Australia Matters

The AUKUS submarine deal should be scrapped and the subject of a Royal Commission, according to the commissioners of the AUKUS Public Inquiry. On this episode of Follow the Money , former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie AO RAN (retd), and Australia Institute co-CEO, Leanne Minshull, join Ebony Bennett to discuss the findings of the recent independent public inquiry into...

Even the greatest dynasties come to an end. On this episode, Greg announces the end of the Dollars & Sense series and thanks all who came along for the journey. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November 2026. Read more on The Point . Host:  Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost:  Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia In...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains why government spending isn’t to blame for higher inflation in Australia right now and why arguments about whether the government spends too much or too little are simplistic; how the money is spent matters. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November. Read more on The Point . Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Execu...

On this bonus mini-episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the Democrats’ historic midterms success, what now for the Trump administration, and what it might mean for the Australia-US relationship. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November. Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Host: Emma...

The Reserve Bank’s fifth interest rate hike of 2026 will hurt Australian mortgage holders as big corporates profit. On this episode of Follow the Money , Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss what’s really driving inflation, who’s benefitting in this economy, how the government can support the Australians who need it most. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 4 November....

The midterms are finally upon us. On Tuesday US time, Americans will vote in a new Congress – and deliver a verdict on two years of the second Trump administration. On this episode of After America , If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan joins Dr Emma Shortis to preview the midterms and examine the election results in Israel. In both countries, these could be the most important elections...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains why the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is banking on mass unemployment, the impact of AI on superannuation, and what happens if the AI bubble bursts. This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October. Read more on The Point . Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss...

The Trump administration and US democracy itself face a big test at the midterm elections. On this episode of Follow the Money , Dr Emma Shortis joins Ebony Bennett to discuss US politics ahead of the midterms and the state of democracy globally. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 27 October. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support se...

Elephant?! What elephant? On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss key races in the midterms, the upcoming Israeli election, and the latest from the Canberra bubble on Euro-Indo-Atlanto-Pacific strategic interests. This episode was recorded on Monday 26 October. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host...

Senate Estimates is a government and department accountability mechanism. It’s a process where Senators get to look under the hood of Federal Departments and ask, among other things, how is taxpayer money being spent? In this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explores why Estimates matter for democracy, and ways it can be improved. Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Exec...

On this episode of Follow the Money , Amy Remeikis, Greg Jericho and Ebony Bennett discuss violence, decency and dissent in Australia’s democracy following the alleged violent attack on Dr Helen Haines MP, who remains in critical condition in hospital. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 21 October. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information...

The United States keeps showing us what an unreliable ally it is. Are European governments now getting the message? Dr Tobias Cremer, Member of European Parliament, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss how the European Union is responding to the second Trump administration, the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, and how to build democratic solidarity in the face of rising authoritarianism. This episod...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Alex Fein, researcher and strategist at Redbridge, joins Richard Denniss to discuss why so many Australians are angry right now, the real message many voters are sending to the political establishment, and the dirty secret about productivity. This episode was recorded on Friday 16 October. Read more on The Point . Guest:  Alex Fein, Research and In...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlines the big challenges facing Australia and the importance of changing the status quo – a situation that is clearly not working for many Australians. In this special episode of Follow the Money , the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, addresses the loss of control many Australians feel right now, the rise of the far-right in Australia, and the importa...

The Australian government has been excruciatingly silent when it comes to standing up for the International Criminal Court and foundations of international law it so loves to talk about . Journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Australia’s non-response to the Trump administration’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court, the American military footprint in Austral...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses the important distinction between consumerism and materialism and why being ‘materialistic’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This episode was recorded on Thursday 1 October. Read more on The Point . Enter the code CURED to get 25% off Curing Affluenza: How to buy less stuff and save the world by Richard Denniss...

Australia is a rich country, but for many younger Australians, the ability to share in that prosperity is increasingly out of reach. On this episode of Follow the Money , Senator Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the housing crisis, its long-term impacts on the lives of younger Australians, and her proposals to turn the si...

While miles apart in their responses to the Trump administration, Canada and Australia are in lock-step on expanding fossil fuel production. On this episode of After America , Québécoise senator and pollution control expert Dr Rosa Galvez joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Carney government’s response to the Trump administration, climate policy failures in Australia and Canad...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains the theory of ‘trickle-down’ economics – and why so much of the money seems to be trickling the other way. This episode was recorded on Thursday 24 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now....

There’s a war on Iran choking global oil supplies, an artificial intelligence boom, and a US president torpedoing the global trading system, but inflation simply MUST be normal, according to the RBA. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg tells Skye that households will struggle “for not much good” because of the Reserve Bank’s latest interest rate hike. This discuss...

Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis. On this episode of Follow the Money , Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australians’ extraordinary gambling losses, the fede...

Last week’s Trump-Xi meeting delivered few tangible outcomes, but is a bigger shift in US-China relations under way? On this episode of After America , Professor James Laurenceson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the latest US-China leaders’ meeting, why the Biden administration’s hawkish approach to China may not be coming back, and what it all means for Australia. This episode...

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains what’s really driving inflation in Australia and why interest rates aren’t actually the only way to control it. This episode was recorded on Friday 11 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use...

Artificial intelligence dominates the latest Intergenerational Report – but are multi-decade predictions about the rapidly changing technology any more than just a stab in the dark? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Skye discuss the focus on artificial intelligence in the latest 40-year outlook, the latest data on ‘middle Australia’, and why homeowners have report...

Despite dire warnings from the scientific community and Australia’s Pacific neighbours, the federal government isn’t getting the message. On this episode of Follow the Money , Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia and Canadian independent Senator Dr Rosa Galvez join us to discuss the need to phase out fossil fuels. This episode was recorded live on W...