Follow The Money

Nearly three decades after the Port Arthur massacre, there are more guns than ever before in Australia and there is still no national firearms register. On this episode of Follow the Money, Alice Grundy and Skye Predavec join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the Howard Government’s brave reforms in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre are falling short of its aims – and what federal, state and territory governments can do to keep Australians safe. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. Correction: This podcast was updated to remove a reference to buying firearms and ammunition interstate when there is a limit on the licence, which does not appear in our research. What is possible is for a licence-holder to buy firearms and travel to another state. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available

Tasmanians have returned another power-sharing parliament – it’s now up to the major parties to make it work. Australians have elected power-sharing parliaments in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania – and a single party almost never has a majority in the federal Senate. On this episode of Follow the Money, Leanne Minshull and Eloise Carr join Ebony Bennett to discuss why collaborative parliaments are popular and how our elected officials can make them work. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Leanne Minshull, Strategy Director, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Guest: Eloise Carr, Director, the Australia Institute Tasmania // @eloise-carr Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Power & Partnership: What will Tasmania’s next power-sharing parliament look like?, the Australia Institute (Ju

Amy Remeikis and Matt Grudnoff preview the first parliamentary sitting week. On this episode of Follow the Money, Amy Remeikis and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett discuss the political relevance of the housing crisis, the storm-in-a-teacup over some Treasury subheadings, and #NotAllEconomists. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: “Mugged by reality”: Australia’s AUKUS disaster with Malcolm Turnbull, After America (June 2025) RBA moves goalposts and keeps rates on hold, Dollars & Sense (July 2025) Raising revenue right: Better

By limiting generous tax concessions for the wealthy and collecting revenue from Australia’s natural resources, the Government could fund health and education systems that work properly. On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett discuss Government’s productivity agenda, why the GST is failing to do the job it was designed for, and how 91 millionaires managed to pay no tax. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: The huge cost to states budgets of failing GST, the Australia Institute (July 2025) Raising revenue right: Better tax ideas for the 48th Parliament by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 2025) 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.Su

Labor won big and the Coalition got “smashed”, but the major parties have never been more reliant on preferences. On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett discuss the extraordinary scale of Labor’s victory in the May federal election, what the devastating result might mean for the Coalition, and why a large crossbench in federal parliament could be here to stay. Guest: Bill Browne, Director of Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Major parties have never relied more on preferences, the Australia Institute (June 2025) For major party leaders, the Greens, independents and minor parties are the closest threat, the Australia Institute (June 2025) The 2025 federal election is the first where a major party received fewer votes than independents and minor parties, the Australia Institute (June 2025) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by B

Despite demands from the hawks that the Australia Government fall in line with the United States over Iran, it’s not inevitable that Australia supports illegal American military intervention. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis and Allan Behm join Ebony Bennett to discuss the American bombing of Iran, the Albanese Government’s choice to back the Trump Administration’s decision, and why upholding and strengthening a rules-based global order is more than just “nostalgia”. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director of International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Guest: Allan Behm, Senior Advisor in International &

By reviewing the deal, Trump has given the Australian Government an opportunity to get out of the disastrous AUKUS agreement. On this episode of Follow the Money, Allan Behm joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the Trump administration’s decision to review the AUKUS submarine deal, why Australia doesn’t need American Virginia-class boats anyway, and why the Australian and American governments have shared interests but not shared values. You can sign our petition calling on the Australian Government to launch a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Guest: Allan Behm, Senior Advisor in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: AUKUS is a disaster for Australia. Trump has given u

A housing crisis, accelerating climate change and widening inequality all confront the re-elected Albanese Government, but the solutions exist (and often aren’t that complicated). The government is confronting major challenges in its second term. But despite what we’re often told, there is no shortage of solutions – governments just need the courage to implement them. On this episode of Follow the Money, we hear from four leading policy thinkers – Richard Denniss, Maiy Azize, Polly Hemming and Thomas Mayo – about making big, bold ideas a reality. Find the What’s the Big Idea? series via our website or wherever you get your podcasts. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss  Guest: Maiy Azize, National

The Murujuga site in north-western Australia is potentially the most important rock art site in the world, but it’s being destroyed by rampant industrial development. On this episode of Follow the Money, Walkley Award-winning journalist Stephen Long and Elinor Johnston-Leek discuss the Federal Government’s decision to sign a provisional extension to Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project and the impact that will have on the irreplaceable Murujuga rock art. Our independence is our strength – and only you can make that possible. By donating to the Australia Institute’s End of Financial Year appeal today, you'll help fund the research changing Australia for the better. Host: Stephen Long, Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The fight to save Murujuga, the Australia Institute (May 2025) Gas export approval puts ga

Superannuation is meant to help all Australians have a comfortable retirement, not help the very wealthiest pay less tax. On this episode of Follow the Money, Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute, joins Glenn Connley to discuss the government’s modest proposal to change the superannuation tax concessions and the bizarre backlash to the policy. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 28 May 2025 and things may have changed. Order After America: Australia and the new world order or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series and save 25% on the Australia Institute website. Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: Don’t be fooled, only the very richest will ever have more than $3m in super by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (May 2025) The changes to superannuation tax concessions are needed and very fair by Greg Jericho, the Austr

