he would push it too far one day. And sadly, he obviously did.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Lismore flood victims dump ruined belongings outside PM’s house

Lismore residents have taken their flood-affected belongings to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Sydney residence, calling on him to act on climate change. Nine residents of the area, which has been devastated by recent flooding, brought a truck to Kirribilli House and dumped a number of items, including flood-ruined carpet, toys and furniture, outside the front gate earlier this week. Kate Stroud, who lost her home in the floods, said the group felt compelled to demonstrate after Mr Morrison visited the town earlier in the month but failed to speak to some residents. Ms Stroud lost her home in the floods, having been rescued by another resident on a jet ski after sheltering on her roof for six hours, and has said she wasn’t the only one looking to speak to the PM. “Everybody that I know has lost their homes, they’ve lost their businesses. We have basically lost our entire town,” she said on Monday morning. “We tried to have this conversation with him face to face in Lismore, but he slipped through the back door of our council chambers. If our leaders can’t come at least sit at a table with us and chat to us at times of devastation, what are they doing?” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> At the Prime Minister’s residence, Kirribilli House, standing in solidarity with Lismore flood survivors. Calling on <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottyFromMktg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottyFromMktg</a> to stop funding the climate crisis. <a href="https://t.co/lHYSwZLZ7i">pic.twitter.com/lHYSwZLZ7i</a> — Naomi Hodgson (@CrystalNomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrystalNomes/status/1505653019718737921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> Several residents held a ruined, mud-covered door with a message spray-painted on it in red. “Morrison, your climate megaflood destroyed our homes,” it read. Other signs read, ‘Lismore now, where next?’ and ‘Your climate inaction killed my neighbour’. Ms Stroud said residents were calling on the government to take action against climate change. “We are so sick of the bottomless promises when there is a bigger picture to look at,” she said. “We need to fund the climate crisis [response], this is climate change and this will happen to somebody you love, someone you know, or it could happen to you personally.” Although 9News reported that his car was seen leaving shortly before protestors arrived, Mr Morrison was in Queensland during Monday’s protest, according to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/flood-hit-lismore-residents-dump-debris-outside-kirribilli-house-20220321-p5a6dy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a>. He responded to questions about the demonstration by referring to the $1.7 billion already committed to flood response and recovery, and that the bulk of the funds were already “out the door supporting people”. “These floods [across NSW and south-east Queensland] are the worst we’ve ever seen,” Mr Morrison said. “I can understand the frustration. But what I can assure you is the commitments [we’ve made] .. means we’ll be there with them to build back. “I think the politicisation of natural disasters is very unfortunate. Everyone’s just doing the best they can.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Lismore residents protest at Kirribilli House <a href="https://t.co/d5ciaZPaBd">pic.twitter.com/d5ciaZPaBd</a> — Carol Connolly (@carolcarcos) <a href="https://twitter.com/carolcarcos/status/1505682999505219586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> Despite his absence, Lismore resident Kudra Ricketts told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lismore-flood-survivors-dump-debris-outside-pms-house/58b54741-e566-4bec-a667-7433b0753c18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a> she hoped the message she and the other demonstrators were sending would still reach Mr Morrison. “I hope that he’s able to listen to the media,” she said. “He’s done the same thing as he did when he was in Lismore. He didn’t want to talk to us. He doesn’t want to speak to us again. I can see that. It’s time he starts to listen to us. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. It’s been so traumatic for me and everyone that I love. Climate change is here now.” Image: Twitter

