WEBVTT - Afternoons with Michael McLaren - Tuesday, 3rd June 0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:07.320 On two GB at network stations. This is Afternoons with 0:00:07.360 --> 0:00:08.320 Michael McLaren. 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:12.479 Good afternoon, Thank you for joining us. 0:00:12.520 --> 0:00:15.440 It is ten past twelve Tuesday afternoon, June three. 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:16.279 Hope you're well. 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:18.680 Looks nice outside today too, actually a bit cold, but 0:00:18.720 --> 0:00:21.160 blue sky is beautiful. One three, one eight seven three 0:00:21.200 --> 0:00:22.880 the number. If you'd like to be with us between 0:00:22.920 --> 0:00:25.000 now and three o'clock. You can send me a text, 0:00:25.040 --> 0:00:27.600 of course, at any time zero four six zero eight 0:00:27.680 --> 0:00:31.360 seven three eight seven three, and there's always email two 0:00:31.400 --> 0:00:32.240 GB dot com. 0:00:32.280 --> 0:00:33.680 Click on the feedback icon. 0:00:33.720 --> 0:00:36.000 It's going to be busy between now and three o'clock, 0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:38.720 but of course we put our callers first. I will 0:00:38.800 --> 0:00:41.440 later this house speak with Greg Sheridan, the foreign editor 0:00:41.440 --> 0:00:42.240 at The Australian. 0:00:42.920 --> 0:00:45.160 I always enjoy being able to pick Greg's brain. 0:00:45.240 --> 0:00:47.839 He's well plugged in on the issues of defense, obviously, 0:00:48.479 --> 0:00:50.360 and it's going to be about the issue of drones. 0:00:50.400 --> 0:00:53.840 It's not a new topic, but it's gaining I think, 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:57.640 increased urgency when you look at how potent drones have 0:00:57.800 --> 0:01:01.840 been for the Ukrainian armed forces against a wealth here 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:06.720 much bigger, better equipped adversary in the form of Russia. 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:09.000 Now the epitome of all of this is what is 0:01:09.040 --> 0:01:12.880 being described as Russia's Pearl Harbor. Over the weekend, a 0:01:13.120 --> 0:01:18.600 very sophisticated plan was hatched by the Ukrainians and drones 0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:24.520 that had been driven into Russian territory were elevated, used, exercised, 0:01:24.560 --> 0:01:26.679 whatever the verb you want to choose, and they went 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:29.280 and attacked some of Russia's long range bombers that were 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:33.280 just all parked all up and down the tarmac and 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:36.000 they just blew them to smithereens. So you're talking here 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:39.160 about hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drones, maybe 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:44.640 in the low millions, destroying billions of dollars of Russian 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:49.280 hard military equipment. Now, as Andrew Tillet writes in The 0:01:49.280 --> 0:01:53.800 fin Review, while Kiev thinks big by acquiring the cheap, 0:01:53.840 --> 0:01:57.520 the small and the many, Australia, by contrast, is persisting 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:01.400 with expensive and technically complex, new clear powered submarines that 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:06.080 fingers crossed will be arriving here in the twenty thirties. Now, 0:02:06.320 --> 0:02:09.160 like me, Andrew Tillett is not against orcas he follows 0:02:09.200 --> 0:02:11.440 that up with this, He says, quote, this is not 0:02:11.520 --> 0:02:15.520 an argument against the Orcus nuclear powered submarines, but he 0:02:15.600 --> 0:02:18.480 does say the dilemma confronting Candra is that while the 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:21.440 defense budget is increasing in response to the challenge posed 0:02:21.440 --> 0:02:24.600 by China, it is not rising enough to pay for 0:02:24.680 --> 0:02:26.560 what the military needs and wants. 0:02:26.600 --> 0:02:29.120 Now, the British are aware and alert of this as well. 0:02:29.160 --> 0:02:31.760 They're obviously close to Russia, but we're closer to China, 0:02:32.360 --> 0:02:35.840 and over the weekend, Britain's Prime Minister Labor Sirkis Starber 0:02:36.240 --> 0:02:39.400 said that Britain would radically change its approach to defense. 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:42.480 They're not necessarily in the short to medium term going 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:45.960 to make the army bigger, not stacks more boots on 0:02:46.000 --> 0:02:48.160 the ground or anything, but they're heavily going to be 0:02:48.200 --> 0:02:52.960 investing in technology, particularly drones, investing in drones and digital warfare, 0:02:53.520 --> 0:02:57.080 rather than relying on a much larger army to engage 0:02:57.080 --> 0:03:00.720 in modern combat. Now, the thinking, I guess is that 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:05.040 this is a much more cost effective defensive strategy. You've 0:03:05.040 --> 0:03:07.800 got a tight budget, they've got slow growth over there 0:03:07.840 --> 0:03:10.919 like we do, and they've got massive debts and deficits, 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:13.440 and say, you've got to be sensible about all of this. 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:16.040 But of course none of it matters if your sovereignty 0:03:16.080 --> 0:03:18.040 is going to be taken, so you've got to invest. 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:19.880 This is the most important thing a government can do 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:22.680 keep its people safe. The armed forces do that, and 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:27.519 as the ABC reports, Starmer has pledged the largest sustained 0:03:27.560 --> 0:03:30.240 increase to UK defense spending since the end of the 0:03:30.280 --> 0:03:34.639 Cold War. Now out here, after meeting Pete hegxas in 0:03:34.680 --> 0:03:37.720 the United States, the Australian government been saying no, no, 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:39.720 we will determine how we do this. The Americans and 0:03:39.800 --> 0:03:42.440 say what they want, We'll determine our defense policy and 0:03:42.480 --> 0:03:45.120 they can go jump. That's basically been the rhetoric from 0:03:45.120 --> 0:03:47.640 the Prime Minister. Well, okay, fair enough, but if the 0:03:47.680 --> 0:03:51.480 Americans took the same attitude, we all know that Australia 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:54.800 would be open and defenseless. If the Americans said, oh, well, 0:03:54.800 --> 0:03:59.080 ook to can dance that tune, We'll just forget you 0:03:59.120 --> 0:04:01.760 guys and anything you want and we'll just go on 0:04:01.800 --> 0:04:04.480 our own merry way, well then we know we would 0:04:04.520 --> 0:04:07.720 be open and vulnerable to Chinese attack. So we've got 0:04:07.720 --> 0:04:11.560 to be careful in how we pursue the next decade. 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:15.440 In defense, there is always this overarching concern that because 0:04:15.440 --> 0:04:18.480 the Defense Department seems so inept at spending the money 0:04:18.480 --> 0:04:21.680 it's already got that just giving it more would be 0:04:22.240 --> 0:04:26.800 wasting more precious dollars without first going through the department 0:04:27.000 --> 0:04:29.640 than working out where the wheat and the chaff happened 0:04:29.680 --> 0:04:34.000 to be. However, if we just continue to talk and 0:04:34.640 --> 0:04:38.760 have examinations and white papers and that, we're never going 0:04:38.800 --> 0:04:43.720 to get anywhere. These things are medium to long term developments. 0:04:44.200 --> 0:04:46.160 So the British are showing us I guess what to 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:49.320 do in some respects. That is, start spending and spending now. 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:52.560 And I would argue we've got to really lift our 0:04:52.600 --> 0:04:56.120 game in drones. I'll speak to Greg about that after 0:04:56.160 --> 0:04:58.039 one o'clock because it is a Tuesday. It is health 0:04:58.040 --> 0:05:00.600 and I'll speak to Helen. Gents use the CEO Musculo 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:04.559 Scalital Health Australia. We've got a new phenomena. It's called 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:09.200 tech neck. Tech neck, and as the name sort of implies, 0:05:09.320 --> 0:05:11.960 it's the problem that we all get in the neck 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:14.000 and the upper back as we spend most of the 0:05:14.080 --> 0:05:17.719 day hunched over a keyboard or staring into a phone. Now, 0:05:17.960 --> 0:05:19.680 I guess there's almost a bit of a connection here 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:21.359 with myopia, with short sighted This we. 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:22.800 Spoke about that a couple of weeks ago. 0:05:23.240 --> 0:05:25.520 The two probably go hand in g love in that 0:05:26.320 --> 0:05:30.359 constantly staring at screens means you're not looking long distance, 0:05:30.400 --> 0:05:32.440 and so that part of the muscle in the eye 0:05:32.480 --> 0:05:34.240 is not getting the exercise it needs, and we all 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:37.640 become myopic. But at the same time, our spine is 0:05:37.680 --> 0:05:41.680 being manipulated by constantly being hunched over. So I speak 0:05:41.680 --> 0:05:43.600 to Helen about what we can do about that. I mean, 0:05:44.080 --> 0:05:46.800 I guess the obvious and easy answer is drop the 0:05:46.800 --> 0:05:48.520 phones and the computers for a while and look at 0:05:48.520 --> 0:05:50.840 the stars. But that's easier said than done for some 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:53.159 For travel, As I said to Mark, we're off the 0:05:53.160 --> 0:05:53.960 Lord Howe Island. 0:05:54.200 --> 0:05:56.000 I've never been. I'd love to go. 0:05:56.560 --> 0:05:59.760 It really does look gorgeous, but I've got a feeling 0:05:59.760 --> 0:06:01.960 it's not cheap when you get there. 0:06:02.040 --> 0:06:03.000 That's my hunch. 0:06:03.080 --> 0:06:05.200 But I don't know. I've not been. Family have been, 0:06:05.240 --> 0:06:07.240 and those that it was beautiful with a capital B. 0:06:08.000 --> 0:06:11.279 Gorgeous part of Australia, of course, But Lord Howe Island's 0:06:11.279 --> 0:06:12.880 the destination. You might have been, you might be able 0:06:12.920 --> 0:06:14.000 to give us some insights. 0:06:14.040 --> 0:06:14.680 Take I went to. 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:17.760 School with a guy whose father was the doctor on 0:06:17.800 --> 0:06:19.880 lord How Island. He was a border at Barker for 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:22.360 a while and his dad was the GP on lord 0:06:22.360 --> 0:06:25.200 How Island or one of them, and he used to 0:06:25.200 --> 0:06:27.160 say how beautiful it was. But anyway, look forward to 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:30.080 that later on and later also in the final hour. 0:06:30.160 --> 0:06:32.840 Rowan Pike no stranger to the show. He's the former 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:36.160 AFP and ABF officer who helped set up the Australian 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:41.000 Border Forces Tobaccos Strike Force. Now, I'm sure Rowan will 0:06:41.040 --> 0:06:44.400 agree with me that the catalysts of the problem we 0:06:44.440 --> 0:06:49.440 face now with illegal cigarettes, I would argue now dominating 0:06:49.520 --> 0:06:53.640 the cigarette market is the tax or the excise that 0:06:53.720 --> 0:06:56.360 applies to the legal product. Now, you've got a lot 0:06:56.400 --> 0:06:59.120 of people, We've been over this a thousand times. Finally 0:06:59.200 --> 0:07:01.200 some politicians coming to the party. You would have heard 0:07:01.279 --> 0:07:04.440 chris Min's this morning with Ben on breakfast saying, you know, 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:06.880 unless we deal with the excise here, it's like standing 0:07:06.920 --> 0:07:08.800 at the beach saying, you know, trying to hold back 0:07:08.839 --> 0:07:12.200 the tide. You're not going to achieve anything. And yet 0:07:12.240 --> 0:07:15.400 you've got the Federal Treasurer out there. Last night Jim Charmers, 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:17.480 doctor Charmers saying, oh no, we're not going to do 0:07:17.480 --> 0:07:20.560 anthing about this. Quote Tobacco excise is an important public 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:24.600 health measure to encourage people to give up smoking. Yeah, 0:07:25.000 --> 0:07:29.680 oh yeah, that's doctor Charms. That's the intellect operating in Canberra. 0:07:30.000 --> 0:07:32.680 We've got to keep it going because it's helping people quit. 0:07:32.880 --> 0:07:35.400 Well that the quit line, as it were, has flatlined 0:07:36.720 --> 0:07:40.920 and people are not quitting anymore. What they are quitting 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:45.520 is legal product, and they're now buying illegal product. So 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:48.320 the only quitting now going on is of the legal product. 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:51.720 We are making petty criminals out of otherwise law abiding 0:07:51.800 --> 0:07:55.200 citizens in an inflationary cost of living environment where they're 0:07:55.200 --> 0:08:00.040 addicted to cigarettes. They're buying the cheap illegal product and 0:08:00.160 --> 0:08:02.800 risking a criminal record. Well I say they're risking a 0:08:02.800 --> 0:08:04.440 criminal but no one's going to be nicked for it, 0:08:04.480 --> 0:08:08.160 because the problem is so huge and it's all there, 0:08:08.200 --> 0:08:10.160 it's all in everybody's high street. You see all of 0:08:10.160 --> 0:08:12.640 these packets all over the place, and the butts of 0:08:12.680 --> 0:08:15.680 all of the illegal cigarettes all over lawns and medium 0:08:15.680 --> 0:08:20.160 strips and gutters that they're everywhere, and nothing's done about it. Nothing, 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:25.120 And so it's a problem created by government. But of 0:08:25.160 --> 0:08:27.120 course it's the federal government that control of the excise 0:08:27.160 --> 0:08:28.440 and the treasure is pretty clear. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:29.560 He ain't touching it. 0:08:29.640 --> 0:08:32.840 Addicted to the money more than it seems the smokers 0:08:32.840 --> 0:08:35.040 are to the nicoteaine. So I'll speak to Rowan Pike 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:36.720 about what needs to be done, you know, I mean, 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:39.520 the truth is he's the expert. I'm just the radio hack. 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:41.520 But I think the truth is in everyone to agree 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:43.960 with this. You can only arrest your way out of this. 0:08:44.040 --> 0:08:44.480 So much. 0:08:44.880 --> 0:08:47.000 Having created such a massive problem, we know what the 0:08:47.040 --> 0:08:49.920 catalyst is. The government, federal, with the support and the 0:08:50.000 --> 0:08:52.880 encouragement of the states, have to go and address the catalyst. 0:08:53.360 --> 0:08:54.200 And that's excise. 0:08:54.840 --> 0:08:56.520 I'm not saying you take it back to ten dollars 0:08:56.559 --> 0:09:00.680 a packet, but at the very least excise high baked 0:09:00.679 --> 0:09:01.320 into the future. 0:09:01.360 --> 0:09:04.120 Budgets have to be frozen no more, no more. 0:09:04.840 --> 0:09:07.280 You know when you when the packet of illegal a 0:09:07.320 --> 0:09:10.040 packet of legal cigarettes is what fifty dollars, let's say, 0:09:10.080 --> 0:09:12.680 give will take and the better part of thirty eight 0:09:12.720 --> 0:09:15.439 of those dollars goes to Canberra. I think you know, 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:19.120 sensible people would say, haven't they had enough? Haven't they 0:09:19.160 --> 0:09:23.080 got enough? Clearly the answer from Canberra is no, so 0:09:23.120 --> 0:09:24.760 we'll look at that issue as well. Stay with us 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:31.320 one three one eight seven three. Now, just before we 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:33.160 move on as well, I've got a report that the 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:35.640 Fair Work Commission you would have heard this during Mark's program, 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:39.080 have granted an above inflation three and a half percent 0:09:39.160 --> 0:09:42.520 pay rise. This is to two point nine million low 0:09:42.559 --> 0:09:45.199 paid workers from July one. It's going to kick in 0:09:45.280 --> 0:09:47.719 July one, so roughly a month from now, three and 0:09:47.760 --> 0:09:50.280 a half percent pay rise, two point nine million low 0:09:50.320 --> 0:09:53.600 paid workers to benefit. What they've basically done, the Fair 0:09:53.640 --> 0:09:56.520 Work Commission has split the difference between what the employers 0:09:56.520 --> 0:09:58.719 wanted and what the unions demanded. The AC two U 0:09:58.840 --> 0:10:01.560 wanted a four and a half percent rise. They described 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:05.160 that as affordable and responsible. Well, they could say that 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:07.760 because they're not paying the bill. The employer groups that 0:10:07.800 --> 0:10:10.320 would pay the bill wanted two and a half percent, 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:14.040 saying well that's basically where inflation is. So the Farewell 0:10:14.040 --> 0:10:17.240 Commission basically doing what the government wanted actually, and that 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:22.160 is a slightly above inflation wage rise. That wasn't quite 0:10:22.200 --> 0:10:24.880 as generous as what the unions had pushed for, but 0:10:24.960 --> 0:10:28.280 I mean, this is what happens in negotiations. Let's call 0:10:28.360 --> 0:10:32.040 the union the worker and the employer groups the boss, 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.319 and you know what happens. You go and as the worker, 0:10:35.360 --> 0:10:37.600 you go to meet your boss and you say, look, 0:10:37.640 --> 0:10:41.160 I want two hundred thousand dollars a year for what 0:10:41.240 --> 0:10:43.680 I do. And the boss says, you're not going to 0:10:43.679 --> 0:10:45.920 get that. He said, he is one hundred and ten thousand. 0:10:46.280 --> 0:10:47.760 He said, oh, I'm going to have to think about that. 0:10:47.800 --> 0:10:50.320 And you negotiate and you sort of get to a 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:54.240 point that's agreeable for everybody. And that's really what's happened here. 0:10:54.520 --> 0:10:56.480 So the extremities are either end to be knocked out 0:10:56.480 --> 0:10:58.439 in the middle ground's been found three and a half 0:10:58.520 --> 0:11:01.400 percent for two point nine nine million low paid workers 0:11:01.480 --> 0:11:04.200 kicking in the first of next month. Now, also, we'll 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:06.720 keep an eye this afternoon on the traffic building city 0:11:06.760 --> 0:11:08.880 bound at the M Fivev's tunnel. Will Bottom, of course, 0:11:08.880 --> 0:11:11.080 has been across all of that throughout the morning. A 0:11:11.160 --> 0:11:14.120 rolled crane, a small crane, we believe in the tunnel 0:11:14.400 --> 0:11:18.240 that's creating chaos there. There are diversions in place. Follow 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:21.000 the signage, as Will says, and we'll keep you across 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:24.360 that throughout the afternoon. As hopefully it won't happen fast 0:11:24.679 --> 0:11:26.839 by the nature of what's happened here, but hopefully by 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.520 the time we're off air at three o'clock that situation 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:35.640 can be rectified. Three one, eight seven, three twenty one 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:38.240 past twelve. Now, look, I wanted to sort of officially 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:40.360 start today though by asking you a question I have 0:11:40.520 --> 0:11:44.760 asked different radio audiences in years gone by on other programs, 0:11:45.640 --> 0:11:48.720 and that is, what is it about soccer that attracts 0:11:48.720 --> 0:11:50.640 so many lunatic criminal fans? 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:52.440 What is it about soccer? 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:55.280 I mean the latest example of this was scenes in 0:11:55.320 --> 0:11:59.640 Paris and indeed across France over the weekend following PSG's 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:02.880 victory in the Champions League final. And here are the 0:12:02.960 --> 0:12:06.520 numbers too dead, A police officer left in a coma, 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:09.920 one hundred and ninety two injured, five hundred and fifty 0:12:10.000 --> 0:12:13.200 nine arrested, two hundred and sixty four vehicles set alight, 0:12:13.600 --> 0:12:16.880 twenty two police officers and seven fire fighters injured. I mean, 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:20.160 heaven knows the cumulative cost of all of the vandalism, 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:22.960 especially in the capitol. And this is what happens after 0:12:23.000 --> 0:12:27.440 the home side wins. Imagine if they lost. And here's 0:12:27.480 --> 0:12:30.240 the strangest part, the game wasn't even played in Paris, 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:33.079 let alone in France. It was across the border in Munich. 