City Limits: Recent Episodes
Kevin Healy, Meg Kimber, Zeb Peake & Karina Aedo-Aguilera
Urban environment issues, analysing government services, both federal and state and local campaigns.
Kevin shows his usual concern for the challenges faced by Liberal politicians, and the CEOs of fossil fuel companies.Helen van den Berg reminds us that without water there is no life. We kick of the conversation with a new Victorian law that recognises the personhood of rivers.
Kevin looks into organising by the billionaire class, and tries to sell Anne a $500,000 watch. Kevin then reminisces with climate researcher David Spratt, about 50 years of activism, including travel to the Middle East, and 50 years of 3CR radical radio.
Kate Shaw takes a deep dive into how the recent federal budget with its tax changes to negative gearing and capital gains will impact the housing crisis. Kevin takes a look at the impact of the federal budget on capitalist investments.
Kevin takes us through the creative accounting of large corporations, and throws in a little war profiteering. Jack Howard reminds us how the demise of the union movement began under the Hawke Labor government.
Kevin gives us the weekly roundup of news from the industrial action up north to the inaction of the Minister for the Environment. Jack and Shane take us through the upcoming events and ongoing developments in public housing.
s central bank governor.Kevin then speaks with David Sweeney, anti-nuclear campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation.
s owner of the largest agricultural holdings, and the most disappointed past Labor premier all have in common? They are all women.We speak with Kate Shaw about the amazing array of speakers at the public housing forum: ENOUGH! Standing together for Victoria’s public housing held at The Capitol theatre on Thursday, October 23, 2025.Why are we set on demolishing the towers when it is more efficient, more humane, and more environmentally friendly to follow international practice, and retro-fit them?!
Kevin puts his own twist on the anniversary of the Dismissal.As ever Helen van den Berg is a font of information about how we could all be better stewards of that most precious resource - water! More information: Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association (MRWA) a community-based organisation that advocates for the health of rivers and creeks in the Maribyrnong catchment.
Speaking with Julia Stockigt from Save Westernport about yet another development proposal the local community demands to see ethically and safely executed: this time a Windfarm Terminal proposed by the Port of Hastings on behalf of Victorian Government.Julis discusses the proposed dredging of Western Port (Bay) to facilitate passage of large ships with turbines and pylons twice as tall as the MCG towers, to make way for an offshore wind energy project.Building this shipping channel will disturb the marine environment and rare species in water and on land, in this internationally recognised Ramsar site of significance.
Kevin and Zeb get the latest updates on our waterways from Friends of Steele Creek's Helen van den Berg.
Public Housing Rally details: Saturday August 2nd 2025, 11am - 1pm at the State Library.The Victorian Labor Government plans to demolish and privatize public housing and sell off public land to private developers.Over 10,000 residents are set to be displaced, and 6,660 homes are set to be demolished.
We chat with regular guest John McPherson about Naarm/Melbourne's public transport planning woes. John provides sage advice to build infrastructure for the timetable you need - not the other way round!Find out more about the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/SATScampaign/
We catch up with our regular housing guests for their view on the recent election and Victorian State Budget.
Kevin and Zeb catch up with John to talk all things transport in and around Naarm.A new accessible transport rally will be held on Saturday 10/05 at 10am at the Brunswick Rd/Sydney Rd tram stop, demanding all tram stops be made accessible. Come along!Petition to ban Israel from competing in Eurovision: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/eurovision_no_stage_for_war_crimes_loc/?
Kevin and Zeb interview Jessica Harrison, presenter on Breadline (Mondays 6:00pm to 6:30pm - https://www.3cr.org.au/breadline) and long-standing activist in Gippsland.
Kevin and Zeb interview Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) and presenter on 3CR's Palestine Remembered (9.30am on Saturdays).The next Free Palestine rallies coming up are a snap action on Friday 28th 5.30pm at Parliament House and on April 13 12pm at the State Library.We also hear an audio clip from the Tuesday Brekkie show: Juliette interviews Cath Rouse from the 'NO Northern Incinerator Wollert' Campaign about some of the background and updates with what's happening in the north of the city.
Web Forum on the risks of nuclear to Far North Queensland, Wed 12/03/25 6.30pm AEST, 7.30pm Melbourne time: https://www.foefnq.org.au/the_risks_of_nuclear_for_fnq_forum?splash=1 Check out interactive mapping showing how a Fukushima-scale nuclear disaster could contaminate different areas depending on proposed reactor sites by the Liberals:https://nuclearplume.au/
This week Kevin goes on holiday and Karina and Zeb go rogue and drink coffee instead of tea! We interview socialist activist Dimitri Tafidis regarding the train disaster in Tempi, Greece 2 years ago which claimed 57 lives, and the general strike that is planned in Greece on the anniversary of this terrible collision.'Greece remains gripped by unanswered questions, systemic failures and institutional malpractice.' Details of the rally at the consulate: https://happeningnext.com/event/justice-for-the-victims-of-tempi-eid3a0c8kffmeRally to fight for tunnel filters on West Gate Tunnel: Organised by the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) the ‘Clean our air – filter the stacks’ rally will take place at Yarraville Gardens on Sunday, March 2 11am-12pm, calling to have filtration devices installed in the tunnel’s ventilation stacks which are currently under construction.
Kevin and Zeb are joined by Freja Leonard, No More Gas Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth Melbourne (and Scourge of the Gas Industry in Victoria) regarding the latest on this polluting and climate destroying fossil fuel.We play an audio excerpt from Radio Ecoshock, a weekly environment bulleting from Canada hosted and produces by Alex Smith (listen to their program 6am Sundays/10pm Mondays). Dr Timothee Parrique, economist at the faculty of Lausanne in Switzerland, speaks on the problem of economic growth on a finite planet. This is in tribute to Professor Paddy Moriarty, longtime guest of the show, who was a proponent of the need to not only transition our energy production to renewables but to decrease our energy consumption overall.Event on Thu, 13 Feb, 6:30pm - 8pm: Who Owns the Holy Land? Muslim, Jewish and Christian voices share their stories and visions for peace:https://events.humanitix.com/who-owns-the-holy-landNo Rig Decommissioning in Corner Inlet - Exxon Out! Petition: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/environmental-effects-statement-for-the-decommissioning-of-oil-and-gas-at-barry-beach-marine-terminal/More info: https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/no_rig_decommissioning_in_corner_inlet_exxon_out
City Limits' monthly housing update with Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and Jack Verdins from Friends of Public Housing Victoria.In the top half of the show, Keving mentions the event at Coburg Town Hall on Saturday 23 November: Voices from the Frontline of the Climate Crisis – an urgent call from the NTShane McGrath comes on the show to discuss retirement villages. HAAG featured recently on a 7.30 Report's investigation on Retirement Villages' prioritise profit over their residents. Also discussed were the upcoming rental reforms and their shortcomings as well as the long waiting lists for aged care packages. You can give HAAG a call on 1300 765 178 if you're looking for help accessing aged care services. Upcoming HAAG AGM: 28th Nov 11am-1pm Ross House. RSVP online or call 96547389. Updates provided by Jack Verdins: CLASS ACTION UPDATE FROM INNER MELBOURNE COMMUNITY LEGALPublic housing class action against the Victorian Government The Victorian Government made the decision to ‘retire and redevelop’ all public housing towers across Melbourne by 2051 on 18 September 2023. Inner Melbourne Community Legal ("IMCL") filed a class action on behalf of public housing residents in North Melbourne and Flemington against Homes Victoria over the decision. What happened in the class action trial?IMCL argued in the Supreme Court of Victoria that Homes Victoria's decision to demolish the public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne was made without regard to the policies and procedures it is required to follow. It was also argued and that Homes Victoria did not properly consider the residents’ human rights before it made the decision and compatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). Homes Victoria said its proposal for the redevelopment of 44 public housing towers across Melbourne was based on the understanding that the towers could not be refurbished. They said the decision was based on documents that cannot be shared with the Court because they are Cabinet documents and therefore cannot be released. The Judge has paused the trial to decide whether the documents should be produced in Court and considered as evidence in the matter. The class action documents can be found on the Supreme Court of Victoria's website. What happens next and what do you need to do?IMCL will return to Court before the end of the year to argue the documents the decision was based on should be included as evidence in the trial. Once this issue is decided, the trial can resume. This means the timeline for the trial has been extended and we will not have a final decision until next year.Residents do not need to leave their home for now.The Judge has ordered Homes Victoria to not send residents eviction notices to make them leave their homes because the trial is still underway. Public housing residents can contact IMCL for free legal advice on (03) 9328 1885 or by email at info@imcl.org.au.Services overwhelmed as 3 million at risk of becoming unhoused, says Homelessness Australia report - Monday 18 NovemberA new Homelessness Australia report has found more than a 60 per cent increase in risk of homelessness since 2016. The Impact Economics modelling estimates that between 2016 and 2022, the number of Australians at risk of homelessness increased by 63 per cent, representing between 2.7 and 3.2 million people.due to increasing rental stress and low incomesservice providers say they are having to shut their doors to new clients due to poor resourcing.Homelessness Australia has commissioned modelling of the number of Australians struggling with complicating factors such as low income, rental stress or low social resources, and says people with two or more of those factors are 'at risk' of becoming homeless. "People who could have afforded private rentals just a few years ago are now resorting to couch surfing, sleeping in cars or pitching a tent."Victoria and Queensland the fastest growersA state-by-state breakdown found Victoria and Queensland had seen the greatest growth in people at risk of homelessness, due to rental stress.In Victoria, 987,405 people were at risk of losing their home, the report found, after the state saw a 23.1 per cent increase in rental stress.The ACT was the only state to see a decrease in homelessness risk.Homelessness Australia acknowledged the Albanese government's increase investment in social housing, but said those homes would take some time to be built and there was still a shortfall of 640,000 social homes.
In this week’s food-based episode, Kevin and Zeb chat with dumpster diver and academic Willow Ross as well as Josh Cullinan, Secretary of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.Find out more about some of the topics covered:George Mann: https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/george-mann-keeping-union-history-alive-songPrevious episode with Willow: https://www.3cr.org.au/citylimits/episode/serrated-tussock-grass-and-dumpster-divingSong: There's No Such Thing As Waste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7AbD-RuxMKing Charles' Aston Martin: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/11/prince-charles-car-runs-on-cheese-wine-byproductsLidia Thorpe's truth-telling to King Charles: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBX2oGMT4UG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==More on the campaign against youth and trainee rates in fast food and retail:https://raffwu.org.au/campaigns/industry/living-wages/
This housing week, Karina reads some news prepared by our regular Public Housing commentator Jack Verdins, then plays an interview recorded during national homelessness week with Jeremy Poxon, welfare rights advocate and officer with the Australian Unemployed Workers Union - check out the AUWU's new 3CR program, Breadline. Later we listen to a talk by Darebin Vic Socialists candidate Steph Price entitled A Socialist Response to the Housing Crisis, Originally broadcast on this week's edition of Solidarity Breakfast - thanks to Annie for the audio! Song: Happy Home by Siouxie and the Banshees To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
General news items and our usual rave with Kevin calling in on the phone, followed by a piece released during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games called NOlympics, translated and produced for 3CR by Karina with permission from the Cuellilargo team, Barcelona. You can support their work here. Zeb also references an analysis on trans sportswomen you can check out here. Later, we go to some audio from the Say NO to Lara Big Incinerator Public Rally from Sunday 4th August at Austin Park Lara. Charles Street (retired biochemist and President & Secretary of the new organising group - group ‘No Waste Incinerators in Lara & Greater Geelong’) delivering a speech to take us through the bad science behind the project. Thanks to 3CR's Amy Ciara for the audio; listen to more of Amy's recordings from the rally on this episode of Solidarity Breakfast. Special thanks also to local musician Abe Dunovits for providing the music for the English-language NOlympics piece. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Kevin and Zeb start the show with a current affairs update, touching on:the disastrous oil spill in the Philippines cause by Typhoon Gaemi;raging fires in California;the impressive win for the Mirarr people in stopping uranium mining at Jabiluka;commentary on the allegations against the CFMEU; andWestpac's gag order on court dispute Helen van den Berg joins the conversation to provide insight into the fire at the ACB Group factory and its potentially severe and longlasting effects on the environment. What can we do to reduce the risk of these fires and mitigate their impact into the future? Check out the Australian Services Union’s petition against the privatisation of the City of Melbourne’s waste services: To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Kevin Healy and Karina Aedo-Aguilera host a 'Transport Week' May Day special, focusing on our Union History, and featuring Merri-bek Councillor and community activist Monica Harte. She discusses her previous work life as a bus driver and president of the Tramways Union (ATMOEA) during the Melbourne 1990 tram strike. Later, Jack Howard, social activist who has done history research for the Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) Victoria, joins the conversation with an abridged history of our transport unions from the early 1900s to present. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Shane McGrath from Raise the Roof provided an update on the State enquiry into Public Housing. Shane also spoke about the Departrment of Consumer Affairs Task Force into Landlords. It is so under-resourced to be effective when it comes to dealing resident complaints.Would replacing negative gearing with rent tax and rent controls free up enough housing? Jack Verdins spoke about the Housing Justice Campaign, an Australia-wide campaign and petition calling unions to help lead green-bans and campaign with the community to offer these solutions to the housing crisis: 1. Preservation of Public Housing: Ensure that existing public housing structures are preserved and maintained, protecting the rights and homes of current residents.2. Public Housing as Solution: Promote the development of additional public housing to solve the housing crisis across the country. 3. Community Participation: Enact an inclusive and democratic process of community meetings (ie Citizen's Assemblies) where the input of the community genuinely informs any refit, refurbishment and redevelopment plans. If you want to get involved with HAAG, you can listen to Raise the Roof 5:30-6pm, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month on 3CR, you can head to www.oldertenants.org, or give them a call on (03) 9654 7389. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Kevin and Karina speak with regular transport commentator John McPherson about all things transport, in particular a recent report on NO2 pollution in southern cross station - 1,200 parts per billion averaged for 24 hours over the last 12 years - 3.5 times worse than 'extremely poor air quality' levels. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This week on City Limits, we speak with our usual suspects when it comes to housing issues. Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) comes in first to give us all the HAAG news, including information about issues in 'residential parks', and the unprotected industrial action (a walk-out for Palestine) that ASU workers in the social and community services sector have planned for 1pm Thursday 22nd Feb at 128 Exhibition St, Melbourne (Victorian Council of Social Service building). Later, public housing activist and advocate Jack Verdins joins us for a discussion on the recently released internal council documents with new info on evictions of Techno Park Estate residents in Williamstown, rising rents and government policy pandering to private housing sector, Victoria's pitiful lack of investment in the public housing sector, and more. If you want to get involved with HAAG, you can listen to Raise the Roof 5:30-6pm, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month on 3CR, you can head to www.oldertenants.org, or give them a call on (03) 9654 7389. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This Energy Week on City Limits, we speak with Freja Leonard from the No More Gas Collective (Friends of the Earth Melbourne) about Australian gas companies and their lobby groups, who are spinning a desperate PR campaign to maintain relevance, plus our usual news items and more on the energy sector. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Kevin and Karina start the year with a recap on the good and the bad events of the past months, and later talk to regular transport commentator John McPherson about admissions of the city's bus networks, disputes over the long held-up rail links, the state government's financial pressures, and much more. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This Transport Week we speak with regular transport commentator John McPherson, and also with Friends of the Earth's Sustainable Cities Campaign Coordinator Elyse Cunningham about their Better Buses Campaign in the wake of 2023 Transport Equity Week, and why a comprehensive overhaul of our bus networks is necessary for sustainability and reliable accessibility to all services and spaces for those living in our city's most ill-resourced local government areas. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
After a 2-week cold-induced hiatus, Kevin and Karina return to the program for a belated housing week, catching up on the big news items we missed on the break, then later speaking to Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and housing activist Jack Verdins. Discussing Daniel Andrews' shameful final announcement as premier to demolish all PH towers and why; we finish on previously successful campaigns and how the community has mobilised in response, with more direct actions around the corner. HAAG invites you to their Housing Justice Quilting Bee;11am-2pm,Thursday 26th of OctoberLevel 1, Ross House, Flinders Lane Melbourne You can call (03) 9654 7389 to register your attendance, or just show up! To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This morning on City Limits we hear from the rally held from two of the speakers who attended: Save Westernport Vice-President Jane Carnegie, and No More Gas campaigner with FOE Freja Leonard. They update us on the remarkable turnout of supporters who attended Victorian Parliament steps in the pouring rain, including some 20 Westernport locals who travelled to Melbourne in the wee hours. They denounce the pipe dream of a project, from billions of tonnes of new emissions for Victoria and the flimsy CCS technology underpinning the scheme, to threats for valuable RAMSAR-listed wetland at the site and the dangers of Hydrogen already experienced in the pilot shipment. You can sign the Parliamentary petition calling for the Vic govt to dump Hydrogen from Coal for Japan by visiting: https://bit.ly/No2HESC Please add your signature and share! Later, we speak with an attendee of the recent ALP national conference, Jack Howard from Labor against War, a grassroots network of ALP members opposed to Australia being led into another US-led war. He gives an analysis of why the AUKUS deal was passed despite many dissenting voices within the party, and gives a detailed explanation of the debate at the conference, the factions and individuals involved, and the Orwellian doublespeak pervading the mainstream media and government discourse on the issue of 'defence'. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
We begin the show this week interviewing Julia Stockigt from Save Westernport, about the plan to produce brown-coal hydrogen from the Latrobe Valley for export through Westernport Bay. What does it mean for safety and ecology in Victoria, and who the key state and federal ministers are in approving the needless development? Notably, she calls for clarification on the recent announcement that Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is responsible for clean energy projects... is brown coal hydrogen clean, and does this change the ability of Shire Councils to push back? Next up we speak with Dave Sweeney, anti-nuclear campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation, about all things nuclear, including the Oppenheimer film release around the 78th Anniversary of the US bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the AUKUS debate at the recent ALP national conference, Japan's imminent release of radioactive Fukushima water into the Pacific, and the good news of the win for Barngarla traditional owners in Federal Court - no nuclear waste dump in Kimba! Join Save Westernport, Friends of the Earth, and Greens MP Ellen Sandell, rallying to oppose the project on Wednesday 30th August at 8:30am on the steps of Victorian Parliament To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This week Kevin and Karina speak with Ivan Carter from the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party, discussing their work which aims to eradicate the plant in southeastern Australia. We then hear from Zeb and guest Willow about dumpster diving and more!In the news:Woolies install AI security cameras to prevent shoplifting.A possible rent freeze in VictoriaCFMEU calls for super profits taxAukus deal updates within the labor party Interview with Ivan (Timestamp 20:25)Serrated Tussock grass is an invasive weed native to South America which started to take over grasslands in the 90s. Introduced initially as a landscaping plant, it thrived in the Victorian climate and has started to displace native species.Go to https://serratedtussock.com/ to learn how to identify and remove the weed.Interview with Willow (Timestamp 33:15)Zeb interviews Willow, a researcher and writer studying food waste and urban wildlife, combining those two elements into one. They talk about the practice of dumpster diving, the supermarket system, and seeing waste in a new light. They also touch on the non human animals who have adapted to thrive on what we throw away.Resources to learn more about food waste:Food not bombs: https://fnbmelb.noblogs.org/Melbourne fregan coop: https://www.instagram.com/melbfreegancoop/?hl=enCatalyst Really Really Free Market – Naarm: https://www.facebook.com/RRFMnaarm/Find the zine guide to dumpster diving at the Catalyst Social Centre: 144-146 Sydney Rd, Coburg VIC 3058Study mentioned: Why city 'bin chickens' could be their country cousins' saviour:https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/october-2021/Why-city-bin-chickens-could-be-their-country-cousins-saviourHere is My Heart by Joscelyn Wynter (Timestamp 52:45)https://www.youtube.com/@joscelynwyntermusicTony Bennett tribute (Timestamp 55:45)
On this episode of City Limits, Kevin has an interview with Helen van den Berg with a 'deep-dive' on the imminent projected global water shortage in relation to our local Sustainable Water Strategy. She describes our current 25% reduction in freshwater supply and its significant projected decline, citing long-term governmental mismanagement, corporations' bulk water entitlements, and more. She also talks solutions; discussing her involvement in the Concerned Waterways Alliance, a network of community and environment groups from the Snowy River in Gippsland to the Barwon River in the Otways, and their aims to inform government and the public about the degraded state of Victoria’s rivers, wetlands and aquifers, and their committment to improving their health for the benefit of current and future generations. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This episode of City Limits features audio from the Accessible Transport for ALL Rally that took place in Brunswick on 17th July 2023. We listen to speeches from Bram Heinrich-McPartlan (Chair of the Merri-bek Disability Reference Group), Councillor Monica Harte (Merri-bek, North-West Ward), and Elyse Cunningham (Sustainable Cities Campaigner at FOE Melbourne), music from the Riff Raff Radical Marching Band, and some words from Councillor Sue Bolton (Merri-bek, North-East Ward). Approximately 300 people attended the rally, stopping traffic and trams at the corner of Brunswick Town Hall. Later, we speak with regular transport commentator John McPherson, about public transport accessibility, Transurban, Labor's developments in the western suburbs of Melbourne, rail-freight, and more. You can follow the the Sydney Road Accessible Transport Campaign on Facebook, join your organisation by emailing SATSnow0@gmail.com, and sign the Legislative E-petition until 10th November 2023. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This week on City Limits we speak with Professor Paddy Moriarty about electric vehicles, travel-associated pollution, issues in supply chains of common batteries, and overall energy efficiency. Later we have an extended chat with Freja Leonard, No More Gas campaign coordinator at Friends of the Earth Vic about fossil fuel and renewables industries in this country, the proven (wrong) tech behind carbon capture and storage, the proposed HESC project to export dirty brown coal hydrogen from Gippsland to Japan via Westernport, and more Sign the petition to stop the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project here. Song: Place Like This - Nadine Shah To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
Stay Tuned & Stay Radical this year for Kevin's favourite program of the year, the City Limits Radiothon special! This Wednesday 14th June, Kevin and Karina share a cuppa and some banter over the latest news items, interspersed with a special message from co-host Zeb Peake, and later, interviews with John McPherson about the North East Rail Link and Helen van den Berg about the newly formed Maribyrnong River and Waterways Association and the fight against ever more environmental destruction out west. If you would like to donate or make a pledge, head to www.3cr.org.au, or give the station a call during office hours on (03) 9419 8377 - every penny counts! A big Thank-You to all the ongoing supporters and special guests who contribute to our unique community media space!