Domestic Travel

“How dare you”: PM’s ‘apology’ to Stolen Generations slammed

Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe is among many Indigenous leaders who have <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10509713/Aboriginal-senator-Lidia-Thorpe-blasts-Scott-Morrison-Stolen-Generations-speech.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticised</a> Prime Minister Scott Morrison for asking for forgiveness on the anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations.Mr Morrison spoke about the anniversary in a speech to Parliament on Monday, marking 14 years since former Prime Minister Rudd made the historic apology.The Rudd government issued the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples in 2008, acknowledging the historic laws and policies that led to the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities.Mr Morrison said an apology involves “standing in the middle ground exposed, vulnerable and seeking forgiveness”.“And as I said when I spoke in support of the original motion here in this place on the other side of the Chamber 14 years ago, sorry can never be given without any expectation of forgiveness. But there can be hope,” Mr Morrison said.“Forgiveness is never earned or deserved. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.“Forgiveness transcends all of that. It’s an act of grace. It’s an act of courage. And it is a gift that only those who have been wounded, damaged and destroyed can offer.“I also said 14 years ago, ‘sorry is not the hardest word to say, the hardest is I forgive you’.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is outright disrespect to all those effected by Stolen Generations in this country. How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology. <a href="https://t.co/3VG6OcVGuN">pic.twitter.com/3VG6OcVGuN</a>— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorThorpe/status/1493049463166083072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>Following Mr Morrison’s speech, Senator Thorpe shared her criticism of the Prime Minister on Twitter, saying he had shown “outright disrespect” to members of the Stolen Generations.“This is outright disrespect to all those affected by Stolen Generations in this country,” the Greens member wrote.“How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our official* response to what Scott Morrison said today: *polite <a href="https://t.co/DRsrdGvcV1">pic.twitter.com/DRsrdGvcV1</a>— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/firstpeoplesvic/status/1493069336940285953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>The <a href="https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria</a>, the organisation responsible for developing a treaty with the state government, also released a statement on Twitter, simply stating: “Get in the bin.”Marcus Stewart, a co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly, later shared a translation of the statement in Taungurung - the language spoken by the Taungurung people whose country encompasses much of central Victoria.“Some people have said our media release was rude,” he captioned the photo of the translated statement.“For the haters, is it more poetic in language?”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Some people have said our media release was rude. For the haters, is it more poetic in language? <a href="https://t.co/rDa4zz7b0p">pic.twitter.com/rDa4zz7b0p</a>— Marcus Stewart (@marcusbstewart) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusbstewart/status/1493128028305903619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt also made a statement marking the anniversary in Parliament, where he said that although acknowledging “the wrongdoing can ease some suffering, it will never remove it”.Image: House of Representatives

News

Legendary band hits back after PM’s ukulele session

New Zealand band Dragon have hit back at Prime Minister Scott Morrison after his "cynical" cover of their cult classic song on a special interview with 60 Minutes. In the sit-down interview with Karl Stefanovic, the PM is filmed with his family, strumming a ukulele while singing the band's smash hit April Sun in Cuba. In a response to the serenade, Dragon has accused Scott Morrison of using their song to "humanise" himself in the face of the Australian public ahead of the upcoming federal election.In a statement released by the band, they accused the PM of dragging the band into the headline for "all the wrong reasons" in what they believe was a "cynical" act of electioneering in order to strike a cord with Australians. The band also used their statement to resurface damning criticism of the PM for taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, which saw 34 people lose their lives and nearly 3,000 homes destroyed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from the band Dragon after the Prime Minister of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> appeared on television singing one of their songs. They said it was “a cynical move by a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time”. <a href="https://t.co/85RVXFtF2S">pic.twitter.com/85RVXFtF2S</a>— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenMcDonell/status/1493057963753418754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>"It is a cynical move for a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time," the band's statement said."Maybe if his trip to Hawaii had not been cut short, he could have learnt the lyrics to the rest of the chorus."In the now-viral video of Scott Morrison performing the tracks he repeats one line twice ("Take me to the April sun in Cuba, oh oh oh"), rather than progress the song along with the original lyrics.The song was originally penned in 1977 by two New Zealanders who were living in Australia, and became a smash hit in Australia and New Zealand after placing in the top 10 in both country's music charts. When the video of Scott Morrison playing the ukulele first surfaced in a preview for the 60 Minutes interview, it was instantly branded as "extremely cringe" by viewers. Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, suggested the performance was a cynical ploy to improve Mr Morrison’s image ahead of the federal election.“We need to brace ourselves for how far he will go the more desperate they get,” she wrote on Twitter.Image credits: Nine - 60 Minutes / Twitter

