Follow The Money

With trust in politics falling to crisis levels and a declining faith in democracy itself, there is an urgent need for reforms. The Australia Institute has prepared an agenda for the next parliament, whoever wins the election, with over 40 proposals for reform.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_bennettGuest:Bill Browne, senior researcher, Democracy & Accountability program // @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.

This week on Follow the Money we're unpacking the 2022 Federal Budget. Who are the winners and losers, and what does it all mean with an election looming?Recorded live on 31st March 2022 and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Richard Denniss, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIEliza Littleton, research economist, the Australia Institute // @ElizaLittletonMatt Grudnoff, senior economist, The Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoffProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEditor: 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.

Australia has committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The United Nations Secretary General has said that it’s time to end fossil fuel subsidies, so are fossil fuel subsidies in Australia ending or accelerating? The Australia Institute has crunched the numbers.This episode was recorded on Tuesday 29 March 2022, prior to the federal budget, and things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Alia Armistead, Researcher, Climate & Energy program, Australia Institute // @AliaArmisteadRod Campbell, Research Director, Australia Institute // @R_o_d_CEliza Littleton, Research Economist, Australia Institute // @ElizaLittletonProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Editing 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.

Today we bring you another conversation from the Australia Institute's webinar series. We spoke to retired Admiral Chris Barrie AC (Ret), former Chief of the Australian Defence Force and honorary Professor at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre ANU about the need for real leadership to tackle the profound security implications of global warming. He was in conversation with Richie Merzian, director of the Australia Institute’s climate & energy program. This was recorded live on 23 March 2022 and things may have changed since recording. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Admiral Chris Barrie AC (Ret)Richie Merzian, Climate & Energy program director, Australia Institute // @richiemerzianThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermaceyEditor: 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.

Instead of rushing to end fossil fuels, there is going to be a gold rush for carbon offsets, dirty hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS), all designed—not to stop climate change, but—to actually drive up the consumption of coal, oil and gas.This episode was recorded on Tuesday 22 March 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 // @RichiemerzianPolly Hemming, Advisor, Climate & Energy program at The Australia Institute // @PollyJHemmingProducer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey with additional editing by Louise Osbourne.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.

Today we bring you another conversation from the Australia Institute's webinar series. The Coalition Government’s ninth Federal Budget on 29 March will be an election Budget. Against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, ACTU President Michele O’Neil looks beneath the likely hype to talk about what will really matter for workers.This was recorded live on 15 March 2022 and things may have changed since recording. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Michele O'Neil, ACTU President // @MicheleONeilAUGreg Jericho, Centre for Future Work // @grogsgamutThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteProducer: 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.

Climate change is making natural disasters like fires, floods, heatwaves and drought more frequent and more extreme. In today's episode we discuss a levy on fossil fuels to help pay for the damage.This episode was recorded on Tuesday 15 March 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 // @jennifermacey with additional editing by Louise Osbourne.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.

Today we’re bringing you the second episode of a special series 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. Where we talk about the shape of the economy, not just the size of it. In this episode we ask what would Australia look like if we reformed our mental health care system and funded it properly? Our special guest is Professor Ian Hickie, Co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney. Professor Hickie was an inaugural Commissioner on Australia’s National Mental Health Commission and is a well-known mental health advocate. He was in conversation with Chief Economist at the Australia Institute, Richard Denniss.Special 20% off discount offer for Follow the Money listeners, get your copy of BIG here and use discount code: AUSINSTITUTE20 at checkout. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 8 March 2022 and things may have changed since recording.australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richard Denniss, Chief Economist The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProfessor Ian Hickie, Co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney // @ian_hickieProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermacey with additional editing 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.

Today we're bringing you a conversation from our popular webinar series. This week we bring you a conversation with Allan Behm, head of the International & Security Program at the Australia Institute and author of the new book 'No Enemies, No Friends: Restoring Australia's Global Relevance (Upswell). Allan was in conversation with Melissa Conley Tyler, program lead at the Asia Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D).This was recorded live on Wednesday 2nd March 2022 and things may have changed since recording. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Allan Behm, head of the International & Security Program at the Australia Institute, author of the new book 'No Enemies, No Friends' // @mirandaprorsusMelissa Conley Tyler, program lead, AP4D // @mconleytylerThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteProducer: 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.

As residents of Lismore tried to escape massive floods on their roofs, the IPCC delivered its latest report on climate impacts as well as adaptation and the news is not good. It warns that Australia faces significant “cascading and compounding” risks due to climate change, including damage from bushfires, floods, drought and sea-level rise. But we can avoid the worst impacts and save lives if we act now. To discuss the latest findings, as well how far Australia's policies are lagging behind, we spoke to one of the authors of the IPCC report, Dr Johanna Nalau, as well as Alia Armistead from the Australia Institute's climate & energy team.This was recorded live on Tuesday 1 March 2022 and things may have changed since recording.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Dr Johanna Nalau, Griffith University, IPCC Lead Author Chapter 15 Small Islands // @DrJNalauAlia Armistead, Climate & Energy researcher, the Australia Institute // @aliaarmisteadThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteProducer: 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.