Follow The Money

The AUKUS submarine deal should be scrapped and the subject of a Royal Commission, according to the commissioners of the AUKUS Public Inquiry.
On this episode of Follow the Money, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie AO RAN (retd), and Australia Institute co-CEO, Leanne Minshull, join Ebony Bennett to discuss the findings of the recent independent public inquiry into the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal.
This episode was recorded on Tuesday 10 November.
Sign the petition calling for a Royal Commission into AUKUS on the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Chris Barrie, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Guest: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Surrendering Australia: the AUKUS deception, Public Inquiry into AUKUS Commissioners’ Report, Australian Peace and Security Forum (November 2026)
Public Inquiry into AUKUS recommends recalibrating Australia’s relationship with the US, the Australia Institute (November 2026)
After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 2025)
Scrapping AUKUS deal would threaten national security by Linda Reynolds, The Australian (November 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 Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO
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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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. 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/4vs6XeO
See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. 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/4vs6XeO
See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. 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/4vs6XeO
See 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. 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/4vs6XeO
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.