Mornings With John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about the tenant tax, crime and vandalism, and dog attack responsibility.  The Cairns Regional Council has dropped its proposed "tenant tax", which would have seen a rate increase for investment properties or non-principle places of residencies. Councillor Zeiger, from the beginning, was outspoken against the proposal and feels this is a win for the community. On another note, Cr. Zeiger visited a local park site this morning that was vandalised overnight, and touched on dog ownership's rules and responsibilities.

Cash is King!  John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Rep for Division 9, about the unanimous vote to keep or return cash payment options at CRC facilities. Around 60 people crammed themselves into the 50-seat gallery, with another 70 watching the livestream downstairs to watch over the Cairns Regional Council vote. Cr. Terry James produced an amended motion for Agenda item 1 Council Facilities - Payment Options that stated CRC would bring cash back to its facilities. Loud cheers echoed the council chambers and hugs ensued as Cr. James's motion was passed. A happy win for residents.

John MacKenzie chats with Kevin Byrne, Executive Manager of Enterprise North and Former Mayor of Cairns, about victims of crime and abuse following the story of people being targeted at shopping malls and centres. The ever-increasing crime trends now weems to have expanded north to the once quiet area of Smithfield with shoppers being the target of theft, abuse, harassment, assaults, and racial language. Mr. Byrne shared his sentiments on what is seemingly a losing battle against young offenders who claim to "own this city" and have no fear or respect for their community.

John MacKenzie chats with Jimmy Floyd about his efforts to create a youth program that aims to divert young offenders in the right direction in life.  But Jimmy needs your help and support! Mr. Floyd faces a massive challenge to turn the idea into a reality. Listen to the interview to find out more.

John MacKenzie chats with Ian Leavers, President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union about the successful expansion of metal detection wands being used in safe night precincts. Cairns will soon follow Townsville in its use of "wanding" powers by state police. Townsville saw 66 individuals scanned over the weekend, out of the state total of 530. Queensland Police charged 15 people and detected eight weapons. The expansion of police wanding powers is known as "Jack's Law", which was in response to the murder of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was stabbed to death in 2019.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Elvis from Edmonton, about a group of International Tour Agents who were abused by a group of drunks in Kuranda Village. These are the very agents who encourage tourists to visit Cairns, Kuranda and Far North Queensland.  Some arguements are made that crime shouldn't be reported on as it scares off the tourists, however, it seems that the criminals are doing a good enough job at already scaring the tourists away. We cannot pretend crime doesn't occur in FNQ! To pretend so, is much like the fictional Mayor in the film JAWS wanting to keep the tourists coming by claiming that there are "no sharks". First impressions last a lifetime; we don't want to see our city and surrounding towns turn into places of danger and lawlessness.

Step in Right Direction:  John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Terry Goldsworthy, Associate Professor in Criminology at Bond University, for his perspective on crime reduction in relation to the expansion of metal detectors used by Queensland Police, in order to curb knife crime. Trial periods at the Gold Coast saw a decrease in the number of knife-related crimes, and metal detectors are being expanded to other safe night precincts across the state.

No More Living in Fear! John MacKenzie chats with Villa Romana Owner, Helen Papagelou, about being threatened, accosted and robbed repeatedly by a growing crime problem in our once beautiful city of Cairns. Mrs Papagelou spoke of being threatened with one of her own dining knives by odious itinerants who plague the Esplanade and streets of Cairns. The city of Cairns is building a reputation of lawlessness and danger, at a cost to the health and welbeing of local residents and tourists. The state government should owe a duty of care to its citizens.

