The Australia Institute Feed Items

On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss the case for a 25% gas export tax and the New South Wales government’s ban on new coal mines.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 24 March.

You can sign the Australia Institute’s petition calling on the federal government to make gas exporters pay their fair share.

Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell

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

Show notes:

The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026)

Tax gas exports, invest in health/aged care – new polls, the Australia Institute (March 2026)

An Australia Institute submission to the inquiry has found that asking artists to beg for more money from donors ignores the much bigger issue of chronic underfunding of the arts.

The arts sector was devastated by the COVID pandemic and has never truly recovered. Once-iconic music festivals have been cancelled. Venues have closed. Artists are living in poverty.

The long-running cost-of-living crisis has left Australian consumers with very little money to spend on artistic pleasures like a trip to a gallery, buying a book, watching a movie or seeing a band.

The submission concludes that “this is a critical time for supporting Australian arts and culture”.

Key points:

• In real terms, arts funding is at its lowest point since 2017/18
• Australia has the 7th-lowest arts spending in the OECD
• Despite the cost of living crisis, arts spending has been cut by more than half a billion dollars a year
• While Australia-wide employment has grown by 13% since the end of the COVID pandemic, the arts sector has only just returned to pre-pandemic levels

“Artists, authors, musicians and other creatives have a huge impact on Australian culture, how Australians see themselves, and how the world sees Australians,” said Skye Predavec, Researcher at The Australia Institute.

“Australia’s arts and culture cannot be produced overseas, and cannot be moved offshore. It must be made here.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the war on Iran and how American sanctions are creating a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, before Professor James Laurenceson joins the show to talk about the impact of the conflict on China and the postponed Trump-Xi summit.

This episode was recorded on Friday 20 and Monday 23 March.

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

Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute //  @angusrb

Show notes:

Shorter America This Week: History sighs, repeats itself; Surprise: Trump doesn’t need allies; A bloodthirsty White House by Emma Shortis, The Point (March 2026)

The attacks on Iran hurt us all by Allan Behm, The Point (March 2026)

A national poll of 1502 voters, conducted by YouGov, found more than three in five Australians support a flat 25% tax on gas exports.

Separate polls in the seats of Kooyong, Mackellar, Wentworth and Farrer, conducted by uComms, found that more than two out of three voters support a flat 25% tax on gas exports.

Voters were told such a tax could raise around $17 billion a year. An overwhelming majority said that money should be spent improving health and aged care services.

In the national poll, a gas export tax was most popular among One Nation and Greens voters.

Key points:

• In the national poll, 61% of voters agreed gas export companies should pay a 25% gas export tax. 5% disagreed.
• In the seats of Kooyong, Mackellar, Wentworth and Farrer, between 68% and 75% of voters agree gas export corporations should pay a 25% gas export tax. Between 7% and 16% disagree.
• In all polls, the most popular choice for where revenue from a gas export tax should be spent was health/aged care.

“It’s clear Australians think that making foreign owned gas companies pay for our gas isn’t an issue of left or right, but a simple issue of fairness,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

“As petrol and electricity prices rise, the idea that gas export companies will make enormous windfall profits while Australians struggle with higher energy prices and interest rates is as untenable as it is unnecessary.

The Wrap with Louise Morris

There’s a shift happening in Australian politics right now.

And it runs straight through the gas industry.

For years, the idea of properly taxing gas exports has been treated as politically untenable – something governments approached dismissively, if at all. But as global conflict pushes up energy prices and gas company profits surge, that dismissiveness is starting to look like negligence.

Image: AAP/Rebecca Le May

Keep reading

— Louise Morris is an Advocate at The Australia Institute.

The Big Stories

The PM requests modelling on a potential new gas tax

In breaking news on Friday 20 March, the prime minister’s department has asked for modelling on a potential new gas tax.

New Australia Institute research shows that, if a 25% gas export tax was introduced in 2022, it would have raised more than $63 billion by now.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the economic impact of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates, and why changes to the capital gains tax discount might finally be on the way.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 19 March 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss why it’s time to call out the idea that governments can’t afford to support Australians in need yet still dish out $16.3 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2025-26 alone.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 17 March.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // @rodcampbell

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

Show notes:

Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2026 by Matt Grudnoff and Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (March 2026)

Senior Economist at The Australia Institute, Matt Grudnoff, says the RBA Monetary Policy Board’s decision to lift the official cash rate from 3.85% to 4.10% is a case of “all pain, no gain” for Australians.