News

"Extremely cringe": Scott Morrison blasted for musical clip

In what has been quite a tough week for the Prime Minister, he has become the centre of attention once again - this time for <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/make-it-stop-social-media-loses-it-over-desperate-scott-morrison-034918812.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an awkward clip</a> of him armed with a ukulele.The video was first shared by Channel Nine in a tweet on Friday before it quickly circulated online, showing Karl Stefanovic joining in on a family singalong with Scott Morrison and his family, led by Mr Morrison on the ukulele.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This Sunday on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60Mins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60Mins</a>, meet the Morrisons. 8:40PM on <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Channel9</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/9Now?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@9Now</a>. <a href="https://t.co/1rQwT8TsPV">pic.twitter.com/1rQwT8TsPV</a>— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins/status/1491964286545297408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2022</a></blockquote>The clip was a preview of an upcoming episode of 60 Minutes with Mr Morrison and his wife, Jenny, as well as their two daughters, Lily and Abbey.Users on social media were quick to share their thoughts on the PM’s rendition of Dragon’s popular song April Sun in Cuba, with many connecting his performance to his widely-criticised trip to Hawaii.“Extremely cringe,” one person wrote. “Scott Morrison is LITERALLY reminding everyone about that infamous Hawaii trip during the bushfires. All he’s missing is a Hawaiian shirt etc.”Even Today host Ally Langdon got in on the joke, introducing the clip saying: “I think he learned that in Hawaii, didn’t he?”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When I was a teenager, we used to call people ‘try hards’ all the time. It was definitely a ‘thing’ in the 90s. I think it’s time to bring back the phrase specifically to describe Scott Morrison playing a ukulele.— Queen Victoria (@Vic_Rollison) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vic_Rollison/status/1491994187776290819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2022</a></blockquote>Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, suggested the performance was a cynical ploy to improve Mr Morrison’s image ahead of the federal election.“We need to brace ourselves for how far he will go the more desperate they get,” she wrote on Twitter.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Everbody: "This can't get worse"... Scott Morrison: "Hold my beer"...*takes out a ukelele*....<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ScottyTheCompletePsycho?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ScottyTheCompletePsycho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@60Mins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlboForPM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlboForPM</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZJ22iMpctV">https://t.co/ZJ22iMpctV</a>— John Coates (@JohnCoatess) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCoatess/status/1491913001917579265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote>The 60 Minutes clip comes within a week of the Prime Minister sparking discussion online with his appearance at a hair salon where he washed a woman’s hair.Donning an apron and mask and washing a woman’s hair at Coco’s Salon in Mount Eliza, Victoria, the Prime Minister was labelled as “creepy” and “terrible”, prompting the hashtag #ScottyTheHairdresser to emerge online.Labor MP Kristina Keneally took to the social media platform to poke fun at Mr Morrison and promote Labor’s election promise regarding TAFE.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Labor’s plans for good, secure jobs includes Fee Free TAFE, helping workers of all ages reskill into any profession that’s in demand. <a href="https://t.co/pAsTQr4RmX">pic.twitter.com/pAsTQr4RmX</a>— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKeneally/status/1489692665624989697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a></blockquote>“Under Labor’s Fee Free Tage program, you’ll be able to reskill into any profession that’s in demand,” a graphic she shared read, appearing next to a photo of Mr Morrison with the caption, “Scotty, 53” underneath it.Image: Channel 9

Grace Tame blasts Scott Morrison for "last minute" apology

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has slammed Scott Morrison’s apology to victims of alleged sexual assault and bullying in parliament as an “electioneering stunt”, calling on the federal government to do more to improve the culture within the building.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">How about some proactive, preventative measures and not just these performative, last-minute bandaid electioneering stunts?— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk/status/1490857732563701760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote>The Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce issued statements acknowledging victims of sexual harrassment and bullying in Parliament House.The statements were made in both the House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday, with Brittany Higgins and six other women present in the gallery.Both Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese directly addressed Ms Higgins, acknowledging her bravery in coming forward to share her story.The statements were the first recommendation of the independent Jenkins review into workplace culture within Parliament that was conducted last year.The review was sparked by Ms Higgins’ allegations that she was raped in a ministerial office.It found there was a “boys club” culture of “bullying, sexual harrassment and sexual assault”, and that one in three staff working within the parliamentary offices had experienced sexual harrassment.Just after midday, Mr Morrison rose and delivered his formal apology to victims in the House of Representatives.“I rise to recognise all of those who are why we are here today making this acknowledgement. I particularly want to acknowledge Ms Brittany Higgins, whose experience, and more importantly courage, is the reason we are all here today. And I want to thank her for that,” Mr Morrison <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/grace-tame-calls-for-more-action-after-scott-morrison-apology-to-women-of-parliament-hous/news-story/1a1f687e4df7cd8f1d1f9346f4cd52c2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.He said members of parliament understood “the power of an apology” to “bring healing and bring change”, referencing former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to Indigenous Australians.“I am proud that this is a chamber in which we have done this on so many occasions,” he said.“I am sorry. We are sorry. I am sorry to Ms Higgins for the terrible things that took place here. And the place that should have been a place for safety and contribution, turned out to be a nightmare.“But I am sorry for far more than that. For all of those who came before Ms Higgins and endured the same. But she had the courage to stand, and so here we are.”Ms Higgins left the chamber in tears and was briefly comforted by fellow former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller, who returned to the gallery soon after.Though she didn’t return, Ms Higgins was mentioned by name in other acknowledgements by Mr Albanese, Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent MP Zali Steggall.Ms Higgins’ close friend, Ms Tame, wasn’t present for the apologies but took to Twitter to call for more concrete action.“How about some proactive, preventative measures and not just these performative, last-minute bandaid electioneering stunts?” she wrote.Despite sparking the workplace review, Ms Higgins was not initially on the invite list for the formal apology.“Naturally, I would love to be there. It would be quite a full circle moment of closure to be honest,” she told news.com.au on Monday.Members of the public - including former staffers such as Ms Higgins - have been unable to attend Parliament due to Covid rules, but an invitation was later extended to Ms Higgins after <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/brittany-higgins-reveals-she-hasnt-been-invited-to-parliaments-apology-to-victims-of-alleged-sexual-assault/news-story/43bf9d2e0f9c0c8f8e7f34dbe0570963" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au reported</a> on the issue.Images: Parliament of Australia / Getty Images

