Winning Streak:

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about how the Cairns Council will back down from introducing the controversial tenant tax.

The tax proposal was aimed at investment properties (non-principle places of residency) within the Cairns Regional Council electorate.

An increase in rates would only see landlords struggle with increased bureaucracy, and tenants would suffer as rents rise to reflect such changes. 

Cr. Zeiger was outspoken against the rates increase from its inception.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about the tenant tax, crime and vandalism, and dog attack responsibility.

 The Cairns Regional Council has dropped its proposed "tenant tax", which would have seen a rate increase for investment properties or non-principle places of residencies. Councillor Zeiger, from the beginning, was outspoken against the proposal and feels this is a win for the community.

On another note, Cr. Zeiger visited a local park site this morning that was vandalised overnight, and touched on dog ownership's rules and responsibilities.

Cash is King! 

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Rep for Division 9, about the unanimous vote to keep or return cash payment options at CRC facilities.

Around 60 people crammed themselves into the 50-seat gallery, with another 70 watching the livestream downstairs to watch over the Cairns Regional Council vote.

Cr. Terry James produced an amended motion for Agenda item 1 Council Facilities - Payment Options that stated CRC would bring cash back to its facilities.

Loud cheers echoed the council chambers and hugs ensued as Cr. James's motion was passed. A happy win for residents.

John MacKenzie chats with Kevin Byrne, Executive Manager of Enterprise North and Former Mayor of Cairns, about victims of crime and abuse following the story of people being targeted at shopping malls and centres.

The ever-increasing crime trends now weems to have expanded north to the once quiet area of Smithfield with shoppers being the target of theft, abuse, harassment, assaults, and racial language.

Mr. Byrne shared his sentiments on what is seemingly a losing battle against young offenders who claim to "own this city" and have no fear or respect for their community.

John MacKenzie chats with Jimmy Floyd about his efforts to create a youth program that aims to divert young offenders in the right direction in life. 

But Jimmy needs your help and support!

Mr. Floyd faces a massive challenge to turn the idea into a reality. Listen to the interview to find out more.

John MacKenzie chats with Ian Leavers, President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union about the successful expansion of metal detection wands being used in safe night precincts.

Cairns will soon follow Townsville in its use of "wanding" powers by state police. Townsville saw 66 individuals scanned over the weekend, out of the state total of 530. Queensland Police charged 15 people and detected eight weapons.

The expansion of police wanding powers is known as "Jack's Law", which was in response to the murder of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was stabbed to death in 2019.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Elvis from Edmonton, about a group of International Tour Agents who were abused by a group of drunks in Kuranda Village. These are the very agents who encourage tourists to visit Cairns, Kuranda and Far North Queensland. 

Some arguements are made that crime shouldn't be reported on as it scares off the tourists, however, it seems that the criminals are doing a good enough job at already scaring the tourists away.

We cannot pretend crime doesn't occur in FNQ! To pretend so, is much like the fictional Mayor in the film JAWS wanting to keep the tourists coming by claiming that there are "no sharks".

First impressions last a lifetime; we don't want to see our city and surrounding towns turn into places of danger and lawlessness.

Step in Right Direction: 

John MacKenzie chats with Dr. Terry Goldsworthy, Associate Professor in Criminology at Bond University, for his perspective on crime reduction in relation to the expansion of metal detectors used by Queensland Police, in order to curb knife crime.

Trial periods at the Gold Coast saw a decrease in the number of knife-related crimes, and metal detectors are being expanded to other safe night precincts across the state.

No More Living in Fear!

John MacKenzie chats with Villa Romana Owner, Helen Papagelou, about being threatened, accosted and robbed repeatedly by a growing crime problem in our once beautiful city of Cairns.

Mrs Papagelou spoke of being threatened with one of her own dining knives by odious itinerants who plague the Esplanade and streets of Cairns.

The city of Cairns is building a reputation of lawlessness and danger, at a cost to the health and welbeing of local residents and tourists. The state government should owe a duty of care to its citizens.