Follow The Money

The Reserve Bank’s fifth interest rate hike of 2026 will hurt Australian mortgage holders as big corporates profit. On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss what’s really driving inflation, who’s benefitting in this economy, how the government can support the Australians who need it most. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 4 November. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Big four banks cash in on borrowers’ misery as rates rise again, the Australia Institute (November 2026) Profit-price spiral: the truth behind Australia’s inflation by Jim Stanford, the Australia Institute (February 2023) Woodside records mega war profits while Australians pay through the nose, the Australia Institute (October 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration and US democracy itself face a big test at the midterm elections. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Emma Shortis joins Ebony Bennett to discuss US politics ahead of the midterms and the state of democracy globally. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 27 October. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Shorter America: Michigan Matters; Looking to Europe; Political Violence by Emma Shortis (October 2026) Trump still the elephant in Canberra as US midterms approach, After America, the Australia Institute (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Amy Remeikis, Greg Jericho and Ebony Bennett discuss violence, decency and dissent in Australia’s democracy following the alleged violent attack on Dr Helen Haines MP, who remains in critical condition in hospital. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 21 October. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Sending our love to Helen Haines, the Australia Institute (October 2026) I knew one of us could get hurt eventually. I never thought it would be my friend Helen by Zoe Daniel, Guardian Australia (October 2026) Jim Chalmers on reform and the far right, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (October 2026) Will Australia’s online safety laws work?, the Australia Institute on YouTube (October 2026) The RBA has gotten its wish: unemployment hits 4.7% by Greg Jericho, The Point (October 2026) Most of us don’t have trusts, and those who do earn a lot more than the rest of us by Greg Jericho, The Point (October 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlines the big challenges facing Australia and the importance of changing the status quo – a situation that is clearly not working for many Australians. In this special episode of Follow the Money, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, addresses the loss of control many Australians feel right now, the rise of the far-right in Australia, and the importance of meaningful reform. This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Bernie Fraser Oration on Tuesday 13 October. Guest: Jim Chalmers, Treasurer of Australia and Labor Member for Rankin // @jimchalmers Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Bernie Fraser Oration 2026 | Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, the Australia Institute on YouTube (October 2026) Turning point. New analysis reveals tax changes are reversing 25 years of housing policy failure, the Australia Institute (October 2026) Factcheck: Is immigration really causing Australia’s housing crisis? by Noah Schultz-Byard, The Point (September 2025) Australia’s tax dilemma: the case for real reform, National Press Club address by Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute on YouTube (October 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is a rich country, but for many younger Australians, the ability to share in that prosperity is increasingly out of reach. On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the housing crisis, its long-term impacts on the lives of younger Australians, and her proposals to turn the situation around. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 6 October. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. Guest: Barbara Pocock, Senator for South Australia and Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness // @barbarapocock Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Locked out: the growing generational housing divide, Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity (September 2026) Additional comments from the Chair, Senator Barbara Pocock, Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity (September 2026) Senate Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity | Perth, WA, Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal on YouTube (August 2026) Profit in home lending: April 2026 edition by Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (April 2026) Factcheck: Is immigration really causing Australia’s housing crisis? by Noah Schultz-Byard, The Point (September 2025) Even Liberal voters agree, it’s time to ditch Howard era perks for property investors – polls, the Australia Institute (March 2026) Youth mental health decline coincides with increased economic pressure: new report, the Australia Institute (August 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis. On this episode of Follow the Money, Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australians’ extraordinary gambling losses, the federal government’s failure to create a national regulator for online gambling, and her proposal to lift standards in the NT. This episode was recorded on Friday 25 September. If this episode raised issues for you, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit Gambling Help Online at www.gamblinghelponline.org.au. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. Guest: Justine Davis, Member for Johnston, Northern Territory Legislative Assembly // @justinedavismla Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute SIGN THE PETITION: Ban online gambling ads!, the Australia Institute “Appalling”: Wilkie slams government’s response to gambling inquiry, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (August 2026) Australia's de facto online gambling regulator stops accepting gifts from betting companies, for now by Jack Hislop, ABC News (November 2025) NT's regulation of Australia's online gambling industry labelled a 'complete farce' by Jack Hislop, ABC News (April 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite dire warnings from the scientific community and Australia’s Pacific neighbours, the federal government isn’t getting the message. On this episode of Follow the Money, Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia and Canadian independent Senator Dr Rosa Galvez join us to discuss the need to phase out fossil fuels. This episode was recorded live on Wednesday 16 September at the Australia Institute’s Politics in the Pub event in Canberra. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Guest: The Hon Dr Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister for Climate Change and Environment for the Government of Tuvalu Guest: The Hon Senator Dr Rosa Galvez, Independent Senator for Québec (Bedford), Canada // @senrosagalvez Host: Louise Morris, Head of Fossil Fuel Transition, the Australia Institute // @louisemorris Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Transition Away from Fossil Fuels: A roadmap for Australia by Hamdi Jama, Rod Campbell & Louise Morris, the Australia Institute (September 2026) Australia and Canada can learn from each other on climate if we separate action from declaration by Rosa Galvez, Guardian Australia (September 2026) Albanese's Climate Week speech left out the numbers that matter most by Louise Morris, The Point (September 2026) Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return, United Nations Overshoot Programme (September 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soaring specialist costs, an increasingly complex system, and Australians getting sicker for longer suggest all is not well in Australian health care. On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Luke Slawomirski and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the soaring cost of specialists, why pushing people towards the private health system doesn’t take pressure off public hospitals, the government’s proposed changes to private health rebates, and how to ensure Australia doesn’t backslide towards US-style health care. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 15 September. Correction: During the discussion on Australian specialist costs, Luke mistakenly said that average costs in the Australian Capital Territory are six times higher than Tasmania. They are actually four times higher. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Guest: Luke Slawomirski, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @lukeslawomirski Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Australia has an illness system, not a health system by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (July 2026) Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians – new research, the Australia Institute (August 2026) Why scrapping the age-based private health insurance rebate makes sense by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (September 2026) The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling, the Australia Institute (September 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Non-compete clauses suppress wages, reduce productivity and stifle innovation. Now, the federal government is looking to ban them for most workers. The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the pernicious impact of non-compete clauses and the federal government’s new legislation seeking to ban them for 9-in-10 workers. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 8 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Guest: Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury and Federal Member for Fenner // @aleighmp Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Reform to non-compete clauses and other restraints – draft legislation, Department of Treasury Consultation Hub Government seeks to ban non-compete agreements for most workers by Jack Thrower, The Point Live (September 2026) New data shows many businesses are now using non-compete clauses – and that’s bad for workers by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (February 2024) The great unbinding: non‑competes, freedom and the future of competition, Sydney Institute address by the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP (September 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of scandals, it’s time to break up Australia’s ‘big four’ consultancy firms. On this episode of Follow the Money, Josh Bornstein and Skye Predavec join Ebony Bennett to discuss Australia’s scandal-plagued big consultancies, the impact of governments’ “orgy of outsourcing” to these firms, and why breaking up the ‘big four’ is the best way to prevent future misconduct. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 2 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Guest: Josh Bornstein, Director, Corporate Regulation, the Australia Institute // @joshbornstein Guest: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Break up the Big Four by Josh Bornstein, Skye Predavec and Anara Watson, the Australia Institute (August 2026) The KPMG scandal: We have seen this show before by Josh Bornstein, The Point (July 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeOSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.