Mornings With John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about the potential sale of council-owned properties. The option for Cairns Regional Council to sell, lease, or donate properties in an effort to tackle the homelessness and housing crisis was revealed as a part of the Council's action plan. The review, however, would not be completed until 2026. Questions have been raised as to whether the plan would provide practical solutions to effectively provide affordable housing options.

John MacKenzie chats with Ian leavers, President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union about "Jack's Law" and metal detection wands being introduced in Cairns. After a successful trial period in the Gold Coast, metal detection wanding will be expanded to other areas around Queensland. Some academics argue that wanding will not deter stabbings or youths from carrying knives, however, the trial has seen over 650 convictions and has already saved lives. "Jacks Law" was established in response to the stabbing of Gold Coast teenager, Jack Beasley, in 2019.

John MacKenzie chats with Danny Betros, Managing Director of CBRE Cairns, about the state of Cairns City's CBD and a necessary post-Covid revival strategy. Mr. Betros also spoke about the state of commercial spaces and building upkeep and maintenance, which can have a drastic effect on the performance of the tenanted businesses. "A lot of areas... has got to reinvent itself from purely retail to more commercial office, food and bars that is more suited to the uses of a CBD nowadays" Mr. Betros said.

John MacKenzie chats with Dale Last, Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services, about the Palaszczuk government's proposal to increase penalties for juvenile criminals, and whether they will work for the community. Some of the proposed changes include: - Increasing maximum penalties for auto theft - More severe penalties for offences committed at night - Penalties for promoting crimes on social media - Construction of new detention centres

John MacKenzie chats with Tim Mander, LNP State Member for Everton and Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, about the state's lack of spending on social housing. The Queensland state government is spending less per capita than other states and the total spending bill for social housing infrastructure has been decreasing over the last few financial years. This comes at a time when Queenslanders are facing a rental and accommodation crisis.   Tim Mander also commented on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to the crime emergency plaguing Alice Springs.

John MacKenzie chats with Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger and Queensland Leader of Katter's Australian Party, about the reignited debate regarding daylight savings time being implemented in our state. Robbie Katter explained how regional dwellers would suffer from artificially lengthened working days and additional hours of oppressive heat. Macca and Robbie also touched on the crime crisis facing Cairns, Townsville, and Far Northern Queensland.

John MacKenzie chats with Gavin King, 4CA Announcer & former State Member for Cairns, about the passing of former State Minister Vaughn Johnson. The former Transport Minister (1996-1998), Chief Whip under the Newman Government, and Order of Australia recipient (2020), Vaughn Johnson, passed away aged 75, over the weekend. Mr. Johnson spent over 25 years in the Queensland parliament as the Member for Gregory (1989-2015) and held many shadow cabinet positions and one ministership during his time.

John MacKenzie chats with Ezzy Wells, Owner of Adventure Cairns & Beyond, about her experiences with criminal activity in the Cairns CBD.  Comments on crime are a hot topic after the Mayor of Alice Springs, Matt Paterson, made calls for the Australian Defence Force or Australian Federal Police to assist with the violent crime emergency crippling local residents.

John MacKenzie chats with Nigel and Kirstie Spiller who tell their horror story of waiting a month for lost luggage. Their experience comes as airline operators have been facing pressures after losing luggage and baggage handlers being caught mistreating customers' personal items. Mr. Speller gave a word of warning, "Take photos of everything... of your bags, of security tags". Photos can help you identify your luggage to operators in the event of misplacement.

John MacKenzie chats with Craig Crawford, State Member for Barron River, about the government's plans to upgrade the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns City and Smithfield. The plans are out and public comments are being sought about stage one of the $395-Million masterplan for Cairns' north. New bridges, signal upgrades, and the widening of the road to 6 lanes between Grove St and the Smithfield Bypass are being proposed. Provide your opinions to the Queensland Government. Click on the link to "Have Your Say" on this project: https://tinyurl.com/3397ut39

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Rossco from Townsville, about the need to educate troubled youth. Basic mathematics and language skills are not being taught effectively, which sets up young people for future failure in social integration and positive behaviour. Calls are being made for the state government to do more to help solve the issue of youth crime and recidivism.

John MacKenzie chats with Kevin Byrne, Executive Manager of Enterprise North and Former Mayor of Cairns, about the passing of Senator and former Major General, Jim Molan.  Kevin Byrne served alongside Jim Molan during his time in Papua New Guinea.  Senator Molan began his career in the military, graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1971, and eventually rose to the ranks of Major General. Molan was the Chief of Operations in Iraq during 2004-2005, he released his first book in 2008 and successfully ran for the senate in 2017. Senator Molan died peacefully this morning, aged 72.

John MacKenzie chats with Locky Bensted, Mareeba Shire Councillor, about a proposed heavy vehicle bypass for the town of Mareeba. The community is being consulted for their views and opinions on the bypass that would see heavy traffic diverted away from Mareeba's main thoroughfare. Locky also commented on the juvenile crime emergency and advocates his support for a remote youth program to build skills and education in an effort to curb criminal behaviour.

John MacKenzie chats with Ken Harley, local Crime Emergency Activist, after yet another terrifying home invasion in Cairns. A woman pretended to remain asleep with her two-year-old while the invaders ransacked her house. 

John MacKenzie chats with Associate Professor Michelle Wykes, Group Leader of Molecular Immunology at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, about breakthrough cancer research in regard to both breast and bowel cancer. The discovery of a so-called "master switch" is being understood in efforts to potentially turn on vital dendritic cells, which act like the generals of the immune system, to fight particular tumours. "We're seeing palpable tumours that completely disappear and melt away," Michelle Wykes said.

John MacKenzie chats with Roderick "Roddy" Rees, Sole Director of Cairns Adventure Group and Raging Thunder Adventures, about investing $3 million into his tourism business. Mr. Rees is building a new depot and office and adding five new buses to his fleet as the return of international visitors is being eagerly anticipated. "We want to show that confidence to the industry," Mr. Rees said, "We feel really confident that people will be coming back to this area in droves."

John MacKenzie chats with Danny Betros, Managing Director of CBRE Cairns, after his calls for action to curb itinerant behaviour in Cairns by reopening the Quigley Street night shelter. The 40-bed accommodation centre was an alternative to the watch-house for heavily intoxicated people but was padlocked shut since the start of the covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Betros is calling on the state government to make any necessary repairs to the complex and reopen it promptly.

John MacKenzie chats with Alan Benn whose daughter's dog was snatched and killed by a known crocodile at Kamerunga Regional Park on Wednesday. Mr. Benn erected a sign warning visitors, and especially children, of a dangerous crocodile, but callous extremists removed the sign to display their own, pro-dinosaur message. The Department of Environment and Science removed a 2.4-meter crocodile from the area on the same day after the attack but reported the second sighting of an even larger reptile.

John MacKenzie chats with Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism and Transport Forum of Australia, to chat about all-things tourism for Cairns and far North Queensland. Margy was in town yesterday to announce Virgin's new flights between Cairns and Tokyo to begin June 28, 2023. The daily flights are expected to bring in 30,000 tourists each year. Furthermore, the Chinese market should rebound in 2023 as their borders are expected to reopen following Covid-19 lockdowns.

John MacKenzie chats with Leon from Edmonton about his experience with troubled youths and the efforts needed to turn their lives around. Cairns and Far North Queensland have been experiencing an increase in juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour, and many people have questioned the ability to curb the trend. Leon has first-hand experience working with troubled young offenders, relating to them, and providing the support needed to turn their lives around.