Australia Matters

The Australian government has been excruciatingly silent when it comes to standing up for the International Criminal Court and foundations of international law it so loves to talk about.

Journalist Ben Doherty joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Australia’s non-response to the Trump administration’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court, the American military footprint in Australia, and the OpenAI hack of Medicare on this episode of After America.

This episode was recorded on Monday 12 October.

Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

No peace without accountability: Sydney Peace Laureate Navi Pillay, After America, the Australia Institute (October 2025)

The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war? by Ben Doherty, Andy Ball & Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia (September 2026)

OpenAI hack on Australian government reveals anxiety at heart of global artificial intelligence dilemma by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (September 2026)

Shorter America: Things are not normal; Muskism; Good men by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses the important distinction between consumerism and materialism and why being ‘materialistic’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

This episode was recorded on Thursday 1 October.

Read more on The Point.

Enter the code CURED to get 25% off Curing Affluenza: How to buy less stuff and save the world by Richard Denniss via Australia Institute Press.

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

More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While miles apart in their responses to the Trump administration, Canada and Australia are in lock-step on expanding fossil fuel production.

On this episode of After America, Québécoise senator and pollution control expert Dr Rosa Galvez joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Carney government’s response to the Trump administration, climate policy failures in Australia and Canada, and the opportunities for a better future for both countries.

This episode was recorded on Thursday 17 September.

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

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

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

Climate Integrity Summit 2026, the Australia Institute on YouTube

Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, World Economic Forum (January 2026)

Mark Carney is saving Canada… but for whom? by Jim Stanford, The Point (September 2026)

Shorter America: Oh my god these men (cont.); Rethinking national security; Speaking truth to pain by Emma Shortis, The Point (October 2026)

American exceptionalism: the poison that cannot protect its children from violent death by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (May 2022)

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]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a war on Iran choking global oil supplies, an artificial intelligence boom, and a US president torpedoing the global trading system, but inflation simply MUST be normal, according to the RBA.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg tells Skye that households will struggle “for not much good” because of the Reserve Bank’s latest interest rate hike.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 30 September 2026.

Join an outstanding line-up of policymakers, academics and independent experts at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit 2026. Tickets are on sale now for the event at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 14 October.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark

Show notes:

If turbocharged petrol prices are driving up inflation, then why are Australia’s unemployed on the line? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (October 2026)

“No data to support this rate rise” – RBA inflicts more unnecessary pain to fix something it can’t control, the Australia Institute (September 2026)

Australia built an illness system, not a health system, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (September 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week’s Trump-Xi meeting delivered few tangible outcomes, but is a bigger shift in US-China relations under way?

On this episode of After America, Professor James Laurenceson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the latest US-China leaders’ meeting, why the Biden administration’s hawkish approach to China may not be coming back, and what it all means for Australia.

This episode was recorded on Monday 28 September.

Guest: James Laurenceson, Professor and Director, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney // @j-laurenceson

Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Show notes:

Trump on throwing a state dinner for Xi Jinping, Mother Jones on Bsky (September 2026)

As fears of China wane, Americans favor greater engagement with Beijing, Chicago Council on Global Affairs (September 2026)

Trump dismisses China spying concerns after reports they provided Iran with Jordan airbase images, The Hill on YouTube (September 2026)

Stabilising ties with China is not appeasement by Graham Fletcher, Lowy Interpreter (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 [email protected]. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

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 [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence dominates the latest Intergenerational Report – but are multi-decade predictions about the rapidly changing technology any more than just a stab in the dark?

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss the focus on artificial intelligence in the latest 40-year outlook, the latest data on ‘middle Australia’, and why homeowners have reported higher levels of financial stress.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Join an outstanding line-up of policymakers, academics and independent experts at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit 2026. Tickets are on sale now for the event at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 14 October.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark

Show notes:

Single, couple or family: not all Australian middle-income earners are equal by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)

The Intergenerational Report has found its shiny new toy: AI. But what about climate change? by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026)

The Government is hyping artificial intelligence, but its numbers tell a different story by Bill Browne, The Point (September 2026)

Australia and the World' 2026 Annual Lecture: The Hon Jim Chalmers MP, the Australian National University on YouTube (September 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.