Australia Matters

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  1. Real wages are down, but apparently inflation is all your fault

    13H AGO

    Real wages are down, but apparently inflation is all your fault

    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 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. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb Show notes: As real wage growth falls again, Australian workers must feel the economy is rigged against them by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024) Theme music: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  2. Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy

    1D AGO

    Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy

    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 prices and push down wages, and why democracies should collect more corporate tax. This episode was recorded live on Wednesday 11 February 2026. 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: Joseph E Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate economist and Professor, Columbia University // @josephestiglitz Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future by Joseph E Stiglitz (June 2013) Australia’s great gas giveaway: how Australia gives gas to multinational corporations for free by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024) The capital gains discount and negative gearing benefit the rich and destroy housing affordability by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (February 2025) Trump’s Big Bill makes America more dangerous while enriching a few, After America, 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. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  3. The “president of peace” is helping revive the nuclear arms race

    3D AGO

    The “president of peace” is helping revive the nuclear arms race

    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’s nuclear capabilities, and why “nuclear weapons are back with avengeance”. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026 Australian time. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Jon B Wolfsthal, former Director of Global Risk, Federation of American Scientists // @jonatomic Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Trump has scrapped the long-standing legal basis for tackling climate emissions by Robyn Eckersley, The Conversation (February 2026) It is now 85 seconds to midnight, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (February 2026) The nuclear option, After America, the Australia Institute (December 2025) Theme music: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  4. Are record property prices on the way (again)?

    FEB 12

    Are record property prices on the way (again)?

    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 for the latest inflation increase, and the impact of the federal government’s five per cent deposit scheme on lending figures (and don’t discuss wages as promised last week, cus Greg can’t read a calendar). This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026. 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. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Will the government finally deliver a housing policy that stops making a bad situation worse? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) “They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Profit in home lending by David Richardson, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Submission to the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Australia’s great gas giveaway by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024) Theme music: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  5. Australia’s climate crossroads

    FEB 11

    Australia’s climate crossroads

    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 treaty, why it’s past time for the Australia government to stop coal and gas expansion, and his new Vantage Point essay, What We Owe the Water. This episode was recorded on Monday 9 February 2026. 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: Kumi Naidoo, President, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative // @kuminaidoo Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: "A drowning memory": the Pacific Island communities fighting for their survival, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (March 2025) Foreign aid and climate finance, Australia’s dismal track record by Matt Saunders and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (November 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. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
  6. Democracy “dies in darkness” and Trump is trying to turn out the lights

    FEB 9

    Democracy “dies in darkness” and Trump is trying to turn out the lights

    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 head in the sand over Trump. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 February 2026. The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping. Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘Possibility of US ever selling Australia nuclear submarines is increasingly remote, Aukus critics say’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (February 2026) ‘Australia’s confidence in Trump’s US has evaporated. What will it take for the alliance to rupture?’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (January 2026) ‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (December 2025) ‘Shorter America This Week:  How to win (or cancel) elections; No START; You should smile more’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) Theme music: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  7. How Australian high schools became the most expensive in the developed world

    FEB 5

    How Australian high schools became the most expensive in the developed world

    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 Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off the regular price – offer available for a limited time only. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australia Institute (February 2026) What are the odds? The RBA has raised interest rates – for no real reason other than to meet the desires of speculators by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) “They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) RBA rate rise: we're in for a bumpy ride by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (January 2026) Theme music: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  8. "They rushed this": why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates

    FEB 4

    "They rushed this": why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates

    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 quick to hike them up. Join economist, author and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and friends in Adelaide on Sunday 1 March and in Sydney on Thursday 5 March. Tickets are selling fast, so get yours now. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Hasty decision inflicts more pain and will cost jobs, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australian Institute (February 2026) Treasurer Jim Chalmers on the likelihood of an interest rate rise today, Radio National Breakfast, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
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About

Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Australia Matters

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