News

Why telling Grace Tame to “smile more” is a double standard

A 2019 photo of the man who led the royal commission into the banking sector posing with Josh Frydenberg has <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/why-kenneth-hayne-photo-exposes-grace-tame-critics-double-standards/news-story/bbb7115bb935cd9d0d2905af686cfc6c" target="_blank">re-emerged</a> following widespread discussion of Grace Tame’s most recent photo with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Former High Court judge Kenneth Haye refused to shake Frydenberg’s hand and refused to smile during a photo opportunity with the Treasurer as he prepared to release a damning report. At best, the interaction was described as “brutal” and “awkward” in a handful of media reports. Meanwhile, the 2021 Australian of the Year sparked national debate following her unsmiling photo with Mr Morrison, with conservative MP’s and male journalists describing her behaviour as “ungracious and rude” and “childish and embarrassing”. Journalist Julia Baird quickly pointed out the double standard on Twitter. “A quiet reminder that when Justice Kenneth Hayne, head of (the) royal commission into banking misconduct, refused to smile or even shake the hand of the Treasurer during a photo op in 2019, it was considered the stuff of national calamity,” the host of ABC’s The Drum wrote. “Grace Tame is making a similar point.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Such a clear example of when men are considered principled and women are called petulant - for the same behaviour. And yet Tame shook the PM’s hand, stood quietly and in place for the photos. <a href="https://t.co/h2dINgsTCO">https://t.co/h2dINgsTCO</a> — 💥Dr💥 Julia Baird (@bairdjulia) <a href="https://twitter.com/bairdjulia/status/1485908652095864832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote> The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson agreed, sharing Baird’s post and adding commentary of her own. “True @bairdjulia,” she wrote. “Not was there uproar when Scott Morrison turned his back on Tanya Plibersek & played with his phone as she addressed him in fed parliament. “Nor when he refused to shake Bill Shorten’s hand at Bob Hawke’s funeral. “Not sure why the rules are different. Oh wait…” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Man, that Grace Tame chick was outta line, right?... 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/HEAi5I8yBb">pic.twitter.com/HEAi5I8yBb</a> — Brent Hodgson (@BrentHodgson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentHodgson/status/1485956821722759168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Wheelchair racer and Paralympian Kurt Fearnley spelled it out even more clearly while sharing a 2017 photo of an unsmiling Pope Francis alongside former US President Donald Trump. “Not one bloke, from me to the Pope would’ve been told to ‘smile more’. #justsayin,” he added. The debate even spilled onto Wednesday night’s episode of The Project, with Carrie Bickmore asking co-host Peter van Onsolen about his own column criticising Ms Tame’s behaviour and claiming she was “acting like a child”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> If you missed it, here is THAT moment from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> tonight. <a href="https://t.co/9D0lac85Vt">pic.twitter.com/9D0lac85Vt</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1485892588058312704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote> “Why do you feel the need to tell Grace how she should have behaved?” Bickmore asked. “But second of all, why should she stand there and smile and pretend it’s all okay when there is an absolute catastrophe on the cards here?” “I don’t think she should stand there and smile and pretend it’s all OK, I just thought she shouldn’t go. If you can’t be polite in some form, then don’t go,” van Onsolen replied. “But why should she have to be silenced and quiet? Why can’t she go and make a statement in her behaviour about how she feels over what has happened in the past year?” Bickmore shot back. Ms Tame received the national honour for fighting to legally tell her story as a victim of child sexual abuse and grooming and in overturning a Tasmanian law preventing victims from identifying themselves in the media. During her tenure she pushed the topic of child sexual abuse into the national spotlight and conversations around the country. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> What exactly did they think would happen when they organised this photo op? Grace Tame is not the type to lie about how she feels. And nor should we ever put her in a position where she is expected to. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetHerSpeak?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetHerSpeak</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aoty2021?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aoty2021</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AOTY2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AOTY2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/8wde7Vye2n">pic.twitter.com/8wde7Vye2n</a> — Nina Funnell, journalist & #LetUsSpeak manager (@ninafunnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/ninafunnell/status/1485774656116527104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Nina Funnell, the journalist behind the #LetHerSpeak campaign that allowed Ms Tame to speak out, asked on Twitter, “What exactly did they think would happen when they organised this photo op?” “Grace Tame is not the type to lie about how she feels. And nor should we ever put her in a position where she is expected to.” Image: @bairdjulie (Twitter)