He says while skyrocketing fuel prices will push up inflation, they are the result of a supply shock caused by the war in the Middle East. The RBA has previously stated it should not respond to a supply shock by lifting rates.

“The Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Board has made the wrong decision to increase interest rates today,” said Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist at The Australia Institute.

“Inflation caused by a supply shock cannot be brought down by increasing interest rates. How can increasing Australian interest rates open the Strait of Hormuz?

“The increase in fuel prices is already acting to reduce demand in the Australian economy. Higher petrol and diesel prices mean people have less to spend on other things, and as these fuels are largely imported, all the extra revenue is flowing overseas.

“All this increase in interest rates will do is heap more misery on Australian mortgage holders who are already being hurt by higher fuel prices.

“The RBA needs to be honest with the Australian people that nothing it can do will reduce inflation caused by a world oil price shock.

“At a time of great economic uncertainty, now is not the time for the RBA to be tapping the breaks, trying to slow the economy down.”

If the federal government implemented a 25% tax on gas exports, which is supported by the ACTU, WELD Australia,  The Australia Institute and many others, Australians would finally get a fair return for their resources.

“Ordinary Australians are being pummelled by skyrocketing petrol prices and, as their household bills go through the roof, the gas industry continues to get a free ride,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

“The conflict in Iran is both driving up the cost of fuel for Australians and flooding multinational gas companies with windfall profits. Meanwhile, the Australian government is doing nothing to make sure Australians get a fair return for their resources that are being shipped overseas.

“It is a failure of public policy that the government has given so much of this country’s gas, which belongs to the Australian people, away to multinational companies for free. The continued refusal to tax these companies properly has left us poorer as a nation.

The poll of 2,010 Australians, conducted by Redbridge, reveals that 62% of Australians support access to abortion services. A further 25% support access in limited circumstances.

Nationally, fewer than one in ten One Nation voters (9%) oppose abortion access completely, despite the party’s policy to wind back access to services.

Australians living in rural areas overwhelmingly support abortion access (66%).

Key findings:

• 62% of voters support access to abortion services. A further 25% support access to abortion services “only in limited circumstances”.
• 50% of One Nation voters support abortion access. 34% support access in “only in limited circumstances”.
• Support for abortion access is strongest in rural Australia, where 66% say yes, and a further 24% say they support access “only in limited circumstances.”
• Just 8% of Australians do not support access to abortion. 5% say they’re not sure.

“Abortion is legal across Australia and this research shows a majority of Australians support access to abortion, whether they live in cities or country towns, or where they sit on the political spectrum,” said Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute.

On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the Trump administration’s apparent failure to plan for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Pete Hegseth’s attacks on American media, and the Australian government’s response to the conflict.

This episode was recorded on Monday 16 March.

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

Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @angusrb

Show notes:

Shorter America This Week: Very complete, pretty much; We already know who’s next (it’s Cuba); Looksmaxxing by Emma Shortis, The Point (March 2026)

Albanese’s policy on Iran makes us complicit in the collapse of international rules by Emma Shortis, Guardian Australia (March 2026)

To get a gun licence in Australia, applicants must provide a “genuine reason” to own a gun, such as working on farms or as a security guard.

Hundreds of thousands of gun licences have been issued for licensees to participate in  recreational hunting and sports shooting. However, official data on sports participation shows that the number of people that actually participate in these activities is far lower.

This means that large numbers of gun owners do not use their guns for reason they claim they need them, raising questions about community safety and the effectiveness of Australia’s gun laws.

It didn’t change the law, but it revealed something important about the politics of gas in Australia-the old political lines are starting to blur.

Independent ACT Senator David Pocock moved a motion calling for an inquiry into “Why Gas Companies Pay Less for Offshore Liquefied Natural Gas than Australians Pay in Beer Excise”. It’s the kind of thing the Senate, as the house of review, examines all the time. Yet the response from Parliament revealed a lot about the current state of politics.

The motion was supported by an unlikely coalition of independents, the Greens, and One Nation. On an issue that usually splits along predictable ideological lines, politicians from across the political spectrum were aligned.

The major parties, however, failed the test. Labor voted against the inquiry. The Coalition, including new Nationals leader Matt Canavan, did not even turn up to vote.

In doing so, they avoided answering a question many Australians are now asking: why does one of the world’s largest gas exporters collect so little tax from the industry extracting its resources?

