Follow the Money

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.

May 2020

The International Pandemic Response with Helen Clark

featuring Allan Behm and Ebony Bennett

Australia and New Zealand have had a lot of success in managing this pandemic, but that has not been the case internationally and we’ve seen a range of responses from international governments. This episode is from one of our ‘Economics of a pandemic’ webinar series, featuring Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Why ‘snap back’ is a fantasy

featuring Ebony Bennett and Matt Grudnoff

How realistic is it to expect the economy to ‘snap back’ after restrictions are lifted? Can there be a business-led recovery? In this episode we talk to senior economist Matt Grudnoff about why snap back is nice fantasy, but won’t work in reality.Visit tai.org.au for all our latest research and analysis.Host: Ebony Bennett, deputy director

A renewably powered manufacturing sector with Ross Garnaut

featuring Ebony Bennett, Dan Nahum and Jim Stanford

Today’s episode is from one of our ‘Economics of a pandemic’ webinar series, featuring Professor Ross Garnaut, renowned economist and author of Superpower: Australia’s Low-Carbon Opportunity.Professor Garnaut was in conversation with economist and director of the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, Jim Stanford, and Dan Nahum – economist at the Centre for Future Work

The view from the Gallery – Politics in the (virtual) Pub

featuring Ebony Bennett and Leanne Minshull

Today we’re changing the pace a little, with our virtual Politics in the Pub featuring Guardian Australia’s political reporter Amy Remeikis and hosted by The Australia Institute Tasmania’s director Leanne Minshull, live from her pub the Fern Tree Tavern in Hobart.News.com.au’s political editor Samantha Maiden was also supposed to join the conversation but unfortunately couldn’t

The public health response with Professor Peter Doherty

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

In this episode we’re privileged to bring you some special guests from our ‘Economics of a Pandemic webinar series: immunologist and Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Peter Doherty and our chief economist Richard Denniss talking about the public health response to Covid-19.Professor Peter Doherty was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with Rolf

Working From Home: tracky dacks and keystroke surveillance

featuring Ebony Bennett and Alison Pennington

Working from home has great potential to cushion the economic blow of the pandemic: allowing many to keep working and earning an income. But there are also many challenges and risks associated with this major shift in work patterns. So to unpack the implications of everything from Orwellian surveillance programs to the joys of working

April 2020

Inequality in a Pandemic with Professor Joseph Stiglitz Nobel Laureate economist

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

To discuss Inequality in a Pandemic, The Australia Institute is privileged to bring you some very special guests from our ‘Economics of a Pandemic webinar series: Nobel Prize laureate economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz, ALP National President Wayne Swan and our chief economist Dr Richard Denniss.Part of the Australia Institute’s ‘Economics of a Pandemic’ webinar series.

After the Crisis with Jim Chalmers

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

It’s not too early to start thinking about how we rebuild the economy after the crisis. Hear Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers discuss why ‘snapback’ just won’t cut it, as part of the Australia Institute’s ‘Economics of a Pandemic’ webinar series. Recorded live on Wednesday 29 April 2020.Jim Chalmers’ Guardian article is here.Language warning – an

Covid-19: Media in crisis

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

The Australian media industry, particularly journalism, was already going through a major disruption before the pandemic hit. At least 51 news media outlets and newsrooms have closed since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis in Australia, according the The Guardian.This episode features a discussion about the crisis facing the media between Kim Williams, Chair of

Covid-19 and rethinking national security

featuring Allan Behm and Ebony Bennett

We are facing existential threats to human security that are not amenable to solution by military forces. In this week’s episode we discuss the need to rethink national security with Allan Behm, director of the Australia Institute’s International and Security Affairs Program.Check out Allan’s Guardian article hereVisit tai.org.au for our latest pandemic economic research and

The role of artists and the arts in rescuing the economy

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

The Australian arts industry was one of the earliest economic casualties of Covid-19 as museums, theatres, galleries, festivals and music venues shut down to avoid a public health crisis leading to massive job losses –even as more than ever we rely on music, TV and books to help us cope with isolation.In this episode we’re

What is your life really worth?

