Jobs for the boys
We discuss Trump’s pinky promise to Elon and RFK Jr and Albo’s ‘hot mic moment’ in Tonga.
Jumping at shadows with Mark Kenny
Mark Kenny joins us to discuss the government’s census own goal and Australia’s flagging economy.
Middle, middle, middle class: Harris’ pitch to the heartland
Greg Jericho, Australia Institute Chief Economist, joins us to examine the Harris-Walz economic agenda.
Why Dutton’s playing a very dangerous political game
Peter Dutton and Donald Trump have a knack for political division. There’s no doubt that stoking fear and the politics of division can be brutally effective, but the last thing Australia needs is to import the damaging culture wars of the American far right, dominated by bonkers conspiracy theories adhered to by militant acolytes untroubled
August 2024
Can quality journalism survive in Australia?
On this episode, we discuss regulating the digital giants, the challenge of artificial intelligence and restoring trust in the media.
SA Government’s Proposed Donations Bill a Threat to Political Competition
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s proposed donations changes are a threat to political competition in South Australia and should be rejected or significantly redrafted, the Australia Institute has said.
Sweet home, Chicago
The Democratic National Convention has landed in Chicago, Illinois. Will Kamala Harris be able to build on her campaign’s momentum or will the Republican ticket be able to stem the tide?
Worth a Punt – 2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend
There is widespread public support for banning gambling advertisements on free-to-air media because of the harm caused by gambling. The main objection is that Australia’s free-to-air networks, hit by declining revenues and fragmenting audiences, can’t afford to lose the money. But there’s a simple solution. A small levy on the many billions of dollars gambling
Who is holding the purse strings?
Next month, the Albanese government is due to announce its proposed changes to Australian electoral laws. It has been a long road. The minister responsible, Senator Don Farrell, had planned to introduce the laws by the end of last year.
The enragement machine with Joseph Stiglitz and Malcolm Turnbull
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz join us to discuss the presidential election, the AUKUS deal and the right-wing media machine.
New divides with Paul Bongiorno
We discuss declining social cohesion, the Prime Minister’s visit to the Northern Territory and the cabinet reshuffle with veteran journalist Paul Bongiorno.
Majority of Australians oppose increasing public funding for political parties and candidates, but alternatives exist
A majority of voters oppose the public funding of political parties and candidates, and increases to this funding, to run election campaigns and cover administrative costs, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
July 2024
Victorian Electoral Recommendations a Mixed Bag for Democracy
Electoral recommendations from a Victorian parliamentary committee should spur action on truth in political advertising laws, but others need further consultation.
Biden is out, Harris is in – what happens now?
On this special crossover episode of After America and Follow the Money, we discuss Biden’s decision to drop out of the campaign and why Democrats have rallied around Kamala Harris as the presumptive nominee.
Why we need a parliamentary inquiry into South Australia’s proposed new political donation laws
Replacing political donations may sound good in theory, but in practice what matters is who gets the money – and how much they get.
Why no seat is ‘safe’ anymore
The rise of independents and minor parties means that Labor and the Coalition can no longer take any race for granted.
Trump defiant after assassination attempt
Former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr joins us to discuss the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the new Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, and the future of America’s place in the world.
Rex Patrick Loses FOI Delays Legal Battle, Pledges to Continue
Former senator and transparency advocate Rex Patrick has lost his appeal to the Full Federal Court challenging the Australian Information Commissioner’s multi-year delays in handling FOI reviews. Some of Patrick’s outstanding FOI reviews have been awaiting decision for almost four years. In a longstanding legal battle, Patrick sought to draw a line in the sand
Rise of minor parties and independents upends old predictive models; demands power sharing rethink
Australia was never exclusively a “two-party system”, a reality that is getting harder to ignore as minor party and independent representation grows, according to new research from the Australia Institute. While power sharing has always been a feature of Australian parliaments, the declining major party vote demands a more mature and nuanced analysis of electoral
SA ICAC: Commissioner Resignation Must Trigger Rethink on Integrity Backslide
The resignation of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Honourable Ann Vanstone KC, should trigger a rethink of the debilitating and troublesome changes to the ICAC that were rushed through the South Australian Parliament in 2021.
Why Queensland is Miles ahead of the game
Canberra doesn’t really have a fossil fuel industry, which perhaps explains why we lead the country in decarbonising our economy.
Democracy (handle with care)
Careless political finance reforms could shift the balance in Australian democracy in favour of special interests.
June 2024
Muddled answers and outright lies: what the Biden-Trump debate says about the dire state of US politics
There are no parallels for the first debate of the 2024 US presidential election cycle.
Why the US government’s pursuit of Julian Assange was becoming both damaging and untenable
Today, in a surprise development likely weeks in the planning, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was able to leave the United Kingdom for the first time in more than a decade after reaching a plea deal with the US government.
Open Letter Calls for Parliament to Protect Democracy, Close Major Gaps in Electoral Laws
Leading civil society organisations have signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute and published today in The Canberra Times, calling on the Parliament of Australia to safeguard Australia’s democracy by addressing major gaps in the nation’s electoral laws.
Bring out yer dead! Amid nuke hype Tanya Plibersek approves Gina Rinehart’s gas pipeline
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has just approved a new coal seam gas pipeline in Queensland.
Momentous budget and planning decisions must be based on current environmental data
Leading environment and policy groups are calling on the Tasmanian Government to make the decade-long-delayed State of the Environment Report public before several key financial and planning decisions are made by the government and the parliament later this year.
Majority support for Assange’s release and return home
A majority of Australians (57%) want the Biden Administration to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia, according to new Australia Institute research.
SA’s political donation ban ambitious, but must safeguard diversity of voices
The Malinauskas Government’s electoral amendment bill could represent a potential paradigm shift in South Australian politics, but risks adverse outcomes unless carefully tested in a parliamentary inquiry.
Machiavelli would have known what to do about PwC
Today, the name of Niccolò Machiavelli is a byword for cynicism and hunger for power, but there was one profession so parasitic and selfish even he could not stomach it.
General Enquiries
Emily Bird Office Manager
mail@australiainstitute.org.au
Media Enquiries
Adam Gottschalk Media Advisor
adam.gottschalk@australiainstitute.org.au