0:12:33.520 --> 0:12:37.200 And yet French authorities knew what was coming, and so 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:41.680 they deployed and estimated five thousand, four hundred police officers 0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:46.600 in what can only be described as an extraordinary security operation. Actually, 0:12:46.800 --> 0:12:50.560 I probably shouldn't call it extraordinary, because, especially in European football, 0:12:50.600 --> 0:12:54.760 such large scale security arrangements are hardly extraordinary than now 0:12:54.800 --> 0:12:57.960 stock standard necessities, certainly for big matches, because these sorts 0:12:58.000 --> 0:13:02.240 of marquee events seemed to out the worst. But the 0:13:02.320 --> 0:13:07.080 question has to be why why does this sport attract 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:10.880 such tribal barbarianism when others don't. 0:13:11.679 --> 0:13:12.480 Now some point to. 0:13:12.520 --> 0:13:15.839 The racial or the regional origins of teams and how 0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:19.880 that then intersects with long standing historical animosities. Others to 0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:24.400 intergenerational hatreds that have incubated within the support a base 0:13:24.440 --> 0:13:27.240 of certain clubs and as it handed down the generation 0:13:27.320 --> 0:13:30.800 from father to son or whatever. Some psychologists, I guess, 0:13:30.960 --> 0:13:34.000 would theorize that a game where so few points are 0:13:34.040 --> 0:13:38.720 scored encourages a sort of tension to brew in the 0:13:38.800 --> 0:13:41.559 stands among the fans otherwise desperate to go and let 0:13:41.559 --> 0:13:43.840 off a bit of steam. Look, it might be all 0:13:43.880 --> 0:13:46.600 of the above and then something else, But whatever the answer, 0:13:47.040 --> 0:13:49.760 the so called beautiful game must work out what to 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:52.280 do about its cohort of not so beautiful fans. 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:55.319 Now, look, with all of that said, let me make 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:56.240 this perfectly clear. 0:13:56.600 --> 0:14:00.559 I am not lumping every soccer fan into the same basket. 0:14:00.559 --> 0:14:01.080 Far from it. 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:04.400 When you look at the law of averages, the standard 0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:08.320 football supporter is a decent, law abiding type who rarely 0:14:08.559 --> 0:14:10.760 probably attends the game they watch it on the television, 0:14:11.040 --> 0:14:13.400 let alone a street party with a pocket full of flares. 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:16.240 But to deny that soccer has a problem is to 0:14:16.240 --> 0:14:20.120 deny reality. Sadly, the events in France from the weekend 0:14:20.160 --> 0:14:22.640 are not an isolated situation, and they do stand in 0:14:22.720 --> 0:14:25.480 stark contrast to the sorts of celebrations that follow a 0:14:25.560 --> 0:14:28.360 rugby World Cup, or even a rugby League Grand Final, or. 0:14:28.360 --> 0:14:29.880 A cricket World Cup or you name it. 0:14:30.400 --> 0:14:34.120 And again that's not to pretend those sports have an 0:14:34.240 --> 0:14:38.440 unblemished record, but for whatever reason, their fan bases seem 0:14:38.520 --> 0:14:42.960 to be able to control their passions far better on average. Anyway, 0:14:43.000 --> 0:14:46.080 back to the situation in France. I guess we're going 0:14:46.120 --> 0:14:48.160 to have to wait for the inevitable police investigation to 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:51.600 run its course here before drawing every conclusion. But interim 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:54.840 comments from the police chief suggests that Paris may have 0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:57.720 in fact dodged a bullet, if that's possible to believe. 0:14:58.200 --> 0:15:00.880 As he said, in most cases, those who were hell 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:03.880 bent on committing violent acts were prevented from doing so. 0:15:04.920 --> 0:15:08.800 In other words, without that massive police presence, we would 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:10.520 have been looking at a far higher death toll and 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:14.320 criminal footprint come Monday morning. But equally, I think we 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:16.680 should all assume here, and this is to be fair 0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:20.600 to soccer, that not everybody involved in the violence and 0:15:20.640 --> 0:15:25.720 the criminality where PSG fans are indeed soccer devotees. Now, 0:15:25.880 --> 0:15:28.160 it'll no doubt emerge emerge with time that a good 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:31.000 chunk of the thugs were what we'd call blow ins, 0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:33.760 as Captain Louis Reno of Casablanca Fame would. 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:35.160 Have said, the usual suspects. 0:15:35.840 --> 0:15:40.440 France certainly seems to have a hard core subculture pulsating 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:43.960 with angry gang affiliated young men that leverage big events 0:15:44.480 --> 0:15:47.360 like the Champions League Final to simply go and cause trouble. 0:15:48.080 --> 0:15:50.720 They gravitate to big crowds and they use them as cover, 0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:54.200 essentially as cover to vent their anger at the world. 0:15:55.000 --> 0:15:58.440 And as the chief of police said, clashes began as 0:15:58.440 --> 0:16:00.680 soon as the game kicked off, and in his words, 0:16:01.080 --> 0:16:06.600 thousands of people came to commit atrocities. Now I'm not 0:16:06.640 --> 0:16:09.680 a soccer devotee, but as a sport lover, I find 0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:12.960 it hard to believe that a genuine supporter would think 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:15.640 smashing a few shop windows as the opening whistle blew, 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:19.080 was a good idea. So no doubt, hardened criminals were 0:16:19.080 --> 0:16:22.160 also thick on the ground, but they weren't the whole story. 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:24.640 And I shuddered to think, as I said earlier, what 0:16:24.720 --> 0:16:27.640 Paris would have looked like come Monday morning if PSG 0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:29.440 had actually lost to enter Milan. 0:16:30.080 --> 0:16:31.200 Instead they won five zil. 0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:33.840 But leaving the events aside for a moment, let me 0:16:33.880 --> 0:16:36.320 ask once again what is it about soccer that attracts 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:40.920 the worst supporters, Because it seems to Why the hatred, 0:16:41.480 --> 0:16:44.840 why the propensity to violence. Why is it uncommon for 0:16:44.880 --> 0:16:46.920 home and away fans to sit side by side in 0:16:46.960 --> 0:16:49.600 the grandstands of say Premier League match, whereas you just 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:51.760 go up the road. Wigan and Hull supporters will mingle 0:16:51.800 --> 0:16:54.800 at a league game. Now you might have a theory 0:16:55.120 --> 0:16:57.360 if you do. I'm all is one three one eight 0:16:57.440 --> 0:16:58.920 seven three. I'll get to your calls on all of 0:16:58.920 --> 0:17:02.000 that in just a moment. Back to the situation near 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:04.879 the M five or actually at the M five tunnel. 0:17:04.880 --> 0:17:07.120 It's a mess and it's getting worse. Mark, you're there, 0:17:07.160 --> 0:17:07.399 are you? 0:17:07.440 --> 0:17:07.959 What's happening? 0:17:09.280 --> 0:17:09.440 Ah? 0:17:09.520 --> 0:17:12.640 Yeah, I've just come past the Eastern Way and they've 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:16.000 dropped it by foot directions now, so east and west. 0:17:16.840 --> 0:17:20.720 I know traffic on the east is nearly nearly back 0:17:20.760 --> 0:17:21.760 to Foreshaw Ride. 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:22.639 Jeez. 0:17:22.720 --> 0:17:26.280 All right, so it's banking up really fast, eh yeah, 0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:29.000 all right, Mark, I appreciate that. Thank you for being 0:17:29.000 --> 0:17:30.840 our eyes down on the ground there. If you're around 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:32.480 the M five, just let us know what you're seeing. 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:34.400 One three one eight seven three. Of course we'll keep 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:37.720 you regular traffic updates throughout the afternoon. But as Mark 0:17:37.840 --> 0:17:41.000 was suggesting, and we'll bottom touched on this earlier, this 0:17:41.040 --> 0:17:44.600 won't just be an eastbound situation. Traffic management have just 0:17:44.640 --> 0:17:48.560 said that the motorway is also now closed westbound at 0:17:48.640 --> 0:17:51.800 General Holmes Drive. The M five Motorway General Homes Drive. 0:17:51.840 --> 0:17:55.439 It's now closed westbound. So this is all because of 0:17:55.480 --> 0:17:58.560 this rolled large vehicle or crane, whatever it happens to be. 0:17:59.119 --> 0:18:02.800 So the motorways closed eastbound. At the M five tunnel entrance. 0:18:03.280 --> 0:18:06.960 It's also closed westbound now that came through just a 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:11.439 few minutes ago at General Holmes Drive. Basically people are 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:14.760 being told to avoid the area and use alternate roots. 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:17.960 I'll keep you up to date throughout the afternoon as 0:18:18.080 --> 0:18:21.480 things happen there. One three one eight seven three Hayden, 0:18:21.520 --> 0:18:22.680 Good afternoon. 0:18:23.960 --> 0:18:25.320 Caday, Michael, how are you well? 0:18:25.359 --> 0:18:26.000 Thanks mate. 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:31.919 I do have a suggestion about soccer. I played soccer 0:18:31.920 --> 0:18:35.080 most of my life and I got frustrated with a 0:18:35.160 --> 0:18:37.440 game that you can play two forty minute halves and 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:40.239 end up with a Nillel draw more often than not. 0:18:41.160 --> 0:18:43.840 As a forward, I believe it will be a complete 0:18:43.840 --> 0:18:46.960 game changer to push the offside rule back to the 0:18:47.560 --> 0:18:50.639 last quarter to make it a little bit more open, 0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:53.720 a few more goals, and at the end of the game, 0:18:54.000 --> 0:18:57.760 if the fans aren't hard fighting over the last little 0:18:57.800 --> 0:19:00.720 refs call, that could have changed the game for one. 0:19:01.080 --> 0:19:01.879 I mean, that's a theory. 0:19:02.520 --> 0:19:05.600 One I'm not an expert too, I'm not a psychologist, 0:19:05.760 --> 0:19:07.920 but there is and I'm not saying every soccer fan. 0:19:08.000 --> 0:19:10.320 I'm not saying every match, none of that. But there 0:19:10.359 --> 0:19:11.960 is a problem, and I mean to deny it would 0:19:11.960 --> 0:19:14.320 be to deny reality. There's a problem. I don't know 0:19:14.359 --> 0:19:17.960 why it's there. You know, as I said, psychologists might argue, well, 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:20.120 you know, when you've got a sport where you say 0:19:20.119 --> 0:19:23.399 you play ninety minutes and there's no goals, there's no 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:25.960 opportunity for the people in the crowd to let some 0:19:26.119 --> 0:19:29.360 steam off like happens in other sports, and maybe all 0:19:29.359 --> 0:19:33.440 that pent up testosterone. But I don't know, I don't know. 0:19:33.800 --> 0:19:35.919 I think it's more complicated than that. Just quietly, but 0:19:36.440 --> 0:19:38.760 there's a problem and if possible, they should try to 0:19:38.800 --> 0:19:43.399 address it. Alistair says, re your point about the Premier 0:19:43.440 --> 0:19:45.399 League fans sitting side by side, I can assure you 0:19:45.440 --> 0:19:48.200 nothing's further than the truth. Now, I said, Rugby league 0:19:48.240 --> 0:19:51.119 fans further north sit side by side if you can 0:19:51.200 --> 0:19:53.520 watch hul play Huddersfield or whatever that they're all mingling 0:19:53.560 --> 0:19:56.800 around in the Premier League. Oh no, the away fans 0:19:56.800 --> 0:19:58.600 are segregated. I mean I've seen it. I went to 0:19:58.640 --> 0:20:00.520 a few Chelsea matches. I was like enough to be 0:20:00.520 --> 0:20:04.760 invited and stuck up in the members stand and get 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:07.879 a very good advantage there at Stanford Bridge, and you 0:20:07.920 --> 0:20:10.320 could see behind one lot of the goalposts all the 0:20:10.359 --> 0:20:12.280 away fans and then there were spare seats and then 0:20:12.440 --> 0:20:15.200 rows of police and then spare seats or security guards, 0:20:15.200 --> 0:20:18.959 and they were segregated. And the announcement came over the 0:20:18.960 --> 0:20:22.080 PA at the end of the match that the away 0:20:22.119 --> 0:20:25.399 fans had to stay put until all the Chelsea fans 0:20:25.480 --> 0:20:27.240 not only had left the ground, had left the metro 0:20:27.320 --> 0:20:31.399 station down the road Stanford Bridge. That gives you a 0:20:31.440 --> 0:20:36.400 sense of the fear that the authorities have that violence 0:20:36.440 --> 0:20:39.160 will break out if someone in that colored jersey meets 0:20:39.200 --> 0:20:40.760 someone in that colored jersey. 0:20:40.520 --> 0:20:41.240 Out on the street. 0:20:42.119 --> 0:20:44.480 Now, you know that doesn't happen at ly hard oval 0:20:45.160 --> 0:20:49.399 that doesn't happen, you know, generally speaking, in any other sport. 0:20:49.600 --> 0:20:51.760 I hear about ice hockey, but I know nothing about it. 0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:56.560 But beyond that, it just doesn't happen. So what is 0:20:56.600 --> 0:20:58.240 it with soccer? I mean, it's just it's not a 0:20:58.280 --> 0:21:00.520 criticized soccer. It is the beautiful aim and it's the 0:21:00.560 --> 0:21:02.560 most popular game around the world and for a reason. 0:21:02.600 --> 0:21:03.359 It's extraordinary. 0:21:03.680 --> 0:21:06.520 But there's a problem, and I'm not sure that too 0:21:06.560 --> 0:21:08.280 many people have tried to get to the bottom of it. 0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:12.919 David Goday, Yes, thanks for taking my call. If you 0:21:12.960 --> 0:21:17.240 look at especially in Britain and all over Europe, in 0:21:17.680 --> 0:21:20.159 a town there might be a Protestant side and a 0:21:20.200 --> 0:21:24.000 Catholic site. In Scotland you've got Celtic which is the 0:21:24.080 --> 0:21:27.280 Catholic side, and they've got Rangers which is the Protestant site, 0:21:27.520 --> 0:21:31.200 and Rangers playing blue and Celtic playing green and white. 0:21:32.080 --> 0:21:35.919 And so consequently the fight is not so much what 0:21:36.000 --> 0:21:39.080 happened on the cricket on the pitch. It's the ancient 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:43.400 hate and you're see in a lot of places. Most 0:21:43.440 --> 0:21:45.320 of the English cities have a Catholic site and a 0:21:45.359 --> 0:21:48.920 Protestant site and they willow or even to the point 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:54.440 where anybody from South London. I forget the teams in 0:21:54.560 --> 0:21:57.040 South London that they go and bash up the mob 0:21:57.119 --> 0:22:00.720 from the north. They hate the Northernans. It's it happened 0:22:00.760 --> 0:22:03.960 in Australia too, but I mean like in this local 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:07.320 soccer side there was a cycle Bonnie Rick White Eagles 0:22:07.680 --> 0:22:10.160 and they were a Serbian side and if they played 0:22:10.160 --> 0:22:12.439 the Croatian side there would be vallence. 0:22:12.520 --> 0:22:14.439 Yeah, and that's and that's why the A League was 0:22:14.480 --> 0:22:18.160 completely created and revamped from the old Soccer League because 0:22:18.200 --> 0:22:21.240 all of the old ethnic rivalries that were built into 0:22:21.240 --> 0:22:23.440 the old teams. There was problems in the stands. 0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:26.920 Well, I mean they had an elite at Eagles New 0:22:26.960 --> 0:22:29.920 Town or something. They were some people from alder That 0:22:30.119 --> 0:22:32.919 was all just ethnic, simple as that. I mean arf 0:22:33.040 --> 0:22:36.000 you like, art was the Italian scene. But I don't 0:22:36.040 --> 0:22:39.879 think you know, in some places they just really the 0:22:39.960 --> 0:22:43.640 ancient hatreds by brawling it out on the street. They're 0:22:43.680 --> 0:22:46.040 not interested in the game. They go to the game, 0:22:46.320 --> 0:22:50.000 they singing, one side singing air anthems, the other side 0:22:50.040 --> 0:22:54.600 singing their anthems. Liverpool sings You'll never walk alone, you know. 0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:58.800 So it's it's under well, I won't say it's understandable, 0:22:59.080 --> 0:22:59.960 but that's what happen. 0:23:00.440 --> 0:23:02.520 Yeah, that's part of the history that You're quite right, 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:04.359 there's no doubt about it. And I think I said earlier, 0:23:04.440 --> 0:23:06.959 you know, whether this is just the manifestation of ancient 0:23:06.960 --> 0:23:10.960 hatreds being played out on a soccer pitch, and then afterwards, 0:23:10.960 --> 0:23:13.280 after the game, you get a few drinks involved. I 0:23:13.320 --> 0:23:15.080 suspect that's a big part of the story as well. 0:23:15.240 --> 0:23:19.520 But you know, I mean, those same religious divisions and 0:23:20.040 --> 0:23:23.240 regional divisions are ever in other sports. 0:23:24.040 --> 0:23:24.680 Yeah, they are. 0:23:24.800 --> 0:23:27.600 I mean some of the rugby comps. You've got Protestant 0:23:27.920 --> 0:23:32.040 originating sides. You've got Irish sides playing London Protestant sides, 0:23:32.080 --> 0:23:33.880 and they've got different names now, but that was all 0:23:33.880 --> 0:23:36.439 their origin. They're not belting each other up in the 0:23:36.480 --> 0:23:41.600 car park. So there is an issue with what the 0:23:41.600 --> 0:23:45.520 Europeans called football, which isn't anywhere near to the same extent. 0:23:45.560 --> 0:23:47.280 I'm not saying it doesn't happen. It does, but it's 0:23:47.320 --> 0:23:49.680 not to the same extent in other sports. 0:23:50.720 --> 0:23:50.920 Now. 0:23:51.080 --> 0:23:53.399 I don't know. I'm just bouncing this around and we're 0:23:53.400 --> 0:23:56.200 getting theories here. But maybe there is a greater sense 0:23:56.240 --> 0:24:03.040 of contact points being scored, all of other relief valves 0:24:03.080 --> 0:24:09.040 being pulled in other versions of football which aren't necessarily 0:24:09.119 --> 0:24:12.119 allowed in soccer or not part of the formula of 0:24:12.119 --> 0:24:15.520 the game, which helps relieve a bit of the tension that. 0:24:15.480 --> 0:24:17.399 Otherwise might bubble up. I don't know. I don't know. 0:24:17.440 --> 0:24:20.200 I'm not a psychologist, but that is an interesting conversation. 0:24:20.320 --> 0:24:22.960 Thank you, David, appreciate you call this just threw by 0:24:22.960 --> 0:24:25.320 the way. From the Transport Management Center, the M five 0:24:25.359 --> 0:24:28.320 East Tunnel is now closed in both directions due to 0:24:28.359 --> 0:24:32.280 that crane crash inside the tunnel. Westbound lanes of the 0:24:32.280 --> 0:24:35.120 motorway are closed from general Homes Drive. As we said earlier, 0:24:35.560 --> 0:24:40.119 city bound lanes remain closed from Bexley Road. The marsh 0:24:40.240 --> 0:24:43.920 Street westbound on ramp to the motorway is also closed 0:24:44.480 --> 0:24:46.560 now as well. The city bound on ramp to the 0:24:46.640 --> 0:24:50.520 M five East from Kingsgrove Road is closed. Motorists are 0:24:50.520 --> 0:24:53.760 being advised to avoid the area consider using the D 0:24:54.160 --> 0:24:57.280 five D tour instead in both directions, okay, if you 0:24:57.320 --> 0:25:01.200 can use the D five D tour in both Emergency 0:25:01.280 --> 0:25:04.159 services and traffic crews are on site. Due to the 0:25:04.240 --> 0:25:08.000 nature of the incident. There is no forecast as to 0:25:08.040 --> 0:25:10.720 when all lanes will reopen, so we're going to be 0:25:10.760 --> 0:25:13.679 dealing with this for a while. But just to repeat 0:25:13.680 --> 0:25:15.960 the basics, the M five East Tunnel now closed in 0:25:16.040 --> 0:25:18.919 both directions. The city bound on ramp to the M 0:25:19.000 --> 0:25:22.399 five East at Kingsgrove road has closed and the Marsh 0:25:22.520 --> 0:25:25.800 Street westbound on ramp to the motorway is closed. If 0:25:25.840 --> 0:25:29.760 you can use the D five D tour instead in 0:25:29.840 --> 0:25:33.680 both directions. Emergency crews, traffic crews are on site. They're 0:25:33.720 --> 0:25:36.000 at work, but because of the nature, we've got a 0:25:36.080 --> 0:25:41.199 rolled crane here. Obviously, it's very complicated. No forecast, no 0:25:41.359 --> 0:25:44.440 forecast as to when all lanes will reopen. As soon 0:25:44.480 --> 0:25:46.440 as it happens or as soon as we know, we'll 0:25:46.480 --> 0:25:48.399 share it with you and hopefully we can do that 0:25:48.440 --> 0:25:48.880 before we. 0:25:48.840 --> 0:25:49.800 Wrap up at three o'clock. 0:25:49.800 --> 0:25:51.720 It's twenty to one, seventeen to one, just before we 0:25:51.720 --> 0:25:54.280 get to greg Sherion. A further update about the M 0:25:54.400 --> 0:25:57.920 five Fire Rescue New South Wales reporting they're now on 0:25:57.960 --> 0:26:02.320 the scene containing a large hazardous oil spill after that 0:26:02.400 --> 0:26:05.240 crash involving a crane and a truck on its side, 0:26:05.359 --> 0:26:09.480 so that obviously complicating the situation. Fire Rescue New South 0:26:09.520 --> 0:26:11.679 Wales on scene there at the M five tunnel. A 0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:15.840 large hazardous oil spill also part of the story. All right, 0:26:15.880 --> 0:26:17.920 one three, one eight seven three. Now back to this 0:26:18.040 --> 0:26:22.640 situation of defense and drones. Yesterday we saw something pretty incredible. 