What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the theory of ‘trickle-down’ economics – and why so much of the money seems to be trickling the other way.
This episode was recorded on Thursday 24 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
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Show notes:
Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP | Bernie Fraser Oration 2026, the Australia Institute
Revenue Summit 2026, the Australia Institute
Dead Right: How Neoliberalism Ate Itself and What Comes Next by Richard Denniss, Black Inc. (June 2018)
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 What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains what’s really driving inflation in Australia and why interest rates aren’t actually the only way to control it.
This episode was recorded on Friday 11 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
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Show notes:
Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP | Bernie Fraser Oration 2026, the Australia Institute
Revenue Summit 2026, the Australia Institute
Wages are not to blame for rising inflation by David Richardson, Greg Jericho & Matt Saunders, the Australia Institute (February 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 What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister said he wants to promote ‘progressive patriotism’ – but his policies tell a different story. In this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard explains the dangers of centrism and what progressive politics actually looks like.
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.
Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now.
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:
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 What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
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 What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
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 What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.