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

It’s early days, but it looks like the measures Australia has taken to stop the spread of Covid-19 appear to be working. But not everyone sees it that way. Many commentators and economists think that the restrictions we’ve put in place go ‘too far’. So we asked chief economist at the Australia Institute, Richard Denniss,

No trust without scrutiny – the case for an Epidemic Response Committee

featuring Ebony Bennett and Ben Oquist

In the middle of this unprecedented health and economic crisis, it is critical we do not let a crisis in our democracy emerge as well. Like Australia, New Zealand has shut down its Parliament due to COVID-19.However, NZ has found a non-partisan alternative to maintain accountability while Parliament is not sitting.Australia Institute executive director Ben

March 2020

Unpacking the Jobkeeper wage subsidy scheme

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

The Morrison government performed an enormous and welcome backflip, announcing a $130 billion Jobseeker package to support workers, through their employer, with a $1500/fortnight wage subsidy. Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute unpacks the details with us.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettContributors: Richard Denniss, chief economist at the

What the hell is happening to the economy?

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

What does a global pandemic do to the economy? Richard Denniss explains why the government is shutting down whole sections of the economy and unpacks the government’s economic survival package.Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennettContributors: Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAIThis episode was produced by Jennifer

December 2019

The People vs Tech

featuring Ebony Bennett and Peter Lewis

There is a growing awareness globally that unregulated technological development is not delivering on its promise to transform the world for the better. The Australia Institute launched the Centre for Responsible Technology, a new non-partisan centre designed to give people greater influence over the way technology is rapidly changing our world, on Wednesday 20 November 2019.

September 2019

August 2019

What’s Going On With The Murray Darling Basin

featuring Ebony Bennett, Rod Campbell and Maryanne Slattery

First there were dead fish and towns running out of water, then #Watergate and now Four Corners have done an investigation into the Murray Darling Basin — again. Big picture…what’s going on? Host: Rod Campbell, research director at The Australia Institute // @R_o_d_C Contributors: Maryanne Slattery, senior water researcher at the Australia Institute // @MaryanneSlatte1 Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Title

June 2019

How Good Is The Economy?

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

Two months ago, the Treasurer delivered a budget with rosy economic figures – what the hell happened? Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors: Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI  Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey // Additional editing by Lizzie Jack. Title Track: Jonathan

May 2019

Mass Confusion About The New Senate Voting System

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

There’s mass confusion about the new Senate voting system. Follow the Money unpacks how to get the most out of your Senate ballot paper. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors: Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI  Tom Swann, senior researcher at the Australia Institute // @Tom_Swann Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey //

April 2019

The Wages Crisis

featuring Ebony Bennett and Jim Stanford

Why is Australia in the midst of a wages crisis? In this episode, Follow the Money explains how we got here. Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors: Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Centre for Future Work // @jimbostanford Troy Henderson, economist at the Centre for Future Work // @troychenderson Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey // Additional

Unpacking The 2019 Federal Budget

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

In this episode, Follow the Money unpacks everything you need to know about the federal budget.  Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors:  Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI  Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Troy Henderson, economist, Centre for Future Work // @TroyCHenderson

February 2019

What The Hell Is Dividend Imputation?

featuring Ebony Bennett, Richard Denniss and Matt Grudnoff

What the hell is dividend imputation and why is everyone talking about franking credits? In this episode, Follow the Money explains how it all works.  Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at The Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett Contributors: Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI  Matt Grudnoff, senior economist at the Australia Institute // @MattGrudnoff Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey // Additional

December 2018

Dead Right With Richard Denniss

featuring Ebony Bennett and Richard Denniss

Welcome to Follow The Money’s summer special series! If you’re taking a break this summer, but still crave a political fix, settle in a listen to the ‘best of’ from the Australia Institute’s live politics in the pub events this year. In his Quarterly Essay, Dead Right, Richard Denniss talks about how neoliberalism ate itself,

Wrong Way Book Launch With Doug Cameron

featuring Ebony Bennett

Welcome to Follow The Money’s summer special series! If you’re taking a break this summer, but still crave a political fix, settle in a listen to the ‘best of’ from the Australia Institute’s live politics in the pub events this year. Launching the book Wrong Way, Senator Doug Cameron talks about privatisation and how some

10 Year Anniversary Of The Stimulus Package With Wayne Swan Tanya Plibersek And Jim Chalmers

featuring Ebony Bennett

Welcome to Follow The Money’s summer special series! If you’re taking a break this summer, but still crave a political fix, settle in a listen to the ‘best of’ from the Australia Institute’s live politics in the pub events this year. Ten years after the global financial crisis, Wayne Swan, Tanya Plibersek and Jim Chalmers

Bob Brown And Clare Rewcastle Brown, Environmentalist Of The Year

featuring Ebony Bennett

Welcome to Follow The Money’s summer special series! If you’re taking a break this summer, but still crave a political fix, settle in a listen to the ‘best of’ from the Australia Institute’s live politics in the pub events this year. Investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown wanted logging in Sarawak to stop. The Malaysian Prime

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