Michael speaks to Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, who says the ARA/Roy Morgan Research forecasts for pre-Christmas retail trade offered some cheer for a sector that has struggled in 2019, but acknowledged this came as much of Australia faced risks of natural disaster and a bleak Christmas indeed.

 

Speaking at the release of annual joint ARA/Roy Morgan pre-Christmas predictions for 2019, Mr Zimmerman said Australians will spend almost $53bn before Christmas, but emphasised this was predicated on the regions “getting lucky” by avoiding bushfires or other natural disasters.

 

“We live in the best country on Earth, but that comes with some terrible drawbacks; one of those is summer disasters – fires, cyclones, floods – that sadly afflict some parts of the country,” Mr Zimmerman said.

 

The Australian Retailers Association is expecting a solid if unspectacular retail trade as Christmas approaches,” he added.

Shayne Higson, Vice President Dying With Dignity NSW, joins Michael to discuss the New Zealand Parliament passing a bill legalising voluntary euthanasia in a historic vote… and turning the final decision on assisted dying over to the public.

 

Politicians on Wednesday night voted through Act leader David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill 69 votes to 51, after a debate ending two years of fierce political arguments about the legislation and decades of attempts to get reforms through the House.

 

It will now go to a public referendum alongside next year's general election for a final test.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Sue Ashton, President of The Koala Hospital Port Macquarie, joins Michael to talk about concerns that the current extreme fire conditions could spell more trouble for the area's koala population.

Fire recently ripped through vital koala habitat in the Lake Innes Nature Reserve area and koala experts are concerned the extreme fire conditions could impact koala populations west of Wauchope and at Dunbogan.

"With a state of emergency being called across all of NSW, we are very, very concerned," Mrs Ashton said.

"Port Macquarie is currently surrounded by fires. If the wind picks up, we could lose even more habitat and more koalas.

"It's just so unpredictable - we don't know what will happen."

 The Koala Hospital established in 1973 is an activity of the Koala Conservation Australia Incorporated - a Not-for-Profit Organisation which is recognised world-wide as a peak body which participates in forums for debate on significant policy issues and plays a significant leadership role in research, providing advice and information to Universities and Governments regulating change.

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Dr Karl James, Head of Military History at the Australian War Memorial, joins Michael to talk about Armistice Day… commemorated every year on 11th November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War 1 and Germany at Compiègne, France for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War 1.

 

Taking effect at eleven o'clock in the morning - the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918, the armistice initially expired after a period of 36 days and had to be extended several times, with a formal peace agreement was only reached when the Treaty of Versailles was signed the following year.

 

The first Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic" during the evening hours of 10 November 1919.

 

The first official Armistice Day events were subsequently held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on the morning of 11 November 1919, which included a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for those who died in the war and those left behind. 

 

This would set the trend for a day of remembrance for decades to come.

Michael speaks with Clifford Hayes, Member of the Legislative Assembly - Sustainable Australia Party's Southern Metropolitan region Victoria, about his private members bill which proposes significant changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 which will give local councils more control of local planning policy and maximum building heights in their municipal districts.

 

It responds to widespread resident concern about overdevelopment, particularly in suburban Melbourne, and the loss of resident say in the granting of planning permits, and as a result the loss of resident say in the character of their street, neighbourhood and community.

 

The provisions of the Bill establish a much greater power for local Councils to establish and enforce maximum height limits for new developments. This will enable residents to better protect themselves from the loss of privacy caused by overlooking from high rise developments.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.