The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Poor old Australia is finding out governments can't fix everything.
We often want governments to fix everything because we collectively aren't up to fixing it ourselves.
On the social media ban for teens, Australia was the pioneer. A chunk of the world followed but Australia, to a degree, was hailed a hero, and yet Albanese has exploded with frustration a few short months after introducing their laws because they don’t work.
Here's the twofold problem:
1) The customer base, i.e. the kids, don’t like the ban and work hard to get around it.
2) The tech companies don’t like the ban and work hard to get around it.
Parents who should have done most of the heavy lifting hoped a government would save the day. They haven't, nor will they.
Then you come to the supermarkets, a problem of much interest here. They have, as of July 1st, a new price gouging tool – the first country in the world to bring in a ban for price gouging.
You will officially not be allowed to price gouge. Obvious question: what is price gouging and who decides?
Funny story, they haven't quite worked that bit out yet, despite the fact July 1st is around the corner.
So you can pretty much bet that in a few months' time you will see the return of a frustrated Albanese, once again having been foiled by the big players who will continue to argue forever just what is meant by price gouging.
Which is not of course to say the broad idea behind these rules is a bad thing.
But it is, to very simply point out, that governments who think they can control everything, can't.
People who rely on governments to control everything will forever be disappointed.
In tech's case, they are global and too big to be contained. Ask the Europeans who must have fined them trillions by now to no great effect.
In the supermarket's case, pricing on goods by the tens of thousands is so varied and so complex, no one-stop-shop of government rules and regulations is ever going to give everyone what they want all the time.
As for New Zealand we have really done little, if anything, about either of these problems.
And you might argue that's the smart move, given those who think they control it all actually control very little.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a busy few months for Kiwi country musician Zac Griffith.
He’s just released his debut EP ‘Where I Belong’ – following on from a couple of standout performances at the All Country Australia Showcase and CMC Rocks Queensland, and his previous single ‘Sunday Sober’ making it into the Top 10 on the NZ Country Airplay Charts.
The six-track EP is a collection of songs written on the road and in Nelson, his hometown, representing the emotions that come with trying to stay connected to both worlds.
“These are songs that have all come from the last two years of my life – different stages, different, different places, what I was feeling at the time,” he told Mike Hosking.
“It’s yeah, quite neat to have them all in one place and to be able to listen to them.”
And now he’s taking them around the country on his first ever headline tour – performing in Christchurch, Auckland, and of course, Nelson.
“I think it’s probably the one I’m most comfortable with,” Griffith said.
“It’s the audience I’ve been around the most, I guess, and the most supportive audience I have, and I think they’re stoked that I’ve got a show back in the hometown.”
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The worst seems to be over when it comes to the job market.
Filled jobs rose 0.3% in May —an extra 2,515 roles— with strong gains in the service and public sectors.
The annual lift of 0.7% was the fastest in over two years.
Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Mike Hosking in terms of the economy, it’s as if we’re on State Highway 1, travelling around 60kp/h when the speed limit is 100kp/h.
He says we have forward propulsion, but we’re not knocking the ball out of the park in regards to speed.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30th of June, just how fast has the fast-track system been? Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop discusses.
Tonight is the night when we find out if/how many New Zealand restaurants have been awarded a Michelin star.
Kiwi singer Zac Griffith has released his debut EP so is back on the show - just wait until you hear his performance!
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angst continues to surround netball’s future.
Players and coaches alike are lashing out, saying there’s still no clarity on next season’s ANZ Premiership.
It comes after a 20% pay cut, another expiring TV deal, and three straight years of uncertainty.
Northern Mystics Head Coach Tia Winikerei told Mike Hosking the product is great, and she’s not sure what would need to change to get people to invest.
She says they’ve regularly had sell-out crowds throughout the regular season and have performed on the world stage for many years.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.