Rights, Rorts and Rants

We talk to Thomas Costa, the newly elected Secretary of Unions NSW, the peak body for unions in NSW. The discussion covers issues such as the union campaign against the growing culture of unpaid overtime and then we ask about housing.

Following this, a discussion between Wil Tricity, Nick Franklin and Peter Lammiman - members of Blue Mountains Unions and Community and hosts of this and another Radio Blue Mountains show - share personal experiences of unpaid work, housing and how union membership and activism helped them win.

This episode was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM on 25th September 2026.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rights, Rorts and Rants⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is broadcast from 4pm to 6pm on 89.1FM or can be live streamed from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to, and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Disclaimer: We seek a range of perspectives but that means that views expressed in these podcasts are not necessarily endorsed by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How do we expand liveability, community & truly affordable housing in the midst of a World Heritage area, while resisting poor development?

Speakers:

• Tania de Bortoli, Blue Mountains Conservation Society
• Sarah Redshaw, Councillor, Blue Mountains City Council
• Suzie van Opdorp, Councillor, Blue Mountains City Council

This episode was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 18th September 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Debra Smith.

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

You can find past episodes related to housing and development in this playlist.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

Erst Carmichael, tireless campaigner from the recently renamed Western Sydney Airport Community Impact Alliance spoke again with Rights, Rorts and Rants' presenter Merran Maclaren on September 4th 26 about a range of concerns community groups hold about Western Sydney International Airport which will soon add passenger flights to freight.

in addition to new safety concerns re air traffic control Erst outlined international research on human harm caused by aircraft noise and positive large scale noise monitoring in some US cities.

Erst informed listeners how to access real time data from 5 noise monitors in the Blue Mountains via WebTrak on the Air Services Australia website and urged us to send written concerns to the local Federal MP Susan Templeman and sign the group's petition.

The radio show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 4 September 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Merran Maclaren. 

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Authorised by D Smith, Public Officer, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

Viola Morris and Muqdad Al Ghalebi are contesting the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary positions (along with 20 Councillors) on a ticket to run in the upcoming NSW Nurses and Midwives Association elections.

A contested election at the NSW branch of the nurses and midwives union hasn't occurred in 23 years!

Candidates Viola and Muqdad spoke to Peter Lammiman on Rights, Rorts and Rants on Sept 4 2026 about the inadequate salary, conditions and WHS issues challenging their profession in NSW which prompted them to step up, organise a ticket and run for election. Their campaign is called "Time for handover" and is on social media.

The radio show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 4 September 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Merran Maclaren.

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

Western Sydney University and developer Stockland have submitted a State Assessed Rezoning Proposal (SARP) under the State Significant Rezoning policy to have 98.7 hectares of land inside the Werrington Precinct.

Penrith Council has grave concerns about the proposal and have voted to make a submission to SARP to outline their objections.

Sandra Newham, representing the Save Western Sydney Wildlife group and Deb Smith discuss where this land is, how it will be affected and why her group is against its rezoning and sale.

This is the petition to save Western Sydney Kangaroos and the site.

This is a link to the Western Weekender article "ADog’s Breakfast’: Council digs in over uni’s plan to sell land” mentioned in the show.

The interview was first broadcast on Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 28th Augus 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Debra Smith.

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show by emailing [email protected]. Rights, Rorts and Rants is on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

Trish Doyle spoke live on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 with RRR presenters Nick Franklin and Wil Tricity about pressing issues in the Blue Mountains electorate. This is a podcast of that 21 Aug 2026 interview.

Topics ranged from measure to address the closed Great Western Highway along Victoria Pass, aspects of the current housing crisis which is exacerbated in holiday areas such as the Blue Mountains, licensing of labor hire firms, funding for Blue Mountains Hospital and Trish paying tribute to ACTU leader Sally McManus.

The radio show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 21 August 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Nick Franklin & Wil Tricity.

