Follow The Money

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.

Norway is number one the World Press Freedom Index, while Australia dropped 14 places in 2022 due in part to its highly concentrated media landscape. This webinar, the second of our special Nordic Talks webinar series, will explore how Norway’s targeted ‘press support’ subsidies could help Australia to achieve greater diversity in its highly concentrated media landscape and improve its protections for public interest journalism. And what can Norway learn from Australia’s world-leading News Media Bargaining Code about regulating Big Tech platforms such as Google and Facebook? 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: Professor Eli Skogerbø, Co-director of POLKOM – Center for the Study of Political Communication Dr Maria Rae, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Policy, Deakin University// @MariaRae17 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.

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.

The Voice to Parliament Handbook by Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo and acclaimed journalist Kerry O’Brien is a clear, concise and simple guide for the millions of Australians who have expressed support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, but who want to better understand what a Voice to Parliament actually means. This was recorded on Monday 5th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Thomas Mayo, Author and National Indigenous Officer of the MUA // @thomasmayo23 Kerry O'Brien, Journalist and author // @KerryOBrien 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.

Australians have been experiencing a dramatic rise in the cost of living thanks to inflation. While the business sector was quick to blame wages for rising inflation, the Australia Institute and the Center for Future Work took a look at the data, and it told a very different story. This was recorded on Monday 5th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, 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.

From Narendra Modi's recent visit, to the cancelled Quad summit meeting, to new developments in the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement, it's been a busy few weeks in international relations news for Australia.  This was recorded on Wednesday 25th May 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program, the Australia Institute // @Mirandaprorsus 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.