Follow The Money

The United Nations climate change negotiations are skirting around the critical issue of phasing out fossil fuels and are in desperate need of reform, says Sandrine Dixson-Declève. On this episode of Follow the Money, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss phasing out fossil fuels, the false narratives being peddled about the green transition, and why addressing inequality is fundamental to tackling the climate crisis. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 24 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. Pre-order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome // @SDDecleve Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Host: Alice Grundy, Research Manager, Anne Kantor Fellows, the Australia Institute // @alicekgt Show notes: Earth for All – A Survival Guide for Humanity, The Club of Rome (2022) The Limits to Growth, The Club of Rome (1972) ‘COP28 did not deliver. We need better global governance and brave leadership’ by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Reuters (December 2023) Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2024, The Australia Institute (May 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its democracy under assault, America needs a friend, not a flunkey. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute International & Security Affairs Advisor Allan Behm joins us to discuss the “unachievable” AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, Australia’s ‘fear of abandonment’, and how the outcome of the presidential election might change US foreign policy. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 5 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Allan Behm, International & Security Affairs Advisor, the Australia Institute // @Mirandaprorsus Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: The Odd Couple: the Australia-America relationship by Allan Behm (2024) No Enemies No Friends: Restoring Australia’s Global Relevance by Allan Behm (2022) Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World since 1942 by Allan Gyngell (2021) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He lost the Queensland election, but former Premier Steven Miles may have saved the furniture by putting forward popular, progressive policies that voters responded to. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the fake fight between the new Queensland Premier and Peter Dutton over nuclear power and the fallout from the state election. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 29 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: Queensland election: A clear message to Federal Labor, the Australia Institute (October 2024) ‘Federal Labor’s lesson from Qld defeat: bold progressive policies provide a pathway to a second term’ by Stephen Long, the Australia Institute (October 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.auSupport Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Browne, Director of the Democracy & Accountability Program at the Australia Institute, sheds light on Australia's troubling culture of secrecy. He discusses the significant role whistleblowers play in fostering governmental transparency and the stark differences in their protections compared to the U.S. Browne critiques the National Anti-Corruption Commission's effectiveness, particularly in light of scandals like robo-debt. He advocates for urgent reforms, including better freedom of information access and a dedicated whistleblower authority, to restore public trust in democracy.

Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno joins us to discuss how conflict in the Middle East is reverberating through Australia, and reconciliation one year after the Voice referendum. On this episode of Follow the Money, Paul Bongiorno, columnist for The Saturday Paper and The New Daily, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss culture wars in Australia, two upcoming elections, and the reaction to Anthony Albanese’s new beachside retreat. This discussion was recorded live on Tuesday 15 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Paul Bongiorno, columnist, The Saturday Paper and The New Daily // @PaulBongiorno Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: ‘Dutton takes a high-risk stance on the Middle East’ by Paul Bongiorno, The Saturday Paper (October 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian superannuation funds have been investing in nuclear weapons, according to new research. On this episode of Follow the Money, Margaret Beavis, Co-Director of Quit Nukes, and Adam Gottschalk, Anne Kantor Research Fellow at the Australia Institute, join us to discuss how some superannuation funds invest Australians’ retirement savings nuclear weapons. This discussion was recorded live on Friday 4 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Margaret Beavis, Co-Director, Quit Nukes // @margaretbeavis Guest: Adam Gottschalk, Anne Kantor Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @adamchalksitup Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: Risky Business: An update on super funds and nuclear weapons by Rosemary Kelly and Margaret Beavis (September 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Nick McKim joins us to discuss the ACCC legal action against Coles and Woolworths and why the government should have the power to break up the Big Two. On this episode of Follow the Money, Greens Senator Nick McKim, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Grocery Prices, joins us to discuss regulating the major supermarkets and his famous grilling of the former Woolies CEO. Join President José Ramos-Horta at 6pm AEDT, Tuesday 8 October for an evening of conversation at the Sydney Opera House, presented by the Australia Institute as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas. This discussion was recorded live on Tuesday 1 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Senator Nick McKim, Greens Economic Justice and Treasury Spokesperson and Senator for Tasmania // @NickMcKim Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: ‘ACCC Suing Supermarkets as Price Gouging Drives Inflation, Rate Hikes’, The Australia Institute (September 2024) ‘Coles, Woolies’ Secret Pricing Deal Undercuts Inflation Claims’, The Australia Institute (September 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By relying on uncertain and unethical carbon offsets to combat the climate crisis, society is setting itself on a path to destruction, George Monbiot says. On this episode of Follow the Money, George Monbiot, Guardian columnist and co-author of The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism, joins the Australia Institute’s Polly Hemming to discuss the impact of neoliberalism on our climate, the folly of carbon offsets, and why “bollocks” incrementalism won’t lead to systemic change. Join President José Ramos-Horta at 6pm AEDT, Tuesday 8 October for an evening of conversation at the Sydney Opera House, presented by the Australia Institute as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas. This discussion was recorded live on Thursday 19 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: George Monbiot, author, columnist and environmental campaigner // @GeorgeMonbiot Host: Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy Director, the Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism by Peter Hutchison and George Monbiot (June 2024) Coal Mine Tracker, The Australia Institute ‘Coal Mine Approvals Undermine Climate Goals, Government Rhetoric’, The Australia Institute (September 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mining industry had a pre-election sook last week about government policy, but its claims about being the ‘backbone’ of the economy are more spin than substance. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss mining’s latest PR offensive and why politicians shouldn’t fear standing up to the industry. Join President José Ramos-Horta at 6pm AEDT, Tuesday 8 October for an evening of conversation at the Sydney Opera House, presented by the Australia Institute as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 17 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is home to the experts on monetary policy – but what happens when they get it wrong? On this episode of Follow the Money, Greg Jericho and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the latest GDP figures, the real drivers of inflation and how the Reserve Bank misread the state of the economy. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 10 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.