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Big gas is taking the piss
Peter Dutton has it half right on gas. There is no supply shortage, but Australians need to be using less gas – not more. On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Mark Ogge join Ebony Bennett to discuss the fixing Australia’s gas export problem, making gas companies pay their fair share in taxes and royalties, and why there is no need for new gas projects. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 8 April 2025 and things may have changed. Follow all the action from the federal election on our new politics live blog, Australia Institute Live with Amy Remeikis. Guest: Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor, the Australia Institute // @markogge Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Peter Dutton’s gas export tax is a good idea – and a turning point, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Giving away gas to 2030 by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Matt Saunders, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Fossil fuel subsidies hit $15 billion, as crossbench seeks reform, the Australia Institute (March 2025) ‘Coalition pollster Freshwater Strategy working with 'astroturfing' pro-gas group’ by Pat McGrath and Kirsten Robb, ABC News (April 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]. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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35:40
Home economics: housing, living standards and the federal election
With housing affordability at an all-time low and the spectre of Trump looming large over our region, Australians’ standard of living will be at the heart of the debate from now until election day. On this episode of Follow the Money, Australia Institute economists Matt Grudnoff and Jack Thrower join Ebony Bennett to discuss the Australian economy and the federal election campaign. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 1 April 2025 and things may have changed. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Guest: Jack Thrower, Research Economist, the Australia Institute // @jack-thrower Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Raising revenue right: Better tax ideas for the 48th Parliament by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 2025) Fuel excise cut: bad policy and not worth as much as advertised by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 2025) Housing affordability crisis – Saving for a deposit forever by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (March 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]. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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31:02
Don't gut our environment laws
The Government’s proposed environmental law changes are an attack on our democracy and could benefit destructive industries far beyond Tasmania’s coastal ecosystems. On this episode of Follow the Money, Ebony Bennett discusses the Government’s efforts to weaken the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act with Australia Institute Executive Director Dr Richard Denniss and Strategy Director Leanne Minshull. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 25 March 2025 and things may have changed. Sign our petition calling on the Government not to gut Australia’s environment laws. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Guest: Leanne Minshull, Strategy Director, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Small Fish, Big Pond: Tasmanian salmon industry job numbers & tax payments, the Australia Institute (November 2023) ‘Salmon spin and pollution all a bit fishy’ by Eloise Carr and Rob Campbell, The Mercury (December 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 [email protected]. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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25:12
Fish out of water
Chunks of dead salmon have washed up on Tasmanian beaches and the Maugean skate is at risk of extinction, so why won’t governments to more to rein in the salmon industry in Tasmania? On this episode of Follow the Money, Eloise Carr, Director of the Australia Institute Tasmania, the Federal Government’s dangerous proposal to get around Australia’s already inadequate environmental protections and why salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour needs to end. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 19 March 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Sign our petition to end salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Eloise Carr, Director, the Australia Institute Tasmania // @eloise-carr Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Bombshell FOI reveals fish farms have been inadequately assessed for impact on threatened species and World Heritage, the Australia Institute (March 2025) Australians must be protected from diseased salmon, 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 [email protected]. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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23:16
Enemies of the state
The public sector is under fire, but is it really as inefficient as DOGE and Dutton claim? On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director at the Centre for Future Work, joins Glenn Connley to discuss Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Peter Dutton’s plan to axe public service jobs, and why the private sector generally doesn’t deliver better public services. This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 12 March 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Fiona Macdonald, Acting Director, Centre for Future Work // @drfionamac Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: Briefing Paper: Restoring public sector capability through investment in public service employees by Lisa Heap, the Centre for Future Work (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 [email protected]. Support Follow the Money: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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33:53