John MacKenzie chats with Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds about the deadline to meet lease conditions for Double Island. Leaseholder Benny Wu was given until March 31 2023 by the Queensland Depatment of Resources to have the resort open and to provide day-use facilities for public visitors. Many are calling for the state goverment to strip Mr. Wu of the lease, considering that the conditions of the contract have not yet been met, even after considerable time was provided. IMAGE: Sheba_Also 43,000 photos, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Cairns_Palm_Cove_Double_Island-1_%2823535535935%29.jpg

John MacKenzie chats with Craig Crawford, ALP State Member for Barron River, about the owner of Double Island at Palm Cove, and the involved responsibilities as per the lease conditions.  One of the primary condition that has not been met is the opening of day-use favilties to the public for all to enjoy Double Island.  Mr. Benny Wu purchased the lease in 2012 for nearly $6-million. Minister Crawford explained that the conditons have not been met by the deadlines given (March 2023) by the State Government and that it is likely that the lease will be forfeited.

John MacKenzie chats with Russell Beer, Chairman of Ports North, about the confirmation that Cairns will again be a home port for P&O Cruise's Pacific Explorer ship in 2023/2024. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, P&O Cruises had a long-term ship ported in Cairns so the announcement has been highly anticipated by avid holiday-goers. Mr. Beer explained that home porting in Cairns brings visitors into the region who will fly in and out of cairns to embark on their chosen cruise. It was further announced that by 2025, Townsville City, will be marked on thew map as a port of call for cruisers.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Jonny from Cairns, who was attacked by young thugs for intervening when an elderly woman was being assaulted in a suburb north of Cairns. The youths were inhaling deodorant when they attacked Jonny and could be heard stating "We Own Cairns!" The state of emergency on crime continues to worsen.

John MacKenzie chats with John Moore, Former Director of Australian Rugby League, about potential funding for Barlow Park upgrades by the Queensland Government as a part of the 2032 Olympic Games planning. On Wednesday, Cairns Regional Councillors voted unanimously to cooperate with the State Government on delivering "Olympic Legacy Upgrades" to the sporting venue located on the corner of Scott and Severin Street. On a sad and separate note, NRL Footy legend, Sam Backo, is in a critical condition in Cairns Hospital following a heart attack. 

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about the lease conditions for Double Island after a state inquiry into Island upkeep in Queensland. Lease-holder of Double Island, Benny Wu, has not met conditions to provide day use facilities for members of the public to enjoy, nor has necessary repairs and maintainence been adequately conducted according to observations made by politicians. In mid-2022, Mr. Wu was given a March 31 2023 deadline by the State Resources Department to meet the contract's conditions or forefeit the lease.

John MacKenzie chats with Richie Bates, Former President of Cairns Cycling Club & Former CRC Councillor, about E-Scooters and aspects of the law. Legal firm Slater & Gordon conducted a survey that found a slight majority of road users do not want to see more e-scooters on Australian roads. Cairns is seeing an increase in the use of electronic scooters as a commuting option, with the rollout of Beam e-scooters in late 2022 and an update of laws regarding e-scooters on Queensland roads and footpaths.

John MacKenzie and 4CA celebrate the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon's 20th Anniversary with a live broadcast. John caught up with former Queensland Premier at the time, Peter Beattie, to reminisce and celebrate the 20-year milestone for a piece of iconic infrastructure. Happy 20th Birthday to the Lagoon!

John MacKenzie chats with Leigh Ratcliffe, Founder of the Palm Cove Master Plan, about a proposed 6-story tower that many say would conflict with the natural settings and beauty of Palm Cove. Considered by many locals to be the Father of Palm Cove, Mr. Ratcliffe detailed the master plans to unsure the future of plam cove that he compiled some 40-years ago. "Buildings Should Never be Taller than the Palm Trees" is a sentiment echoed throughout the community. If you are opposed to the currently proposed development for Palm Cove then you need to email your concerns to the Cairns Regional Council. Letters against the development can be emailed to submissions@cairns.qld.gov.au Alternatively, to sign a petition, then head down and find the stall at the upcoming Palm Cove markets held on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Scott from Cairns, who had an issue with parking meters and cash payments. The cashless debate continues in Cairns, prompted by a call a few weeks ago who revealed that certain CRC facitlities no longer accept cash as an optyion for payemnts.