Follow The Money

Careless political finance reforms could shift the balance in Australian democracy in favour of special interests. Will the government's political finance reforms keep vested interests out of politics or ensure the major parties dominate Australia's political landscape? Could South Australia's proposed political donations ban become a model for the rest of the country? And what home-grown innovations have insulated Australia from some of the democratic backsliding seen in the United States? On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute's Democracy & Accountability Director Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett to discuss political finance reform. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 2 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: Principles for fair political finance reform by Bill Browne, The Australia Institute (August 2023) SA's political donation ban ambitious, but must safeguard diversity of voices, The Australia Institute (June 2024) Honest Government Ad | How to Rig Elections, Juice Media Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coalition's nuclear ‘plan' is a cynical, Trump-like distraction – so why does the media (and this podcast) fall for the trap? Who will benefit most from the Coalition's new nuclear energy plan? And why does the media fall into the trap of covering it like genuine policy? On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute's Dr Matt Ryan and Rod Campbell discuss the Coalition's nuclear announcement and the cost of Australia's failure to decarbonise. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 25 June 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Matt Ryan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @mattdjryan Guest: Roderick Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas is a finite resource – so why is Australia essentially giving it away? Rising demand as the world emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns, coupled with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has led to massive windfall profits for the gas industry. But according to new Australia Institute research, the gas companies aren't paying royalties on most of the gas they export. So what exactly is happening to Australia's gas? How do we compare with other major fossil fuel exporters when it comes to collecting royalties? And what would it take to ensure Australians get a better deal for our gas? On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute's Mark Ogge joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australia's great gas giveaway. You can sign our petition calling on the government to collect royalties on Australia's gas exports on The Australia Institute website. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 18 June 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, the Australia Institute // @MarkOgge Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With just five months until the presidential election, American democracy is under serious threat. This American presidential election will be unique for many reasons, not the least of which is Donald Trump becoming the first American president to be found guilty of a crime. So what impact – if any – will that have on the outcome? Is Biden going to be able to mobilise enough support in key states to win a second term? And what might another Trump presidency mean for Australia? On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute's Emma Shortis joins Ebony Bennett to discuss US politics after her recent trip to Washington DC. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 11 June 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Emma Shortis, Senior Researcher in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis, fuelled by poor government policy. Across the country, house prices have skyrocketed, putting the prospect of buying a home well out of reach for too many people. Rents have also soared, placing huge financial pressure on people and pushing many into homelessness. On this episode of Follow the Money, housing advocate and creator of shitrentals.org Jordan van den Berg, Maiy Azize from national housing campaign Everybody's Home, and Australia Institute Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff examine how Australia got itself into this situation – and how it can get out of it. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 4 June 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Jordan van den Berg, Lawyer and Founder of shitrentals.org // @purplepingers Guest: Maiy Azize, National Spokesperson, Everybody's Home // @MaiyAzize Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 12 years since Julian Assange has been free – but is the fight to keep him from a life in an American prison finally coming to an end? United States President Joe Biden told reporters he's considering Australia's request to drop charges against Assange for publishing thousands of sensitive military and government documents, but the fight to free the Australian publisher isn't over. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 21st May 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Jennifer Robinson, international human rights lawyer and legal advisor to Julian Assange // @suigenerisjen Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A series of recent high-profile incidents has thrust the national crisis of domestic violence into the spotlight. Clearly the current approach to violence against women isn't working, so what can be done? 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 21st May 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Jess Hill, investigative journalist, educator on coercive control, and author of See What You Made Me Do. // @jessradio Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2024 had a little bit for a lot of people, but in trying to please everyone, has the government disappointed everyone instead? What does the budget mean for inflation and living standards? What does it reveal about the government's priorities as it approaches an election? And does it ultimately make Australia a better place? Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist at the Australia Institute, joins Ebony Bennett on this episode of Follow the Money to examine this year's federal budget. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 14 May 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Matthew Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of Australians are struggling to make ends meet, yet when it comes to the federal budget, too often we hear that governments ‘can't afford' additional spending. Next week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will announce what the government has chosen to prioritise in this federal budget. So, will the government address some of the big issues facing social security, the climate, HECS, housing and more, or will it be a budget of band aid solutions? Senior Economist at the Australia Institute, Matt Grudnoff, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss what to look out for in next week's budget. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 7 May 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Matthew Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's going to be difficult to tackle bogus environmental claims from the private sector until the government itself stops greenwashing, Polly Hemming says on this episode of Follow the Money. There's a global crackdown on greenwashing underway, but not everyone is getting the message – not even the Australian Government. On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute's Climate & Energy Program Director Polly Hemming joins Ebony Bennett to discuss state-sponsored greenwashing. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 30 April 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy Program Director, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the government shelves important reform to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, the Knitting Nannas are getting out into their communities and demanding an end to fossil fuel projects. They may not fit the stereotype of activists, but the Knitting Nannas are a force to be reckoned with. In their own words, they “sit, knit, plot, have a yarn and a cuppa, and bear witness to the war against the greedy, short-sighted corporations”. On this episode of Follow the Money, Kathy McKenzie and Marie Flood from the Sydney Knitting Nannas, along with the Australia Institute's Mark Ogge, join us discuss the future of activism and why it's time to stop new fossil fuel projects. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 19 March 2024 and things may have changed since recording. Find out more about the Knitting Nannas at knitting-nannas.com. Hear all the sessions from our Climate Integrity Summit 2024 on our website. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Kathy McKenzie, Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends Guest: Marie Flood, Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends Guest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, the Australia Institute // @MarkOgge Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freedom of Information laws have helped the public uncover information governments would prefer to keep secret, but the system is failing. Strong Freedom of Information laws are critical to Australia's democracy, but delays and government resistance are undermining people's faith in the system. On this episode of Follow the Money, former independent Senator for South Australia Rex Patrick and Australia Institute Senior Economist Matthew Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss why transparency matters and what can be done to improve the dire state of the system. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 16 April 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Rex Patrick, former Senator for South Australia // @MrRexPatrick Guest: Matthew Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rather than delivering on their election promise to create a Great Koala National Park, the New South Wales Government is sitting on its hands until it can earn carbon credits from forests. On this episode of Follow the Money, Walkley Award winning journalist and Australia Institute Senior Fellow Stephen Long joins Ebony Bennett to discuss his new report into the disastrous consequences of the ongoing logging in the state for koalas and the climate. If you want the New South Wales Government to end native forest logging, you can sign our open letter. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The major parties claim that minority and coalition governments are chaotic and unworkable, but are they actually more effective? Australian politicians aren't exactly known for getting along with each other. But history shows that, when they're forced to share government, they can get a lot done. In the wake of the Tasmanian election, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Follow the Money to discuss why the need to negotiate can make minority and coalition governments better at lawmaking. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After scarcely mentioning it for nearly a decade while in government, the Coalition are now hot to trot on nuclear power – but why? On this episode of Follow the Money, energy researcher Matthew Ryan and host Ebony Bennett discuss the cost of a massive nuclear energy rollout, the legal and environmental barriers standing in the way and why the Coalition's plans would be dreadful for Australia's emissions in the coming decade. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Matthew Ryan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @mattdjryan Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We'd love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capitalism is dying, but not in the way you might think. That's the argument of academic economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who proposes capitalism has mutated into a far more sinister, feudal system on the back of sophisticated algorithms and big tech. On this episode of Follow the Money, recorded live at the State Library of NSW, Varoufakis speaks with the Australia Institute's Ebony Bennett and Stephen Long about his proposition and his new book, Technofeudalism. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 12 March. