Join David Murtagh and newly minted Riotact Editor Claire Fenwicke as they tackle the big issues of the week: Dutton's nuclear policy, when public consultation goes off the rails and fans turning on the home team.

Join David Murtagh and newly minted Riotact Editor Claire Fenwicke as they tackle the big issues of the week: <a href="https://the-riotact.com/dutton-unveils-his-vision-for-seven-nuclear-power-plants/780281">Dutton's nuclear policy</a>, when <a href="https://the-riotact.com/act-budget-ruth-park-playground-to-finally-get-its-toilets/779742">public consultation goes off the rails</a> and <a href="https://the-riotact.com/was-it-okay-for-raiders-fans-to-boo-their-own-team-off-the-ground-at-half-time-in-the-loss-to-the-cowboys-at-canberra-stadium-i-thought-it-was-wrong/779584">fans turning on the home team</a>.

The Hoot brings you news, views and big ideas from Canberra's Region Media. Join Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh for insights, expertise and a bit of fun each week.

The Hoot brings you news, views and big ideas from Canberra's Region Media. Join Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh for insights, expertise and a bit of fun each week.

Join Genevieve Jacobs and Ross Solly for the week's news, views and big ideas from Canberra

The Hoot

Join Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh as they deep dive the week's biggest topic or two. And if you're lucky, there'll even be some maths. It's news and views, but not as you expected. 

Join Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh as they deep dive the week's biggest topic or two. And if you're lucky, there'll even be some maths. It's news and views, but not as you expected.

The Hoot: Dutton goes nuclear (you better believe there'll be fallout!)

This week on The Hoot, we're all about the money, money, money.

We start with the ACT Budget (stop yawning; this is important), and then we get to the baffling pay rise for our new Governor General, Sam Mostyn. How big is the pay rise? How does 43 per cent sound? That's 43 per cent on a salary already nudging $500,000. (Let that sink in for a minute ...)

What's more remarkable about the extra $200,000 a year is the reasoning behind the bump. Sometimes, you have to wonder whether our leaders live in the real world. Don't they know there's a cost-of-living crisis™?

And finally, should there be Business Class on ACT buses?

Before you scoff, the idea has more merit than you might think. It's certainly a better idea than forking out an extra $4000 a week for a role whose main purpose is pinning gongs on people and scoffing scones and cucumber sandwiches.

It's all on The Hoot, with Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh.

Share it, rate it, review it. And if you can figure out how to get an extra 200 k a year, let dmurtagh@region.com.au know. 

This week on The Hoot, we're all about the money, money, money.
We start with the <a href="https://the-riotact.com/barrs-balancing-act-as-slowdown-keeps-budget-in-red/781926">ACT Budget</a> (stop yawning; this is important), and then we get to the baffling pay rise for our new Governor General, Sam Mostyn. How big is the pay rise? How does 43 per cent sound? That's 43 per cent on a salary already nudging $500,000. (Let that sink in for a minute ...)
What's more remarkable about the extra $200,000 a year is the reasoning behind the bump. Sometimes, you have to wonder whether our leaders live in the real world. Don't they know there's a cost-of-living crisis™?
And finally, should there be <a href="https://the-riotact.com/canberras-buses-should-have-business-class/781003">Business Class on ACT buses</a>?
Before you scoff, the idea has more merit than you might think. It's certainly a better idea than forking out an extra $4000 a week for a role whose main purpose is pinning gongs on people and scoffing scones and cucumber sandwiches.
It's all on The Hoot, with Claire Fenwicke and David Murtagh.
Share it, rate it, review it. And if you can figure out how to get an extra 200 k a year, let <a href="mailto:dmurtagh@region.com.au">dmurtagh@region.com.au</a> know.

The Hoot: Pop the champagne! It's time ACT buses had business class

This week on The Hoot, the owls take a hard look at the ACT Government's 20-year plan to cull the number of poker machines in local clubs.

Under the initiative, the number of poker machines in the ACT will be slashed to just 1000 by 2045 if Labor is re-elected in October (there are currently 3790). The primary goal is to reduce gambling harm. ACT Labor says it will legislate to force clubs to give up 500 machines every four years until the target is met.

But there's more.

The sweetener will be a framework for clubs to develop sustainable alternative revenue streams, including practical ways for clubs to unlock their land so it can be used for housing, build-to-rent projects and aged care.

But it's not all smooth sailing - in fact, the clubs are positively ropable.

And where would we be without light rail? On a bus probably, but aside from that ...

We're headed to the polls in October and it seems like light rail will again be a primary focus. Oh, goody.

The Libs are in a spot of bother with their plan to put us on the buses, but the government has some problems, too. Some of the turns to Woden are a bit sharp for the not-too-nimble trams, so we'll be getting a tunnel. Of sorts. And they don't come cheap ... not that we know what the cost will be, but apart from that ... 

Finally, we discuss this park from Andrew Barr. Yes, it's a storm in a teacup, but isn't everything these days?

