Australia Matters

The Australian government constantly talks up the international rules-based order – but its willingness to uphold the principles that underpin it is inconsistent at best. Human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry’s findings of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the Trump administration’s attacks on the i...

On this episode of  What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains why electric vehicles have surged in popularity, and why EVs should play a central role in energy security. Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //  @richarddenniss Host:  Anna Chang, Managing Editor,  The Point  //  @annachang Climate Integrity Summit 20...

A new Reserve Bank survey shows most Australians don’t assess the relationship between inflation and interest rates “correctly” – but there’s much more to it. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor go back to the basics of inflation, living costs and interest rates to show that how they interact really isn’t all that basic. This discussion was...

A recent decision by the New South Wales state government is a crack in the wall of Australian climate inaction. On this episode of Follow the Money , Leanne Minshull and Rod Campbell join Glenn Connley to discuss dodgy carbon credits, the Great Koala National Park in New South Wales, the federal government’s upcoming review of the Safeguard Mechanism, and the demise of Climate Active. This...

Fragile men in government and tech are supercharging misogyny in the United States and beyond . Linda Robinson, author of Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism , joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the misogyny of the Trump administration, how Big Tech enables its spread, and the stark realities facing women in politics. This episode was recorded Friday 31 July. 1800RES...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains the purpose of the Reserve Bank of Australia and whether it's fulfilling that role. Host:  Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host:  Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets:  https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-...

Wealth on Earth is up, apparently. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the better-than-expected inflation figures, the global oversupply of once-in-a-lifetime crises, and what the ominous-sounding ‘global balance sheet’ tells us about wealth on Earth. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 30 July 2026. Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked...

Much of the world is moving away from fossil fuels, so why is Australia’s gas industry still expanding? On this episode of Follow the Money , renewable energy entrepreneur Assaad Razzouk joins Australia Institute co-CEO Leanne Minshull to discuss how the war on Iran is accelerating the global shift away from fossil fuels and why Australia risks being left behind. This episode was recorded We...

Faced with an entirely new type of president, the Australian government insists on playing an old game by the old rules. Dr Emma Shortis reflects on Trump’s “joke” about a third term in office at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, before If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan returns to the show to discuss the midterms and Trump’s finances. This episode was re...

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains the “fake fight” over nuclear power in Australia and how the gas industry benefits from the nuclear distraction. This episode was recorded on Friday 17 July. Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code &...

Despite no action on a gas export tax in the government’s May budget, calls are growing louder for a fair return on Australia’s resources from within the Labor Party. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg returns! He and Elinor discuss the ALP National Conference in Adelaide, the economic impact of the ongoing American war on Iran, and the failures of Australia’s privatis...

No one knows what’ll happen at the November midterms or the next presidential election. Is the Australian government prepared for the worst-case scenario? On this episode of Follow the Money , Dr Emma Shortis joins Glenn Connley to discuss the upcoming midterm elections in the United States, how the Trump administration has been chipping away at the guardrails of American democracy, and whet...

Former Washington Post journalist Anna Fifield reflects on her time at the paper, the state of American media, and New Zealand’s role in the world. On this episode of After America , New Zealand-based journalist Anna Fifield joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the American media during Trump’s second term, views of the United States and China in New Zealand, and what the Australian govern...

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how the Federal Government’s new carbon credits method for ‘protecting’ native forests will allow fossil fuel companies to greenwash their climate pollution and expand coal and gas production. This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute...

Introducing The Australia Institute's new podcast series, What's the Point? with Richard Denniss . Subscribe to the show on  YouTube ,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. *** On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, a...

Introducing The Australia Institute's new podcast series, What's the Point? with Richard Denniss . Subscribe to the show on  YouTube ,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. *** On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, a...

Introducing The Australia Institute's new podcast series, What's the Point? with Richard Denniss . Subscribe to the show on  YouTube ,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. *** 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 Hans...

The tech industry talks about huge investment in Australia. That sounds great, but who’ll actually benefit? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to discuss Anthony Albanese’s speech on artificial intelligence, lessons for data centre regulation from Australia’s experience with the gas industry, Barnaby Joyce’s vision for the Reserve Bank, and...

Richard Denniss and Amy Remeikis discuss the dramatic changes in Australia’s political landscape since Labor’s landslide election victory. In May 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the Labor Party to a historic victory and the Liberal Party suffered its worst result since World War 2. But with the rise of One Nation at home and crises multiplying abroad, the world already looks...

Even with his luxury jet grounded, Trump and his administration have flown the United States into a strategic black hole. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the demise of an Iran agreement that never really lived, the latest NATO summit, the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, and the evolution of the Australian government’s diplomacy in the Pacific I...

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, and why Australians are living with the consequences. He spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it.  This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richard...

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...