John MacKenzie chats with Nick Holloway, Co-owner of Nunu Restaurant at Palm Cove, about their upcoming appearance on Channel 10's Masterchef program.

The amazing, local restauranteur and his team flew down to the Masterchef studios recently to assist with the Home Cook vs Pro Cook challenge. 

Don't miss Masterchef at 7:30 p.m. tonight on Channel 10 and 10 Play.

John MacKenzie chats with Jason Christopher, Pharmacist and Managing Director of Cairns Doctors and Whole Life Pharmacy, about the ongoing vandalism, break-ins, and crime suffered by him at the hands of young people.

A spate of attacks against businesses at the Barr St Markets has hindered trading and highlighted concerns for the safety and well-being of customers, staff, and residents nearby.

A group of young offenders can allegedly be seen on security video destroying property and leaving behind graffiti that references the Cleveland Youth Detention Facility.

Exacerbating youth crime and justice in Cairns and FNQ has been a controversial concern for the Queensland state government.

John MacKenzie chats with a talkback caller, Michelle from Speewah, about her witnessing itinerants loitering and hurling abuse at onlooking tourists who stood filming the saga with their phones.

Michelle feared for her own safety as she entered her local bank branch while these "grubs" shouted threats. She reminded everyone that this is not a good look for our tourist city.

John MacKenzie chats with Bry Penfold, Owner of QuickCoast Xpeditions, about his business idea called Coastal Xpeditions which will ferry passengers in luxury between Cairns, Mission Beach, and Townsville.

The service, based in Mission Beach, plans to "island hop" along the stunning coastline of Far North Queensland and will include the Hinchinbrook channel on its course.

Mr. Penfold expects high visitation from the international markets but also indicated that there is local enthusiasm and support.

John MacKenzie chats State of Origin Game 1 with Chris "Choppy" Close, Rugby League Legend and player for the first State of Origin match in 1980. Choppy spoke about this year's Maroons team under coach Billy Slater.

Don't miss SOO Game 1 tonight at 8 pm AEST to be held at Adelaide Oval, South Australia!

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller Bob, who operates a business in Cairns, about the state of tourism and CBD security.

Following the repeated assaults on innocent people and vandalism of more businesses in Cairns, Bob spoke out demanding urgent action from our elected officials before all the tourists are scared away.

Bob also touched on a rumour that Cathay Pacific airlines have potentially floated the idea of Cairns being an international hub.

John MacKenzie chats with Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger and Queensland Leader of Katter's Australian Party, to gauge his reaction to an interview with a 17-year-old reformed criminal who is trying to turn his life around.

The teenage offender was interviewed by Gavin King at 4CA last week and explained how the state ultimately set him up for a life of recidivism.

Robbie Katter has long called for relocating repeat offenders to remote facilities to develop respect and real-world skills in efforts to rehabilitate them into a life of civility.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about a myriad of local issues, including bike path links, crime and CCTV amplification systems, and Double Island.

The latest part of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail will join Kewarra Beach to Clifton Beach and will include the construction of a bridge to cross Deep Creek.

Double Island has landed in the news again after its former owner, John Pallister, has stated that he would like to purchase the lease from Benny Wu, who has passed all state government deadlines to rejuvenate the resort and facilities.

Listeners to the John Mackenzie Show had previously been told that privacy concerns were the reason that speakers cannot be used by the city's CCTV system, but it was then revealed that Brisbane City already use an "amplification" system to deter crime. Cr. Olds agreed that any speaker system needs to be immediately considered.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Michael from Gordonvale, about tangible solutions to deal with the growing crime problems, particularly in regard to troubled youth.

Michael suggested rural facilities that teach real-world skills are one of the answers to curb the trend of exacerbating youth crime.

John MacKenzie chats with Joanne Borg, Former Child Safety Executive & Co-Founder of Changing Cairns Crime Problems, about government institutions designed to help troubled youths.

Joanne spoke about the high cost to taxpayers needed to keep children in youth facilities and programs (such as Resicare). The failures of such institutions were also discussed. 

A Queensland parliamentary Inquiry into the support required for victims of crime is being held in Cairns today and moves on to Townsville tomorrow.