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.

Australia is a rich country, but for many younger Australians, the ability to share in that prosperity is increasingly out of reach.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Senator Barbara Pocock, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the housing crisis, its long-term impacts on the lives of younger Australians, and her proposals to turn the situation around.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 6 October.

If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au.

Guest: Barbara Pocock, Senator for South Australia and Australian Greens Spokesperson for Housing & Homelessness // @barbarapocock

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Locked out: the growing generational housing divide, Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity (September 2026)

Additional comments from the Chair, Senator Barbara Pocock, Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity (September 2026)

Senate Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity | Perth, WA, Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal on YouTube (August 2026)

Profit in home lending: April 2026 edition by Dave Richardson, the Australia Institute (April 2026)

Factcheck: Is immigration really causing Australia’s housing crisis? by Noah Schultz-Byard, The Point (September 2025)

Even Liberal voters agree, it’s time to ditch Howard era perks for property investors – polls, the Australia Institute (March 2026)

Youth mental health decline coincides with increased economic pressure: new report, the Australia Institute (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 Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australians’ extraordinary gambling losses, the federal government’s failure to create a national regulator for online gambling, and her proposal to lift standards in the NT.

This episode was recorded on Friday 25 September.

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.

Guest: Justine Davis, Member for Johnston, Northern Territory Legislative Assembly // @justinedavismla

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute

SIGN THE PETITION: Ban online gambling ads!, the Australia Institute

“Appalling”: Wilkie slams government’s response to gambling inquiry, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (August 2026)

Australia's de facto online gambling regulator stops accepting gifts from betting companies, for now by Jack Hislop, ABC News (November 2025)

NT's regulation of Australia's online gambling industry labelled a 'complete farce' by Jack Hislop, ABC News (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 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.

Despite dire warnings from the scientific community and Australia’s Pacific neighbours, the federal government isn’t getting the message.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia and Canadian independent Senator Dr Rosa Galvez join us to discuss the need to phase out fossil fuels.

This episode was recorded live on Wednesday 16 September at the Australia Institute’s Politics in the Pub event in Canberra.

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: The Hon Dr Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister for Climate Change and Environment for the Government of Tuvalu

Guest: The Hon Senator Dr Rosa Galvez, Independent Senator for Québec (Bedford), Canada // @senrosagalvez

Host: Louise Morris, Head of Fossil Fuel Transition, the Australia Institute // @louisemorris

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Transition Away from Fossil Fuels: A roadmap for Australia by Hamdi Jama, Rod Campbell & Louise Morris, the Australia Institute (September 2026)

Australia and Canada can learn from each other on climate if we separate action from declaration by Rosa Galvez, Guardian Australia (September 2026)

Albanese's Climate Week speech left out the numbers that matter most by Louise Morris, The Point (September 2026)

Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return, United Nations Overshoot Programme (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 Follow the Money & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4vs6XeO

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.