Mornings With John Mackenzie

Today John spoke with  Bob Baldwin, Chair of the Australian Fishing Trade Association and former member of federal parliament, about the Spanish Mackerel debate. Queensland fisheries estimate that Spanish mackerel numbers are at 17% of un-fished stock levels and recommend that commercial fishers lower their catch levels, some reports suggest that up to a 90% reduction is needed. This will negatively impact the many people whose livelihoods depend on fishing for Spanish mackerel.

A federal election has been called by the Scott Morrison government for May 21, 2022, and election coverage is entering full swing.  John MacKenzie caught up with Dr. Paul Williams, Associate Professor in Politics and Journalism at Griffith University, about the federal seat of Leichhardt, currently held by incumbent Warren Entsch. Entsch held the position from 1996 to 2007, and then again since the 2010 election.  Dr. Williams describes his predictions and insight for the upcoming election that will see Australians vote on the future of their country's governance. 

John MacKenzie chats with Mark Olsen, CEO of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, about the methods needed to recover the tourism industry in FNQ after the Japanese ambassador visited Cairns to meet with tourism authorities. Cairns is a world-class destination boasting natural beauty with the reef and rainforest as examples and of course the fine dining, restaurants, and hip cafe scene in the region which is an integral part of a sophisticated tourism product. A return of a strong Japanese tourism market would be a much-needed break in our covid-recovery efforts.

John MacKenzie chats with Geoffrey Thomas, Editor in Chief at AirlineRatings.com, about the recent spike in airlines prices for domestic travelers within Australia. Geoffrey sheds light on the issue and reminds listeners about the many cheaper flight options still available. The data is not as frightening as some reporting made it out to be. Geoffrey Thomas also provides insight into the rumour that Qantas Airlines nearly went bankrupt during the covid-19 pandemic.

John MacKenzie chats with Geoffrey Thomas, Editor in Chief at AirlineRatings.com, about the recent spike in airlines prices for domestic travelers within Australia. Geoffrey sheds light on the issue and reminds listeners about the many cheaper flight options still available. The data is not as frightening as some reporting made it out to be. Geoffrey Thomas also provides insight into the rumour that Qantas Airlines nearly went bankrupt during the covid-19 pandemic.

John MacKenzie chats with Kevin Byrne, Former Mayor of Cairns, Military Officer, and Senior Instructor at Duntroon Royal Military College, about Chinese territorial advancement in relation to the Solomon Islands.  Kevin also touched on his recent 14-hour, life-saving surgery that was performed by former Cowboy's NRL player turned surgeon, Dr. Scott Whiting.

Cairns Economist Bill Cummings chats about a federal government announcement about a transcontinental route upgrade to seal a 1000km stretch of highway which will ultimately connect Cairns with the Red Centre and beyond into Western Australia.  $678 million has been promised, with a share of $154 million to be allocated for the Queensland sections of the road.  Bill Cummings has been one of the inland rout's top supporters, ever since the first studies were conducted in 2006.

Douglas Shire Mayor, Mich Kerr, is backing a push from the Local Government Association of Queensland for a national housing summit to address the impact Airbnb and similar styles of accommodations are having on the local rental market. Regulations are needed in order to deal with the current housing shortage in Port Douglas as locals find it increasingly more difficult to find tenancy. 

Douglas Shire Mayor, Mich Kerr, is backing a push from the Local Government Association of Queensland for a national housing summit to address the impact Airbnb and similar styles of accommodations are having on the local rental market. Regulations are needed in order to deal with the current housing shortage in Port Douglas as locals find it increasingly more difficult to find tenancy. 

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman has confirmed the surging number of car thefts in the Cairns region for 2022. Home invasions are increasing and the effects that impact the mental health of victims of crime are a growing concern. Far North Queensland residents want action. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said that the focus needs to shift to help shape a positive future for offenders, particularly young offenders. Locals Joanne Borg and Perri Conti founded the group called "Changing Cairns' Crime Problems" in an effort to campaign and help provide real solutions to solve this ongoing crime issue.

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman has confirmed the surging number of car thefts in the Cairns region for 2022. Home invasions are increasing and the effects that impact the mental health of victims of crime are a growing concern. Far North Queensland residents want action. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said that the focus needs to shift to help shape a positive future for offenders, particularly young offenders. Locals Joanne Borg and Perri Conti founded the group called "Changing Cairns' Crime Problems" in an effort to campaign and help provide real solutions to solve this ongoing crime issue.

They were both labeled as lunatics in the attempt to introduce a new bill, but now, more than 880,000 residential, strata and small business property insurance policies across Northern Australia are expected to be covered for the risk of cyclone and related flood damage through the establishment of the reinsurance pool. The reinsurance pool will be backed by a $10 billion annually reinstated Commonwealth Government guarantee and will be administered by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. The reinsurance pool will come into effect from July 1, 2022. Far North Queensland homeowners are expected to see premium discounts of up to 46 per cent, strata properties up to a 58 per cent and small and medium-sized business up to a 34 per cent. Coverage for small business marine property insurance policies will be further developed and included from July 1, 2023. Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said by passing this critical legislation he had delivered on his promise to ensure Far North Queenslanders ha

More than 880,000 residential, strata and small business property insurance policies across Northern Australia are expected to be covered for the risk of cyclone and related flood damage through the establishment of the reinsurance pool. The reinsurance pool will be backed by a $10 billion annually reinstated Commonwealth Government guarantee and will be administered by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. The reinsurance pool will come into effect from July 1, 2022. Far North Queensland homeowners are expected to see premium discounts of up to 46 per cent, strata properties up to a 58 per cent and small and medium-sized business up to a 34 per cent. Coverage for small business marine property insurance policies will be further developed and included from July 1, 2023. Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said by passing this critical legislation he had delivered on his promise to ensure Far North Queenslanders had access affordable insurance. He said the scheme would be reviewed annually and any

John MacKenzie and Bob Stemp from Marlin Coast men's Shed exchanged some curious choice of words.

Today I spoke with Michael Kerr, Mayor of Douglas Shire, about the approval for developer David Imgraben to construct a $317 million surf park in Port Douglas.