Follow The Money

Scott Morrison is having perhaps the most disastrous international trip for a Prime Minister in recent history as diplomatic relations with France sour even further. But there is high expectations for the Glasgow summit to deliver high ambitions for high emissions reduction over the next decade and for the first time there is a focus on phasing out gas and coal globally. But Australia didn't come with an ambitious mid-term target, and it has plans to massively expand its gas and coal projects and exports - completely counter to the goals of Glasgow. Language warning: Greta Thunberg drops an (appropriate) F-bomb at one point This was recorded on 2 November 2021 and things may have changed since recording.australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Ben 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.

Each year the federal government spends upwards of a billion dollars of public money on external consultancies, but most of the work is kept secret from the public. It's a big issue for government transparency as huge questions remain over the Morrison government on questions of accountability and integrity.Recorded live on 26 October 2021, things may have changed since recording.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Bill Browne, senior researcher, Democracy & Accountablity program // @Browne90Producer: 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 of the Nation is Australia's longest running tracking poll of community attitudes towards climate change. This year Climate of the Nation explored attitudes towards fossil fuel subsidies, the appetite for electrifying everything in our homes as well as support for a net zero emissions target and bigger 2030 target as we’re just weeks out from the Glasgow COP26 Summit.Recorded live on 19 October 2021, things may have changed since recording.Thank you to Katharine Murphy and Guardian Australia's Podcast team for the clip from their "Australian Politics" podcast.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Richie Merzian, climate and energy director, Australia Institute // @richiemerzianAudrey Quicke, climate and energy researcher, Australia Institute // @audreyquickeProducer: 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 announcement of the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the UK and the USA is now a few weeks old and it represents an enormous departure in the direction of Australia's foreign and defence policy. Will AUKUS ensure Australia's long term security, or is it little more than a stunt?In this episode, former Ambassador to China, Dr Geoff Raby, and International & Security Affairs program director at the Australia Institute, Allan Behm, discuss some of the fallout and implications of AUKUS and it's implications for Australia's poor relationship with China.Recorded live on 12 October 2021 The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Dr Geoff Raby,former Australian Ambassaor to China (2007 to 2011)Allan Behm, director International & Security Affairs program, Australia Institute // @mirandaprorsusProducer: 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.

Today's episode examines carbon offsets, in other words, the credits companies can buy to offset their emissions. The Australia Institute, together with the Australian Conservation Foundation did a bit of digging into Australia's offsets system and found some alarming things.Recorded live on 5 October 2021The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Richie Merzian, climate & energy program director, the Australia Institute // @richiemerzianPolly Hemming, advisor, climate & energy program // @pollyjhemmingProducer: 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 number of independent Members and Senators elected to Parliament has been steadily increasing and the crossbench plays an important role in shaping the future of Australia. Independent Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie gave an inside look at how it all works.Recorded live on 3 March 2021 as part of the Australia Institute webinar series.The Australia Institute // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest: Senator Jacqui LambieProducer: 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 blind-sided France and the Australian public by dumping a $90 billion French submarine deal in favour of a new trilateral security partnership with the UK and USA, including a deal to secure Australia nuclear-powered submarines. In this episode we explore the ramifications of this historic policy shift, made with zero democratic debate in Australia. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Ben Oquist, Executive Director, The Australia Institute // @benoquistAllan Behm, International & Security Affairs program director // @mirandaprorsusProducer: 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's higher education sector has been amongst those hit hardest by the pandemic. Just how bad is the damage? In a new report, the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work takes a closer look at the harm caused to the sector and its workers and its long term consequences.australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute // @CntrFutureWorkHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Jim Stanford, economist and director, Centre for Future Work // @JimboStanfordEliza Littleton, research economist, The Australia Institute // @elizalittletonProducer: 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.

Extracting gas from the Northern Territory through hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is one of the largest potential sources of carbon pollution in the world. In this episode we explore the climate cost of a potential policy backflip on opening up the NT to fracking, as well as the community opposition and the economics of it all.australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Rod Cambell, Research Director, The Australia Institute // @R_o_d_CMark Ogge, Principal Advisor, The Australia Institute // @markoggeProducer: 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.

Our ability to ‘Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine’ people who have been exposed to Covid19 has been the front line of Australia’s defence against Covid. But while Australia’s TTIQ is world class, it can and will be overrun if case numbers are allowed to keep rising. The Doherty Modelling makes clear that without a highly functioning TTIQ system we have no chance of stopping our country’s ICUs from being overwhelmed. Join Richard Denniss as he unpacks some of the assumptions underpinning the Doherty modelling and why they are cause for concern.australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richard Denniss, Chief Economist The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: 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.