This week on City Limits we have two special interviews.In the first half of the show we interview Kelly Whitworth and Mike Collins about their recently published report entitled 'Housing, Activism and Local Government: The Bendigo Street Occupation - a Case Study'. Access the report here and share it around! They discuss this important landmark in Melbourne's housing activism history, as well as their findings and recommendations for how local councils can support community activism.In the second half of the show we chat with Earthworker Board Member and storyteller Colm McNaughton about the importance of working together and being in community with one another to build long-lasting leftist movements. Colm currently works for a new cooperative-in-the-making: Earthworker's Smart Energy Cooperative.
This week in the second half of the show we interview Secretary of the of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union Josh Cullinan. On top of industrial relations news, we get insightful analysis on the current situation with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) who purport to ‘represent the interest of workers while actually diminishing the minimum lawful workplace rights of workers’ and on recent changes in legislation that affect workers bargaining in the sector.News Items in the first half of the show:RSL sub-branch poker machine entitlements New legislation on e cigarettesKevin reminisces on his part in MOP-UP (or BUGA UP) against tobacco advertisingA win: The legal case on behalf of the Gumatj Clan or Estate Group v Commonwealth of Australia for compensation under the Native Title Act for grants and acts by the government without just terms.Tiwi Islands traditional owners challenge banks over proposed $1.5b loan to Santos gas projectShell AGM protests
This regular housing week we get Shane McGrath and Jack Verdins on the line to give us the latest updates on housing-related news.News items: Confidential government tax policy leaked by Peter Collins and other Price Waterhouse Cooper staff for monetary gain.Submissions to NSW's ICAC claim Downer EDI awarded millions in transport works contracts to firms without employees.A development is planned to build 'iconic twin towers' over the heritage Goods Shed at Docklands.The Barossa Gas Project... learn more and take action against the gas project here.Interview with Shane McGrath from HAAG:May General Meeting 11-12.30 at Ross House May 18th. Lunch available! Interview with Jack Verdins from Friends of Public Housing:Online public housing briefing May 18th 6.30pm: www.greens.org.au/phbriefing
Featuring a focus on the impacts of the State Government's project to remove level crossings in Brunswick on the Upfield Line and the impacts on accessibility. Christian Astourian from the Disability Access Resource Unit speaks about the campaign to make all tram stops on Sydney Road accessible before the works commence. There will be an Accessible Stops rally on Saturday 17th June at 11am at the Brunswick Town Hall. To connect with the campaign email: satsnow0@gmail.com.Kevin also speaks with regular guest John McPherson about some of the public transport related issues currently facing Melbourne.
First up on the show this Housing Week, Kevin and Karina are joined by Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group, discussing how securing adequate housing is particularly tough for many at the moment, and perhaps most concerningly that his work with people in retirement housing "it's as bad as I've seen it", and under high demand. We also discuss the predatory and exploitative nature of retirement and rental villages. If you're an older Victorian with a housing issue, you can call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178 or visit their website: www.oldertenants.org.au N.B. HAAG does not assist people with residential care or crisis accomodation. If you are looking for information on your rights and options for residential care, you can call Elder Rights Advocacy toll-free on 1800 700 600. Listen to HAAG's radio program Raise the Roof 5:30-6pm, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month on 3CR. Later, we speak with public housing advocates and activists Cathryn Murdoch and Jack Verdins about the "Big Build" plans for demolition of Barak Beacon public housing estate in Port Melbourne, and the Save Barak Beacon campaign, and Labor's lack of meaningful housing policy, and their worrying investment-style model for the federal housing budget. You can sign the e-petition to stop the demolition of the Barak Beacon public housing estate to save $88 million by following this link. Song: Qué es el FAL? - Carlos Mejía Godoy
This week on City Limits, Karina and Zeb invite previous co-host Meg Kimber back on the show for a rockstar interview with Juvi (aka Yellow Beanie) to talk about the opportunities and challenges for women working in the music industry. Later, Karina speaks with Cathryn Murdoch, and Sara Stilianos about their thoughts and experiences with homelessness, prisons, and other systemic injustices which continue to disproportionately affect women in this country. To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
City Limits' first show back for the year and time for all things transport, of course! John McPherson joins Kevin and Zeb on today's show to discuss plans to address national discrepancies in rail signalling management, the long-awaited modal transfer depot in Melbourne thats been taken up by a private company the understanding road-based diesel freight, and much, much more! To access all previous podcasts and any extra links in our podcast descriptions, visit 3cr.org.au/citylimits
This is City Limits' final housing show for the year! First up, we chat to Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group about the State Government amendments in the Retirement Villages Act Review, and HAAG's comment on the proposed changes, where despite small positive changes, big issues such as power imbalances and dispute resolution between residents and operators and not redressed. For a fairer system for residents, HAAG are calling for a Retirement Housing Ombudsman. If you want to get involved with HAAG, you can find info about their next Annual General Meeting here. Listen to HAAG's radio program Raise the Roof 5:30-6pm, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month on 3CR. Later in the show, we invite public housing residents and activists Cathryn Murdoch and Jack Verdins on to discuss the lack of public housing funding in the recent federal budget, having been off the agenda for a number of years. They also analyse the housing policy and numbers, the farce of "Social Housing", and the government obsession on overspending on the prison industrial complex to contrast with dismal public housing policy. "Affordable" Housing is bastardising what the human need is - Cathryn
This week, City Limits is joined by community activist from Melbourne's west Helen van den Berg, and climate researcher, activist and author David Spratt. Helen takes us through the ecology, history and policy surrounding the Maribyrnong river and adjacent developments which have contributed to destruction by recent flooding. She talks to us about groundwater, natural floodplains, poor planning, sell-offs and more. Later, David joins us to talk all things energy, from global energy trends related to the Ukraine war, thoughts about last night's budget in regards to climate change and inflation, and the privatisation of Victoria's electricity generators, retailers and grid. Explaining, in his words, how privatisation led to the artificial division of our grid, and what that means for us.
First up on the program, Kevin and Zeb speak with Spike Chiappalone and Kelly Whitworth, co-hosts of the former 3CR peer homelessness show, Roominations, and Homeless Persons Union Victoria co-founders.Together, they talk to us about about the upcoming launch of Homeless in Hotels, a 3-part radio series documenting life in hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic and discussion on what to expect from the series, including the rollout of Victorian Government initiatives during lockdown, safety, stigma and substance use, public housing and injustice, and more.The series premieres on 3CR, this Thursday 28 July at 12pm, and you can listen back online here.Later on the program, activist-scholars Libby Porter and David Kelly come on the program to discuss the upcoming Forum for Dwelling Justice, bringing together various groups and activists in a discussion of housing injustice with relation to sovereignty and land justice, as well as abolitionist movements.They discuss importance of galvanising a broader dwelling justice movement by bringing together interrelated movements and shifting the narrative to a wider one of disposession and what that means for discussions of public housing on stolen land. They also speak on their experiences as activists working as academics within colonial institutions, misdirected government resources, incarceration, and more. The free event will be held 1-7pm on Friday 26 August 2022 at the Capitol Theatre, and involves:Three facilitated panel conversations on how abolitionism, resistance to state violence and anti-racism intersect with housing struggle and sovereignty, andTwo sneak-peek film screenings (Bendigo St, and Things Will Be Different) and discussion with filmmakers and guests with lived experience of homelessness, displacement, squatting and public housing. For more information and to book tickets, go to www.cur.org.au/events/dwelling-justice/
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Karina speak with Mark Riley, Mayor of the council formerly known as Moreland. He discusses the decision behind the name change, Jamaican slave plantation roots of the name 'Moreland', and the process by which the Council formally accepted and endorsed 3 name options offered by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.The proposed names are: Wa-dam-buk Meaning: 'Renew'Merri-bek Meaning: 'Rocky country'Jerrang Meaning: 'Leaf of tree' Learn more about the new name here. Later, Dr Kate Shaw comes on the program to discuss public housing issues under the recently elected Labor Government, gives a criticism of the idea of the so-called "classless" society in which a child of public housing can become Prime Minister, and more.
This housing week, Kevin and Karina speak with housing show regulars Shane McGrath (Retirement Housing Worker at HAAG & 3CR broadcaster on Raise the Roof), and later with Cathryn Murdoch (Defend and Extend Public Housing) and Jack Verdins (Friends of Public Housing). With Shane we include discussion on the upcoming elections - Labor promises of (surprise surprise) 30,000 "social" housing houses over 5 years (while analyses by Everybody's Home reporting a need for at least 20,000 per year!), and HAAG's upcoming general meeting to discuss housing issues in the lead-up to the federal election: 11am on 10 May, online or in person at 247-251 Flinders Lane - 9654 7389 to RSVP or for more info about the meeting (or to get involved with HAAG). With Cathryn and Jack we also discuss the lack of proposed budget for public housing by the two major parties (their focus being privatised community housing, where the Greens explicitly raise the issue of PH), particularly as it is an important safety net for intersecting issues that have ramped up during the pandemic - poor mental health, family violence and deteriorating workplace rights, to name a few. We also discuss the Richmond housing estate being flagged for so-called redevelopment and pushback from Yarra Council, big developers profiting off the housing market for international students, and the rooming house developer/community housing organisation that is boasting their high rents keep poor people out of the area. From Cathryn: if you are sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness - here is Cohealth's NEED TO KNOW go-to guide of resources available in Melbourne.
This week is energy week! Zeb and Kevin speak with climate change activist David Spratt about a lack of climate solutions worldwide since his co-authored publication Climate Code Red: the case for emergency action,14 years ago. They discuss:- the upcoming "non-climate climate election"; the irony of how climate issues have dominated federal leadership changes for the past several years and yet neither major party wants to talk climate policy.- recent carbon offset whistleblower Professor Andrew Macintosh, former chair of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee, to denounce the carbon market, with a report that 70~80% of carbon credits are "markedly low in integrity". - how the carbon market's degeneration into this rort of nonviable schemes (such as carbon capture and storage) trickles down to the collective conscience of consumers, whilst allowing companies to emit more in the name of money- how these corporations "should be paid to clean up the mess, but right now they're being paid to make the mess", with the last financial year showing fossil fuel subsidies equaling $19,600 each minute. Not only does this encourage more pollution, but also is a reflection of how much money the goverment has to spend.- the false panacea of the electric car with precious metal extraction required for batteries not quite the ethical or environmental solution under a system based on eternal economic growth- lack of forward thinking policy for Victorian Government approved developments when it comes to sea-level projections and more...David stresses that climate change is not a technological problem, but a problem of political will, since we are stuck with two major political parties with deep connections to the fossil fuel industry.
It's transport week on City Limits!Zeb interviews Anja Homburg from the Disability Resources Centre [8:10-32:23] on the Transport for All campaign and their recent series of actions across Victoria. Their media release states:"The deadline for accessible public transport in Victoria under the current Standards for Accessible Transport is just 282 days away, but given the glacial rate of progress by the state government this cannot be achieved. The new State Disability Plan 2022-2026 has just been released and there is still no new commitment to expediting the work needed. Current projections anticipate that everyone in the State will finally be able to use public transport in 2066." The interview also covers the need for staff training on disability and access, and systemic problems with the complaints procedure.Listeners can get involved by visiting the DRC website and emailing their MP to show our politicians that access is not a niche issue! Follow the Disability Resources Centre on Facebook and talk with your friends about this campaign.John McPherson joins Zeb and Kevin after the interview to comment further on disability and Public Transport access.
This week on City Limits, Zeb kicks off the show by interviewing Dr Reden Recio, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne, on the topic of informal urbanism, giving us an overview of the multiple practices through which individual citizens and groups produce urban spaces, and how informal urbanism intersects with state processes in urban spaces across the global south and north. They also discuss his research with the San Roque informal settlement (of approx 9,000 families) in northern metro Manila, Phillippines; the San Roque community's pushback against the Philippines National Housing Authority's plans to remove all informality in the area to make way for a new CBD hub, a move toward incremental coercive eviction by the NHA, the work of the Save San Roque alliance, and how bottom-up grassroots practices can effectively challenge formal structures and processes in cities.Check out the Tinig Maralita ("Voices of the Poor") website for stories and videos direct from informal communities and individuals living and working in Metro Manila.Later, Kevin and Zeb interview Jeannie Erceg and Margaret Kelly, residents of the Barak/Beacon estate in Port Melbourne, yet another target for public housing sell-offs under the Victorian state government's Big Housing Build.They discuss the thoughtfully designed and cared-for homes which are already in excellent condition, with unhappy and confused residents receiving rushed surprise notifications of their soon-to-be-demolished residences, and being asked either to relocate or change to a private "community" housing provider. Also discussed are the real effects on individuals in the transition from a public to a private (and problematic!) "community" housing system, the importance of their close-knit community in the context of public housing, a glaring lack of governmental transparency or consultation with residents of the estate about their plans, and the Victorian Government spending the least on housing out of all states and territories in so-called Australia. Sign the petition to save the Barak/Beacon public housing estate here.