0:26:22.920 --> 0:26:25.160 I was glued to the six o'clock news watching all 0:26:25.160 --> 0:26:29.120 of this come through. In this war between Russia and Ukraine, 0:26:29.280 --> 0:26:32.840 the series of drone strikes apparently code named Spider's Web. 0:26:33.320 --> 0:26:34.800 It took more than a year and a half to 0:26:34.840 --> 0:26:37.879 plan to by kriche wasn't it defective? One hundred and 0:26:37.880 --> 0:26:40.560 seventeen drones used in total, hidden in the roofs of 0:26:40.600 --> 0:26:44.479 wooden sheds, which themselves were loaded onto trucks and then 0:26:44.560 --> 0:26:47.440 driven to the perimeter of the air bases across Russia 0:26:47.520 --> 0:26:50.040 that they were to target. And they did a hell 0:26:50.080 --> 0:26:52.440 of a job on the Russian equipment. The damage bill 0:26:52.560 --> 0:26:57.320 estimated to be about eleven billion Australian dollars, largely in 0:26:57.520 --> 0:27:01.720 lost bomber aircraft in the Russian Air Force. Now I 0:27:01.760 --> 0:27:04.200 can guarantee you this much. The Ukrainian spent nowhere near 0:27:04.200 --> 0:27:07.919 eleven billion dollars doing that sort of damage. There is 0:27:08.000 --> 0:27:10.800 another example here of the potency, and I think the 0:27:10.840 --> 0:27:16.760 potential for drones being a central part of Australia's future 0:27:16.880 --> 0:27:18.160 warfare preparedness. 0:27:18.400 --> 0:27:20.120 I wanted to speak to Greg Sheridan. 0:27:19.880 --> 0:27:21.400 About this because, of course it comes on the back 0:27:21.440 --> 0:27:23.880 of a conversation between Richard Miles and Pete Hegseth. He's 0:27:23.880 --> 0:27:26.879 equivalent in America about what Australia should be spending and 0:27:26.960 --> 0:27:29.800 how much and by when in its defense. The British 0:27:29.880 --> 0:27:33.000 over the weekend labor government there Sir Kiss Darmer pledging 0:27:33.040 --> 0:27:37.000 to in a real way increase defense expenditure over the 0:27:37.080 --> 0:27:41.080 next three years and beyond, and drones again and cyber 0:27:41.119 --> 0:27:44.919 technology being a central part of the new approach in 0:27:45.000 --> 0:27:47.840 Great Britain. Greg Sheridan, as you know, no stranger to 0:27:47.880 --> 0:27:50.200 the program, foreign editor at The Australian with us. 0:27:50.400 --> 0:27:52.920 Greg, good afternoon, Good soon, Michael. 0:27:52.960 --> 0:27:53.399 How are you. 0:27:53.520 --> 0:27:56.760 I'm okay. Look, you're the defense expert. I'm the radio guy. 0:27:56.800 --> 0:28:00.080 But I'm looking at this and thinking, look, surely, if 0:28:00.119 --> 0:28:03.000 we haven't already led the lesson, the images out of 0:28:03.240 --> 0:28:05.440 Russia over the weekend with what the Ukrainians did with 0:28:05.520 --> 0:28:07.320 drones should be a wake up call. 0:28:07.520 --> 0:28:12.159 Well, we're absolutely right, But our defense circumstance at the 0:28:12.160 --> 0:28:16.040 moment is pathetic and the Albanesi government must rank with 0:28:16.080 --> 0:28:18.600 the Whitlam government as the worst government in our history 0:28:18.680 --> 0:28:22.439 for our defense capabilities. So we're spending two percent of 0:28:22.480 --> 0:28:25.840 our GDP on defense compared with the United States three 0:28:25.840 --> 0:28:28.240 and a half. Britain is going from two point three 0:28:28.240 --> 0:28:31.200 to two point five, but we'll get to three shortly. 0:28:31.640 --> 0:28:35.959 Unlike Britain, Britain has independent, nucleared Terrance and surrounded by 0:28:36.000 --> 0:28:39.320 allies France, Germany, and so we've got no allies except 0:28:39.320 --> 0:28:42.560 the United States, where we're not surrounded by any other allies. 0:28:42.600 --> 0:28:46.880 And we face a vastly more formidable strategic competitor in 0:28:47.000 --> 0:28:50.200 China than Britain faces in Russia. Now, Britain is moving 0:28:50.240 --> 0:28:54.560 to drones, but the Alberanzi government has decided not to 0:28:54.600 --> 0:28:59.320 spend an extra dollar on defense. It increases defense spending 0:28:59.360 --> 0:29:04.000 in a nominal way with inflation, but at a tiny, tiny, 0:29:04.000 --> 0:29:05.920 small increase on top of that. But all the money 0:29:06.000 --> 0:29:09.200 is going to pay for the Orcus subs. Now, I'm 0:29:09.200 --> 0:29:10.880 in favor of the Orcat subs, but they don't come 0:29:10.920 --> 0:29:13.680 along for the first of them doesn't come along for 0:29:13.720 --> 0:29:16.520 another ten years. And in the meanwhile we're doing nothing. 0:29:16.920 --> 0:29:20.880 So we have announced one billion dollar investment in drones. 0:29:21.440 --> 0:29:24.960 Wait for a Michael over ten years. Ten years now, 0:29:25.040 --> 0:29:29.360 Unlike every other military in the world, we have virtually 0:29:29.480 --> 0:29:33.200 no armed drones in our order of battle. We have 0:29:33.280 --> 0:29:36.520 no missile defenses. All of our military bases, our air 0:29:36.560 --> 0:29:39.680 force and so on, they have no ground based missile defenses. 0:29:40.160 --> 0:29:42.480 All of our bases could be wiped out by drone 0:29:42.520 --> 0:29:46.040 strikes like the Ukrainians did to the Russians, or just 0:29:46.080 --> 0:29:48.200 by conventional missile strikes. They don't even have to be 0:29:48.200 --> 0:29:50.320 as clever as that. The Chinese could just destroy our 0:29:50.360 --> 0:29:54.280 air force on the first day of a conflict with 0:29:54.400 --> 0:29:57.000 a few missiles. Because we have no missile defenses, we 0:29:57.080 --> 0:30:00.840 have no offensive drones, and we have no counter drone capability. 0:30:01.160 --> 0:30:04.680 Because the Albanezi government has decided that to win the 0:30:04.760 --> 0:30:07.320 election before the last it had to sign up to UCUS, 0:30:07.440 --> 0:30:11.640 so it's signed on for that minimum expenditure, and it's 0:30:11.680 --> 0:30:14.239 also signed up to these ludicrous hunter frigates which are 0:30:14.240 --> 0:30:16.480 going to come in another ten years. That's one hundred 0:30:16.520 --> 0:30:19.160 billion dollars over the next ten years, which will yeald 0:30:19.280 --> 0:30:21.760 US nothing. We get nothing out of that in ten years. 0:30:22.080 --> 0:30:25.280 And meanwhile, therefore, because they won't increase defense spending to 0:30:25.360 --> 0:30:28.280 a reasonable level, we don't spend any money on anything 0:30:28.320 --> 0:30:29.160 else like drones. 0:30:29.680 --> 0:30:32.320 I mean, the British Defense Secretary, I again remind people 0:30:32.320 --> 0:30:34.960 this is the Labor Party over there, John Healey, He said, no, quote, 0:30:34.960 --> 0:30:37.480 we know that the threats are increasing and we must 0:30:37.480 --> 0:30:40.440 act decisively to face down Russian aggression. Now, I mean, 0:30:40.480 --> 0:30:42.560 we've got politicians, as you know, Greg out here, who 0:30:42.560 --> 0:30:46.240 also acknowledge the increasing threat, but that seems to be 0:30:46.320 --> 0:30:48.760 where the rhetoric ends. The decisive action, as you said, 0:30:48.800 --> 0:30:50.720 hasn't been forthcoming. I mean, I sort of get the 0:30:50.720 --> 0:30:53.160 impression that some in government think that all of the 0:30:53.200 --> 0:30:57.920 warnings about a deteriorating geopolitical situation is an invention of 0:30:57.920 --> 0:31:00.640 the weapons lobby or something and can just be ignored. 0:31:00.680 --> 0:31:01.720 Did you get that impression. 0:31:02.520 --> 0:31:07.080 Well, that's that's a fair speculation, Michael. But I think 0:31:07.080 --> 0:31:11.920 it's even worse than that. Our politicians are Metaphorically, I 0:31:11.920 --> 0:31:14.760 don't mean this literally. Metaphorically, they're fat and lazy and 0:31:14.880 --> 0:31:18.840 stupid in terms of defense. They have grown up in 0:31:18.880 --> 0:31:21.560 a world where the Americans always take care of them, 0:31:21.880 --> 0:31:24.120 and they just think that all they have to do 0:31:24.400 --> 0:31:28.040 is go along paying their minimum dues to the American Alliance. 0:31:28.080 --> 0:31:31.680 But they're absolute minimum dues. So we're only spending two 0:31:31.760 --> 0:31:35.840 percent of GDP on defense, and we're doing these orcus 0:31:35.920 --> 0:31:39.400 subs the first three of which we buy from the Americans, 0:31:40.120 --> 0:31:45.200 and then we acquire in tiny numbers these exquisitely expensive, 0:31:45.840 --> 0:31:51.760 highly complicated platforms, giant ships and som but in tiny, 0:31:51.880 --> 0:31:54.720 tiny numbers, so that you could never risk losing one 0:31:54.720 --> 0:31:57.000 in war, because then you'd lose your whole fleet. We've 0:31:57.000 --> 0:32:00.320 got three modern warships, their warfare destroyers. They're not they're 0:32:00.360 --> 0:32:02.520 not great ships. They're not first division ships. They wouldn't 0:32:02.520 --> 0:32:04.960 strike a native fear into the Chinese. But they are 0:32:05.040 --> 0:32:07.720 modern capable warships. We've only got three of them. The 0:32:07.800 --> 0:32:09.800 rule of three in the navy means one is coming 0:32:09.840 --> 0:32:12.400 back from operations, one's getting refitted, and one is out 0:32:12.400 --> 0:32:16.000 on operations. Third means we can deploy precisely one modern 0:32:16.080 --> 0:32:21.320 warship at any given moment, so we won't do the 0:32:21.400 --> 0:32:24.240 things that we could do to defend ourselves. Now we're 0:32:24.280 --> 0:32:28.800 a rich nation, and we could create an asymmetric strategy. 0:32:28.880 --> 0:32:32.920 We could purchase or manufacture thousands of missiles to have 0:32:33.080 --> 0:32:36.560 in northern Australia and so on, so that any navy 0:32:36.560 --> 0:32:38.800 that came towards us would be in a lot of trouble. 0:32:39.120 --> 0:32:42.880 We could purchase or manufacture thousands upon thousands of drones. 0:32:43.280 --> 0:32:47.080 We make some of the drones that Ukraine users. Australian 0:32:47.240 --> 0:32:50.000 manufacturers do, but they can't sell any of them to 0:32:50.480 --> 0:32:55.960 the Australian Defense FORRSE because it is so schooled in 0:32:56.000 --> 0:32:59.680 the old mentality that it exists only to provide niche 0:33:00.120 --> 0:33:04.680 supplements to American expeditionary operations and that will keep the 0:33:04.720 --> 0:33:08.280 Americans sweet and they'll always look after us, whereas the 0:33:08.320 --> 0:33:10.760 Americans have been saying now for a long time, even 0:33:10.800 --> 0:33:13.360 before Trump, you allies have got to do a lot 0:33:13.400 --> 0:33:16.200 more to look after yourselves if you expect us to 0:33:16.240 --> 0:33:19.800 come and rescue you in any emergency. Now, without the Americans, 0:33:20.120 --> 0:33:24.600 we are completely defensive. Albanesi can say, we'll do as 0:33:24.640 --> 0:33:27.120 we like, not what the Americans tell us. Well, imagine 0:33:27.120 --> 0:33:29.920 if the Americans went home and said, Okay, we don't 0:33:29.920 --> 0:33:32.120 have an alliance with you anymore. We're going home now. 0:33:32.440 --> 0:33:36.160 We would have no intelligence capabilities We've got the brilliant 0:33:36.280 --> 0:33:39.400 ed husic. One of his smart actions as Industry Minister 0:33:39.520 --> 0:33:44.680 was to abolish the coalition's program to launch our own satellites. 0:33:44.720 --> 0:33:48.440 We're going to have low Earth orbit satellites of our own. 0:33:48.680 --> 0:33:51.080 We've got no satellites of our own, so we get 0:33:51.120 --> 0:33:54.200 every bit of military intelligence that we possess we get 0:33:54.200 --> 0:33:58.080 from American satellites. Now, if they said, okay, you don't 0:33:58.080 --> 0:34:00.480 want to be bossed around by us, you now to 0:34:00.560 --> 0:34:04.720 your own devices here, we would be defenseless. And Albanizi 0:34:05.320 --> 0:34:09.399 is an emperor with no clothes. He's a poser, he's 0:34:09.440 --> 0:34:12.560 a fake. This is the worst leadership, mind you. The 0:34:12.600 --> 0:34:15.920 Liberals are no better. Their ten years in government were shocking, 0:34:16.520 --> 0:34:20.040 and we are at our nation where the equivalent of 0:34:20.080 --> 0:34:22.759 the Afghan government before the fall of Carbull. We just 0:34:22.800 --> 0:34:24.640 think the Americans will always look after us. 0:34:24.719 --> 0:34:26.760 Hell of aage to do anything, hell of an image. 0:34:26.760 --> 0:34:28.239 We'll leave it on that point, Greg, thank you for 0:34:28.280 --> 0:34:31.640 your inside as always, Thanks Michael Greek Sheridan, Foreign editor 0:34:31.640 --> 0:34:34.160 at the OS five to one. Brilliant stummation there by 0:34:34.160 --> 0:34:35.920 Greg Sheridan, a lot of support coming in on the 0:34:35.920 --> 0:34:37.640 text line. Thank you to all of those saying that 0:34:37.719 --> 0:34:39.319 just really hit the nail on the head. He does 0:34:39.360 --> 0:34:42.520 it so well. Greg, back to the five situation just quickly. 0:34:42.520 --> 0:34:44.880 I've just seen some images here of inside the tunnel, 0:34:45.560 --> 0:34:49.040 the crane that has toppled the oil spill, etc. It 0:34:49.120 --> 0:34:51.080 is a real mess in there, a real mess, and 0:34:51.120 --> 0:34:54.960 it does look as though some of the paneling on 0:34:55.200 --> 0:34:58.600 the inside lane this is sort of that that the 0:34:58.640 --> 0:35:01.680 prefabricated stuff that r along the edge of otherwise a 0:35:01.760 --> 0:35:04.399 concrete curve has been taken out. 0:35:04.440 --> 0:35:05.080 It's a mess. 0:35:05.400 --> 0:35:06.960 So this is going to take a long time to 0:35:07.000 --> 0:35:09.399 clean up, and looking at these images, I think it's 0:35:09.400 --> 0:35:11.040 going to take a lot longer than even I that 0:35:11.120 --> 0:35:13.080 assumed I may not be giving you the news by 0:35:13.160 --> 0:35:16.080 three o'clock that it's all good to go at the five. 0:35:16.680 --> 0:35:19.840 So I'm just studying these images. There's obviously emergency services 0:35:19.840 --> 0:35:22.360 there and people on the scene, but the oil spill 0:35:22.480 --> 0:35:26.520 is evident and the damage is quite substantive. So I 0:35:26.520 --> 0:35:28.400 can also see a lot of cars there with headlights on, 0:35:28.480 --> 0:35:30.479 still stuck in the tunnel. They've got nowhere to go either, 0:35:30.719 --> 0:35:32.879 so I'm thinking all of the motorists in there as well. 0:35:33.200 --> 0:35:35.279 We'll keep you up to date throughout the afternoon. All right, 0:35:35.280 --> 0:35:37.080 we've got the news coming up in a matter of seconds. 0:35:37.080 --> 0:35:38.839 We'll be back into the second hour. A lot to do, 0:35:38.880 --> 0:35:41.480 including Tuesday health, and we'll look at this new phenomena 0:35:41.520 --> 0:35:44.680 of tech neck you might have it. Tech Neck will 0:35:44.719 --> 0:35:46.399 find out all about it. After the news. 0:35:46.680 --> 0:35:53.320 It's now onto gb and network stations. Back to afternoons 0:35:53.400 --> 0:35:54.640 with Michael McLaren. 0:35:56.600 --> 0:35:58.320 All right, let's get into the second hour. Thank you 0:35:58.360 --> 0:36:00.759 for your company on this Tuesday. Aiful day today, it 0:36:00.760 --> 0:36:03.080 happens to be as well, unless, of course, you're stuck 0:36:03.080 --> 0:36:05.840 in the M five tunnel and it's a mess, and 0:36:06.280 --> 0:36:08.160 just receiving notes here from people to say, look, we 0:36:08.239 --> 0:36:10.160 just have no idea when this is going to be rectified, 0:36:10.200 --> 0:36:10.680 and we don't. 0:36:11.239 --> 0:36:14.200 We don't. It's a big situation down there with this 0:36:14.280 --> 0:36:17.080 crane that throlled. There's oil on the road. 0:36:18.200 --> 0:36:21.719 I saw video earlier of the automatic fire extinguish A 0:36:21.800 --> 0:36:25.400 sprinkler's belting water out all over the place at the point. 0:36:25.200 --> 0:36:25.840 Of the accident. 0:36:25.920 --> 0:36:28.560 So it's going to take a long time to fix up. 0:36:29.040 --> 0:36:31.440 And I feel very sorry for all of those people 0:36:31.440 --> 0:36:33.200 stuck in the tunnel by truck. You want to want 0:36:33.160 --> 0:36:37.239 to be claustrophobic, and I'm sure they'll get the assistance 0:36:37.280 --> 0:36:40.040 they need as the emergency services are down there as 0:36:40.080 --> 0:36:40.600 we speak. 0:36:40.920 --> 0:36:42.560 One three, one eight seven three. 0:36:42.920 --> 0:36:47.040 Interestingly enough, on the situation of petrol, there was a 0:36:47.120 --> 0:36:50.640 report around today. In fact, this has just come out 0:36:50.680 --> 0:36:55.120 from who was at the ah Trible c and the 0:36:56.000 --> 0:37:01.880 retail margin at the pump between December to March, so 0:37:02.000 --> 0:37:06.200 the March quarter the retail margin has declined two point 0:37:06.239 --> 0:37:10.240 eight cents a liter. It's now fourteen point four cents 0:37:10.239 --> 0:37:14.520 a leader. It was leading into Christmas seventeen point two 0:37:14.840 --> 0:37:17.719 cents a leader. So the margin, the profit that they're 0:37:17.719 --> 0:37:21.240 making at the point of sale has declined. I guess 0:37:21.239 --> 0:37:24.640 that's good news for you the motorist. But Jacob was 0:37:24.680 --> 0:37:26.760 just having a bit of a whip around out there 0:37:27.280 --> 0:37:30.680 about the status quo with the price for E ten 0:37:30.880 --> 0:37:34.480 around New South Wales. The cheapest in the state as 0:37:34.520 --> 0:37:37.640 we speak seems to be the Metro at Greenacre, and 0:37:37.680 --> 0:37:40.960 they often come pretty close to being the cheapest, don't they. 0:37:41.320 --> 0:37:43.960 One hundred and forty seven point seven cents. 0:37:43.680 --> 0:37:44.640 A leader right now. 0:37:44.800 --> 0:37:46.959 It was as of an hour ago for E ten 0:37:47.560 --> 0:37:51.000 one hundred and forty seven point seven at the Metro Greenacre. 0:37:51.360 --> 0:37:53.920 The most expensive in the state way out at Whitecliff's 0:37:54.200 --> 0:37:56.840 two hundred and fifty six point nine cents a leader. 0:37:56.920 --> 0:37:57.600 Holy Nelly. 0:37:58.920 --> 0:38:02.319 But closer to home there's still some difference in the 0:38:02.320 --> 0:38:05.040 price if you go to Dramoin two hundred and nine 0:38:05.120 --> 0:38:07.279 cents a liter there. I'm not sure which one it 0:38:07.320 --> 0:38:09.719 is at Dremoine, but two hundred and nine cents e 0:38:09.719 --> 0:38:12.000 liter for E ten as opposed to one hundred and 0:38:12.040 --> 0:38:16.319 forty seven point seven at the Greenacre Metro. And we 0:38:16.400 --> 0:38:18.680 are being told that the price cycle is on the 0:38:18.719 --> 0:38:22.640 way back up. And so if your tanks looking a 0:38:22.719 --> 0:38:25.200 little dry, maybe, if you're in the green Acre area, 0:38:25.760 --> 0:38:27.600 maybe a good idea to fill her up. It does 0:38:27.680 --> 0:38:30.799 seem the price cycle, that wonderful, unique Australian invention that 0:38:30.880 --> 0:38:34.840 no one wants to copy, funnily enough, is ticking north 0:38:35.120 --> 0:38:37.239 one three one eight seven three. I just want to 0:38:37.239 --> 0:38:39.919 bring in Superintendent Adam Dewbree from Fire Rescue New South 0:38:39.920 --> 0:38:42.840 Wales obviously to give us the latest on the situation 0:38:42.880 --> 0:38:45.800 of the M five tunnel. It's closed in both directions, Adam, 0:38:45.920 --> 0:38:47.359 what's happening here? 0:38:47.440 --> 0:38:49.879 Michael? It is quite a message the motor stat there 0:38:49.880 --> 0:38:53.040 already appreciating. So we've had a truck roll over on 0:38:53.080 --> 0:38:57.040 its side in the US bound tunnel, spilling quite a 0:38:57.080 --> 0:38:59.520 large quantity of hazardous oil. So fire is you you 0:38:59.640 --> 0:39:02.920 Southwardales has contained and cleaned that up. We've worked with 0:39:02.960 --> 0:39:06.239 the ENVIIRO teams from the tunnel operators a RMS. All 0:39:06.280 --> 0:39:09.040 of that is safe and contained. But this crash has 0:39:09.080 --> 0:39:12.480 actually taken out the safety systems of the deluge system, 0:39:12.520 --> 0:39:16.160 the sprinkless system that operates quickly in the event of 0:39:16.200 --> 0:39:19.560 a vehicle fire. So to get that tunnel operating at 0:39:19.680 --> 0:39:23.360 least westbound by rescuing your South Wales, he's working with 0:39:23.440 --> 0:39:26.480 the operator there to get two fire trucks at either end, 0:39:26.960 --> 0:39:30.359 so in the event of a vehicle fire, because the 0:39:30.560 --> 0:39:33.680 sprinkless system is out to be ready at hand to respond. 0:39:33.719 --> 0:39:36.399 So we are working quickly to try and get at 0:39:36.480 --> 0:39:40.319 least some traffic flowing westbound in the first instance. But 0:39:40.320 --> 0:39:42.680 we've still got a little bit together that the rest 0:39:42.719 --> 0:39:46.439 of the field automotives out there. Everyone's working together to try 0:39:46.440 --> 0:39:49.640 and get this traffic moving in one direction at least, 0:39:49.640 --> 0:39:51.120 But getting the crane out is going to be a 0:39:51.239 --> 0:39:53.799 very different story. It's a big crane and he's on 0:39:53.880 --> 0:39:56.600 each side, so a little bit of work to do there. 0:39:57.040 --> 0:39:57.480 A little bit. 0:39:57.520 --> 0:39:59.319 It might be an understatement i to speak, and it 0:39:59.360 --> 0:40:03.240 looks like a lot of so just to clarify obviously 0:40:03.280 --> 0:40:06.239 the westbound lane has also. The lanes have also been 0:40:06.280 --> 0:40:09.279 closed despite the fact that the crane has rolled over 0:40:09.320 --> 0:40:11.680 in the eastbound lanes. And the reason is that that 0:40:11.760 --> 0:40:15.759 fire safety system has been damaged when that affects both 0:40:15.800 --> 0:40:17.880 east and westbound lanes, right. 0:40:18.239 --> 0:40:21.880 Yeah, exactly, and that's a critical component for the safety 0:40:21.880 --> 0:40:24.520 of the motorists getting through there. We do see a 0:40:24.600 --> 0:40:28.680 number of fires in those tunnels across the city. It happens, 0:40:28.719 --> 0:40:31.759 they're vehicles, they do catch fire. But these tunnels and 0:40:31.800 --> 0:40:34.759 the sprinkler systems that are installed is what keeps our 0:40:34.840 --> 0:40:37.920 people safe when they're driving around. So we need to 0:40:37.960 --> 0:40:42.080 have a protection system in place before that opens up again, 0:40:42.120 --> 0:40:44.399 because the lasting we want is to let traffic through, 0:40:44.440 --> 0:40:46.520 and we don't have a fire protection system and all 0:40:46.560 --> 0:40:49.920 the toxics that comes off that to take hole causing, 0:40:50.000 --> 0:40:54.000 it's much much more catastrophic damage and injury to people. 0:40:54.080 --> 0:40:56.440 So but just rest the short everyone out there. We're 0:40:56.480 --> 0:40:59.880 working to get plans in place to actually get the 0:41:00.040 --> 0:41:01.840 traffic moving as quickly as possible. 