News

Director blames millennials for box office flop

Director Ridley Scott has placed the blame for his latest movie’s poor performance on millennials for a bizarre reason: their mobile phones. Scott’s medieval film, The Last Duel, is based on a real-life ritual duel between knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) after Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accuses Jacques of sexually assaulting her. Despite the A-list cast and positive reviews ahead of its release in cinemas, The Last Duel has bombed at the box office after raking in $4.8 million on its opening weekend. It currently has a domestic gross of $10 million, a sliver of its $100 million budget. The 83-year-old director behind hit films like Alien, Gladiator, and Blade Runner first mentioned his gripe with the millennial generation during an appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today is Ridley Scott day on <a href="https://t.co/KBRiPQLutw">https://t.co/KBRiPQLutw</a>! Blade Runner, historical epics, his secret weapon in filmmaking, House of Gucci! Great talk! Do it up! Episode - <a href="https://t.co/PWcTZfeV3k">https://t.co/PWcTZfeV3k</a> On <a href="https://twitter.com/ApplePodcasts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ApplePodcasts</a> - <a href="https://t.co/utE9C6ox5Z">https://t.co/utE9C6ox5Z</a> On <a href="https://twitter.com/Stitcher?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stitcher</a> - <a href="https://t.co/r1E9mtQF2k">https://t.co/r1E9mtQF2k</a> <a href="https://t.co/dPkQXhplgA">pic.twitter.com/dPkQXhplgA</a> — WTF with Marc Maron (@WTFpod) <a href="https://twitter.com/WTFpod/status/1462823039213572100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote> Though many were expecting Scott to lay the blame on Disney after the entertainment conglomerate snapped up 20th Century Fox and its slate of films, he said Disney was pleased with the movie and he was happy with how they handled its release. “Disney did a fantastic promotion job. The bosses loved the movie because I was concerned it was not for them,” Scott said. “I think what it boils down to - what we’ve got today [are] audiences who were brought up on these f**king cell phones. Scott accused the “millenian” generation of refusing to learn anything unless it was taught through their phone and believed their attitude came from social media. “This is a broad stroke, but I think we’re dealing with it right now with Facebook,” he continued. “This is a misdirection that has happened where it’s given the wrong kind of confidence to this latest generation, I think.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVd0ZWELMtO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVd0ZWELMtO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by 20th Century Studios (@20thcenturystudios)</a> </div> </blockquote> The film’s poor performance could be partially blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic, which would have kept older audiences - the movie’s prime demographic - away from cinemas. Recent box office trends have also found that most audiences have been flocking to superhero, science fiction, and horror films, rather than historical dramas like The Last Duel. Plus, the film has debuted in a bumper month of releases, competing against the likes of superhero film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, sci-fi epic Dune and the long-awaited No Time to Die. The Last Duel’s lacklustre performance could also point to a change in audience expectations, reported by <a rel="noopener" href="https://screenrant.com/last-duel-movie-failure-ridley-scott-millennials-response/" target="_blank">Screen Rant</a>. With audiences coming to cinemas to see epic, blockbuster movies, smaller films and period pieces like The Last Duel have become films audiences will wait to watch until they can be streamed. Image: Getty Images

