Follow The Money

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 by 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 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.

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.

Iceland’s outstanding levels of gender equality have been achieved through policies such as extensive paid parental leave, including an emphasis on fathers using paid parental leave. This emphasis on paternity leave is one important reason that Iceland is frequently ranked as the leader among all the Nordic nations – and thus the world leader – in terms of gender equality. Join us to explore the lessons Australia can learn from Iceland to improve gender equality. 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: Dr Marian Baird, Professor of Gender and Employment Relations, University of Sydney Business School Ásdís Arnalds, Director of the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Iceland Emeritus Professor Andrew Scott, Convenor at The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre // @ascottnlights 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.

Australia has all the ingredients for a green industrial revolution; abundant rare minerals, plentiful wind and sun, manufacturing capabilities, while Sweden is a global leader in green industry practices and production. But how can First Nations communities participate in the clean energy transition? This talk will unpack how Sweden and Australia can better balance the competing interests between the ‘green gold rush’ and the interests of First Nations communities. 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: Jenny Wik Karlsson, CEO & Senior legal adviser at Sámiid Riikasearvi (National Association of Sámi in Sweden)  Chris Croker, Managing Director, Impact Investment Partners and First Nations Clean Energy Network Steering Group Rod Campbell, research director at 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.

In Denmark, the bicycle has been recognised as a fast, efficient, and sustainable mode of transportation for decades, and the key to more liveable cities and happy, healthy people – supported by a network of safe cycling infrastructure and a positive cycle culture as part of healthy urban design which also means fewer food deserts. In this discussion, we will explore how Australia could move closer to Danish cycle culture and healthier design of cities, to not only improve the health of the planet, but the people on it. 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: Marianne Weinreich, Market Manager, Ramboll Smart Mobility; Chair, Cycling Embassy of Denmark // @mobimaw Dr Sandro Demaio, Chief Executive Officer, VicHealth // @SandroDemaio 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 SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.