This week on City Limits, we listen to an interview from Radio EcoShock, where Alex Smith interviews Professor of Urban Ecology Timon McPhearson about the effects of climate change on cities, and the recent IPCC report Climate Change 2022 : Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.Later Kevin and Zeb have a conversation with Anna Langford with Act on Climate (Friends of the Earth), who reflects on the interview and also discusses the work of Friends of the Earth around this topic. Their discussion includes:- the Victorian Government's Climate Change Act (2017) which requires the government to not only set emmissions reduction targets every five years until 2050, but also to write a climate strategy for the state every five years, focusing on continued emission reduction and structural adaptations as a statewide response to climate impacts,- the Victorian Government's public consultations for their Gas Substitution Roadmap for pathways out of industrial and individual gas usage, FOE's previous work demanding a permanent end to fracking and new gas extraction projects and FOE's continued fight against gas extraction - they'll soon be launching a grassroots project to write up a community-led version of the gas substitution roadmap to present to the Victorian Government... watch this space!- the Federal Government's announcement of $50M handouts to fossil fuel companies, as a reactive and regressive response to projected gas shortages stemming from war in Ukraine, and how this kind of answer locks us into a dangerous fossil fuel dependence in the long-term,- FOE's Climate Impacts at Work Survey in conjunction with various unions, about how workers are experiencing the impacts of climate change in various workplace settings and what do they want to do about it. - The establishment of Earthworker Cooperative in the Latrobe Valley, and the importance of working with unions in the fight for sustainable jobs for the community and the environment. You can go to the Friends of the Earth (Melbourne) website to learn more about their various campaign meetings and upcoming actions.
Listen in to our March Energy week on City Limits!Intro discussion:East-West Link road is still on federal books as billions are kept aside in the budget.Alexandra parade is the shortest state highway in the country due to protests back in the 70s to stop the construction of the Eastern freeway. Find out more about that history: https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/45_years_of_acting_up_friends_of_the_earth_talking_tacticsStill no accountability for Crown Casino.Big polluters refuse to sign onto carbon reduction scheme.Kevin quizzes Zeb about her job at the worker cooperative Redgum. More on worker cooperatives: https://medium.com/circuitus/worker-cooperatives-as-an-alternative-solution-8d9381f9cf57Interview with Associate Professor Paddy Moriarty:Paddy discusses the limits of renewable energy with a focus on the lithium and rare earths that it currently requires. The mining of these resources are associated with environmental, humanitarian and potentially geopolitical problems. Other points of discussion include the viability of hydrogen, recycling battery components, other material inputs needed for renewable energy production, as well as the overall need for a decrease in energy use.Paddy has a book coming out soon: Switching Off: Meeting Energy Needs in A Constrained Future
It's another transport week on City Limits!This week, Zeb, Kevin and Karina kick off the show by listening back to an interview from Solidarity Breakfast, where Annie McLoughlin gets a run-down on the #FakeStrike of NSW rail workers from Stewart Prins, Executive Director of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). Karina reads RTBU National Secretary Mark Diamond's open letter to Scott Morrison (issued 23 Feb 2022) seeking a retraction and apology for his false statements about workers at Sydney Trains, after a week of backlash and abuse from disinformed members of the public. Later, we talk to regular transport commentator John McPherson, hearing his perspective on the influence of the right-wing media on public perceptions, the Port of Melbourne failing to meet efficiency standards only five years into their 50-year private lease, regional and freight trains having to squeeze onto the same tracks as suburban Melbourne trains, the Victorian Government's level crossing elimination projects being geared specifically toward improving conditions for motorcar drivers, and more.
This week on City Limits, Zeb and Karina present a special show, with recordings from the online forum Housing Justice After Lockdown, held by the Renters & Housing Union (RAHU) in conjunction with 3CR, with guests from Support Network for International Students (SNIS), and Homes not Prisons, on 9 February, 2022. During the first part of this program, we listen to the Housing Justice After Lockdown panel discussion, led by Priya Kunjan (3CR's Thursday Brekkie and Women on the Line), and featuring Eirene Tsolidis Noyce (General Secretary, RAHU), Ness Gavanzo (Interim Coordinator, SNIS), and Sara Stilianos (Steering Group member, Homes not Prisons). They have an open discussion on organising through and beyond the pandemic, for community solidarity and housing justice. Later in the show, we feature parts of the "Ask me Anything" session which followed the panel discussion. This was led by Alex Grunewald from RAHU's Renters Rights Support Team, and features questions and discussion from attendees, including Chris Johnson from the Geelong Housing Action Group. This event took place on unceded Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung lands of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. Sign Homes not Prisons' open letter to the Victorian Government here. We also encourage listeners to join RAHU, and to Pay the Rent as part of this commitment.
This housing week, Zeb and Kevin chat with Shane McGrath (Retirement Housing Worker at HAAG and 3CR Broadcaster on Raise the Roof) and later with Cathryn Murdoch (Defend and Extend Public Housing and PH tenant). Shane discusses the closing of the John Curtin Hotel, the interim report of the Social Housing Regulation Review, the ongoing case for public over social housing from a financial perspective, the state government offloading homelessness services to the private sector, stories of radical direct housing action in the 70s, and the Barak Beacon housing estate in Port Melbourne currently facing "renewal". Cathryn joins us to discuss the grim reality that homelessness kills, and the memorial which was held with the crowdfunded and volunteer-run organisation From Us 2 U ("vote" for them to raise funds here). She also speaks to the issue of a severe lack of funding towards public housing by the Victorian Government while funds are diverted towards profitable prison systems and extremely predatory policing targeting vulnerable communities. The fundraiser for Paul Silva, David Dungay Jr's nephew, who is seeking justice and accountability for his family, can be found here. You can also attend the weekly vigils with Public Housing - Everybody's Business every Thursday from 12-1pm on the steps of Parliament House (Vic).
There's trouble a-brewing in Hastings, where mere months after a successful campaign against AGL's liquefied natural gas project, dirty brown-coal hydrogen exports have crept in—and this time with no publicly available plans, no environmental effects statement, and no community consultation! Meg and Kevin kick off energy week interviewing Julia Stöckigt, campaigner with Save Westernport, about the potentially disastrous effects at every step of this dirty H2 project, and how the community is pushing back. To find out more, check out Save Westernport, and the Western Port Peninsula Protection Council websites. Later, we speak with Dave Sweeney, anti-nuclear campaigner with the ACF, to get the lowdown on what is happening with the cleanup of the Rio Tinto Ranger uranium mine in NT (spoiler alert: a good news story), the European Commission proposing nuclear and gas as energy sources for long-term climate change goals, and how the flooding of Kimba SA, Barngarla country, is yet another reflection of the inappropriateness of the area as a dump site for Australia's radioactive waste. We also say a (hopefully temporary) au revoir to host Meg Kimber while she takes a well-earned hiatus from radio broadcasting.
It's our first show back for the year, and today Zeb and Kevin have a chat with our regular transport commentator John McPherson about topics including:Melbourne's traffic dipping to less than 66% of the pre-COVID baseline,How Melbourne's motorists are paying more on average on cars than those from any other city in Australia,Questions about the proposed $18 surcharge to catch the Melbourne Airport Rail Link,Melbourne Airport's expansion project and increases in air-based tourism to the detriment of many,The ins-and-outs of Victoria's freight hubs, both proposed and currently in development. The free online public forum Housing Justice After Lockdown will be hosted by RAHU and 3CR, in conjunction with the Support Network for International Students (SNIS) and Homes Not Prisons,It will be an open discussion on organising beyond the pandemic for community solidarity and housing justice, discussing the failures that COVID-19 exposed in Victoria's renting laws and policy, how organisations like RAHU created both structural and individual pressure on policy to get better outcomes, and where to go from here, followed by a Q&A by RAHU's Renters Rights support team. To join this forum, hosted from 5:30-7:00pm on Wednesday February 9, 2022, register here.
Last show of the year!This Housing Week, Zeb and Kevin speak with Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) about how COVID and related policies affected housing in 2021, including the end to the eviction moratorium and Coronavirus supplements for welfare recipients, a reflection of pervasive governmental inaction. We also discuss the continued under-investment of public housing, the HAAG 2021 Christmas party, and a forecast of housing-related issues for 2022. Later, Jessica Harrison and Jack Verdins join the program to give a recap on the Housing Matters meeting held in Wonthaggi last week, discussing the lack of housing affordability in the Bass Coast, and what resources the group are calling for going forward.Read Vulture Landlords and the Justice-Washing of Housing Struggle by David Kelly, Kate Shaw and Libby Porter by following this link.Listen to HAAG's show Raise the Roof every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 5:30-6pm on 3CR. If you're an older Victorian with a housing issue, you can call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178 or visit their website here.
This week, Kevin and Zeb get an update from regular transport commentator John McPherson, but first we take a quick detour to celebrate a good news story! Debbie Carruthers from Mine-Free Glenaladale comes on the program to discuss the third rejected environmental effects statement in the past 20 years, but the second of 2022. Kalbar Operations' proposed mineral sands mine at Glenaladale has been knocked back! Had the project gone ahead, it would have significantly affected wildlife, vegetation, air quality, agriculture, horticulture and downstream water systems. With community opposition to the project being cited as “Unusual and a testament to the depth of feelings in the community against the project” in the report on its rejection, we thank and congratulate Debbie and everyone else in involved in this campaign and EES process for this great success.
Kevin and Zeb catch up on the latest news before chatting with Pam Morgan about the Collingwod Children's Farm history and disputes concerning their Community Gardens, and finally interview Jessica Harrison about housing challenges on the bass coast.Links to check out:'Let's Talk with Boe Spearim' 98.9FM interview with Wonnarua Man Scott Franks on Massacres and Mining.
This week, Meg and Karina catch up with Cathryn Murdoch from Defend and Extend Public Housing, to discuss some local housing issues as well as dates for Steps to a Home vigils on the steps of Parliament house on November 18th 12-1pm and 23rd 6:30-7:30pm. Later, we talk to Shane McGrath to give us an update on what's going on at the Housing for the Aged Action Group, their AGM, and more. Listen to HAAG's show Raise the Roof every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 5:30-6pm on 3CR. If you're an older Victorian with a housing issue, you can call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178 or visit their website here.
The critically endangered temperate grassland ecosystem along Steele Creek, Steele Creek North are home to the Striped Legless Lizard and Growling Grass Frog. The current Threatened Species Management Plan is inadequate and threatens the grassland, its precious ground fauna, as well as the one and only 200+ year old tree, other riparian vegetation and genetically unique seedbanks supposedly protected by state laws.Helen van den Berg (longtime community activist currently involved with Friends of Steele Creek, among other projects) brings Kevin and Karina a compelling take on why it is important to preserve this threatened area, what exactly needs to be amended in the planning of this project as well as the federal EPBC act and other laws ~supposedly~ there to protect these species. We also talk about the ecological nightmare of "urban stream syndrome", coined in the early 2000s - our waterways have been left by the wayside in favour of developers, causing turbidity, slow post-rainfall recuperation and little to no biodiversity. This is a massive issue when we are facing a future (and present!) of little rainfall and rapidly decreasing groundwater. Still no word from the Vic. Planning Minister if he intends to use Victorian laws to protect our Vic. Volcanic Grassy Plains Woodland and Stream Bank vegetation.
The Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) Victoria has acheived a lot for tenants in the short time it's been active. In this City Limits, Kevin and Meg speak with RAHU Secretary Eirene Tsolidis Noyce.If you have a rental issue or enquiry, contact RAHU's Renters Rights Support team at organise@rahu.org.au Later in the show, Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group joins to discuss the recent work at HAAG. If you're an older Victorian with a housing issue, you can call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178 or visit their website here.You can also click here to find the info Shane discusses today about the National Construction Code in relation to insulation regulations.
This week City Limits hosts Kevin and Zeb speak with campaigner Anna Langford, from Act on Climate at Friends of the Earth Melbourne.We chat about the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow, including Australia's embarrassingly inadequate targets, a surprise turnaround from the Murdoch press and big business on their climate change rhetoric, and the role of the States and Territories in picking up some of the federal government's slack.We also cover Act on Climate's exciting new campaign, Climate Impacts at Work, collaborating with several unions to investigate climate impacts in the workplace and the solutions workers want to see from governments.Join in for the launch of their campaign with an online event (October 27, 2021 at 6:30pm - 7:45pm), and hear about:Frontline workers’ experiences of climate impactsHow the project will work and which unions are already participatingHow your union can get involvedThe climate action already happening in the union movement, driven by Trades Hall and the United Workers UnionListeners can also find out more on how to get involved with the upcoming School Strike for Climate on October 15th.
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Zeb catch up with our transport regular John McPherson to discuss a range of issues, including more on government secrecy and FOI loopholes, industrial disputes going on in the trucking industry, and short-sightedness with respect to transport planning and future climate impacts.
This week on City Limits, Meg, Kevin and Zeb speak with Han Aulby, Director of the Centre for Public Integrity, and later with Dave Sweeney, nuclear-free campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation.With Han, we discuss definitions of corruption, the continued absence of a national integrity commission, and the influence of lobby groups and problems with the Australian model defining lobbyists. To join their webinar Strangling Accountability (12pm, Friday 24th September), with investigative journalist Paul Farrell and barrister Geoffrey Watson on the secrecy of government information, register here. Later, we talk to Dave about Scott Morrison's surprise $100B nuclear-powered submarine announcement with the UK and US, and the answers that parliament and people deserve to know about this deal. He dissects the problems from an environmental and diplomatic standpoint, describing the subs as a "Trojan horse" which has strong potential to submerge Australia into the murky waters of nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and warfare.
This week, Kevin and Meg talk to Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group, then with Cathryn Murdoch and Jack Verdins from Friends of Public Housing and Defend and Extend Public Housing. With Shane we discuss the flood of eviction applications to VCAT following the end to the eviction moratorium, no further protections (save for a few narrowly-targeted grants) for Victorian renters suffering the financial fallout of the pandemic, and the direct transfer of money from the public to the private sector and its success in lining the pockets of wealthy investors in the housing sector. We finish up this interview with a critique 2021 rental reforms and how it's just a small part of the problem that forces people into poverty.Later we talk to Cathryn and Jack about the difference of the Victorian Government's more recent response to a positive COVID case in public housing estates, the government's inability to address comorbid issues affecting people during this time, so-called not-for-profits exploiting housing instability, and how public housing should be widely available to anybody who asks for it.If you're an older Victorian with a housing issue, you can still call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178 or visit their website here.
This week, Zeb and Kevin speak to Professor Paddy Moriarty to dissect the deceptively simple idea of a global switch to renewarbles from his perspective. They discuss the book he is writing on renewable energy and the "green economy", the science underpinning the renewable energy industry, and the importance of reducing energy consumption overall.
This week, Kevin and Zeb speak with regular transport commentator John McPherson about Victoria's proposed orbital rail line's criticism in the papers, how to encourage motorists on to trains without speedy services, the importance of fixing and updating the state's existing public transport services and more.
Victorians with disabilities have been asking for accessible public transport for over 40 years. Most of our state’s public transport system is still inaccessible. This week Zeb and Meg are joined by Ally Scott and Martin Leckey from the Disability Resources Centre. They speak about the long-running campaigns to make public transport accessible to everyone.Support the DRC's Transport For All campaign here!Links from the top of the show:Festival of Urbanism link here, and ICAN Cities Appeal support link here.
This week Kevin and Zeb chat with anti-nuclear campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation, Dave Sweeney. In the wake of the 76th Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear issues still plague our country. Amongst topics discussed today: How do people who invent and manufacture nuclear weapons sleep at night? Federal Labor's policy platform to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons - we'll take it with a pinch of salt but appreciate the discourse!Plans for a national radioactive waste site on Barngarla country, Kimba SA to go ahead - without the clause precluding future legal pushback. When 95% of our nuclear waste is already in a protected and secure site, this is unwanted, unnecessary and irresponsible!Help raise funds for the Barngarla people to have a say on this issue here!Mine "rehabilitation" - Australia's 50,000 unrehabilitated mines and the botched Australian model to privatise profits of extractive companies, leaving taxpayers with the costs of cleanup. Woodside's plans to dump part of their failed oil facility into our 2nd largest reef, Ningaloo (WA), leaching toxic contaminants like manganese into the world heritage site, and "Scarborough", their proposed collaboration with BHP which aims to emit 1.5B tonnes of carbon into our atmosphere.The latest red-flag of a report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and why Australian conservative politicians are still hostage to a sector that will continue to burn until the bitter end, despite the consensus between scientists, economists, and we the people!
This Transport Week, Zeb and Kevin chat with regular John McPherson about Victorian Public Transport, including accessibility, technical faults, the effects of short-term contracts on the basic functioning on a privatised PT system, questions about the proposed rail-link to the airport, the importance of getting our existing metro train lines up to scratch (with double-lines and reliable signalling) before planning an new orbital system.
Join Zeb and Meg this week on City Limits to discuss Australia's forests, the campaigns to protect them, and the importance of direct action!We interview Scott Jordan [20:55], Takanya/Tarkine campaigner from the Bob Brown Foundation, about the current permit application to build a toxic tailings dam in this irreplaceable temperate rainforest. We also talk indigenous cultural heritage, citizen science, and what's really "locked-up" when it comes to our ecosystems.Next up [41:47], we invite Chris Schuringa (campaigner from GECO, Goongerah Environment Centre) on to discuss updates on the successes of the 4-month community action to protect unburnt forest on the Errinundra Plateau, GECO's plans for when logging machines return in spring and summer, the role of Bidwell-Maap people in protecting logging coups (despite the Victorian Government's recalcitrance in even acknowledging the role of Aboriginal people) and more. If you can't get your boots on the ground at either of these sites, here are some other ways to help:Have your say in the government's Bushfire Review (submissions open until 31st August)Have your say in the Vic Government's changes to weaken logging lawsYou can also contact local Federal MPs and state senators to tell them to nominate and stand for the Tarkine rainforest as a world heritage site.
In this jam-packed show, Zeb and Kevin speak with public housing tenant Cathryn Murdoch (Defend and Extend Public Housing), then Howard Marosi and Jack Verdins (Friends of Public Housing Vic), and later Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group). We discuss all things public housing, including ongoing conditions for PH residents during this lockdown, the Victorian Review of Social Housing Regulation (make a submission through this website), and the usual smoke and mirrors terminology surrounding housing issue.If you are an older tenant who would like to get involved and have a say on housing issues (e.g. submissions for the Vic Social Housing Review!) you can join one of HAAG's working groups - info at oldertenants.org, or call (03) 9654 7389
An extra housing show graces your ears this week, as Kevin and Meg speak with housing activist Professor Libby Porter from the RMIT Centre of Urban Research. She debunks some myths and misconceptions about Victoria's Big Housing Build and the Public Housing Renewal Project, and discusses the Social Housing Regulations Review and the recent report listing Australia as having the forth-highest housing market in the world.LINKS:Save Public Housing Collective's Maps - tracking the privatisation of PH through estate renewal, sale of public land, transfer to community housing providers, etcReport: Does the Big Housing Build address the housing crisis in Victoria? - Professor Libby Porter and Dr David Kelly
This week on City Limits, Zeb and Kevin invite regular commentator John McPherson on the show to talk all things transport!
