Follow The Money

The Australia Institute
  • 4.9 (7)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Economics and politics explained in plain English

  1. 21h ago

    BONUS | What's the point of a gas export tax?

    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, 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 3d ago

    After the landslide: Australian politics since the 2025 election

    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 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Jul 8

    Australian states aren’t going broke, but they are being ripped off

    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’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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Jul 1

    The Safeguard Mechanism is failing miserably

    Australia’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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Jun 24

    Australians overwhelmingly back abortion access, but the politics are getting more toxic

    Australians 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Jun 17

    Gas tax: let the people decide

    Join 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Jun 10

    Jane Caro on the battle for public education

    Private 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Jun 3

    Antoinette Lattouf on women who win

    Journalist 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/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    427
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Follow The Money

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