Follow The Money

The RBA has delivered its first interest rate rise since Michelle Bullock took over from Philip Lowe as Governor, up 25 basis points to 4.35%, the highest in 12 years. So what needs to change for the pain to stop? This was recorded on Tuesday 7th November 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By exposing human rights abuses, government wrongdoing and corporate misconduct, whistleblowers like David McBride and Richard Boyle make Australia a better place. Yet too often in Australia, whistleblowers are prosecuted rather than supported. This was recorded on Tuesday 24th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Kieran Pender, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre // @KieranHRLC Professor Peter Greste, award-winning journalist, author and academic // @PeterGreste Rawan Arraf, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice // @rawanarraf 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the Voice Referendum, new Australia Institute research shows that almost nine in ten (87%) Australians want Parliament to pass truth in political advertising laws before the next federal election. This was recorded on Tuesday 17th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Director, the Australia Institute // @Browne90 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many Australians are still unsure what the referendum on is even about. What would a Voice to Parliament look like, and how would it help Indigenous people? To help make it more clear, the Australia Institute’s own Kate McBride recently sat down with Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and architect of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This was recorded on Friday 8th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and architect of the Uluru Statement from the Heart Kate McBride, Parlimentary Liason, the Australia Institute // @Kate_McBride_1 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Senate Inquiry into the management and assurance of integrity by consulting services continues, Labor senator Deb O'Neill and Greens senator Barbara Pocock have been applying the pressure to consulting firms in the hotseat. This was recorded on Wednesday 4th October 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability // @Browne90 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australia-America economic relationship is one of the world’s most consequential, worth over $2 trillion, yet few understand its depth and scale. This was recorded on Thursday 3rd August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Joey Herlihy, Research Intern, International & Security Affairs program, the Australia Institute  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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Northern Hemisphere experiences extreme heatwaves and Australia prepares for a “horror summer”, and the new RBA Governor Michelle Bullock warns climate change poses a “particularly acute” challenge for the Australia economy, listen back to the launch of the 2023 Climate of the Nation Report at Politics in the Pub. This was recorded on Wednesday 13th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Liz Morison, Researcher, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Jenny Dowell OAM , former Mayor of Lismore City Council // @JennyRDowell Dr Graeme Palmer, Lismore Small Business Owner 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainst

As many Australians are facing rising cost-of-living, which is being made worse by climate change, fossil fuel companies are making record profits. So how can our Government make them pay the bill? This was recorded on Tuesday 12th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Liz Morison, Researcher, Climate & Energy program, the Australia Institute // @morison_liz 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new deal to save the Murray-Darling basin has been brokered by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, following another mass fish kill, and a survey finding not a single adult Murray Cod in the Lower Darling-Bakka. This was recorded on Tuesday 5th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Kate McBride, Researcher and Parliamentary Liason Officer, the Australia Institute // @Kate_McBride_1 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Environment 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 until 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a decade after the Gonski review into Australia’s school funding aimed to reduce the impact of social disadvantage on educational outcomes, educational outcomes for Australian schoolchildren are getting worse. The success of Finnish educational outcomes shows that equity drives excellence for all students. This is one of a five-part special series of Follow the Money presented by the Nordic Talks series, presented by the Nordic Policy Centre at the Australia Institute, with support from The Nordics, a project under The Nordic Council of Ministers. #NordicTalks #auspol The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Education, Southern Cross University // @pasi_sahlberg Correna Haythorpe, Federal President, Australian Education Union // @CHaythorpeAEU 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 SessionsSuppor