This week on City Limits, Meg and Kevin invite Cathryn Murdoch and Jack Verdins (Friends of Public Housing Vic) to join us with updates about all things public housing from their perspectives, including the effects of lockdown and poor dissemination of vaccine info for tenants, how public housing has changed over the years, and government money going to private sector housing.Later in the show, we talk to Fiona York from Housing for the Aged Action Group for a chat about the Social housing Regulation Review, an update on HAAG's work, (and another update on the campaign against logging wet forests in East Gippsland), and more. If you are over 50 years of age and would like some independent advice, information, or practical housing support, call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178, or go to oldertenants.org
This episode of City Limits is our Radiothon special!We invite a medley of regular guests on the show to help us raise funds to help keep 3CR on the air - today, Meg, Zeb and Kevin speak with:John McPherson - transport commentatorDave Sweeney - anti-nuclear activistProfessor Paddy Moriarty - renewable energy expertHoward Marosi - Friends of Public Housing VicFiona York - Housing for the Aged Action Group
This week on City Limits, Kevin, Meg and Zeb discuss the news items including AGL vs Greenpeace, the covid vaccine rollout and aged care, developments at the defence industry hub at Fisherman's Bend as well as a new book 'Blood Lust, Trust & Blame' about accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes in Afghanistan.Guest Helen van den Berg from Friends of Steele Creek comes on in the latter part of the show to talk about the Tullamarine toxic waste dump, and the mistreatment of Melbourne's western waterways in general.
This lockdown week Kevin and Karina call regular transport commentator John McPherson from the studios of 3CR to get an update on all things transport, including federal budget allocations (or lack thereof!), the North-East Link's environmental impacts, the falling standard of PT in Melbourne, and more.
This week, after a quick run-down of news, Kevin and Meg are joined by Jen Hargraves and Helen Dickinson to discuss the intentions and realities of the NDIS 8 years after it began. Prof Paddy Moriarty joins in the second half of the show to talk about mining, water, and alternative energies.
At the top of the show, Zeb and Meg discuss Labour's federal budget response, Sirius housing in Sydney, Vic Forest's logging in Gippsland, and other recent news. Howard Marosi and Jack Verdins (Friends of Public Housing Vic) join us at [22:36] with updates about public housing, social housing and private housing. (Link to the Collingwood housing estate walking tour)Later, [44:47] Fiona York from Housing for the Aged Action Group discusses the federal budget, new residential tenancy laws and housing for older women (as well as a sneaky update from the anti-logging campaign at the Errinundra plateau).Any HAAG members or supporters are welcome to attend the May general meeting on Thursday 27th May at 11:00 am in person at:Level 4,Ross House247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne or via Zoom: @ oldertenants.org.au/maymeeting (RSVP to haag@oldertenants.org.au or call the office on 03 96547389 so we know how many of you are coming in person or via Zoom)If you are over 50 years of age and would like some independent advice, information, or practical housing support, call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178
This energy week, Kevin, Zeb and Karina invite Leigh Ewbank (Climate Justice Campaigner, Friends of the Earth) on the show to discuss the government's climate inaction as reflected by last night's federal budget announcement. This includes a $51bn dollar move toward supporting the fossil fuel industry, and money set aside for natural disaster preparation and response (i.e. the consequences of climate change and not the causes). We also discuss topics relevant to Victoria, including the People's Climate Strategy launched by FOE two weeks ago to which over 1000 community members contributed.If you'd like to get involved in distibuting the People's Climate Strategy to your MP on delivery day (4th June), go to https://www.actonclimate.org.au/pcs_deliveryday to registerLink to Melbourne University's 2021 report which discusses the need to reach 0 emissons by 2035 as discussed on today's show.
This transport week Kevin and Zeb discuss the latest news before catching up with Ian Hundley from the Stop North East Link Alliance about their campaign to cancel plans for the $16B mega toll road, and then Daniel Bowen of the Public Transport Users Association, to chat about their campaign focuses following the effects of the pandemic on travel and public tranport use.
This week on City Limits we interview Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation on the nuclear power industry's attempts to remarket itself as a solution to climate change, as well as industry prospectors' interests in Greenland as a space for mineral extraction. At the top of the show Zeb, Kevin and Meg cover the latest news in energy and environment.
Kevin and Meg speak with regular housing guests from Housing for the Aged Action Group (Fiona York) and Friends of Public Housing Vic (Howard Marosi & Jack Verdins) to get updates about many housing issues, including the Public Housing renewal project, the State Government's 10-year plan for affordable housing, the plan to re-home houseless people after the end of the hotel accomodation provided in lockdown, and some of the issues with community housing. 10-year social and affordable housing strategy: https://engage.vic.gov.au/ten-year-social-and-affordable-housing-strategy-victoriaHotel accommodation ends: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/02/fears-for-melbournes-homeless-forced-out-of-covid-hotel-accommodationDefend and Extend Public Housing: https://www.facebook.com/DefendAndExtendPublicHousing/
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Karina have a chat with Anna Langford (Act on Climate Coordinator - Friends of the Earth) about the Government's continued inaction on climate, and the People's Climate Strategy for Victoria being launched by Friends of the Earth on April 22 at Trades Hall. We discuss why workers issues are central to climate strategy going forward and how the People's Climate Strategy includes a wide variety of informed voices and opinions from across the state. FOE aim to have this strategy on every politician's desk in Victoria - to get involved head to https://www.actonclimate.org.au/foe_launch_peoples_climate_strategy
This week, the City Limits team discuss the latest news and current affairs before being joined by guests Michelle Giovas and John Merory from the Stop the North-East Link Campaign, where they talk about the devasting effects of this planned mega toll road.Find out more and get involved at https://stopnortheastlink.net.au/ or @stopnortheastlink on Facebook.In the second half of the show our regular transport commentator John McPherson joins for more in-depth transport converstations.
This week, Zeb, Kevin and Meg discuss the latest news from the world of capitalism unionism and environmentalism, before being joined by Julia Stockigt from the Save Westernport community campaign.Save Westernport were celebrating their success in opposing an off-shore gas processing facility in the pristine and precious waters of Westernport Bay. This Ramsar-listed wetland was under threat from developer AGL, but after 6,000 public submissions and a 10 weeks public hearing by the Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC), the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne rejected the proposal. City Limits congratulates these committed community activists and their allies within Environment Victoria and the council for their historic win. For more information on the campaign go to https://savewesternport.org
This week Meg and Zeb invite Andrea Bunting and Eirene Tsolidis Noyce on the show to discuss their respective campaigns and work. [15:55] Andrea (Glenlyon Bunnings Action group) talks to us about the second Bunnings Warehouse proposed to be built in Brunswick and the inappropriateness of this proposal for the increasingly congested area. We also discuss their campaign Stop Bunnings Glenlyon, how the community mobilised through lockdown(s), and how they are crowdfunding to take their case to VCAT.Check out the Stop Bunnings Glenlyon Facebook page and donate to take this independent community voice to VCAT. Later [36:32], Eirene, secretary of the Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) Victoria, gives some background on RAHU which was also formed in the midst of COVID. We discuss the Keep Louise Home Campaign, blurry lines for community housing associations during Victoria's evictions moratorium, why older women are the fastest growing group at risk of homelessness, and how the insidious move away from public housing is directly linked to Australia's colonial past. The eviction ban ends this Sunday 28th March! Join RAHU in the fight to end evictions, cancel debt, and extend rental protections - this Sunday 28th March at 12pm, Parliament House Melbourne.You can also join RAHU through their website, and if you have an urgent case or housing issue, email organise@rahu.org.au *As of Wednesday 24th March, the Victorian Government has extended some rental protections with transitional measures. You can still join us at the rally to celebrate our wins, to keep pushing for debts be cancelled, and for safe and secure housing for all.
Paddy Dobson (Wednesday breakfast) joins Kevin in the studio this housing week, where they give Meg a call to chat news at the top of the show, later [26:00] talking to Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group), about the Retirement Villages Act Review and the inquiry into aged care.Finally [43:34] talking with Howard Marosi (Friends of Public Housing, VIC) on- private house price fluctuations,- Nth Melbourne public housing estate update,- privacy breaches in a contractor-run survey of public tenants,- housing association Common Equity Housing Ltd. in the recent case of Louise Goode, and- public high-rise tenants' demands for proper recycling systems in their towers in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Nth Nichmond and Carlton. If you'd like to have your say on the Retirement Villages Act Review options paper, HAAG is looking for people to get in touch on 9654 7389 - you can also listen to their bi-monthly program Raise the Roof here.
Content warning: Mention of SA in the news introduction. Start listening at 6.15 to skip this topic.This energy week Kevin and Zeb interview Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth about the Vic government's new constitutional ban on fracking, the community's role in this win and the battle still to fight on gas exploration in Australia.We then chat to Prof. Patrick Moriarty on renewables, zero emissions future and the necessity of a degrowth economy to get there.
This week is transport week on City Limits!Zeb and Kevin invite Kerri Cassidy from the Disability Resources Centre to talk about accessibility on the Victorian public transport system and their Transport for All Campaign.Later on the show, we have a chat with regular transport commentator John McPherson about developments in Victoria's transport system.
Today on City Limits, Meg, Zeb and Kevin are back live-to-air direct from the studios of 3CR!We invite nuclear-free campaigner Dave Sweeney on the show to discuss a multitude of issues ranging from uranium mining, nuclear energy & waste, and global disarmament of nuclear weapons.
This week Meg and Karina get a housing update from Howard Marosi and Jack Verdins from Friends of Public Housing (Vic).We get a breakdown of 10 key differences between public and "community" housing, and discuss Victoria's 10-year strategy for housing and the advance towards community housing as an insidious move to destabilize existing public resources.
This week Meg and Zeb talk to Isaac Caarne, from a tree-sit 40 metres up a giant Eucalypt tree.Protesters are occupying an area of forest about to be logged on the Errinundra Plateau in East Gippsland, one of the last areas left unscathed by the fires.Despite advice from the Government’s Environment Department that logging in the area should not go ahead, VicForests is still planning to log the area. To get involved/support the campaign:www.geco.org.auhttps://www.facebook.com/GECOEastGippsland/https://twitter.com/eastgippyforestDonate: http://www.geco.org.au/donateOr contact: saveerrinundra@gmail.com
First week back on air in 2021, this transport week we chat to regular guest John McPherson.Topics include the Victorian government's announcement of 450 extra train services and off-peak fare discounts, the "15-minute city", mega transport projects (including in the Suburban Rail Loop and the North East Link toll road), as well as level crossing updates. Find out more about the North East Link and join in protests against the project:https://stopnortheastlink.net.au/William McDougall (mentioned on the show): https://wmcdougall.com/blog/ Urban greening study mentioned in the introduction:https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/five-green-ways-to-help-keep-your-cool-this-summer
This housing week Meg and Zeb talk to Howard Marosi and Jack Verdins (Friends of Public Housing) and Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group) with updates and commentary on the Big Housing Build.Later in the show we interview Ally Scott from the Disability Resources Centre to talk about their Transport For All campaign. Check out the blog by Friends of Public Housing here.If you are over 50 years of age and would like some advice, information, or practical housing support, call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178
This transport week on City Limits Meg and Zeb talk to Kath Larkin from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union about issues workers are facing due to both privatisation and the pandemic - and the intersection of the two.Tune in to find out about worker safety, PPE, pandemic leave and job security.
Another housing week on City Limits, talking with regulars Howard Marosi (Friends of Public Housing) and Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group) about the Victoria's announcement of the Big Housing Build.Find out why this announcement isn't as impressive as it sounds, the differences between public, social, community and affordable housing, and what action is actually needed (hint: public housing!)At 38 minutes we go to two pre-recordings from HAAG's podcast Raise the Roof. The first is Fiona York from HAAG discussing housing and risk factors for homelessness for our older LGBTI population. The second has Tonye Segbedzi from the Australian Association of Gerontology talking about the housing needs and preferences of older LGBTI people.Check out the blog by Friends of Public Housing here.If you are over 50 years of age and would like some advice, information, or practical housing support, call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178
This week Kevin and Meg get an update from Julia Stockigt (Save Westernport) on the environmental effects process of AGL's proposed regasification plant at Crib Point. Later we speak with Colin Long from Trades Hall about the potential for hydrogen as a clean energy source.
This week Kevin, Meg and Zeb invite regular transport commentator John McPherson on the show to give us an update on all things transport, including the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation surrounding the V/Line Chief Executive and Transclean.
This week on City Limits we welcome new host Zeb Peake to the Show!Later we interview long time anti-nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney to discuss the odd "good news" story.With Dave, we discuss:BHP scrapping their $4 billion expansion project at the Olympic Dam mine, a function of both low Uranium commodity prices since Fukushima and the instability of the mined product. Federal government "plan" for a permanent national radioactive waste site in Kimba, SA, and their law changes precluding future legal pushback.The 50th nation ratifying the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on Sunday; 22nd January 2021 will mark the day that nuclear weapons will be internationally illegal.
This housing week on City Limits, we get an update from regulars Howard Marosi (Friends of Public Housing) and Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group). Check out the blog by Friends of Public Housing here.If you are over 50 years of age and would like some advice, information, or practical housing support, call HAAG toll-free on 1300 765 178
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Westgate Bridge Disaster.Kevin invites Tommy Watson on the Show to discuss his first-hand experience of the bridge collapse, what led to the disaster itself, and importantly how the workers were treated in the months and years following the incident. We also play a recent web conference speech by David Spratt, co-author of Climate Change: Code Red, with an honest forecast of our future on Earth.
This week on City Limits, we get an update on Transport in Victoria from our regular transport expert John McPherson. We also invite Leigh Ewbank, climate justice campaigner from Friends of the Earth, on the show to discuss a recent announcement from the Andrews Government to repower all of Melbourne's metropolitan trains (and all state schools and hospitals) with solar and wind-generated electricity. We also discuss community resistance to the North-East Link project, and how since the transport sector is our state's 2nd largest (and fastest growing!) source of emissions, FOE is allocating their resources to promote sustainable public transport options in Victoria. FOE's climate-focused campaigns you can get involved in:Sustainable Cities campaign: supporting communities resisting the North-East Link, and making the case for the Melbourne Metro 2 Yes2Renewables campaign: arguing for greater investment in solar and wind, as well as energy storageAct on Climate campaign: calling for the government to set science-based emissions reduction targets, aiming to encourage investment into increased and sustainable public transport, writing a collaborative peoples' climate strategy
This week Meg and Kevin talk with Debbie Carruthers (from Mine-Free Glenaladale) about the proposed 1600 km2 mineral sands mine in East Gippsland, by Kalbar Operations Pty Ltd. We discuss the concerns surrounding radioactive and carcinogenic dust contaminants for the local community and ecosystems, as well as a major agricultural zone that produces much of Melbourne's food supply. Say NO to this mineral sands and rare earths mine by:1. Writing a submission in response to Kalbar's Environmental Effects Statement (closes 29th October 2020)2. Signing these petitions (here and here) 3. Reading, printing, distributing this flyer, outlining the issues of concern with this mine proposal4. Joining Mine-Free Glenaladale's email list to keep informed and obtain the guide for writing a submission when it is available:minefreeglenaladale@gmail.com
This week, Kevin and Meg speak with Helen van den Berg, long time community activist in northwestern Melbourne, to discuss the company Cleanaway in an in-depth look at their toxic waste dump in Tullamarine. For more info, visit Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group Inc.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Federal intervention into the Victorian ALP, and so Kevin kicks off the show with an on-the-ground perspective of events that led to formalised factionalism within the ALP.Later, Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing joins Kevin and Meg to give us a comprehensive update on housing in Victoria. Topics discussed:Keating's recent calls for "public housing" (here and here), despite historically privatising funding for public housing, and cutting it by $70,000 (from 7.1% down to 5.2%) during his time in powerThe Victorian Government announces an extension of rent relief and assistanceThe Australian Greens plan to build 100,000 public houses in VictoriaPrivate Community Housing group Housing First being given another Balaclava Carpark by the Port Phillip Council, as well as $22M by the State Government to develop (here). Rents drop in Melbourne and Sydney CBDs over the past yearAustralia Post chief executive and the delivery of Pauline Hanson stubby holders to locked down towers in July (here)
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Karina welcome Meg back with a discussion on some recent news items, including recent developments in energy. Later, we go to an interview from Sunday's Radio EcoShock where Alex Smith interviews Dr. Gray Brechin, author of Imperial San Fransisco, on the role of modern cities in the U.S.
This week, City Limits regular and transport expert John McPherson joins Kevin and Karina to talk all things transport.
