PODCAST · news
Follow The Money
by The Australia Institute
Economics and politics explained in plain English
Episodes
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Jim Chalmers on reform and taking on the far right
Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlines the big challenges facing Australia and the importance of changing the status quo – a situation that is clearly not working for many Australians. In this special episode of Follow the Money, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, addresses the loss of...
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Younger Australians “locked out” as intergenerational housing divide grows
Australia is a rich country, but for many younger Australians, the ability to share in that prosperity is increasingly out of reach. On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the housing...
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How the NT won Australia's race-to-the-bottom on online gambling regulation
Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis. On this episode of Follow the Money, Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative...
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The promise of a future: it’s time to phase out fossil fuels
Despite dire warnings from the scientific community and Australia’s Pacific neighbours, the federal government isn’t getting the message. On this episode of Follow the Money, Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia and Canadian independent Senator Dr Rosa Galvez...
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Australia built an illness system, not a health system
Soaring specialist costs, an increasingly complex system, and Australians getting sicker for longer suggest all is not well in Australian health care. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Luke Slawomirski and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the soaring cost of specialists, why...
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The nasty secret buried in Australian workers' contracts
Non-compete clauses suppress wages, reduce productivity and stifle innovation. Now, the federal government is looking to ban them for most workers. The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the pernicious...
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Break up the 'big four': fixing Australia's scandal-plagued consulting sector
After years of scandals, it’s time to break up Australia’s ‘big four’ consultancy firms. On this episode of Follow the Money, Josh Bornstein and Skye Predavec join Ebony Bennett to discuss Australia’s scandal-plagued big consultancies, the impact of governments’ “orgy of outsourcing” to these...
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The housing crisis is far from over
The government took on housing investor tax concessions to bring prices down, but more action is needed to address the rental affordability crisis. On this episode of Follow the Money, Maiy Azize and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the government’s changes to capital gains tax and...
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How the gas industry tricked Australia with Richard Denniss
Australians have been dudded by the gas industry. It’s past time governments admitted it. Dr Richard Denniss, Australia Institute co-CEO and author of More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why Australia gives away gas to multinational corporations…
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“Appalling”: Wilkie slams government’s response to gambling inquiry
The federal government’s response to the Murphy inquiry into online gambling harms has been “appalling”, says Andrew Wilkie MP. Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Clark, joins the Australia Institute’s Noah Schultz-Byard to reflect on the government’s gambling reforms, making polluters pay...
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Is Australian climate policy finally heading in the right direction?
A recent decision by the New South Wales state government is a crack in the wall of Australian climate inaction. On this episode of Follow the Money, Leanne Minshull and Rod Campbell join Glenn Connley to discuss dodgy carbon credits, the Great Koala National Park in New South Wales, the federal...
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Is the fossil fuel industry facing an “imminent extinction event”?
Much of the world is moving away from fossil fuels, so why is Australia’s gas industry still expanding? On this episode of Follow the Money, renewable energy entrepreneur Assaad Razzouk joins Australia Institute co-CEO Leanne Minshull to discuss how the war on Iran is accelerating the global…
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As American democracy faces huge tests, is Australia prepared for the worst?
No one knows what’ll happen at the November midterms or the next presidential election. Is the Australian government prepared for the worst-case scenario? On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis joins Glenn Connley to discuss the upcoming midterm elections in the United States, how…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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Online gambling “reshaping a whole generation” as government reforms fall well short
The government’s latest reforms don’t do nearly enough to protect Australians from gambling harm. On this episode of Follow the Money, Martin Thomas from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Morgan Harrington from the Australia Institute join Ebony Bennett to discuss how Australians came to have...
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Victoria’s donations shambles puts rest of country “on notice”
Six months out from an election, Victoria has been left with no political donation laws after the High Court ruled them unconstitutional. On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the High Court voided Victoria’s undemocratic political donations laws.…
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Budget 2026: serious housing reforms but a missed opportunity to tax gas exports
Australians are crying out for big, brave reforms from governments. The long-overdue changes to housing tax concessions in this budget suggest the federal government may be starting to get the message. On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss the government’s...
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Is the national anti-corruption body failing?
After major missteps, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is falling well short of the gold standard for integrity bodies. On this episode of Follow the Money, journalist and writer Nick Feik joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the NACC’s handling of its Robodebt investigation, its decision...
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Greens leader Larissa Waters on the housing crisis, gas exports & taxing the 1%
How have a select few accumulated such colossal wealth while many Australians struggle? On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator Larissa Waters, leader of the Australian Greens, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the causes of Australia’s housing crisis, making gas exporters pay their fair share,...
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David Pocock on getting a fair return for Australian gas
Australia is one of the largest exporters of gas in the world, yet beer drinkers pay more tax than the gas industry pays in Petroleum Resources Rent Tax. On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator David Pocock and Dr Richard Denniss join Leanne Minshull to discuss the case for a 25 per cent gas...
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US allies reassess as Trump undermines global security
With President Trump spewing threats at friends and foes, the American government has gone off the rails. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss Trump’s genocidal threats against Iran, his efforts to subvert US democracy, his administration’s growing...
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Yanis Varoufakis on misogyny, resistance and why everything could be different
There is no reason our societies can’t change radically, to produce more of what we need and less of the things that are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, says Yanis Varoufakis. On this episode of Follow the Money, we bring you highlights from the recent Australian tour of economist and...
