Podcast
Follow The Money
Hosted by The Australia Institute · EN
Economics and politics explained in plain English
20episodes
Episodes
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As American democracy faces huge tests, is Australia prepared for the worst?
1w ago00:31:03Tap to summarizeNo 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 whether the Australian government is prepared for the possibility of disputed elections in its major alliance partner. This episode was recorded Tuesday 21 July. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) Trump administration chips away at independent media, faith in democracy, After America, the Australia Institute (July 2026) Christopher Pyne declares AUKUS 'unstoppable', and says Parliament shouldn't vote on it, The Point (July 2026) Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (October 2025) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →BONUS | What's the point of a gas export tax?
2w ago00:22:20Tap to summarizeIntroducing 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, 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 // @richarddennissHost: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Show notes:A National Plebiscite for a 25% Gas Export Tax, the Australia InstituteMore Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (forthcoming)Climate Integrity Summit 2026 ticketsFor more research and analysis, visit The Point.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →After the landslide: Australian politics since the 2025 election
2w ago00:39:50Tap to summarizeRichard 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 very different to how it did at the election. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute co-CEO Richard Denniss, Chief Political Analyst Amy Remeikis and Democracy & Accountability Director Bill Browne discuss what’s changed in Australian politics since the last election and where it might go from here. This episode was recorded live on Thursday 9 July. Subscribe for updates from the Australia Institute to be notified about all of our events and webinars. 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 ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Host: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2025) There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Australian states aren’t going broke, but they are being ripped off
3w ago00:25:46Tap to summarizeStates 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’re providing the high-quality services Australians deserve. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 7 July. Check out the new Australia Institute podcast series, What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss. It’s available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite shows. Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: The cost of slow growth in GST revenue. The growing problem of short-changing the states by Matt Grudnoff, the Australia Institute (September 2025) GST Reform: How to stop the states being short-changed by Richard Denniss, Matt Grudnoff & Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (July 2025) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →The Safeguard Mechanism is failing miserably
4w ago00:34:01Tap to summarizeAustralia’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. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 23 June. Guest: Fergus Green, co-author of ‘Safeguarding the fossil fuel industry?’ and Associate Professor, University College London // @fergusgreen Guest: Frances Medlock, co-author of ‘Safeguarding the fossil fuel industry?’ and policy and law reform lawyer Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: Safeguarding the Fossil Fuel Industry? How Carbon Offsetting Undermines the Safeguard Mechanism by Fergus Green and Frances Medlock, the Australia Institute (June 2026) The dodgy, so-called “offsets” that undermine Australia’s central climate policy by Fergus Green and Frances Medlock, The Point (June 2026) Koalas Covering for Coal? Dirty Forest Offset Plan Would Mean More Fossil Fuels, the Australia Institute (June 2026) Giant gas project earns $90m in ‘free’ carbon offsets by Ryan Cropp, Australian Financial Review (June 2026) Here are 23 Times Carbon Offsets Were Found to be Dodgy, the Australia Institute (January 2024) World’s biggest miner BHP backtracks on climate action with key projects put on ice, leaked documents reveal by Christopher Knaus and Adam Morton, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Australians overwhelmingly back abortion access, but the politics are getting more toxic
Jun 2400:32:21Tap to summarizeAustralians 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 politics in the United States and United Kingdom on Australia. This episode was recorded on Friday 19 June. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute Guest: Hamdi Jama, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Show notes: Abortion Access in South Australia by Hamdi Jama and Ebony Bennett, the Australia Institute (June 2026) Overwhelming support for abortion access, despite election rhetoric: new poll, the Australia Institute (March 2026) Saving women? Spare me. This is hatred of women at its heart by Ebony Bennett, The Canberra Times (June 2026) Don’t be fooled, there’s nothing ‘reasonable’ about these rebooted abortion battles by Amy Remeikis, The Point (June 2026) One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts says he will push for party to adopt blanket abortion ban by Tory Shepherd, Guardian Australia (June 2026) Image of ‘twin babies’ used by anti-abortion activist appears to show sugar gliders by Tory Shepherd, Guardian Australia (May 2026) One Nation’s anti‑abortion turn shows MAGA’s creeping power in Australia by Prudence Flowers, The Conversation (June 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Gas tax: let the people decide
Jun 1700:28:16Tap to summarizeJoin 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 the petition calling for a national plebiscite on a 25% Gas Export Tax. 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: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Let the People Decide: The Case for a Gas Export Tax Plebiscite, Australia Institute webinar (19 June 2026) Australia's Gas Giveaway, the Australia Institute The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026) Polling – gas tax and WA, the Australia Institute (April 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Jane Caro on the battle for public education
Jun 1000:35:42Tap to summarizePrivate 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, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The battle for public education. The original conversation was recorded live on 3 June 2026. Stay across all of our events by signing up to our newsletter. 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: Jane Caro, Walkley Award-winning columnist, novelist & author of Rich Kid, Poor Kid: The battle for public education // @janecaro Host: Alice Grundy, Managing Editor, Australia Institute Press // @alicektg Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Rich Kid Poor Kid: The battle for public education by Jane Caro, Vantage Point, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Australia’s private high school problem by Skye Predavec and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Why Australian high schools cost families more than anywhere else in the developed world: explained in 3 charts by Skye Predavec, The Point (February 2026) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Antoinette Lattouf on women who win
Jun 300:28:07Tap to summarizeJournalist 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 and change. The original conversation was recorded live on 29 May 2026. Stay across all of our events and webinars by signing up to our newsletter. 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 website. 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: Antoinette Lattouf, journalist and author of Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change // @antoinettelattouf Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change by Antoinette Lattouf, Penguin (April 2026) Josh Bornstein: Working for the Brand, Australia’s Biggest Book Club, the Australia Institute (November 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Online gambling “reshaping a whole generation” as government reforms fall well short
May 2700:24:06Tap to summarizeThe 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 turbocharging the damage caused by gambling, and the government’s straw man argument about “balance” when it comes to reform. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 26 May. If this episode raised issues for you, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit Gambling Help Online at www.gamblinghelponline.org.au. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Guest: Martin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Gambling Reform Guest: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, the Australia Institute // @mhharrington Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Polling – banning gambling advertisements, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Teenage gambling in Australia by Matt Saunders and Morgan Harrington, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Worth a Punt – 2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend by Stephen Long and David Richardson, the Australia Institute (August 2024) ‘A thousand days of inaction on gambling reform’ by Tim Costello, The Saturday Paper (March 2026) New research shows kids are targeted with alcohol, gambling and junk food ads online, Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (June 2024) Football’s secret gambling deal exposed | Four Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation on YouTube (June 2023) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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