Follow The Money

Let's face it, 2020 has been a bit of a nightmare. This week, in our final episode of the year, Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss revisit some of the Australia Institute's predictions back in March 2020 and reflect on the way Australia's economy and politics have changed this year in response to the pandemic. Mild language warning.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest:Richard Denniss, chief economist, The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SA and VIC governments have announced a new electric vehicle tax - in other words, a great big new tax on clean air.In today's episode we explain why this EV tax is terrible idea and unpack some of the arguments for and against it.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Tim Washington, Chair EV Council // @EVTimOzRichard Denniss, chief economist, The Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIRichie Merzian, director, Climate & Energy Program // @RichieMerzianAudrey Quicke, researcher, Climate & Energy ProgramProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 'gas-fired recovery' is supposed to help Australia's manufacturing industry by freeing up new supply. But the Australia Institute's research shows the days of cheap gas are over.www.tai.org.auHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor // @MarkOggeProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we unpack what a Biden Administration means for climate and foreign policy in Australia, with Richie Merzian and Allan Behm.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Richie Merzian, director Climate & Energy Program // @richiemerzianAllan Behm, director International & Security Affairs program // @mirandaprorsusProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's news media is one of the most highly concentrated in the world. Since 2019, more than 157 newsrooms have closed in Australia and many local, community and rural newspapers have ceased printing or gone digital only. It was in this climate that in 2018 the federal government tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to undertake a digital platforms inquiry to measure the impact of the major digital platforms Google and Facebook on Australian news businesses. The ACCC recommended a mandatory media bargaining code for digital platforms to ensure that Australian news organisations are paid for original journalistic content which is shared on the digital platforms. Google and Facebook responded by warning its users about the code and Facebook threatened to block Australian content and users. In this episode the Chair of the ACCC, Rod Sims talks with The Australia Institute's Chief Economist Richard Denniss about the mandatory code and the fight he's taken to the global digital giants. This episode was recorded live on 17 September, 2020. The Australia Institute // @theAUSInstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Guests: Rod Sims, Chair ACCC, // Richard Denniss, Chief Economist The Australia Institute @RDNS_TAI // Producer: Jennifer Macey Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum Additional Music: Epidemic SoundSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT is the home of progressive politics in Australia, leading the nation on climate policy, tax reform and truth in political advertising (among other things). In this episode we explore the broader implications of the ACT election results - which saw a swing to the Greens, a swing against the Liberals and the Labor government re-elected for an historic sixth term, along with why leaders like NZ PM Jacinda Ardern might pursue cooperative government, rather than majority government.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuest: Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute // @BenOquistProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we explain what 'not for publication' (or 'nfp') means and why it appears so often in the Budget papers, with Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell.www.tai.org.auHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests:Rod Campbell // @R_o_d_CProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music is by Jonathan McFeat from Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal budget forked out billions in spending -- mostly on business tax write-offs and income tax cuts for high income earners -- but it was poorly targeted if the intention is to create jobs and lower the unemployment rate. In his episode economists Matt Grudnoff and Alison Pennington unpack what you need to know about debt and deficit, income tax cuts, JobMaker, JobBuilder, JobKeeper, manufacturing, infrastructure and how women and young people will miss out.avoidance and why it's damaging to the community with our chief economist Richard Denniss.The Australia Institute // @theAUSInstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoffAlison Pennington, senior economist at the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work // @ak_penningtonProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music: Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income tax the year he was elected and in many years paid absolutely no income tax at all - and he's not the only millionaire to avoid paying tax altogether. So this week we're talking tax avoidance and why it's damaging to the community with our chief economist Richard Denniss.The Australia Institute // @theAUSInstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, deputy director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Richard Dennis, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music: Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas is promoted as a transitional fuel, but in this episode we explore just how polluting gas really is with Richie Merzian and Tom Swann from the Australia Institute's Climate & Energy program.The Australia Institute // @theAUSInstituteHost: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettGuests: Richie Merzian, Climate & Energy Director at the Australia Institute // @RichieMerzianTom Swann, senior researcher at the Australia Institute // @tom_swannProducer: Jennifer MaceyTheme music: Pulse and ThrumSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.