Rights, Rorts and Rants

Blue Mountains Unions & Community

0.0 (0)
Politics
Semimonthly

Selected content from Rights, Rorts and Rants broadcast weekly on Friday from 4pm to 6pm on community Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM or live streamed from rbm.org.au/. Hosted by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc). Views expressed on our show and in our podcasts are not necessarily endorsed by BMUC.

3d ago

A Fair Day's Work - The Quest to Win Back Time

Historian and author Prof Sean Scalmer shares his insights and discusses his book "A Fair Day's Work - The Quest to Win Back Time" with Deb Smith for Radio Blue Mountains listeners. The Blackheath History Forum have invited him to speak on Sunday 1st November 2026 from 4pm at the Gardner's Inn Blackheath. Tickets at the door, or prebooking via Humanitix. The event is called "Sean Scalmer - A Fair Day's Work: An Australian History". His book can be bought at local bookshops, at the event, online from Melbourne University Publishing, or a digital version via EBooks. The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 30th October 2026. 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.
5d ago

Remembering Stephen Jones, a pioneer of experimental video art and music.

In this interview Fran Dyson pays tribute to Stephen Jones. Stephen Jones was one of the most important electronic and video artists in Australia and a pioneer of the use of video synthesiser in the famous group Severed Heads. Tragically Stephen died on the 8th of October 2026 following an assault outside his studio in Sydney. Fran was a friend of Stephen's and recorded an interview with him which she broadcast on Rights, Rorts and Rants in May 2020. That interview is available on a podcast called "1. Stephen Jones - video synthesising. Plus the early days of DoubleJ and the explosion of art and politics in 1970s Sydney". In this interview Fran pays tribute to Stephen's ground breaking creative work using video with live music performance, the beginning of today's music videos, and his generous nature. Fran plays extracts from her 2020 interview in his studio along with discussion with host Debra Smith. The earlier interview covers Stephen discussing his life and work starting in 1970s Darlinghurst. The show was first broadcast on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM on 16 October 2026. 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.
Sep 30

Bosses Taking Freebies From Workers

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.
Sep 18

Where We Live - Politics in the Pub

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 SocietySarah Redshaw, Councillor, Blue Mountains City CouncilSuzie 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.
Sep 18

Western Sydney Airport campaign update

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.
Sep 15

Time For Handover

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.
Aug 28

Kangaroos, Swift Parrots, Western Sydney Uni or Stockland Development?

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 rrr@bm-community-union.tidymail.co. 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.
Aug 26

Interview with Trish Doyle MP: Member for the Blue Mountains

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.

Selected content from Rights, Rorts and Rants broadcast weekly on Friday from 4pm to 6pm on community Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM or live streamed from rbm.org.au/. Hosted by Blue Mountains Unions & Community (Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc). Views expressed on our show and in our podcasts are not necessarily endorsed by BMUC.

Creator

Blue Mountains Unions & Community
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

272
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Blue Mountains Unions & Community