Australia Matters

By lifting the rate of Jobseeker, the Australian government could save lives. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss the shocking number of Australians dying on Jobseeker, the government’s immigration policy announcements, and why inequality is a political choice. Then, a bittersweet Dollars & Sense announcement. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 17 September 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Extreme inequality is not a given. It is a political choice and we can unmake it by Joseph Stiglitz, The Point (September 2026) In such a rich country, it is shameful how many Australians on jobseeker are dying in desperate poverty by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) Recycled fuss about migrants is just a painful hot-button topic looking for an issue by Amy Remeikis, The New Daily (September 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 . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States controls or has access to more than 100 defence facilities on Australian soil, according to new research. On this episode of After America , Dr Richard Tanter joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss his new research on American access to Australian defence facilities, the long-term consequences of the war on terror for the Australia-US alliance, and whether Australia is the only American ally not seriously rethinking its relationship with the United States. This episode was recorded on Friday 11 September. Join Emma and Allan Behm for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book , New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times at 6pm on Tuesday 22 September. Tickets to ‘The Last Best Hope of Earth: Reflections on the USA at 250’ at the Celtic Club in Melbourne on Friday 18 September are available here. Guest: Richard Tanter, Senior Research Associate, Nautilus Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Australian Bases & US Involvement The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026) 9/11: Can the US ever recover? by Allan Behm, The Point (September 2026) Shorter America: Anniversaries; Australia and 9/11; From the rubble by Emma Shortis, The Point (September 2026) New Game, New Rules : A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026) A suitable piece of real estate: American installations in Australia by Desmond Ball, Hale & Iremonger (1980) 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss examines Australia’s artificial intelligence boom and the political fight over who reaps the rewards. This episode was recorded on Friday 4 September. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Read more on The Point . Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Producer: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Show notes: Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP | Bernie Fraser Oration 2026 tickets Revenue Summit 2026 tickets Six weeks after Albanese pledged renewable-powered data centres, he’s already made an exception by Tegan George, The Point (August 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early super access proposals would ultimately make people worse off – but the government could do more to help Australians currently in need. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss One Nation’s superannuation proposal, ways the government could provide genuine cost-of-living support, the Reserve Bank’s twisted thinking over inflation and interest rates, and Barnaby Joyce’s run-from-Jesus moment. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 10 September 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Horror warnings about Australia’s ‘collapsing’ housing market are absurd – and very much in bad faith by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) The fight on super misses the point by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026) Superannuation tax concessions are making inequality worse by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (July 2024) Why a rate rise is now looking increasingly likely by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 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 . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine nuclear weapons states are holding the rest of the world “hostage to annihilation”, but the Australian government is yet to act on a global ban. On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis reflects on the United States’ military footprint in Australia, before former Australian Minister for International Development Melissa Parke joins the show to discuss the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This episode was recorded Thursday 26 August. Join Dr Emma Shortis and Allan Behm at 6pm, Tuesday 22 September for the Melbourne launch of Allan’s new book , New Game New Rules: A foreign policy for dystopian times . Guest: Melissa Parke, Executive Director, International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons // @MelissaParke01 Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons New Game, New Rules : A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (August 2026) The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026) The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders” by Nick Turse, The Intercept (September 2026) Shorter America: An unhealthy alliance; Our "good friend" Pete; Oh my god these men (cont.) by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the goods and services tax. The GST was supposed to grow over time, so that state and territory governments would have a reliable income source to help them fund the important services they provide long into the future. Richard looks into whether it is actually working as intended. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //@richarddenniss Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets. Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Show notes: GST Shortfall | The Australia Institute 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 topodcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s economy is not overheating, so why are experts predicting a rate hike? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg gets triggered by the growth figures, before he and Elinor discuss how the states and territories have missed out on a lazy quarter-trillion and why access to specialist healthcare is slipping out of reach for many Australians. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 3 September 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australia’s economy limps along, but the RBA should take a closer look before raising interest rates again by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) RBA's own research shows that profits drove post-pandemic inflation, not wages by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026) The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling , the Australia Institute (September 2026) How can Australia ensure universal access to medical specialist care? by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (August 2026) Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians – new research , the Australia Institute (August 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 . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australia-United States relationship is strong in spite of the flawed defence partnership. On this episode of After America , Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss 75 years of the ANZUS treaty, the Trump administration’s assault on international law, and what confident, capable Australian foreign policy could look like. This episode was recorded Friday 28 August. New Game, New Rules : A foreign policy for dystopian times by Allan Behm is available now from Australia Institute Press for $19.95. Guest: Allan Behm, Special Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ANZUS and Australia’s Security by Allan Behm, the Australia Institute (July 2020) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025) Shorter America: Oh, Dolly; We're not ready; Barely Gettin' By by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Productivity Commission is a government-funded economic think tank that’s meant to give independent advice about how to make the Australian economy work better. On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss discusses whether it is fit for purpose. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets. Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Show notes: I want to see the Productivity Commission abolished – and even I think Labor’s attack on it was unfair | 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 to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Profits are surging and living standards are not. Will the AI boom be any different? On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Angus discuss the carve-out for Queensland and Northern Territory data centres that’ll allow them to run off coal and gas, the skyrocketing profits of some of Australia’s biggest companies, and the east coast vs west coast beef over GST revenue. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 27 August 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: What will we get out of the AI boom? The data suggests lots of noisy, energy-hungry datacentres and not much else by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) What do they mean by "energy agnostic?" by Fiona Katauskas, The Point (August 2026) Wages are not to blame for rising inflation by David Richardson, Greg Jericho & Matt Saunders, the Australia Institute (February 2026) Australia’s gas giveaway , the Australia Institute 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 . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government took on housing investor tax concessions to bring prices down, but more action is needed to address the rental affordability crisis. On this episode of Follow the Money , Maiy Azize and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the government’s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing are allowing more first-homebuyers to enter the market, the data revealing that migration isn’t the cause of the housing crisis, and the dire situation facing Australian renters. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 25 August. 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: Maiy Azize, Chair, Everybody’s Home & Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia // @maiyazize Guest: Matt Grunoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Priced Out 2026 , Everybody’s Home (August 2026) The Coalition’s answer to the housing crisis is a race to the bottom by Maiy Azize, The Point (August 2026) House prices are cooling, exposing a stubborn political narrative for what it is by Maiy Azize, The Point (July 2026) No, the housing tax changes won’t push up rents by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (August 2026) It could take until 2037 to recover from Australia’s real wage collapse by Greg Jericho, The Point (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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What might the midterms mean for an historically unpopular president? On this episode of After America , Chas Licciardello joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the latest from the midterm primaries, the “civil war” between democratic socialist and establishment Democrats, and why Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has MAGA rattled. This episode was recorded Thursday 20 August. Get your tickets for the Melbourne launch of More Fool Me: how the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss at Cinema Nova in Melbourne on Tuesday 25 August. Guest: Chas Licciardello, co-host of PEP with Chas and Dr Dave & the ABC’s Planet America Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: New Game, New Rules by Allan Behm, Australia Institute Press (August 2026) Shorter America: They're running?; Oh my god these men (cont.); The weight of America by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 2026) Australia’s Gaza hypocrisy , After America , the Australia Institute on YouTube (August 2026) Beyond the Two-State Solution: Policy responses to the Destruction of Palestine and the Insecurity of Israel by Emma Shortis, Allan Behm & Bob Bowker, the Australia Institute (February 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point? , Richard Denniss explains how the crossbench works and the politics of deal-making in federal parliament. This episode was recorded on Friday 21 August. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . 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: Climate Integrity Summit 2026 , the Australia Institute National Gambling Toll , the Australia Institute The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026) There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet , the Australia Institute (October 2024) 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest data show real wages are going backwards, but Reserve Bank keeps seeing ghosts. On this episode of Dollars & Sense , Greg and Elinor discuss another quarter of no “wage-price spiral”, plus the passage of massive NDIS cuts and gambling legislation through parliament. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 20 August 2026. 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 . More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble . Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut H ost: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australia’s drop in real wages is a disaster. But the profits of major corporations are doing just fine by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) Polling – banning gambling advertisements , the Australia Institute (May 2026) National Gambling Toll , the Australia Institute 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 . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians have been dudded by the gas industry. It’s past time governments admitted it . Dr Richard Denniss, Australia Institute co-CEO and author of More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia , joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why Australia gives away gas to multinational corporations and why similarly dud deals could happen with Big Tech and other industries if we don’t learn lessons from the past. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 18 August. 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: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Australia’s gas giveaway , the Australia Institute David Pocock, Greens call for investigation into $1.5 billion Middle Arm investment 'shrouded in secrecy' by Roxanne Fitzgerald, ABC News (August 2024) What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss , the Australia Institute 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the United States government isn’t caring for its own military personnel, how could policymakers expect the US to come to Australia’s aid? On this episode of After America , Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss concerning reports about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to USAID, and the speculation over whether Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. This episode was recorded Friday 14 August. If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au . Get your tickets for the Melbourne launch of More Fool Me: how the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss at Cinema Nova in Melbourne on Tuesday 25 August. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: New Game, New Rules by Allan Behm, Australia Institute Press (August 2026) International law is under attack. Australia can stand up for justice , After America (August 2026) Shorter America This Week: She's running; Primaries update; Vaccines (and eugenics) by Emma Shortis, The Point (August 2026) Trump’s tragedy: the US becomes an autocracy and the presidency, a dictatorship by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (October 2025) “Total Whitewash”: New Pentagon Report Claims U.S. Killed No Civilians in Boat Strikes by Nick Turse, The Intercept (August 2026) USAID fallout: In Nepal, when the aid workers stopped coming, the women and babies started dying by Kristen Gelineau, AP News (August 2026) The Real Reason Elon Musk Keeps Insisting DOGE Cuts Killed “Zero” Kids by Greg Sargent & Toby Buckle, The New Republic (July 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What's the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the lack of strong gambling reform, and why gambling losses continue to climb despite widespread calls for change. Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets. Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Show notes: National Gambling Toll Online wagering companies and company tax in Australia 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 . 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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.