Follow The Money

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

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

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

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 Blu

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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au

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

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; additio

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

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

Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars in 2022. A prime minister in the making, and a nation on the move. In Lone Wolf, Katharine Murphy offers a new portrait of Anthony Albanese. She reveals a leaderwho has always had to think three steps ahead, who was an insurgent for much of his professional life, but had to learn to listen and devise “strategies of inclusivity” to win the 2022 election. This was recorded on Tuesday 6th December 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Speaker: Katharine Murphy, Political Editor at the Guardian Australia // @murpharoo 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.

It goes without saying, but 2022 was a hell of a year, from war in Europe, to a federal election, two state elections, two budgets, and the death of Queen Elizbeth. To refresh your memories, Ebony is taking a look back at the year, and all the chaos and progress it brought us. This was recorded on Thursday 15th December 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute 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.

A report from the Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program represents the largest and most comprehensive domestic study of the practice of cronyism in relation to appointments to a government agency ever conducted in Australia. This was recorded on Wednesday 12th October 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Speakers: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Program at the Australia Institute // @Browne90 Deb Wilkinson, Lead Author of 'Cronyism in appointments to the AAT' 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.

New research shows Australian workers are on average working 6 weeks unpaid overtime per year, costing over $92 billion dollars in unpaid wages across the economy.  2022 marks the fourteenth annual Go Home on Time Day (GHOTD), an initiative of the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute that shines a spotlight on overwork among Australians, including excessive overtime that is often unpaid. This was recorded on Tuesday 22nd November 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Speakers: Eliza Littleton, Research Economist at the Australia Institute // @ElizaLittleton Lily Raynes, Anne Kantor Fellow with the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute. // @lil_raynex 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/donate

To combat persistently low wages growth, the Government has put forward its Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill, currently before the Senate. The most contentious reform within the Bill is ‘multi-employer bargaining'.  We’ve heard employer groups call it a ‘seismic shift that will increase strikes’. On the other hand, unions are calling the reforms moderate. What is certain is that the current system is not working for workers. This was recorded on Tuesday 15th November 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Speakers: Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director Industrial and Social with the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute // @DrFionaMac Lily Raynes, Anne Kantor Fellow with the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute. // @lil_raynex 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 SessionsSu

Climate is dominating headlines worldwide as COP27 – the United Nations annual climate conference — begins in Egypt. We've just released our benchmark Climate of the Nation report, giving an insight into what Australians are thinking and feeling about climate change, and the climate policies they support. This was recorded on Tuesday 8th November 2022 and things may have changed since recording.   The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Audrey Quicke, Transport Lead and Researcher, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @AudreyQuicke  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 October Budget delivers on a range of welcome bread & butter commitments, but has deferred solving Australia’s meat and potatoes revenue problems. So who are the winners and losers, and what are the missed opportunities? This was recorded on Thursday 27th October 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guests: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Eliza Littleton, Research Economist, the Australia Institute // @ElizaLittleton 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.

Gas companies in Australia made up to $40 billion in windfall profits in the last year due to the war in Ukraine, and global price spikes. There are growing calls for a windfall profits tax to claw back some of these war profits, to fund essential services in Australia.  This was recorded on Tuesday 18th October 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI 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 pressure builds for the Albanese government to scrap the promised Stage Three tax cuts, discussion has shifted around who would lose out. The Australian said it would mean “2.5 million middle income Australians will pay thousands of dollars in additional tax,” but describes middle income Australians as individuals earning between $120,000 and $160,000 a year. If that sounds wrong, it's because it is.  This was recorded on Tuesday 11th October 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guests: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Eliza Littleton, Research Economist, the Australia Institute // @ElizaLittleton 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 p

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. Join Their Excellencies Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati and Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., former President of Palau for the Regional Climate Diplomacy Forum. Hosted in partnership with the Pacific Elders Voice and the Edmund Rice Centre. This was recorded on Tuesday 13th September 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guests:  His Excellency Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati (2003-2016) His Excellency Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., Former President of Palau (2001–2009; 2013–2021) Richie Merzian, Director, Climate & Energy Program, the Australia Institute // @Ric

The Federal Government recently tabled legislation to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), a long overdue measure to help restore trust in politics and democracy. The bill is not without criticism however, there are concerns that the threshold for holding public hearings is unreasonably high. This was recorded on Thursday 29th September 2022 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90 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.