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Prices skyrocket but major fuel shortages "very unlikely"
Petrol and diesel prices are sky high because of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, but major fuel shortages in Australia are very unlikely. Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss Australia’s relatively strong position in global energy supply chains. Matt explains why some petrol stations have…
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How a gas export tax could transform Australia
A 25% gas export tax would drive down gas prices for Australians and collect billions of dollars that can be used to provide better, cheaper health and education services. On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss the case for a 25% gas export tax and the New…
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Australia’s fossil fuel subsidies are out of control
Now costing Australian governments $31,020 per minute, fossil fuel subsidies are growing faster than spending on the NDIS. On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss why it’s time to call out the idea that governments can’t afford to support Australians in need…
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AUKUS drags Australia towards US-Israel war on Iran
The Australian government has been trying to placate Trump in order to secure the AUKUS submarine deal – and now we are seeing the results. On this episode of Follow the Money and After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss the illegal US-Israel war in Iran, the implications of the...
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Gary Stevenson on wealth inequality and the rise of the far-right
The far-right is benefitting from a failing status quo – but it doesn’t have to be this way. On this episode of Follow the Money, author and economist Gary Stevenson joins Ebony Bennett to discuss wealth inequality, the global issue of housing unaffordability, why Australia should tax gas…
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“On the brink of extinction”: Niki Savva on the modern Liberal Party
Shedding voters on the left and the right, is the Liberal Party heading for “oblivion”? On this episode of Follow the Money, journalist and author Niki Savva and Australia Institute co-Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Denniss join Amy Remeikis to discuss how the Liberal Party ended up with…
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Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy
Inequality creates insecurity and, as the United States is demonstrating right now, that insecurity can have devasting consequences for democracy. On this episode of Follow the Money, Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz joins Ebony Bennett and Dr Richard Denniss to discuss why...
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Australia’s climate crossroads
With a leading role in this year’s United Nations climate conference, the Australian government has an opportunity to show genuine solidarity with its Pacific neighbours and climate-vulnerable communities at home. On this episode of Follow the Money, Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights and...
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"They rushed this": why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates
With inflation driven by Christmas holidays and data centres for artificial intelligence, the RBA didn’t need to raise the interest rate this week, argues Matt Grudnoff. On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss big economic reform opportunities facing the...
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How Australia can chart its own course in an uncertain world
The Australian government can’t keep its head in the sand and hope the chaos of the Trump administration will just go away. Dr Emma Shortis and Greg Jericho join Glenn Connley to discuss how Australia can navigate what Canadian PM Mark Carney calls the Trump “rupture”. A time for Bravery: what...
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Does the government understand its own hate laws?
The government passed new gun control and hate speech legislation in a special parliamentary sitting, but what impact will they have on Australian democracy? Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne join Ebony Bennett to discuss how having fewer guns in the community will make Australians safer. However, the...
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Parliament returning early to debate new anti-hate & gun laws
Richard Denniss discusses the government’s response to the Bondi terrorist attacks, the chaos of the Trump administration and how to protect Australia’s democracy. On this episode of Follow the Money, Richard Denniss and Ebony Bennett discuss the political and policy response to devasting Bondi...
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What can be done to fix the PALM scheme? | PALMed Off, Episode 4
What would it take to make the PALM scheme a genuine win-win for Australia and its neighbours? In the fourth and final episode of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington canvases some of the proposed solutions to the problems facing the PALM scheme, including an amnesty for disengaged workers and...
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Is Australia failing its duty of care? | PALMed Off, Episode 3
PALM visas holders do not get Medicare (outside of a trial limited to 200 people), so what happens when they are injured, get sick or fall pregnant? In episode three of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington hears how a lack of affordable medical care can have dire consequences for PALM visa holders...
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Workers are people, not commodities | PALMed Off, Episode 2
Where do the thousands of people who have left the PALM scheme, but stayed in Australia, go? How do they survive without a valid visa and, more importantly, what does the future hold for them? In episode two of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington travels to Leeton, New South Wales, a town that’s...
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Modern slavery in Australia? | PALMed Off, Episode 1
In this summer mini-series, we examine the Australian guestworker program that could be putting people from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste at risk of modern slavery. In PALMed Off, a special Follow the Money mini-series, we explore the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, a...
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Summer Special | Did the US play a role in the Whitlam dismissal?
Rumours about America's role in the dismissal of Gough Whitlam have circulated for decades – but is there any truth to them? On this special episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis explores the state of the Australia-United States relationship under the Whitlam government, the machinations…
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Look after yourselves and each other
If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via their website, www.lifeline.org.au. Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Will Canada follow Australia’s disastrous path on gas?
Traditional custodians are fighting back against climate-destroying gas developments being rammed through by Canadian governments. On this episode of Follow the Money, Hereditary Chief Na’Moks of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Gwii Lok’im Gibuu Jesse Stoeppler of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en Nations…
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Highway to hell? Reversing the decline of Australian music
These days, Aussie music is falling out of the charts, leaving local acts wondering if they’ll ever see your face again. INXS. Kyle Minogue. Even the Wiggles. Australia has an incredible musical legacy, but with declining streaming numbers and revenues heading abroad, will the Aussie musician…
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What have the scientists ever done for us?
Australian scientific discoveries have improved people’s lives and made the economy more productive – so why is the CSIRO being forced to shed workers again? On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss the latest job cuts at the CSIRO, why this is a missed...
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Economics and politics explained in plain English
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The Australia Institute
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Follow The Money currently has 439 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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Economics and politics explained in plain English
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Follow The Money publishes regularly with 439 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Follow The Money is created and hosted by The Australia Institute.
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