0:41:01.960 --> 0:41:04.040 Okay, So I am I right to assume by at 0:41:04.080 --> 0:41:07.520 some point this afternoon, hopefully by around the peak afternoon, 0:41:08.080 --> 0:41:10.320 that the westbound lanes will be reopened. 0:41:11.120 --> 0:41:13.560 Yeah, that's what we're working for as quickly as possible 0:41:13.560 --> 0:41:15.759 to get that happening. Once it's clear and we have 0:41:15.840 --> 0:41:18.480 fire protection in place. I understand that's when the traffic 0:41:18.480 --> 0:41:21.319 can start to flow westbound, but as we said, the 0:41:21.360 --> 0:41:23.400 eastbound is going to be a different story because of 0:41:23.400 --> 0:41:24.879 that big truck on its side. 0:41:25.000 --> 0:41:28.080 Are we're probably looking at tomorrow for the eastbound lanes. 0:41:28.840 --> 0:41:31.759 Look, I'll let the people the RMS talk about that 0:41:31.840 --> 0:41:34.040 in their commanders because there is a lot of work 0:41:34.080 --> 0:41:36.840 because it's a it's a big truck which would normally 0:41:36.920 --> 0:41:39.920 outside would have another crane lifted up back on its wheels, 0:41:40.360 --> 0:41:43.120 but obviously a crane can't fit in there, so there's 0:41:43.120 --> 0:41:46.680 going to be some very ingenuitive work to get this 0:41:46.760 --> 0:41:47.160 one out. 0:41:47.440 --> 0:41:49.719 It's going to be a real boondog or this one. 0:41:49.760 --> 0:41:51.359 I thank you for the update, Adam. I know you'll 0:41:51.360 --> 0:41:53.839 be back in touch if there's further developments. Appreciate your time. 0:41:54.200 --> 0:41:55.040 Great thanks Michael. 0:41:55.040 --> 0:41:57.640 Superintendent Adam Dewbreey there from Fine and Riskuing New South Wales. 0:41:57.680 --> 0:41:59.800 So the message there just to repeat. Hopefully the westbound 0:41:59.840 --> 0:42:02.600 lane will be opened by the afternoon peak. They're positioning 0:42:02.840 --> 0:42:06.120 fire trucks at either end of the westbound tunnel on 0:42:06.160 --> 0:42:09.840 the M five in lieu of the safety system. That 0:42:09.880 --> 0:42:12.920 the sprinkler system being damaged on the eastbound lane, which 0:42:12.920 --> 0:42:15.400 has affected the westbound So once the fire trucks are 0:42:15.400 --> 0:42:18.040 in place, hopefully the westbound lanes can reopen. But as 0:42:18.080 --> 0:42:20.520 Adam clearly said, the eastbound lanes, and this is where 0:42:20.560 --> 0:42:24.520 that crane has turned over in the tunnel, that is 0:42:24.560 --> 0:42:28.759 a very different story. And the time expected to have 0:42:28.840 --> 0:42:32.040 that rectified is still anyone's guess. If we can speak 0:42:32.080 --> 0:42:33.719 to some experts that might be able to give us 0:42:33.719 --> 0:42:37.320 a guide, we'll let you know. But this, I'm hesitant 0:42:37.360 --> 0:42:39.279 to say is a unique situation. But it's going to 0:42:39.280 --> 0:42:42.960 be very difficult situation because, as Adam said, a crane topples, 0:42:43.000 --> 0:42:46.000 you normally get another bigger crane in to get it 0:42:46.040 --> 0:42:48.560 back up on its wells. Well, you just don't have 0:42:48.880 --> 0:42:51.239 the space, the height, the volume in the tunnel to 0:42:51.360 --> 0:42:53.920 allow that, and so Plan B is going to have 0:42:53.960 --> 0:42:54.759 to be utilized. 0:42:55.200 --> 0:42:56.880 We'll keep you up to date obviously. 0:42:57.160 --> 0:42:59.799 One eight seven three the open line number one three, 0:42:59.800 --> 0:43:07.799 one eight seven to three. Just speaking of transport, by 0:43:07.800 --> 0:43:10.000 the way, I just I'm still trying to get my 0:43:10.080 --> 0:43:12.120 head around the development over the weekend, and it was 0:43:12.280 --> 0:43:14.920 a positive and a welcome development with the rail unions. 0:43:14.920 --> 0:43:16.560 It looks as though, you know, things are going to 0:43:16.560 --> 0:43:20.000 be worked out there with that whole pay agreement. But 0:43:20.080 --> 0:43:23.560 I remember butting heads with Toby Warns from the RTBU 0:43:23.640 --> 0:43:25.839 on a number of occasions last year and early this 0:43:25.920 --> 0:43:33.360 year about their ridiculous demands which seemed to be immovable 0:43:33.400 --> 0:43:35.520 objects when it came to these pay agrees. 0:43:35.560 --> 0:43:36.040 What do they want? 0:43:36.040 --> 0:43:38.319 Thirty two percent pay hike plus one percent increase in 0:43:38.400 --> 0:43:40.800 super plus this plus that, And of course the government 0:43:40.800 --> 0:43:42.439 were never going to give it because the public didn't 0:43:42.440 --> 0:43:45.840 support it. It was uneconomical, it was crazy, crazy stuff. 0:43:46.520 --> 0:43:48.360 And yet Toby in others was oh, no, no, no, 0:43:49.000 --> 0:43:50.520 you know, this is what we think is right. And 0:43:50.600 --> 0:43:54.480 I'm trying to describe to him how a negotiation tends 0:43:54.480 --> 0:43:56.879 to work. You know, you've got to expect to give 0:43:56.960 --> 0:43:58.680 a bit, and you in the same way, you hope 0:43:58.719 --> 0:44:00.480 the other guy, the one with the money, is willing 0:44:00.480 --> 0:44:05.200 to give a bit himself. So you know, imagine my 0:44:05.320 --> 0:44:07.600 surprise over the In fact, it was Friday, Clinton I 0:44:07.600 --> 0:44:10.560 think broke the story here on two GB that the 0:44:10.600 --> 0:44:16.200 government reached a wage agreement with the rail unions. Okay, well, Jeef, 0:44:16.200 --> 0:44:20.719 Well they really rattled the tin, have they? Well, As 0:44:20.719 --> 0:44:22.880 it says here, this is The Herald's report, it abruptly 0:44:22.960 --> 0:44:27.040 ended a bitter and protracted industrial dispute that has repeatedly 0:44:27.080 --> 0:44:30.319 crippled Sydney's train network. The government proposed enterprise agreement with 0:44:30.360 --> 0:44:32.960 the combined rail unions, agreed to in the Fair Work 0:44:32.960 --> 0:44:38.000 Commission late on Friday, will deliver workers a twelve percent 0:44:38.640 --> 0:44:41.919 pay rise over three years, and they wanted thirty two. 0:44:43.120 --> 0:44:47.319 And they've signed for twelve now. I was getting the. 0:44:47.239 --> 0:44:50.400 Impression from Toby, although we wouldn't name the exact figure, 0:44:50.640 --> 0:44:53.400 months ago, that they are on the verge of getting 0:44:53.400 --> 0:44:56.520 about fifteen percent but wanted more. That was the impression 0:44:56.520 --> 0:44:59.360 I got. I can't say that's accurate, but that was 0:44:59.400 --> 0:45:01.319 sort of the ball park we started to hint and 0:45:01.360 --> 0:45:05.759 wink at in our conversation. Anyway, they've signed for twelve now, 0:45:05.800 --> 0:45:09.480 over three not four years. But nonetheless, I'm sort of 0:45:09.520 --> 0:45:11.040 left wondering, and I don't know if you are as well. 0:45:11.080 --> 0:45:13.239 You know what happened here? Why? 0:45:13.280 --> 0:45:14.919 The better part of I think in the end, nine 0:45:14.960 --> 0:45:17.880 months of chaos and threats and shutdowns and disruption and 0:45:17.880 --> 0:45:20.160 who knows how many billion lost in productivity with all 0:45:20.160 --> 0:45:21.040 of the mess. 0:45:21.120 --> 0:45:22.239 For what for what? 0:45:22.680 --> 0:45:26.520 Both sides really have come out of this looking completely. 0:45:28.080 --> 0:45:30.760 Week and inept. 0:45:31.360 --> 0:45:33.200 Now I know we've got a different transport minister. I'm 0:45:33.239 --> 0:45:36.520 not blaming mister Grahame. He's clearly solved this. The previous 0:45:36.560 --> 0:45:41.440 minister was unable to do so. But between the government 0:45:41.960 --> 0:45:44.840 and the unions, I mean, this has just been a shammozzle, 0:45:45.840 --> 0:45:50.439 all of that for twelve percent, just sort of you think, 0:45:50.719 --> 0:45:54.000 I mean really so, I don't really know what went 0:45:54.040 --> 0:45:55.840 on there. I'm glad it seems to be solved. I 0:45:55.880 --> 0:45:57.840 think the ETU were still sort of hanging out for 0:45:57.920 --> 0:46:00.160 more or something. But I'm not sure the whole thing 0:46:00.200 --> 0:46:02.239 will be rectified and sorted. It's not to say the 0:46:02.320 --> 0:46:04.120 rail system is going to run effectively and on time. 0:46:04.160 --> 0:46:06.120 It's had its problems lately as we know, separate to 0:46:06.160 --> 0:46:08.400 all of this. But still am I the only one 0:46:08.440 --> 0:46:11.080 sort of scratching my head and wondering why why all 0:46:11.200 --> 0:46:13.839 that brinkmanship and who knows what else was going on 0:46:14.680 --> 0:46:17.200 when in the end the Union went for the twelve percent. 0:46:17.600 --> 0:46:20.960 I just it's the whole thing's bizarre. One three one 0:46:21.000 --> 0:46:23.879 eight seven three. Mark McKenzie's called in Mark's the sea 0:46:24.000 --> 0:46:28.360 of the Australasian Convenience Association. Off the back of what 0:46:28.400 --> 0:46:30.319 I was saying there about that A Triple C report, Mark, 0:46:30.360 --> 0:46:31.160 good afternoon to you. 0:46:32.680 --> 0:46:33.799 Good o Michael, how are you? 0:46:33.920 --> 0:46:35.120 I will, but what's on your mind? 0:46:35.120 --> 0:46:37.400 Make look that. 0:46:37.680 --> 0:46:40.160 Margin that you actually quoted that the A Triple C 0:46:40.360 --> 0:46:43.560 reports on. They report on at every quarter. It's not 0:46:43.719 --> 0:46:47.480 actually profit margin. A lot of people misunderstand that this 0:46:47.560 --> 0:46:51.560 is the average price between what service stations pay for fuel, 0:46:51.960 --> 0:46:55.239 that is the wholesale price and what they the average 0:46:55.280 --> 0:46:58.719 retail price is so built up in that fourteen cent 0:46:58.800 --> 0:47:02.040 a leader cost is actually the cost of wages, the 0:47:02.080 --> 0:47:05.080 cost of leasing the site, the cost of electricity. So 0:47:05.120 --> 0:47:08.160 the profit margin is not fourteen cents a leter as 0:47:08.239 --> 0:47:10.799 some a use, as you suggested. But it's a very 0:47:10.800 --> 0:47:14.680 common misunderstanding every time the atripleceed puts this report out. 0:47:14.719 --> 0:47:16.440 So I thought i'd just ring in and let you know. 0:47:16.920 --> 0:47:17.640 I'm glad you did. 0:47:17.680 --> 0:47:19.960 So let me just refer back to this and I'll 0:47:20.040 --> 0:47:22.520 use exact language that the a triple c use, which 0:47:22.600 --> 0:47:24.640 might be gobbledygook to people, hence why I tried to 0:47:24.680 --> 0:47:25.200 simplify it. 0:47:25.200 --> 0:47:26.959 But they refer to it as the gross. 0:47:26.680 --> 0:47:31.400 Indicative retail difference, which I think, when having had you explain, 0:47:31.440 --> 0:47:32.400 it makes a lot of sense. 0:47:33.560 --> 0:47:33.759 Yeah. 0:47:33.840 --> 0:47:36.480 So that's a difference because we have two benchmarks, Michael, 0:47:36.480 --> 0:47:38.839 which are reported to the market all the time. That 0:47:39.000 --> 0:47:41.680 is the terminal gate price, the average wholesale price, that 0:47:41.840 --> 0:47:44.319 is what it costs for you for a service station 0:47:44.440 --> 0:47:47.000 to get the fuel from a refinery, and then what 0:47:47.160 --> 0:47:49.120 they sell it for as an ambridge. And as you 0:47:49.440 --> 0:47:53.040 rightly said, I mean different retailers charged different prices, but 0:47:53.120 --> 0:47:57.640 it's that different, so it still includes that that figure 0:47:57.960 --> 0:48:00.760 includes all their costs. It's not just profit. 0:48:01.120 --> 0:48:03.399 Okay, I'm glad you clarify that. Hey, why I've got 0:48:03.440 --> 0:48:03.879 you there, Mark. 0:48:03.960 --> 0:48:05.600 Let me ask you about another issue which has been 0:48:05.600 --> 0:48:07.920 bubbling around, and that is this issue of cigarettes and 0:48:07.960 --> 0:48:11.880 illegal cigarettes. Of course, a lot of service stations sell legal, 0:48:12.560 --> 0:48:18.840 index taxed cigarette products. Have you and your members noticed 0:48:18.880 --> 0:48:21.719 to decline in sales as more and more people go 0:48:21.800 --> 0:48:25.520 and buy these illegal things from all of these disreputable retailers. 0:48:27.000 --> 0:48:29.160 Yeah, Michael, it's one of the hottest issues in our 0:48:29.200 --> 0:48:32.960 industry at the moment. Our service station businesses are reporting 0:48:33.400 --> 0:48:38.279 have been reporting declines between fifteen and twenty percent year 0:48:38.360 --> 0:48:40.880 on year over the last two years. It's out of control. 0:48:41.160 --> 0:48:44.040 The illegal cigarettes are just purchased everywhere and they are 0:48:44.080 --> 0:48:48.320 really cutting the lunch of those businesses that are selling 0:48:48.400 --> 0:48:49.359 valid products. 0:48:49.719 --> 0:48:52.000 I mean, obviously, we've had the State Premiere on with 0:48:52.080 --> 0:48:54.560 Ben this morning saying something's got to be done about excise. 0:48:54.640 --> 0:48:56.880 That's a federal call, and the federal Treasurer looks like 0:48:56.960 --> 0:49:00.799 he's blind and deaf to the idea. But if you 0:49:01.040 --> 0:49:03.480 had his ear, what would you be saying to doctor 0:49:03.560 --> 0:49:04.279 Chalmers about this. 0:49:05.840 --> 0:49:06.840 Well, I think the key. 0:49:06.680 --> 0:49:09.200 Thing we stay out of the excise debate, Michael. But 0:49:09.360 --> 0:49:10.840 you know, there is a big difference, and it's a 0:49:10.920 --> 0:49:13.960 very big incentive. But there are two problems. One, the 0:49:14.080 --> 0:49:19.200 penalties for people who sell illegal cigarettes are trifling. They're 0:49:19.280 --> 0:49:22.279 nothing near what they should be. And the second one 0:49:22.320 --> 0:49:24.719 is there is no enforcement. So yes, you're collecting all 0:49:24.719 --> 0:49:28.200 this exercise, but if you're going to maintain the integrity 0:49:28.239 --> 0:49:31.000 of your tax system, then you should be ensuring that 0:49:31.040 --> 0:49:34.880 you're putting money into enforcement and if the federal government 0:49:34.880 --> 0:49:36.960 wants to keep the excise high, then my belief is 0:49:36.960 --> 0:49:40.080 they should be supporting the enforcement costs that the states 0:49:40.080 --> 0:49:41.160 have to enforce. 0:49:41.640 --> 0:49:43.440 I'm glasu your phoned in Mark. I appreciate that. 0:49:43.520 --> 0:49:46.879 Thank you all the best pleasure, Michael, thank you. 0:49:46.960 --> 0:49:47.319 Take care. 0:49:47.360 --> 0:49:50.680 Mark McKenzie see over the Australasian Convenience Association. Just to 0:49:50.680 --> 0:49:53.800 make that point again, when we talk about fourteen point 0:49:53.840 --> 0:49:58.279 four cents, that is the gross indicative retail difference. So 0:49:58.360 --> 0:50:00.800 as Mark quite right, the point that's not the margin. 0:50:01.400 --> 0:50:04.280 Out of that come wages and electricity costs and insurance 0:50:04.280 --> 0:50:07.160 and everything else. Right, So that's the difference between the 0:50:07.160 --> 0:50:10.520 wholesale and the retail price of fuel one three one 0:50:10.560 --> 0:50:11.920 eight seven three. If you want to have your sol 0:50:11.960 --> 0:50:14.560 on anything this afternoon, Steve, good afternoon. 0:50:16.320 --> 0:50:18.359 And time of the day to you, Michael. I been 0:50:18.360 --> 0:50:22.040 listening on off to this in five catastrophe with the 0:50:22.160 --> 0:50:24.680 crane and those poor buggers that are stuck in the tunne. 0:50:25.000 --> 0:50:27.799 I was wondering how they're dealing with bathroom breaks for 0:50:27.840 --> 0:50:28.600 these poor people. 0:50:28.960 --> 0:50:30.920 That's a very good question and I simply don't know. 0:50:31.280 --> 0:50:33.839 I simply don't know, but the longer it goes on, 0:50:33.920 --> 0:50:35.400 obviously that the more that's urgent. 0:50:37.000 --> 0:50:39.520 Pretty tough sitting in a car when you've had a 0:50:39.719 --> 0:50:42.200 cups of coffee a couple of hours before with it. 0:50:42.600 --> 0:50:45.760 Yeah, absolutely, I mean obviously the safety of the safety 0:50:45.760 --> 0:50:47.520 of everybody's got to be bare amount. But you know, 0:50:47.520 --> 0:50:50.040 I mean, nature is what nature is. And if you're 0:50:50.080 --> 0:50:51.839 there in the car for I mean, who knows, at 0:50:51.880 --> 0:50:53.719 least people have been there almost two hours now. I 0:50:53.760 --> 0:50:57.719 think at least you know, that's just the nature of 0:50:57.719 --> 0:50:59.319 being a human being. At some point you're going to 0:50:59.320 --> 0:51:01.279 have to relieve yourself. So I don't know what the 0:51:02.440 --> 0:51:05.800 contingencies are there, Steve, if people can safely leave vehicles 0:51:05.840 --> 0:51:06.640 and be escorted. 0:51:06.680 --> 0:51:08.600 So I have no idea, no idea. 0:51:08.640 --> 0:51:10.239 I'm not going to speculate because I don't want to 0:51:10.280 --> 0:51:12.759 send false messages out if people are listening to the 0:51:12.880 --> 0:51:15.360 radio in the tunnel, but no doubt that will be 0:51:15.400 --> 0:51:17.279 a point of conversation in a lot of cars and 0:51:17.320 --> 0:51:18.840 a lot of utes, and who knows what's stuck in 0:51:18.880 --> 0:51:21.359 the tunnel as we speak. Thank you, mate, appreciate the call. 0:51:21.480 --> 0:51:24.439 Take care to stay safe. One three one eight seven three. 0:51:24.480 --> 0:51:26.840 The open line number more after this twenty six past 0:51:26.880 --> 0:51:29.719 one will get the latest news and weather shortly for you. 0:51:29.880 --> 0:51:32.000 Just interesting note from Anthony going back to a conversation 0:51:32.040 --> 0:51:34.480 with Greg Sheridan and drones. So he says, I'm having 0:51:34.480 --> 0:51:36.320 a bit of trouble getting my head around buying drones 0:51:36.360 --> 0:51:39.279 for defense because he said the world's biggest drone maker 0:51:39.320 --> 0:51:41.520 seems to be China, and especially when it's been reported 0:51:41.520 --> 0:51:43.360 there are spy chips being found in all sorts of 0:51:43.360 --> 0:51:47.040 circuit boards, in a range of popular electronic products emanating 0:51:47.040 --> 0:51:47.560 from China. 0:51:48.040 --> 0:51:51.280 Can you be sure if they were used against. 0:51:50.960 --> 0:51:56.879 China that a signal wouldn't be activated to disable them. Well, look, 0:51:57.480 --> 0:52:00.279 I can't answer that, Anthony. I assume that in the 0:52:00.360 --> 0:52:04.839 United States, Taiwan, France, the UK, elsewhere that there would, 0:52:05.120 --> 0:52:07.840 indeed Australia, there would be enough capability to manufacture of 0:52:07.920 --> 0:52:12.719 drones independent of China. That would be my hope. If 0:52:12.760 --> 0:52:14.880 there isn't, by craiky, we better get cracking in that 0:52:14.960 --> 0:52:17.759 sort of a space. But this concern, it's a very 0:52:17.840 --> 0:52:20.560 valid concern. He goes way back in defense circles. I 0:52:20.640 --> 0:52:25.080 remember was the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands. There were 0:52:25.120 --> 0:52:27.120 reports coming out of the UK Telegraph at the time 0:52:27.160 --> 0:52:30.759 that the Exercet missiles that the Argentinians were using to 0:52:30.800 --> 0:52:34.440 hit the British were obviously purchased from the French. And 0:52:34.640 --> 0:52:36.719 what the French didn't tell the British, even though they're 0:52:36.719 --> 0:52:38.359 meant to be close allies and this sort of thing, 0:52:38.800 --> 0:52:40.879 was that the French had inserted a kill switch into 0:52:40.880 --> 0:52:44.319 the missiles. So the Argentinians had them and they were 0:52:44.400 --> 0:52:47.640 launching them and hitting British ships and killing people, and 0:52:47.680 --> 0:52:50.800 the French, technically, so the story goes, had the ability 0:52:50.880 --> 0:52:55.640 to remotely disable them, but never told anyone. And the 0:52:55.719 --> 0:52:58.760 reasons seemed to be that they were also in negotiations 0:52:58.880 --> 0:53:02.160 with some other countries to sell exos set missiles, and 0:53:02.200 --> 0:53:05.120 they didn't want those negotiations and those potential sales to 0:53:05.160 --> 0:53:08.640 be scuppered by nations that said, we'll hang on if 0:53:08.680 --> 0:53:10.320 you can knock out their ones when they want to 0:53:10.400 --> 0:53:12.640 use and probably knock out our ones, So we'll buy 0:53:12.680 --> 0:53:14.640 missiles from somewhere else that don't have the remote kills, 0:53:14.640 --> 0:53:16.880 which that was the theory. I can't prove it, but 0:53:16.920 --> 0:53:18.399 that seems to be the theory, and I don't think 0:53:18.400 --> 0:53:23.320 the French denied it. And so these concerns about foreign 0:53:23.440 --> 0:53:28.799 nations having some sort of ability to terminate the lethality 0:53:28.840 --> 0:53:32.160 of the weapons you may purchase remotely if it doesn't 0:53:32.160 --> 0:53:34.879 suit their interest. Where that weapon is heading is not new. 0:53:35.360 --> 0:53:38.480 It is not new. And anything the French could have 0:53:38.560 --> 0:53:42.000 done back in the was it the nineteen eighties, I 0:53:42.000 --> 0:53:46.160 think early eighties, wasn't it fuclans. I'd imagine the Chinese 0:53:46.160 --> 0:53:48.520 can do to a power of ten today. Back to 0:53:48.560 --> 0:53:51.000 calls Pat, good afternoon, Yeah. 0:53:50.840 --> 0:53:53.360 Good afternoon. I know that with the mv's tunnel and 0:53:53.400 --> 0:53:55.319 anyone that's stuck there and blocked and all that kind 0:53:55.360 --> 0:53:57.560 of scenario. You know, my heart goes out to you. 0:53:57.560 --> 0:54:00.359 I've just come past General Homes driving. They've clothes off 0:54:01.520 --> 0:54:04.600 the southbound going in there. So there's a big intermodal 0:54:04.600 --> 0:54:06.560 as you know at Port Botany. So all those trucks 0:54:06.600 --> 0:54:09.560 now are going down towards the stuff and using all 0:54:09.600 --> 0:54:13.240 the side streets. So traffic management and control have closed 0:54:13.280 --> 0:54:16.600 off that. What they should be doing now is going 0:54:16.640 --> 0:54:19.520 to any of the ride works that are happening on 0:54:20.480 --> 0:54:24.320 arterial roads, small arterial roads that are closing off lanes. 