Australia Matters

Now costing Australian governments $31,020 per minute, fossil fuel subsidies are growing faster than spending on the NDIS. On this episode of Follow the Money , Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss why it’s time to call out the idea that governments can’t afford to support Australians in need yet still dish out $16.3 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2025-26 alone. This episode was...

The Trump administration’s war on Iran is the most “incompetent, incoherent” war the United States has fought in a century, according to one US Senator. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the Trump administration’s apparent failure to plan for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Pete Hegseth’s attacks on American media, and...

You’re meant to tax things you want less of and subsidise things you want more of – yet Australian governments are handing out $16.3 billion in fossil fuel subsidies this financial year. Elinor is back but Greg is away, so Matt Grudnoff jumps in to talk about Australia’s absurd fossil fuel subsidies, fuel security in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, and why the AI bubble wi...

The Australian government has been trying to placate Trump in order to secure the AUKUS submarine deal – and now we are seeing the results. On this episode of Follow the Money and After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss the illegal US-Israel war in Iran, the implications of the conflict for the Middle East, and why Australian personnel were on board an American nuclear-powe...

In the MAGAverse, it’s white men who are born to rule – at home and abroad. On this episode of After America , Elizabeth Pancotti from Washington DC-based think tank Groundwork Collaborative joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the State of the Union, Trump’s vile attack on Somali-Americans, and how tariffs are driving up prices in a deeply unequal American economy. This discussion w...

The joint US-Israel war on Iran could have serious, lasting impacts on the global economy. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Skye discuss the economic impact of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, the latest Australian GDP data, and why the Reserve Bank seems to want more Australians to be unemployed. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 March 2026. What we owe the water: It's...

The far-right is benefitting from a failing status quo – but it doesn’t have to be this way. On this episode of Follow the Money , author and economist Gary Stevenson joins Ebony Bennett to discuss wealth inequality, the global issue of housing unaffordability, why Australia should tax gas properly, and how many far-right parties have become the Steven Bradburys of global politics. Thi...

The ‘president of peace’ has started another war with Iran, with no apparent regard for the consequences. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the assassination of its leader, Trump and Netanyahu’s cynical messages for the Iranian people, what this war means for nuclear proliferation, and the Australian gover...

Australia is a low taxing nation, but Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson still seems to want the highest earners to pay less. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Skye discuss Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson’s call for tax cuts, why tariffs won’t be replacing income tax despite Donald Trump’s claims, Australia’s bizarre subsidies for fossil fuels, and why Greg reckons he...

Shedding voters on the left and the right, is the Liberal Party heading for “oblivion”? On this episode of Follow the Money , journalist and author Niki Savva and Australia Institute co-Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Denniss join Amy Remeikis to discuss how the Liberal Party ended up with their worst federal election result in modern history in 2025, why there’s no such thing...

The ‘president of peace’ is at it again: threatening Iran again and boasting that his ‘board of peace’ will look over the United Nations. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the potential consequences if the United States again strikes Iran, the first meeting of Trump’s grotesque ‘board of peace’, and the striking...

Wages aren’t driving higher inflation, so why do workers always seem to cop the blame? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Angus discuss why Coles is in court over its pricing, whether it’s time to panic with government debt set to hit $1 trillion, and the role of corporate profits in driving inflation. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 18 February 2026. What we o...

Inequality creates insecurity and, as the United States is demonstrating right now, that insecurity can have devasting consequences for democracy. On this episode of Follow the Money , Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz joins Ebony Bennett and Dr Richard Denniss to discuss why Australia should get a better return for its natural resources, the power of corporations to mark up...

By removing guardrails around nuclear weapons, the Trump administration is making the world a far more dangerous place. On this episode of After America , Jon B Wolfsthal, former Special Assistant to President Obama for National Security Affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the expiry of the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, AUKUS and Australia’...

On the back of ongoing tax concessions primarily benefitting the wealthiest and the government’s five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, Australia has just broken a new record for average home loan size. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the persistent rumours of changes to the capital gains tax discount, why government spending isn’t to blame...

With a leading role in this year’s United Nations climate conference, the Australian government has an opportunity to show genuine solidarity with its Pacific neighbours and climate-vulnerable communities at home. On this episode of Follow the Money , Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights and climate advocate, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the need for a fossil fuel non-proliferation trea...

As American democracy teeters, the Australian government is trying to pretend everything is just fine. On this episode of After America , Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia senior reporter covering international affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the mass layoffs at the Washington Post , the lack of transparency around the AUKUS submarine deal, and why the Australian government still has its h...

The privatisation of Australian high school education, originally led by the Howard government, has caused prices to soar. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates and the absurdity of elite private schools receiving substantial public funding. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 February 2026. A time for Brav...

With inflation driven by Christmas holidays and data centres for artificial intelligence, the RBA didn’t need to raise the interest rate this week, argues Matt Grudnoff. On this episode of Follow the Money , Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss big economic reform opportunities facing the government and why the Reserve Bank of Australia is so cautious about cutting rates, yet so quic...

With each passing day, the Make America Great Again movement is becoming more battle-hardened and less likely to disappear once Trump leaves office (whenever that may be). On this episode of After America , author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the trajectory of the Trump administration, why Australia can’t avoid the rupture being brought about by the MAG...

Autocrats cannot rise to power by themselves. On this bonus episode, Dr Emma Shortis speaks to Justin Bergman, The Conversation ’s International Affairs Editor, about Stephen Miller, the key Trump ally who’s been described as the most powerful unelected bureaucrat in the United States – possibly the world. This episode was made by The Conversation for their six-part series on the...

Even the Mathias Cormann-led OECD says the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing are a problem. On the first episode of Dollars & Sense for 2026, Greg and Elinor discuss why the Radical Left Lunatics at the OECD think Australia’s property investor tax concessions are busted, why inflation is your fault (*for shame*), AUKUS spending, and that one time Greg went too hard on New Y...

The Australian government can’t keep its head in the sand and hope the chaos of the Trump administration will just go away. Dr Emma Shortis and Greg Jericho join Glenn Connley to discuss how Australia can navigate what Canadian PM Mark Carney calls the Trump “rupture”. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press....

The Trump administration may have killed what remained of the post-war international order, but last week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered its eulogy. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis discuss the global “rupture” identified by Prime Minister Carney, President Trump’s petulant response, why Trump’s apparent climbdown over Green...

The government passed new gun control and hate speech legislation in a special parliamentary sitting, but what impact will they have on Australian democracy? Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne join Ebony Bennett to discuss how having fewer guns in the community will make Australians safer. However, the complex anti-hate legislation that was rushed through at the same time could have serious consequences...