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Karina invite Julia Stockigt, secretary of Save Westernport Inc, to discuss their fight against AGL's proposal to import and process gas at Crib Point, and to construct gas pipeline which means probable destruction for life and community in many parts of Victoria. Victorians have set a record for number of submissions in an environmental assessment process, and it is clear, with vocal opposition from many groups and councils including the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, that this dirty gas terminal needs to go. There is a long way to go, however, with state and federal leaders having the final say, and speculation that unfavourable, unsustainable and unecessary projects are being pushed through 'under the cover of COVID'.Here is a list of the company's convictions and fines, up until January 2020. You can access Save Westernport's submission against AGL's environmental effects statement here.Mornington Peninsula Shire Council recently voted unanimously to reject the AGL proposal, stating: The EES “is a weak analysis and gives us no confidence that the environmental impacts of this project can be acceptably managed",that AGL has even "failed to make a strong case for the need to import gas"and "AGL’s Import Jetty and Pipeline Project poses an unacceptable risk to the environment for unproven economic and resource gains".The Council is encouraging everyone to write to the Minister/s to tell them why AGL does NOT belong in Westernport.For the Ministers’ email addresses and suggestions for what to write, see box 3 ‘Write to Local State and Federal MP's’ here.Quotes from councillors:“It is time that the State Government finally listened to their community and scrapped this project before serious damage is done to Western Port Bay, tourism, the fishing industry and people living and working at Crib Point.""All of our State Government Members of Parliament should make their position clear. Will they support their local community and now work to prevent their Government’s approval?”The next step in the fight to STOP AGL in Westernport will be the panel hearings beginning on the 12th October.Later, Adjunct Associate Professor Paddy Moriarty joins the discussion with a background on the 'cleanliness' of natural gas as a power source, methane and carbon dioxide, and Australia's energy usage levels. Access Dr. Moriarty's published work from the past 45 years here and here.
Join Karina and Howard (Friends of Public Housing) this week as we discuss recent housing issues for Victoria, including:- the ombudsman inquiry and damning reports by community legal groups regarding the July towers lockdown, - the parliamentary inquiry into the Victorian government's response to COVID-19 ,- young renters struggling within the private housing system,- a push to build "affordable" housing in Port Phillip,- homeless people in Victorian hotels to be put up in private rentals ($150 million), and- delays in the development of private homes on a former North Melbourne public housing site that could lead to $10,000/day government payout.Later in the show [41:48], we go to audio from last month's Wednesday breakfast where David Kelly, a research fellow at the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT explains the historical shortfalls leading to the public housing lockdown last month. He details the history of Melbourne’s policies, the successes in the past, and what directions housing should take into the future.
This week is energy week with Kevin and Karina - We kick off the show with an interview with former co-presenter Mark Allen, who discusses a new group called Town Planning Rebellion (TPR), set up to highlight the critical role that land use planning plays in combatting our current climate and ecological emergency. We discuss their main aims and focus points, as well as the critical role of citiizens' assemblies and other collaborative forums in implementing these and other changes in future. You can join the discussion on their Facebook group here. Later, Dave Sweeney (Australian Conservation Foundation) joins us to discuss all things nuclear, including the 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which sees positive changes to international law on the horizon, and an update on the federal government plans to set up a nuclear waste dump on Barngarla Country (Kimba, SA) with a frightening new bill that aims to preclude any future legal pushback.
This week Kevin invites our regular transport expert John McPherson on the show to discuss updates in Victorian transport, looking at the dichotomy of the governmental funding for road-based transport over effective and accessible public transport.Here, we look at the tokenistic improvement to Victorian train lines - 10 extra weekly services on a few key lines, and the Upfield railway upgrades, vs. new ($340m) plans to "keep the city moving" by easing road congestion. We also chat about links between life expectancy and pollution, and Australia's comparatively poor pollution-control measures, and that despite our (very slow) move towards electric vehicles, they are no panacea.
This week, Kevin and Meg speak with Josh Cullinan, secretary of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), discussing the history of their inception, the questionable role of the SDA, and RAFFWU's ongoing work in supporting their members to secure the terms and conditions that workers have long been denied through direct and militant industrial action in the workplace. Join RAFFWU here; and add the Facebook page here.
Since the events surrounding the so-called "hard-lockdown" of Victorian public housing estates, Meg and Kevin take advantage of the increased attention on public housing issues. This week we interview Professor Libby Porter, a social scientist who works at RMIT and with the Save Public Housing Collective. We discuss secure and dignified housing as a fundamental human right (rather than a means of wealth creation), housing policy, a lack of attention to public housing, and the sale of public land. Later we talk about the government cuts to tertiary education as a calculated decontruction of the foundation of our educational institutions, it's parallels with the housing and other sectors, and the frightening labour conditions that have led to casualisation, "offboarding", and a health disaster in the aged care sector. Reports co-authored by Prof. Libby Porter:Here is a report on the impacts of the Public Housing Renewal Program in Moreland, Darebin, and Yarra.And here is another report on public land sales in Victoria since 2000 which could have been used for public housing.
It is a huge week in housing this week after the detention of 3,000 public housing tenants has been announced and enforced by police in Victoria. Today Kevin and Meg kick off the show with an interview with Scott Stewart, a tenant from one of the 9 blocks in so-called "hard-lockdown", who is joined by Daniel Nair Dadich, Victorian Socialists Candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne. We discuss the online forum ("Public Housing Residents in Lockdown Speak Out"), co-hosted by Vic Socialists and Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, as well as Scott's lived experience in his Flemington high-rise flat. Next, we are joined by regular Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group to chat about housing insecurity, anecdotes on a lack of real legal tenants protections, why there's no better time to join your union, and more. Lastly, we speak with Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing and Dr. Sam Lieblich, to take a look at housing insecurity as a direct cause for many psychiatric issues, classism, and how the immediate mobilisation and work of community-led organisations such as AMSSA have put DHHS to shame in supporting residents in the towers thus far.
This week is energy week on City Limits!We speak with activist Ronny Kareni about the disastrous impact of the mining industry in West Papua (and Australia's involvement), the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities to protect land and people from imperialist destruction, and the BLM movement in Indonesia.Later we invite Julia Stockigt, secretary of Save Westernport Inc, to discuss the social, safety, and environmental impacts of AGL's proposal to import and process gas, and to construct a 60 km gas pipeline which means probable destruction for their Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance. The Public Comments period for the EES (Environmental Effects Statement) on AGL’s proposal on the Mornington Peninsula will run until August 26 2020.Here is an article on the EES by Save Westernport Inc.If you want to say NO to AGL's gas plant, here is a video on how to access and comment on AGL's EES (You can make a submission about the AGL Crib Point proposal using the online form on the EngageVic website here).Here is a copy of the EES from AGL, and here is a list of the company's convictions and fines, up until January 2020.
This week Kevin chats with regular guest and public transport expert John McPherson about the state of public transport in Victoria and the latest developments in PT infrastructure abroad.
This week we invite Adjunct Associate Professor Patrick Moriarty to discuss the latest issues in global energy during and beyond the pandemic, including the science behind rainforest cycles and biofuels, the problems with industrial carbon capture, and much more.Access Dr. Moriarty's published work from the past 45 years here and here.
Demolition of public housing continues, as 80,000 Victorians remain on the public housing waiting list.Kevin and Meg, with guests Shane McGrath (Housing for the Aged Action Group) and Howard Marosi (Friends of Public Housing) look at public housing, the Vic Governments "eviction moratorium" in action, and all the other key issues in housing this month. For help with elder abuse call Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 368 821 or visit https://seniorsrights.org.au/
It’s energy day, and Meg and Kevin are joined by Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth to discuss the environmental exploitations that are being sanctioned by Federal and State governments, desperate to remove ‘red and green tape’ from industry in efforts to restore a pre-covid economy.
This week, regular guest John McPherson joins us to discuss all things public transport!
This week on City Limits, community campaigner Helen van den Berg joins Kevin and Meg to discuss the latest developments with Friends of Steele Creek and the Environment Protection Authority Victoria. In the second part of the show, Bridget Kelly and Spike Chiappalone, project worker and peer worker with CoHealth’s Rough Sleepers Harm Minimisation Project, talk about creating a co-designed peer-to-peer resource to minimise the heath, social and legal harms for people who are sleeping rough in Melbourne. To enquire about volunteering with the Rough Sleepers Harm Minimisation Project, email needtoknow@cohealth.org.au. The booklet will be made available on the website www.needtoknowhomeless.org.auTo connect with Friends of Steele Creek, go to https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfSteeleCreekInc
It’s housing week and we take a deep-dive into the delayed new rental laws, the emergency housing laws, public housing, homelessness and the economics of housing. Meg, Kevin and Karina are joined by Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing and Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group.
City Limits this week pays tribute to and explores the legacy of Union leader Jack Mundey, who died on Sunday 10th May 2020, aged 90.Mundey was the state secretary of the NSW Builders and Labourers Federation in the 1970s, during which time the union implemented 40 green bans - a type of strike where members would not work on projects it viewed as socially or environmentally destructive.City Limits hosts Kevin Healy and Meg Kimber are joined by guest Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation to dive deeply into the ways workers struggles have, and still do, intersect with environmental action and other issues of community, equality and empowerment. Kevin Healey, who knew Mundey personally, said “Jack played a key role, not just in that environmental consideration, but also, the union itself under Jack broadened out incredibly - it became a supporter of gay rights, it became a supporter of women’s rights, it fought to get women into the industry”Dave Sweeney noted that Mundey was a former vice-president of the Australian Conservation Foundation and “a very long-term and very active NSW counsellor because he saw that as an important next step to the industrial activity and action that he and the BLF took under his leadership to protect, and make, living cities.”
This week we invite regular guest and public transport expert John McPherson to City Limits to give us an update on PT in Victoria, including what low user rates during the pandemic mean for our wishy-washy private~public PT system and our (one) new fully electric metropolitan bus!
This week, Kevin and Meg speak withHan Aulby, Executive Director of The Centre for Public Integrity about their work in transparency and accountability of our governmental bodies, their petition for Australian parliament to resume sitting in the wake of COVID-19, and the need for an independent commission against corruption. Check out their publications page with coronavirus and other related and up-to-date research HERE. Later, we speak with Emma, a delegate for the Independent Education Union (Vic-Tas) about organising teachers in the ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) industry in the wake of the novel coronavirus—and more broadly, Workers Organising Resistance during the pandemic.We also discuss in more depth the layoffs and deterioriating of working conditions in the private education sector as a response to international students leaving the country and being left with no governmental support.Sign the petition for the Minister for Social Services to provide financial assistance to international students HERE.
This week, Kevin and Meg speak with Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing to give us a run-down on the state government's recently announced rent-freeze, then we play a repeat of Sunday morning's Radio EcoShock where Alex Smith interviews Australian researcher David Spratt about threats from simultaneous pandemic and climate change. Links to housing resources discussed on this program: ROAR - Renters Organising Action & Resistance (Melbourne) Trades Hall - We Are Renters campaign State Government's Media Release 15th April (General Picture)State Government's Announcement 22nd April (Planned changes to the law)Rent Relief Process for Residential Tenancies in Victoria (Consumer Affairs Vic)
It's week 1 of long-distance prerecording!This week Kevin and Meg speak with Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing, who speaks to us about housing in Victoria during the onset of the novel coronavirus - including the government's response to the crisis and what this means for Victorians - from rough sleepers to private renters.
This week, Kevin broadcasts from home with a cuppa for the first time under our strange circumstances. We invite Helen van den Berg (Friends of Steele Creek and northwest suburbs issues activist) to discuss the:- Tullamarine toxic waste dump company Cleanaway being fined- impact of dumping Westgate Tunnel contaminated soil from in the western suburbs of Vic- estate in St. Albans built on a contaminated siteand much more!We also listen to a prerecorded interview by 3CR's Judith Peppard with Greg Denham from LEAP - Law Enforcement Action Partnership (Australia) about how the virus is affecting street workers and rough sleepers in relation to prevention of transmission, personal safety, education and resources being made available to those most vulnerable in Victoria.
This week after our weekly news round-up, Meg & Kevin interview Prof. Patrick Moriarty from Monash University on energy efficiency, emissions and extreme weather events. Here we discuss alternative and "transition" energy sources such as natural gas and wind, as well as Tassie's $50 million green hydrogen export plan.
Kevin is joined this week by our resident transport guru John McPherson (and Paddy from Monday Breakfast on the panel!).This week we discuss the issues surrounding the recent signal failure and ensuing railway accident resulting in the deaths of two workers and hospitalisation of 11 passengers on the Wallan line. We also provide listeners with some more info about the airport rail and other suburban lines, including capacity, price, speed, frequency and the need for track upgrades (and accommodating for Melbourne's growing population).
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Meg speak with Kate Shaw about yesterday's "rent-freeze" laws for social housing in Berlin, and later with Stever McAtee and Catherine Phelps on the whys and wherefores of universal basic income in Australia.
This week on City Limits, Kevin chats with Shane McGrath and Howard Marosi about issues affecting our public housing, as well as news and local events being held in Melbourne this week.
Nuclear energy is increasingly on the political agenda. What are the risks and realities of this so-called 'carbon neutral' energy source? Kevin and Meg interview Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation about this and related issues such as energy, water use, climate change and social license - both in Australia and around the world. City Limits stands in solidarity with the resisters of the nuclear waste dump in Kimba, South Australia.
Regular transport update with John McPherson, including discussion on the proposed orbital railway line through Sunshine, the Transurban business model and Westgate tunnel, single vs. double lines on the Upfield suburban and western rural V/Lines, and what's going on with our ten-year-old signalling system.
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Meg talk all things housing with Shane McGrath and Howard Marosi. This is the last show for 2019; we will be back on the first week of February 2020 (Wednesday the 5th).
This week Kevin and Meg discuss the NSW fires, and a round-up of the latest news from the Herald Sun and Financial Review. Then we are joined by Prof. Paddy Moriarty from Monash University who explains the science behind Hydrogen Energy and what we need to do to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Regular transport update with John McPherson, including railway infrastructure in Victoria.Interview with Gemma Cafarella from SAVE FOOTSCRAY PARK on the recent win for Footscray residents to save Footscray Park from development.
This week Kevin and Meg talk about climate change, urban planning and public housing with Mark Allen and Kate Shaw.
This week Kevin and Meg speak with community campaigner Bev Smiles about Coal Mining in the Hunter Valley region, and Matt Ruchel from the Victorian National Parks Association about the Stand Up For Nature rally which is on Nov 28, 12.30 on Parlaiment Steps.
What makes a walkable city? Why are more highways not the answer to congestions? Do traders really lose money when car parking is reduced? How can YOU make your neighbourhood more walkable? Answers to all these questions in today's show, as Kevin and Meg talk with Ben Rossiter from Walks Victoria and Nancy Atkin from Brunswick Residents Network. And at the top of the show we take a live cross from the IMARC Blockade.
This week after a chat about the news of the day, Kevin and Meg are joined by Sheridan Tate from the Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance.They are holding a community information session this Thursday night at 7.30pm, at RecWest Footscray, Essex St, West Footscray.
This week we replay an interview between Alex Smith from Radio Ecoshock and fire expert Greg Mullins. Then we speak with Helen van den Berg about the Tullamarine Toxic Dump Action Group.https://www.3cr.org.au/radioecoshockhttps://www.facebook.com/TTTDAGinc/
This week we look at train transport in depth with John McPherson - in particular the city loop and orbital loop, as well as getting an update about the Save Footscray Park campaign from Gemma Cafarella.
Kevin and Meg are joined by Ben Ramcharan from the community campaign to preserve the Nillumbik Green Wedge, Love Your Green Wedge, and then speak with Juliet Fox about community radio, capitalism and the regenerative voice - from her book Community Radio's Amplification of Communication for Social Change.http://loveyourgreenwedge.com/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030173159
What are the differences between "public housing" and "social housing"? Well, actually there are lots, including the policies that tenants live under and the security of tenancy. We look at this and many other issues relating to housing with Howard Marosi and Shane McGrath. By the way, you can read the article about the National Housing Conference that Howard mentions here, and you can find out more about the Housing for the Aged Action Group's show on 3CR here (weblinks below).http://insidestory.org.au/plenty-of-ideas-not-much-money/https://www.3cr.org.au/haag
This week Kevin and Meg speak with Joseph Hwani, energy consultant with the UNHCR about his work on renewable energy in refugee camps, then interview Richie Merzian, climate and energy director at the Australia Institute about the latest Climate of the Nation Report.
This week we are joined by our transport guru John McPherson to talk about trains (mostly) and play a couple of train tracks (music tracks that is).
It's a jam-packed show this week with three guests talking about three local campaigns! Kevin and Meg are joined by Sue Vittori from the Anti-Toxic Waste Alliance, Maree Pardy from Save Footscray Park and Professor Libby Porter, Vice Chancellor's Principal Research Fellow at RMIT's school of Global, Urban and Social Studies. Professor Porter talks with us about the Djab Wurrung Embassy and how non-Indigenous Australians can respond to the invitation to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people on Aboriginal land. We finish with a song from The Footscray Kid. Listen to the whole song here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWHP4hjZIDshttps://www.facebook.com/AntiToxicWasteAlliance/https://www.savefootscraypark.com/https://dwembassy.com/
This week we discuss the campaign to save Footscray Park, and look at public housing in Victoria with Howard Marosi and Fiona York
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Meg are joined by anti-nuke campaigner Dave Sweeney who gives us his thoughts on the standing commitee investigation examining the feasability of nuclear energy. We even manage to have some laughs! Lol, nuclear energy. Before being joined by Dave, Kevin and Meg cover the news of the week including political and union integrity, wage theft, and where to buy the latest Penfold Grange release.
This week we talk high-speed rail, Crown Casino, suburban buses, 10 minute trains on the Upfield line, Google Cities, the cost of transport in Paris and lots more!
Today on City Limits Eugenia and Meg discuss the latest news including Crown Casino, political corruption, the SKM fires and recycling, before speaking with Emily Pearson from Teach for Australia and Hannah Aulby from the Centre for Public Integrity. https://www.teachforaustralia.org/https://publicintegrity.org.au/
Kevin and Meg discuss the news of the day (except Boris). We feature an interview from Dirt Radio about Djap Wurrung Embassy and protecting the sacred birthing tree. The breaking news from the jap Wurrung Embassy is that police have advised bulldozers will be in today. If you can get up there or donate, please do. https://dwembassy.com/Sacred birthing trees on Djap Wurrung country need protecting. Over 50 generations have been born on these sites & the birthing trees themselves are 800 years old. We are protecting them from Vic Labour Party’s planned highway extension that is set to destroy this dreaming landscape.
