John MacKenzie chats with Lawrence Mason, talkback caller, and owner of Mason's Cafe, Mason's Store & Mason's Tours in the Daintree, about his community's concern in regards to land buyback of residential lots.

Southern interest groups are purchasing residential land ready for development and are instead restricting its practical use.

Daintree locals want to know if there is an end to buyback efforts that limits town planning, community development, and progressive growth.

Residents support revegetation programs and other positive environmental initiatives instead of the destruction of their community and future.

John MacKenzie chats with Jackson Hills, Policy & Engagement Manager at Queensland Shelter, about the housing crisis facing Cairns, Port Douglas & the Atherton Tablelands.

Over 1300 people are affected by the rental shortage and 2300 plus people are on the social housing register, according to data from Queensland Housing.

Locals with holiday homes or Airbnb-style properties are being urged to flip their houses over to the long-term rental market.

John MacKenzie chats with Councilor Locky Bensted, Representative for Mareeba Shire, about the growing crime crisis in Far North Queensland.

Locky called in because of the community's concern for curbing crime.

Statistics show how much worse per capita some crime is in comparison to Brisbane City, as Cairns and Mareeba are becoming the car theft capitals of Queensland.

Reports from long-term locals state there is a zeitgeist of fear in Cairns, describing crime and anti-social behaviour as the worst it has ever been.

John MacKenzie chats with Nick Trompf, Chairman of Advance Cairns, about the need to lobby the Queensland state government to fund more hospital beds for our Cairns & Hinterland Hospital & Health Service. 

Cairns is currently 75 beds short and the hospital is facing over-crowdedness and ramping issues.

Advance Cairns is pushing the proposal to construct a new 300-bed acute clinical service building at the Cairns Health and Innovation precinct. Plans also include the migration of the emergency department to a safer and more practical location.

John MacKenzie chats with James Coughlan, Regional Commercial Development Manager for Asia-Pacific & Indian Oceans Intercruises, about the return of the cruise ship industry to Cairns.

Locals can expect to see P&Os 261-metre vessel "Pacific Explorer" docked in Cairns over the weekend. In fact, cruise ships are due to make over 120 visits to varying ports across the Far North Queensland coast.

Cairns and the greater region can expect an economic boost as well as an array of colourful characters visiting the Great Barrier Reef, ancient rainforests, and our region's other amazing tourist attractions.

John MacKenzie chats with Michal Kerr, Mayor of Douglas Shire, about efforts to control the rental market from being taken over by short-term holiday letting, such as Airbnb.

This comes after the Brisbane City Council has announced it will increase the rates on Airbnb-style properties up to 50% in order to retain the accommodation needed for long-term tenants.

Port Douglas has been facing this issue which has led to a rental crisis and a dearth of available workers. 

John MacKenzie chats with Ric Montgomery, Lead Ukulele Player from the Bad Boys of Uke, about the popularity of the ukulele band and their legacy to the Cairns entertainment scene.

The discussion was prompted by a Cairns Post Letter to the Editor, from someone who misses the band playing at a popular hotel in the CBD.

Since Covid, the Bad Boys of Uke cannot be found at their known location, and both locals and tourists want to see a business snatch up this amazing act! 

John MacKenzie chats with Senator Matt Canavan about energy and the future of Australia's power supply.

Queenslanders are being warned of potential blackouts across the state as the energy crisis deepens in Australia with supply issues and costs rising.

Authorities are urging consumers to use less power and turn off unnecessary items, such as air conditioning or a second fridge.

John MacKenzie chats with Darren Halpin, Managing Director of Halpin Property Group & Cairns Father of Four, after Darren's two boys were attacked and their bikes were stolen. 

Darren Halpin's two teenage sons and their two friends were enjoying Endeavour Park in Manunda when a group of six others approached and threatened them with a knife and other weapons.

Darren has called on the Queensland state government and local politicians to do more to empathise with victims of crime, with locals living in fear of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

John MacKenzie chats with Cr Brett Moller, Cairns Regional Council's Representative for Division 1, and talkback caller Bob, who owns a business in Cairns CBD.

Bob wanted to discuss the Council's CBD safety plan and how much more needs to be done to calm community concerns about crime.

Bob assured Brett that a booklet is being produced to warn tourists about how to stay safe at night in Cairns City.