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Authorised by D Smith, Public Officer, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

Koala expert Chris Moon was in conversation with Rights, Rorts and Rants' presenter Nick Franklin on the 10 July 2026 to share his knowledge of koalas on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM.

This conversation will teach you much about koalas. Such as, the impact of the Black Summer fires on koala numbers (not as lethal as we were lead to believe); background about the Great Koala National Park in NSW. Are koalas really on the brink of extinction? New science for counting koalas using drones.

Listen, learn, enjoy.

The radio show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 10 July 2026 produced by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Nick Franklin with Debra Smith on the controls.

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Authorised by D Smith, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community. 

 Acknowledging Pixababy for the free koala photo.

Deb Smith has a rant about modern slavery in Australia...

What you can do if you:

• are trying to escape slavery
• know someone enduring slavery

and, what the Australian government is doing to combat modern slavery.

Support, contact details and other information mentioned in the show can be found via these links and in the menu of the Blue Mountains Unions and Community website under "Modern Slavery".

This episode was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM, "Rights, Rorts and Rants" 7th August 2026.

We acknowledge the traditional owners and leaders past and present of the never ceded land, the Darug and Gundungurra peoples.

Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council.

The quantum world may seem like sci-fi and magic but, with the help of Dr Danni Holmes' field guide, we can discover how to spot it in the wild. Begin your journey into the quantum universe with this discussion between Danni and Deb Smith.

On the 11 August Melbourne University Press releases WONDERS OF THE QUANTUM WORLD: UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF OUR UNIVERSE, LIFE ON EARTH AND THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY by DANNI HOLMES. 

There is an invisible world beyond the reach of our senses, where reality behaves very differently from everyday life. In Wonders of the Quantum World, quantum physicist, engineer and passionate science communicator Danni Holmes invites readers on a journey into the quantum realm to uncover the extraordinary phenomena that shape our Universe.

One of the first books on quantum physics written for a general audience in Australia, this is an essential guide to understanding how the strange laws of the quantum realm influence everyday life. Holmes brings complex ideas to life with clarity, humour and wonder, revealing the surprising ways quantum phenomena are woven into the fabric of our existence.

Readers will discover:

• Why stars shine and why black holes have an expiry date
• How do we know the age of the Universe
• How quantum physics influenced the evolution of life on Earth
• How migratory birds navigate without maps
• How our noses detect the vibrations of scent molecules
• Whether consciousness could have quantum origins
• How our growing understanding of quantum physics is driving revolutionary technologies that could transform the twenty-first century, enabling us to solve previously unsolvable problems.

Honest, accessible and scientifically rigorous, Wonders of the Quantum World reveals the hidden forces that govern reality and offers an inspiring glimpse into the science that is transforming our understanding of the Universe—and our future within it.

'Quantum is “tricky” – but this book got me closer to understanding this wondrous world.’ – DR KARL

This episode was first broadcast on ⁠Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM⁠ on 7th August 2026.

We acknowledge the Darug and Gundungurra peoples and their elders, past and present, of the never ceded country of the Blue Mountains.

Music includes "The Quantum World" by melodysheep.

In this update on the "Still Not a Suburb of Sydney" campaign, Tania De Bortoli of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society urges "everyone who cares about the future of the Blue Mountains to write a personal letter asking (the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces) not to approve the proposed development at 142–150 Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba, and to exempt the Blue Mountains from the HDA pathway".

Download the ConSoc Letter Writing Guide for suggested points, instructions and contact details, then send your own respectful letter during July.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 10th July 2026 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Rights, Rorts and Rants. 

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which may be added to one of our podcasts.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on our radio show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm or livestreamed via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rbm.org.au.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BMUC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community pays its respect to and acknowledges, the Darug and Gundungurra First Peoples of the Blue Mountains area and acknowledges this is Aboriginal Land that was never ceded.

Disclaimer: Rights, Rorts and Rants explores a range of issues from different perspectives. The views expressed on the show and podcast are not necessarily endorsed by Blue Mountains & Community.