Follow The Money

Latest Episodes:

The Deficit Myth with Stephanie Kelton Jun 18, 2020

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Anyone familiar with Australian political debate will know that while we can always afford tax cuts and defence spending, somehow we can never afford to raise Newstart, or to build social housing because we have to “live within our means” and get back to a budget surplus as soon as possible. But that's not how the economy really works. We talked to Professor Stephanie Kelton about her new book “The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and How to Build a Better Economy” in conversation with our chief economist at the Australia institute Richard Denniss as part of our 'Economics of a Pandemic' webinar series. Host: Visit tai.org.au for our latest pandemic economic research and analysis // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Stephanie Kelton, author of The Deficit Myth // @StephanieKeltonRichard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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The case for red tape Jun 16, 2020

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The PM has announced big plans for deregulation, but is 'red tape' or 'green tape' really impeding economic growth or is it necessary to protect us and our environment? In this episode we talk to Executive Director of the Australia Institute Ben Oquist about the protections offered by good regulation. Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest: Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute // @BenOquistProducer: Lizzie Jack with help from Grace CrivalleroTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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Safeguarding Democracy with Helen Haines Jun 14, 2020

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There can be no trust in government without accountability, yet its been two years since the Coalition government promised to implement a Commonwealth Integrity Commission and there's still no draft legislation in sight. Join Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines MP, and former Supreme Court Justices the Hon. David Harper AM QC and The Hon. Margaret White AO, both of whom are members of the Australia Institute's National Integrity Committee, along with our chief economist Richard Denniss for a wide-ranging discussion about fighting corruption, gaps in our integrity system, the lack of transparency surrounding the Prime Minister's handpicked National Covid-19 Coordination Commission. Audio is from the Australia Institute's 'Economics of a Pandemic' webinar series. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Helen Haines, Independent Member for Indi // @helenhainesindiThe Hon. David Harper AM QCThe Hon. Margaret White AORichard Denniss, chief economist the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIThis episode was produced by Jennifer Macey.Our theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum.Thanks for listening

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The pink collar recession Jun 09, 2020

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The Morrison government this week announced that from mid-July childcare would no longer be free and that childcare workers would be stripped of access to JobKeeper. Overall, during the pandemic women have seen faster job losses than men, while men are benefiting the most from government stimulus measures. To unpack this pink collar recession, Follow The Money talks to senior economist at the Australia Institute Matt Grudnoff, who has been crunching the numbers.
Visit tai.org.au/pandemic_economics for all our latest research and analysis.
Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett
Guests: Matt Grudnoff, senior economist of the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff
Producer: Jennifer Macey. Cover of '9 to 5' by Lizzie Jack, originally written and recorded in 1980 by Dolly Parton.
Theme music: Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum.

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Protecting workers as the Economy Re-Opens with Sally McManus Jun 04, 2020

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The pandemic exposed a lot of the problems with our labour market, including the risks of the rise of precarious and insecure work. Today we’re bringing you another guest from our ‘Economics of a Pandemic’ webinar series: Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in conversation with Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work.Visit tai.org.au or futurework.org.au Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary // @sallymcmanusJim Stanford, economist and Director, Centre for Future Work // @JimboStanfordThis episode was produced by Jennifer Macey. Our theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum.Thanks for listening

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Why a public sector wage freeze would cost jobs Jun 02, 2020

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The proposed NSW public sector wage freeze was supposed to ease pressure on the budget, but Australia Institute research shows it would cost jobs and harm regional economies. NOTE: This episode was recorded just hours before the NSW Upper House voted down the pay freeze and the NSW Government will now take the matter to the Industrial Relations Commission.Read the Australia Institute's research paper on the impacts of a wage freeze here.Visit tai.org.au for our latest pandemic economic research and analysis // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Richard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey, with help from River McCrossen and Jack Wallner. And a special thank you to all the journalism students at the University of Wollongong for their production help during this special season of Follow the Money.Theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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Renewing Australia with a Green New Deal with Adam Bandt May 27, 2020

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Featuring Greens Leader Adam Bandt in conversation with chief economist Richard Denniss about what a Green New Deal means and how it would work. The audio was recorded live on May 27 2020 as part of the Australia Institute's 'Economics of a Pandemic' webinar series. The government has been talking as if it understood Keynesian economics, but its reaction to the $60 billion JobKeeper black hole shows they clearly do not think or act like Keynesians. Richard Denniss unpacks the spectacular failure of policy and accountability, as well as explaining what Keynesians economics actually means.Visit tai.org.au for our latest pandemic economic research and analysis // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Adam Bandt, Greens Leader // @AdamBandtRichard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey. Theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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Black holes and Keynesians May 26, 2020

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The government has been talking as if it understood Keynesian economics, but its reaction to the $60 billion JobKeeper black hole shows they clearly do not think or act like Keynesians. Richard Denniss unpacks the spectacular failure of policy and accountability, as well as explaining what Keynesians economics actually means.Visit tai.org.au for our latest pandemic economic research and analysis // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Richard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey. Montage by Lucy LuoTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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The role of climate action in rebuilding after the pandemic with Zali Steggall May 21, 2020

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In this episode we talk to Zali Steggall, the independent member for Warringah, about the role of climate action in rebuilding after the pandemic, with Richie Merzian the director of the Australia Institute's Climate & Energy program. Visit tai.org.au for all our latest research and analysisHost: Ebony Bennett // @ebony_bennettGuests:Zali Steggall // @zalisteggallRichie Merzian // @RichieMerzianProducer: Jennifer Macey.Theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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

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The Australian Government response to the pandemic with Greg Hunt May 20, 2020

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Health Minister Greg Hunt in conversation with our chief economist Richard Denniss, as part of the Australia Institute's Economics of a Pandemic webinar series. This was recorded live on Tuesday 19th May 2020 and things may have changed since recording.
Note: Due to some technical difficulties, the Minister joined the webinar a few minutes late, so we’ll pick up from when he joined the conversation.
Visit tai.org.au for all our latest research and analysis
Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health //@GregHuntMPRichard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey.Theme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.