Follow The Money

Latest Episodes:

What is Climate Integrity? Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

The Climate Integrity Summit 2023 brought together leading experts to discuss and address integrity risks that could jeopardise Australia's emissions reduction policies.

The Australia Institute's Polly Hemming unpacked what climate integrity really is, and why it is the antidote to the Australian government's state-sponsored greenwash.

This was recorded on Wednesday 15th February 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Speaker:

Polly Hemming, Acting 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 Pain is the Plan Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

The RBA recently raised interest rates again for the ninth time in a row, in an effort to reduce inflation. But is the pain the interest rate rises causing worth it? And could they do anything else instead?

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

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

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

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.

How to Not Waste $300 Billion Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

The new 'Build Your Own Budget' tool released by the Parliamentary Budget Office reveals that despite how all-or-nothing the debate about the Stage 3 tax cuts has become, the $300bn cost of the tax cuts over 9 years provides an opportunity for the Albanese government to amend the tax cuts and also increase support for benefits and government services.

This was recorded on Wednesday 25th January 2023 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Greg Jericho, Policy Director, Labour Market and Fiscal, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut

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.

Offsetting Us Up To Fail: The myths of ‘nature markets’ explained [Webinar] Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

Australian governments have committed to tackling the twin climate and biodiversity crises but continue to subsidise and approve fossil fuels and habitat destruction. While simple policy solutions exist, governments are instead relying on over-complicated market-based solutions to conceal the fundamental contradiction between support for fossil fuel production and promises to save the environment.

This was recorded on Wednesday 23rd November 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

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

Polly Hemming, Senior Researcher, 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.

Pulling the Climate trigger: Environment Laws Fit for a Crisis [Webinar] Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

Last year, the Greens introduced a bill to establish a ‘climate trigger’ in Australia’s environment laws which would force the government to take into account the climate impacts of fossil fuel projects.

This was recorded on Wednesday 21st September 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guests:

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Environment spokesperson // @sarahinthesen8

Richie Merzian, former Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @RichieMerzian

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.

August in Kabul with Andrew Quilty [Webinar] Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

Andrew Quilty was one of a handful of Western journalists who stayed in Kabul as the city fell. His new book August in Kabul his first-hand account of those dramatic final days.

This was recorded on Wednesday 3rd August 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Guest:

Andrew Quilty, journalist and author // @andrewquilty

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.

Regional Climate Diplomacy Forum 2022 [Webinar] Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

Pacific Island nations are on the front line of climate change, and as Australia celebrates the passage of the 43% climate bill, Pacific leaders want to know that the new Australian Government’s improved rhetoric on climate is matched by policy integrity when it comes to new gas and coal projects and exports.

This was recorded on Wednesday 12th October 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Speakers:

Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati

Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., former President of Palau

Richie Merzian, Director, Climate & Energy Program at the Australia Institute // @RichieMerzian

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.

Uluru Statement from the Heart: Sydney Peace Prize winner [Webinar] Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to the Australian people to walk with First Nations people to create a better future. It is a gift: a strategic roadmap to peace, where all Australians can come together to realise our nation’s true potential.

This was recorded on Wednesday 3rd August 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Speakers:

Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and Chairperson of the Lowitja Institute

Professor Megan Davis, Cobble Cobble woman and Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous and Professor of Law at UNSW.

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 Integrity Election [Webinar] Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

The Federal Election earlier this year was considered by many to be the Integrity Election, with many including the Teal independents campaigning on integrity issues, including a federal anti-corruption commission. In retrospect, these issues won many new seats, and turned the tide on integrity in Australia.

This was recorded on Wednesday 11th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Speakers:

Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi // @helenhainesindi

Zali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah // @zalisteggall

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

Ben Oquist, former Executive Director of the Australia Institute // @BenOquist

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.

Joseph Stiglitz: The Role of Government in the Modern Economy [Webinar] Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022.

Earlier in the year the Australia Institute hosted Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz for a speaking tour of Australia. In this episode he, Richard, and Ebony discussed the need to expand the role of governments, unions, and civil society.

This was recorded on Monday 11th July 2022 and things may have changed since recording.

The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute

Speakers:

Joseph Stiglitz, Former Chief Economist at the World Bank, Chief Economist at the Roosevelt Institute // @JosephEStiglitz

Richard Denniss, Executive Director at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

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.