Movies

New reports show lockdowns may push into 2022

As Australia's Covid crisis rages on, it's been reported that Scott Morrison and national cabinet leaders are preparing for targeted lockdowns which will run into next year. This has been backed up by the PM’s own refusal to rule out 2022 lockdowns, when he stated “No one can give those guarantees.” “The virus is unpredictable and it would be irresponsible to do so,” Morrison added. According to The Australian, the Doherty Institute has prepared scenarios to be presented to national cabinet today which show the outcomes of the different approaches including the vaccination rates we need for Australia to start opening up. The Treasury department will then work on the economic cost of different outcomes and they will use this data to formulate our future COVID-19 policies. This news comes as Greater Sydney's lockdown has been extended by another month with NSW recording its worst day since the pandemic began on Thursday with 239 new infections. Hard-hit hot spot zones say they have an “unfair deal” The mayors from Sydney's eight hot spot zones have taken to social media and other means to state they feel they’re not being treated fairly. Cumberland mayor Steve Christou joined in today telling the Today show, his community was getting an "unfair deal". "I'm just here trying to do the best and represent the interests of my community, who, at the moment, are getting an unfair deal," he told the program. "They don't deserve this," he added. Growing push to restrict the unvaccinated There's a growing push to make moves to restrict the movements of the unvaccinated when Australia opens up after the pandemic. Speaking to 3AW, NAB boss Ross McEwan said a bank survey had found 80 per cent of the population planned to get the jab, while 10 per cent were undecided and 10 per cent were against it. McEwan said those who got the jab should be rewarded: “Let’s target the 80 per cent who do want to get the job done and get the vaccination into their arms. Then work on the 10 per cent who can be swung across. Then let’s open this economy up because everybody’s had a chance," he said. “Let’s get 90 per cent of the population vaccinated and give them freedom. For those that don’t want the vaccination, well they can stay at home.” he said. There are also plans to ease travel restrictions on those who are vaccinated, including international travel and quarantine-at-home when arriving back from overseas trips. Other plans include restrictions on restaurants and cinemas for those who aren’t vaccinated. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Oh Lord": Queen’s awkward moment with Scott Morrison

The Queen has marked her first in-person audience at a royal residence since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Her Majesty welcomed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Windsor Castle on Tuesday in a bright yellow floral dress. The 95-year-old monarch, after more than 50 years in power still remains as humble as ever, even after the Australian PM showered the royal in compliments. Speaking about the Queen's recent visit to Cornwall to meet G7 leaders, Scott Morrison remarked: "You were quite the hit. Everyone was talking about you at dinner the next night." The Queen said: "Oh Lord. Were they really?" To which Morrison added: "They were. They were thrilled to see you." <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841812/queen-elizabeth-scomo.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d8096c23908548ddbf9e2f7d66badb7d" /> The Queen has hosted a number of guests virtually since the pandemic hit, with guests usually tuning in via a video-link from Buckingham Palace. However it is the first time a head of state has had the opportunity to carry out an audience in person, since March of 2020. To that end she also told Morrison: "Very nice to see you – in person this time." Morrison's wife Jennifer also was there for the private audience. The Queen welcomed a number of world leaders at the G-7 Summit on Friday. The royal also celebrated her public birthday with a scaled-down Trooping the Colour on Saturday. She went on to have tea with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on Sunday. Image: Getty

