Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A media commentator says a Bill to make tech platforms pay for news has a decent shot at bringing change.   The Government's progressing an amended version of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill to make digital platforms like Facebook pay for using news content.  National and NZ First are supporting it, while ACT's invoking its right to 'agree to disagree' and will oppose the Bill.   The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive told Mike Hosking Australia was the poster boy for such a scheme, but Meta has signalled that it won't renew.   He says there's a change from the consumer side, but from a revenue perspective there's money flowing that wasn't before.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers is urging the Government to pick up the pace with replacing the RMA system.   The percentage of applications processed within statutory time frames is falling, from 89% in 2020-2021, to a record low of 76% the next year.   Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper told Mike Hosking that the Government is taking it seriously, but the window is narrowing.   He says the data highlights the urgency and replacing the RMA is the most meaningful long term economic reform the government could deliver for them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s big four banks have been hit with a raft of cyber-attacks.  The systems of NAB, CommBank, ANZ, and Westpac were being hit every minute of every day, leaving customers increasingly vulnerable to scams.  The attackers were trying to gain access to the banks’ computer systems, deny services to customers, use malicious code, or breach security logins.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that the banks say that they’ve spent a fortune trying to protect themselves from this, to a sum of about $3 billion a year.  A few hours after, she said, quotes were released from Chris Sheehan calling it a type of warfare, saying that every person who uses one of the big four banks is at risk.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of liquidations is starting to rise as small and medium-sized businesses are suffering from a lack of sales.  Businesses are seeing a lack of overall sales, with some people putting off big purchases.  More people are paying their phone bills and mortgages on time in the month, but late payments are up year-on-year.   Centrix Managing Director Keith McLaughlin told Mike Hosking that the level of liquidations in the month of May have been at a 10 year record.  He says the trend is increasing, which is of more concern.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he's starting to see change when it comes to crime, but there's a long way to go.   The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter.   It includes allowing police to ban gang patches, confiscate firearms, more efficiency in the courts, and more rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners.   Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that their plans are a combination of new law and changes to how police are policing.   He says his letter of expectation to them asked for change in how police deal with gang convoys, and getting on top of the boy racer issue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's committed to passing four pieces of law and order legislation in the next quarter.   It includes enabling police to ban gang patches and confiscate firearms.   They'll also improve efficiency in the courts system and increase access to rehabilitation for on-remand prisoners.   Police Association president Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that they're liking what they see   He says there's a lot of action and the public would generally say it's what they want to see, which police officers would support.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has announced a goal of between 80 and 90% of people seeking specialist and primary services getting that help faster.  Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive, says more is needed.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France is going to the polls today, with early voting hinting at a change of Presidency.  UK politicians are doing their final push for votes ahead of Thursday's election.  UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey has all the latest.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Lando Norris and McLaren to the T20 Cup, Andrew Alderson brings you all the sporting updates from over the weekend.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump went head to head in Atlanta last week in the first Presidential debate of this campaign cycle.  The debate was not a good look for the Democrat side, with calls for Biden to stand down as their nominee.  The Spectator's Washington Editor Amber Athey told Mike Hosking it was a result many were expecting.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump go live in Atlanta tomorrow afternoon, New Zealand time.  The televised US election debate is the earliest in the campaign since 1960, with Americans going to the polls in just over four months.  It's the third time the US President and the former President will go head to head after two heated encounters in 2020.   The Spectator's Washington Editor Amber Athey  says the debates don't have as much sway on voters as most pundits would like to believe they do.   She told Mike Hosking that this one will mostly be about showing who's physically and mentally fit to be President.  Athey says so long as you can get through it relatively successfully, not much will change where voters stand on the candidates.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two astronauts are likely to remain stuck in space into July.   Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were supposed to return on the Boeing Starliner about two weeks ago after an eight day stint in space.   US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking that there have been several issues including malfunctioning thrusters and helium leaks.   She says we're being told they have plenty of supplies, and worst case they can hitch a ride on Space X's Dragon Space Craft which is also attached to the International Space Station.  Firkin says it's not great news for Boeing, when it comes to their PR.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s uncertainty over whether Corrections has capacity, with more prisoners on the way.   The Government's sentencing law reforms will mean longer sentences and up to 1700 more inmates every year.   Corrections Association's Floyd du Plessis says the prisons are currently full, and while there are more beds in theory, they aren't adequately staffed for them yet.   He told Mike Hosking that more applications are coming through for corrections roles, but the number of viable candidates isn't where it needs to be.   du Plessis says there needs to be more focus on getting real people through the door and into employment.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Gisborne Civil Defence manager says they're now dealing with the clean up from this week's severe weather.   States of emergency in the Wairoa District and Hastings Heretaunga Ward remain in place.  Roads were closed and people evacuated after heavy rain lashed the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne regions yesterday.   Wairoa District Council says 400 properties have been impacted, more than 100 significantly.   Gisborne Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group Manager Ben Green told Mike Hosking that wind was the major issue.   He says the challenge with that was power lines and a significant number of trees down across roads.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First has invoked the Agree-to-Disagree Coalition clause.  Winston Peters says his Party doesn't support the Government continuing the Covid Commission of Inquiry in its current form.   The clause is nestled within New Zealand First's Governance agreement with National, allowing Peters and his MPs to speak publicly about a Cabinet decision.   He's used it voice opposition to the Government splitting the inquiry into two phases, saying the first phase was nothing more than a Labour Party political tool.  Peters agrees with Phase Two, focusing on vaccine efficacy and safety, and the extended lockdowns in Auckland and Northland.  Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that as Christopher Luxon said, this is a mature way to go about it.  He said that this is exactly how it’s supposed to work between the two parties, which is why the clause was written into the coalition agreement in the first place.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gambling scandal is causing a rocky run up to next week's UK election.   Six police officers, including a member of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's protection team, are in hot water after allegedly placing bets on the election date.   UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that it's an extraordinary saga, with two Conservative MPs now suspended after also facing accusations.   But he says because they're already on the ticket, they can still be voted on and will have to stand as independents if they win a seat.   The Gambling Commission has also launched an investigation into a now suspended Labour candidate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s hopes a spike in global shipping prices won't stay around for long.  Conflict in the Red Sea has caused shipping costs to jump three times higher than the rates seen at end of last year.  But, ASB Senior economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking, the impact on inflation will depend on how long prices remain high.  He says the prices have spiked quickly, but it's still early days.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest in the Julian Assange saga is being coined a dark day in American history and press freedom.  The Wikileaks founder is set to plead guilty to violating US espionage law and will be sentenced to 62 months of time already served before going free.   Freedom of the Press' Director of Advocacy Seth Stern told Mike Hosking that it's a case that the former Trump administration should never have pursued.    He says the Biden administration purports to be friends of the free press, so for them to have continued this for years before finding a way out is disturbing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is taking a firm stance on vaping.  The sale of vapes will be restricted to pharmacies from next week, as the Greens agree to pass a proposed ban.  However, the Government has agreed to water down restrictions that would have required adults to obtain a prescription.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that this has sparked anger, as pharmacists say that they should be prescription only.  She said that restrictions will still be in place regarding packaging and flavours, limiting the products to plain packaging and mint, menthol, and tobacco flavours.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Robertson’s All Blacks squad has been announced, with Scott Barrett taking the captaincy.  He’s taking over the duties from Sam Cane, with Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett sharing the vice-captaincy.  Rugby Commentator Tony Johnson told Mike Hosking that he doubts there’ll be any drastic changes right off the bat.  He said that if they’re going to change their playstyle, they’ll do it incrementally as time goes on, and they have plenty of time to do that.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.