Mornings With John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Dan Tehan, Federal Member for Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, about the banning of Australia Day celebrations in around 200 pubs across the nation, following one major company's divisive decision based on the pretext of being "offensive".

John MacKenzie chats with Keith Hamburger AM, Former Director-General of Queensland's Corrective Services Commission, about the effectiveness of detention to curb youth criminal behaviour, following the Queensland government's commitment to implement "adult time for adult crime" legislation before the year 2025.

John MacKenzie chats with Jason Bryce, Founder of CashWelcome.Org, about the big win for cash after the federal government announced it will mandate the acceptance of cash as payment at businesses that offer essential services. The definition of what will constitute an 'essential service' is still to be finalised before the law should take effect on 1st January 2026. Cairns residents made national headlines when a local petition to keep cash payments at council facilities took storm, and local government was forced to return to accepting cash. The Cairns win prompted other communities to push their councils to also return to accepting cash at all facilities.

John MacKenzie chats with Professor Peter Ridd, Independent Scientist & Marine Geophysicist, about $54 million being allocated to "tackle the issue" of crown-of-thorns starfish, a species of sea star that is native to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

John MacKenzie chats with Dan Purdie, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, LNP State Member for Ninderry, about the tangible policy changes needed to be made to curb youth crime following the landslide victory by the LNP party in the recent Queensland state election.

John MacKenzie chats with Bill Conway, Owner of Salsa Bar and Grill at Port Douglas, about their bronze award win for the 'Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant - Informal at the 2024 Hostplus Awards for Excellence - Restaurant & Catering Association'.

John MacKenzie chats with Ken Harley who attended the Mareeba forum to address their crime emergency. Ken informed listeners that the police have assured residents they will increase patrols to address people's fears.