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Michael is joined by NSW Treasurer & member for Epping Dominic Perrottet, who has slammed his Federal counterparts for shutting down debate over tax reform, suggesting they're more focused on ducking for cover & the "media cycle".

 

Earlier this week, Mr Perrottet issued a fresh call for tax reform, most controversially adding the GST to more items, in a paper that was dismissed by both Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg & Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael Mclaren

Michael speaks with Tony Eades, Chief Strategy Officer at Salted Stone & Brand Futurist, about Australia heading towards being a cashless society.

 

Measured by the number of card transactions each year, Australia is supposed to be the sixth-most cashless society on earth, yet the RBA hedges its bets on a new $20 note.

 

The new Australian $20 note has been released into circulation which features useful additions including increased tactility for the vision-impaired and better anti-counterfeit security - but did we really need the kookaburra, whose wings move up and down as you tilt the banknote?

 

With train commuters now boarding via their bank cards, charities rolling out tap and go donation machines and meat pies bought on debit in school canteens, was this really a good use of money?

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Michael is joined by Andrew Constance MP, NSW Minister for Transport & Roads, who announced yesterday the seven stops planned for Sydney's new Metro West train from the CBD to the western suburbs. 

Mr Constance says the project would take pressure off the T1 Western Line which, along with the T9 Northern Line, was expected to reach capacity within the next decade and create around 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs.

The new train line would be open to the public by 2030.

Sean Dooley, Australian Birdlife Managing Editor & Chief Bird Nerd, joins Michael to talk about this year’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count which began yesterday.

Since BirdLife Australia launched the Aussie Backyard Bird Count in 2014, the number of participants has risen from 9,000 to over 70,000. Unsurprisingly, the amount of birds that have been counted in our cities and towns has also risen – from 850,000 to more than 2.75 million birds last year.

Mr Dooley says “this year, more than ever, we need as many people as possible to join in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count so that our annual snapshot of Australian birds becomes clearer and more finely detailed than ever before.”

To join the Aussie Backyard Bird Count download the #aussiebirdcount app or go to aussiebirdcount.org.au

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Michael is joined by Jeremy Hanson, ACT Shadow Attorney-General & Liberal member for Murrumbidgee, to talk about the ACT government's controversial new cannabis laws.

Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter has written to the ACT Government to warn the territory's new cannabis laws do not provide the legal protections it aimed to achieve.

Mr Hanson says the laws, which come into effect from January, would encourage an increase in cannabis use in the ACT.

"We would rescind the laws, it's bad laws."

Michael speaks to Bob Aitken, Chairman of Graffiti Removal Day, who says volunteers have removed more than 141,000 sqm of graffiti, saving the community $10.4 million, since the event was established in 2012.

“We want people to love where they live and be proud of their neighbourhoods,” Mr Aitken said.

“Our focus this year is not only on removing unsightly graffiti but also on encouraging community groups to come up with creative and fun ideas to prevent vandalism at regularly targeted sites.”