Follow The Money

Latest Episodes:

Mining's big temper tantrum Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

The mining industry had a pre-election sook last week about government policy, but its claims about being the ‘backbone’ of the economy are more spin than substance.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss mining’s latest PR offensive and why politicians shouldn’t fear standing up to the industry.

Join President José Ramos-Horta at 6pm AEDT, Tuesday 8 October for an evening of conversation at the Sydney Opera House, presented by the Australia Institute as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 17 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing in reserve: households "smashed" by rate hikes Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

The Reserve Bank is home to the experts on monetary policy – but what happens when they get it wrong?

On this episode of Follow the Money, Greg Jericho and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the latest GDP figures, the real drivers of inflation and how the Reserve Bank misread the state of the economy.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 10 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut

Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jumping at shadows with Mark Kenny Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Mark Kenny joins us to discuss the government’s census own goal and Australia’s flagging economy.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Ebony Bennett discusses the latest in federal politics with Professor Mark Kenny, former Chief Political Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 3 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Mark Kenny, Director, ANU Australian Studies Institute // @markgkenny

Host: Ebony Bennett, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

Show notes:

'The PM can ill-afford bad weeks as narratives harden' by Mark Kenny, The Canberra Times (September 2024)

Public spending keeps the economy going as the private sector is hit by rate rises by Matt Grudnoff, The Australia Institute (September 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.

Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can quality journalism survive in Australia? Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

On this episode, we discuss regulating the digital giants, the challenge of artificial intelligence and restoring trust in the media.

The media industry has changed radically over the last three decades, transformed by the 24-hour news cycle, social media and the tech giants, and now artificial intelligence. On this special episode of Follow the Money, recorded live at Politics in the Pub in Canberra, Minister Ed Husic, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Karen Percy from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) discuss technology, trust and the future of the media.

This discussion was recorded live on Wednesday 21 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science

Guest: Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Arts & Communications spokesperson // @sarahinthesen8

Guest: Karen Percy, Federal President (Media), Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) // @PercyKaren

Host: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wealth of nations: how Australia’s prosperity is funnelled to the ultra-rich Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

Australia’s flawed tax system means that there’s never been a better time to be ultra-wealthy in Australia, despite some people struggling to put food on the table.

We’re told it’s a cost-of-living crisis, but not everyone is feeling the pinch. New Australia Institute research shows that the ultra-rich are getting richer, thanks in part to Australia’s distorted tax system. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Richard Denniss and Dave Richardson join Dr Alice Grundy to discuss the growing problem of inequality and what we can do to fix it.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 20 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

Guest: David Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @daverr01

Host: Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Research Manager, the Australia Institute // @alicektg

Show notes:

Wealth and inequality in Australia by David Richardson and Frank Stilwell, the Australia Institute (August 2024)

‘The Morrison election: What we know now’ by Richard Denniss, The Monthly (June 2019)

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The road to freedom with Joseph Stiglitz Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz joins us to discuss how to create a fairer, freer society and the “fertile field” neoliberalism has created for demagogues.

Columbia University Professor and former World Bank Chief Economist Joseph E Stiglitz joins Ebony Bennet on this episode of Follow the Money to discuss inequality and the rise of Trump, Australia’s “environmental deficit” and his new book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 13 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist // @JosephEStiglitz

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New divides with Paul Bongiorno Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

We discuss declining social cohesion, the Prime Minister’s visit to the Northern Territory and the cabinet reshuffle with veteran journalist Paul Bongiorno.

Are the home affairs and immigration portfolios a poisoned chalice for the new minister, Tony Burke? And are the opposition’s attacks on the government over the economy having an impact ahead of the election? On this episode of Follow the Money, we discuss the latest in federal politics with Paul Bongiorno.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 6 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Paul Bongiorno, columnist, The Saturday Paper and The New Daily // @PaulBongiorno

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How superannuation tax concessions help the rich get richer Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Super tax concessions make inequality worse and are at risk of becoming more expensive than the aged pension.

Superannuation tax concessions are meant to encourage saving for retirement, but the system is being gamed to help the wealthiest avoid paying tax. Australia Institute Chief Economist Greg Jericho joins Ebony Bennett on this episode of Follow the Money to bust some super myths and discuss what a fairer system should look like.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 30 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

Show notes:

‘Who benefits? The high cost of super tax concessions’ by Minh Ngoc Le (June 2024)

‘Superannuation tax concessions are making inequality worse’ by Greg Jericho (July 2024)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website.

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biden is out, Harris is in – what happens now in the US election? Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

On this special crossover episode of Follow the Money and After America, we discuss Biden’s decision to drop out of the campaign and why Democrats have rallied around Kamala Harris as the presumptive nominee.

Ebony Bennett and Dr Emma Shortis, host of the Australia Institute’s After America podcast, reflect on Joe Biden’s legacy, his endorsement of Kamala Harris and what it could mean for the election campaign.

This discussion was recorded on Monday 22 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

Host: Emma Shortis, Senior Research for International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website.

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why no seat is 'safe' anymore Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

The rise of independents and minor parties means that Labor and the Coalition can no longer take any race for granted.

It’s said that ‘disunity is death’ in Australian politics, but – as several major party politicians found out in the 2022 election – falling in behind an unpopular policy agenda can be pretty dangerous for your career as well. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the big changes taking place in Australian politics and how they might influence the next election.

This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 16 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

Show notes:

Power sharing in Australian parliament by Bill Browne and Richard Denniss (July 2024)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website.

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 & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.