This week we speak to Susan Motherwell, a community campaigner who was part of a group that won in VCAT against developers. We also catch up with Howard and Reuben about public housing and housing for the aged action group. Information sessions for the public housing estates can be found here: https://www.vhhsba.vic.gov.au/eventsNorthcote public housing estate - Drop-in sessionProject Name : Northcote - Walker StreetDATE29 July 2019TIMEStart: 5.30 PMEnd: 7.30 PMWork has commenced on planning and design for the redevelopment of the Walker Street Northcote public housing estate.A drop-in session has been planned for interested community members.The drop-in session will provide useful information about the project as well as provide an opportunity for you to speak directly with the project team.The session will be held in the Main Hall of the Northcote Town Hall and light refreshments will be provided.For more information email contact@northsidecommunities.com.auor Mark Ritch, Communications and Engagement Manager at mark.ritch@dhhs.vic.gov.au.North Melbourne public housing estate - Drop-in sessionProject Name : North Melbourne - Abbotsford StreetDATE06 August 2019TIMEStart: 5.30 PMEnd: 7.30 PMWork has commenced on planning and design for the redevelopment of the Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne public housing estate.A drop-in session has been planned for interested community members.The drop-in session will provide useful information about the project as well as provide an opportunity for you to speak directly with the project team.The session will be held in the Hotham Room of the North Melbourne Library and light refreshments will be provided.For more information email contact@northsidecommunities.com.au or Mark Ritch, Communications and Engagement Manager at mark.ritch@dhhs.vic.gov.au.Preston public housing estate - Drop-in sessionProject Name : Preston - Stokes/Penola Streets and Oakover RoadDATE31 July 2019TIMEStart: 5.30 PMEnd: 7.30 PMWork has commenced on planning and design for the redevelopment of the Stokes/Penola Streets and Oakover Road public housing estates.A drop-in session has been planned for interested community members.The drop-in session will provide useful information about the project as well as provide an opportunity for you to speak directly with the project team.The session will be held in at Shire Hall, 286 Gower St, Preston. Light refreshments will be provided.For more information email contact@northsidecommunities.com.au or Mark Ritch, Communications and Engagement Manager at mark.ritch@dhhs.vic.gov.au.
This week Kevin, Eugenia and Meg talk with Western suburbs campaigner Helen van den Berg about air quality in Melbourne, and anti-Uranium campainer Dave Sweeney about the expansion of the Olympic dam as well as the ideology of Uranium extraction. Both guests also address the issues of climate change and the role of capitalism.
Transport week! We start off by chatting to Michael Bayliss from Sustainable Population Australia about his view on urban issues and unpeggingAustralia's economy from constant GDP growth.In the show's second half we chat to transport regular John MacPherson about the Myki system and how similar systems work better elsewhere.
This week is a fourth Wednesday so we're covering topics miscellaneous! Kevin does a thorough news debrief, ranging from local union issues to international workers' safety, transport and the environment. In the second half we get an update from Monash University's professor Patrick Moriarty about electric vehicles, Uber Air in Melbourne and the impacts of glyphosate weed-killer.
Welcome to Radiothon Week! Listen to a highlights reel of our regular-irregular guests talking about the role 3CR plays in the media landscape and why it's important to talk about cities. If you like City Limits, donate now to help us stay on air. Help us remain a community-led voice for just and sustainable cities!https://www.3cr.org.au/donate
Join us for our monthly cup of tea with public transport expert John MacPherson, as he and Kevin talk about Melbourne's latest urban transit news.
Today is the 5th Wednesday and we're talking sustainable city planning for Melbourne. Our guests are former co-host Mark Allen, town planning activist from 'Population, Permaculture and Planning and Holistic Activism.net'. He tells us about the massive environmental impacts of Melbourne's sprawling concrete-heavy housing industry, and the importance of maintaining and re-using existing buildings to create affordable housing. In the show's second half Dr Kate Shaw, urban geographer from the University of Melbourne tells us about her parrallel research into dockland redevelopments in cities around the world, and how Melbourne's is a missed opportunity to create equitable public housing. Kate also comments on the current State Goverment's public housing redeveoplment policies and the massive loss of public land that is going on as we speak.Subscribe to City Limits! Radiothon is 2 weeks away, show your support and keep us on air: https://www.3cr.org.au/donate
This week we debrief from Saturday's Federal election. We speak to Sue Bolton who ran as a socialist candidate in Wills about the need to provide employment opportunities while maintaining left-wing policies on migration and climate change. Next, Dave Kerin from the Earth Worker Alliance talks about cross-partisan efforts to replace environmentally exploitative industries with sustainable ones by providing jobs, training, collective support and financial benefits for blue-collar workers in the renewables sector.Keep the liberal goverment accountable by supporting independent community radio! Radiothon is here and your donation will keep City Limits on air: https://www.3cr.org.au/donatehttps://earthworkercooperative.com.au/https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/sue_bolton
This week we're talking environment with the Australian Conservation Foundation's anti-uranium campaigner Dave Sweeney. We talk about the environmental impacts of a controversial new approval for a uranium mine at Ullaring in WA. We also hear from Debbie Carmody- an indigenous woman from WA campaigning against the Ullaring mine, explaining why it is critical to respect Indigenous sovereignty in the decision-making process. We also touch on the Adani approval.
It's the 1st of May- the international dayfor workers' rights! It's also City Limits transport week so we have John MacPherson in the studio to update us on Melbourne transport news. We interview Jim Chrysostomou from the locomotive division of Victoria's Transport Workers Union on an upcoming lawsuit against Metro for wage theft, sub-standard safety protocols and the pressures facing train and tram drivers in Melbourne.If you enjoyed the show don't forget to check out 3CR's whole-day May Day special broadcast!
Sonja Rutherford from the Broadmeadows Progress Association Talks with us about the impact of the repeated fires in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. We then explore with Professor Pat Moriarty how we actually address the stockpiling of waste, and the increasing problem of emissions from the fossil fuel industry.
It's energy week! After catching up on the news we chat to Dr Yvette Maker, a Senior Research Associate at the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. Yvette studies how people with cognitive disabilities interact with the companies that provide essential utilities like power, water and telecommunications. She talks about the barriers faced by people with experiences as broad as dementia, acquired brain injury and mental health challenges, and what these companies can do to make basic services more universally inclusive.In the final ten minutes of the show we cross to the Change the Rules rally- Melburnians protesting for fair and secure work!
After a run-down of the news this week, we are joined by Tim Read, Greens state member for Brunswick. Trains, trams, buses, and bikes are all under discussion.
For our 4th Wednesday of the month we start the show we do a thorough digest of all the news that Kevin's spotted in the media this week. In the second half we chat to James Frazer, coordinator of the Waterwatch program at Melbourne Water. He tells us about the significance of frogs to understanding Melbourne's water health, and the Frog Census app that Melbourne Water have developed to allow all Melburnians to collect data on their local frogs. Hear 3 typical Melbourne frog calls and learn to ID your froggy neighbours!
This week we're talking housing- and the affordable housing crisis is more acute than ever. We speak to Howard Morosey from Defend and Extend Public Housing about community resistance to the proposed redevelopment of public housing in Northcote. In the second half of the show we have a conversation between Tanya McColl from the Northern and Western Homelessness Networks and Gemma White from Housing for the Aged Action Group. Tanya talks about NWHN's recently released report about the dire state of crisis accomodation options for people accessing homelessness services, and their planned boycott. Gemma gives an update on HAAG's new initiative to engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds through bilingual outreach.
Brendan Dobby from Environmental Defenders Office of NSW joins us to discuss the recent rejection of a proposed coal mine in Gloucester NSW, partly for Climate Change reasons. Before that, Kevin, Meg and Eugenia explore the news of the week, including Labour Day, Federation Square and superannuation. Kevin Healy, Meg Kimber, Eugenia Zoubtchenko, Brendan Dobby
It's the first Wednesday of the month AND the broadcast before International Women's Day, so Meg & Eugenia have booted the boys out of the studio to talk gender & transport. Our first interview is with Dr Nicole Kalms from the Monash Design Department's XYX Lab about her research into women's safety on public transport around the world. We talk about how design is gendered and the dramatic changes many women make to their lifestyles and routines in order avoid feeling unsafe in transport spaces. In the second half of the show we talk to Rachel Lynskey: activist, urban planning student and Sustainable Cities Coordinator at Friends of the Earth. We chat about the current issues in Melbourne's public transport politics, the importance of community-led campaigns and how different our city could be if it was planned with gender in mind.
The Olympic Dam mine is 400 kilometres from Adelaide in South Australia. It's owned by BHP and mines copper, gold, silver, uranium. It currently has a licence to produce 200 tonnes of copper per annum, but BHP has put in an applications to increase that to 350,000 tonnes of copper. Listen in for all the details from Dave Sweeny from the Australian Conservation Foundation. Our second guest is Ruby Marshall from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, who updates us on the school strike, Adani and the upcoming election.
On our first housing episode for 2019!In the first segment we chat to Alex Fearnside from Urban Coup about cooperative housing in Melbourne. Urban Coup are starting Australia's first inner-urban housing cooperative, and he talks about the environmental and social benefits of living in community. Note: Alex mentions a particular development company and some architecture firms. These are just one of the many options available for people looking to build a cooperative home; find the architect for you at the Australian Institute of Architects' website: http://www.architecture.com.au/events/state-territory/victorian-chapterIn the show's second half we get our monthly update from Fiona from Housing for the Aged Action Group. She talks about the recent report A Crisis in Crisis and HAAG's current campaigns.
Guillermo Narsilio is a researcher in Infrastructure Engineering with the Melbourne School of Engineering, and he joins the City Limits team to give us the 'low down' on Geothermal Energy. More information here: http://pmrl.eng.unimelb.edu.au
Our first week back from summer break is our monthly transport show with regular guest & public transit guru John McPherson. In the first half of the show we catch up on news. In the second half we discuss tunneling projects in metropolitain Melbourne, the ways in which we could improve our public transport without building new infrastructure and why it's so hard to hold bus operators to account.
For our final show of the year and our final housing episode for 2018, we get a comprehensive round-up of all the developments, and an explaination of the current situation. We play a short documentary by Eugenia and then speak with long-time public housing defender Howard Marosi and Housing for the Aged Action Group executive officer Fiona York. Thanks for listening in 2018 - we'll be back Feb 6, 2019.
On today's show we talk a combination of transport and waterways, catching up with a couple of our regular guests for the last time in 2018. Helen van den Berg from Friends of Steele Creek joins us to talk about the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in water management practices and policies around Melbourne. Afterwards we speak to professor Patrick Moriarty from Monash Uni about energy use in transport, talking about Lithium batteries, electric cars and emissions. Join us next week for the last show before our summer break!
For the year's last transport show we're joined by Peter Flanagan who shares insights with his recent transport-focused trip to Germany. We talk circular train lines, transport interchanges, congestion, parking and Uber.
In the first half of today's show we are joined in the studio by Naomi Chainey, coordinator of 3CR's special whole-day broadcast for International Day of Persons with Disabilities, coming up next Monday (December 3rd). Together we speak to Jen Hargraves from Women with Disabilities about her recent 2-month research tour to England, Scotland and Sweden, comparing disability policies on financial independence, provision of support as well as attitudes to disability pride.Afterwards we are joined by Colin Neathercoat, Manager of Community Afairs at Melbourne Water. Following on from conversations with community members on our show two weeks ago, he explains what Melbourne Water is doing to clean up after the disastrous fire at Stony Creek earlier this year. We also talk about the uniqueness of Melbourne's water catchments and new greywater recycling networks being installed in new suburbs on the city's fringes.
Today's topic is housing! With only three days to go before the Victorian state election, Kevin's news digest is as topical as ever. In the second third of the show we speak to Jacqui Alexander, Senior Lecturer at the Monash University's department of Art, Design & Architecture about Melbourne's Airbnb economy, and how it is affecting housing design and affordability. In the final third of the show we get a important update of housing election policies from Fiona York, Executive Officer for the Housing for the Aged Action Group.
On the 30th of August 2018, a factory fire on Stony Creek in West Footscray devastated the local waterway, obliterating animal, insect and bird life in in the creek, and affecting people who live nearby and use the park for recreation. In this special episode of City Limits, we spotlight the work of two Community Groups who have been working tirelessly to regenerate the creek for years. Steve Wilson from Friends of Stony Creek, and Michael Worth from Friends of Cruickshank Park join us to discuss. At the end of the show, Michael mentions the Stony Creek Community Day. Here are the details: Sunday, 18 November 2018, 11:00 AM to 02:30 PM. McNish ‘Dinosaur Park’ Reserve, Cruickshank Park, Court Street, Yarraville 3013. Melbourne Water, the EPA and Council will be there.Friends of Stoney Creek http://www.geocities.ws/stonyck/Cruickshank Park Masterplan https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/cruickshank-park-masterplan
Our monthly episode with public transport boffin John McPherson swerves between issues including the Bicycle Network's recent campaign for removing Melbourne helmet laws, privatisation of bus services, "sky rail", public space around train stations & even runaway trains! Tune in for our post-cup-day digest of all things happening in Melbourne's public transport news.
It's the fifth Wednesday of the month so we talk Halloween, activism on the Upfield line and wonder- how much attention does Eugenia actually pay during the show? Our first guest is Peta from Melbourne non-profit Cultivating Community, who talks to us about the important social, economic and health benefits of community gardens in public housing estates. Our second guest is Setu Pelz, an engineer and researcher from the Reiner Lemoine Institut in Berlin. We talk about the immense possibilities for off-grid renewable energy solutions to improve energy access for remote communities, both in developing countries and in our own back yards.
On today's show Meg is away but Eugenia is back from Europe with some fresh city-related ideas! In the second half of the show we talk to Dave Sweeney, the Australian Conservation Foundation's anti-nuclear campaigner to bebunk new attemps to re-brand nuclear energy as safe and clean in the media. Dave tells us about the embryonic nuclear SMR (Small Modular Reactor) technology, remote communities, and renewable alternatives.
Kevin and Meg are joined by Colin Long, who will soon be stepping into a role at Trades Hall working on issues relating to climate change, just job transitions and cooperatives. Before that, Howard Marosi updates us about events in defence of public housing. Kevin and Meg start the show with a chat about Amazon, Wetlands, and, for something a little different, capitalism.
Nobody likes public transport, right? The ad's on TV tell us that. Well this week we break that down - what's good and what's not about Melbourne and Victoria's transport systems, what could be better, and how - with regular transport guru John McPherson joining Kevin and Meg in the studio. At the start of the show we hear about this weeks quality journalism on topics such as Union rallies, the Footy Grand Final, the ABC, and why Jacinda Ardern is considered the antidote to Trump.
This week we are joined by George Maxwell who shares with us the realities of what it's like to work at a University as a sessional or contract worker. We also speak with Prof. Moriarty about waste-burning power and our dwindling water resources. At the top of the show we explore some cheerful headlines from the Herald Sun and other quality news sources.
It's April Bragg's last day as Housing For the Aged Action Group staff member - but we are sure it wont be the last time we speak with her as she explains how she will keep campaigning for housing justic for all. At the start of the show Kevin and Meg discuss the latest headlines in sports, politics and alternative energy. Fiona York from the Housing for the Aged Action Group also joins us in the studio and we discuss the proposed Royal commission into Aged Care.
Our fearless leader Kevin joins us by phone from his sick bed, to confirm the date of the Royal visit to Melbourne and to clarify the difference between Peter Dutton and Donald Trump (among other important news). Meg then speaks with Helen van den Berg about the new Ministerial Advisory Committee on the health of the Western Suburbs creeks and rivers, followed by an interview with Ken Mooney about the history of collective action to protect Western Suburbs communities from toxic industry.
After a round-up of the latest Herald Sun headlines, we dive right into an analysis of the proposed orbital rail in Melbourne, and a comparison between train systems in Japan and Melbourne.
First we hear from our regular transport guru John McPherson with a summary of the plans for a $50b orbital rail link around outer Melbourne. Then we are joined via phone by Peter McCallum from the Mackay Conservation Group, who updates us on the realities of the $444 million Great Barrier Reef donation from the Federal Government. Our final guest in the studio is Claire Hetzel from the vibrant community garden Peppertree Place, who updates us about the important work of Peppertree, the closure risk to the group, and what can be done to Save Peppertree Place.
The decrease in public housing is under scrutiny on todays show, and we really dig deep into the issue in an extended interview with Howard Marosi from Defend and Extend Public Housing. The waiting list for public housing is over 84,000 individuals, yet the State Government is relocating residents from exisiting housing estates in order to demolish current pubolic housing stock. Listen in for all the details.
This week we do a round up of the week's most important news, inclusing Russel Crow's beard, Gina Rheinharts family Chirstmas, followed by a discussion of the various possibilities for rail to the Melbourne airport with our resident irregular, John McPherson.
We take stock of the headlines this week, which include news from the Northern Territory and the USA, prompting thoughts about how the two countries compare on human rights and treatment of refugees and first nations people. We discuss housing changes in Melbourne and overseas.Our first guest today is Ferne Edwards, a Post-Doc research fellow who worked on the SHARECITY project. We have a lively and fun discussion about community food sharing and sustainable cities!Then we are joined by John Passant who breaks down the mythology of corporate competition and privitisation.
This week we have a special radiothon edition which is a 'best-of' collection featuring live appeareances from four of our wonderful 'regular irregular' guests. That's referring to their attendence, not their personalities. What great people! Learn more about their efforts over many years to raise awareness and take action on important causes. Also, hear the story of how two 'little old ladies' ended up on the railway line.And there is even time for a few peices of news from the Herald Sun - goodie! If you would like to support City Limits go to http://www.3cr.org.au/donate or https://www.givenow.com.au/cause442Every donation helps a lot! Make sure to specify your donation is for City Limits - that way we can acknowlede your donation on air!
Today on City Limits Kevin takes a long-overdue break while Meg and Eugenia chat to Tristan Davies from Melbourne Heritage Action. MHA is an activist group raising awareness about threats to significant but undervalued buildings. We talk about Campbell Arcade, space for creative small buisnesses and the importance of valuing cultural (as well as architectural) heritage.
This week on the show we talk to Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation to discuss the government's plan to store nuclear waste in remote SA. Our weekly news update touches on the subject on the Royal Commission into the banking sector alnd also the subject on everyone's minds this week- the Royal Wedding.
