Mornings with John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Scott Worlein, Owner of SRW Security Services based in Ayr, to contrast the security implications needed to combat growing youth crime in a modern world.  Mr. Worlein was forced to expand his security business to include the patrolling of neighbourhood streets in the Burdekin Shire. Residents of Cairns' suburbs are sadly having to consider private security firms due to the failure of elected officials to protect their citizens.

John MacKenzie chats with Chris Grice, CEO of National Seniors Australia, about the cash vs cashless debate that has many people talking. The importance of keeping cash in our community should be stressed by all, as it can disproportionately affect older generations of Australians.

John MacKenzie chats with Geoffrey Thomas, Editor-in-Chief at AirlineRatings.com, for airline updates including Qantas's seat sale, the collapse of Bonza, and the exciting future for Cairns Airport, albeit remaining reticent on the details of any new flights.

John MacKenzie chats with Mark Raymond, Body Corporate Chair at Kamerunga Villas, about the urgent need to repair and restore mains power to the "Kamerunga Villas" living complex. Residents have been relying on backup generator power for the past 6 months, ever since the December 2023 flood event destroyed the mains infrastructure.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Denis Muller from the Centre for Advancing Journalism and Senior Fellow & Subject Coordinator for Journalism (Law & Ethics) at The University of Melbourne, about the ethical considerations following the appointment of a new interim CEO at Cairns Regional Council. The appointed interim CEO worked as a volunteer on the current Mayor's campaign and many are suggesting that the appointment is a conflict of interest. The CRC threatened to silence the local newspaper, The Cairns Post, from publishing a story about the new appointment.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Martin Bella, Mackay Regional Council, about comments made by a former judge, Clive Wall, who 'slammed inaction over spiralling youth crime'. The need for a boot camp style of detention was again pushed for, as Cr. Bella reiterated his call to put space between the 'predators and their prey'.

John MacKenzie chats with Nick Dametto, KAP State Member for Hinchinbrook, about a petition known as "Castle Law", which is a proposed bill to protect victims of home invasions when defending themselves and their families. Mr. Dametto also commented on the recent change in the law that bans the sale of knives to minors, explaining how is wrong to "focus too much on the retailer, and not the perpetrator".

John MacKenzie chats with Laura Gerber, LNP State Member for Currumbin, Shadow Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, and member of the recently dissolved Youth Justice Reform Select Committee, about the state government's push to silence the media on youth crime coverage.

John MacKenzie chats with Ken Harley, Chairman of the Reddicliffe Highway Proposal, to discuss the Kuranda range and the future solutions needed to access the Tablelands. This follows the truck that rolled over yesterday morning, causing chaos for motorists with traffic affected in both directions.

John MacKenzie chats with Mark Stanley, Manager of Cairns Night Markets, about the recent crime and chaos suffered by visitors and locals in the eatery of the night markets on the Cairns Esplanade, where young thugs took over allegedly hurling chairs and abuse at passersby.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Marty Bella, Mackay Regional Council, about the Alice Springs youth curfews contrasted to the growing crime concerns in Mount Isa, Townsville, and Cairns. Cr. Bella also backed up comments made by Magistrate Mark Bucknall, who explained that "the courts are armed with significant powers through... the Youth Justice Act". "Enough is enough," explained Marty Bella, "good people have a right to safety... everything else comes secondary".

John MacKenzie chats with Shai Ager, Founder of The Agile Project, about bureaucratic mismanagement and the culling of introduced wallabies on Helena Island at Moreton Bay. The Agile Project is an initiative to control wallaby overbreeding using humane practices.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller Mike, whose brother has witnessed juvenile criminals gain entry to sliding glass windows that have a length of timber used in the tracks to prevent it from being opened all the way.  By flooding the casing of the window with a hose, the offenders cause the timber stopper to float and fall out of the casing, thus allowing the window to be fully opened.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about a man allegedly shot by police in Woree. Cr. Olds also touched on crocodile management policy in the wake of a nearly 4-metre reptile removed from a property near Ingham.

[Note: this is a stock image of a female boxer and is not Councillor Zeiger]

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about the local government elections in Queensland and contrasts the results and trends to make better predictions regarding the state election later this year.

John MacKenzie chats with Deryck Thompson, who explains how Machan's beach residents have been threatened with fines by the Cairns Regional Council for placing a protest sign on private property.  Residents received a letter from the CRC claiming the sign falls under advertising legislation and is unlawfully displayed. Is this simply a case of bureaucracy going crazy? The signage is in response to the Cyclone Jasper flood event after homes were destroyed in the Barron River delta and argues a moratorium on new developments should be in place for the flood zone.