Is this growth…good?!
Rooftop solar and data centres are drivers of Australia’s economic growth, but do they really bring the same value to Australian society?
November 2025
This inequality isn’t inevitable
By offering generous tax concessions to property investors and making it nearly impossible to live on JobSeeker, Australian governments have being making inequality worse.
What have the scientists ever done for us?
Australian scientific discoveries have improved people’s lives and made the economy more productive – so why is the CSIRO being forced to shed workers again?
The gas industry’s “huge con”
By taxing Australian resources more effectively, we could not only have a greener economy – but a fairer one as well.
“Anti-achievement” Democrats let pressure off Trump
By negotiating an end to the government shutdown without getting anything much in return, some Democrats have gone back to their old trick of resisting the President by giving him exactly what he needs.
How bad policy created a housing crisis
The capital gains tax concession and negative gearing have worked together to make housing less affordable and exacerbate inequality.
Defending nature with Bob Brown
Protecting Australia’s incredible natural environment from bad policy, spurred on corporate interests and a hostile media, can sometimes feel like an impossible task. But sometimes, people power wins out.
Inflation beats employment by the length of the straight (sigh)
On our 100th episode of Dollars & Sense, we discuss why the Reserve Bank always seems to prioritise inflation over employment in its interest rate discussions.
A broken university system is letting Australia down
Poor governance, poor policy and decades of neoliberalism have broken Australia’s university sector, with devastating consequences for students and the country.
October 2025
Reddit to the rescue: watchdog sues Microsoft after AI price-hike complaints
Plenty of big tech companies are losing money on their artificial intelligence investments, begging the question: do people actually want the products?
Mates’ rates and why Australia can’t have nice things
Australia’s natural environment is in crisis and its wealth is disappearing into the hands of a few powerful fossil fuel companies – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
How gold became a memecoin
People have been queuing for gold and it’s giving toilet paper in 2020.
Pots and kettles: Trump trades barbs with China over trade
The global economic outlook is “dim” according to a new report, driven by uncertainty over Trump’s economic and trade policies.
Fixing Australia’s “arse-backwards” environment laws
Environment laws that don’t stop new gas and coal are like putting screen doors on a submarine.
Trump’s shutdown power play
As Trump and his officials look at invoking the Insurrection Act, the administration is using the ongoing government shutdown to lay off workers and consolidate power.
Housing affordability to get worse as big corporates do annual tax magic
Renting a place to live is getting more expensive and house price rises are tipped to accelerate.
Australia is a rich country that taxes like a poor one
If Australia just collected the OECD average in tax, the government would have an extra $130 billion a year to spend on essential services like health and education.
The housing market just got more cooked
The federal government’s policy enabling five per cent house deposits is just a backdoor first homebuyer’s grant that’ll pump up prices.
September 2025
How ScoMo stuffed the GST
Scott Morrison’s GST deal with Western Australia stuffed the system, but there are plenty of ways the Government could make it better.
The biggest risk to Australia’s economy
A new report outlines the grave consequences of climate change for the Australian economy – so why is the government still approving fossil fuel projects?
Robodebt and super tax: Rob the poor, feed the rich?
When our most vulnerable are treated with suspicion, and our wealthiest get massive tax cuts, what does that say about our priorities?
Productivity crisis? Australia’s “lazy” oligopolies could step up
For all the talk about what government should do about productivity, Australia’s biggest corporations remain inefficient and unwilling to invest.
August 2025
How not to impose a tariff
Postal services around the world have suspended services to the United States in response to the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies.
Big Gas’ greed is killing Australian manufacturers
The colossal price rises on the east coast, brought on by excessive gas exports, have been a disaster for Australian manufacturers and households.
Red mist over the red tape cop out
Some regulations are good. Some are not. But cutting mystery ‘red tape’ is not panacea for improving productivity growth.
Tax the wealthiest to make Australia more productive
The Prime Minister hosed down expectations ahead of the economic roundtable, but a serious reform package must include changes to tax policy.
Price gouging is profitable, more news at 11
Turns out being Australia’s Biggest Bank is very profitable when there isn’t much competition…
The problem with productivity
We discuss the proposals around corporate tax and artificial intelligence ahead of the government’s productivity roundtable.
Australians march for Palestine as Trump shoots the messenger
On this special crossover episode of Follow the Money and After America, Dr Emma Shortis joins Glenn Connley to discuss the Australian protests calling for more action to protect Palestinians, the momentum against the troubled AUKUS submarine pact, and Trump’s decision to fire his chief of labour statistics after job growth slowed. This discussion was
Australians march for Palestine as Trump shoots the messenger
From Gaza to AUKUS, pressure for change is building on Australian foreign policy.
General Enquiries
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mail@australiainstitute.org.au
Media Enquiries
Glenn Connley Senior Media Advisor


