Mornings With John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about the Cairns Regional Council's near-$400 million budget for the 2023-2024 financial year.  In a heated exchange Division 5's Councillor, Amy Edan, took advantage of her time to speak about her electorate's budgetary concerns by taking shots at her own Unity Team. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Manning, while chants of "let her speak" echoed from the near-full gallery. Councillor Olds reminded Councillor Edan not to make her time political and that battles are reserved for council workshops, many of which she did not attend. The controversial "tenant tax" (an increase in rates specifically targeting investment properties) was officially shut down. Ratepayers can still expect a 5.99% general rate rise.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Col from Goldsborough Valley, about his experience providing shelter and work for a troubled young person, who had broken into his factory.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about the latest opinions polls about the "voice to parliament" referendum that Australians will be voting on later in 2023. The latest polling, as of writing this article, puts the vote at neck and neck. It seems as though support for the Yes campaign has dropped from 53% to 49% within the last week. Australian voters will go to the polls in a referendum later this year to decide whether to amend the Constitution to include an unelected, Indigenous parliamentary body to advise on policy and lawmaking.

John MacKenzie chats with Associate Professor Severine Navarro, Team Head of Mucosal Immunology at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, about groundbreaking trials of a new treatment for asthma sufferers. The QIMR Berghofer Institute is appealing for donations to help fast-track clinical trials for a new anti-inflammatory protein that can now be synthesised. The protein is proving effective to treat asthma and could potentially work to treat a range of other conditions including hay fever, food allergies, and even coeliac. 

John MacKenzie chats with Sergeant Dave Raymond, Officer in Charge of Cairns Dog Squad, to share some stories after he was one of seven officers awarded an Australian Police Medal for exemplary service. "Sergeant Raymond commenced with QPS on 29 May 1989 and was sworn in as a police officer on 8 December 1989. He has served his whole career in Far North Queensland including service as a general duties officer in Smithfield and Cairns Police Station, Officer in Charge of the Cairns Police-Citizens Youth Club where he was instrumental in its establishment", quotes the media release from Mark Ryan, the Queensland Minister for Police and Corrective Services.

John MacKenzie chats with David Bobberman, CEO of Queensland Seafood Industry Association, about the fear facing Queensland's seafood industry after the announcement that the state government will ban certain net fishing. Commercial fishers are terrified of the proposal which would see an 800km area of the Northern Queensland coast be shut down to gillnet fishing by the end of June 2027. David Bobberman was furious that the announcements were made without any consultation with industry stakeholders.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Jon Nott, Professor of Geoscience College of Science and Engineering at JCU Cairns, about the latest update on sea level rises and the effects it can have at a local level.  John Mackenzie wanted to better understand what is truly happening around Far North Queensland, particularly after reports that islands in the Torres Strait are under threat.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Terry Goldsworthy, Associate Professor in Criminology at Bond University, about carjackings and violent crimes after Cairns has been revealed as the car theft capital of Queensland. The increasing rate of car thefts in Cairns, usually committed by young offenders who force entry into victims' homes and destroy any sense of safety in the process, comes as a spate of violent carjackings has been trending in the state's southeast corner. Dr. Goldsworthy spoke about how around 70% of people living in the Gold Coast "don't feel safe in their own home at night". 

John MacKenzie chats with Nick Holloway, Co-owner of Nunu Restaurant at Palm Cove, about their upcoming appearance on Channel 10's Masterchef program. The amazing, local restauranteur and his team flew down to the Masterchef studios recently to assist with the Home Cook vs Pro Cook challenge.  Don't miss Masterchef at 7:30 p.m. tonight on Channel 10 and 10 Play.

John MacKenzie chats with Jason Christopher, Pharmacist and Managing Director of Cairns Doctors and Whole Life Pharmacy, about the ongoing vandalism, break-ins, and crime suffered by him at the hands of young people. A spate of attacks against businesses at the Barr St Markets has hindered trading and highlighted concerns for the safety and well-being of customers, staff, and residents nearby. A group of young offenders can allegedly be seen on security video destroying property and leaving behind graffiti that references the Cleveland Youth Detention Facility. Exacerbating youth crime and justice in Cairns and FNQ has been a controversial concern for the Queensland state government.

John MacKenzie chats with a talkback caller, Michelle from Speewah, about her witnessing itinerants loitering and hurling abuse at onlooking tourists who stood filming the saga with their phones. Michelle feared for her own safety as she entered her local bank branch while these "grubs" shouted threats. She reminded everyone that this is not a good look for our tourist city.

John MacKenzie chats with Bry Penfold, Owner of QuickCoast Xpeditions, about his business idea called Coastal Xpeditions which will ferry passengers in luxury between Cairns, Mission Beach, and Townsville. The service, based in Mission Beach, plans to "island hop" along the stunning coastline of Far North Queensland and will include the Hinchinbrook channel on its course. Mr. Penfold expects high visitation from the international markets but also indicated that there is local enthusiasm and support.

John MacKenzie chats State of Origin Game 1 with Chris "Choppy" Close, Rugby League Legend and player for the first State of Origin match in 1980. Choppy spoke about this year's Maroons team under coach Billy Slater. Don't miss SOO Game 1 tonight at 8 pm AEST to be held at Adelaide Oval, South Australia!

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller Bob, who operates a business in Cairns, about the state of tourism and CBD security. Following the repeated assaults on innocent people and vandalism of more businesses in Cairns, Bob spoke out demanding urgent action from our elected officials before all the tourists are scared away. Bob also touched on a rumour that Cathay Pacific airlines have potentially floated the idea of Cairns being an international hub.

John MacKenzie chats with Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger and Queensland Leader of Katter's Australian Party, to gauge his reaction to an interview with a 17-year-old reformed criminal who is trying to turn his life around. The teenage offender was interviewed by Gavin King at 4CA last week and explained how the state ultimately set him up for a life of recidivism. Robbie Katter has long called for relocating repeat offenders to remote facilities to develop respect and real-world skills in efforts to rehabilitate them into a life of civility.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about a myriad of local issues, including bike path links, crime and CCTV amplification systems, and Double Island. The latest part of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail will join Kewarra Beach to Clifton Beach and will include the construction of a bridge to cross Deep Creek. Double Island has landed in the news again after its former owner, John Pallister, has stated that he would like to purchase the lease from Benny Wu, who has passed all state government deadlines to rejuvenate the resort and facilities. Listeners to the John Mackenzie Show had previously been told that privacy concerns were the reason that speakers cannot be used by the city's CCTV system, but it was then revealed that Brisbane City already use an "amplification" system to deter crime. Cr. Olds agreed that any speaker system needs to be immediately considered.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Michael from Gordonvale, about tangible solutions to deal with the growing crime problems, particularly in regard to troubled youth. Michael suggested rural facilities that teach real-world skills are one of the answers to curb the trend of exacerbating youth crime.

John MacKenzie chats with Joanne Borg, Former Child Safety Executive & Co-Founder of Changing Cairns Crime Problems, about government institutions designed to help troubled youths. Joanne spoke about the high cost to taxpayers needed to keep children in youth facilities and programs (such as Resicare). The failures of such institutions were also discussed.  A Queensland parliamentary Inquiry into the support required for victims of crime is being held in Cairns today and moves on to Townsville tomorrow.

Winning Streak: John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about how the Cairns Council will back down from introducing the controversial tenant tax. The tax proposal was aimed at investment properties (non-principle places of residency) within the Cairns Regional Council electorate. An increase in rates would only see landlords struggle with increased bureaucracy, and tenants would suffer as rents rise to reflect such changes.  Cr. Zeiger was outspoken against the rates increase from its inception.