Follow The Money

Mark Kenny joins us to discuss the government’s census own goal and Australia’s flagging economy. On this episode of Follow the Money, Ebony Bennett discusses the latest in federal politics with Professor Mark Kenny, former Chief Political Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 3 September 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Mark Kenny, Director, ANU Australian Studies Institute // @markgkenny Host: Ebony Bennett, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: 'The PM can ill-afford bad weeks as narratives harden' by Mark Kenny, The Canberra Times (September 2024) Public spending keeps the economy going as the private sector is hit by rate rises by Matt Grudnoff, 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.

On this episode, we discuss regulating the digital giants, the challenge of artificial intelligence and restoring trust in the media. The media industry has changed radically over the last three decades, transformed by the 24-hour news cycle, social media and the tech giants, and now artificial intelligence. On this special episode of Follow the Money, recorded live at Politics in the Pub in Canberra, Minister Ed Husic, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Karen Percy from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) discuss technology, trust and the future of the media. This discussion was recorded live on Wednesday 21 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science Guest: Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Arts & Communications spokesperson // @sarahinthesen8 Guest: Karen Percy, Federal President (Media), Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) // @PercyKaren Host: 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.

Australia’s flawed tax system means that there’s never been a better time to be ultra-wealthy in Australia, despite some people struggling to put food on the table. We’re told it’s a cost-of-living crisis, but not everyone is feeling the pinch. New Australia Institute research shows that the ultra-rich are getting richer, thanks in part to Australia’s distorted tax system. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Richard Denniss and Dave Richardson join Dr Alice Grundy to discuss the growing problem of inequality and what we can do to fix it. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 20 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI Guest: David Richardson, Senior Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @daverr01 Host: Alice Grundy, Anne Kantor Research Manager, the Australia Institute // @alicektg Show notes: Wealth and inequality in Australia by David Richardson and Frank Stilwell, the Australia Institute (August 2024) ‘The Morrison election: What we know now’ by Richard Denniss, The Monthly (June 2019) 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.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz joins us to discuss how to create a fairer, freer society and the “fertile field” neoliberalism has created for demagogues. Columbia University Professor and former World Bank Chief Economist Joseph E Stiglitz joins Ebony Bennet on this episode of Follow the Money to discuss inequality and the rise of Trump, Australia’s “environmental deficit” and his new book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 13 August 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist // @JosephEStiglitz 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.

In this engaging discussion, veteran journalist Paul Bongiorno delves into the pressing issues shaping federal politics. He analyzes the cabinet reshuffle and the challenges facing the new minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke. The conversation highlights the decline in public housing and its impact on social cohesion, as well as the rising tensions linked to immigration. Bongiorno also touches on economic pressures, exploring how they affect public sentiment and upcoming electoral dynamics. It's a thought-provoking look at Australia's political landscape.

Super tax concessions make inequality worse and are at risk of becoming more expensive than the aged pension. Superannuation tax concessions are meant to encourage saving for retirement, but the system is being gamed to help the wealthiest avoid paying tax. Australia Institute Chief Economist Greg Jericho joins Ebony Bennett on this episode of Follow the Money to bust some super myths and discuss what a fairer system should look like. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 30 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @GrogsGamut Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes: ‘Who benefits? The high cost of super tax concessions’ by Minh Ngoc Le (June 2024) ‘Superannuation tax concessions are making inequality worse’ by Greg Jericho (July 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website. 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.

On this special crossover episode of Follow the Money and After America, we discuss Biden’s decision to drop out of the campaign and why Democrats have rallied around Kamala Harris as the presumptive nominee. Ebony Bennett and Dr Emma Shortis, host of the Australia Institute’s After America podcast, reflect on Joe Biden’s legacy, his endorsement of Kamala Harris and what it could mean for the election campaign. This discussion was recorded on Monday 22 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Host: Emma Shortis, Senior Research for International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website. 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 rise of independents and minor parties means that Labor and the Coalition can no longer take any race for granted. It’s said that ‘disunity is death’ in Australian politics, but – as several major party politicians found out in the 2022 election – falling in behind an unpopular policy agenda can be pretty dangerous for your career as well. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the big changes taking place in Australian politics and how they might influence the next election. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 16 July 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: Power sharing in Australian parliament by Bill Browne and Richard Denniss (July 2024) Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions You can see Professor Joseph E Stiglitz speak live in several cities across Australia as part of the Australia Institute’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are available via our website. 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.

Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai faces life in prison in Hong Kong, but his son Sebastien and renowned human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson are leading the charge to set him free. After escaping mainland China in the bottom of a fishing boat at the age of 12, Jimmy Lai went on to become one of the most influential people in Hong Kong. But now the founder of Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy newspaper is facing the possibility of life in prison under China’s repressive national security law. On this episode of Follow the Money, Sebastien Lai and Jennifer Robinson, legal counsel to Julian Assange, join Ebony Bennett to discuss the fight to free Mr Lai and the global threats to freedom of the press. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 2 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai // @SupportJimmyLai Guest: Jennifer Robinson, legal counsel to Jimmy Lai and Julian Assange // @suigenerisjen 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.

Introducing After America, a new Australia Institute podcast hosted by Dr Emma Shortis. Can Biden recover from a disastrous debate performance? What does the release of Julian Assange reveal about the Australia-US relationship? And is Trump’s authoritarian behaviour really an outlier in American political history? On the first episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the first presidential debate performance and the release of Julian Assange, before former BBC United States correspondent Nick Bryant joins the show to discuss the country’s long history of authoritarianism. You can subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 25 June and Monday 1 July 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Nick Bryant, former BBC correspondent and author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself // @NickBryantNY Host: Emma Shortis, Senior Research for International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Theme music: 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.