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Yanis Varoufakis, Secretary-General of Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 and former Greek Finance Minister // @yanisvaroufakis Host: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Albanese government came to power with big expectations around climate action, but are the government's actions falling short of their rhetoric? On this episode of Follow the Money, former President of Kiribati Anote Tong joins Walkley Award winning journalist Stephen Long to discuss the Australian government's “disappointing” record on climate, the role of China in the region and the prospects of a Pacific UN climate conference hosted in Australia. There are still tickets available to see Anote Tong in conversation in Melbourne on Wednesday 13 March and in Sydney on Friday 15 March. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Anote Tong, former President of the Republic of Kiribati Host: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ‘robodebt' debacle was a shameful episode for the federal government, but was it an anomaly? Our guest today says the same behaviours that enabled robodebt have been playing out for decades in our climate policymaking and questions whether the government has appetite to implement its proposed integrity reforms. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent MP Helen Haines has introduced a bill to Parliament designed to prevent pork-barreling, where taxpayer money is allocated according to where it is needed to win votes, not where the public needs it most.  This was recorded on Tuesday 27th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania is heading to an election – 14 months early.  Tasmania is retuning the size of its lower house from 25 seats to 35 seats at this election and multiple polls have predicted the result will be a minority government, so this is shaping up be a particularly interesting contest. This was recorded on Tuesday 20th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Eloise Carr, Director, the Australia Institute Tasmania // @GeneveraE Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal Parliament is set to pass new industrial relations laws, including the 'right to disconnect.' This means that workers will legally be able to ignore calls outside of work hours.  This was recorded on Tuesday 13th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Dr Jim Stanford, Director, the Centre for Future Work, the Australia Institute // @MarkOgge  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, the Commonwealth collects more revenue from HECS than it gets from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax. The PRRT is so insufficient that gas companies love it! Mark Ogge explains the Government's proposed changes, and how we can fix it to tax our gas companies fairly. This was recorded on Tuesday 6th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, the Australia Institute // @MarkOgge  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a week for the books in Australian Politics history, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing changes to the highly-criticised Stage 3 tax cuts. Which got the media, and the opposition, into a bit of a frenzy. So what's changed, and how will it affect you? This was recorded on Tuesday 30th January 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Iowa Republican caucus over, the starting gun on the 2024 US Election has fired, with the promise of a dramatic election year, and democracy itself on the ballot.  This was recorded on Tuesday 23rd January 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Dr Emma Shortis, Senior Researcher, International & Security Affairs program, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  7 years ago, The ABC's groundbreaking environmental series War On Waste firmly placed the nation's attention on Australia's waste issues and solutions. The new season investigated recycling in Australia, brought to light new waste topics, challenged the lack of corporate accountability towards their own waste and explored what government can do to curb the waste tide. And most importantly the season provides straightforward solutions to help us all shift the status quo with Australia's waste crisis. Join Craig Reucassel, host and producer of ABC TV's War On Waste and Nina Gbor, Director Circular Economy & Waste Program at the Australia Institute, for a discussion on how we can all turn the tide to resolve Australia's waste crisis as individuals, within communities and with our local and national government. This was recorded on Thursday 14th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Craig Reucassel, writer, comedian and documentary maker // @craigreucassel Nina Gbor, Director, Circular Economy & Waste Program, the Australia Institute // @NinaGbor Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  Extreme heat is the most direct and deadly consequence of our hellbent consumption of fossil fuels. It is a first order threat that drives all other impacts of the climate crisis. And as the temperature rises, it will reveal fault lines in our governments, our politics, our economy, and our values. Join Jeff Goodell, award-winning environmental journalist and author of Heat, for a discussion about the extreme ways in which our planet is already changing, and what we can do to stop it. This was recorded on Wednesday 23rd August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Jeff Goodell, award-winning environmental journalist and author of Heat // @jeffgoodell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  On 15 September 2008 came the collapse of Lehmann Brothers, the largest bankruptcy in US history. This set off a chain reaction and had a massive impact on the Australia financial system and economy. Across the northern hemisphere the GFC became known as the Great Recession. But in Australia the economy was spared the large rises in unemployment that occurred in the USA and Europe as well as the collapse of major financial institutions. This was recorded on Friday 15th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Wayne Swan, National President of the ALP, former Labor Member for Lilley and former Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer of Australia // @SwannyQLD Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  Australia's native forests are not only home to some of our most vulnerable and threatened species, they hold critical cultural and ecological value. While native forest logging is being phased out in Western Australia and Victoria, other states are failing to take action to protect these iconic and precious ecosystems from logging. This was recorded on Wednesday 4th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Bob Brown, Environmentalist, Bob Brown Foundation // @BobBrownFndn Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Prof Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  The first person will face trial in relation to Australian war crimes in Afghanistan is David McBride, the whistleblower on trial, not an alleged war criminal. On the eve of David McBride's trial, a distinguished panel of experts discussed what's at stake, what it says that whistleblower not a war criminal is facing trial, and the right to truth and accountability when whistleblowers are facing prosecution. This was recorded on Friday 10th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Rex Patrick, Former independent Senator and Whistleblower Justice Fund Founder // @MrRexPatrick Hadi Marifat, Director and co-founder of the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization // @HMarifat Rawan Arraf, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice // @rawanarraf Kieran Pender, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre // @KieranHRLC Sharara Attai, Executive Director of the Islamophobia Register Australia Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  What if we're thinking about inflation wrong? Join renowned economist Isabella Weber, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for a discussion about the economics and politics of seller's inflation. This was recorded on Thursday 7th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Isabella M Weber,  Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst // @IsabellaMWeber Jim Stanford, Director of the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute // @JimboStanford Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  This episode, we're listening back to one of our most popular episodes from the year with our Executive Director Richard Denniss, digging into the cycle of corporate profits, inflation, and low wages.  This was recorded on Wednesday 7th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  One of the great mysteries of Australian life is that a land of sweeping plains, with one of the lowest population densities on the planet, has a shortage of land for houses. As a result, Sydney's median house price is the second most expensive on Earth, after Hong Kong's. Alan Kohler discusses his latest essay and tells the story of how we got into this mess – and how we might get out of it. This was recorded on Tuesday 28th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Alan Kohler, Finance Presenter, ABC News // @AlanKohler Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023.  This year has been a doozy in Australian politics, and we need to talk about it. We invited a panel of distinguished press gallery journalists along to our Politics in the Pub live event, to give us the low down on what's happened, and wrap things up for us for the year. This was recorded on Wednesday 29th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guests: Amy Remeikis, Political reporter, Guardian Australia // @AmyRemeikis Adrian Rollins, Economics correspondent, the Canberra Times // @RollinsA Pablo Viñales, Political Correspondent, SBS News // @pablovinales Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations annual climate conference, COP28, is wrapping up, and it's crunch time. Is there going to be a mention of actually phasing out fossil fuels? Or will we have more of avoiding the issue? This was recorded on Tuesday 12th December 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Maugean skate, native to Macquarie Harbour, is running out of time. It's facing extinction, due in large part to the Tasmanian salmon industry.  This was recorded on Monday 4th December 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Eloise Carr, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @GeneveraE Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clive Palmer, one of Australia's richest men, is suing Australia for at least $41.3bn, claiming it breached the ASEAN free trade agreement in relation to coal exploration permits. But he's doing so...as a foreign investor? Stephen Long explains how Clive Palmer's controversial legal strategies challenge Australia's trade agreements and environmental laws. Stephen Long is a Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor at the Australia Institute, and Walkley Award winning journalist, previously at ABC's Four Corners. This was recorded on Tuesday 28th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a less than ideal week for the government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has copped some criticism for how much overseas travel he's been doing. Most PMs have been subject to criticism for travelling, so how seriously should we take it this time?  This was recorded on Tuesday 21st November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Dr Emma Shortis, Senior Researcher, International & Security Affairs program, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening in society and the economy.  Introducing the Autralia Institute's brand new podcast, Dollars & Sense, with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. In Dollars & Sense, each week, Greg Jericho will dive into the latest economic figures, and explain what they can tell us about what's happening in the economy, how it will impact you and where things are headed. In this episode, Greg unpacks the latest wage price data and why lots of people got a payrise in the September quarter.  Recorded on Thursday 19 November 2023. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or visit our website. Subscribe to Between the Lines, the Australia Institute's fortnightly-ish newsletter. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work Producer: Jennifer Macey  Theme Music: Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is one of the few countries with a developed research sector that does not have a research integrity watchdog, instead relying on research institutions to initiate and oversee investigations into their own researchers. This was recorded on Wednesday 15th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Dr Kristen Scicluna, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @kristenscicluna Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RBA has delivered its first interest rate rise since Michelle Bullock took over from Philip Lowe as Governor, up 25 basis points to 4.35%, the highest in 12 years. So what needs to change for the pain to stop? This was recorded on Tuesday 7th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By exposing human rights abuses, government wrongdoing and corporate misconduct, whistleblowers like David McBride and Richard Boyle make Australia a better place. Yet too often in Australia, whistleblowers are prosecuted rather than supported. This was recorded on Tuesday 24th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Kieran Pender, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre // @KieranHRLC Professor Peter Greste, award-winning journalist, author and academic // @PeterGreste Rawan Arraf, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice // @rawanarraf Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the Voice Referendum, new Australia Institute research shows that almost nine in ten (87%) Australians want Parliament to pass truth in political advertising laws before the next federal election. This was recorded on Tuesday 17th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Director, the Australia Institute // @Browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many Australians are still unsure what the referendum on is even about. What would a Voice to Parliament look like, and how would it help Indigenous people? To help make it more clear, the Australia Institute's own Kate McBride recently sat down with Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and architect of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This was recorded on Friday 8th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and architect of the Uluru Statement from the Heart Kate McBride, Parlimentary Liason, the Australia Institute // @Kate_McBride_1 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Senate Inquiry into the management and assurance of integrity by consulting services continues, Labor senator Deb O'Neill and Greens senator Barbara Pocock have been applying the pressure to consulting firms in the hotseat. This was recorded on Wednesday 4th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability // @Browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australia-America economic relationship is one of the world's most consequential, worth over $2 trillion, yet few understand its depth and scale. This was recorded on Thursday 3rd August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Joey Herlihy, Research Intern, International & Security Affairs program, the Australia Institute  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Northern Hemisphere experiences extreme heatwaves and Australia prepares for a “horror summer”, and the new RBA Governor Michelle Bullock warns climate change poses a “particularly acute” challenge for the Australia economy, listen back to the launch of the 2023 Climate of the Nation Report at Politics in the Pub. This was recorded on Wednesday 13th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Liz Morison, Researcher, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Jenny Dowell OAM , former Mayor of Lismore City Council // @JennyRDowell Dr Graeme Palmer, Lismore Small Business Owner Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Digital Content Producer, the Australia Institute  Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As many Australians are facing rising cost-of-living, which is being made worse by climate change, fossil fuel companies are making record profits. So how can our Government make them pay the bill? This was recorded on Tuesday 12th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Liz Morison, Researcher, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Digital Content Producer, the Australia Institute  Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new deal to save the Murray-Darling basin has been brokered by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, following another mass fish kill, and a survey finding not a single adult Murray Cod in the Lower Darling-Bakka. This was recorded on Tuesday 5th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Kate McBride, Researcher and Parliamentary Liason Officer, the Australia Institute // @Kate_McBride_1 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labor Government has been campaigning for Australia to host COP31, the UN climate conference, in partnership with a Pacific Island nation. But Pacific Islanders have several concerns, mainly due to Australia's track record with new fossil fuels, and lacklustre climate policy. This was recorded on Wednesday 30th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While you might not think native duck hunting is a big issue in Australia, it actually has extensive detrimental effects on our ecosystems. And it isn't even that popular among Australians.  This was recorded on Tuesday 6th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C Liz Morison, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz Noah Schultz-Byard, Director, the Australia Institute South Australia // @noah_sbyard Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lifecycle emissions resulting from Tamboran Resources' proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility in the Northern Territory would be equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations every year when operating at full capacity. Not exactly on the transition to net-zero... This was recorded on Wednesday 16th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Edited by: Emily Perkins Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.