Great countries have great institutions, but Australian universities are a mess. On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute’s Joshua Black and Jack Thrower join Glenn Connley to discuss the enormous cost of going to university, the absurdity of university vice-chancellors being paid more than the Treasurer, and why the practice of using international students as a political football must end. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 20 May 2025 and things may have changed. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series and save 25% on the Australia Institute website. Guest: Joshua Black, Postdoctoral Fellow, the Australia Institute // @joshuablackjbv Guest: Jack Thrower, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // ‪@jack-thrower Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: University is expensive, especially so for humanities students by Joshua Black an

With the influence of the right-wing media waning, the Labor Government can use its massive majority to pursue big reforms. On this episode of Follow the Money, Stephen Long, Walkley Award-winning journalist and Australia Institute Contributing Editor, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the Murdoch press bogeyman, supporting the public broadcasters and the prospects for major, progressive reforms in the second Albanese term. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 13 May 2025 and things may have changed. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series and save 25% via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @stephenlongaus Host: Ebony Bennet, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Worth a Punt – 2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend by Stephen Long and David Richardson, the Australia

With the influence of its historical opponents waning, is anything standing in the way of the Labor Government passing ambitious reforms? On this episode of Follow the Money, Chief Political Analyst Amy Remeikis and Chief Economist Greg Jericho join Ebony Bennett to discuss the election result, the legislative priorities of the new parliament and the future of the conservative side of politics. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 6 May 2025 and things may have changed. Pre-order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to our Vantage Point series on the Australia Institute website. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Ebony Bennet, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024) Reforming university governance

The polls are pointing to a likely Labor victory on Saturday, but could Dutton’s suburban strategy still bear fruit? As election day approaches, former Fairfax Chief Political Correspondent Professor Mark Kenny joins Glenn Connley to discuss the performances of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on the campaign trail, plus Australians’ response to Trump’s return, on this episode of Follow the Money. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 29 April 2025 and things may have changed. Follow all the action from the federal election on our new politics live blog, Australia Institute Live with Amy Remeikis. Guest: Mark Kenny, Professor of Australian Studies and host of Democracy Sausage, the Australian National University // @markgkenny Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: ‘Could Dutton's suburban strategy still work?’ by Mark Kenny, The Canberra Times (April 2025) Election entrée: Early voting in Australia by Skye Predav

The United States is disappearing down an authoritarian rabbit hole and Australian leaders are struggling to respond. On this crossover episode of After America and Follow the Money, Ebony Bennett and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US administration’s mass deportations, the scandals surrounding the Departments of Defense and State, and why Australian democratic institutions are worth defending. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 22 April 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Polling – President Trump, security and the US–Australian alliance, the Australia Institute (March 2025) 'The Russians aren’t coming: P

Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne discuss the federal election campaign so far, the performance of the media, and how preferential voting actually works. On this episode of Follow the Money, the Australia Institute’s Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne join guest host Stephen Long to discuss housing policy, the Australian electoral system, and the need for truth in political advertising laws. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 15 April 2025 and things may have changed. Follow all the action from the federal election on our new politics live blog, Australia Institute Live with Amy Remeikis. Order 'After America: Australia and the new world order' or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90 Host: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow & Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @stephenlon

Peter Dutton has it half right on gas. There is no supply shortage, but Australians need to be using less gas – not more. On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Mark Ogge join Ebony Bennett to discuss the fixing Australia’s gas export problem, making gas companies pay their fair share in taxes and royalties, and why there is no need for new gas projects. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 8 April 2025 and things may have changed. Follow all the action from the federal election on our new politics live blog, Australia Institute Live with Amy Remeikis. Guest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, the Australia Institute // @markogge Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Peter Dutton’s gas export tax is a good idea – and a turning point, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Giving away gas to 2030 by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Matt Saunders, the

With housing affordability at an all-time low and the spectre of Trump looming large over our region, Australians’ standard of living will be at the heart of the debate from now until election day. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute economists Matt Grudnoff and Jack Thrower join Ebony Bennett to discuss the Australian economy and the federal election campaign. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 1 April 2025 and things may have changed. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Guest: Jack Thrower, Research Economist, the Australia Institute // @jack-thrower Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Raising revenue right: Better tax ideas for the 48th Parliament by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 2025) Fuel excise cut: bad policy and not worth as much as advertised by Matt Gr

The Government’s proposed environmental law changes are an attack on our democracy and could benefit destructive industries far beyond Tasmania’s coastal ecosystems. On this episode of Follow the Money, Ebony Bennett discusses the Government’s efforts to weaken the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act with Australia Institute Executive Director Dr Richard Denniss and Strategy Director Leanne Minshull. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 25 March 2025 and things may have changed. Sign our petition calling on the Government not to gut Australia’s environment laws. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Guest: Leanne Minshull, Strategy Director, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Small Fish, Big Pond: Tasmani

Chunks of dead salmon have washed up on Tasmanian beaches and the Maugean skate is at risk of extinction, so why won’t governments to more to rein in the salmon industry in Tasmania? On this episode of Follow the Money, Eloise Carr, Director of the Australia Institute Tasmania, the Federal Government’s dangerous proposal to get around Australia’s already inadequate environmental protections and why salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour needs to end. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 March 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Sign our petition to end salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Eloise Carr, Director, the Australia Institute Tasmania // @eloise-carr Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Bombshell FOI reveals fish farms have been inadequately assessed for impact on threatened species and World Heritage