0:54:24.600 --> 0:54:27.200 They should close the work off, get those people that 0:54:27.239 --> 0:54:29.359 are doing the work and just say listen, you've got 0:54:29.360 --> 0:54:32.960 to get off because you know the traffic's banking up 0:54:32.960 --> 0:54:35.600 and you know it's just flooding the streets. It's like 0:54:35.640 --> 0:54:38.960 a rain deluge of traffic. And then when you go 0:54:39.000 --> 0:54:41.920 down the side streets to go where you need to 0:54:41.960 --> 0:54:44.719 go to, they've got traffic lanes closed off because people 0:54:44.719 --> 0:54:47.239 are doing works on the side of the streets. But 0:54:47.440 --> 0:54:50.480 you know, repairing a pothole or doing something. So the 0:54:50.480 --> 0:54:53.360 traffic management needs to say drive down there and go listen, 0:54:53.520 --> 0:54:55.839 close the works off. We need all the lanes open 0:54:55.920 --> 0:54:58.120 so all this traffic can get through. It's no use 0:54:58.200 --> 0:55:01.200 just closing off the tunnel and expect all the traffic 0:55:01.200 --> 0:55:04.279 bed to go downside streets and backstreets and other small 0:55:04.400 --> 0:55:07.520 arterial roads because then there's works going on there. So 0:55:07.640 --> 0:55:10.480 all those works programs should be covered up, go off 0:55:10.520 --> 0:55:14.080 the road so people can use the roads. And that company, 0:55:13.840 --> 0:55:18.520 if they're liable for the incident that's happened, they should 0:55:18.520 --> 0:55:21.000 reimburse in those companies that have to shut down their 0:55:21.040 --> 0:55:21.680 program work. 0:55:22.080 --> 0:55:24.080 That's an interesting I understand what you're saying, Pat. I 0:55:24.120 --> 0:55:26.359 appreciate the call that's an interesting point of view. You've 0:55:26.400 --> 0:55:28.680 just been around there, you're seeing what's happening. Obviously, you're 0:55:28.680 --> 0:55:31.200 closed down a main arteria like the M five east 0:55:31.200 --> 0:55:33.480 and westbound. At the time being, you are going to 0:55:33.760 --> 0:55:36.960 have all the traffic disperse elsewhere, and so a lot 0:55:36.960 --> 0:55:39.120 of them will be following their SAT nabs and instructions 0:55:39.160 --> 0:55:40.960 and whatever, and if they're going into roads that have 0:55:41.040 --> 0:55:46.920 existing roadworks, then that will only exacerbate the situation on 0:55:46.960 --> 0:55:47.919 those terrestrial roads. 0:55:48.000 --> 0:55:48.640 I take your point. 0:55:48.640 --> 0:55:50.880 Look how practical it is to just shut down the 0:55:50.880 --> 0:55:53.120 works that maybe some of them are based off safety 0:55:53.200 --> 0:55:56.160 issues that need immediate rectification. I don't know, but I 0:55:56.239 --> 0:55:59.120 understand what you're saying. One three one eight seven three. 0:55:59.160 --> 0:56:01.120 Thank you for the call. By the way, read the 0:56:01.239 --> 0:56:04.160 M five crane crash in the tunnel. I'm told that 0:56:04.200 --> 0:56:05.799 you can now see some of the pictures of what's 0:56:05.800 --> 0:56:08.279 happened if you go to two GB dot com. So 0:56:08.320 --> 0:56:09.800 we've tried to paint a picture for you, but you 0:56:09.840 --> 0:56:11.040 can go and see the real thing yourself. 0:56:11.040 --> 0:56:11.239 Now. 0:56:11.280 --> 0:56:13.640 Just go to t GB dot com some images there 0:56:13.680 --> 0:56:16.279 and you'll get a real sense of the scale of 0:56:16.320 --> 0:56:19.880 the situation which is facing the emergency services and the 0:56:19.920 --> 0:56:22.319 engineers and everybody else who are going to have to 0:56:22.360 --> 0:56:27.160 try it somehow and obviously confined environment, get this crane 0:56:27.360 --> 0:56:30.040 back up onto its tires and somehow get it out 0:56:30.080 --> 0:56:33.960 of there. And when you look at it from a 0:56:34.000 --> 0:56:37.080 practical point of view, it does look like it's going 0:56:37.120 --> 0:56:38.680 to take a long time and will. 0:56:38.560 --> 0:56:39.360 Be very difficult. 0:56:39.360 --> 0:56:43.360 You've got that issue, You've got the oil on the bitumen, damages, 0:56:43.880 --> 0:56:47.560 damage to the side panels, the sprinkler system and the 0:56:47.600 --> 0:56:51.239 safety system a critical component of course, everything involved in 0:56:51.280 --> 0:56:53.279 the mix. It's a real mess down there on the 0:56:53.360 --> 0:57:00.319 M five tunnel. Let's all the rest of the use 0:57:00.360 --> 0:57:02.240 of course thereon Mars standing by high erin. 0:57:02.120 --> 0:57:04.200 Hello there, Michael. And the M five East Tunnel will 0:57:04.200 --> 0:57:07.160 remain closed for some time after a crane tipped, tearing 0:57:07.200 --> 0:57:09.680 through the wall panels and a pipe. The sprinkler system 0:57:09.719 --> 0:57:12.600 needs to be repaired before cars are allowed through. Aaron 0:57:12.640 --> 0:57:15.960 Patterson has told a Victorian court of her distrust in doctors, 0:57:16.160 --> 0:57:19.440 as she admitted she was never diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 0:57:19.880 --> 0:57:21.959 Unions say a three and a half percent pay rise 0:57:22.000 --> 0:57:24.720 for workers on minimum and award wages will have flow 0:57:24.760 --> 0:57:28.439 on benefits for small businesses, but businesses say it's hard 0:57:28.480 --> 0:57:31.400 to swallow because it's an extra cost, and the annual 0:57:31.480 --> 0:57:35.600 Emergency Services Blood Drive is launching in Sydney as stocks 0:57:35.600 --> 0:57:38.000 for some of the most common blood types sit at 0:57:38.000 --> 0:57:41.840 critically low levels. In Sport, England, players are using heated 0:57:41.920 --> 0:57:44.600 tents as part of their preparation the next years Men's 0:57:44.600 --> 0:57:47.520 fee for World Cup. It's designed to acclimatize the players 0:57:47.520 --> 0:57:50.560 to the expected hot and humid conditions they'll face in 0:57:50.600 --> 0:57:53.600 the USA and Mexico. And there'll be more news at 0:57:53.600 --> 0:57:54.520 two o'clock. 0:57:55.760 --> 0:57:56.840 On afternoons. 0:57:57.040 --> 0:57:59.680 Oh where they are, update, We'll be here to help 0:57:59.720 --> 0:58:05.120 in unexpected weather. Nurmain Insurance a help company for the city. 0:58:05.120 --> 0:58:06.480 Today in Sydney partly cloudy. 0:58:06.520 --> 0:58:09.280 In twenty are the temperature anywhere between nineteen and twenty one, 0:58:09.280 --> 0:58:12.000 depending on your postcode. Tomorrow's showers the top of just 0:58:12.040 --> 0:58:14.320 sixteen in town, maybe nine mil of rain that should 0:58:14.400 --> 0:58:17.200 largely clear away for Thursday, a sunny day in seventeen 0:58:17.600 --> 0:58:20.959 Canberra Today mostly sunny and seventeen Tugrinong is the same. 0:58:21.320 --> 0:58:24.040 Cloud clearing tomorrow, but all of just twelve and then 0:58:24.280 --> 0:58:27.480 minus three will welcome you on Thursday will warm up 0:58:27.520 --> 0:58:30.160 to a top of thirteen once that frost clears in 0:58:30.200 --> 0:58:33.120 the morning and a sunny day Lithgo gooday through two 0:58:33.240 --> 0:58:36.560 lt partly cloudy in fifteen for you today Orange bit wet, 0:58:36.640 --> 0:58:40.400 thirteen nineteen for Maudjy a little less wet, Baptist dry 0:58:40.480 --> 0:58:46.240 and seventeen katomber fourteen spring wood twenty Today Tomorrow possible 0:58:46.280 --> 0:58:48.560 morning showers there maybe one mill of rain for Lithgo 0:58:48.720 --> 0:58:51.360 nine the top and then anywhere between minus two and 0:58:51.400 --> 0:58:53.400 twelve depending on the time of the day On Thursday 0:58:53.640 --> 0:58:56.120 morning frost with then a sunny day to come, which 0:58:56.120 --> 0:58:59.640 sounds pretty nice. Speaking of Orange, by the way, report 0:58:59.720 --> 0:59:02.680 just through from New South Wales Police. They're appealing for 0:59:02.720 --> 0:59:07.240 information following an alleged assault and kidnapping at Orange. They 0:59:07.240 --> 0:59:11.960 say here that this happened last month around one thirty 0:59:12.000 --> 0:59:15.800 am Thursday May fifteen. A man was sitting inside his 0:59:15.840 --> 0:59:18.840 blue MG sit down on Maxwell Avenue, Orange when he 0:59:18.880 --> 0:59:21.880 was approached by three men. Police were told the group 0:59:21.920 --> 0:59:24.920 threatened the man with a knife before they assaulted him 0:59:24.960 --> 0:59:27.320 and forced him in the back seat of the car. 0:59:27.920 --> 0:59:30.320 The group entered the car, they drove towards Wellington on 0:59:30.680 --> 0:59:33.560 Burundong Way before forcing the man to exit the car 0:59:34.520 --> 0:59:37.440 and driving off. Now a fifty four year old man 0:59:37.680 --> 0:59:41.400 contacted emergency services. He was treated by ambulance paramedics before 0:59:41.440 --> 0:59:44.240 being transported to Orange Health Service for further treatment. He's 0:59:44.240 --> 0:59:46.920 since recovered which is good. But about six am the 0:59:46.960 --> 0:59:52.760 same day, so this is Thursday, May fifteen, Emergency services 0:59:52.800 --> 0:59:58.360 were called to Nanima Mission, that's Wellington following reports of 0:59:58.360 --> 1:00:02.960 the MG well alight. Fire Rescue New South Wales extinguished 1:00:02.960 --> 1:00:06.440 the blaze, however the car was destroyed. Officers attached to 1:00:06.480 --> 1:00:09.919 Central West Police District of commenceding investigation into the circumstances 1:00:09.920 --> 1:00:15.080 surrounding the incidents under Strikeforce Collingwood. As inquiries continue, anyone 1:00:15.120 --> 1:00:18.400 with information or dash cam CCTV vision about the incident 1:00:18.440 --> 1:00:20.840 has erge to contact Orange Police Station or you can 1:00:20.840 --> 1:00:23.200 get in touch with Crime Stoppers, the number being one 1:00:23.200 --> 1:00:26.360 eight hundred triple three Triple zero. One eight hundred triple three, 1:00:26.520 --> 1:00:31.880 triple zero. But aside from the whole situation again knives 1:00:31.920 --> 1:00:36.200 allegedly involved. We're keeping told we're getting knife crime under control. 1:00:36.840 --> 1:00:39.480 There some disturbing stories coming out this morning about some 1:00:39.560 --> 1:00:43.760 incidents involving knives allegedly and here's another one, so clearly 1:00:43.760 --> 1:00:46.720 there is still it seems a problem with knives in 1:00:46.760 --> 1:00:47.440 the community. 1:00:47.800 --> 1:00:50.680 It is twenty five to two. We'll talk health after this. Great. 1:00:50.720 --> 1:00:52.720 Have you with us any further update on the M 1:00:52.800 --> 1:00:54.240 five either westbound or eastbound? 1:00:54.240 --> 1:00:55.600 I'll bring it to you as soon as I know. 1:00:55.760 --> 1:01:01.400 It's twenty to two. Who scoon full. 1:01:01.280 --> 1:01:02.560 Of sugar helps them? 1:01:02.680 --> 1:01:04.240 Lex go dun. 1:01:04.960 --> 1:01:08.560 Leic, go down, go down? 1:01:09.120 --> 1:01:15.880 Just a spoon full of sugar held a most delayedful 1:01:16.080 --> 1:01:19.000 well on afternoons talking health? 1:01:20.080 --> 1:01:21.240 Okay, now, let me ask you this. 1:01:21.320 --> 1:01:23.959 How many times a day do you find yourself looking 1:01:24.000 --> 1:01:26.800 down at your phone or leaning forward while you work 1:01:26.840 --> 1:01:29.320 on a computer or a laptop device something like that. 1:01:29.360 --> 1:01:32.520 It turns out more assies are finding themselves with what 1:01:32.560 --> 1:01:35.240 they call tech neck. It's kind of a catchy name 1:01:36.000 --> 1:01:39.960 as it sounds a tech related neck problem. Prolonged periods 1:01:39.960 --> 1:01:44.120 of working or looking at screens. It has affected individual's posture, 1:01:44.480 --> 1:01:48.200 and it seems it could actually have long term effects. Now, 1:01:48.200 --> 1:01:51.080 the average person spends three hours and fifteen minutes or 1:01:51.120 --> 1:01:55.439 more on their devices that's daily, while others who may 1:01:55.480 --> 1:01:58.200 rely on technology for their work are spending up to 1:01:58.280 --> 1:02:01.760 eight hours on top of that during your standard work day, 1:02:02.520 --> 1:02:05.080 so it's the majority of the waking hours for some 1:02:05.240 --> 1:02:08.200 people spent staring at a screen of sorts. Now, that 1:02:08.640 --> 1:02:11.360 generally affects your posture, and so the health specialists are 1:02:11.400 --> 1:02:13.880 waving some warning flags here because if people don't act now, 1:02:14.320 --> 1:02:16.600 it could have prolonged effects down the line, so much 1:02:16.640 --> 1:02:20.880 so that it's becoming the fourth leading cause of disability. 1:02:21.840 --> 1:02:25.000 Just think about that now. The question, therefore, is how 1:02:25.040 --> 1:02:27.640 can we prevent these issues from turning from what is 1:02:27.680 --> 1:02:31.479 already bad to worse. Well, let's turn to the people 1:02:31.520 --> 1:02:33.600 who know a bit more about this than we do. 1:02:33.760 --> 1:02:39.360 Helen Gents is the CEO of Muscular Scleito Health Australia. Obviously, 1:02:39.600 --> 1:02:41.280 hence the name suggests they know a bit about this. 1:02:41.320 --> 1:02:43.720 And Helen's with me on the line. Helen, thank you 1:02:43.720 --> 1:02:44.920 for your time. I appreciate it. 1:02:45.480 --> 1:02:46.400 Him Michael, how are you. 1:02:46.760 --> 1:02:47.320 I'm all right. 1:02:47.920 --> 1:02:51.280 I try to avoid the technology as much as possible, 1:02:51.320 --> 1:02:54.000 but you can't. You can't wipe it away from your life. 1:02:54.000 --> 1:02:56.320 It's the nature of the way we live these days. 1:02:56.480 --> 1:02:59.920 So just how bad a problem is this? This technic? 1:03:00.040 --> 1:03:00.680 What are you seeing? 1:03:02.160 --> 1:03:05.520 Well, Michael, I think you pointed out it's the fourth 1:03:05.600 --> 1:03:10.120 leading cause of disability globally at the moment. But a 1:03:10.200 --> 1:03:15.480 really good point around muscular scletal disease, or as they 1:03:15.520 --> 1:03:22.160 call MSDS, is that back pain is actually the leading 1:03:22.280 --> 1:03:26.400 cause of disability globally, and it's also the leading cause 1:03:26.480 --> 1:03:32.720 of early retirement globally. So muscular scaletal health is such 1:03:32.720 --> 1:03:36.600 an important thing that is often overlooked in a lot 1:03:36.640 --> 1:03:41.160 of our health literature, a lot of the health priorities 1:03:41.240 --> 1:03:45.800 that our government has, and it is so very important 1:03:46.080 --> 1:03:51.040 to your overall health because, as you noted, these sorts 1:03:51.040 --> 1:03:55.920 of things can actually have really bad long term impacts 1:03:56.040 --> 1:04:01.000 with other comorbidities, and I'm talking cardiovascular dive. If you 1:04:01.000 --> 1:04:04.080 don't have good muscular scaletal health, you can actually be 1:04:04.120 --> 1:04:05.120 in pretty big trouble. 1:04:05.200 --> 1:04:07.680 All right, let's just unpack that then. Okay, So someone 1:04:07.720 --> 1:04:11.320 spends eleven hours a day, let's say, bent over a 1:04:11.400 --> 1:04:14.000 laptop or a screen, and then they spend the rest 1:04:14.040 --> 1:04:16.360 of the time swiping left and right on dating apps, 1:04:16.360 --> 1:04:18.240 and they're scrolling up and down on TikTok. Their whole 1:04:18.240 --> 1:04:22.000 life has spent hunched over a device. How does that 1:04:22.640 --> 1:04:26.320 then get you to a point where other comobilities become 1:04:26.440 --> 1:04:27.600 particularly problematic. 1:04:29.240 --> 1:04:34.400 Well, it's things like when you have muscular skeletal conditions 1:04:34.680 --> 1:04:39.960 like as you said, the newly coined tech neck. What 1:04:40.080 --> 1:04:47.240 happens is your posture is adversely affected. Your movement, your 1:04:47.280 --> 1:04:51.560 ability to get around and just go about your daily 1:04:52.200 --> 1:04:57.920 activities without pain is severely affected. And when you can't 1:04:58.080 --> 1:05:02.440 move and be active, then there are those other comorbidities 1:05:02.480 --> 1:05:06.200 that come into play. Your weight can be impacted, and 1:05:06.200 --> 1:05:11.000 when your weight is impacted, things like diabetes comes into play, 1:05:11.120 --> 1:05:17.040 things like cardiovascular disease. So having good muscle, joint, bone 1:05:17.120 --> 1:05:20.600 health is so important to everyone. And as you said, 1:05:21.040 --> 1:05:25.720 spending you know, eleven hours most of your waiting day 1:05:26.720 --> 1:05:32.120 looking at computer screens, looking at telephones and having that 1:05:32.200 --> 1:05:35.680 adversely affect your posture and the way you can hold 1:05:35.760 --> 1:05:40.920 yourself and your muscle, bone and joint health, it's becoming 1:05:40.920 --> 1:05:41.840 a bit of a crisis. 1:05:41.880 --> 1:05:45.560 Michael, seems to be okay now with that established, I 1:05:45.600 --> 1:05:47.320 guess the obviouscustion is what do we do about it? 1:05:47.360 --> 1:05:50.120 I mean, yoga seems to stretch and flex your muscles, 1:05:50.120 --> 1:05:53.320 bones and joints. Having done it once, or twice rather poorly. 1:05:54.200 --> 1:05:56.480 I mean, is that part of the answer. I mean, 1:05:56.640 --> 1:05:58.800 I've read the other day that adults are being total 1:05:58.840 --> 1:06:02.800 some are being told to embrace tummy time, tummy time 1:06:03.400 --> 1:06:05.760 like babies, get on your tummy and put your neck 1:06:05.840 --> 1:06:09.480 up in the air, that reverse of technique. 1:06:10.000 --> 1:06:13.600 Well, I think, I think, as you rightfully point out, 1:06:13.720 --> 1:06:21.080 prevention is really important. So limiting your tech time is 1:06:21.120 --> 1:06:24.400 a good start. But obviously a lot of us can't 1:06:24.400 --> 1:06:27.800 do that for work, for all other commitments that we have. 1:06:28.280 --> 1:06:31.040 So there are some simple things we can start to 1:06:31.120 --> 1:06:36.960 introduce with our everyday activities. Ever heard about chair based exercise, Michael, 1:06:37.240 --> 1:06:41.360 I have yeap. Chair based exercise is a great way 1:06:41.920 --> 1:06:45.960 to think about moving differently. Think about your posture, think 1:06:46.000 --> 1:06:51.200 about moving your arms, your legs, all's while seated, and 1:06:51.280 --> 1:06:55.120 you can do that in front of your computer. So 1:06:55.720 --> 1:06:58.880 introducing movement like that throughout your day where you have 1:06:59.040 --> 1:07:02.320 that break from looking at your screen, looking at your 1:07:02.360 --> 1:07:06.120 telephone and doing some really simple movements. And I'll do 1:07:06.160 --> 1:07:09.640 a plug for us here, Michael. On our free YouTube channel, 1:07:10.040 --> 1:07:14.040 we have a series of great share based workouts that 1:07:14.640 --> 1:07:18.520 people can access whenever they want. From a five minute 1:07:18.520 --> 1:07:22.160 workout to a thirty minute workout, and they're a really 1:07:22.200 --> 1:07:26.400 good way during a work day to just keep yourself moving. 1:07:26.640 --> 1:07:28.960 Okay, so check out that YouTube link. 1:07:29.000 --> 1:07:30.880 Okay, So I mean I wonder if we've got to 1:07:30.880 --> 1:07:32.640 look at this a little bit, be a bit more 1:07:32.720 --> 1:07:34.479 conscious like we are when we go on a flight. 1:07:34.640 --> 1:07:36.120 You know, you sit down in an economy and you're 1:07:36.160 --> 1:07:39.600 cooped up there like a battery hen we're told be 1:07:39.640 --> 1:07:43.080 careful of DVT, get up, move around occasionally, do those 1:07:43.520 --> 1:07:46.840 chair based exercises to get the blood pumping, the muscles moving, 1:07:47.240 --> 1:07:49.000 and that sort of drilled into you when you get 1:07:49.000 --> 1:07:52.720 on the long haul flight. I suppose these same messages 1:07:52.760 --> 1:07:55.360 haven't been drilled into us when we go for a 1:07:55.440 --> 1:07:59.400 long haul tech session at work, followed by all the 1:07:59.440 --> 1:08:00.360 social media you're at. 1:08:00.320 --> 1:08:06.800 Home exactly you've spot on, absolutely spot on. And this 1:08:06.840 --> 1:08:09.560 is what I was saying about the fact that muscular 1:08:09.560 --> 1:08:13.320 ski legal health has to become an absolute top health priority. 1:08:13.760 --> 1:08:19.360 People need to be aware of how moving regularly, from 1:08:19.520 --> 1:08:23.280 simple things like share based exercise to walking around the block, 1:08:23.920 --> 1:08:27.679 just moving. If you don't like walking or walking's too painful, 1:08:27.960 --> 1:08:31.800 think about some warm water exercises. Get yourself off to 1:08:32.040 --> 1:08:36.120 one of the many pools around the cities that offer 1:08:36.200 --> 1:08:41.200 warm water exercises. They're great for your muscular skillegal health 1:08:41.520 --> 1:08:46.400 and to keep moving and just be active, and that's 1:08:46.800 --> 1:08:51.280 the fundamental part of prevention and keeping good good muscle 1:08:51.400 --> 1:08:52.839 and bone and joint health. 1:08:53.040 --> 1:08:53.640 All right, let me. 1:08:53.640 --> 1:08:55.800 Ask you this about from an employer point of view, 1:08:55.880 --> 1:08:57.920 because they've got duties of care here. I mean, it's 1:08:57.960 --> 1:08:59.840 the role and they're paying people to do the role 1:08:59.840 --> 1:09:02.080 in and being hunched over a screen all the time, 1:09:03.680 --> 1:09:05.920 I suppose a legal duty of care that comes into play. 1:09:06.000 --> 1:09:07.960 So we're speaking of chairs earlier. 1:09:08.000 --> 1:09:11.879 Some workplaces have spent some money on quality chairs, standing desks, 1:09:11.880 --> 1:09:15.000 these sort of things for their office based teams. But 1:09:15.040 --> 1:09:16.639 do they need to go further? 1:09:16.840 --> 1:09:17.400 Do you think? 1:09:19.320 --> 1:09:23.000 What I would say first up is I'm not a clinician, 1:09:23.080 --> 1:09:26.760 so I'm not coming at this from a clinical perspective, 1:09:26.960 --> 1:09:31.320 but from an employer's perspective. I think anything that you 1:09:31.400 --> 1:09:34.200 introduce into the workplace you have to ensure has a 1:09:34.240 --> 1:09:38.120 solid evidence base to it, because there are a lot 1:09:38.160 --> 1:09:41.360 of things out on the market and a lot of 1:09:41.439 --> 1:09:45.360 people touting things that don't have the qualifications that they need. 1:09:45.400 --> 1:09:50.360 To have to tout solutions to muscular skeletal pain or 1:09:51.040 --> 1:09:55.040 to ensure muscular scleedal health. I think what you need 1:09:55.080 --> 1:09:58.000 to do as an employer is make sure you are 1:09:58.080 --> 1:10:02.880 looking at the research behind what is being presented to 1:10:02.960 --> 1:10:07.360 you and making sure that is clinical and evidence based, 1:10:08.320 --> 1:10:13.320 hopefully with some significant clinical trials behind it, and that 1:10:13.520 --> 1:10:18.000 what you're implementing your team is understanding why you're doing it, 1:10:18.600 --> 1:10:21.360 what it's going to do for their muscular skeletal health, 1:10:21.400 --> 1:10:24.400 and how it can actually make them more productive. Because 1:10:24.439 --> 1:10:27.680 you've got to admit, Michael, if staff is feeling a 1:10:27.680 --> 1:10:30.960 bit of pain during the day because they've been sitting 1:10:31.000 --> 1:10:33.920 too long, or their necks a bit because they've been 1:10:33.920 --> 1:10:37.840 looking at a screen, surely making them feel better in 1:10:37.920 --> 1:10:40.839 terms of their muscular skeletal health is going to improve 1:10:40.880 --> 1:10:43.080 their productivity as well. So it's a win win. 1:10:43.520 --> 1:10:45.560 They can be a pain, You're quite right, But I 1:10:45.880 --> 1:10:49.200 shouldn't say I try to buy their love with cakes 1:10:49.240 --> 1:10:54.080 and things. I assume that's not the sort of rectification 1:10:54.200 --> 1:10:55.400 you had in mind. 1:10:55.880 --> 1:10:56.439 Probably not. 1:10:56.640 --> 1:11:01.240 I'm a big fan of cakes, I can tell you. 1:10:59.800 --> 1:11:04.439 But you've raised another really good point that it's not 1:11:04.560 --> 1:11:08.160 only exercise. It's also nutrition that's really important in this 1:11:08.360 --> 1:11:10.400 and there are a lot of foods that you can 1:11:10.439 --> 1:11:15.120 actually eat that help your muscular scaletal health. And once 1:11:15.160 --> 1:11:18.320 again another plug head to our website. We've got many 1:11:18.400 --> 1:11:22.840 recipes free once again on our website that help with 1:11:23.120 --> 1:11:27.320 lowering inflammation, help with improving bone density, all of those 1:11:27.360 --> 1:11:29.280 sorts of things, and they're actually really. 