Mornings With John Mackenzie

John MacKenzie chats with Julie Sager, Ultra Trail Runner, about her world-first achievement of completing the triple crown series of races within a one-year period, covering around 320km of distance. The Triple Crown Series is a set of 3 races across both Australia and the United States and includes elevated runs. Julie Sager, 52, is a Cairns local whose other achievements include climbing Walsh's Pyramid 20 times in 90 hours to raise funds for the FNQ Hospital Foundation.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about a bombshell opinion poll that presents a profound plunge in Palaszczuk's popularity as preferred Premier. Dr. Williams said that if an election were held this Saturday, Palaszczuk would fall and the LNP would yield 9-13 seats, but would still be short of majority government and would need to form a coalition with Katter's Australian Party or One Nation.

John MacKenzie chats with Mayor Angela Toppin AM, Mareeba Shire, about a nine-point action plan to address juvenile crime penned by the Local Government Association of Queensland during their 127th annual conference. The LGAQ is calling for differentiating approaches to meet the dynamic complexities of each locality, explaining that implementation of Brisbane-based policy may not be effective in Cairns or Mareeba.

John Mackenzie chats with Shane Knuth, KAP State Member for Hill, about a potentially flawed speed camera that has clocked a disproportionate number of drivers on Malanda-Atherton Road in the Tablelands. The now infamous camera issued around 200 motorists with fines for exceeding the 60km/hr speed limit. However, suspicions were raised when many observed the exact same reading was recorded: precisely 68 km/hr. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads claims to have reviewed the camera in question and confirmed it was, and is, working properly.

John MacKenzie chats with the CEO of Experience Co. John O'Sullivan about his appointment to the role of Chairman at Tropical Tourism North Queensland, better known as TTNQ. As the former boss of Tourism Australia, John O'Sullivan has the necessary experience to tackle the complex role while the region still struggles with the return of visitors, especially international, following the Covid-19 pandemic limitations on movement. Mr. O'Sullivan will replace Dr. Ken Chapman who has spent three years in the position.

John MacKenzie gets an update from Dr Glenn Kolomeitz, Military Lawyer & Defence Academic, who is on the ground in Ukraine.  Dr. Kolomeitz focused on the recent raid on Crimea and spoke emphatically about scenes he witnessed there.

John MacKenzie chats with Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger and Queensland Leader of Katter's Australian Party, about the announced 2025 closure of Glencore's copper mining operation in Mount Isa. 1200 jobs are at risk and the economic detriments to the town are being forecast. Approximately 17% of Mount Isa's population of around 21,000 are involved in copper mining. Glencore has committed to retrain and redeploy workers, and only consider redundancy as a final resort.

John MacKenzie chats with Mayor Clare Stewart of Noosa Council about building height limitations implemented to preserve the natural beauty of iconic coastal locations. The push to preserve our beaches has come at a local government meeting where concerns are being raised in relation to Palaszczuk's infrastructure plan to construct 900,000 new homes within the next 24 years. The new dwelling would address Queensland's expected population increase of 2.2 million people. Noosa shares similarities with some beach communities north of Cairns whose residents wish to keep their locations beautiful by avoiding building that tower above the treeline.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Tonia Marquardt, ), Public Health Medical Officer at Tropical Public Health Services Cairns, about the flying fox breeding season beginning and the associated risk of infection. The breeding season sees more fallen juveniles which increases the chance of human exposure. Bats have a complex immune system with the ability to host a range of diseases, with the threat of lyssavirus being of most concern in Far North Queensland. Twenty-three people have been bitten or scratched in Cairns this year so far. Do not touch or interact with any fruit bats you may see.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about the Voice to Parliament referendum results and what this could mean moving forward. On Saturday, October 14, 2023, Australians went to the polls to decide whether to change the constitution to include an Indigenous advisory body in parliament. The No campaign has won a victory with the majority of states and territories.

John MacKenzie chats with Dave Sharma, Former Ambassador of Australia to Israel and former federal member for the seat of Wentworth, about the war declared in the Levant following an attack by Hamas against the state of Israel. With events rapidly unfolding, a focus was placed on an interview between United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Sharma provided his valuable insight into this complex issue.

John MacKenzie chats with Lawrence Mason, Daintree Business Identity, about the Douglas Shire Council's hope of negotiating a private operator to run the Daintree River Ferry crossing. The vessel will soon require replacing and many are using the opportunity to call for a bigger barge or a better alternative.  The proposal of a small bridge has been met with controversy by many residents who enjoy the isolated atmosphere of the region. The ferry service currently transports over 200,000 vehicles per year and operates nearly 20 hours each day.

John MacKenzie chats with Senator Matthew Canavan about the Israel-Islamic conflict following a strategic attack by Hamas on the Jewish state. Senator Canavan also responded to a local news story where a limousine was allegedly stolen by two youths who sped down the highway clocking in at 180 km/hr!

John MacKenzie chats with Geoffrey Thomas, Editor in Chief at AirlineRatings.com, for updates on the Qatar and Qantas airlines controversy following a Senate committee's review of the matter. The Senate committee has stated that there is much evidence that Qantas 'exercised considerable influence' over the government during its decision. The federal government recently came under fire for denying Qatar Airways additional flights into the country, claiming it was in the national interest to do so. It was later revealed that 'keeping Qantas profitable' may have been a factor in the government's decision.

John MacKenzie chats with Bernice from Woree, an Indigenous Elder, about support for the Voice to Parliament referendum, the history of discrimination, and Jacinta Price. Senator Jacinta Yangapi Nampijinpa Price is a popular politician from the Northern Territory. With her connection to country and her common-sense approach to policy-making, many are touting Senator Price as a future leader of the nation.

John MacKenzie chats with Paul, a talkback caller sitting in Cairns Hospital. Paul called into the show to ask for help in understanding how to vote in the referendum when stuck in a hospital. A call was made to Warren Entsch, Federal Member for Leichhardt, who explained the process and made contact with hospital staff to assuage Paul's concerns.

John MacKenzie chats with Brett Olds, CRC Councillor for Division 9, about the Double Island agreement and the state government's intention to strip the lease from the current holder. Conditions of the lease include that the Island is operational for tourism purposes, yet still sits idle. The Department of Resources will begin proceedings in the Queensland Land Court, alleging non-compliance. The lease for Double Island is held by Benny Wu's Fortune Island Holding Company.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about the latest polling numbers in regard to the referendum on an Indigenous "Voice to Parliament". Recent polls show increased support for the Yes Campaign, now sitting at 43 percent (according to The Guardian), with support for the No Vote now at 49 percent. This sees the Yes Vote up by 2 percentage points from previous polling. Early voting locations are now open for those needing to cast their vote before October 14, 2023.

John MacKenzie chats with Darren Halpin, Managing Director of Halpin Property Group, about an exciting submission for a water and tourist park at the former Paradise Palms site. The $141 million proposal called "Reefsedge" would see 25 water slides, a 2500 square-metre wave pool, 364 villas, and 47 caravan sites. Mr. Halpin estimated the park would eventually accommodate 2,500 people per day and attract 100,000 visitors each year.