• The uninsurables: how climate change is pricing people out of home insurance
    Nov 20 2024

    More frequent and severe disasters are sending insurance costs through the roof, creating a north-south divide in Australia.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Walkley Award-winning journalist Stephen Long joins Alice Grundy to discuss climate change, skyrocketing premiums and serious impact they’re having on inequality.

    This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 13 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    Pre-order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @StephenLongAus

    Host: Alice Grundy, Research Manager, Anne Kantor Fellows, the Australia Institute // @alicektg

    Show notes:

    Premium price: The impact of climate change on insurance costs, the Australia Institute (November 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    26 mins
  • Hitting our limits: the climate and COP29
    Nov 13 2024

    The United Nations climate change negotiations are skirting around the critical issue of phasing out fossil fuels and are in desperate need of reform, says Sandrine Dixson-Declève.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss phasing out fossil fuels, the false narratives being peddled about the green transition, and why addressing inequality is fundamental to tackling the climate crisis.

    This discussion was recorded on Thursday 24 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    Pre-order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome // @SDDecleve

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Host: Alice Grundy, Research Manager, Anne Kantor Fellows, the Australia Institute // @alicekgt

    Show notes:

    Earth for All – A Survival Guide for Humanity, The Club of Rome (2022)

    The Limits to Growth, The Club of Rome (1972)

    ‘COP28 did not deliver. We need better global governance and brave leadership’ by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Reuters (December 2023)

    Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2024, The Australia Institute (May 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    35 mins
  • The AUKward truth about the US relationship
    Nov 5 2024

    With its democracy under assault, America needs a friend, not a flunkey.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute International & Security Affairs Advisor Allan Behm joins us to discuss the “unachievable” AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, Australia’s ‘fear of abandonment’, and how the outcome of the presidential election might change US foreign policy.

    This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 5 November 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Allan Behm, International & Security Affairs Advisor, the Australia Institute // @Mirandaprorsus

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    The Odd Couple: the Australia-America relationship by Allan Behm (2024)

    No Enemies No Friends: Restoring Australia’s Global Relevance by Allan Behm (2022)

    Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World since 1942 by Allan Gyngell (2021)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    38 mins
  • We can, in fact, have nice things
    Oct 30 2024

    He lost the Queensland election, but former Premier Steven Miles may have saved the furniture by putting forward popular, progressive policies that voters responded to.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute Executive Director Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the fake fight between the new Queensland Premier and Peter Dutton over nuclear power and the fallout from the state election.

    This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 29 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @RDNS_TAI

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    Queensland election: A clear message to Federal Labor, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

    ‘Federal Labor’s lesson from Qld defeat: bold progressive policies provide a pathway to a second term’ by Stephen Long, the Australia Institute (October 2024)

    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

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    21 mins
  • Secrecy is not security
    Oct 23 2024

    Excessive secrecy in government decision-making makes Australia less safe, not more.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne, Democracy & Accountability Director at the Australia Institute, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss whistleblower protections, improving the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and why Australia may be the world’s most secretive democracy.

    This discussion was recorded live on Tuesday 22 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    Find all the content from the Australia Institute’s Transparency Summit 2024 on our website or via the Australia Institute on YouTube.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability Program, the Australia Institute // @Browne90

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    Secrecy is not security, Bill Browne (October 2024)

    Labor and Democracy, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP (December 2019)

    Making freedom of information “sexy” with Rex Patrick, Follow the Money (April 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    29 mins
  • The way we disagree
    Oct 16 2024

    Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno joins us to discuss how conflict in the Middle East is reverberating through Australia, and reconciliation one year after the Voice referendum.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Paul Bongiorno, columnist for The Saturday Paper and The New Daily, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss culture wars in Australia, two upcoming elections, and the reaction to Anthony Albanese’s new beachside retreat.

    This discussion was recorded live on Tuesday 15 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Paul Bongiorno, columnist, The Saturday Paper and The New Daily // @PaulBongiorno

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    ‘Dutton takes a high-risk stance on the Middle East’ by Paul Bongiorno, The Saturday Paper (October 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    39 mins
  • Super-powered nukes: Aussie funds and weapons of mass destruction
    Oct 9 2024

    Australian superannuation funds have been investing in nuclear weapons, according to new research.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Margaret Beavis, Co-Director of Quit Nukes, and Adam Gottschalk, Anne Kantor Research Fellow at the Australia Institute, join us to discuss how some superannuation funds invest Australians’ retirement savings nuclear weapons.

    This discussion was recorded live on Friday 4 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Margaret Beavis, Co-Director, Quit Nukes // @margaretbeavis

    Guest: Adam Gottschalk, Anne Kantor Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @adamchalksitup

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    Risky Business: An update on super funds and nuclear weapons by Rosemary Kelly and Margaret Beavis (September 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    19 mins
  • Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants
    Oct 2 2024

    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.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Greens Senator Nick McKim, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Grocery Prices, joins us to discuss regulating the major supermarkets and his famous grilling of the former Woolies CEO.

    Join President José Ramos-Horta at 6pm AEDT, Tuesday 8 October for an evening of conversation at the Sydney Opera House, presented by the Australia Institute as part of its 30 Years of Big Ideas.

    This discussion was recorded live on Tuesday 1 October 2024 and things may have changed since recording.

    australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute

    Guest: Senator Nick McKim, Greens Economic Justice and Treasury Spokesperson and Senator for Tasmania // @NickMcKim

    Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett

    Show notes:

    ‘ACCC Suing Supermarkets as Price Gouging Drives Inflation, Rate Hikes’, The Australia Institute (September 2024)

    ‘Coles, Woolies’ Secret Pricing Deal Undercuts Inflation Claims’, The Australia Institute (September 2024)

    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.

    Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    23 mins