Lawyers say they can't pinpoint the reason there's been an increase in complaints.

The Law Society's annual report reveals more clients are raising their concerns, particularly around incompetence.

New Zealand Law Association Vice President Julie-Anne Kincade told Andrew Dickens with more people using AI to research their legal issues, they're needing to manage expectations.

She welcomes clients doing their own research but it's important people remember lawyers are the experts.

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We’ll get a clearer picture of the Government’s spending plans heading into an election year this afternoon.

Treasury’s releasing the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update at 1pm, alongside the Budget Policy Statement, setting out the economic outlook and spending priorities.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen Andrew Dickens governments are often expected to loosen the purse strings in an election year.

He says the Government might spend less than they hoped if the books aren't looking too flash.

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A deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach is feeding speculation of potential intelligence errors.

Two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday evening, killing 15 people and wounding dozens more.

A 24-year-old suspect remains in hospital under police guard - while his 50-year-old father, the other alleged offender, was shot dead.

The younger man, who's suspected of orchestrating the attack, had previously been investigated by the country's security agency - and hadn't been csydnonsidered a threat.

But Massey University Defence Studies Professor John Battersby says we shouldn't jump to conclusions - until more details emerge.

He told Andrew Dickens intelligence capabilities are always limited by the resources put into them.

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Yesterday was a sad morose day reflecting on the Jewish deaths and their horror

Made worse by a never-ending stream of video coverage from every angle. Never has a massacre been as documented and then distributed. The power of citizens with broadcast studios in their phones. The uncensored images spread by the very social media that Australia banned for the under 16s this past week.

And we saw the victims. Dead, dying and being given CPR. In their summer shorts and flip flops ready for a day of family fun by the sea. They looked like us. Because they are us.

Meanwhile the father and son looked unremarkable. Portly. Fat on the life of comfort Australia gave them and yet they did what they did. The face of evil is so often banal.

Second. Are you now realising that Winston Peters knew what he was talking about when he refused to back a state of Palestine.

I was one of the few who agreed. There is no state, there is no governing authority or governance legitimacy. But underneath it all there was no indication that Palestinians want peace. His concern was Hamas was still armed, and recognition could push Hamas towards a more hardened position

So, in the wake of the killings there was a Jewish bloke interviewed in front of the dead and the dying and he let rip.

He talked about October 7. He talked about Hamas atrocity and then he railed about Albanese and all the other states and statesman who then sent money to Gaza and made virtue signalling noises about state recognition and lo and behold what do we see. An empowered people with a big grudge still adopting a hardened position.

Benjamin Netanyahu wrote to Anthony Albanese in August, warning that the government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state “pours fuel on the antisemitic fire … emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew hatred now stalking your streets” Was he wrong?

Apparently, we have a peace process. Obviously, it’s not working.

Apparently, the end game for the end of violence is a 2-state solution but can we really see these 2 people co-existing any time soon.

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Today marks the beginning of road side drug testing - starting exclusively in the Wellington District.

The scheme's pilot will see police conducting random roadside saliva tests - screening for cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine.

The initiative begins in the capital before scaling up from April until coverage is nationwide by mid next-year.

Any drivers whose tests come back positive, will need to do a lab test which also checks for 25 other substances.

Positive tests can result in 12 hour disqualifications from driving and possible infringement notices.

Police Association President Steve Watt shares his thoughts.

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After Bondi It now seems obvious that antisemitism is out the gate. Particularly in Australia with a large population who hail from the middle east, but increasingly so in this country and around the world.

and I don't think the genie is going to be put back in the bottle any time soon.

The conflict in Gaza starting with the Hamas attack on the music festival in October 2023 has only intensified the conflict between faiths.

and you don't want to victim blame but Israel's reaction to the original attack has not calmed the situation but further radicalised Moslems.

Presenting talkback on the Gaza situation over the past 2 years I have been at pains to separate the Israel State from the Jewish faith but that has been impossible for both sides.

Not helped by Netanyahu who goes out of his way to make sure you know the faith is the state and vice versa.

Any talk of Gazan bloodshed by Israel is always pulled back to October the 7th 2023.

And any talk about the Hamas atrocity is always linked back to the Israeli counter moves.

Any criticism of Israel's actions is always branded antisemitism by supporters of Israel.

Both sides now locked in a deadly dance with no middle ground of peace. A dance that has been there since 1948 but today is more furious than ever.

Blessed are the peacemakers they say but where are they.

One reported blessing is that the Australian hero who disarmed a Bondi attacker was himself an Arab.

A local fruit shop owner. Showing that the killers are not indicative of all Moslems.

Hopefully that might ease the wave of Islamophobia that is almost inevitable.

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On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 15th of December 2025, Police begin roadside drug testing from today, Police Association President, Steve Watt tells Andrew what officers are preparing for.

UK police tighten security around synagogues celebrating Hanukkah following the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest.

Elliott Smith has the latest on the weekend's sport.

Plus, James Cameron's warned about the future of our film industry, Chair of Screen Music and Sound Guild, John McKay shares his thoughts.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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