After this week's news digest we talk to Shane from Housing For The Aged Action Group about the housing implications from the recent budget.
In this week's show, Kevin and Meg discuss some headlines about workers rights, fair pay and - you guessed it - tax cuts!John Englart from the Climate Action Network Australia gives us a fascinating update about the last climate accord meeting in Bonn.In the last 20 mintues we speak with Pat Moriarty about how we can really reduce our energy usage, and get some facts about alternative energy sources.
This week in the round up of the news, we are reminded of Kevin's love of everything fashion and royalty! And just for a little change we talk about banks and tax. We only breifly mention Peter Dutton, but please be aware, an Eric Abetz impersonation does appear at one point.Moving on to transport, John McPhearson joins us in the studio and we dissect the Victorian State Budget - investigating it with a fine-tooth comb, searching for transport funding and analysing the opportunities, possibilities and alternatives that might help us all get around in a city of nearly 5 million.
This week we speak with Dr. Nick Rose from Sustain: The Australian Food Network - a fascinating conversation about food security and the challenges and opportunities for food producers and consumers. What solutions have they found for these issues in British Colombia, Canada? Listen to find out! At the end of our show, we chat with Bob Skate about his experiences as a draft resister during the Vietnam War, and reflect on the way war has been talked about in Australia, and what the repercussions were for draft resisters and critics of the war in the 1970s.
This week we learn about the effects of cuts to public housing stock. April Bragg from the Housing for the Aged Action Group gives us an update from the frontline.
This week we are joined by Hannah Aulby from The Australia Institute to discuss the campaign for a federal anti-corruption commission. The federal Labour Party have agreed it's a good idea, and set up certain principles about how it should operate. Listen here to find out what they are, why they work and what happens when they dont. More information is available from the Australia Institute website
On today's transport session of City Limits its Kevin's birthday! We're joined by regular guest John McPherson and special guest Rachel Lynskey to talk about Get on Board- a grassroots initiative mobilising communities to advocate for better public transport around Melbourne. We discuss the contentious Western tunnel project, how to get past Melbourne's car dependency and barriers to change.
Today Kevin, Meg and Eugenia are joined by John Passant - economist and workers' rights champion, to discuss the recent moves for tax cuts for high income businesses. Where will the money really go? Wages and employment or shareholders and business investments? John mentions the recent Anglicare report The Cost of Privilege - find out more here.
This week we welcome new co-host Eugenia Zoubtchenko and catch up with April Bragg from the Housing for the Aged Action Group. We also speak with Helen Franks, a resident who lives near the Melbourne airport, who tells us about the new master Plan and a Major Development Plant for the proposed third East/West runway and extension of the existing East/west runway.
This week, after a debrief of the best news from the Herald Sun, we chat with Rosa McKenna from the Spotswood and South Kingsville Residents Group about the Westagate Tunnel. Then we speak with Friends of Steele Creek Inc activist Helen Vandenberg. For more info about the waterways workshop, check out Environmental Justice Australia.
This week we discuss transport with our regular guest John McPherson. Topics range from government funded airports and train-lines for the Adani mine, Melbourne tunnels affecting waterways, and public land being sold off for private gain.For more informations about the Adani front-line blockade, check out StopAdani
In our intial conversations Kevin commends the Herald Sun on their fearless commentary. Then we explore in depth the decision to put an Apple store in Fed Square. James Lesh and Tania Davidge from Citizens for Melbourne join us in studio, and we have a lively discussion about the process, with information about some genuinely optomistic possibilities for stopping the building of the store.
In the round-up of the news this week, we take a look at 'business bashing', tax cuts, Woolworths' treatment of cleaning staff, and the effects of mining waste in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Sue Bolton is a Socialist Alliance councillor in Moreland, and gives us some really important insights into the current situation in public housing - up to 11 housing estates to be demolised, with tenents being pushed into agreeing to relocate.Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action group then joins us in the second half of the show, with some good news as well as further discussion of the issues.
This week Kevin and Meg are joined by Mark Allen - our absconding co-presenter, who is forced to defend his desertation! We learn about Mark's latest projects and encourage him to visit as a 'regular irregular' guest. In a wide-ranging and rather philosophical conversation this week, we discuss English politics, activist self-care, permaculture population solutions, and why Bob Brown is a fan of 3CR.
A discussion on Gendered Violence at work, which took place at the Geelong Trades Hall Council (GTHC), as part of the Working Women Get Organised conference (November 2017)Jodi Peskett, Women’s Safety and Rights organiser (We Are Union Women Campaign, Victorian Trades Hall) facilitated the discussed on Gendered violence as an OH&S issue.Thanks to the organisers, The Geelong Women Unionists Network and the We are Union Women Campaign (Victorian Trades Hall) for having us and to all the participants for allowing us to record. Thanks also to Hope Mathumbu, Ayaan Shirwa and MV for the recordings.If any of the content in this segment raises questions or causes distress to you, please call 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
In a broad summary of the recent mainstream news, Kevin and Meg discuss the recent nobel preace prize win by an australian anti-nuclear group, and Eric Abetz's views on 350.org. Things then turn uncharacterisically frviolous as they discuss the TV show The Block (a show neither has ever watched), and Kevin shares present suggestions for the holiday season and where to find the best affordable fashions in Melbourne. Guests Howard Marosi and Shane McGrath join later for a lively and vivacious discussion of public housing.
This week on City Limits, Kevin and Meg discuss superannuation, the Royal wedding, and the footage from the Sea Shepherd. Dave Kerren, an active unionist working on a number of campaigns in Melbourne joins us on the phone from a Maritime Union of Australia community gathering, until called away by an active moment on the front line. We are then joined by Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation who offers some fascinating insights into the activities and philosophies of the Minerals Council of Australia, and the processes (or lack thereof) of mine site rehabilitation.
This week Kevin and Meg are joined by Crystal McDonald from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), to discuss the differences between social housing and public housing - there are many significant differences! We hear good news about how many older Victorians have found housing with assistance of HAAG. At the beginning of the show, we discuss varying approaches to homelessness, the skyrail project, and the uncanny alignments between the Melbourne cup and the anniversaries of the Russian Revolution.
City Limits 8-11-17 On today programme Kevin is joined on the phone by Helen Vandenberg they discuss enviromental pollusion caused by the waste industry, issue such as banned PCB'S in the air traveling as far as Hunter from Sydney. Then Kevin speaks with to Dave Sweeney from The Australian Conservation Foundation, they talk about how renewables are the way of the future and how competitive a market it is becoming with over a million properties in Australia with solar panels on their roof. & much much more......
City Limits 1-11-17 On todays edition of City Limits Kevin is joined in the studio by Transport expert & Guru John McPherson. They discuss all things from the East West Link, The Westgate Tunnel, Cyclists, Level crossings and Train travel around Melbourne & the world. Join us Live Wednesday mornings 9 till 10am on 3CR, 855am.
City Limits 25-10-17 On todays City Limits Kevin chats with Dave Kerin about the propossed development of Queen Victorian Market. We also catch up with Professor Patty Moriarty on his take on the situation. For more info head to Friends Of Queen Victorian Market (FOQVM).
City Limits 18-10-17 On Todays programme Kevin Healy & April Bragg begin by speaking with Paul Adams, National Tertiary Education Union VU branch president about the forced redundancy at Victorian University targeting union branch officers, with up to 100 positions lost putting the university into finacial difficulties. If you would like more information go to the Friends of Victorian University (FOVU) facebook where you can find out about a rally being held on the 2nd of November. In the second half of the Programme Retirement Housing Worker Shane McGrath(HAAG) joins Kevin and April(HAAG) to talk about propposed reforms in tenacy legislation. Some of the changes include Blacklisting Landlords, Longer Leases, pet friendly tenancies & No Reason Notices to Vacate.
City Limits 11-10-17 On the programme Kevin is joined by Helen Vandenberg to talk about the Essendon Airports plan to lift curfews currently on Jets taking off, raising the weight limit & the noise restrictions in place. Then Kevin speaks with Professor Patty Moriarty, they discuss new infastructure projects propossed & how this new travel demand can be managed. With an increase per capita of up to 4 x the amount of distance traveled since 1947, they discuss congestion taxes, mobility Vs access, migration vs infastructure and lowering the speed limit to make other modes more desirable.
City Limits 4-10-17 On todays Programme Kevin is joined by usual Co-Host Meg and they speak to our Transport expert John McPherson about everything from the propossed Westgate Tunnel to the failed East West Link proposal. A retro spective of other countries and the way they've tackled their transport issues from Japan with its Bullet trains to new Lite rail systems propossed for Canberra and Tasmania. Join us.....
City Limits 27-9-17 On todays programme Kevin speaks with Laurie Werner & is also joined in the studio with Dave Kerin to chat about whats happening with Doyles massive over development of The Queen Victoria Market and his campaign with the group Friends of Queen Victoria Market.
City Limits 20-9-17 It's Housing week on City Limits, Kevin is joined by Co-Host Meg Kimber. They talk with Howard Marosi on the phone & April Bragg in the studio about all thing Housing.
City Limits 13-9-17 On todays programme we tackle our usual 2nd Wednesday of the month to discuss energy issues. Joined on the phone with guest Coal & Gas Community Campaigner Cloe Aldenhoven from Friends Of the Earth. Topics include The Adani Coal mine, Hazle Wood the Solar Thermal power plant built in Port Augusta & the Latrobe and Hunter Valley. I f you would like to follow any of Friends Of the Earths campaigns stop in at Friends Of the Earth at 312 Smith St, Collingwood (#86 Tramline from Bourke Street).
City Limits 6-9-17 Today Kevin talks with regular guest, former Public Transport Users Association vice president, John McPherson about all things Trains, trams & roads.
This week our guest is Colin Long, Victorian division secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union. In this extensive interview we discuss the changes to tertiary education employment and what the effects are on academic staff and students. We begin by discussing the recent news that Melbourne University has been accused of trying to stifle free speech for academics. Colin also discusses his work with the Australia Bangladesh Solidarity Network. Find out more about their work here: http://www.absn.org.au/
Today on City Limits we speak with Mark Zirnsak,Chair of the Victorian Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce, about problem gambling and the power of poker machines. Kevin asks the question - are poker machines actually fun?And we learn about corruption and integrity in Federal politics, and what can be done to expose corruption and encourage accountability in our politicians, when we speak with Hannah Aulby from The Australia Institute in the second half of the show.
Kevin, Megan and Andy discuss the local and international news - the 'Dutch reach', Britney Spears, Melbourne station safety, homeless rights and negative gearing.In the first half of the show, we speak with Sonja Rutherford, a local resident of Broadmeadows who shares fascinating local information about the Coolaroo recycling plant fire. In the second half of the show, April Bragg from the Housing for the Aged Action Group discuss the privitisation of public housing and their successes in finding homes for people in need. Check out their facebook page to see stories of people they have helped and how their lives have changed: https://www.facebook.com/HousingfortheAgedActionGroup/
We are joined this week by the co-founder of the permaculture movement David Holmgren to discuss his ideas behind retrofitting the suburbs as part of our transition to a low carbon society. Have the suburbs been given a bad press when in fact they can be a tremendous resource? Is increasing densities a bad thing and if so, how do we prevent our conurbations from continuing to sprawl outwards? Can we return to localised, sharing economies? These questions are becoming ever more pertinent in light of the climate emergency. The interview begins at 24:47The music is 'This Land Will Change" by Shock Octopus:https://shockoctopus.bandcamp.com/track/this-land-will-change-2
We are joined this week by transport commentator and regular guest John McPherson as well as a campaigner from People For Public Transport (www.publictransportpublichands.com). How damaging has privatisation been and what can we do to reverse the trend?We are joined later in the show by Dr John Stone who is a lecturer in transport planning at the University of Melbourne. Are we investing enough in public transport? Are we focussing too much on building places to live along railway lines at the expense of creating destinations for people to travel to? Are we focussed too much on increasing infrastructure for cars at at the expense of public transport?
City Limits 26-7-17On today's programme Kevin Healy and Megan Kimber discuss inequality, political trust funds, and quirky news from Florida, U.S.A.We then investigate two issues - the problems with local recycling centres, and the issues with Australia's uranium mining industry. Helen Vandenberg is a well-known activist from the North-Western Suburbs of Melbourne who talks to us about the recent Melbourne recycling centre fire that has taken 11 days to extinguish. More than 70 residents have registered for a legal class action against the operator.Dave Sweeny is an anti-uranium campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation, and we talk to him about the state of the global uranium industry and Australia's role in the production of uranium. We find out where the uranium mined in Australia goes to, discuss the reasons for the global downturn in uranium use, and hear more about the situation in Western Australia where the Government have been taken to court after approving a mine that does not meet environmental standards.
This week we are joined by Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing and Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group to discuss why the campaign for more public housing is growing and why older people are increasingly being exploited by the retirement industry.
We are joined this week by Professor Patrick Moriarty from Monash University to discuss renewable energy, battery technology and the viability of electric/hydrogen powered vehicles.We also discuss World Population Day and how we should approach the topic at a global level. We also examine how this fits in with the issue of Melbourne's rapidly growing population.Finally, we premiere a new song from Shock Octopus, Fantasia. https://shockoctopus.bandcamp.com/album/roam-in-silence
City Limits 28-6-17 On todays programme Kevin is joined by new to the team Presenter Megan and they speak with Amelia Young from wilderness society. They discuss the take over of GUNS by Heyfield in Tasmania and the effects it has played on the enviroment. Impowered by the goverment Vic Forest the state goverment logging company are still logging rare timbers, in cases where 90% are being used as woodchips. Amelia Young speaks about the round table discussions being had at a round table discussion with the Danial Andrews Goverment about durable long term outcomes, CFMEU support, Employment & Tourism & much much more..... If you would like to look closer at the great work Amalia's involved in please go to The Great Forest National Park website and click I support.
In today's jam packed episode we look at the growing threat to Melbourne's capacity to produce fresh, locally grown food as well as our capacity to provide truly affordable housing.We interview Rachel Carey from the University of Melbourne to discuss the growing threat to Melbourne's food bowl and the long term implications that this is having. We also interview April Bragg from Housing For the Aged Action Group to discuss the privatisation of public housing stock and the continuing appropriation of the term 'affordable housing' by the neo-liberal machine.We are also joined by two other special guests. Maurya Bourandanis is part of the organising committee for the Homeless Memorial and joins us to discuss her own experiences as a homeless person and why having a memorial to those people who died while they were homeless, is so important.Ken Mooney also joins us to pay tribute to his late friend Barbara Sullivan who was a stalwart in the activist community and who will be sorely missed.
Today we interview regular guest, former Public Transport Users Association vice president, John McPherson. Is our health at risk from diesel trucks? Are the railways buckling under infrastructure? These and many other topics face the scrutiny of the City Limits team.
We talk to Michael Bayliss from Planning Backlash about the development woes facing Melbourne and how this issue will only become more serious in light of plans to further deregulate the planning system. Whether it is increasing densities in the inner suburbs or developing the urban fringe, we are not getting the standard of development that Melbourne requires as we proceed to a low carbon economy. Michael also discusses the protest that is organised to take place on the steps of State Parliament at 1pm on Thursday June 8 (details below):"This government is rapidly taking away all our rights about planning and development. New laws have been brought out and even worse ones are coming. We demand that they restore residents' rights. We must have a say in what can be built in our streets and in our city.Please make the effort to be there. We need numbers to show them we are serious. Professor Michael Buxton will be speaking and the Planning Minister and Shadow Planning Minister will be invited to speak as well as some residents."
On this episode we interview founding president of the Waverton hub, Helen L'Orange on helping older people stay in their own homes for as long as possible. We also chat to Michael Hamil-Green who is involved in the campaign against the proposed 19 storey high-rise residential development at the old Pentridge Prison in Coburg.Adrian Whitehead from Community Action for the Climate Emergency (CACE) also joins us to talk about two upcoming climate emergency forums. The first is on May 29 at Fairfield Climate Emergency Forum from 6.30-8.30 and the other is on June 1st at Alphington Bowls Club, also from 6.30-8.30pm. All details can be found on the Community Action for the Climate Emergency facebook page.For those interesetd in learning more about Helen's work, you can access the Waverton Hub website at www.wavertonhub.com.au. Helen can also be emailed at helen.lorange@bigpond.com
In this episode we meet Irene Hopper from an initiative called Street By Street which is aimed at helping people in their local neighbourhoods connect with each other to the betterment of themselves and the community at large. Their website is streetbystreet.org.auWe also talk to April Bragge about the dispute (and its successful conclusion) at Housing for the Aged Action Group.
This week we interview long-term community activist (and former Moonee Valley citizen of the year) Helen Van Den Berg regarding the proposed reforms of the E.P.A.What are the wider implications of these reforms and how will it impact the efforts of community activists to initiate change?
Christine Harris of Spotswood South Kingsville Residents Group reports on the community forum on April 27 about demanding a review of TransUrban's 'unsolicited proposal' for the Western Distributor that will lock in the west to trucks on local roads and tolls. Community groups across Melbourne are vigorously protesting the propspect of the mega freeway tunnel project which has no strategic planning basis. Public Transport guru John McPherson talks about the effects of the Victorian government's big budget injection into public transport, mostly tram and train services, but not too much for bus travellers to get excited about.
On April 26, 2017, Dave Kerin, Earthworker Founder, spoke about the rally planned for Friday, 28 April to save Queen Victoria Markets from redevelopment. It runs from 11.30 to 1pm. 513 Elizabeth Street. Professor Patrick Moriarty, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University spoke about the future of energy sources such as fossil and renewable.
City Limits 19-4-17 Kevin's guest today is Howard Marosi, they discuss whats happening in public housing(Ashburton) and also a social housing estate in Preston and they also touch on land tax. In the second half of the show City Limits has Jeff Fielder from HAAG join us in the studio talking about the current housing crisis and the expansion of their service now moving into the Geelong region.
