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The privatisation of Australian high school education, originally led by the Howard government, has caused prices to soar. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates and the absurdity of elite private schools receiving substantial public funding. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 February 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off the regular price – offer available for a limited time only. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australia Institute (February 2026) What are the odds? The RBA has raised interest rates – for no real reason other than to meet the desires of speculators by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026) “They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026) RBA rate rise: we're in for a bumpy ride by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (January 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]. Support Australia Matters: 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With each passing day, the Make America Great Again movement is becoming more battle-hardened and less likely to disappear once Trump leaves office (whenever that may be). On this episode of After America, author and former speechwriter Don Watson joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the trajectory of the Trump administration, why Australia can’t avoid the rupture being brought about by the MAGA movement, and where Democratic leadership might come from in a “woefully” split party. This discussion was recorded on Friday 30 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. Guest: Don Watson, author of The Shortest History of the United States Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: The Shortest History of the United States of America by Don Watson, Black Inc. (2025) ‘International cooperation on firefighting shows the best of the Australia-US alliance’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) ‘Shorter America this week: Protest works; Name reality; It's the end of the world as we know it’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 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]. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autocrats cannot rise to power by themselves. On this bonus episode, Dr Emma Shortis speaks to Justin Bergman, The Conversation’s International Affairs Editor, about Stephen Miller, the key Trump ally who’s been described as the most powerful unelected bureaucrat in the United States – possibly the world. This episode was made by The Conversation for their six-part series on the rise of Trump, The Making of an Autocrat, which is available wherever you get your podcasts. After America: Australia and the new world order by Dr Emma Shortis is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even the Mathias Cormann-led OECD says the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing are a problem. On the first episode of Dollars & Sense for 2026, Greg and Elinor discuss why the Radical Left Lunatics at the OECD think Australia’s property investor tax concessions are busted, why inflation is your fault (*for shame*), AUKUS spending, and that one time Greg went too hard on New Year’s Eve. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 29 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off the regular price – offer available for a limited time only. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The easy thing for the RBA to do next week is raise interest rates. The smart move is to wait by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (December 2025) Beware the headlines: Most of December’s CPI “jump” was driven by costly summer travel by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (January 2026) OECD says it’s time to cut the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing by Greg Jericho, The Point (January 2026) All the money, none of the submarines: AUKUS deal paying upfront for hopes and dreams by Greg Jericho, The Point (January 2026) How Australia can chart its own course in an uncertain world, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (January 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]. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government can’t keep its head in the sand and hope the chaos of the Trump administration will just go away. Dr Emma Shortis and Greg Jericho join Glenn Connley to discuss how Australia can navigate what Canadian PM Mark Carney calls the Trump “rupture”. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ at checkout to save $5 off the price – available for a limited time only. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Guest: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley Show notes: After America, the Australia Institute Dollars & Sense, the Australia Institute The IMF’s banal language is sane-washing an economic crisis created by the egomaniacal Donald Trump by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (January 2026) What the IMF actually said about Australia’s economy by Greg Jericho, The Point (January 2026) Shorter America this week: Trust is rust; It’s the white supremacy, stupid; Five Eyes goes cross-eyed by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration may have killed what remained of the post-war international order, but last week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered its eulogy. On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis discuss the global “rupture” identified by Prime Minister Carney, President Trump’s petulant response, why Trump’s apparent climbdown over Greenland may not save NATO, and what this all means for America’s allies, including Australia. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 22 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Usually available for $34.95, use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. After America: Australia and the new world order is available from Australia Institute Press for just $19.95. Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Special Address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, World Economic Forum on YouTube (January 2026) Trump sows ‘chaotic cruelty’ while Canadian PM Carney reminds the world it doesn’t have to play along by Emma Shortis, The Conversation (January 2026) Shorter America this week: Trust is rust; It’s the white supremacy, stupid; Five Eyes goes cross-eyed by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) Scrambled Europe: insecurity and sentimentality are no basis for strategy by Allan Behm, The Point (January 2026) Photo: World Economic Forum/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government passed new gun control and hate speech legislation in a special parliamentary sitting, but what impact will they have on Australian democracy? Amy Remeikis and Bill Browne join Ebony Bennett to discuss how having fewer guns in the community will make Australians safer. However, the complex anti-hate legislation that was rushed through at the same time could have serious consequences for Australian society. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ at checkout to save $5 off the price – available for a limited time only. Where it all went wrong: the case against John Howard by Amy Remeikis is available for pre-order now. Guest: Amy Remeikis, Chief Political Analyst, the Australia Institute // @amyremeikis Guest: Bill Browne, Democracy & Accountability Director, the Australia Institute // @browne90 Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: Federal Government passes new firearm, hate speech laws, The Point (January 2026) The Point Live with Amy Remeikis, The Point (January 2026) Every four hours, a gun is stolen in Australia, the Australia Institute (October 2025) Australia’s Gun Ownership Scorecard: A Growing Problem in Need of Reform, the Australia Institute (January 2025) Attorney-General attempts to explain extent of hate speech laws | 7.30, @ABCNewsInDepth on YouTube (January 2026) Would half of Australians prefer a One Nation MP to a Labor one? by Bill Browne, The Point 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American alliances aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. On this episode of After America, Matt Duss joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the Trump administration’s new tariffs against Europe, what if anything it might do in Iran, and its threats to prosecute political opponents. This discussion was recorded on Friday 16 January (AEDT) 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off – offer available for a limited time only. Guest: Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy // @mattduss Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘Shorter America this week: everything is gender’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) ‘How Marco Rubio Went from “Little Marco” to Trump’s Foreign-Policy Enabler’ by Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker (January 2026) ‘Marco Rubio is Trump’s reported secretary of state. How did we get here?’ by Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times (November 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Minnesota to Greenland, the Trump administration is bulldozing guardrails meant to protect human life and dignity. On this episode of After America, Professor Elizabeth N Saunders from Columbia University joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the “chaotic cruelty” of the Trump administration, its escalation of hostilities over Greenland and whether it will strike Iran. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 13 January (AEDT) 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off. Guest: Elizabeth N Sauders, Professor of Political Science, Columbia University // @profsaunders Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: ‘What happens now in Venezuela – and the world?’ by Elizabeth N Saunders, Good Authority (January 2026) ‘Imperial President at Home, Emperor Abroad’ by Elizabeth Saunders, Foreign Affairs (June 2025) ‘Reluctance to look at US with "clear eyes" becoming increasingly untenable: US expert’ by Tegan George, The Point (January 2026) After America: Australia and the new world order by Emma Shortis, Australia Institute Press (May 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Denniss discusses the government’s response to the Bondi terrorist attacks, the chaos of the Trump administration and how to protect Australia’s democracy. On this episode of Follow the Money, Richard Denniss and Ebony Bennett discuss the political and policy response to devasting Bondi terrorist attacks, the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week, Trump and the Australia-US alliance, and what to look out for in federal politics in 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ at checkout to save $5 off the price – available for a limited time only. Dead Centre: how political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is also available now. Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett Show notes: ‘Engaging with people you disagree with is part of democracy. Silencing authors is not.’ by Richard Denniss, The Point (January 2026) After America podcast, the Australia Institute 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 [email protected]. Support Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration’s imperial march is gathering pace. On this episode of After America, Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the credibility of the Trump administration’s threats against Greenland and elsewhere, and the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. This discussion was recorded on Friday 9 January 2026. A time for Bravery: what happens when Australia chooses courage is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘POD5’ to get $5 off. Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: ‘What you need to know about Trump administration's abduction of Nicolás Maduro’ by Emma Shortis, The Point (January 2026) ‘Trump is destroying the rules of international behaviour. Australia can – and must – act now’ by Allan Behm, Guardian Australia (January 2026) Polling – Australia-US Security, the Australia Institute (November 2025) ‘Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break’ by Natasha Betrand, CNN (November 2025) ‘‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared’ by Daisy Dumas and Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (December 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would it take to make the PALM scheme a genuine win-win for Australia and its neighbours? In the fourth and final episode of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington canvases some of the proposed solutions to the problems facing the PALM scheme, including an amnesty for disengaged workers and ensuring that everyone working in Australia has the right to leave their employer. PALMed Off is a special four-part series of Follow the Money exploring the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, an Australian Government guestworker program that could be putting people from nine Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste at risk of modern slavery. The interviews for this podcast were recorded between June and August 2025. Host: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, The Australia Institute // @mhharrington Interviewees: Ken Dachi (Welcoming Australia), Dr Lindy Kanan (researcher), Dr Matt Withers (ANU), (Waskam) Emelda Davis (ASSI-Port Jackson Chair), Thomas Costa (Unions NSW), anonymous former PALM workers Scripting and production support: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow & Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite Show notes: ‘The PALM Scheme: Labour rights for our Pacific partners’, The Australia Institute (December 2023) “If I stay like this, how can I benefit my family?” Initial findings on disengagement from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme by Kirstie Petrou, Matt Withers, Kaya Barry and Emily House, Griffith University (December 2025) Australian South Sea Islanders – Port Jackson: publications Theme music: ‘Mumbwe’ by Tio, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PALM visas holders do not get Medicare (outside of a trial limited to 200 people), so what happens when they are injured, get sick or fall pregnant? In episode three of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington hears how a lack of affordable medical care can have dire consequences for PALM visa holders and discusses the problems faced by women who fall pregnant whilst working in Australia. PALMed Off is a special four-part series of Follow the Money exploring the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, an Australian Government guestworker program that could be putting people from nine Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste at risk of modern slavery. The interviews for this podcast were recorded between June and August 2025. 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. Host: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, The Australia Institute // @mhharrington Interviewees: Ken Dachi (Welcoming Australia), Dr Lindy Kanan (researcher), Dr Matt Withers (The Australian National University), (Waskam) Emelda Davis (ASSI-Port Jackson Chair), Thomas Costa (Unions NSW), anonymous former PALM workers Scripting and production support: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow & Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite Show notes: ‘It’s not illegal to be pregnant’ by Lindy Kanan, DevPolicy Blog (May 2025) ‘Reproductive Health and Rights for PALM Scheme Workers – Statement’, Australian Women’s Health Alliance (May 2025) Theme music: ‘Mumbwe’ by Tio, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do the thousands of people who have left the PALM scheme, but stayed in Australia, go? How do they survive without a valid visa and, more importantly, what does the future hold for them? In episode two of PALMed Off, host Morgan Harrington travels to Leeton, New South Wales, a town that’s become a safe haven for some of the estimated 7,000 people who have ‘disengaged’ from the PALM scheme. We find out what leads people to make the difficult decision to walk away from their employer and speak to some of the community members trying to help them. PALMed Off is a special four-part series of Follow the Money exploring the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, an Australian Government guestworker program that could be putting people from nine Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste at risk of modern slavery. The interviews for this podcast were recorded between June and August 2025. Host: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, The Australia Institute // @mhharrington Interviewees: Ken Dachi (Welcoming Australia), Paul Maytom (Leeton Multicultural Support Group), Ian Bull (member of St. Peter’s Anglican congregation, Leeton), (Waskam) Emelda Davis (ASSI-Port Jackson Chair), anonymous former PALM workers Scripting and production support: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow & Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite Show notes: ‘Towards a Fair and Sustainable PALM Scheme’, PALM position paper from the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, Welcoming Communities ‘Meat the Reality: Unpacking the Exploitation of PALM Scheme Workers in Australia’s Meat Industry’ by Ema Moolchand and Professor Shelley Marshall, RMIT University (February 2025) Theme music: ‘Mumbwe’ by Tio, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation 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 Australia Matters: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.