U.S.WORLD INTERVIEW
Aussie family explains move to 'untouched' Indonesian island
Maxine and Karstan Smith bought five acres near Byron Bay in 2025, then moved to Lombok with their two daughters; diesel there runs about fifty cents.
At a glance
- First reported by News24: “Aussie family reveals why they fled home for ‘untouched’ Indonesian island”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 4:18 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Gloria Vance.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA family bought five acres in the Byron Bay hinterland in twenty twenty-five.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNine months ago they moved to Lombok instead, with two daughters, aged seven and three.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorJoining us is Barnaby Strutt, author of Form Twenty-Seven B Is a Lifestyle. You predicted this. Why?
Barnaby StruttStrictly speaking, I predicted it under Regulation Nine Dash Four.
Barnaby StruttThe mother said roadblock after roadblock of rules, permits and reports, and that is a chapter title.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorShe told the Daily Mail they wanted to build a house, which she called the Australian dream. Is the dream the house or the form?
Barnaby StruttThe form. Nobody dreams of bricks, Gloria. They dream of a stamp that says approved.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorDiesel is about fifty Australian cents a litre there. I have covered border crossings, Mr. Strutt, and nobody has ever fled toward a form.
Barnaby StruttStrictly speaking, I also predicted the opposite, that families would flood back for the paperwork. That's my second book, Please Hold.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorYou predicted both.
Barnaby StruttAnd both sold. That's the only approval I've ever received on time.
Barnaby StruttThe family says they haven't turned their backs on Australia, and I say that's a hedge worth forty dollars in hardcover.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA family left over paperwork, and the author is still on hold. I'd call that consistent.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMr. Strutt, you keep stamping your desk. Is that for the book?
Barnaby StruttStrictly speaking, it's Form Eleven Dash C Slash Nine, for my shed. I filed three years ago. It's pending.

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMr. Strutt, a shed. Three years. Has the shed considered Lombok?
Barnaby StruttReceived.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, November 2, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months




