Follow The Money

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.

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.