Australia Matters

Even the greatest dynasties come to an end. On this episode, Greg announces the end of the Dollars & Sense series and thanks all who came along for the journey. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November 2026. Read more on The Point. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Follow the Money: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Australia Institute website After America: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Australia Institute website What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the Australia Institute website Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on our podcasts, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected] Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains why government spending isn’t to blame for higher inflation in Australia right now and why arguments about whether the government spends too much or too little are simplistic; how the money is spent matters. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November. Read more on The Point. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Show notes: More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2026) Rate rises won’t bring down oil prices or stop the data centre boom by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (October 2026) Brutal interest rate hike won’t address main causes of inflation, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (November 2026) Six ways to save the Commonwealth billions, fairly and efficiently by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, The Point (November 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this bonus mini-episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the Democrats’ historic midterms success, what now for the Trump administration, and what it might mean for the Australia-US relationship. This episode was recorded on Friday 6 November. Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer – Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Shorter America: Looks like woke’s back on the menu; Choosin’ Texas; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterms are finally upon us. On Tuesday US time, Americans will vote in a new Congress – and deliver a verdict on two years of the second Trump administration. On this episode of After America, If You’re Listening host Matt Bevan joins Dr Emma Shortis to preview the midterms and examine the election results in Israel. In both countries, these could be the most important elections in generations – so what will the fallout be? This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October. Join Emma and Don Watson at our first-ever After America live show on Tuesday 1 December at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Guest: Matt Bevan, host of If You’re Listening, Australian Broadcasting Corporation // @mattbevan Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: If You’re Listening Live Midterms Broadcast, 3pm AEDT (Melbourne Cup +24-ish), Wednesday 4 November Shorter America: Races to watch; The Trump effect; Global implications by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) Israel’s October 7 inquiry hinges on this election, If You're Listening on YouTube (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains why the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is banking on mass unemployment, the impact of AI on superannuation, and what happens if the AI bubble bursts. This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October. Read more on The Point. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2026) 'Not an unintended consequence': Mass unemployment is the AI business model by Tegan George, The Point (October 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elephant?! What elephant? On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss key races in the midterms, the upcoming Israeli election, and the latest from the Canberra bubble on Euro-Indo-Atlanto-Pacific strategic interests. This episode was recorded on Monday 26 October. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor in International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Shorter America: Michigan Matters; Looking to Europe; Political Violence by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026) Faith and nostalgia: dangerous strategic partners by Allan Behm, The Point (October 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senate Estimates is a government and department accountability mechanism. It’s a process where Senators get to look under the hood of Federal Departments and ask, among other things, how is taxpayer money being spent? In this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explores why Estimates matter for democracy, and ways it can be improved. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //@richarddenniss Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia, Richard Denniss’ Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Show notes: Aussies pay more tax on beer than international gas companies pay on tens and billions of dollars worth of our offshore gas they export | David Pocock, via FacebookDavid Pocock is right: more tax is raised from beer than from petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) | The Point 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.