John MacKenzie chats with Sergeant Dave Raymond, Officer in Charge of Cairns Dog Squad, about the loss of much-loved Queensland Police dog, Thor.

Sgt. Raymond shared some highs and lows of working with police dogs, including a rather prickly situation involving barbed wire.

Thor located over 300 offenders during his six-year service.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Cathy Zeiger, CRC Representative for Division 3, about the potential sale of council-owned properties.

The option for Cairns Regional Council to sell, lease, or donate properties in an effort to tackle the homelessness and housing crisis was revealed as a part of the Council's action plan.

The review, however, would not be completed until 2026.

Questions have been raised as to whether the plan would provide practical solutions to effectively provide affordable housing options.

John MacKenzie chats with Ian leavers, President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union about "Jack's Law" and metal detection wands being introduced in Cairns.

After a successful trial period in the Gold Coast, metal detection wanding will be expanded to other areas around Queensland.

Some academics argue that wanding will not deter stabbings or youths from carrying knives, however, the trial has seen over 650 convictions and has already saved lives.

"Jacks Law" was established in response to the stabbing of Gold Coast teenager, Jack Beasley, in 2019.

John MacKenzie chats with Danny Betros, Managing Director of CBRE Cairns, about the state of Cairns City's CBD and a necessary post-Covid revival strategy.

Mr. Betros also spoke about the state of commercial spaces and building upkeep and maintenance, which can have a drastic effect on the performance of the tenanted businesses.

"A lot of areas... has got to reinvent itself from purely retail to more commercial office, food and bars that is more suited to the uses of a CBD nowadays" Mr. Betros said.

John MacKenzie chats with Dale Last, Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services, about the Palaszczuk government's proposal to increase penalties for juvenile criminals, and whether they will work for the community.

Some of the proposed changes include:
- Increasing maximum penalties for auto theft
- More severe penalties for offences committed at night
- Penalties for promoting crimes on social media
- Construction of new detention centres

John MacKenzie chats with Tim Mander, LNP State Member for Everton and Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, about the state's lack of spending on social housing.

The Queensland state government is spending less per capita than other states and the total spending bill for social housing infrastructure has been decreasing over the last few financial years.

This comes at a time when Queenslanders are facing a rental and accommodation crisis.  

Tim Mander also commented on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to the crime emergency plaguing Alice Springs.

John MacKenzie chats with Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger and Queensland Leader of Katter's Australian Party, about the reignited debate regarding daylight savings time being implemented in our state.

Robbie Katter explained how regional dwellers would suffer from artificially lengthened working days and additional hours of oppressive heat.

Macca and Robbie also touched on the crime crisis facing Cairns, Townsville, and Far Northern Queensland.

John MacKenzie chats with Gavin King, 4CA Announcer & former State Member for Cairns, about the passing of former State Minister Vaughn Johnson.

The former Transport Minister (1996-1998), Chief Whip under the Newman Government, and Order of Australia recipient (2020), Vaughn Johnson, passed away aged 75, over the weekend.

Mr. Johnson spent over 25 years in the Queensland parliament as the Member for Gregory (1989-2015) and held many shadow cabinet positions and one ministership during his time.

John MacKenzie chats with Ezzy Wells, Owner of Adventure Cairns & Beyond, about her experiences with criminal activity in the Cairns CBD. 

Comments on crime are a hot topic after the Mayor of Alice Springs, Matt Paterson, made calls for the Australian Defence Force or Australian Federal Police to assist with the violent crime emergency crippling local residents.

John MacKenzie chats with Nigel and Kirstie Spiller who tell their horror story of waiting a month for lost luggage.

Their experience comes as airline operators have been facing pressures after losing luggage and baggage handlers being caught mistreating customers' personal items.

Mr. Speller gave a word of warning, "Take photos of everything... of your bags, of security tags". Photos can help you identify your luggage to operators in the event of misplacement.