In this week's City Limits we replay a fantastic interview that was on Earth Matters on April 2 with the director of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, Michelle Maloney. Michelle discusses how the Australian Earth Law Alliance stems from global movements for Earth justice, led by first nations people and advocates for system change in governance and the law.In the second half we interview filmmaker Aaron Scheibner about his pending documentary Little Tramsformation on how disability is not being adequately addressed by Melbourne's public transport system.
In this episode we are joined by John McPherson to discuss the lack of investment in public transport infrastructure in Melbourne and the wider implications that this may have. John is a former vice president of the Public Transport Users Association and several times advisor to the government (who ignored him totally).
We speak to Prof. Philip Taylor, professor of Human Resources Management at Federation University and Marilyn King, founder of WOW, Willing Older Workers. Prof Taylor has researched issues of ageing for more than 30 years and speaks of his views on both age and youth discrmination and how he believes it occurs more often at recruitment stage rather than in the workplace itself. Marilyn King speaks about the need for employers to implement a mentoring program where mature age and younger workers share jobs.
We interview ex-assistant commissioner for taxation, John Passant on the issue of affordability in the housing sector and how this relates to the broader economic paradigm that we find ourselves in.
We interview Jeff Fielder from Housing For the Aged Action Group and Howard Marosi from Friends of Public Housing.
City Limits 1-3-17 Today Kevin Healy is joined by our regular monthly guru on transport John McPherson & we hear from activist Helen Vandenberg about issues surrounding Essendon airport and the accident that took place.
This week we are joined by Moreland councillor Sue Bolton from Socialist Alliance to debate the issue of Melbourne's rapid population growth with Mark Allen. We also chat to recycling expert David Cox on the topic of household recycling in Melbourne.
This week we discuss the issue of public housing and how it fits into the overall affordable housing strategy. We are joined by two guests, Howard Morosi from Friends of Public Housing and April Bragg from Housing For The Aged Action Group.
This week we interview Nick Aberle from Environment Victoria regarding climate change and the challenges we face in light of the changing political situation in Australia and across the world.
We chat to transport expert John McPherson about some of the public transport related issues currently facing Melbourne.
City Limits 14-12-16On Todays programme Kevin speaks about Housing and is joined by April Bragg, Manager of Housing with the aged action group.
7-12-16 Kevin Healy is joined by special guest John McPherson for the first Wednesday of the month as usual to discuss all things transport.
Is Australia about to lose it's AAA rating and if so how much sleep can we expect to lose? How sustainable is the state of the economy and the economic system in general?What repercussions does this have in terms of finding the funding for much needed infrastructure? Former assistant commissioner of taxation, John Passant keeps us up-to-date with where we are at and what we can expect in a system that just keeps giving..... to the one percent.We also discuss the proposed redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market as well as the increasing development pressure that is being placed on market sites in general across the metropolitan area.The music is from Syrian Rue, a Perth outfit from the mid 2000's who (with a couple of additions and subtractions) went on to become Shock Octopus.
This week we talk to 3CR presenter, activist and sports commentator, Trevor Grant about his experiences dealing with the health system in the face of terminal illness.We also talk to Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation about the ongoing crisis in Fukushima and the wider conclusions that we can draw from what is happening.
We need good urban planning coupled with public housing to create affordable, walkable neighbourhoods but there is a long way to go. April Bragg and Howard Morosi from Housing for the Aged Action Group and Friends of Public Housing join Mark to discuss where the system is falling down and what needs to be done to put things right.
This week we interview Patrick Moriarty from Monash University on the topic of renewable energy.
This week we interview Glen McCallum from the Protect Fitzroy North's Skyline action group to discuss a proposed 476 apartment development that will reach 16 storeys in height. What are the implications of this proposal and what are the wider implications of this kind of development in Melbourne as a whole?
Today we interview Howard from Friends of Public Housing and Shane from Housing for the Aged Action Group on the ongoing issue of social housing versus public housing.
On todays episode of City Limits Kevin Healy is joined by John McPherson and Adrian Whitehead. Disscusing and comparing how Melbournes public transport compares to the rest of the world, Australia's other major cities and our rural lines in and out of the city.
This week we are joined by ex assistant commissioner for taxation, John Passant to discuss everything from the same sex marriage plebiscite to the inability of the powers that be to tax the banking sector's super profits.
We interview April from Housing For The Aged Action Group and Howard from Friends of Public Housing and discuss the unfolding public housing crisis in Victoria.
This week we chatted to Helen Vandenberg about the work she is doing restoring the cultural and environmental values of Steele Creekhttps://mvcc.vic.gov.au/community-directory/environment-and-sustainability/friends-of-groups/friends-of-steele-creek.aspx
Is high speed rail the solution to a rapidly growing population? Is the metro tunnel a good idea and why is there all this controversy over flying a Vietnamese flag?
Today we interview Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth regarding the decision by the Andrews government to ban fracking in Victoria as well as discussing the implications of the Paris agreement. We also discuss a way forward for activists to join with members of the community in a more holistic way.
A chat with Howard from Friends of Public Housing. FoPH is for people who live in or support public housing.http://friendsofpublichousing.com
We chat to Shanny Gordon, Retirement Housing Worker, from the Housing for the Aged Action Group. The discussion focuses on the fate of people in independent living units and the current State Government inquiry to retirement housing.
The Homeless Persons Union of Victoria and supporters have been occupying six disused properties in Bendigo Street Collingwood since March 30th 2016. The houses were originally purchased by the Victorian state government so that they could be demolished as part of the East-West Link tollway project which was scrapped following a hard fought campaign of opposition including daily pickets which disrupted preparatory work in 2014. Since then these six houses have remained empty. Following the eviction of squatters from one of the properties the HPUV launched an ongoing occupation.
To start the show we listen to the first part of an interview from the archives. In 1999 Kevin, Meredith Butler and Dave Kerrin interviewed Jack Mundey about the great contribution he made to the union movement, the environment and social justice through his work with the NSW Builders Labourer's Federation.We then talk to Professor Paddy Moriarty from Monash Uni about the issues brought up in this interview. We continue to talk about car use, urban sprawl, the very fast train idea, electric cars, and much more.
We talk to our regular transport commentator, John McPherson, about all things transport. In the second half of the show we talk with Bob Skates from Murtoa about the changes to the Overland Train timetable and what this means for passengers.
On the show today we speak to Ivon Ortega about the new gardens they are setting up at Brunswick Neighbourhood House and about community gardens and food production in Cuba.
We catch up with Helen van den Berg about issues in Melbourne's North West, particularly the Tullamarine Toxic Waste Dump.
Yaelle Caspi, policy officer at the Tenants Union of Victora will be talking about the review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and also rooming houses. Shane McGrath, the tenancy worker from the Housing for the Aged Action Group also comes on the show to discuss these topics. "But not only is it horrific, it's the predictable consequences of the government consistently failing to invest in public housing" is his analysis of the current state of rooming houses.
A discussion with Janine Rayner, senior policy officer from the Consumer Action Law Centre, about people not being able to meet utility bills, and also the introduction of smart meters.
On this episode of City Limits we disuss Melbourne's transport issues. Topics include Melbourne's proposed new Skyrail, the Pentridge development, and using public transport with a disability.
On this program we talk to Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation on the outcomes of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission. We discuss the tentative finding that the world's nuclear waste should be stored in South Australia.
We talk to April Bragg from Housing for the Aged Action Group about general housing issues and the proposed changes to negative gearing.
On this show we talk to Mark Allen who believes that town planning can greatly address issues of sustainability and climate change. He runs workshops through a group called "Population, Permaculture and Planning".
City Limits starts off the new year with an analysis of what's in the papers. Then we get onto public transport issues, such as the scandal of the the worn away train wheels, new train networks in Asia, the fixing of the level crossings at trains stations in Melbourne, and the effect that privatisation has had on the transport system. Our regular transport critic John McPherson appears on this show, as well as Dr John Stone from the University of Melbourne who is doing research into how effective privatisation of the public transport system in Victoria has been for delivering results for the money spent.
We talk to Dr Kate Shaw, urban geographer, and future fellow at the University of Melbourne about different cultural attitudes to housing in Australia, Canada and Germany and resulting legislation and practice.
In light of the Paris climate talks we discuss what role transport has to play in climate change, and what can be done to reduce its impact. We also discuss general issues. Special guests: John McPherson and Prof Paddy Moriarty.
A chat with Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth about the latest mining disasters globally and what that means for mines proposed by the same companies in Australia. Also we introduce Emma Warren as a new co-presenter and talk about her background in urban planning, permaculture and landscape architecture.
On this week's show we talk to Gemma White from Housing for the Aged Action Group about her research into the housing needs of older Australians who come from a non-English-speaking background.
You can read more of John Passant's analysis of taxation and politics at http://enpassant.com.au/
Anti-capitalist analysis of the mainstream media, and John McPherson's thoughts on how to better organise Melbourne's public transport system.
We talk to Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation about all the latest developments in the nuclear industry in Australia.
We express our surprise that the rich are collaborating to help each other at the expense of the rest of us. We discuss some of the pro-capitalist drivel that comes out of the mainstream media. Then we talk to Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group about housing issues.
Our first interview is with Helen Van Den Berg who is a long-time community activist from Tullamarine. She's fighting Vic Roads on a proposal to widen the Tullamarine Freeway by taking away the emergency lanes. She also continues to campaign around the environmental standards and safety of Tullamarine toxic waste dump.Next we talk to Peter Yacono about his documentary 'Our Power' about the disastrous brown coal fire at Morwell power plant. The documentary is almost finished and strongly advocates for methods of power generation and employment options for the Latrobe Valley.
We discuss general transport issues with John McPherson. We also heard from Louise Costa from the campaign group RAGE Rushworth Action Group for the Environment. They are concerned that Vic Roads hasn't consulted their community, or even their shire council, before starting a project to widen the road in and out of town. To address the safety concerns the community would prefer to reduce the speed limit rather than remove trees.
Kevin, Annie and Professor Paddy Moriarty, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Design at Monash University, discuss Paddy's latest paper which is on the measures that cities will have to take to prepare for the effects of climate change.
Pre-eminent social enterprise Big Issue has announced that they will be starting a new social enterprise to raise money for social housing. Homes for Homes is essentially a voluntary tax for people who are selling property. We ask whether the whole concept of the social enterprise, that is applying business principles to social problems, is the best way to provide services.Guests: April Bragg from Housing for the Aged Action Group
Despite a shocking lack of tea, Kevin Healy manages to wow us all with another show full of his brilliant political insights. He also interviews Peter Logan from the long running campaign to Save Albert Park from the Grand Prix Formula 1 competition.
A win! On this episode we discuss the successful campaign to save parklands in Brimbank with Ken Mooney. We also talk about the future of the park - stay tuned to the program to hear how you can get involved in the future. Next we have a short interview with Garawa elder Uncle Jacky Green about the McArthur River copper and zinc mine and how it's affecting his people.Finally we have Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation on to talk about all things nuclear and the environment.
This week's show started off with report-backs from the Border Farce demonstration last Friday and the demonstrations for and against the building of a mosque in Bendigo on Saturday. Then we talked about how well the public-private partnership model is serving Melbourne's train commuters. Lastly we talked about ideas for Melbourne's road system.
On this episode we talk to Dr Phil Griffiths from the University of Southern Queensland about what the environmental consequences of a worldwide minimum wage of US $15 an hour would be. Then we discuss the latest proposed federal tax changes with John Passant.
Save Dingley are a group of community members who want to save their golf course from closing and amalgamation. We talk to Bill Falkingham about the campaign. Should it close down we'll follow moves to have the area turned into public housing.Also on the show is April Bragg from Housing for the Aged Action Group to talk about broader housing issues. One issue is whether properties bought for the now defunct East-West link project will be turned into public housing.
On this energy week we speak to Dan Spencer from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition about Prime Minister Tony Abbott's unambitious plan to combat global warming.
We talk to John McPherson about everything transport. We also replay a short interview about the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's new food truck program.
On this episode of City Limits we discuss growing vegetables in cities with Pam Morgan. Pam Morgan has a history in government and took part in a highly successful project to grow food in Cuban cities, providing food security and greenery. Next we talk to Dr Kate Shaw about the new play she was a consultant on called A Social Service. This play explores issues of housing and taps into Dr Shaw's expertise as an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow in Urban Geography and Planning.
We've talked a lot about the Tullamarine toxic waste dump run by Transpacific, and this week we're going to have a look at another of Transpacific's dumps all the way up in Ipswich in Queensland. Jim Dodrill from Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments (IRATE) gives us the low down on the problems with the New Chum toxic waste dump and what the community is doing to fight it.
On this week's edition of City Limits we discuss the availability of affordable housing in the rental market. First we talk to Dr Wendy Stone from Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) about the new report she co-authored called 'Supply shortages and affordability outcomes in the private rental sector: short and longer term trends.' Then we continue this discussion with April Bragg from Housing for the Aged Action Group.
An interview with Peter Mooney from the Electrical Trades Union Victoria about the ongoing EBA negotiations with Esso.This is a particularly short podcast this week because Kevin was sick and so most of the show was music. We should be back to usual programming next week.
We talk to John McPherson about public transport issues and Julie McDonald about proposed mining around the Gippsland town of Mirboo North. To get in contact with the latter campaign go to Coal and CSG Free Mirboo North.
Carolyn Whitzman is Professor in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne. On this episode she shares her knowledge about healthy and sustainable cities.
A form of domestic violence is economic violence - controlling women's money so that they don't have power within a relationship, or to leave the relationship. This can take the form of racking up massive debts. Today we talk to Emma Smallwood from Women's Legal Service Victoria and Jeff McMullen from Housing for the Aged Action Group about how this effects their clients.If you or someone you know needs help with domestic violence in Victoria you can contact Safe Steps at www.safesteps.org.au or on 1800 015 188. If you're in immediate danger call 000.
Analysis of the mainstream news, union issues, the parliamentary circus and begging for donations. Professor Patty Moriarty appears on the show to talk about advances in energy technology. Helen van den Berg gives an update on the Tullamarine Toxic Waste Dump; and Essendon and Melbourne airports.
Kevin Healy and Annie McLoughlin host this week. They start by discussing the ACTU congress which Annie attended at the Docklands Stadium from the 26–28 May. Then John McPherson, former vice-president of the Public Transport Users Association, comes on to discuss public transport in Melbourne.
Discussion with Ronny Kareni about the latest in the movement for West Papuan independence, and Fiona Armstrong from the Climate and Health Alliance about coal divestment and healthy and sustainable cities.
This week we dicuss housing - who has it, who still needs it, and the wealth inequalities therein.Guest: April Bragg from Housing for the Aged Action Group.
Interview with John Langer from the No BTS66 campaign which is against the upsizing of an electricity sub-station in East Brunswick.We also talked with Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth about the environmental sections of the Federal budget and the environmental sections of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.
On this City Limits we discuss Melbourne's transport system with John McPherson. There is much to talk about with two big announcements in the last week - the Metro rail tunnel and the Trans Urban proposal for a tunnel road in the west. John McPherson is a former vice president of the Public Transport Users Association. He has also worked as a consultant to government on transport issues.
This week we explore the topic of sustainable cities with Professor Billie Giles-Corti who is the Director of the McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne.We then talk to Aunt Jenny Munro from the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy about the ongoing campaign to restore affordable Aboriginal Housing at the Block in Sydney.
On this show we discuss ANZAC day and class warfare. We also speak to Richard Dennis the Executive Director of the Australia Institute about the hypocrisy of Australian governments spending money on infrastructure for mining companies then saying they can't afford fund infrastructure for citizens.
On this our housing week we cover the pitfalls of lend leasing agreements and short term loans. We also talk about utilities cut-offs. We discuss how people can access help to deal with these problems. Then we get onto the corporatisation of the Mornington Peninsula Shire which has led to shock lay-offs.Guests are Jeff Fiedler from the Housing for the Aged Action Group, and Katherine Temple from the Consumer Action Law CentreThorn, the parent company of Radio Rentals didn't get back to us in time for the show, but afterwards they released the following statement:"Thorn’s business, Radio Rentals, has been helping people access household goods for nearly 80 years. We exist because we provide a service customers around Australia want. The whole business is based on giving people a fair go. For many people, renting these goods is the only way they can get them, since they don’t have the money to buy them outright and, for varying reasons, may not qualify for a loan. In this sense, it is no different from rental accommodation. Radio Rentals adheres fully to responsible lending guidelines, including all customers being provided a copy of the terms and conditions prior to installation. We have a strong code of ethics and we are very committed to protecting customers. Thorn holds an Australian Credit Licence and adheres to the responsible lending policy, which means that product costs are fully disclosed in contracts prior to signing and rigorous processes are in place to ensure we don’t commit people to payments they cannot afford. When comparing pricing of Radio Rentals’ products with other household goods providers, it is important to incorporate risk and cost of credit as well as the fact that the goods are delivered, installed and serviced throughout the contract for free. Thorn also allows for a product downgrade or upgrade in case of change of circumstances."
On this show we start with an interview with Ken Mooney about undemocratic sale of public parklands in Brimbank and what his community is doing to fight it. Next is Leigh Ewbank from Friends of the Earth Yes to Renewables campaign to talk about the ongoing negotiations in Parliament to change the Renewable Energy Target.
The Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Project was meant to be a boon for the area, but has been undermined by the granting of permits for apartment blocks without proper planning. We speak to Helen Halliday from The Community Alliance of Port Phillip who run The Fishermans Bend Network a broad community network promoting good planning, design and infrastructure for the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area. We also speak to one of the effected residents, Angela Georganas, about her experiences.Later on in the show we welcome John McPherson for our usual segment about transport.
We talk to Helen van den Berg from Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group (TTTDAG) and Friends of Steele Creek Inc. The campaign to shut down Tullamarine Toxic Waste Dump has been successful and now residents are demanding that the owners of the site, Transpacific, secure the site to best practice environmental regulations so that toxic waste doesn't leak into the surrounding soil, air and waterways.
On this show we talked to Helen Said about her new book Five Egyptian Pounds: the Story of George Said We also talked to April Bragg from the Housing for the Aged Action Group