Follow The Money

The far-right is benefitting from a failing status quo – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
On this episode of Follow the Money, author and economist Gary Stevenson joins Ebony Bennett to discuss wealth inequality, the global issue of housing unaffordability, why Australia should tax gas properly, and how many far-right parties have become the Steven Bradburys of global politics.
This episode was recorded on Thursday 26 February.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Guest: Gary Stevenson, economist and author of The Trading Game // @garyseconomics
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Tax: Beer drinkers vs gas companies by Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
Killing the Australian Dream: The failure of the capital gains tax discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 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].
Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shedding voters on the left and the right, is the Liberal Party heading for “oblivion”?
On this episode of Follow the Money, journalist and author Niki Savva and Australia Institute co-Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Denniss join Amy Remeikis to discuss how the Liberal Party ended up with their worst federal election result in modern history in 2025, why there’s no such thing as a safe seat in Australian politics anymore, and Nikki’s latest book, Earthquake: the election that shook Australia.
This episode was recorded live at the Australia Institute’s Politics in the Pub in Canberra on Wednesday 18 February 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Guest: Niki Savva, journalist, author and former political advisor
Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis
Show notes:
There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
Polling – Dutton’s gas plans, the Australia Institute (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].
Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inequality creates insecurity and, as the United States is demonstrating right now, that insecurity can have devasting consequences for democracy.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz joins Ebony Bennett and Dr Richard Denniss to discuss why Australia should get a better return for its natural resources, the power of corporations to mark up prices and push down wages, and why democracies should collect more corporate tax.
This episode was recorded live on Wednesday 11 February 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Guest: Joseph E Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate economist and Professor, Columbia University // @josephestiglitz
Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future by Joseph E Stiglitz (June 2013)
Australia’s great gas giveaway: how Australia gives gas to multinational corporations for free by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024)
The capital gains discount and negative gearing benefit the rich and destroy housing affordability by Jack Thrower, the Australia Institute (February 2025)
Trump’s Big Bill makes America more dangerous while enriching a few, After America, the Australia Institute (July 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].
Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a leading role in this year’s United Nations climate conference, the Australian government has an opportunity to show genuine solidarity with its Pacific neighbours and climate-vulnerable communities at home.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights and climate advocate, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the need for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, why it’s past time for the Australia government to stop coal and gas expansion, and his new Vantage Point essay, What We Owe the Water.
This episode was recorded on Monday 9 February 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Guest: Kumi Naidoo, President, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative // @kuminaidoo
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
"A drowning memory": the Pacific Island communities fighting for their survival, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (March 2025)
Foreign aid and climate finance, Australia’s dismal track record by Matt Saunders and Richard Denniss, the Australia Institute (November 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].
Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With inflation driven by Christmas holidays and data centres for artificial intelligence, the RBA didn’t need to raise the interest rate this week, argues Matt Grudnoff.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss big economic reform opportunities facing the government and why the Reserve Bank of Australia is so cautious about cutting rates, yet so quick to hike them up.
Join economist, author and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and friends in Adelaide on Sunday 1 March and in Sydney on Thursday 5 March. Tickets are selling fast, so get yours now.
Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Hasty decision inflicts more pain and will cost jobs, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australian Institute (February 2026)
Treasurer Jim Chalmers on the likelihood of an interest rate rise today, Radio National Breakfast, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (February 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].
Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.