Follow The Money

The Australia Institute
  • 4.7 (352)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Economics and politics explained in plain English

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Is the national anti-corruption body failing?

    After major missteps, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is falling well short of the gold standard for integrity bodies. On this episode of Follow the Money, journalist and writer Nick Feik joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the NACC’s handling of its Robodebt investigation, its decision not to hold public hearings so far, and concerns about the legal experience required of some senior leaders. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 5 May and some things may have changed. The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Nick Feik, journalist and writer // @nickfeik Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Built to fail? NACC: the integrity body undermined from the start by Nick Feik, Michelle Fahy & Elizabeth Minter, The Point (April 2026) Resignation of Deputy Commissioner highlights need for transparent, merit-based NACC appointments, the Centre for Public Integrity (May 2026) National Anti-Corruption Commission: Reforms Needed, the Australia Institute 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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  2. 29 APR

    Greens leader Larissa Waters on the housing crisis, gas exports & taxing the 1%

    How have a select few accumulated such colossal wealth while many Australians struggle? On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator Larissa Waters, leader of the Australian Greens, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the causes of Australia’s housing crisis, making gas exporters pay their fair share, and the Greens’ new ‘tax the 1%’ campaign. The latest Vantage Point essay, Rich Kid Poor Kid: The Battle for Public Education by Jane Caro, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Larissa Waters, Australian Greens leader and Senator for Queensland // @larissawaters Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026) Japanese Government collects more tax from Australian gas than Australian Government, the Australia Institute (April 2026) Australia's Gas Giveaway, the Australia Institute Santos records nearly $47bn in sales over a decade without paying corporate tax by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (April 2026) Three ways Australia can tax wealth better by David Richardson and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (August 2025) Inequality, Democracy, and Distributive Justice with Gabriel Zucman, Global Progressive Mobilization on YouTube (April 2026) Oligarchy or Democracy with Wayne Swan, Global Progressive Mobilization on YouTube (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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min

  3. 22 APR

    David Pocock on getting a fair return for Australian gas

    Australia is one of the largest exporters of gas in the world, yet beer drinkers pay more tax than the gas industry pays in Petroleum Resources Rent Tax. On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator David Pocock and Dr Richard Denniss join Leanne Minshull to discuss the case for a 25 per cent gas export tax, why Australians currently get so little in return for the country’s finite resources, and how the gas industry wields power in parliament. This episode was recorded live at the Australia Institute’s Politics in the Pub event on Wednesday 15 April. Subscribe now to find out about more live events from the Australia Institute. Guest: David Pocock, Independent Senator for the Australia Capital Territory // @davidpocock Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: Australia's Gas Giveaway, the Australia Institute The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026) Beer, HECS and visas: things that raise more revenue than the Petroleum Rent Resource Tax (PRRT) by Matt Grudnoff, The Point, Senate inquiry into taxing gas exports begins as experts call system 'broken' by Tegan George, The Point (April 2026) Japanese Government collects more tax from Australian gas than Australian Government, the Australia Institute (April 2026) One Nation and Greens voters strongly support 25% Gas Export Tax: poll, the Australia Institute (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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  4. 15 APR

    US allies reassess as Trump undermines global security

    With President Trump spewing threats at friends and foes, the American government has gone off the rails. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss Trump’s genocidal threats against Iran, his efforts to subvert US democracy, his administration’s growing isolation from long-time allies, and why it’s time for the Australian government to reassess its relationship with the United States. This episode was recorded on Monday 13 April. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) Vance joyless as US-Iran negotiations fall apart, After America, the Australia Institute (April 2026) Shorter America This Week: Ceasefire?; Madman theory; Group hugs in space by Emma Shortis, The Point (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. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  5. 8 APR

    Yanis Varoufakis on misogyny, resistance and why everything could be different

    There is no reason our societies can’t change radically, to produce more of what we need and less of the things that are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, says Yanis Varoufakis. On this episode of Follow the Money, we bring you highlights from the recent Australian tour of economist and author Yanis Varoufakis, with contributions from a cast of very special guests. Across live events in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, they discuss misogyny, political power, the erosion of Palestinian rights, and Yanis’ latest book, Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance. Become an Australia Institute supporter today. Guest: Yanis Varoufakis, economist & author // @yanisvaroufakis Guest: Clare Wright OAM, Professor of History and Professor of Public Engagement, La Trobe University // @clarewrighthistorian Guest: Randa Abdel-Fattah, Future Fellow in Sociology, Macquarie University // @RandaAFattah Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Guest: Louise Adler AM, former Director, Adelaide Writers’ Week Guest: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance by Yanis Varoufakis, Penguin Books (November 2025) A Time for Bravery: What happens when Australia chooses courage?, Australia Institute Press (December 2025) What’s the Big Idea? 32 Ideas for a Better Australia, Australia Institute Press (December 2024) Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy by Clare Wright, Text Publishing (October 2024) Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah, UQ Press (September 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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  6. 1 APR

    Prices skyrocket but major fuel shortages "very unlikely"

    Petrol and diesel prices are sky high because of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, but major fuel shortages in Australia are very unlikely.  Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss Australia’s relatively strong position in global energy supply chains. Matt explains why some petrol stations have run low despite overall fuel supplies remaining steady, how the price hikes are fuelling inequality, and why Scott Morrison’s 2021 claim about an electric vehicle policy putting an “end to the weekend” now looks even more absurd than it did at the time. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 31 March. You can sign the Australia Institute’s petition calling on the federal government to make gas exporters pay their fair share. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Fuel costs and RBA hikes equal to a 90 basis point rate rise: 'this is brutal' by Greg Jericho, The Point (March 2026) Fuelling inequality: The brunt of a global crisis should not be borne by people in poverty by Kristin O’Connell, The Point (March 2026) The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  7. 25 MAR

    How a gas export tax could transform Australia

    A 25% gas export tax would drive down gas prices for Australians and collect billions of dollars that can be used to provide better, cheaper health and education services.  On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss the case for a 25% gas export tax and the New South Wales government’s ban on new coal mines. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 24 March. You can sign the Australia Institute’s petition calling on the federal government to make gas exporters pay their fair share. Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026) Tax gas exports, invest in health/aged care – new polls, the Australia Institute (March 2026) What the Middle East war means for Australians and gas companies, the Australia Institute (March 2026) 'No new coal or gas is a slogan, not a policy': Bowen, ABC Radio National (March 2023) SUMMER SPECIAL | President Anote Tong, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (January 2017) What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, Australia Institute Press (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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  8. 18 MAR

    Australia’s fossil fuel subsidies are out of control

    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 recorded on Tuesday 17 March. What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2026 by Matt Grudnoff and Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (March 2026) Australia’s great gas giveaway, the Australia Institute (May 2024) Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy, Follow the Money (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. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
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4.7
out of 5
352 Ratings

About

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    416
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Follow The Money

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