Follow The Money

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for the first time since November 2020 – so is the Australian economy out of the woods? On this crossover episode of Follow the Money and Dollars & Sense, Greg Jericho and Ebony Bennett discuss what’s going on with inflation, the performance of the Reserve Bank and whether the Government deserves the credit for setting the economy on a better course. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.  Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes:  Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024) 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.

We discuss Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and what they’ll mean for Australia. On this episode of Follow the Money, Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to explain how tariffs work, Trump’s 25 per cent levy on steel and aluminium imports, and how big a deal this will be for Australia. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 11 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.  Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes:  After America, the Australia Institute ‘Trump’s latest tariff bid shows the old rules of trade no longer apply. Scraps of paper will not save us’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2025) 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.

Australia needs an electoral system that’s genuinely fair, not a two-tiered system that favours the major parties. On this episode of Follow the Money, Democracy & Accountability Director Bill Browne joins us to discuss the latest political donations data and why tens of thousands of Australians are concerned about the Government’s proposed electoral changes. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 4 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.  Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Show notes:  Electoral Reform Bill analysis by Bill Browne and Joshua Black, the Australia Institute (February 2025) SIGN NOW: Protect our elections!, the Australia Institute 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.

President Donald Trump has been issuing Executive Orders and dominating the media cycle, trying to radically reshape America and the world in the process.   On this special crossover episode of After America and Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss the role of Elon Musk, Trump’s pause on all US foreign aid, his ability to ‘flood the zone’, and how this all affects Australia. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 28 January 2025 and things may have changed since recording.  Get your tickets for the Australia Institute’s Climate Integrity Summit 2025 now.  Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett  Show notes:  'Think the past will protect Australia from Trump’s future? Think again' by Emma Shortis, The Sydney Morning Herald (January 2025)  The Pacific Islands: Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service (November 2024)  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.

Richard Denniss joins the show to discuss Trump’s inauguration and the upcoming federal election. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to examine the year ahead in federal politics and how the Trump presidency could impact Australia. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 21 January 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. australiainstitute.org.au // @australiainstitute Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: LA fires add to climate insurance crisis, the Australia Institute (January 2025) Rate cut already overdue: RBA should meet in January, the Australia Institute (December 2025) 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.

David Marr discusses the frontier wars and the shocking family discovery that led to his award-winning book, Killing for Country. On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, renowned journalist and author David Marr joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Killing for Country, his award-winning account of politics and power in colonial Australia. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 24 January 2024 and things may have changed since recording. To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website.  Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: David Marr, journalist and author Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute // @ebonybennett  Show notes:  Killing for Country: A family story by David Marr, Black Inc. (October 2023)  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.

Bri Lee, one of Australia’s most exciting young writers, joins us to discuss her debut novel, The Work, and the politics of power and privilege. On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, Bri Lee, the award-winning author of Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to be Smart, joins us to discuss The Work, a stunning story of art, power, love and money. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 7 May 2024 and things may have changed since recording. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website.  Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Bri Lee, author of The Work // @bri_lee_writer Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute // @ebonybennett  Show notes:  The Work by Bri Lee, Allen & Unwin (April 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.

Award-winning writer Lech Blaine traces the making of Peter Dutton – from Queensland detective to leader of the Opposition.  On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, Lech Blaine joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the rise of Peter Dutton, the evolution of the Liberal Party, and his Quarterly Essay, ‘Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's Strongman Politics’.  This discussion was recorded on Friday 12 April 2024 and things may have changed since recording.  To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website.  Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Lech Blaine, author of Australian Gospel, Top Blokes and Car Crash // @lechblaine  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, The Australia Institute // @ebonybennett  Show notes:  ‘Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's Strongman Politics’ by Lech Blaine, Quarterly Essay 93 (March 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.

Do Australians truly grasp the impact of a warming planet and what it could mean for our sunburnt country? On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, climate scientist and author Dr Joëlle Gergis joins The Australia Institute’s Polly Hemming to discuss Australia’s climate policy inertia and the impact of rising temperatures.  This discussion was recorded on Friday 28 June 2024 and things may have changed since recording.  To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website.  Order the first book from our new imprint, What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.  Guest: Dr Joëlle Gergis, climate scientist and author // @joellegergis  Host: Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy Director, The Australia Institute // @pollyjhemming  Show notes:  ‘Highway to Hell: Climate change and Australia’s future’ by Joëlle Gergis, Quarterly Essay 94 (June 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.

Australia’s status quo political culture is under pressure – so what does this mean for the upcoming federal election? On this Summer Book Club episode of Follow the Money, journalist and author George Megalogenis joins Alice Grundy to discuss the rise of independents and minor parties, Australia’s changing political landscape, and his latest Quarterly Essay, ‘Minority Report: The new shape of Australian politics’. This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 December 2024 and things may have changed since recording. To join our free Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinars live, register via our website. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: George Megalogenis, author and journalist // @GMegalogenis Host: Alice Grundy, Managing Editor, Australia Institute Press // @alicektg Show notes: ‘Minority Report: The new shape of Australian politics’ by George Megalogenis, Quarterly Essay 96 (November 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.