David Van, call me ‘senator sixpack’

HOT TO TROT

Former Liberal Senator David Van used his official Instagram account to chat up women using terms such as “babe”, “hon” and “darling”, the SMH ($) reports, even asking one woman to call him “senator sixpack” in a public comment on his post. A meme was born. It sparked a rebuke from then-prime minister Scott Morrison’s office in 2021, the paper says, which warned Van to act appropriately. He stepped down from the Libs amid several sexual harassment allegations that he denies, the first from independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, and then from former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker in the days after. Van, now a backbencher, has emerged as somewhat of a kingmaker for Labor’s IR reform and the Murray-Darling Basin plan in recent weeks, The Australian ($) reports, even though the investigation into the allegations continues.

Meanwhile, a sex offender released from immigration detention has been charged with indecent assault, the ABC reports. The 65-year-old man was arrested at an Adelaide hotel after a woman was allegedly assaulted — Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed he was one of two former detainees who have been charged since their release. As of 4.30am AEDT, this is the top story on the ABC, The SMH and The Age, The Australian, The West Australian, Sky News Australia, Adelaide’s The Advertiser and the Herald Sun. Recidivism does not typically make headlines across the country — Australia’s rate of ex-prisoner reoffending is 60%. Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan called for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to resign because the Coalition had to force the government to monitor former detainees, a reason that doesn’t exactly make sense considering it didn’t prevent this alleged recidivism anyway.

NOT AT ANY PRICE

Opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price rejected the ABC’s request for an interview at least 52 times, Guardian Australia reports. It’s per an ABC report into the Voice to Parliament coverage, which found the Yes campaign got double the time of the No side on the national broadcaster. No people didn’t want to talk, it found, and the ABC wanted to focus on First Nations voices who mostly voted Yes. Speaking of coverage, The Guardian has banned staff from signing open letters or posting about the Israel-Hamas conflict on social media, The Australian ($) reports, because “it can be perceived as a potential conflict of interest”. The note came from the top, editor-in-chief Katharine Viner, supported by Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor and US editor Betsy Reed. Consequences will be decided on a “case-by-case basis”.

Meanwhile, did you catch Louise Adler on the ABC’s 7.30 with Laura Tingle last night? The book publisher and director of Adelaide Writers’ Week spoke eloquently about three actors who donned a keffiyeh — a Palestinian scarf — during the curtain call. It prompted resignations from the Sydney Theatre Company’s board and for donors to withdraw cash support. Adler, who is Jewish, said the artists had the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and that it was “remarkable and disturbing” that donors felt threatened by that declaration. Adler continued that artists have always held strong political views, adding: “Art that is not made of this world feels, to me, rather vacuous.”

CRASH TEST DUMMIES

Westpac is back up and running after a system crash last night, Guardian Australia reports, adding some people had to “abandon their shopping in supermarkets” when their card wouldn’t work. Hmm — the paper may want to rethink the “evidence” of that last statement — a comment from “MaryDyer1165468”, a relatively new X account that looks suspiciously like a bot, said “no wonder why people are moving to crypto” and retweeted posts about crypto giveaways. Anyway — more legit-looking people were posting about Westpac banking woes too, so no doubt it caused some headaches for Australians (DownDetector said more than 10,000 reported an issue). The AFR ($) says it was due to a routine technology update.

Meanwhile it’s rates day, but don’t expect a hike. Economists say the Reserve Bank is not likely to raise the cash rate from 4.35% today considering inflation is levelling out, Sky News Australia reports. It’s a whole different kettle of fish in remote NT, however, where Crikey’s Julia Bergin reports a 500-gram tin of Nescafé instant coffee costs $40 for the mostly Indigenous customer cohort. Reporting with Indigenous Community Television (ICTV), Bergin notes one of the three groups that run general stores is a Commonwealth company. Absolutely dismal. On a final note, vale Labor MP Peta Murphy who has died from breast cancer. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong called yesterday “the saddest of days for the Labor family”, Sky News Australia reports, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton spoke of her “grace and distinction” in serving Australians, and Nationals Leader David Littleproud called her “inspiring” and “courageous”.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

A small mountain village in southern Italy was being ravaged by a spate of petty crime, causing cries of fanculo! to ring out like church bells that would send birds high into the blue October skies. It wasn’t blood spilt, nor money, but air — the air from car tyres as a mysterious vandal slashed wheels for weeks on end, sparking a scourge of lateness. As an increasing number of tyres piled up at the local tip, the culprit remained elusive, his or her twisted motive unknown. Over espresso, the locals of Vastogirardi exchanged theories in hushed voices of mafia intimidation descending upon their peaceful village, or else rehashing tales of generations-old feuds between families.

