Follow The Money

Gone are the scare campaigns about debt and deficit, but was this really a big spending budget? Cut through the economic nonsense and pollywaffle with our senior economist Matt Grudnoff, as he unpacks everything you need to know about the Budget. Don't forget to check out the Australia Institute's federal budget breakdown here.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoffThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteWebsite:australiainstitute.org.auProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermacey with help from Jessie SharpTheme 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 today's episode we take a look at how much Australia spends subsidising the oil, coal ang gas industry every year, with co-authors of a new Australia Institute report, Eliza Littleton and Alia Armistead. The numbers are mind-boggling.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Eliza Littleton, research economist // @elizalittletonAlia Armistead, graduate researcher // @aliaarmisteadWebsite: australiainstitute.org.auProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermaceyTheme music: Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum with additional music from Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania is a unique place. Tassie’s coastal waters have high biodiversity and species found nowhere else, but its marine environment is in a state of decline and increasing pressure from climate change, fishing and aquaculture operations like intensive salmon farming, agricultural run-off. Only 1.1% of Tasmania’s marine waters are fully protected. In this episode, join Eloise Carr, director of the Australia Institute Tasmania as we unpack the role of salmon in the Tassie economy and why it needs a Parliamentary inquiry.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Eloise Carr, director, The Australia Institute Tasmania // @GeneveraEWebsite: australiainstitute.org.auProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermaceyTheme music: Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum with additional music from Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are new coal mines like melting ice cream? In today's episode, Richard Denniss explains the economics of coal, why Malcolm Turnbull has been in trouble with the Liberals and the National party and why we need to pause approvals of new coal mines.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richard Denniss, chief economist, The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermaceyTheme music: Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and Thrum with additional music from Blue Dot SessionsSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the national electricity grid to function securely it needs control systems that keep frequency and voltage within safe limits. Historically this service has mainly been provided by coal, gas and hydro power stations. But could we get the same security from renewables and batteries? In this episode we’re doing a deep dive into making sure the lights stay on with the Australia Institute’s energy lead, Dan Cass.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Dan Cass // @danjcassThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteWebsite:australiainstitute.org.auProducer: 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.

When it comes to addressing the systemic issues which are impacting Australian women’s everyday lives, it often feels like the problems are big and impossible to tackle. In today's episode, Australia Institute research economist Eliza Littleton outlines 8 practical things that Prime Minister Scott Morrison could do right now to remove barriers to women's equality and to put some actions behind his rhetoric.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Eliza Littleton, research economist // @elizalittletonThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteWebsite:australiainstitute.org.auProducer: 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 has no policy to incentivise electric vehicle uptake, are we destined to become a dumping ground for gas guzzlers? This week we talk to Richie Merzian and Audrey Quicke about what how Australia can electrify its transport sector, quick smart.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richie Merzian, director Climate & Energy program // @richiemerzianAudrey Quicke, climate researcherThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteWebsite:australiainstitute.org.aufuturework.org.auProducer: 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.

A year on from the recession, how are Australian women faring economically? Pretty poorly actually. This week we speak to Alison Pennington, senior economist from the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute about how women have disproportionately lost their jobs, returned to crappier jobs and why the gender pay gap actually widened over the last year, despite what you may have heard otherwise.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Alison Pennington, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @ak_penningtonThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteCentre for Future Work // @cntrfutureworkWebsite:australiainstitute.org.aufuturework.org.auProducer: 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 findings of the Aged Care Royal Commission are shocking but not surprising. Among the recommendations is the call for an effective 1% increase in the Medicare levy, or a new Medicare-style Aged Care levy which could be applied progressively based on income, to create the revenue required to fund an aged care system with dignity at its centre. This week we talk to senior economist Matt Grudnoff about where all the revenue has gone, why privatising keeps failing and why the Parliament should seize this opportunity to change the conversation on tax. This was recorded on Tuesday, 2 March 2021 and things may have changed since recording.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoffThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteWebsite:australiainstitute.org.auProducer: 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.

When Facebook banned Australian news and information from its platform -- as well as the pages of many charities, community groups and government departments -- in an attempt to avoid regulation, it may have been the first time many Australians had heard of the news media bargaining code. So in this week's episode we unpack what the code is, what it does, why it's necessary and what happens next with Director of the Australia Institute's Centre for Responsible Technology, Peter Lewis. This was recorded on Tuesday 23 February 2021 and things may have changed since recording.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Peter Lewis, Director, Centre for Responsible Technology // @PeterLewisEMCThe Australia Institute // @theausinstituteCentre for Responsible Technology // @CntrResponsTechWebsite:australiainstitute.org.aucentreforresponsibletechology.org.auProducer: Jennifer Macey //@jennifermaceyTheme Music: Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.