Mornings With John Mackenzie

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.

John MacKenzie chats with Sean Rooney, CEO of North Qld Primary Health Network, about the extended opening hours at the Cairns Urgent Care Clinic in Edmonton. The extended hours will help alleviate pressure at the Cairns Hospital by providing urgent, non-life-threatening care. The clinic can be found at 5b Walker Street in Edmonton, near Coles Supermarket.

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Jon Nott, Professor of Geoscience, College of Science and Engineering at JCU Cairns, to gain an understanding of our river systems and flood-preventative potentialities in the wake of the destructive flooding of the Barron River delta following Cyclone Jasper.

John MacKenzie chats with Scott Worlein, Owner/Operator of SRW Security Services and 2024 Candidate for Burdekin Shire Council, about the residents of Ayr organising security patrols of their neighbourhoods in the wake of an increasing culture of crime in Queensland. Mr Worlein's business has been expanding due to people living in fear of criminals, particularly young offenders, invading their homes, whilst the Queensland State Government is under attack for failing to uphold the duty of care it owes its citizens.

John MacKenzie chats with caller Bill from Bentley Park about Cairns Regional Council red tape when calling its customer service centre.  Bill also weighed in on the need to curb youth crime and to consider your vote in the next local and state government elections.

John MacKenzie chats with Craig Crawford, State Member for Barron River, about the Double Island lease held by Benny Wu's Fortune Island Holding Company and the push to see a return of facilities and tourism infrastructure. Last year, the Queensland government applied to the Land Court to have the lease stripped from Mr. Wu's company, claiming that leasing conditions had never been met. The lease for Double Island was acquired by Fortune Island Holding Company in 2012,  making it over 20 years now that locals have been waiting for major works to begin.

John MacKenzie chats with Tamara Srhoj who tells her story of a home invasion and the lack of support for victims of crime. Cairns residents are fed up with the "new normal" attitude toward rationalising criminal behaviour.

John MacKenzie chats with Richie Bates, former Cairns Regional Councillor for Division 5, about the upcoming local government elections to be held on 16th March 2024. Queenslanders will go to the polls to decide upon each council division, and of course, vote for their chosen mayor. 7 candidates have entered the race for the mayoral position for the region of Cairns.