Jon Atkins of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective and Deb Smith in a thought provoking interview discuss how we can protect ANZAC Day as a day of reflection and mourning and prevent it from being a political tool of manipulation or as a justification for future bloodbaths? The nation of Australia was not born in a military tragedy at Gallipoli but in the Federation of Australia in peacetime in 1901.

The Blue Mountains Peace Collective hosted an ANZAC Day of Reflection at 2pm on 25th April 2025 in the Peace Park opposite Blue Mountains City Council in Katoomba.

This episode was first broadcast on ⁠Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM⁠ on 18th April 2025.

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.

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

On Rights, Rorts and Rants on 11 April 2025 Merran Maclaren interviewed representatives from Macquarie Alliance for Climate (MAC).

Shirley Lewis and Erst Carmichael spoke to Merran about what MAC is and some of the activities the organisation has organised to have conversations with the community about climate change and the cost of living.

For more information about events, to get house signs on climate change or to volunteer you can chat at one of the group's Saturday street stalls or find out more by going to Macquarie Alliance for Climate's website https://www.macquariealliance.org and social media platforms.

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.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 11 April 2025 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Merran Maclaren. The podcast was produced by Ann-Maree McEwan. 

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.

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

Greens candidate for Macquarie Terry Morgan speaks to Co-Presenters Peter Lammiman and Debra Smith about his teaching background and passion for bilingual education in remote Indigenous communities; what's is important to him and the Greens Party to achieve by Terry being elected in the upcoming Federal election. Peter asks Terry a series of questions about education funding, health, housing and climate change to assist listeners in making an informed choice at the ballot box.

Music selected by Terry.

1. Artist - Ray Dimakarri Dixon. Title: Standing Strong 

2. Artist - Ray Dimakarri Dixon.Title: The Goodbye song 

3. Artist - Stuart Joel Nugget.Title: Ilbingini Agiyabarda (When the water goes down). 

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.

This interview was broadcast on Rights, Rorts and Rants on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM by Blue Mountains Unions & Community on 21st March 2025.

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.

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

Jane Caro AM is a Walkley Award winning Australian author, novelist, columnist, broadcaster, documentary maker, professional speaker and social commentator. She is a staunch advocate and defender of public education.

In this episode Jane discusses the unfair government funding of Australian schools with Debra Smith and Peter Lammiman - how did we get to a system biased in favour of private schools, and how can we make our education system fairer?

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.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on 17th March 2025 and first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM and rbm.org.au on 21st March 2025.

Opinions expressed in this video are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc, however we have been long time supporters of public education.

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

On 14th March 2025 this segment of Rights, Rorts and Rants went to air.

Mike Holland briefly covered three high profile whistleblowers who have been generally subjected to detrimental treatment, financial ruin, jail time and psychological suffering at the hands of their employers and the media. The ill-treatment directed at employees who bring cases involving wrongdoing into public light has led Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock to address this by sponsoring a Senate bill on 11 February 2025 namely the "Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill 2025 (No. 2)". Dr Helen Haines MP and Andrew Wilkie MP also introduced the bill which will, if passed, establish an independent body with the power to enforce whistleblower protections and safeguard whistleblowers, among other things. The bill has been referred to a committee with reporting back on 29 August 2025.

The radio show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 14 March 2025 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson. The podcast was produced by Ann-Maree McEwan. 

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, Management Committee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Broadcast on March 14, 2025 on Rights, Rorts and Rants.

Mike Holland and Fran Dyson discuss the latest update on Dutton's nuclear thought bubble by looking into the overseas experience to gauge the efficacy of claims from the Liberal Party regarding cost estimates and construction times to build nuclear reactors for the first time in Australia. Mike also looks at who is building nuclear reactors overseas and how other countries and corporations deal with the burden of costs blow-outs.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson. The podcast produced by Ann-Maree McEwan 

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.

Since being elected the Albanese government has created 36,000 secure jobs in the public service bringing immense benefits to the Australians they serve.

Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton has signaled that, if elected, a Coalition government will fire 36,000 APS workers. Many of these people work in regional areas, providing local services and supporting local economies.

Debra Smith and Nick Franklin ask Rebecca Fawcett, Deputy Secretary of the union representing public servants, the CPSU, why cutting the services provided by these workers will hurt Australians how we can support public servants.

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.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on 5th March 2025 and broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM on 7th March 2025.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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, Management Committee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Fran Dyson and Mike Holland start 2025 with a look back over union wins in 2024.

The discussion includes the Woolworths Distribution Centre UWU win that defeated an AI-surveillance work system that threatened to injure workers.

Also discussed is new criminalised wage theft legislation that commenced on 1 January 2025 that means criminal penalties, including 10 maximum jail time, for bosses who intentionally underpay wages, superannuation and entitlements to their workers.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 31st January 2025 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson. The podcast was produced by Ann-Maree McEwan. 

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, Management Committee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

As Australia races towards a Federal election in a matter of weeks Rights, Rorts and Rants' presenter Nick Franklin with his team of Peter Lammiman and Suzanne Rix interview the Member for Macquarie and candidate Susan Templeman MP.

Susan was asked about a range of topics including where the government stood on the cost of living; climate change; 4-year fixed terms for Federal governments; increasing Australian and local manufacturing; community batteries for Macquarie; the housing crisis; election donation legislation and health and aged care.

Listeners will find the interview comprehensive. RRR aims to inform listeners ahead of their decision at the polling booth on election day.

Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) 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.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 28 February 2025 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (BMUC) and presented by Walkley Award winner Nick Franklin. The podcast was produced by Ann-Maree McEwan. 

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.

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

On Rights, Rorts and Rants presenter Fran Dyson leads a discussion with co-presenter Mike Holland on the issue of housing non-affordability. A key issue hurting large sections of the community.

The first part of the discussion includes an analysis of both the ALP and LNP housing affordability policies.

The second part of the discussion explores how property tax benefits such as negative gearing translate enhance wealth through property for some.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 31 January 2025 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson. The podcast produced by Ann-Maree McEwan. 

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. New members welcome!

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, Management Committee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.