Local Government Elections will take place on 14 September. Rights, Rorts and Rants presenter Debra Smith interviewed a candidate for Blue Mountains City Council, on 7th September 2024. 

The interview was played on Rights, Rorts and Rants' 8th September show as a way for Blue Mountains Unions & Community to give voters extra insight into some of the candidates running for Council and local council issues. 

The podcast was produced by Debra Smith. 

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Join a union - 1300 486 466 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

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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.

Views expressed on this show are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc.

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

Thanks for listening.

"Since the Federal Oppositions announcement to build nuclear power stations at 7 sites across Australia, Lithgow has been in the news. Painted as down and out economically by many journalists and radio commentators, some have argued for the siting of a nuclear power reactor at Lithgow because ‘Lithgow needs the jobs’."

Dr Michelle Zeibots and the Lithgow Community Power Project have an alternative - which won't take 15 years to bring new jobs to Lithgow. That's how long it would take to get a nuclear reactor up and operational.

If you agree, your signature, and that of your friends and neighbours, is urgently needed on https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition-details.aspx?q=KIwoOxy_rOj6-6hJioQVMg

"It’s (that's the Lithgow Locomotive Workshop) been under-utilised for over 15 and unoccupied for 5 years, takes up a quarter of Lithgow’s industrial land area and used to employ hundreds of people from the local workforce. The Lithgow Locomotive Workshop was once a vibrant workplace. It’s currently being used to house the new InterCity trains before they go into service in December. After that, locals want it "brought back into active use so it can start employing hundreds of people again."

You can find out more on the Lithgow Community Power Project Facebook page.

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.

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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 podcast was produced by Debra Smith.

Opinions expressed in this video are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc.

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

Politics in the Pub at the Family Hotel in Katoomba on 15th June 2024 featured two speakers on the topic of Tax Justice.

Richard Denniss of the Australia Institute showed us how the spending choices made in government budgets inform us about government priorities and how tax payers can be deceived into thinking we can't afford "nice things".

Michael Whaites of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and formerly of Public Services International told us about the shocking findings of inquiries conducted by PSI and CICTAR into the privatisation of public services.

This is a link to the bios of both speakers.

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 podcast was produced by Debra Smith.

Opinions expressed in this video are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc.

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

On 23 August 2024 on Rights Rorts and Rants Peter Lammiman and Dr Rodrigo Acuña discuss the current post election situation in Venezuela. Dr Acuña described Venezuela as "a country under siege" with over 900 American sanctions against Venezuela.

Dr Acuña also touches on other Latin and South American countries and the historical background in the US Venezuela relationship in his analysis.

Something for the diary

Listeners can find out more about the current political situation in Venezuela by attending a documentary screening at NSW Teachers Federation auditorium in Surry Hills on 21st September. Called Venezuela: the cost of challenging an empire. Tickets are available from Eventbrite. Rodrigo made the documentary with another filmmaker and it has received high ratings.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 23 August 2024 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson & Peter Lammiman. 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

After reading a recent Blue Mountains Gazette story about a unique solution to address the significant issue of home insecurity and homelessness among older women in the Blue Mountains, RRR Presenter Merran Maclaren contacted Heather Shepherd from the Older Women's Network (OWN) Blue Mountains who was mentioned in the Gazette and asked her into the studio along with co-presenter Peter Lammiman, on Rights, Rorts and Rants.

Heather Shepherd is part of a volunteer group of older women namely the Older Women's Network (OWN) NSW.

Heather explains how this amazing project was created by the local OWN branch in response to the real issue of homelessness among older women and then supported by OWN NSW. How the project works and how it is resulting in connecting home seekers among older women in the Blue Mountains area with home providers. Thirteen home seekers have been connected with accommodation providers since May 22, 2024.

You will hear towards the end of the interview Merran asking Heather how we can help to support the project. Heather explains some ways we can assist:-

Do you have any spare accommodation?

Do you have any prizes for raffles?

Can you make a donation? Make a donation through Upper Mountains Rotary by going to www.donations.raws.com.au/14-2024-25

More about the project can be found at how.ownnsw.org.au

The interview illustrates how a group of women who care about a need and act on it can work to create a solution that makes a significant difference to the lives of others and create a model that can be followed in other places.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 30 August 2024 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Merran Maclaren and Peter Lammiman. This 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Ahead of the Local Council election on 14 September Merran Maclaren and Peter Lammiman interviewed Greens Candidate for Ward 1 Sarah Redshaw about what she and other Greens candidates across 4 Wards stands for, and what are her priorities in running for another term on Council.

Sarah talks about issues important to the Greens such as balancing Labor on Council due to the Liberals not being able to be elected this election and balancing the needs of the community, tourism and the environment.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 30 August 2024 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Merran McLaren and Peter Lammiman. 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

BMUC member and well know peace activist Bruce Cornwall shares up to date research into opinions across the Australian political spectrum about AUKUS - the Australian nuclear submarine contract with the USA and United Kingdom. This is an enlightening and thought provoking discussion between Bruce and Rights, Rorts and Rants Presenter Fran Dyson.

Bruce traverses various issues with the AUKUS deal including doubt about the Americans' ability to deliver the agreed submarines to Australia and the staggering ongoing economic cost to Australia.

A view Bruce quotes in the interview is "The idea that we will get nuclear submarines is off with the pixies".

References to information Bruce included are:

Dr Elizabeth Buchanan Unhinged from reality: we’re only a pitstop for nuclear subs SMH Aug 16 2024 page 26

 Gareth Evans AUKUS: The worst defence and foreign policy decision our country has made Pearls and Irritations  Aug 17, 2024

 Paul Keating The military control of Australia  Pearls and Irritations Aug 9, 2024

 Mike Scrafton The potential US withdrawal from AUKUS must be an election issue Pearls and Irritations Aug 16, 2024. 

Laura Tingle 7.30 Report

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 23 August 2024 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Just after allegations against the CFMEU broke in the media, Deb Smith and Bruce Cornwell ranted about their personal opinions on the matter.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on

If you'd like to add to the discussion, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave an audio comment about 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.

Opinions expressed on this show are not necessarily endorsed by the Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc.

On 23 August 2024 on Rights, Rorts and Rants Fran Dyson and Peter Lammiman interviewed Independent Candidate for Ward 3 Daniel Myles about what he stands for and what are his priorities in running for another term on Council. He reflects on the effective team currently on Council.

Daniel believes every vote counts and participation by residents ensures the best outcomes for the Blue Mountains.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 23 August 2024 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Fran Dyson and Peter Lammiman. 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.

Part 1 Suzie Van Opdorp

Local Government Elections will take place on 14 September. Rights, Rorts and Rants presenter Debra Smith interviewed candidate for Blue Mountains City Council Suzie Van Opdorp on Tuesday August 13, 2024.

Debra played the interview on RRR 16 Aug show as a way for Blue Mountains Unions Council to give voters more insight into some of the candidates running for Council and local council issues.

The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 16 August 2024 by Blue Mountains Unions & Community and presented by Debra Smith. 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, Secretary, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, 52-52A Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, NSW.