It had to be someone inside the village, Deputy Mayor Remo Scocchera deduced to The Guardian, because “we are always aware of any suspicious movements” from outside. The pressure on the local polizia became so great that plain-clothed officers started patrolling the area while discreetly affixing surveillance cameras to cover their presumed gelato breaks. Watching the footage back at the station, a cop sat up in his seat as the offender wandered into the frame for a spot of slashing. It was Billy the dog, gnawing happily on the tyres as if he served no god, nor feared an afterlife. Oh well, at least it wasn’t some wanton criminal, Scocchera said, spotting the silver lining. As for Billy’s apparent hunger for anarchy, it turns out the pooch has gingivitis, and he was trying to relieve the discomfort. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Hoping a mystery is solved for you today too.

SAY WHAT?

I think arts organisations need to have some clarity about the moral compromises they’re prepared to make when they take donor support or funding.

Louise Adler

The publisher and director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, who is Jewish, said Sydney Theatre Company management seemed far more concerned about donors “taking their cheque books and walking away” than supporting three actors who faced a backlash for wearing a Palestinian scarf during the curtain call of a production.

CRIKEY RECAP

Vote now for Crikey’s prestigious Arsehat of the Year

CHARLIE LEWIS

“Defamation action is costly, both for the media defendants and the complainants. Luckily, media mogul Kerry Stokes is here to help out. Famously, his network paid Roberts-Smith’s legal fees and kept him employed in the company until just after the verdict.

“When, in November, Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters won their Walkley award for the coverage that kicked off that case, it was Seven’s table alone that declined to join the standing ovation the pair received. Incidentally, that night Seven was up for ‘Scoop of the Year’ for its ‘bombshell’ interview with Bruce Lehrmann, an honour complicated by the revelation that they had been paying Lehrmann’s rent … “

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Corruption trial of Israeli PM Netanyahu resumes (Al Jazeera)

Mount Marapi: 11 hikers killed as volcano erupts in Indonesia (BBC)

Remains of five other airmen found from Osprey that crashed in Japan, Air Force says (CNN)

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere expects huge turnout for nationwide protests (NZ Herald)

Sellafield nuclear site hacked by groups linked to Russia and China (The Guardian)

Pentagon: US warship and multiple commercial ships come under attack in Red Sea
(euronews)

Spotify to cut 1,500 jobs after spending spree (The New York Times) ($)

THE COMMENTARIAT

I used to spend all year dreaming of summer. Now it just brings anxiety — Wendy Syfret (The SMH) ($): “Even now, summer still starts with an indescribable feeling. But it’s less romantic. Rather than celebrating the first barbecue invite, I notice a hot day arriving too soon or my garden blooming out of season. The news will begin predicting extreme temperatures while my family’s raincoats hang by the front door, and I’ll feel something inside me seize. Now the feeling of summer is anxiety. Like all anxieties, it can be hard to pin down what this abstract fear is specifically directed towards. Obviously, we’re all scarred by recent memories of catastrophic fires and the looming foreboding of knowing these ‘once in a century’ disasters are becoming more frequent and intense.

“Even in areas where summers don’t burn, they bake. I used to spend spring daydreaming about lying by the local pool, cutting the taste of salty sweat with ice cream. Now I spend those final mild days preparing my home and family for what’s to come. Will our ancient evaporative cooling system stand up to 40-degree temperatures? Is it worth trying to save my garden, or better to accept that it will fry and start again in March? How hot can a child’s bedroom get before you wake them from a nap?”

It’s time to fix America’s most dangerous law [the Insurrection Act] — David French (The New York Times) ($): “I’m not naïve. I recognise that it will be difficult if not impossible for any reform bill to pass Congress. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the Republican-led House of Representatives, was a central player in Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election. Many of Trump’s congressional allies share his thirst for vengeance. But it’s past time to highlight this problem in the federal code. It’s past time to strip unilateral authority from the president.

“It’s not hard to imagine what could happen if we don’t. An angry, vindictive president could send regular army troops straight into American cities at the first hint of protest. This would place both the American polity and the American military under immense strain. While the former consequence may be more obvious, the latter is also important. Many soldiers would be deeply unhappy to be deployed against their countrymen and would be rightly concerned that a reckless deployment would be accompanied by reckless orders. Dominating the streets of New York is not the mission they signed up for.”

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Yuggera and Turrbal Country (also known as Brisbane)

• Musician Kate Ceberano will speak about her new book, Unsung, at Avid Reader bookshop.

Ngunnawal Country (also known as Canberra)

• The Australian National University’s Brian P. Schmidt will speak about democracy, at the National Press Club.

• Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’ Eliot A. Cohen will speak about Ukraine and the Middle East at the National Press Club.