Follow The Money

Latest Episodes:

An Eventful Trip to Fiji Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

The Labor Government has been campaigning for Australia to host COP31, the UN climate conference, in partnership with a Pacific Island nation. But Pacific Islanders have several concerns, mainly due to Australia's track record with new fossil fuels, and lacklustre climate policy.

This was recorded on Wednesday 30th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Environmental Fight you probably haven't heard of Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

While you might not think native duck hunting is a big issue in Australia, it actually has extensive detrimental effects on our ecosystems. And it isn't even that popular among Australians.

This was recorded on Tuesday 6th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C

Liz Morison, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz

Noah Schultz-Byard, Director, the Australia Institute South Australia // @noah_sbyard

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Transition? Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

The lifecycle emissions resulting from Tamboran Resources’ proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility in the Northern Territory would be equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations every year when operating at full capacity. Not exactly on the transition to net-zero...

This was recorded on Wednesday 16th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Polly Hemming, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Trojan Horse for Fossil Fuels Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

TheEnvironment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill currently before Parliament sounds promising. But as it turns out, the name of the bill is hiding a lot of ugly truths.

This was recorded on Thursday 11th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ending the ‘Jobs for Mates’ Culture with Dr Sophie Scamps [Webinar] Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Restoring trust and integrity in Australia’s democracy was a key issue in 2022 federal election. In March, independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps introduced a new bill designed to end the ‘jobs for mates’ culture in federal politics. The bill seeks to legislate a transparent and independent process for major government public appointments, setting a gold standard for appointments.

This was recorded on Wednesday 17th May 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Dr Sophie Scamps, Member for Mackellar // @SophieScamps

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Shell Game Behind Carbon Credits with Nick Feik [Webinar] Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

In his new essay “The Great Stock ‘n’ Coal Swindle” for The Monthly, Nick Feik takes a deep dive into Australia’s carbon offsets industry and its links to fossil fuel expansion.

This was recorded on Wednesday 8th March 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

Nick Feik, Writer, journalist and editor, former editor of The Monthly // @NickFeik

Polly Hemming, Director of the Climate & Energy program, The Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 'Tassie Tiger of the Sea' is on the brink Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

The Maugean Skate, nicknamed the 'Tasmanian Tiger of the Sea,' is on the brink of extinction, with salmon farming in the region threatening its natural habitat. So will Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek be able to fulfill her promise of no new extinct species by 2030, or will the Skate become another relic of the past?

This was recorded on Tuesday 4th July 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Eloise Carr, Director, the Australia Institute Tasmania // @GeneveraE

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Digital Content Producer, the Australia Institute

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate Change and the Pacific: Regional Climate Diplomacy Forum 2023 [webinar] Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Given the existential threat that rising sea levels and increasing extreme weather events pose to their communities, Pacific Island nations have been some of the most vocal advocates for climate action and, more specifically, an end to fossil fuel production.

Australia has an imperative to take action on the threat fossil fuel expansion poses and to commit adequate climate funding to address underlying vulnerabilities of Pacific Island nations and strengthen the resilience and security of the region as a whole.

This was recorded on Friday 1st June 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

Hon. Seve Paeniu, Tuvalu Minister of Finance and Economic Development // @SPaeniu

Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk-management // @RRegenvanu

Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy program Director, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why it's hard to beat sitting MPs in elections Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Sitting parliamentarians rarely lose elections. While incumbents have a publicly funded head-start, challengers rely on donations to fund their election campaigns, which is why political donation reform needs to ensure everyone should be able to afford a ticket to run in an election.

This was recorded on Friday 23rd June 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90

Elizabeth Morison, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Olympic Moment on Greenwashing Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

The Australian Government has proposed that Australia host the 2026 UN Climate Conference, in “partnership” with Pacific nations. But can Australia be considered a credible host for a COP31 while it continues to subsidise and approve fossil fuel expansion?

This was recorded on Wednesday 14th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy program Director, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming

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

Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey

Edited by: Emily Perkins

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.