The $17.6 billion economic stimulus package - including $1billion specifically to support tourism - announced today by the Federal Government would provide a much-needed boost for an industry currently on its knees following the bushfires and the coronavirus the Tourism and Transport Forum said today. 

 

Michael is joined by Margy Osmond, Chief Executive of the TTF, who welcomes the size and the scope of the stimulus package saying it would provide hope that our rapidly flagging economy could better survive the impact of the global pandemic and help to support businesses and jobs.

 

“I’m pleased to see the Government has acknowledged the magnitude of the coronavirus and acted swiftly to protect the Australian economy from plunging into recession.

 

”In particular the very significant allocation of $1 billion for tourism regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the impacts of the coronavirus, is a very welcome ‘shot in both arms’ for the sector.

 

“From airlines, airports and accommodation providers, to metropolitan and regional attractions, transport operators and cruise ships, our sector has been bit not once but twice by the economic double whammy of bushfires and the coronavirus,” Ms Osmond said.

Michael is joined by Peter Khoury, NRMA Spokesman, to discuss where he sees the price of Aussie petrol heading as global oil prices plunge off the back of a standoff between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

 

Global oil was already under severe stress due to the effect to Coronavirus before the weekend's price war erupted.

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Michael is joined by Michael Organ, archivist & historian from University of Wollongong, about the 180th anniversary of Paul Edmund Strzelecki reaching the summit of Mt Kosciuszko… mainland Australia’s highest mountain located on the main range of the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park.

 

The mountain was named by the Polish explorer in honour of Polish-Lithuanian freedom fighter General Tadeusz Kościuszko, because of its perceived resemblance to the Kościuszko Mound in Kraków, Poland.

 

An exploration party led by Strzelecki and James Macarthur with indigenous guides Charlie Tarra and Jackey, set off on what is called Strzelecki’s Southern expedition due to Macarthur seeking new pastures.

 

Strzelecki wanted to investigate the climate, geology, palaeontology and geography of NSW and to publish his findings.

 

This included identifying Australia’s highest summit, which he reached on 12 March 1840.

Professor George Morgan, associate professor at Western Sydney University & co-author of ‘The Creativity Hoax: Precarious Work and the Gig Economy’, joins Michael to discuss his recent article that highlights the precarious nature of being a casual employee in the wake of Coronavirus.

 

Professor Morgan writes ‘last week a Tasmanian bar worker turned up for his shift even though the doctor who had just tested him for COVID-19 directed him to self-isolate pending the results. The tests were positive, he is now in quarantine, but it is possible he infected some of those who came into contact with him at work.’

 

‘We are quick to demonise such people as being recklessly indifferent to public health, but the situation is morally complicated, and has sparked a debate about the plight of casual and gig economy workers in the current crisis.’

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

Luke Grants is joined by Kurt Wallace, Research Fellow at the IPA, who says “a small group of green activists are using a special legal privilege to delay and disrupt $65 billion of investment, which is disproportionately damaging regional Australia”

 

A new report from the Institute of Public Affairs analyses the costs resulting from legal action taken under Section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.  Section 487 of the EPBC Act extends the legal right to challenge federal environmental approvals to environmental groups.

 

“Over $65 billion of investment in projects, including new coal mines, dams, and roads, have been delayed in court by green activists for a combined total of 10,100 days or 28 years,” said Mr Wallace.

The $80 billion Australian defence program for 12 French built submarines is already “dangerously off track” according to a report to be launched today by Professor Hugh White at the National Press Club.

 

Luke Grant is joined by Gary Johnston, founder of Submarines for Australia / owner & founder of Jaycar Electronics, who commissioned the report, who says not only are we heading for an inevitable capability gap, but there was a “high risk” the project will fail.

 

The report, prepared by Insight Economics and supported by an expert reference group that includes four retired admirals, says that the budget jumped by 60 per cent in two years and that already two project milestones have been missed.

Listen to the full show podcast with Michael McLaren.

Australia has just over 28 days of oil stockpiled in this country even though we’re a signatory to an International Energy Agency pledge to store at least 90 days of crude in case of emergency.

For years, Australian governments have racked their brains about how to rectify the situation and get our oil stockpiles up knowing that if we fail… it won’t take too long before a conflict to our North will see our petrol supplies run out. And without petrol and diesel, there’s no police cars on the road, or ambulances racing to an emergency, let alone trucks carting fruit and veg to markets or couriers delivering medicines to hospitals.

With that in mind, Energy Minister Angus Taylor will today sign a deal in Washington that will apparently shore-up our dangerously low levels of oil which reportedly sees Australia gaining access to oil stored in America. It won’t be sent here any time soon… but left in Texas and Louisiana on the promise that should we need it, we can get our hands on it

Senator Jim Molan AO, Liberal Senator for NSW & Former Australian Army Major General - Chief of Operations, Coalition Forces Iraq, is passionate about the issue of Australia’s fuel security and joins Michael to discuss his take on this announcement.