Australia Matters

An outright ban on gambling advertising would be extremely popular – so why isn’t the government doing it? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to talk about the federal government’s “piss poor” online gambling reforms and the push to pay super to under 18s. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 9 July 2026. If this episode raised iss...

States and territories are missing out on tens of billions in revenue each year because the GST isn’t growing as promised. On this episode of Follow the Money , Rod Campbell and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the reasons why the GST hasn't grown as promised, how exemptions for private schools and private insurance exacerbate inequality, and how governments can ensure they’...

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, in a heat wave, delayed by storms, Donald Trump gave a very Donald Trump speech. We expected that. But what can we expect next? On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the November midterm elections and what they might bring. After Emma’s trip to Brussels and Berlin, they also reflect the contr...

On the second episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses the government’s long-overdue changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax and the ongoing media hysteria around Australia’s housing market. This episode was recorded on Friday 3 July. Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host:  Anna Chan...

Some in the media are treating it like the beginning of a housing apocalypse, but a slight drop in house prices shows that the government’s housing investor tax reforms are doing their job. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor discuss the positive impact of the government’s changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, why migration hasn’t caus...

Australia’s flagship climate policy is failing to drive actual emission reductions. On this episode of Follow the Money , the authors of new Australia Institute research, Dr Fergus Green and Frances Medlock, join Glenn Connley to discuss the major failures of the Safeguard Mechanism, the dodgy “carbon offsets” at the heart the scheme, and what can be done to drive down emissions....

Trump’s “peace” “deal” with Iran is already falling apart. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Angus Blackman to discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran, where it all went wrong for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European views of Trump’s America. This episode was recorded live on Friday 26 June. Support the rese...

On the first episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses the reasons behind One Nation grabbing the headlines, why it is highly unlikely Pauline Hanson will be Prime Minister after the next election and what the current Prime Minister can do to turn things around for Labor. Host: Dr Richard Denniss, Co-CEO, The Australia Institute Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiain...

Plus: how the One Nation leader got all tangled up over childcare and paid parental leave. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s comments on paid parental leave and childcare, the latest inflation data, the passage of the government’s capital gains tax and negative gearing changes, and the new ‘no Gregs’ club. This discussion was...

Australians overwhelmingly support access to abortion care – but there’s a resurgence in anti-abortion politics underway. On this episode of Follow the Money , Amy Remeikis and Hamdi Jama join Ebony Bennett to discuss the resurgence of anti-abortion politics in Australia, failed legislation in South Australia seeking to restrict late-term abortion, and the influence of far-right politi...

With the men’s football world cup underway and after a UFC event on the White House lawn, the relationship between sport and politics seems especially close in the United States right now. On this episode of After America , Dr Lindsay Owens joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss World Cup ticket pricing, the consolidation of corporate power in Trump’s America, the impact of the war on Iran o...

A new data drop by the Australian Tax Office has A) brought Greg great joy and B) shed new light on Australians’ incomes. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the latest interest rates decision, Greg and Matt Grudnoff’s field trip to a Senate committee, and why one newspaper is running a front-page story about Pokémon card collectors and capital gains...

Join tens of thousands of Australians calling for a national plebiscite on a 25% gas export tax. On this episode of Follow the Money , Leanne Minshull and Rod Campbell join Ebony Bennett to discuss Australia’s dud deal on gas and the Australia Institute’s new petition calling on the government to hold a plebiscite on a gas export tax. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 16 June. Sign...

Donald Trump pledged to reach a better deal with Iran than the Obama administration negotiated in 2015. He hasn’t – and probably won’t. On this episode of After America , foreign policy analyst Matt Duss and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the war on Iran, what the administration might be planning with regards to Cuba, the UFC fight on the White House lawn, and what a more progressive Au...

Cuts to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding would have a serious, lasting impact on people living with disabilities and their families. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the latest house price data and the ongoing fearmongering around the changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing. Then, Greg shares the positive impact NDIS funding as had on hi...

Private schools have a “parasitic relationship” with public education, says Jane Caro. On this episode of Follow the Money , recorded live at Politics in the Pub in Canberra, Jane Caro joins Dr Alice Grundy to discuss how Australia came to the most expensive place in the developed world for families to send a child to high school and Jane’s essay for Australia Institute Press, Ri...

On this special episode, we’re joined by two commissioners from the new community-led, independent inquiry into the AUKUS security deal. This episode was recorded live on Thursday 4 June. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Guest: Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman and...

With what little economic growth there is being driven by data centres, is it really a net positive for most Australians? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the decision to lift minimum and award wages and what the latest GDP figures mean for Australian households. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 4 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make...

Journalist and author Antoinette Lattouf tells the inspiring stories of women’s courage and conviction – and how they have changed our country . Recorded live as part of our Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinar series, Antoinette Lattouf joins Ebony Bennett to discuss her landmark legal battle with the ABC and her latest book,  Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction...

Even as the Trump administration facilitates the demise of the international order the United States helped create, the Australian government’s embrace of Aukus ties the two countries ever closer. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss op-shop submarines, the Democrats’ review of the 2024 election, and Trump’s Iran loop. This episode was rec...

Coverage of One Nation’s gas policy made it sound like the beginning of some kind of people’s revolution, but without a 25% gas export tax, Australians will get short-changed. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s gas policy announcement, the failure at the heart of Australia’s employment services system, and what the latest infla...

The government’s latest reforms don’t do nearly enough to protect Australians from gambling harm. On this episode of Follow the Money , Martin Thomas from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Morgan Harrington from the Australia Institute join Ebony Bennett to discuss how Australians came to have the biggest per capita gambling losses in the world, how online sports betting is turbocha...

Despite the global upheaval caused by the Trump administration, the Australian government is trying to plough on with AUKUS as if Biden was still in charge. On this episode of After America , Guardian Australia journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the likelihood of the Australia ever receiving a nuclear-powered submarine, the “dangerously undemocratic” secrecy around...

Australia could raise around $17 billion a year with a 25% gas export tax – enough to put dental in Medicare or fund free childcare – but the government is choosing not to. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Angus discuss why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australia Institute needs to get “fair dinkum” about gas exports, the post-budget meme-wars ov...

Six months out from an election, Victoria has been left with no political donation laws after the High Court ruled them unconstitutional. On this episode of Follow the Money , Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the High Court voided Victoria’s undemocratic political donations laws. They examine what this could mean for other jurisdictions and why a principled, transparent approac...