Follow the Money // Economics
The Australia Institute’s Follow the Money podcast explains Australia’s big economic issues in plain English. We bust myths, dissect politics, interpret econobabble and help you sound really smart at your next dinner party, with host Ebony Bennett.
August 2025
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.
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.
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
July 2025
“Out of patience”: it’s time to fix the housing crisis
Amy Remeikis and Matt Grudnoff preview the first parliamentary sitting week.
Their fair share: the tax debate we need to have
By limiting generous tax concessions for the wealthy and collecting revenue from Australia’s natural resources, the Government could fund health and education systems that work properly.
June 2025
Now is the time for brave reform
A housing crisis, accelerating climate change and widening inequality all confront the re-elected Albanese Government, but the solutions exist (and often aren’t that complicated).
May 2025
Super hysterical: the ludicrous beat-up over superannuation tax changes
Superannuation is meant to help all Australians have a comfortable retirement, not help the very wealthiest pay less tax.
Failing the test: Australian universities in crisis
Great countries have great institutions, but Australian universities are a mess.
April 2025
The cruel housing hoax
Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne discuss the federal election campaign so far, the performance of the media, and how preferential voting actually works.
Home economics: housing, living standards and the federal election
With housing affordability at an all-time low and the spectre of Trump looming large over our region, Australians’ standard of living will be at the heart of the debate from now until election day.
March 2025
Don’t gut our environment laws
The Government’s proposed environmental law changes are an attack on our democracy and could benefit destructive industries far beyond Tasmania’s coastal ecosystems.
Fish out of water
Chunks of dead salmon have washed up on Tasmanian beaches and the Maugean skate is at risk of extinction, so why won’t governments to more to rein in the salmon industry in Tasmania?
Enemies of the state
The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim?
February 2025
DOGE days: Trump’s war on the civil service
By laying off tens of thousands of federal employees, challenging the authority of judges and throwing erstwhile allies under the bus, the Trump administration is radically reshaping America and its role in the world.
A soft landing? What the rate cut means for the Australian economy
The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for the first time since November 2020 – so is the Australian economy out of the woods?
Stop the steel
We discuss Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and what they’ll mean for Australia.
January 2025
The work with Bri Lee | Summer Book Club
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.
December 2024
Fixing Australia’s housing crisis with Alan Kohler
Houses should be a place to live, not a ladder to wealth.
October 2024
Super-powered nukes: Aussie funds and weapons of mass destruction
Australian superannuation funds have been investing in nuclear weapons, according to new research.
Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants
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.
September 2024
Mining’s big temper tantrum
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.
August 2024
Wealth of nations: how Australia’s prosperity is funnelled to the ultra-rich
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.
How superannuation tax concessions help the rich get richer
Super tax concessions make inequality worse and are at risk of becoming more expensive than the aged pension.
June 2024
How Australia created a housing crisis (and what we can do to fix it)
Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis, fuelled by poor government policy.
May 2024
Budget 2024: what you need to know
Budget 2024 had a little bit for a lot of people, but in trying to please everyone, has the government disappointed everyone instead?
The budget vs inflation
Millions of Australians are struggling to make ends meet, yet when it comes to the federal budget, too often we hear that governments ‘can’t afford’ additional spending.
April 2024
Not seeing the koalas for the carbon credits
Rather than delivering on their election promise to create a Great Koala National Park, the New South Wales Government is sitting on its hands until it can earn carbon credits from forests.
March 2024
The end of capitalism with Yanis Varoufakis
Capitalism is dying, but not in the way you might think.
February 2024
The Push to Stop Pork Barrelling
Independent MP Helen Haines has introduced a bill to Parliament designed to prevent pork-barreling, where taxpayer money is allocated according to where it is needed to win votes, not where the public needs it most. This was recorded on Tuesday 27th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Bill Browne,
The Right to Disconnect
Federal Parliament is set to pass new industrial relations laws, including the ‘right to disconnect.’ This means that workers will legally be able to ignore calls outside of work hours. This was recorded on Tuesday 13th February 2024 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Dr Jim Stanford, Director, the Centre for
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