Follow The Money

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 nuclea...

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 Austral...

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...

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 Jo...

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...

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 websit...

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...

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 mor...

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 &amp...

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 bea...

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 Aus...

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 on...

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 F...

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 e...

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 I...

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 prospec...

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, Clim...

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 &am...

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....

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 Austral...

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  // @...

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  // @the...

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,...

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 t...

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...