1:11:29.080 --> 1:11:30.840 Delicious donuts on that list. 1:11:31.960 --> 1:11:34.599 No, but I might work on that for you, might 1:11:34.640 --> 1:11:35.760 see what I can come up with. 1:11:36.000 --> 1:11:38.240 You do something there that'd be wonderful. Helen. I appreciate 1:11:38.280 --> 1:11:39.479 your time. Thank you so much. 1:11:40.200 --> 1:11:40.760 Thanks Froch. 1:11:40.800 --> 1:11:41.960 I'll have a good afternoon you. 1:11:41.920 --> 1:11:45.240 Too, Helen Jensen said, see of musculo skeletal Health Australia. 1:11:45.280 --> 1:11:47.479 It's an important issue. It's only going to become more important. 1:11:47.479 --> 1:11:50.120 We've got to deal with it. And maybe indeed you're 1:11:50.120 --> 1:11:52.800 already dealing with it in your own way. But as 1:11:52.800 --> 1:11:54.200 we go to the break, maybe we should all, if 1:11:54.200 --> 1:11:55.680 we're in our chairs, we should all just do the 1:11:55.760 --> 1:11:59.160 YMCA moves or something and just limber up a little bit. 1:11:59.240 --> 1:12:01.519 And I just spoken to Hell and I'm noticing there's 1:12:01.520 --> 1:12:04.080 a bit of pain in the back and whatever. This 1:12:04.120 --> 1:12:05.720 wouldn't be the first time I've been described as a 1:12:05.720 --> 1:12:07.479 pain in the neck or the back. But anyway, it's 1:12:07.560 --> 1:12:10.960 ten to two people wondering about that YouTube site for 1:12:11.040 --> 1:12:13.200 tech nick. I think if you just stick into the 1:12:13.240 --> 1:12:17.800 YouTube search ready sit move six the number six, Ready 1:12:17.840 --> 1:12:20.800 set move, then the number six, you should get the 1:12:20.840 --> 1:12:23.040 relevant video. That's what I've got here, and there's a 1:12:23.040 --> 1:12:24.600 bunch of people doing their exercises. 1:12:24.640 --> 1:12:26.760 It looks pretty good. Just to repeat the news about 1:12:26.760 --> 1:12:27.360 the five. 1:12:27.479 --> 1:12:30.880 Now, obviously the eastbound tunnel is still a mess, but 1:12:31.000 --> 1:12:34.960 one westbound lane has reopened in the M five East Tunnel. 1:12:35.000 --> 1:12:38.479 So one westbound lane has reopened, but all the eastbound 1:12:38.520 --> 1:12:43.080 lanes remain closed. Due to a crane crash inside the tunnel, 1:12:43.680 --> 1:12:46.920 the motorway was closed in both directions, but one westbound 1:12:47.000 --> 1:12:49.840 lane has reopened. We'll keep you up to date with 1:12:49.880 --> 1:12:51.679 any further developments there. 1:12:51.760 --> 1:12:53.280 Just before we get to the two o'clock news've got 1:12:53.320 --> 1:12:54.160 to ask you about Aldi. 1:12:54.240 --> 1:12:57.200 By the way, I've got a press release here saying 1:12:57.240 --> 1:13:02.000 that they've just opened their six hundredth store in Australia. 1:13:02.760 --> 1:13:06.400 Now I find that kind of surprising. I know, Aldi 1:13:06.479 --> 1:13:10.480 have a pretty decent footprint, but six hundred Aldi's seems 1:13:10.600 --> 1:13:13.880 a rather significant number, doesn't it. So this is open 1:13:13.960 --> 1:13:17.120 in right in the act it opened on Saturday. It's 1:13:17.200 --> 1:13:20.040 number six hundred and as they say, they entered the 1:13:20.080 --> 1:13:22.439 market here in Australia in two thousand and one two 1:13:22.479 --> 1:13:24.920 stores I think it was Marrickville and there was one 1:13:24.920 --> 1:13:28.360 near Bankstown Airport, wasn't there Sydney. From two thousand and 1:13:28.400 --> 1:13:30.799 one to twenty twenty five, they've gone from two stores 1:13:30.800 --> 1:13:34.640 to six hundred and they claim I can't verify this, 1:13:34.680 --> 1:13:36.360 there's an asterisk. I've got to read the fine print, 1:13:36.360 --> 1:13:38.760 but they claim eighty eight percent of the nation's population 1:13:39.240 --> 1:13:44.000 now lives within twenty kilometers of an Aldi store. Now, 1:13:44.160 --> 1:13:46.080 I don't know too many people that will drive twenty 1:13:46.120 --> 1:13:48.400 kilometers in one direction if you're in the city anyway, 1:13:48.439 --> 1:13:51.479 to go and visit a supermarket, but a lot of 1:13:51.520 --> 1:13:53.559 people go. I mean I go to Aldi a lot, 1:13:53.840 --> 1:13:55.960 not for everything, but for certain things. I think the 1:13:56.000 --> 1:13:58.160 cheese is pretty good. I love the chocolate. I love 1:13:58.200 --> 1:14:00.560 the chocolate. I just don't tell my pre just guessed that. 1:14:01.200 --> 1:14:03.280 And you know, some of the Center Isle stuff's kind 1:14:03.320 --> 1:14:06.840 of good. Some of the bread's all right, don't tend 1:14:06.840 --> 1:14:09.519 to buy too much meat and veg from Aldi. But 1:14:09.760 --> 1:14:12.880 the berries ck generally the grape, so I mean, yeah, 1:14:12.880 --> 1:14:15.800 you can pick and choose what you want. But the 1:14:15.840 --> 1:14:19.320 whole thing about having to pack your own groceries was 1:14:19.400 --> 1:14:22.200 introduced by Aldi first. I think they had that, I 1:14:22.240 --> 1:14:25.000 think before the self service checkouts at Wollies and Colds. 1:14:25.000 --> 1:14:25.639 I might be wrong. 1:14:26.479 --> 1:14:28.120 That's been part of the Aldi business model for a 1:14:28.160 --> 1:14:30.040 long time and it's taken some people a long time 1:14:30.120 --> 1:14:32.040 to get used to it, including someone who's at my 1:14:32.080 --> 1:14:34.200 local Audi the other day winging complaining about it. 1:14:34.240 --> 1:14:36.840 But anyway, they're now at six hundred. News is up. 1:14:36.720 --> 1:14:43.880 Next now onto GB and network stations, back to afternoons 1:14:43.920 --> 1:14:45.680 with Michael McLaren. 1:14:46.760 --> 1:14:49.000 All right to our number three, thank you for your company, 1:14:49.439 --> 1:14:51.639 just repeating that news that came through from Steve there. 1:14:51.640 --> 1:14:55.240 In traffic, all westbound lanes have reopened in the M 1:14:55.320 --> 1:14:59.519 five East Tunnel, but all eastbound lanes remain closed due 1:14:59.520 --> 1:15:02.360 to that pane crash inside the tunnel. The image is 1:15:02.439 --> 1:15:04.880 upon two GB dot com. A lot of people saying 1:15:04.920 --> 1:15:08.680 don't we have things about overheights. My understanding is the 1:15:08.720 --> 1:15:11.439 crane was not over height. This isn't an overheight issue. 1:15:11.439 --> 1:15:15.800 That's my understanding. This is a rollover. It doesn't seem 1:15:15.840 --> 1:15:21.000 as though any over height detector was activated or any 1:15:21.080 --> 1:15:23.479 damage to the roof of the tunnel per se. From 1:15:23.520 --> 1:15:29.040 what I can see side panels. Yes, and the crane 1:15:29.080 --> 1:15:33.000 has rolled on its left, I believe, but I don't 1:15:33.000 --> 1:15:35.240 think I might be wrong, but I don't believe there's 1:15:35.240 --> 1:15:37.679 anything to do with an over height vehicle at this stage. 1:15:37.680 --> 1:15:41.200 But just repeating the news. All westbound lanes have reopened 1:15:41.600 --> 1:15:44.960 in the M five East tunnel. However, all eastbound lanes 1:15:45.040 --> 1:15:48.679 remain closed due to that crane crash inside the tunnel. 1:15:49.240 --> 1:15:50.040 We have no. 1:15:50.000 --> 1:15:54.680 Idea when the eastbound lanes will reopen. People writing to 1:15:54.680 --> 1:15:56.960 me off ere suggesting that is going to be a 1:15:57.040 --> 1:15:58.160 long time coming. 1:15:58.520 --> 1:16:00.559 In fact, Gary's just called through. So, Gary, you were 1:16:00.560 --> 1:16:01.640 stuck in the tunnel, were you? 1:16:03.120 --> 1:16:04.400 Yeah? I was so. 1:16:04.479 --> 1:16:05.960 Were you heading westbound? 1:16:06.840 --> 1:16:06.920 Now? 1:16:07.000 --> 1:16:10.880 I was heading eastbound fairly early into the incident, I guess. 1:16:11.760 --> 1:16:13.599 So let me ask you. How did you get out? 1:16:13.640 --> 1:16:15.040 Because the tunnel still closed. 1:16:15.960 --> 1:16:20.760 I had to reverse out. So after a while the 1:16:20.800 --> 1:16:24.679 police came down and said to everybody they'll be reversing out. Obviously, 1:16:24.680 --> 1:16:26.599 the big B doubles couldn't do it, so they stayed 1:16:26.600 --> 1:16:31.160 on one side and motorius and generally anything small was 1:16:31.200 --> 1:16:33.880 just reversing out. But that was about an hour and 1:16:33.880 --> 1:16:35.120 a half after it all started. 1:16:35.200 --> 1:16:38.040 Seeing there for about ninety minutes or so. 1:16:38.080 --> 1:16:38.760 It's part of it. 1:16:38.920 --> 1:16:41.519 Yeah. But the thing that I want to mention on radio, 1:16:41.520 --> 1:16:44.599 I don't know if it's been mentioned already, is as 1:16:44.600 --> 1:16:47.920 a private contractor, you've got to do risk assessments and 1:16:47.960 --> 1:16:51.280 work method statements for everything you do in life. And 1:16:51.560 --> 1:16:54.040 what I found in that tunnel was they say, tuned 1:16:54.040 --> 1:16:56.680 into the radio for announcements. So I did that for 1:16:56.680 --> 1:16:58.360 the best part of twenty minutes. Nothing came out of 1:16:58.400 --> 1:17:00.880 the radio, so you're thinking, well, what happen me up ahead? 1:17:01.680 --> 1:17:05.200 And then finally the police walked through and I said 1:17:05.240 --> 1:17:07.439 to one of the coppers, I said, while am I 1:17:07.479 --> 1:17:10.320 geting announcement over the headphones or the radio or anything 1:17:10.400 --> 1:17:13.000 like that, he goes on, communications is down. I went, okay, 1:17:13.760 --> 1:17:15.960 So I said in the book, just biding my time. 1:17:16.479 --> 1:17:18.240 And then after about an hour and a half, I thought, 1:17:18.840 --> 1:17:21.800 there's been no announcements, no communication except we will be 1:17:21.840 --> 1:17:25.280 reversing out at some time, and I thought the muppets 1:17:25.320 --> 1:17:28.599 that run that tunnel, there's procedures in place when an 1:17:28.600 --> 1:17:32.080 incidant happens, and that whole thing fell over today. There 1:17:32.120 --> 1:17:35.840 was no communication. If there had been a fire or 1:17:35.880 --> 1:17:39.880 a chemical incident or worse, nobody knew what was happening, 1:17:40.160 --> 1:17:42.600 and there was no plan in place and no communication. 1:17:43.600 --> 1:17:46.679 And for people that have to manage so many lives 1:17:46.720 --> 1:17:48.400 going through that title, that's disgraceful. 1:17:48.960 --> 1:17:51.240 That's an interesting insight that you were in there for 1:17:51.280 --> 1:17:53.280 ninety minutes. When you say there were no announcements. This 1:17:53.400 --> 1:17:57.680 is through the PA essentially that activates on radios. 1:17:57.880 --> 1:17:58.760 You go through the. 1:17:58.720 --> 1:18:01.040 City whistlink here and it says low down, traffick ahead. 1:18:01.080 --> 1:18:02.360 That's sort of a thing you say. 1:18:03.120 --> 1:18:04.519 Exactly right, yep. 1:18:05.080 --> 1:18:07.280 You've got an overhead displayed that says tuning into the 1:18:07.360 --> 1:18:09.840 radio or words to that effect. But there was no 1:18:09.920 --> 1:18:13.120 PA announcement either through the tunnel or over the radio. 1:18:13.920 --> 1:18:17.240 And the COPR I spoke to said your communications is doubt. 1:18:17.320 --> 1:18:19.360 I went, okay, well that's cool, but you guys are 1:18:19.360 --> 1:18:22.160 walking up and down the tunnel telling telling people that 1:18:22.160 --> 1:18:24.599 we're going to have to reverse out. But if something happened, 1:18:24.600 --> 1:18:29.920 if a car sparked up down there, what surprised me 1:18:30.120 --> 1:18:31.920 was half the cars were still running for an hour 1:18:31.920 --> 1:18:34.639 and a half. A lot of people turn their engines off, 1:18:35.240 --> 1:18:37.120 but if you get a car spark up, what's going 1:18:37.160 --> 1:18:37.639 to happen. 1:18:37.520 --> 1:18:41.559 Then of course, No, they're very confined and tight space. 1:18:42.439 --> 1:18:45.160 That is a concern. Gary, leave it with us. We'll 1:18:45.160 --> 1:18:47.240 put that to the relevant people and we'll endeavor to 1:18:47.240 --> 1:18:49.519 get an answer. I think you've raised a very interesting insight. 1:18:49.560 --> 1:18:52.000 I'm glad you're out, and I'm glad you're out safe, 1:18:52.400 --> 1:18:53.479 and I thank you for the call. 1:18:53.640 --> 1:18:54.200 Just hang on there. 1:18:54.240 --> 1:18:56.040 We'll just grab some details off here, just to make 1:18:56.080 --> 1:18:58.200 sure we can cross some t's and dot some eyes 1:18:58.200 --> 1:19:00.160 with the team out there as well. Gary appreciate that. 1:19:00.400 --> 1:19:10.840 One three one eight seven three. 1:19:13.560 --> 1:19:16.920 Now on afternoons, it's time to go traveling. 1:19:17.400 --> 1:19:20.320 Well, let's do it and for Tuesday travel today, we're 1:19:20.360 --> 1:19:24.320 going far out of Sydney. We're heading off to a beautiful, 1:19:24.479 --> 1:19:25.920 beautiful part of the world. 1:19:25.960 --> 1:19:28.479 It's known as Lord Howe Island. 1:19:28.479 --> 1:19:30.320 And if you've been there, and I have some family 1:19:30.320 --> 1:19:32.519 that have been there, they just rave about it. It 1:19:32.560 --> 1:19:34.880 is well it's sort of, what would we say today, 1:19:34.920 --> 1:19:38.639 instagrammable at the nth degree. One of the most beautiful places, 1:19:38.720 --> 1:19:41.160 most of the those beautiful natural landscapes of all of Australia, 1:19:41.520 --> 1:19:44.160 marine parks, flora, fauna, raret, the whole thing. 1:19:44.439 --> 1:19:44.639 Now. 1:19:44.680 --> 1:19:47.040 The island was first discovered back in seventeen eighty eight. 1:19:47.040 --> 1:19:48.680 That was via a trip to Botany Bay on the 1:19:48.800 --> 1:19:52.720 HMS Supply and was claimed as a British possession back then, 1:19:52.800 --> 1:19:56.480 but thriving on an economy of Kentia palm trees, tourism 1:19:56.880 --> 1:20:00.120 then became the main focus of Lord Howe Island at 1:20:00.160 --> 1:20:02.240 the conclusion of the Second World War and since then, 1:20:02.320 --> 1:20:05.439 with the air travel and whatnot, it's flourished and it's 1:20:05.479 --> 1:20:07.640 been listed of course as a World Heritage Site of 1:20:07.680 --> 1:20:12.080 Global Significance because of the untouched nature of its forest landscape. 1:20:12.120 --> 1:20:13.559 It is, as. 1:20:13.439 --> 1:20:16.280 Anyone who has been there will tell you, a site 1:20:16.320 --> 1:20:17.280 to behold. 1:20:17.439 --> 1:20:17.719 Now. 1:20:17.880 --> 1:20:20.519 Tim Maxwell is the vice chairman of the Lord Howe 1:20:20.560 --> 1:20:23.679 Island Tourist Association, and I wanted to have a chat 1:20:23.680 --> 1:20:25.920 with him. He's on the line. Tim, Good afternoon to you. 1:20:26.760 --> 1:20:28.920 Good afternoon, Michael. It's pleasure to be with you. 1:20:28.920 --> 1:20:30.679 You have one of the great jobs of the world, 1:20:31.160 --> 1:20:33.880 because no matter how gifted you are, you don't really 1:20:33.880 --> 1:20:36.720 have to do anything because the island sells itself right 1:20:37.720 --> 1:20:38.240 I does. 1:20:38.280 --> 1:20:40.880 Indeed, it's got a real natural beauty about it, and 1:20:41.120 --> 1:20:44.360 it certainly goes a long way into welcoming people of 1:20:44.400 --> 1:20:45.839 it to our little spot of paradise. 1:20:46.160 --> 1:20:47.840 What's your connection? How far do you go back with 1:20:47.960 --> 1:20:49.200 Lord how island? 1:20:49.840 --> 1:20:50.120 Well? 1:20:50.200 --> 1:20:53.400 I go back a decent ways. My parents are actually 1:20:53.560 --> 1:20:55.960 managed to buy a property there in the year two 1:20:55.960 --> 1:20:59.400 thousand and ever since we've been I was going as 1:20:59.400 --> 1:21:02.360 a kid in school holidays and then since then we've 1:21:02.439 --> 1:21:05.440 launched a few businesses over there, and I just completely 1:21:05.479 --> 1:21:07.720 love it. It's such a special special spot. It never 1:21:08.240 --> 1:21:09.280 never grows old on me. 1:21:09.720 --> 1:21:12.320 What's the population size? 1:21:12.520 --> 1:21:15.799 So on Lord howim? Because it's a World Heritage area, 1:21:15.960 --> 1:21:18.720 there's a maximum of only four hundred people that can 1:21:18.760 --> 1:21:21.320 live on the island at any one time, and then 1:21:21.520 --> 1:21:24.360 for visitors there's a maximum of four hundred people that 1:21:24.400 --> 1:21:25.600 can be welcomed. 1:21:25.439 --> 1:21:28.760 Okay, so one for one at any one time. There 1:21:28.840 --> 1:21:32.680 is the range of accommodation options available, that's my understanding, 1:21:32.720 --> 1:21:36.519 and they range from five star luxury through to something 1:21:36.560 --> 1:21:38.519 a little more simple, talk us through some of those. 1:21:39.360 --> 1:21:43.720 Sure, So I suppose on the island you've got an 1:21:43.720 --> 1:21:47.560 incredible array of different operators that take people on adventures 1:21:47.640 --> 1:21:50.040 and restaurants and things. But when it comes to accommodation, 1:21:51.200 --> 1:21:55.280 you've got a nice sort of varied amount of people 1:21:55.320 --> 1:21:57.840 that are putting on all sorts of different experiences, whether 1:21:57.880 --> 1:22:00.920 it be small sort of shock if you will, that 1:22:01.880 --> 1:22:05.040 you've got a really nice place to sleep, a kettle 1:22:05.160 --> 1:22:08.120 and a good sink, right up to real high end 1:22:08.160 --> 1:22:11.600 luxury where you know, you're celebrating the timeless nature of 1:22:11.640 --> 1:22:14.960 the place with you know, beautiful food and service and 1:22:15.000 --> 1:22:15.639 things like that. 1:22:16.120 --> 1:22:18.720 I think I think people I know stated I think 1:22:18.760 --> 1:22:20.240 the name was Capilla Lodge. 1:22:20.560 --> 1:22:21.599 It was that the Capilla. 1:22:22.160 --> 1:22:26.120 Yes, yeah, indeed, yeah, Capella is a beautiful special. 1:22:27.280 --> 1:22:27.559 Yeah. 1:22:27.720 --> 1:22:29.840 No, it's it's absolutely stunning. It's looking at the two 1:22:30.000 --> 1:22:33.479 really massive, beautiful mountains called Mount Galler and Mount Lichbird. 1:22:33.560 --> 1:22:35.960 And you know, I think one of the really beautiful things, 1:22:36.000 --> 1:22:39.080 whether you're staying in one of the high end lodgers 1:22:39.240 --> 1:22:42.080 or one of the more accessible spots, is that you've 1:22:42.080 --> 1:22:47.080 got this access to this unrivaled nature that is completely 1:22:47.080 --> 1:22:51.320 protected legally through World Heritage and then also through lots 1:22:51.360 --> 1:22:54.080 of different initiatives to make sure it always remains as is. 1:22:54.800 --> 1:22:56.840 Talk to me about some of those initiatives, because you've 1:22:56.840 --> 1:23:01.320 got this incredible piece of real estate there. World Heritage listed, 1:23:01.439 --> 1:23:05.680 incredible wildlife, not just on the island, some of the 1:23:05.840 --> 1:23:08.320 endemic I think to the island, but also obviously under 1:23:08.360 --> 1:23:08.879 the waves. 1:23:10.000 --> 1:23:12.280 How is all of that maintained and protected? 1:23:13.160 --> 1:23:16.640 Indeed? Yeah, I think first and foremost the government does 1:23:16.680 --> 1:23:19.680 an incredible job, whether it be in the waves with 1:23:20.240 --> 1:23:24.639 the marine parks authorities, or whether it be the Lord 1:23:24.720 --> 1:23:28.160 Highland Board which is sort of like our council, where 1:23:28.800 --> 1:23:34.040 they get funding and have coordinated initiatives to ensure that 1:23:34.160 --> 1:23:38.040 the environment stays. And so on the land, you might 1:23:38.120 --> 1:23:40.720 have the weed team, and the weed team has a 1:23:40.760 --> 1:23:45.080 pretty awesome job. They go exploring throughout the permanent park preserve, 1:23:45.120 --> 1:23:47.840 whether it be the mountains or the valleys, and they're 1:23:48.040 --> 1:23:52.280 finding a noxious species, whether it be weeds that have 1:23:52.760 --> 1:23:58.599 literally flown in over the winds or through just travel 1:23:58.640 --> 1:24:01.479 and things like that, and they will go in and 1:24:01.520 --> 1:24:05.479 they'll literally weed the mountains of the permanent park preserve 1:24:05.760 --> 1:24:10.880 and then replant native plants, so it's a pretty beautiful job. 1:24:11.120 --> 1:24:13.160 They go to some pretty incredible spots and at times 1:24:13.200 --> 1:24:16.639 they're dropped by helicopters. It's an amazing spot. 1:24:17.080 --> 1:24:19.599 Okay, those two mountains you mentioned, I guess they're really 1:24:19.640 --> 1:24:22.880 the iconic landmarks of the at one end of the island, 1:24:23.720 --> 1:24:27.000 and a lot of people, my understanding is do hiking 1:24:27.120 --> 1:24:29.640 when they get to Lord Howe Island. The vistas from 1:24:29.760 --> 1:24:31.439 up on top must be very very special. 1:24:32.200 --> 1:24:36.080 Yes, yeah, absolutely. I suppose for a guided walk up 1:24:36.160 --> 1:24:39.160 Mount Gower, it's rated as one of the best walks 1:24:39.200 --> 1:24:43.160 in Australia. I think it's top five indeed. And then 1:24:43.320 --> 1:24:46.280 you've got self guided tracks and trails that can be 1:24:46.439 --> 1:24:49.919 enjoyed all time of a year. But they're particularly beautiful 1:24:49.920 --> 1:24:52.920 in the shoulder seasons because it's nice and secluded and 1:24:52.920 --> 1:24:56.679 you probably won't see another person. But it's of all 1:24:56.720 --> 1:24:59.680 sorts of abilities where you can really challenge yourself or 1:24:59.720 --> 1:25:02.639 you can for a really beautiful, leisurely fifteen minute stroll 1:25:02.840 --> 1:25:03.559 through the jungle. 1:25:03.760 --> 1:25:06.719 Imagine the shoulder season. What's the best time to visit 1:25:06.760 --> 1:25:08.680 if you sort of like to be a bit alone. 1:25:09.280 --> 1:25:11.800 Well, I suppose all times of year. You're only going 1:25:11.840 --> 1:25:14.240 to have a maximum of sort of one thousand people 1:25:14.240 --> 1:25:15.880 on the island at any one time. But there are 1:25:15.960 --> 1:25:21.200 particular times of year being September through till about before December, 1:25:21.320 --> 1:25:26.760 so September to November and then after after sort of 1:25:27.120 --> 1:25:30.679 January is over where you've got these beautiful shoulder times 1:25:31.840 --> 1:25:36.160 where it's not during school holidays. The weather is absolutely beautiful, 1:25:36.840 --> 1:25:40.120 the water is warm, and yeah, you've got this secluded 1:25:40.240 --> 1:25:41.040 nature to enjoy. 