Wake Up Australia

A report in the Australian Newspaper yesterday says Federal Labor’s proposal to wind-back negative gearing taxbreaks would cause already nervous investors to desert the property market sending prices falling further in most cities between the next year and 2022.

This is the new economic modelling.

This debate has been going on for some time ever since the Labor Party released the policy but of course Chris Bowen won’t except any criticism.

Luke is joined by Louis Christopher, Managing director of SQM Research who were the authors of yesterday’s report.

Listen to Wake Up Australia with Michael McLaren, the Full Show Podcast here.

21/03/2019

Public support for Labor’s climate policy has fallen by three percentage points in less than a month with just one in seven voters (14 per cent) favouring a 45 per cent emissions reduction target.

A new Menzies Research poll shows that Labor voters prefer the Coalition’s target over Labor’s by 46 per cent to 29 per cent.

Michael is joined by Menzies Research Executive Director Nick Cater who says:

“It is clear from this polling that the overwhelming majority of Australians are prepared to play their part in the global effort to reduce greenhouse emissions.

“The more they learn of the cost, however, the less willing they are to go ahead of the rest of the world.

“They are increasingly nervous about the devastating effect Labor’s target will have on our economy.”

PM Scott Morrison announced yesterday to great fanfare that his government is preparing to cut Australia’s immigration annual intake of permanent migrants to 160,000… a drop of 30,000 from the current targets.

Mr Morrison claims his government “didn’t just come up with the idea to cut immigration this week — it’s been planning for a while now to announce cuts to immigration as part of the upcoming federal budget”. 

Michael is joined by Entrepreneur/Businessman Dick Smith, who has been a long-time advocate for reduced immigration, to discuss whether this is a bold announcement or just more smoke & mirrors.

Listen to Wake Up Australia with Michael McLaren, the Full Show Podcast here.

20/03/2019

With Labor & the unions calling for a ‘living wage’, PM Scott Morrison has warned the Labor’s strategy will lead to job losses.

Stephen Smith, head of National Workplace Relations Policy at the Australian Industry Group joins Michael to discuss Labor’s call for a substantial increase to the minimum wage.

The Australian Industry Group has called for just a 2% raise to the minimum wage,

adding just under $15 a week to the $720 or so rate, in its submission to the Fair

Work Commission, arguing “now is not the time for risky movements in minimum

wages”.

It’s tempting to bury our pets close to us but this brings risks.

Companion animals are part of our families, but inevitably the time comes for us to say goodbye to them due to old age or disease.

Many pet lovers opt to bury their pets in the backyard. However, there are some hidden risks to this, and there are other options that will help other pets, and even the owners who love them.

Michael is joined by Professor Rachel Allavena, Associate Professor/ Specialist Pathologist School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland who explains that a backyard burial may seem like the easiest way to respectfully take care of your pet’s remains… but unfortunately, it can be dangerous for other pets and wildlife.

Listen to Wake Up Australia with Michael McLaren, the Full Show Podcast here.

19/03/2019

Michael is joined by Dr Stephen Ducket, health program director for the Gratten Institute whose recent report calls for Australia to introduce a Medicare-style universal insurance scheme for primary dental care, to ensure all Australians can go to the dentist when they need to.

He writes “a universal dental care scheme for Australia calculates the scheme would cost an extra $5.6 billion a year, suggests it could be paid for in part by a rise in the Medicare levy, and recommends it be phased in over 10 years”.

“It’s needed because about 2 million Australians who required dental care in the past year either didn’t get it or delayed getting it because of the cost – and the poor and disadvantaged are most likely to miss out on care”.

In the aftermath of the terror attack in Christchurch, governments all over the world are examining what they need to do to avoid a repeat of that tragedy.  While the government in New Zealand is particularly is looking at changing their rather liberal gun laws our government here in Australia are looking at changing regulations that will affect the big social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google.

Michael is joined by Stephen Scheeler, the former Facebook CEO for Australia & New Zealand, to discuss what might be done to curtail the use of social media to spread messages of hate and intolerance.