Follow The Money

The Tasmanian Government’s proposed law for a police crackdown on peaceful protest has been criticised as anti-democratic and a threat to civil society. The Bill creates disproportionate penalties for people who peacefully protest against business activities, equivalent to aggravated assault, possessing an implement with intent to commit a crime, or loitering near children.This was recorded on 28th June 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest: Rachel Hay, Anne Kantor Fellow, Australia Institute TasmaniaProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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.

Last week, the Australian Energy Market Operator (or AEMO) suspended the National electricity spot market after it became ‘impossible to operate’ amid projected energy shortfalls. On today's episode, we're unpacking how we got here, and how to fix it.This was recorded on 21st June 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, Climate & Energy program at the Australia Institute // @MarkOggeProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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.

This year was the Integrity Election. Prior to the election, we were joined by Independent MPs Helen Haines and Zali Steggall for a discussion about the potential for the 2022 federal election to grow the crossbench or result in another minority parliament, and what further reforms could be on the horizon.This was recorded on 11th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi // @helenhainesindiZali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah // @zalisteggallBill Browne, Head of the Democracy & Accountability Program at the Australia Institute // @Browne90Ben Oquist, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @BenOquistProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyTheme 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 big story of this election is the collapse of the Coalition vote, as voters around the country backed parties and candidates with strong climate and integrity policies. What happened at the election and what comes next in the Senate? Join the ACT Independent Senate candidate David Pocock, who looks set to secure the second Senate seat in the ACT. If he is successful, it would be the first time since the introduction of proportional representation in 1949 that one of the major parties is entirely locked out of a jurisdiction.This was recorded on 25th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:David Pocock, ACT Independent Senate candidate // @PocockDavidBen Oquist, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @BenOquistProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyTheme 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 cannot solve the climate crisis while we keep opening new gas fields and coal mines. In this episode we're listening back to our webinar with Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP for a discussion about how Australia can rapidly transition to a clean energy economy and move beyond fossil fuels.This was recorded on Thursday 19th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Adam Bandt MP, Australian Greens leader and Member for Melbourne // @AdamBandtRichie Merzian, Climate & Energy Program Director, Australia Institute // @RichieMerzianProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Louise OsbourneTheme 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 2022 federal election was transformative. The Coalition’s vote collapsed across the country. There is a new Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, that will likely gain a majority in its own right, but that will govern with a hugely expanded crossbench. One of the biggest stories of the night was the shift away from the major parties and the huge shift towards the Greens and community Independents running on platforms of climate action, restoring integrity to Parliament and gender equality. Lastly, there will be a climate majority in the Senate, with Labor, 12 Greens Senators and Independent ACT Senate candidate David Pocock. To unpack those results, we spoke to Ben Oquist, Executive Director of the Australia Institute. This was recorded on Tuesday 24th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Ben Oquist, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @BenOquistProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Louise OsbourneTheme 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 from the Australia Institute shows that the number of political appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has skyrocketed. In this episode Ebony unpacks the largest and most comprehensive domestic study of the practice of cronyism in relation to appointments to a government agency ever conducted, with Ben Oquist and Bill Browne.This was recorded on Tuesday 17th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Ben Oquist, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @BenOquistBill Browne, Senior Researcher, Democracy & Accountability Program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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 never hosted a United Nations climate conference (COP) and the recent proposal from the Labor Party to bid for the 2024 COP in partnership with the Pacific could shift Australia’s reputation from climate laggard to regional leader. Hosting a COP would also have a number of economic, diplomatic and security co-benefits.This was recorded on 10th May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Richie Merzian, Director, Climate & Energy program at the Australia Institute // @RichieMerzianAllan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs program at the Australia Institute // @MirandaprorsusProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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’s housing affordability crisis results from over- reliance on just two options – private home ownership and private renting. To tackle it, a wider repertoire of policies is required. Nordic nations’ widespread provision of public housing and housing co-operatives, priority for homes to live in rather than invest in, and effective reduction of homelessness, show how this can happen.This was recorded on 3rd May 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Andrew Scott, Convenor, Nordic Policy Centre at the Australia Institute // @ascottnlightsProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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’s not that long since the Royal Commission into aged care quality and safety handed down its findings Describing Australia's aged care system as a shocking tale of neglect that needs a complete overhaul and not mere patching up. This is the third episode of a special series we are doing with our chief economist Richard Denniss and special guests, based on Richard’s new book BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy.This was recorded live on 12 April 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Richard Denniss, chief economist of the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIIrene McInerney, registered nurse from Tasmania who works in residential aged care // @irenemciAnnie Butler, Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation // @AbutlerAnnieProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEdited by: Holly ForrestTheme 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.