1:25:41.280 --> 1:25:43.800 It's not that far from Sydney or Brisbane. I think 1:25:44.000 --> 1:25:47.879 Quantas used to do the flight, but that's changed recently, 1:25:47.920 --> 1:25:48.280 hasn't it. 1:25:49.000 --> 1:25:49.280 Yeah. 1:25:49.320 --> 1:25:53.160 Indeed, yeah, there was a tender that went out to 1:25:53.760 --> 1:25:58.000 Broad Australia to see who would be interested in servicing 1:25:58.040 --> 1:26:02.200 the route from Sydney to the island, and Quantus has 1:26:02.240 --> 1:26:07.599 worked together with the successful applicant being sky Trans and 1:26:08.080 --> 1:26:10.640 they're going to do a code share arrangement. So you 1:26:10.640 --> 1:26:14.120 can still book your flights through Quantas or sky Trans. 1:26:15.439 --> 1:26:20.960 The frequent Flyer points and the lounge privileges will still 1:26:21.000 --> 1:26:26.360 remain if you're flying with sky Trans, the only difference 1:26:26.439 --> 1:26:30.559 being the operator will be our new sort of service 1:26:30.640 --> 1:26:33.000 in airline called sky Trans yeah, that's interesting. 1:26:33.000 --> 1:26:34.880 Now I haven't been to Lord Howe, but I've got 1:26:34.920 --> 1:26:36.320 to get there one day. It's on the bucket list. 1:26:36.320 --> 1:26:38.400 Beautiful part of the world. But I've been to a 1:26:38.439 --> 1:26:42.479 couple of shall we say, remote or isolated places, islands 1:26:42.479 --> 1:26:45.360 around them here and overseas, and one thing that I 1:26:45.400 --> 1:26:47.800 do find is generally actually the food is very poor 1:26:48.280 --> 1:26:52.000 because they don't have the access to agriculture and farming 1:26:52.040 --> 1:26:54.280 and all the fresh produce that we do. They don't 1:26:54.320 --> 1:26:59.400 have greenhouses and then traditionally not traditionally advanced farming and 1:26:59.479 --> 1:27:02.000 pesti side and everything, so they don't get the range 1:27:02.040 --> 1:27:04.439 that we do. And you know, sometimes when the potatoes 1:27:04.520 --> 1:27:05.680 run out, well they run out. 1:27:06.800 --> 1:27:08.559 What's the story like on Lord. 1:27:08.400 --> 1:27:14.839 How Well, we're extremely spoilt in a number of ways. Firstly, 1:27:14.880 --> 1:27:18.800 you've got the incredible fish that are surrounding us, So 1:27:18.840 --> 1:27:24.280 you've got beautiful pelagics like kingfish, trevalley and tuna at 1:27:24.320 --> 1:27:29.519 certain times of year, and dedicated fishermen that take also 1:27:29.720 --> 1:27:33.600 guests out fishing with them catch these incredible fish. And 1:27:33.640 --> 1:27:36.960 then and then sometimes while people are dining, they'll be 1:27:37.040 --> 1:27:40.360 walking beautiful tuna or beautiful kingfish through the dining room. 1:27:41.360 --> 1:27:44.400 And then when it comes to produce and fresh ingredients, 1:27:45.360 --> 1:27:49.360 there are a number of beautiful gardens throughout the island 1:27:49.479 --> 1:27:55.400 where islanders will be making beautiful coslettice or herbs or 1:27:55.400 --> 1:27:59.560 these sorts of things, and restaurants will buy from the islanders. 1:28:00.240 --> 1:28:02.840 And then we also our family also have a business 1:28:02.920 --> 1:28:06.719 called the Nursery where we grow a lot of produce 1:28:06.840 --> 1:28:10.599 in glasshouses and greenhouses and in ground growing as well. 1:28:10.680 --> 1:28:14.880 So there's beautiful produce, there's beautiful seafood, and whatever we 1:28:14.920 --> 1:28:18.280 can't get we get from really great regional producers of 1:28:18.880 --> 1:28:24.960 meat and proteins. But actually, just just recently on the island, Lord, 1:28:25.000 --> 1:28:27.400 how lambs have become a thing. And I've got to 1:28:27.400 --> 1:28:30.000 tell you that the lambs that are beautiful. 1:28:29.880 --> 1:28:30.400 Just just on. 1:28:30.760 --> 1:28:33.960 Is there any tension ever between the weed team as 1:28:33.960 --> 1:28:36.439 you call them, and those that grow some of these 1:28:36.479 --> 1:28:40.679 obviously non endemic things like coslet or do they look 1:28:40.680 --> 1:28:43.200 at the greenhouses, We've got to rip those up. 1:28:43.240 --> 1:28:43.880 They're not from here. 1:28:44.920 --> 1:28:45.120 Yeah. 1:28:45.160 --> 1:28:49.160 Look, I think everyone on the island gets on in 1:28:49.439 --> 1:28:53.000 a beautiful way. We all live so closely the community 1:28:53.040 --> 1:28:56.960 on the island itself, where we're always rubbing shoulders and 1:28:57.040 --> 1:29:00.920 so whilst the weed team acknowledges that, you know, growing 1:29:01.000 --> 1:29:06.519 things is a necessary evil if it's to service beautiful 1:29:06.560 --> 1:29:11.679 restaurants or for themselves for good nutrient food, we all understand. 1:29:11.720 --> 1:29:14.080 We all get on and it's it's it's it's type net. 1:29:14.120 --> 1:29:15.559 But it's all beautiful and amicable. 1:29:15.960 --> 1:29:18.680 Just speaking of that beautiful amicable community, I mean take 1:29:18.760 --> 1:29:21.000 Norfolk Island where I've been. I mean, they've got a 1:29:21.000 --> 1:29:23.479 strong connection to the Bounty mutineers and then they came 1:29:23.479 --> 1:29:26.320 from pitt Can and were given Norfolk by Queen Victoria. 1:29:25.920 --> 1:29:26.599 And all that story. 1:29:26.680 --> 1:29:30.760 Right Lord, how it doesn't have that foundation story, does it? 1:29:30.920 --> 1:29:31.600 So? 1:29:31.600 --> 1:29:34.200 So who are the families? How's it all come together? 1:29:34.400 --> 1:29:36.080 For the four hundred that live there at the moment? 1:29:36.760 --> 1:29:39.160 Great diversity, I'd imagine what do we have a sense 1:29:39.200 --> 1:29:40.919 of their backgrounds and their stories? 1:29:41.680 --> 1:29:46.920 Yeah, there's there's an extreme colorful history, although a short 1:29:46.960 --> 1:29:51.600 history on the island, and you've got some foundational families 1:29:52.600 --> 1:29:56.040 being the Thompson family, the Wilson family and the Nichols 1:29:57.040 --> 1:30:00.360 and how they intertwined between each other over the years 1:30:01.320 --> 1:30:06.439 is never short of a story. But I suppose every 1:30:07.520 --> 1:30:09.800 decade or so there's a new layer of people that 1:30:09.840 --> 1:30:12.639 are either drawn to the island and live there to 1:30:12.640 --> 1:30:16.080 be a part of the conservation efforts or part of 1:30:16.120 --> 1:30:19.200 the natural history, or part of just island life. That 1:30:19.320 --> 1:30:22.719 might have fallen in love with someone and started a family, 1:30:22.760 --> 1:30:26.720 And so throughout the years you've got these incredible foundation families, 1:30:27.120 --> 1:30:29.519 and then you've got all of these subsidiary people that 1:30:29.560 --> 1:30:33.320 have joined over time that I think everyone's extremely proud 1:30:33.360 --> 1:30:38.280 to be there, and everyone's sort of just living in 1:30:38.320 --> 1:30:40.439 this paradise, pinching themselves a lot. 1:30:40.960 --> 1:30:43.600 Well they should be, because it is really one of 1:30:43.600 --> 1:30:45.920 the great inventions, sir lord how island When God got 1:30:45.960 --> 1:30:47.560 to work on that one on the day six or 1:30:47.600 --> 1:30:50.840 whatever it was, he did just out of interest. If 1:30:50.880 --> 1:30:52.840 someone's thinking, you know, sort of had enough of the 1:30:52.920 --> 1:30:55.560 rat race in Sydney or wherever I'm canber and you know, 1:30:55.560 --> 1:30:57.559 I'd like to live on Norfolk Island. I mean, obviously, 1:30:57.600 --> 1:31:02.080 the permanent populations kept at four hundreds. So when or 1:31:02.120 --> 1:31:05.599 how do any availabilities for permanent residency come up? 1:31:05.640 --> 1:31:06.640 It must be pretty. 1:31:06.439 --> 1:31:09.280 Rare, it is. It is very rare. 1:31:09.479 --> 1:31:12.160 So to be not a waiting list or something, What 1:31:12.200 --> 1:31:13.400 do you do well? 1:31:13.439 --> 1:31:16.599 There's there's there was actually an act, a legal act 1:31:16.640 --> 1:31:20.240 that got passed in nineteen fifty three that ensured that 1:31:20.280 --> 1:31:22.439 there would be a vibrant community living on the island 1:31:22.439 --> 1:31:26.680 at all times. And there's basically a rule that to 1:31:26.760 --> 1:31:29.759 be eligible to buy a house and live on the island, 1:31:29.800 --> 1:31:32.200 you have to have lived on the island for ten 1:31:32.280 --> 1:31:33.160 years or longer. 1:31:34.479 --> 1:31:34.880 And so. 1:31:36.560 --> 1:31:39.360 That makes sure that the people that are living on 1:31:39.360 --> 1:31:42.280 the island are there for you know, there for good 1:31:42.360 --> 1:31:47.040 if you will, And so the opportunity to buy land 1:31:47.320 --> 1:31:51.480 or to buy property comes up very very very very sparsely. 1:31:51.600 --> 1:31:55.280 So everyone's very lucky that's living there, that's for sure. 1:31:55.600 --> 1:31:57.479 Well, the Maxwell's clearly did the right thing of the 1:31:57.520 --> 1:32:00.360 right time. Well done to your aunt, Tim, and well 1:32:00.360 --> 1:32:02.559 done to you. Wonderful, wonderful job. Thank you for all 1:32:02.600 --> 1:32:04.080 of that. And I think it's probably just wet of 1:32:04.080 --> 1:32:05.760 the appetite of others to get there, even if. 1:32:05.640 --> 1:32:07.840 It's just as a tourist. Obviously, I appreciate your. 1:32:07.680 --> 1:32:09.960 Time, Thank you so much, thank you for having me, 1:32:10.000 --> 1:32:10.960 and have an excellent. 1:32:10.720 --> 1:32:11.400 Day you two. 1:32:11.400 --> 1:32:14.240 Tim Maxwell, very lucky man, Vice chairman of the Lord 1:32:14.280 --> 1:32:16.880 Howe Ireland Tourist Association, you may have been there. If 1:32:16.880 --> 1:32:18.400 you have, I'd love to hear your stories. Time on 1:32:18.439 --> 1:32:21.000 lord How Island. It really looks gorgeous. One three, one 1:32:21.040 --> 1:32:24.160 eight seven three. Will catch up with Clinton straight after this. 1:32:24.600 --> 1:32:26.400 It's that time of the afternoon. 1:32:26.640 --> 1:32:29.240 Time to find out what's coming up on Sydney. 1:32:29.280 --> 1:32:33.000 Now for the Serrato successor the turbo charged Kia K 1:32:33.120 --> 1:32:37.160 four kias on new small sedan GT line very unavailable. 1:32:37.240 --> 1:32:40.200 Now find out more about Kia's latest small car. 1:32:40.800 --> 1:32:44.160 Here he is Clinton Maynard. Good afternoon, Hello Michael. After 1:32:44.160 --> 1:32:44.719 three o'clock. 1:32:44.760 --> 1:32:47.160 This situation with the M five tunnel will still be 1:32:47.200 --> 1:32:48.040 an issue, obviously. 1:32:48.080 --> 1:32:50.120 I think it sounds a commun issue well into the evening, 1:32:50.160 --> 1:32:52.839 at least for in one direction. So we'll keep across 1:32:52.840 --> 1:32:55.080 that throughout the next couple of hours. We'll also look 1:32:55.120 --> 1:32:57.280 at the ins and outs of the FU Work Commission's 1:32:57.280 --> 1:33:00.360 decision today to increase them in the WAH like three 1:33:00.360 --> 1:33:02.519 and a half percent thirty two dollars a week. I've 1:33:02.520 --> 1:33:03.960 been having a look at what you can buy for 1:33:04.000 --> 1:33:07.520 thirty two dollars a week. About three beers. 1:33:07.160 --> 1:33:07.719 At the pub. 1:33:08.400 --> 1:33:10.160 You could buy half a case of VB if you 1:33:10.200 --> 1:33:12.800 wanted to have some drinks at home. You could buy 1:33:12.840 --> 1:33:15.480 eight cartons of Sanitarium so good Barista. 1:33:15.200 --> 1:33:17.519 Oat long Life milk for Woolies. 1:33:18.080 --> 1:33:19.880 If you want to go to the movies, you could 1:33:19.920 --> 1:33:23.160 go and see Liloh and Stitch at Blacktown Events Cinemas 1:33:23.200 --> 1:33:26.120 actually houst Cinema's Blacktown twenty six dollars and you'll have 1:33:26.160 --> 1:33:26.759 some change. 1:33:26.840 --> 1:33:28.680 You can't bring your kids because it's twenty dollars free. 1:33:28.760 --> 1:33:31.400 So if you want to chock top squoozed in there, no, no, 1:33:31.520 --> 1:33:33.280 you can buy a pack of Maltesers, but you need 1:33:33.320 --> 1:33:36.000 to do that at Woolies before you go into the cinema, 1:33:36.479 --> 1:33:37.160 just to get it under the. 1:33:37.200 --> 1:33:38.720 Thirty two dollars. 1:33:39.400 --> 1:33:42.360 Or you could use the M five five and a 1:33:42.400 --> 1:33:45.439 half times be stuck in a traffic jam, but at 1:33:45.479 --> 1:33:48.720 five dollars seventy eight you could have five and a 1:33:48.720 --> 1:33:49.879 half M five. 1:33:49.720 --> 1:33:51.040 Trips for your thirty two dollars. 1:33:51.080 --> 1:33:54.240 That gives it some context, my Joe, I think at 1:33:54.280 --> 1:33:56.960 three and a half percent, it's a fair decision. 1:33:57.960 --> 1:33:59.800 It's above in unions wandered four and a half in 1:34:00.479 --> 1:34:01.040 two and a half. 1:34:00.960 --> 1:34:02.960 Basically, and we'll speak with both sides about the program 1:34:03.040 --> 1:34:05.639 to day. It's the question will be what effect does 1:34:05.640 --> 1:34:07.400 it have on inflation? Okay, there's the question, but what 1:34:07.400 --> 1:34:09.240 are thirty two dollars a week buy you? But what's 1:34:09.280 --> 1:34:12.000 the inflationary effect? Is that planned to the RBA's decisions 1:34:12.040 --> 1:34:14.840 in the coming months on interstrates as well, we'll get 1:34:14.840 --> 1:34:18.040 the latest from the Coalition. They've been having a meeting 1:34:18.080 --> 1:34:19.880 throughout the day and Parliament has now set about their 1:34:19.920 --> 1:34:23.719 position on the workers' compensation changes at state government. Dairy 1:34:23.840 --> 1:34:26.320 prices are going up because the floods route will have 1:34:26.320 --> 1:34:29.599 around that and increasingly, whether you're a fan or not, 1:34:29.640 --> 1:34:32.559 more Australians are buying electric vehicles, but they're now encountering 1:34:32.600 --> 1:34:33.120 a problem. 1:34:33.200 --> 1:34:35.439 It's hard to get them fixed. Oh yeah, we've covered 1:34:35.439 --> 1:34:36.000 that many times. 1:34:36.000 --> 1:34:37.599 We're going to look at that as well, and straight 1:34:37.640 --> 1:34:40.479 shooters with that. Susan Temperman Holly Hughes. Today, Holly's actually 1:34:40.520 --> 1:34:42.760 cleaning out her office in Parliament House as her term 1:34:42.800 --> 1:34:44.720 is coming to an end. In the Senate, we're going 1:34:44.720 --> 1:34:46.080 to talk about cleaning out your office. 1:34:46.160 --> 1:34:48.320 Okay, what an interesting topic. Thank you. Clinton. 1:34:48.720 --> 1:34:51.519 Clinton is coming up straight after three o'clock. Just the 1:34:51.560 --> 1:34:54.000 other thing with the fair work decision is people have 1:34:54.080 --> 1:34:56.240 to also bear this in mind. Not everybody who's going 1:34:56.240 --> 1:34:59.200 to benefit from this is in a situation where both 1:34:59.240 --> 1:35:01.120 the husband and the y, for whatever the arrangement, is 1:35:01.720 --> 1:35:05.000 both on the minimum wage. I mean, we hear about, oh, 1:35:05.040 --> 1:35:06.880 it's thirty five dollars a week, and to cambuy you 1:35:06.880 --> 1:35:10.720 this can buy there. Well, let's just say hypothetically that 1:35:11.280 --> 1:35:14.200 the wife is earning the minimum wage doing whatever she does, 1:35:14.760 --> 1:35:17.760 but the husband's out there working in a very well 1:35:17.800 --> 1:35:21.519 paying job. Combined the income is strong, and so you know, 1:35:21.600 --> 1:35:24.519 it's we've just got to be nuanced in how we 1:35:24.560 --> 1:35:27.559 look at these discussions, and indeed, the Fairwork Commission would 1:35:27.560 --> 1:35:30.120 have factored all of that into the broader deliberation they 1:35:30.200 --> 1:35:33.000 landed on their decision today. But yeah, yep, sure there 1:35:33.000 --> 1:35:35.200 would be a number of circumstances where harby and wife 1:35:35.200 --> 1:35:36.800 are both on the minimum wage and so this is 1:35:36.840 --> 1:35:39.360 a great benefit to them. But in other circumstances this 1:35:39.400 --> 1:35:41.360 will just be a nice little learner on the side 1:35:42.360 --> 1:35:46.800 without necessarily affecting the weekly budget, as it were, one 1:35:46.800 --> 1:35:49.759 way or the other too much. It's horses for courses. 1:35:55.240 --> 1:35:57.640 After the news, we are again Aaron Margaret afternoon. 1:35:57.240 --> 1:35:59.679 Good afternoon, Michaels. We've been hearing a driver who says 1:35:59.680 --> 1:36:01.320 he was duck in the M five East Tunnel for 1:36:01.439 --> 1:36:05.040 nineteen minutes due to the crane crash. Says communications were 1:36:05.080 --> 1:36:08.479 down and motorists didn't receive any updates over the radio system. 1:36:08.520 --> 1:36:11.479 The tunnel is still closed eastbound. A man's been charged 1:36:11.520 --> 1:36:13.639 with murder after a body was found at Croydon Park. 1:36:13.640 --> 1:36:16.360 A twenty nine year old Malaysian man has been stabbed 1:36:16.400 --> 1:36:20.200 in his neck. The Fair Work Commission says stagnating productivity 1:36:20.240 --> 1:36:23.280 limited how much it could increase minimum and award wages. 1:36:23.560 --> 1:36:25.800 It's announced a three and a half percent wage rise for 1:36:25.880 --> 1:36:29.400 the nation's lowest paid workers, and the SEES has wrapped 1:36:29.479 --> 1:36:32.639 up its operational response to Mid North Coast and Hunter floods. 1:36:32.640 --> 1:36:35.719 More than seventeen thousand calls for help received, eight hundred 1:36:35.720 --> 1:36:39.400 and six flood rescues carried out. In sport, Formula One 1:36:39.479 --> 1:36:43.680 champion Max Forstappen has stopped short of apologizing for deliberately 1:36:43.880 --> 1:36:47.360 ramming rival driver George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix. 1:36:47.640 --> 1:36:50.719 The Dutchman says the move was not right and shouldn't 1:36:50.720 --> 1:36:53.160 have happened. There'll be more news at three o'clock. 1:36:53.920 --> 1:36:58.320 On afternoons a finance update for Pretzel Wealth and finance 1:36:58.439 --> 1:36:59.960 for Trusted Financial Planning. 1:37:00.240 --> 1:37:02.200 Just Google Blake went to Pretzel. 1:37:02.320 --> 1:37:04.200 All right, let's go to Scott Phillips from the monthly 1:37:04.479 --> 1:37:07.080 Full dot com Dot you Scott. The minimum wage we're 1:37:07.120 --> 1:37:09.040 just discussing there with Clinton. It's going to go up 1:37:09.040 --> 1:37:11.000 three and a half percent. What benefit is this going 1:37:11.040 --> 1:37:13.400 to have on the average lower paid worker? 1:37:14.240 --> 1:37:16.360 Michael, Yeah, this is the key one, right. We know 1:37:16.439 --> 1:37:19.080 about twenty percent of Australian employees are covered either by 1:37:19.080 --> 1:37:21.519 the minimum wage or an award, and that's what this 1:37:21.560 --> 1:37:24.400 is going to apply to, So about one in five Australians, 1:37:24.680 --> 1:37:27.040 about ten and a half percent of the wager's bill. 1:37:27.280 --> 1:37:30.240 And that makes sense, right, because we're lower paid workers. 1:37:30.320 --> 1:37:32.320 The smaller percentage of higher paid workers make up a 1:37:32.320 --> 1:37:36.639 disproportionately large proportion of that bill. So of itself, as 1:37:36.680 --> 1:37:38.680 you rightly pointed out, now one's going to grow to 1:37:38.720 --> 1:37:41.120 someone on minimum wage, particularly after the last five years 1:37:41.120 --> 1:37:43.679 of inflation, getting a bit back inflation at the moment 1:37:43.720 --> 1:37:46.320 two point four percent, so a bit above inflation, which 1:37:46.360 --> 1:37:48.400 is kind of what we all are striving for. The 1:37:48.439 --> 1:37:50.320 real risk for inflation is going to come down to 1:37:50.439 --> 1:37:53.120 whatever copycat or flow and effects this has. And this 1:37:53.280 --> 1:37:55.679 is kind of setting off the you know, the next 1:37:55.720 --> 1:37:57.680 conversation they one has with their boss, what's a pay 1:37:57.760 --> 1:37:59.519 rise as well? The award went up three and a 1:37:59.560 --> 1:38:01.599 half percent, So boss, how about you give me something too, 1:38:01.880 --> 1:38:05.200 And that's kind of the biggest financial potential impact on inflation. 1:38:05.560 --> 1:38:08.320 Wherever wages are greater than inflation, you want to make 1:38:08.360 --> 1:38:11.000 sure the gap is made up with productivity gains. We've 1:38:11.000 --> 1:38:12.760 talked a lot about this over the past couple of months, 1:38:12.800 --> 1:38:14.960 maybe in a couple of years, and certainly the government 1:38:15.000 --> 1:38:16.720 says they're going to try and deal with this. But 1:38:16.760 --> 1:38:19.559 if you have wages that increase faster than prices and 1:38:19.600 --> 1:38:23.240 there is no productivity improvement, that must be inflationy. And 1:38:23.320 --> 1:38:26.000 that's the key one. So wages are important. And again 1:38:26.040 --> 1:38:28.080 for those people who are on the minimum wage or 1:38:28.280 --> 1:38:30.640 award wages, neither anyone's going to be grude some of 1:38:30.680 --> 1:38:33.040 an increase. We've got to make sure is that across 1:38:33.040 --> 1:38:36.599 the economy we are becoming more productive and we're covering 1:38:36.600 --> 1:38:40.160 those increases with more output, not just putting up prices 1:38:40.160 --> 1:38:42.400 and hoping everything goes away. That's how you get into 1:38:42.439 --> 1:38:43.920 that price wage spiral on the end. 1:38:44.080 --> 1:38:44.519 That's right. 1:38:44.720 --> 1:38:46.360 We were expecting to have a good opening to the 1:38:46.360 --> 1:38:47.639 market today. Did that come through? 1:38:48.240 --> 1:38:50.000 It did, and it went pretty well dipped again just 1:38:50.000 --> 1:38:52.639 after lunch, but back in decent territory at the moment, 1:38:52.720 --> 1:38:55.320 up four tenths of a percent. The your Lord's currently 1:38:55.320 --> 1:38:58.559 eighty six hundred and seventy three points. The AUSI dollar 1:38:58.640 --> 1:39:01.400 also higher by about a quarter of sixty four point 1:39:01.479 --> 1:39:02.679 six six USS. 1:39:02.760 --> 1:39:04.679 Wonderful. Thank you, scottppreciate that. We'll catch you tomorrow. 1:39:04.720 --> 1:39:07.280 Scott Phillips, their chief investment officer from the Motley fool 1:39:07.320 --> 1:39:09.599 full dot com dot you this just threw from police. 