City Limits

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:https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/privatisation-of-citywide-to-cleanaway

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 3058Or the digital zine here: https://issuu.com/binchickenink/docs/whatafknwasteStudy 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.

Regular Housing week updates from members of Housing for the Aged Action Group, Friends of Public Housing and Defend and Extend Public Housing.

On top of our regular transport week with John McPherson, we get Greens MP for Richmond Gabrielle de Vietri to talk about renting and the housing crisis.News Items:In Western Australia, mining/aluminium producer Alcoa failed to rehabilitate any forest during its 60 years time of mining in the state, clearing 68 000 hA and falsely claiming it rehabilitated more than 75% of the area. Find out more here.Ex head of Tesla Australia found guilty of insider trading, making a profit of over $28 000. He was sentence to 2 years 6 months good behaviour, a contrast to the fate of others in the legal system. State of incarceration report:https://www.justicereforminitiative.org.au/resourcesHistory of French nuclear testing in the pacific: https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/about/our-history/bombing-of-the-rainbow-warrior/

 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

 First Transport Week of autumn, where Kevin and Zeb are joined by regular commentator John McPherson about all things transport: Continued penny-pinching for PT as our city continues to expand, So-called modern planning examples of public transport scarcity and unusable roads in Melbourne's outer suburbs Updates on tracking on the Hurstbridge train line and lack of priority for buses,  Politically motivated decisions around level crossings,Accessibility, and Transparency with air quality info for the public since the finding that road-based pollution is more lethal than accidents

 This housing week, Kevin ans Zeb kick off the program with Shane McGrath from Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), discussing some of HAAG's work in areas that disproportionately affect older tenants, but indeed relevant for all. Some of the topics include rent increases and cost of living, issues in phasing, implementation, and glaring omissions in rules for landlords' rental minimum standards, and eggplant parmigiana. 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 Listen to HAAG's radio program Raise the Roof 5:30-6pm, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month on 3CR. Next up, we speak with public housing activists and advocates, Cathryn Murdoch and Jack Verdins, who give an update on Louise Goode's unfair eviction by Common Equity Housing Ltd (sign the petition here), the federal government pouring funds into the farce of privately-run "social", "community" and "affordable" housing, key human rights issues and representation involved in the rental assistance arguments, and the importance of community-led campaigning.  Get involved - community campaigns for public housing:  Defend and Extend Public Housing and Public Housing - Everybody's Business hold regular vigils outside Victorian Parliament every Thursday at 12pm You can also get involved with the Geelong Housing Action Group (GHAG) here.  Song: House of Straw - Anna Smyrk

 This week is City Limits' Energy episode! First up, we listen to an excerpt from Democracy Now! featuriing earth scientist, ecologist, and activist Rose Abramoff, who was fired by her employer, the US Government, after incidents of high profile protesting, calling for her colleagues take direct action against climate change. Rose is a member of Scientist Rebellion, an organisation advocating for actions such as civil disobedience, and obvious policy solutions backed by data.  Kevin and Zeb follow this interview with a general comment and discussion with Dave Sweeney (nuclear-free campaigner, Australian Conservation Foundation), who discusses the disturbing and pervasive power of industry, at direct odds with irrefutable scientific fact. He describes the work of the ACF in tracking democracy, when "dark money in Australian politics is on the rise". Dave echoes Abramoff's sentiment to "remove the power, legitimacy and funding of the fossil fuel sector", drawing parallels with nuclear sector Australia: "justifications" for the push for nuclear energy & weaponry, muddying the waters, severity and longevity of risk-factors, and heaps more.  To find out more and get involved, check out the anti-nuclear webpages of Friends of the Earth and the Australian Conservation Foundation, as well as 3CR's own Radioactive Show.

 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.