City Limits

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...

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...