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‘Not the right time’? Why Albanese’s safety first is no longer enough

by Amy Remeikis in The New Daily

In 2014, Noel Pearson delivered an eulogy for Gough Whitlam. Professor Tom Clark wrote about it for The Conversation and said “Pearson came to praise Caesar on Wednesday, certainly not to bury him” as he listed the achievements of one of Australia’s greatest reformers. Pearson said he was speaking to “this old man’s legacy with no partisan brief” but named

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Off the Charts

Landslide Labor win out of proportion to primary vote

by Skye Predavec

Labor won nearly two-thirds of all the seats in the House of Representatives with just over a third of first preferences.

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Coal Mine Tracker

Since May 2022, the Federal Environment Minister has approved 12 new coal mines or expansions.

There are 31 additional proposals for new or expanded coal mines currently waiting for Federal Government approval.

If approved, the lifetime emissions from all 43 projects would be equivalent to keeping all of Australia’s coal-fired power stations operating for an additional 100 years.

×100 years

Podcasts

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Between the Lines Newsletter

A moment to celebrate | Between the Lines

The Wrap with Greg Jericho It is easy for progressives to find things to complain about. It’s not because we are miserable, but unfortunately, we are too aware of the realities of life for many who never get a voice, aware of the crisis of climate change, and aware of the inequalities in the system

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The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.

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Woodside wants you to think we need more of their gas to support the transition to renewables.... 🤔 Even though they export the vast majority of the gas they get from Australia...on top of getting most of it for free! ✍️ Add your name to the petition for a 25% tax on gas exports! ⤵️ https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/gas_export_tax?utm_campaign=petition&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_term=CLI_Tax
No, we don’t need more gas to transition to renewables!
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLkZ3VG5VWjVyZEhR

No, we don’t need more gas to transition to renewables!

The Santos CEO says the government's proposed gas reservation policy will kill gas companies... 🤔 Even though Santos' share price has gone up 3.4% since the policy was announced! 📈 ✍️ Add your name to the petition for a 25% tax on gas exports! ⤵️ https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/gas_export_tax?utm_campaign=petition&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_term=CLI_Tax
Gas companies complaining about new reservation policy
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLjlxUGZTYmdnUlpn

Gas companies complaining about new reservation policy

As it currently stands, more than half of the benefit of the capital gains tax discount go to the top 1%. People under 30 only got 2% of the benefit! 📻Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff on ABC Radio National Read more from Matt on the budget's tax changes on The Point ⤵️ https://thepoint.com.au/explainers/260513-budget-2026-the-government-is-finally-winding-back-the-tax-breaks-driving-up-house-prices?utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_term=ECN_Housing
Young people benefit most from budget tax changes
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLkpQSTM0dERDak0w

Young people benefit most from budget tax changes

Premier Peter Malinauskas’ decision to overturn SA's ban on gas fracking is not only irresponsible, but also unnecessary. Australia doesn't have a gas shortage problem, we have a gas export problem. And fracking in vulnerable farming communities won't fix it. Read more ⤵️ https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/sa-fracking-ban-backflip-senseless-and-unnecessary/?utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_term=CLI
SA fracking ban backflip makes no sense
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLk1QV1N6T2dpdW1z

SA fracking ban backflip makes no sense

Australia could raise around $17 billion a year with a 25% gas export tax – enough to put dental in Medicare or fund free childcare – but the government is choosing not to. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australia Institute needs to get “fair dinkum” about gas exports, the post-budget meme-wars over capital gains tax, and the “death tax” scare campaign. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 21 May 2026. Visit The Point (https://thepoint.com.au/) for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut (https://bsky.app/profile/grogsgamut.bsky.social) Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB (https://bsky.app/profile/angusrb.bsky.social) Show notes: Death, taxes and scare campaigns: here’s the truth about Labor’s budget changes (https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2026/may/21/labor-budget-changes-death-taxes-scare-campaigns-truth) by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Keating backs CGT reforms, says Howard changes made house prices "blast off" (https://thepoint.com.au/news/260521-keating-backs-cgt-reforms-says-howard-changes-made-house-prices-blast-off) by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) Government CGT Changes – Structurally Sound (https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260521-government-cgt-changes-structurally-sound) , statement by former Prime Minister Paul Keating (May 2026) Conservative newspapers are stoking fears CGT changes will hurt young Australians — despite very few being affected (https://thepoint.com.au/off-the-charts/260520conservative-newspapers-are-stoking-fears-cgt-changes-will-hurt-young-australians-despite-very-few-being-affected) by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) The case for a gas export tax, explained (https://thepoint.com.au/explainers/260323-the-case-for-a-gas-export-tax-explained) by Richard Denniss, The Point (May 2026) Australia's Gas Giveaway (https://gas.australiainstitute.org.au/) , the Australia Institute Richard Denniss responds to Anthony Albanese (https://bsky.app/profile/australiainstitute.org.au/post/3mlun5t56vs2i) , the Australia Institute on BlueSky (May 2026) 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 (mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au) . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dollars-sense/id1717300562) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5FWzwVKWUR2tZCbXSKuBE2?si=1c2f3558cc6d44ab) , Pocket Casts (https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/dollars-sense/9cc37d00-6a4f-013c-9f4c-0acc26574db2)  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Fair dinkum! The Prime Minister called us out over a gas tax
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLmZtYXBWZlozd1Uw

Fair dinkum! The Prime Minister called us out over a gas tax

Six months out from an election, Victoria has been left with no political donation laws after the High Court ruled them unconstitutional. On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the High Court voided Victoria’s undemocratic political donations laws. They examine what this could mean for other jurisdictions and why a principled, transparent approach to political donations reform is needed – not legislation that skews the system in favour of major parties. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 19 May. Visit The Point (https://thepoint.com.au/) for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90 (https://bsky.app/profile/browne90.bsky.social) Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett (https://bsky.app/profile/ebonybennett.bsky.social) Show notes: Victoria’s donation restrictions are unconstitutional – what happens now? (https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260430-victorias-donation-restrictions-are-unconstitutional-what-happens-now) by Bill Browne, The Point (April 2026) Open letter calls on Victorian Parliament to make election donation laws fair and transparent (https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/open-letter-calls-on-victorian-parliament-to-make-election-donation-laws-fair-and-transparent/) from Australian Democracy Network, Accountability Round Table, Transparency International Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, the Australia Institute and many other integrity and community organisations (May 2026) High Court shines a light on how major parties have stacked the system in their favour (https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260416-high-court-shines-a-light-on-how-major-parties-have-stacked-the-system-in-their-favour) by Bill Browne, The Point (April 2026) High Court gives Victoria a chance to rethink its unconstitutional, undemocratic political donation laws (https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/high-court-gives-victoria-a-chance-to-rethink-its-unconstitutional-undemocratic-political-donation-laws/) , the Australia Institute (April 2026) 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 (mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au) . Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/follow-the-money/id1078781512) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0JOrvYNuhHOwaFuZ7PlW1d?si=e9265dc6a04d40b3) , Pocket Casts (https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/follow-the-money/2aeecbb0-b36a-0133-2e57-6dc413d6d41d) or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Victoria’s donations shambles puts rest of country “on notice”
YouTube Video VVVLT2ZHNW54WkNmZmpPcU96YVRGVGNBLnZMdjFLWVJXUWQ0

Victoria’s donations shambles puts rest of country “on notice”