Wake Up Australia

Senator Amanda Stoker, Liberal Senator for Queensland, joins Luke Grant to talk about the rising trend that sees Australian universities relying heavily on Chinese international students for revenue which may put them at the risk of financial collapse.

 

According to a report from the Centre for Independent Studies released last week, universities reliance on Chinese students see hundreds of millions of dollars annually with course fees accounting for between 13 and 23 per cent of their total revenues.

Luke Grant talks to Brad Norrington, Associate editor at The Australian, about NSW Labor General Secretary Kaila Murnain being called to the ICAC Chinese donor probe.

 

Norrington writes ‘NSW ALP head office boss Kaila Murnain will be a key witness at a corruption inquiry into allegations state laws capping political donations may have been breached at big-spending party fundraising events involving members of Sydney’s Chinese community.’

 

‘Ms Murnain is scheduled to give evidence over two days next week in NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings for an investigation called Operation Aero.’

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant filling in for Michael Mclaren

Sussan Ley, Federal Minister for the Environment, joins Luke Grant to pay tribute to former Nationals leader & deputy prime minister who died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

 

Ms Ley said Mr Fischer’s passing marked an “end of an era”.

“He was a mentor to me after I became his successor ... he passed on much wisdom about our people and their needs in a way that was deeply personal.

“Much will be said about his professional achievements today but I remember the family man, at the Lockhart Show, with his boys, enjoying a snag and chatting about trains and planes around the barbecue.”

Timothy Andrew Fischer, AC, was born 3 May 1946 and served as leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999 and Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 to 1999.

 

Born in Lockhart NSW, Fischer served with the Australian Army in the Vietnam War and upon his return he bought a farming property at Boree Creek.

 

He served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1984 and was elected to the House of Representative at the 1984 election, representing the Division of Farrer until his retirement in 2001.

 

In 1990, he replaced 

Charles Blunt as leader of the National Party in 1990 and in the Howard Government served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade.

After leaving politics, Fischer served as chairman of Tourism Australia from 2004 to 2007 and later as the Ambassador to the Holy See from 2009 to 2012.

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant filling in for Michael Mclaren

Luke Grant is joined by Senator Rex Patrick, Senator for South Australia – Centre Alliance, who is actively negotiating for a national gas reservation policy to be introduced to safeguard domestic supplies here in Australia.

 

It’s said that every major gas producing nation in the world has some form of gas reservation policy, or laws aimed at ensuring local industry and consumers are not disadvantaged by gas exports.

 

Although schemes introduced by governments across the world vary in method or approach, the goal is common… to ensure the national advantage of relatively affordable gas is not wiped out through export links to the global price.

 

However, the institute for energy economics & financial analysis has warned that Australia could be in the position of using imports to supply 90% our gas in three years.

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant filling in for Michael McLaren

Luke Grant talks to Dr Rob Zammit, Veterinarian from VineYardVet.com.au. about multiple investigations underway across two states after several dogs died in apparent cases of baiting.

The penalty for baiting varies between states, but if a person is found responsible they could face possible jail time.

Advice to avoid such tragic episode to your beloved pets is to not to let your dog scavenge while they are out for a walk. If they fall ill, contact a vet immediately.

Symptoms to look out for include disorientation, the loss of coordination, tremors and trouble breathing.

Robert Borsak, NSW Upper House Member & Leader of the Shooters Fishers & Farmers party, joins Luke to talk about his party’s threat to withdraw support for Gladys Berejiklian if the new abortion bill passes in its current form.

The Premier has done a U-turn by giving in to pressure from her Liberal colleagues to delay the vote concerning the new abortion legislation that many, including Mr Borsak, feel is being rushed through parliament.

Listen to the full show podcast with Luke Grant filling in for Michael McLaren