1:39:09.600 --> 1:39:12.960 A man will face court today charged with murder after 1:39:12.960 --> 1:39:15.479 a body was located at a home in Sydney Southwest 1:39:15.560 --> 1:39:18.800 yesterday just after five pm. Emergency services called to a 1:39:18.800 --> 1:39:21.960 home on Kembler Street, Croydon Park following reports of an 1:39:21.960 --> 1:39:24.280 alleged stabbing. You would have heard about this in the news. 1:39:24.640 --> 1:39:27.880 On arrival, officers attached to Burwood Command found the body 1:39:27.880 --> 1:39:29.840 of a man inside the home with the stab wounds 1:39:29.880 --> 1:39:32.519 to his neck. He's yet to be formally identified, however, 1:39:32.560 --> 1:39:35.280 Police believe he's a twenty nine year old man. A 1:39:35.320 --> 1:39:37.559 thirty two year old man was arrested at the scene, 1:39:37.600 --> 1:39:40.799 taking to Burwood Police Station before being taken to hospital 1:39:40.840 --> 1:39:44.280 for assessment. Police established a crime scene and detectives commenced 1:39:44.320 --> 1:39:48.080 Strike Force Buchanan to investigate the incident. The thirty two 1:39:48.160 --> 1:39:51.160 year old was released from hospital today before being returned 1:39:51.160 --> 1:39:54.400 to Burwood Police Station where he was charged with murder. 1:39:54.920 --> 1:39:57.960 He was refused bail and will appear before Burwood Local 1:39:58.080 --> 1:40:02.679 Court today. Just through from New South Wales Police. Lots 1:40:02.680 --> 1:40:05.280 of feedback about Lord how Island. Shari says it's stunning. 1:40:05.320 --> 1:40:07.760 She's been there twice. Interesting note from Brett. He said, 1:40:07.800 --> 1:40:10.320 I've never been to Lord how but my great grandfather 1:40:10.400 --> 1:40:14.240 was actually instrumental in establishing the hospital there, doctor Cedric 1:40:14.400 --> 1:40:18.599 Balker b owk Er. He volunteered his time when he retired. 1:40:18.800 --> 1:40:21.200 There are places still named after him. Loved the segment. 1:40:21.240 --> 1:40:22.920 Thanks that's from Britt good On. You're brittin glad you 1:40:23.040 --> 1:40:26.439 enjoyed it. Appreciate your feedback. While he says, my parents 1:40:26.439 --> 1:40:28.960 took myself and a younger brother to Lord Howe Island 1:40:29.080 --> 1:40:32.840 over Christmas nineteen fifty nine sixty and we flew in 1:40:32.880 --> 1:40:36.960 by Sunderland flying boat. It was an amazing thing and 1:40:37.040 --> 1:40:38.479 at the time I was just short on my twenty 1:40:38.479 --> 1:40:43.639 fourth birth. I've never forgotten it. Beautiful island, the Gray Nurse, 1:40:43.640 --> 1:40:46.519 sharks at Ned's Beach, everything there, he says, haven't forgotten 1:40:46.520 --> 1:40:48.479 a moment of it. Someone said, you forgot to mention 1:40:48.560 --> 1:40:52.080 the time zone, Lord how one hour in front of Sydney, 1:40:52.080 --> 1:40:54.439 one hour forward of Sydney. That's true, it is stan. 1:40:54.560 --> 1:40:56.599 What's your Lord Howe Island story? 1:40:57.920 --> 1:41:00.519 Good afternoon, Michael. Yes, I've got some great memories of 1:41:00.640 --> 1:41:04.040 Lord how You. Certainly you've brought them back. My first 1:41:04.080 --> 1:41:05.800 first time I went to Lord how was in nine 1:41:05.920 --> 1:41:10.880 and fifty two. Again I went by answered short. Someone 1:41:11.760 --> 1:41:14.080 had to catch the plane from Rose Bay at two 1:41:14.080 --> 1:41:16.320 am in the morning. That was the only way because 1:41:16.360 --> 1:41:18.760 they had to get the high tide to get into 1:41:19.439 --> 1:41:24.840 into land on the lagoon. Had a great time, and 1:41:25.200 --> 1:41:29.160 I returned some fifty five years later when I remarried 1:41:29.200 --> 1:41:31.960 my second wife on Lord Howe in two thousand and six. 1:41:32.600 --> 1:41:34.840 So and I can remember, of course, on the first 1:41:34.840 --> 1:41:38.960 occasion I was a lot younger then. Obviously, Pimon Mount Gower. 1:41:39.280 --> 1:41:44.880 It was inducted whour. It was not actually a tour, 1:41:44.920 --> 1:41:47.800 it was really a hike, but it was great but 1:41:48.160 --> 1:41:51.360 great memories. And I've got some great photographs of Lord how. 1:41:51.520 --> 1:41:53.519 Well, cherish those. Thank you for the cool stand. 1:41:53.720 --> 1:41:56.040 Actually, somebody else Ian's just sent me not here saying 1:41:56.080 --> 1:41:58.120 I spent my honeymoon at Pine Trees and Lord how 1:41:58.200 --> 1:42:01.120 back in nineteen eighty six. The food was a that's 1:42:01.120 --> 1:42:03.280 from me, and thank you so beautiful memories coming through 1:42:03.400 --> 1:42:04.639 one three one eight seven three. 1:42:04.680 --> 1:42:05.280 We'll take a break. 1:42:05.280 --> 1:42:07.040 When we come back, I'll catch up with Rowan Pike 1:42:07.080 --> 1:42:09.920 will repivot back to this issue of the tobacco excise, 1:42:09.960 --> 1:42:12.439 the Premier makers and pretty strong comments with Ben this morning. 1:42:12.560 --> 1:42:14.880 I agree with the comments. Something's got to be done 1:42:14.880 --> 1:42:17.439 about the excise issue. I doubt it will, but I'll 1:42:17.439 --> 1:42:19.400 speak to row and Pike and get his thoughts. It's 1:42:19.640 --> 1:42:21.920 eighteen to three. Thank you for joining us. We'll keep 1:42:21.920 --> 1:42:24.320 you up to date right throughout the day. On TWOGB, 1:42:24.479 --> 1:42:29.040 considering the situation on the M five East Tunnel eastbound 1:42:29.080 --> 1:42:31.920 obviously it's still closed. Westbound is now open again to traffic. 1:42:32.080 --> 1:42:34.639 It's going to be a while before this rolled crane 1:42:34.880 --> 1:42:37.599 can be rectified, let alone the oil on the bitchumen 1:42:37.640 --> 1:42:38.320 and everything else. 1:42:38.560 --> 1:42:40.759 Now, just back to this other issue of tobacco excise. 1:42:40.920 --> 1:42:42.920 Believe it or not, I spoke to my next guest 1:42:43.520 --> 1:42:46.160 just over a year ago to the day about this 1:42:46.320 --> 1:42:49.000 very issue, tobacco excise. Now, at the time, we knew 1:42:49.040 --> 1:42:52.080 the tobacco black market was growing and rapidly. Everyone could 1:42:52.120 --> 1:42:55.360 see main streets, every suburb, every town. More and more 1:42:55.560 --> 1:42:58.360 is tobacco shops opening up, despite the fact we're told 1:42:58.400 --> 1:43:01.240 fewer and fewer people were smoking. Just from a business 1:43:01.240 --> 1:43:03.759 point of view, it just didn't make sense. So something 1:43:03.920 --> 1:43:08.320 wasn't right. The accusation is many of them are selling 1:43:08.439 --> 1:43:09.480 illegal cigarettes. 1:43:09.479 --> 1:43:10.120 But not just them. 1:43:10.479 --> 1:43:12.360 I mean I'm hearing reports from you that you buy 1:43:12.360 --> 1:43:14.840 them from butchers and green groves. I mean all over 1:43:14.840 --> 1:43:17.080 the place people, And the story the other day, think 1:43:17.080 --> 1:43:21.760 about delivery services delivering illegal cigarettes. I mean, for goodness sake, 1:43:21.760 --> 1:43:25.920 they're everywhere now. Speaking earlier today and I was glad 1:43:25.960 --> 1:43:28.599 to hear it. Chris Mens, Premier of New South Wales, 1:43:28.680 --> 1:43:31.439 is on with Ben and he was talking. Since haven't 1:43:31.439 --> 1:43:32.360 listened to Chris Mins. 1:43:32.800 --> 1:43:35.120 My real fear here is a that this is just 1:43:35.240 --> 1:43:38.680 naked breaches of the law in every high street right 1:43:38.680 --> 1:43:41.800 across New South Wales. Secondly, you're asking, I think we're 1:43:41.800 --> 1:43:45.599 almost driving law abiding people who in every other aspect 1:43:45.640 --> 1:43:48.080 of their life follow the rules. The costs are so 1:43:48.360 --> 1:43:52.800 massive that they're being almost drawn into an illegal marketplace, 1:43:52.880 --> 1:43:55.040 which is not good public policy by any stretch. 1:43:55.280 --> 1:43:57.360 Chris Men's they're speaking with Ben Fordham this morning pointing 1:43:57.400 --> 1:44:00.240 out the obvious that these incredible hikes in excise year 1:44:00.280 --> 1:44:03.600 after year bi annually, in many circumstances legislator by the 1:44:03.600 --> 1:44:06.599 federal government as the catalyst to the problem. We see 1:44:07.520 --> 1:44:11.120 now there's a cost to all of this for legitimate retailers. 1:44:11.200 --> 1:44:14.880 Earlier in the day, Mark McKenzie phoned my program. Marks 1:44:14.920 --> 1:44:19.520 the CEO of the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, 1:44:19.960 --> 1:44:23.560 So petrol stations and the like now they sell legal cigarettes, 1:44:23.920 --> 1:44:26.439 the ones with all the excites the tax, but it's 1:44:26.479 --> 1:44:28.639 having an effect because people aren't buying those anymore. 1:44:28.680 --> 1:44:29.439 Have a listen to Mark. 1:44:29.920 --> 1:44:34.320 Our service station businesses are reporting have been reporting declines 1:44:34.360 --> 1:44:38.280 between fifteen and twenty percent year on year over the 1:44:38.400 --> 1:44:41.799 last two years. It's out of control. The illegal cigarette 1:44:41.920 --> 1:44:45.360 just purchased everywhere and they are really cutting the lunch 1:44:45.560 --> 1:44:48.560 of those businesses that are selling valid products. 1:44:48.680 --> 1:44:50.640 I wanted to bring Rowan Pike in again. He's a 1:44:50.680 --> 1:44:53.800 former Australian Federal Police and Australian Borderforce officer. He was 1:44:53.880 --> 1:44:57.360 part of the team that created the ABF's tobacco strike Team. 1:44:57.800 --> 1:44:59.320 He's on the line. Good to speak again. 1:44:59.400 --> 1:45:01.040 Rowan, Hi, I'm Michael. 1:45:01.560 --> 1:45:05.400 We've been about twelve months between conversations. The situation's only 1:45:05.439 --> 1:45:07.759 got worse, and it seems at the federal level anyway, 1:45:07.800 --> 1:45:08.599 they just don't get it. 1:45:10.040 --> 1:45:13.920 No, but very glad to hear what your premier had 1:45:13.960 --> 1:45:17.360 to say yesterday and this morning. Someone gets it and 1:45:17.640 --> 1:45:20.679 he's got a big, powerful voice and hopefully that changes 1:45:20.720 --> 1:45:22.280 the rhetoric he does. 1:45:22.560 --> 1:45:26.040 Mind you being labor and the federal government's labor, it 1:45:26.040 --> 1:45:28.000 doesn't seem to matter. The man that really could do 1:45:28.080 --> 1:45:30.439 something about this, the man who holds the purse strings, 1:45:30.439 --> 1:45:33.000 the treasure of Jim Chalmers was asked, as you know, 1:45:33.200 --> 1:45:36.160 I think last night about this situation, about what Chris 1:45:36.160 --> 1:45:39.879 Min's has been saying, and he said, quote, tobacco excise 1:45:40.040 --> 1:45:43.240 is an important public health measure, to encourage people to 1:45:43.240 --> 1:45:45.120 give up smoking anyway. In other words, I'm not going 1:45:45.160 --> 1:45:48.880 to do anything about it. It's not making people give 1:45:48.960 --> 1:45:51.080 up smoking anymore. The only thing that's doing is making 1:45:51.080 --> 1:45:53.080 them give up smoking legal cigarettes. 1:45:53.160 --> 1:45:57.679 Right, that's exactly right. Perhaps well, I over fifty percent 1:45:57.760 --> 1:46:01.439 now of the market is illegal. Jim Charms as one 1:46:01.479 --> 1:46:05.759 of the people who is important in this argument, obviously 1:46:05.800 --> 1:46:07.960 the health minister, Mark Butler or the other and he's 1:46:08.479 --> 1:46:11.320 backed himself into a corner with his past comments saying 1:46:11.320 --> 1:46:14.800 that he won't change course. In fact, he's doubled down. 1:46:14.920 --> 1:46:17.800 But I was pleased to hear the Premier say that 1:46:18.080 --> 1:46:21.000 his health minister will be going to a meeting next 1:46:21.000 --> 1:46:24.280 week pleading with the federal government to change their policy. 1:46:24.400 --> 1:46:26.759 So I think there could be a number of health 1:46:26.760 --> 1:46:28.760 ministers across the country. I'll be saying the same thing. 1:46:28.880 --> 1:46:31.000 I think the Victorians are increasingly on board. So the 1:46:31.040 --> 1:46:33.280 two big states that have seen the light. I mean, 1:46:33.320 --> 1:46:35.080 this is an issue, isn't it a bit like immigration? 1:46:35.160 --> 1:46:38.040 The federal government control the inflow or whatever. It's the 1:46:38.040 --> 1:46:39.640 states that are left to deal with the mess on 1:46:39.680 --> 1:46:43.479 the ground. Here's you've got the federal government raising the excise. 1:46:43.479 --> 1:46:45.920 They're the beneficiary of all the money, but it's the 1:46:45.960 --> 1:46:48.600 state governments on the ground, with their state health authorities 1:46:48.640 --> 1:46:51.880 and state police and state whatever, having to deal with 1:46:51.920 --> 1:46:54.599 the crime that is flourishing before all of our eyes. 1:46:55.760 --> 1:46:58.679 That's right, And your premier doesn't want to be left 1:46:59.160 --> 1:47:03.000 carrying the bag being the open blame for the increasing 1:47:03.040 --> 1:47:06.240 crime problem on your streets. He realizes that it's going 1:47:06.280 --> 1:47:10.040 to take a massive investment in law enforcement to respond 1:47:10.479 --> 1:47:13.760 and to turn this chip around. And he's pointing the 1:47:13.760 --> 1:47:16.840 figure quite rightly at the federal government and they need 1:47:16.880 --> 1:47:18.600 to do their bit and take away some of the 1:47:18.680 --> 1:47:21.439 driver of this problem, which is clearly the excise. 1:47:22.160 --> 1:47:23.559 Okay, just on that. 1:47:24.520 --> 1:47:27.120 So, I think the sensible people in your top of 1:47:27.120 --> 1:47:30.839 that pile row and understand and agree that the excise 1:47:30.920 --> 1:47:31.599 is the catalyst. 1:47:31.600 --> 1:47:32.439 It's now the problem. 1:47:32.640 --> 1:47:35.519 It was certainly, without doubt beneficial in bringing down the 1:47:35.600 --> 1:47:37.879 rate of smoking when you made the cigarettes more expensive. 1:47:37.880 --> 1:47:39.519 A few people gave a lot of people gave up. 1:47:39.760 --> 1:47:42.080 It's now the point where it's I would argue, it's 1:47:42.080 --> 1:47:46.200 extortion really, and so it's now counterproductive. So what do 1:47:46.240 --> 1:47:50.760 we do? Do we freeze excise? Do we slash excise. 1:47:51.200 --> 1:47:53.360 What lever do we pull when it comes to. 1:47:53.360 --> 1:47:58.639 Excise, that's a great question. Clearly we need to freeze 1:47:58.920 --> 1:48:04.240 increases going and review where we're at. I'm not a smoker, 1:48:04.320 --> 1:48:06.479 so I can't tell you what would attract me to 1:48:06.560 --> 1:48:09.320 the legal market as opposed to the illegal market, but 1:48:09.520 --> 1:48:13.000 that needs to be reviewed. Research needs to be done 1:48:13.840 --> 1:48:17.479 with the smoking market with that card rate and actually 1:48:17.479 --> 1:48:20.720 go to them and say what price will attract you 1:48:20.760 --> 1:48:23.680 back to the legal market, and that's significantly less than 1:48:23.760 --> 1:48:27.840 what it currently is. But yes, we certainly need an 1:48:27.880 --> 1:48:31.080 excise to dissuade people from smoking, but it's just gone 1:48:31.720 --> 1:48:34.719 too far, especially in the last say five to ten years. 1:48:34.760 --> 1:48:37.280 Well, no one's benefiting from the status quo. Excuse me, 1:48:37.320 --> 1:48:39.040 the status quo and even the Treasury if he wake 1:48:39.120 --> 1:48:42.040 up in Cambrill, would realize he's now not benefiting really 1:48:42.080 --> 1:48:44.760 compared to what he was estimated to be benefiting. I'll 1:48:44.800 --> 1:48:47.320 just plan a little bit more of the Premier Chris 1:48:47.320 --> 1:48:50.280 men speaking with Ben Fordham here this morning, because of course, 1:48:50.280 --> 1:48:52.919 if we don't do anything about excise, the other response 1:48:52.960 --> 1:48:54.400 seems to be all we just get more and more 1:48:54.400 --> 1:48:56.840 health authorities in there and they can go and try 1:48:56.880 --> 1:48:59.800 to deal with this on the ground. Here's the premiere. 1:49:00.200 --> 1:49:04.240 Gone from seven health officials to I think about sixty 1:49:04.439 --> 1:49:08.680 health bureaucrats who are responsible for policing and launching investigations 1:49:08.720 --> 1:49:11.599 into illegal tobacco. But it's a bit like someone's standing 1:49:11.640 --> 1:49:13.360 on a beach trying to stop the waves. It's so 1:49:13.600 --> 1:49:16.599 massive because it's occupying every second shop in the street. 1:49:16.640 --> 1:49:19.960 I've got health bureaucrats who I want running hospitals and 1:49:20.040 --> 1:49:24.400 managing the primary health industry, conducting criminal investigations into tobacco 1:49:24.720 --> 1:49:26.560 because the excise is so gigantic. 1:49:26.600 --> 1:49:28.320 It's so huge. I mean premium means. 1:49:28.360 --> 1:49:31.080 As writers in Hero, you can't police your way out 1:49:31.080 --> 1:49:34.080 of this when you've incubated and created the problem and 1:49:34.120 --> 1:49:37.400 you continue to make that worse by hiking excise. 1:49:39.120 --> 1:49:42.200 Yes, I can pleately agree with everything. I'm in the 1:49:42.240 --> 1:49:44.320 serving fact, I think he's stole on my talking flights 1:49:44.320 --> 1:49:47.519 from my computer at some stage in the last few months. 1:49:47.560 --> 1:49:52.200 But yeah, no, and he's quite right. Health officials are 1:49:52.240 --> 1:49:56.519 not trained, equipped, powered, don't have the proper legislation to 1:49:56.840 --> 1:50:01.719 address an organized crime problem. It's a role for the plants. 1:50:01.960 --> 1:50:05.120 And even then, as he points out, it'll take large 1:50:05.200 --> 1:50:08.559 numbers of plays, So I think he's actually heading towards 1:50:08.800 --> 1:50:12.439 a significant request to the federal government for resources in 1:50:12.560 --> 1:50:15.000 order to do with the problem that they have caused. 1:50:15.920 --> 1:50:18.400 So often, the political response to any problem, though having 1:50:18.439 --> 1:50:20.600 created it, their answer is more money, but in a 1:50:20.640 --> 1:50:23.519 different direction to try to solve it without acknowledging they 1:50:23.640 --> 1:50:25.479 created the problem and dealing with it a source. 1:50:25.520 --> 1:50:26.799 But we'll leave that as a statement. 1:50:27.680 --> 1:50:31.320 Just finally, then, what do you recommend to all the 1:50:31.320 --> 1:50:34.360 political cadre out there that could do something about this? 1:50:35.320 --> 1:50:37.120 If you were running the show and you've got a 1:50:37.120 --> 1:50:41.040 great experience and longevity in this space, Rowan, what do 1:50:41.120 --> 1:50:42.600 you do? What do you do? 1:50:42.640 --> 1:50:44.160 Well? What do you And that might be more than 1:50:44.160 --> 1:50:44.639 one answer. 1:50:46.600 --> 1:50:46.800 Yeah. 1:50:46.800 --> 1:50:49.479 Well, firstly, in relation of the exercise, the health ministers 1:50:49.479 --> 1:50:51.759 from each state need to band together and put pressure 1:50:51.800 --> 1:50:55.000 from that government to review and change that to a 1:50:55.040 --> 1:50:59.360 more balanced and meaningful level. We still don't have a 1:50:59.520 --> 1:51:03.559 national alicted tobacco strategy, so each state is doing their 1:51:03.600 --> 1:51:07.559 own thing. In relation to enforcement. Queensland and South Australia 1:51:07.600 --> 1:51:10.760 are well ahead of the game compared to News at 1:51:10.800 --> 1:51:12.840 Lars and Victoria at the moment and they are trying 1:51:12.880 --> 1:51:15.599 their best and it's yet to be seen whether that's 1:51:15.680 --> 1:51:17.719 going to be totally effective, but at least they're having 1:51:17.720 --> 1:51:20.200 to go. Certainly in New South Wales you've got the 1:51:20.280 --> 1:51:23.839 Parliamentary Inquiry is just starting to listen tobacco, so hopefully 1:51:24.200 --> 1:51:28.200 some sensible suggestions will be put forward at that and 1:51:28.240 --> 1:51:31.280 you'll be able to work out the best way going forward. 1:51:31.880 --> 1:51:33.720 Great to speak to you again, and let's hope if 1:51:33.720 --> 1:51:36.680 we're having a conversation twelve months hence we can have 1:51:36.800 --> 1:51:38.559 it with some solutions on the table. 1:51:38.600 --> 1:51:40.840 Thank you, Rowan, Thanks Mina well the best. 1:51:40.880 --> 1:51:44.479 Rowan Pike, former AFP and Borderforce officer. They're very, very 1:51:44.520 --> 1:51:48.000 connected to the whole situation about tobacco. He was one 1:51:48.000 --> 1:51:51.800 of those that created the ABF's tobacco strike Team. Let's 1:51:51.840 --> 1:51:53.720 hope the people that can do something about this are 1:51:53.760 --> 1:51:54.439 listening to him. 1:51:54.479 --> 1:51:55.200 I'll get all your. 1:51:55.040 --> 1:51:57.360 Calls on that tobacco is show tomorrow straight out at 1:51:57.360 --> 1:51:58.320 the top of the show. If you want to give 1:51:58.360 --> 1:52:00.200 us a buzz one three, one eight seven three, mind 1:52:00.240 --> 1:52:01.920 you of the number, because quickly before we go time 1:52:01.960 --> 1:52:03.840 for Track of the Day. I've got a double pass 1:52:03.920 --> 1:52:06.040 to the Sydney Film Festival on the line. If you 1:52:06.080 --> 1:52:08.479 want to go one three, one eight seven three to 1:52:08.520 --> 1:52:12.200 the Sydney Film Festival, here's your question. The acting legend 1:52:12.280 --> 1:52:14.479 Tony Curtis, if he was still with us, he would 1:52:14.479 --> 1:52:16.439 have been one hundred today. Can you believe it? He 1:52:16.479 --> 1:52:19.400 was born on June three, nineteen twenty five. Featured in 1:52:19.479 --> 1:52:22.599 hundreds of films, of course, But which nineteen fifty nine 1:52:22.640 --> 1:52:26.120 classic did he start in alongside the one and only 1:52:26.520 --> 1:52:27.559 Marilyn Monroe. 1:52:27.600 --> 1:52:29.759 Here's a little song to give you a clue. 1:52:37.640 --> 1:52:42.759 Hot town somewhere in the city getting burn credit, bend down, 1:52:43.000 --> 1:52:43.599 isn't it a bit? 1:52:43.720 --> 1:52:45.960 It doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city. 1:52:46.479 --> 1:52:48.960 All around people looking half dead are walking on the 1:52:48.960 --> 1:52:52.400 sidewalk in a matchairn night. 1:52:52.479 --> 1:52:53.080 It's different. 1:52:53.160 --> 1:52:56.280 Well, go on, all right, So Tony Curtis, he would 1:52:56.280 --> 1:52:58.400 have been one hundred today. In nineteen fifty nine he 1:52:58.479 --> 1:53:01.080 starting a classic alongside Marilyn Monroe. 1:53:01.080 --> 1:53:02.240 What was the name of that film? 1:53:02.240 --> 1:53:04.040 If you know one three, one eight seven three and 1:53:04.040 --> 1:53:05.880 you're off to the Sydney Film Festival, well that's it 1:53:05.920 --> 1:53:07.880 for us. Thank you Graham of Oberon, by the way, 1:53:07.920 --> 1:53:09.920 well done. The double past of the Sydney Film Festival 1:53:10.000 --> 1:53:11.760 is yours? The answer, of course was some like it 1:53:11.880 --> 1:53:14.880 hot the Sydney Film Festival fourth to the fifteenth of June. 1:53:15.000 --> 1:53:18.160 Get your tickets s if if dot org dot au. 1:53:18.840 --> 1:53:22.479 The M five East Tunnel still closed eastbound. Clinton will 1:53:22.520 --> 1:53:23.599 give you all of the latest