News

Qantas boss hints at four more travel bubbles

Australians are being given the opportunity to travel overseas for the first time in more than a year, in just days. The highly anticipated New Zealand travel bubble will open for reciprocal quarantine-free travel on Monday. However, impatient Aussies are already wondering when they can set their sights further, and go to next. Qantas boss Alan Joyce has given a hint as to where we may be able to go. On Thursday, Joyce suggested there are four countries that could be in line for a travel arrangement. “It all depends on what level of COVID is in an individual country, and what level of restrictions and testing will be put in place,” he said. “There are clearly a lot of countries in the region, especially in the Asia-Pacific, that have had a tight control on COVID. “They give us market opportunities for Singapore, like Japan, markets like Taiwan for us to potentially open up. “But we’re also actively looking at the Pacific Islands because there are really good opportunities in places like Fiji and the Pacific Islands to open up.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also hinted at possibly opening up the travel bubble arrangement a little more. “These things are regularly assessed by the Chief Medical Officer and we have looked at places like Singapore and Japan and South Korea, and countries like this,” he said. “But at this stage, we are not in a position to move forward on any of those at this point.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840759/qantas-jacinda-ardern-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/839b26b4d61e4c19a0b9415f1623e95f" /> New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also revealed that their government is considering whether the Cook Islands could be incorporated into a travel bubble. She says the travel bubble announcement is “world-leading” however stressed that it is fragile. Ardern said three responses are in place should a COVID outbreak happen in Australia or a coronavirus case. They said their process would be to continue, pause or suspend flights. “For instance, if a case is found that is quite clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, you’ll likely see travel continue in the same way as you could see life continue if that happened here in Australia,” she said. “If, however, a case was found that was not clearly linked to the border, and a state responded by a short lockdown to identify more information, we’d likely pause flights from that state in the same way we would stop travel into and out of a region in New Zealand as if it were going into a full lockdown. “And if we saw multiple cases of unknown origin, we would likely suspend flights for a set period of time.”

International Travel

PM urges caution after NSW woman dies from blood clots

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to avoid jumping to conclusions following the death of a NSW woman who developed blood clots a day after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The 48-year old woman received the AstraZeneca vaccine last Friday, developed major blood clots the following day, and was put on dialysis in intensive care until her death on Wednesday, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9473583/NSW-woman-48-dies-week-getting-Covid-19-vaccine-developing-blood-clots.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail reported</a>. The Daily Mail also confirmed that the woman was diabetic but otherwise healthy, and that preliminary tests had not found a conclusive link between her death and the vaccination. In a statement confirming that Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is investigating a death in NSW, the TGA also said, ““It has not yet been established whether there is any link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the tragic death reported by NSW health officials.” “NSW Health has said there is no confirmed link but further investigations are underway.” On Thursday, Mr Morrison said the woman’s death will continue to be looked into by state and federal authorities. “There is a lot more to understand and learn about that issue and I would caution others in making conclusions about this at this point as well,” he told reporters at a press conference in Western’s Australia’s Pilbara region. “We’ve been very transparent, very transparent, when it comes to information on these issues and people can expect us to do that,” he continued. “It’s important, because of the fact that people can have concerns, that we follow that important process, to inform ourselves properly.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYeoGmr2KS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMYeoGmr2KS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Scott Morrison (@scottmorrisonmp)</a> </div> </blockquote> In a statement released on Thursday night, a NSW Health spokesperson said the department would not speculate on or discuss individual cases, but offered condolences to the family of the woman who died. “The death of anyone is always a tragedy and our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the person who has passed away,” the spokesperson said. “The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for regulating and monitoring the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia.” NSW Health has also noted many “conditions” can arise during normal life, regardless of whether a vaccine has been administered, but that it was important for anyone concerned about any adverse effects they were experiencing after a vaccination to contact their doctor. “Monitoring involves detecting and responding to any emergency safety concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly any adverse events following immunisation,” the statement read. The TGA also said that the blood clotting disorders connected to the AstraZeneca vaccine “are very rare and differ from common blood clots or venous thromboembolism, which occur in around 50 Australians every day.” “The clotting disorder being investigated in connection with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is now referred to as ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’, has been confirmed in only two cases out of over 700,000 people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbok4Mp-k0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbok4Mp-k0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Scott Morrison (@scottmorrisonmp)</a> </div> </blockquote> If a link between the woman contracting blood clots and receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is confirmed, it would be the third case to occur in Australia - including a woman in Western Australia and a man in Victoria who both received the AstraZeneca vaccine and were in their 40s. Australians under 50 have been warned against receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine after a link was established between the vaccine and rare blood clots. Pfizer became the recommended vaccine for anyone under 50 <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-08/scott-morrison-announces-pfizer-preferred-for-younger-people/100057184" target="_blank">as of last week</a>, with use of the AstraZeneca vaccine becoming more limited.

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Oh Lord": Queen’s awkward moment with Scott Morrison

Qantas boss hints at four more travel bubbles

PM urges caution after NSW woman dies from blood clots