National Radio Goes Live Across Australia

Tuesday, 22 April 2003, 10:27 am
Press Release: Radio New Zealand Limited

National Radio Goes Live Across Australia The Anzac Connection – Australasia Talks Back

For the first time ever, people in all states of Australia and throughout New Zealand will be able to contribute to one “talkback” radio programme. Starting Monday 28 April, National Radio is to be broadcast live across Australia for one hour every night at 8pm (NZ time) as part of the popular ABC radio show Australia Talks Back, hosted by Sandy McCutcheon.

The five hour-long programmes will address a broad range of issues common to audiences on both sides of the Tasman.The programme will be broadcast from Radio New Zealand House in Wellington. These programmes will replace Sandy McCutcheon’s regular Australia Talks Back show on the ABC’s Radio National which is broadcast live right across Australia.

McCutcheon’s New Zealand co-hosts will be Kim Hill and Linda Clark. On Wednesday night National Radio’s Paul Diamond will also co-host a programme that will look at indigenous issues. Expect contributions from listeners calling from Broome to Dunedin, Auckland to Perth, Mt Hutt to Thredbo – all will be able to call in live to express their views on a range of topics.

The programme’s phone-in line number 0800–653-389 will be open to calls on the day of broadcast.

Each day’s programme has a distinct theme dealing with subjects that are close to the hearts of people from both countries: the differing nature of our international relations with the USA; our economic ties; the treatment of our indigenous populations; the degree to which we each feel that “the grass is greener” in each other’s paddocks and finally, the “week in review”.

McCutcheon was brought up in New Zealand and moved to Australia in the 1970s. Most of his working life has been spent in either radio or theatre. He has worked as an actor and director and has written 22 plays that have been professionally produced.

"I'm thrilled to be back in my home country and to work with Radio New Zealand on the first ever Australasia 'talkback' radio program. My emotional ties to New Zealand remain strong and I expect to be flooded with memories as I'll be returning to where I started my broadcasting career. I have always been indebted to the incredible training I received from the NZBC."

In his broadcasting career McCutcheon has worked in both commercial and public radio with the highlights being his time on Double Jay and in his current position as producer/presenter of Australia Talks Back. He has produced radio documentaries in in many parts of the world including Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Mozambique, South Africa and North and South Sudan.

Sandy McCutcheon’s radio work has been recognised with awards in Australia and at the prestigious New York Radio Festival Awards. His novels, Peace Crimes, Poison Tree, Safe Haven and Delicate Indecencies are all bestsellers. He has also written two non-fiction titles and an illustrated children’s book called Blik!. Two new novels are due out next year.

Sandy McCutcheon currently lives in Brisbane

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