If you haven’t subscribed to the Hoot, why haven't you? Like all Region products, to you, the listener, the reader, it’s free. No pay walls.

Subscribe through your favourite pod app, leave a message, share, rate and review.

Hoot, hoot!

This week on The Hoot, the owls take a hard look at the ACT Government's 20-year plan to cull the number of poker machines in local clubs.
Under the initiative, the number of poker machines in the ACT will be slashed to just 1000 by 2045 if Labor is re-elected in October (there are currently 3790). The primary goal is to reduce gambling harm. ACT Labor says it will legislate to force clubs to give up 500 machines every four years until the target is met.
But there's more.
The sweetener will be a framework for clubs to develop sustainable alternative revenue streams, including practical ways for clubs to unlock their land so it can be used for housing, build-to-rent projects and aged care.
But it's not all smooth sailing - in fact, the clubs are positively ropable.
And where would we be without light rail? On a bus probably, but aside from that ...
We're headed to the polls in October and it seems like light rail will again be a primary focus. Oh, goody.
<a href="https://the-riotact.com/parton-defends-busway-plan-after-admitting-bridge-unlikely-to-carry-priority-lane/777475">The Libs are in a spot of bother with their plan to put us on the buses</a>, but the government has some problems, too. Some of the turns to Woden are a bit sharp for the not-too-nimble trams, so <a href="https://the-riotact.com/light-rail-update-short-tunnel-proposed-to-negotiate-tight-state-circle-bend/777103">we'll be getting a tunnel</a>. Of sorts. And they don't come cheap ... not that we know what the cost will be, but apart from that ... 
Finally, we discuss this <a href="https://the-riotact.com/i-was-following-instructions-chief-minister-apologises-for-parking-in-disabled-spot-at-private-event/776554">park from Andrew Barr</a>. Yes, it's a storm in a teacup, but isn't everything these days?
If you haven’t subscribed to the Hoot, why haven't you? Like all Region products, to you, the listener, the reader, it’s free. No pay walls.
Subscribe through your favourite pod app, leave a message, share, rate and review.
Hoot, hoot!

The Hoot: Labor's pokies plan a high stakes gamble

Good news! Claire Fenwicke is back, meaning Murtagh's evil reign has come to an end.

And just in the nick of time.

This week, the owl's talk about where to next for voluntary assisted dying now that it's been passed, which inevitably brings us to slippery slopes. And all was going well until Murtagh decided to mention Zed (you remember him?)

Murtagh's argument is basically that if you think a law is immoral, as Zed and Kevin Andrews did when VAD was first proposed in the territories, then it's your duty to stop it. That's what you'd do, right? And don't we want politicians to do what they think is right, not expedient or in their self-interest?

Maybe, but Murtagh knows he is - again - in the minority and won't be winning many (or any) friends in the Territory, although Edmund Burke might be smiling.

Then attention is turned to the gold-plated speechwriter in the office of Bill Shorten. Once you get past the astronomical salary ($310,000 a year, thank you very much), does it give clues to the problem the government will have in its efforts to cut contractor costs? If it has to pay more than double APS rates to get a pen for hire, how are they going to get IT specialists?

And finally ... we go to Kambah! The biggest suburb in the southern hemisphere (if you don't count the bigger ones).

Good news! Claire Fenwicke is back, meaning Murtagh's evil reign has come to an end.
And just in the nick of time.
This week, the owl's talk about where to next for <a href="https://the-riotact.com/voluntary-assisted-dying-legalised-in-act-after-30-year-battle/776145">voluntary assisted dying</a> now that it's been passed, which inevitably brings us to slippery slopes. And all was going well until Murtagh decided to mention Zed (you remember him?)
Murtagh's argument is basically that if you think a law is immoral, as Zed and Kevin Andrews did when VAD was first proposed in the territories, then it's your duty to stop it. That's what you'd do, right? And don't we want politicians to do what they think is right, not expedient or in their self-interest?
Maybe, but Murtagh knows he is - again - in the minority and won't be winning many (or any) friends in the Territory, although Edmund Burke might be smiling.
Then attention is turned to the <a href="https://the-riotact.com/shorten-says-he-had-nothing-to-do-with-the-300000-a-year-speechwriter-contract/776151">gold-plated speechwriter in the office of Bill Shorten</a>. Once you get past the astronomical salary ($310,000 a year, thank you very much), does it give clues to the problem the government will have in its efforts to cut contractor costs? If it has to pay more than double APS rates to get a pen for hire, how are they going to get IT specialists?
And finally ... <a href="https://the-riotact.com/happy-birthday-kambah-heres-to-the-biggest-suburb-in-the-southern-hemisphere/775293">we go to Kambah!</a> The biggest suburb in the southern hemisphere (if you don't count the bigger ones).

The Hoot: Dutton goes nuclear (you better believe there'll be fallout!)

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