Australia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of liquefied natural gas. Our offshore gas fields generate enormous profits for multinational corporations. Yet the public return on these resources is astonishingly small.

After all, that’s how politicians and the media describe the gas industry. But the truth is the federal government collects more money from the beer excise than from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, as Independent ACT Senator David Pocock pointed out in Parliament, in an exchange that went viral.

When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked why Australian beer drinkers pay more tax than gas export companies, the PM dodged the issue by accusing Senator Pocock of “promot(ing) grievance”.

If, like most Australians, you think Australia shouldn’t be giving away its gas for free, or that the gas industry should contribute more from its super profits tax than the beer excise, the Prime Minister seems to think you should stop whingeing about it. The real question is – why isn’t the Prime Minister aggrieved by this gas rip-off?

Australia has a gas export problem. Gas exports have led to the tripling of wholesale east coast gas prices and doubling of electricity prices, since exports began in 2015. The gas export industry doesn’t even pay royalties on more than half of those exports, according to Australia Institute research. In just 4 years, multinational companies made $149 billion exporting gas from Australia royalty-free.

Elinor is back but Greg is away, so Matt Grudnoff jumps in to talk about Australia’s absurd fossil fuel subsidies, fuel security in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, and why the AI bubble will probably burst, even if the technology turns out to be a win overall.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 March 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

It finds domestic diesel, petrol, gas and electricity prices will all rise, which will push up the prices of a broad range of products and services almost immediately.

From a diplomatic point of view – as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reminded us last week – Australia could use its influence as a ‘middle power’, with global influence and a close relationship to the US.

Key findings:

• Global energy prices will increase.
• Gas, electricity and petrol prices paid by Australian households will rise.
• Multinational gas companies exporting Australian gas will profit.
• Australian governments will raise very little extra revenue.

While Australia is not a major oil producer, it is the second biggest liquefied natural gas exporter in the world. Unlike other energy superpowers, Australia does not receive a significant tax or royalty benefit when prices rise. The situation is worse for Australian consumers, who will pay surging world prices for Australia’s own resources.

On this episode of Follow the Money and After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Ebony Bennett discuss the illegal US-Israel war in Iran, the implications of the conflict for the Middle East, and why Australian personnel were on board an American nuclear-powered submarine when it sank an Iranian warship.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 10 March.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

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

Show notes:

Around 30,000 people from Pacific Island nations and Timor Leste hold PALM visas, which allow them to work in Australia on a temporary basis, but widespread “disengagement” means thousands are left to survive in Australia without a formal visa.

Today, Welcoming Communities and the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific will convene a forum at Australian Parliament House to call on the Commonwealth government to reform visa conditions to give workers genuine freedom to change employers, improve access to healthcare, and expand family-inclusion to build fairer, stronger communities.

Title: PALM Futures Forum: Community-centred Visa Reform

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Location: Parliament House Canberra

Australia Institute research shows that the PALM scheme generates almost $1 billion in economic value, but less than $200 million ends up being remitted to the Pacific.

Quotes attributable to Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Communities.

“Fair work should mean exactly that. Yet the PALM Scheme falls short for people from the Pacific working in our farms, factories and aged care homes.

“The PALM Futures Forum brings together workers, unions, employers, community members, researchers and policymakers to deliver better outcomes for everyone. The Forum seeks to shift the “Pacific Family” rhetoric into action and ensure that Pacific workers can access the same rights as their Australian colleagues.

On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti from Washington DC-based think tank Groundwork Collaborative joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the State of the Union, Trump’s vile attack on Somali-Americans, and how tariffs are driving up prices in a deeply unequal American economy.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 27 February.

After America: Australia and the new world order is available now via Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

Guest: Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Collaborative // @ENPancotti

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

Show notes:

Groundwork Collaborative

The US and Israel attack Iran, foment chaos, After America, the Australia Institute (February 2026)

The Wrap with Dr Emma Shortis

The President of Peace has started another war.

It began with the bombing of a school in southern Iran. According to Iranian authorities, the death toll from that strike now sits at 168. Many of the victims were children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have normalised the sight of little coffins.

Emerging evidence now suggests the school was struck more than once – perhaps three times. A “double-tap” strike is when a first strike is followed up by a second in order to target those still sheltering, those running away, and first responders. Double-tap strikes are prohibited by the laws of war.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss the economic impact of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, the latest Australian GDP data, and why the Reserve Bank seems to want more Australians to be unemployed.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 March 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

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

Show notes:

On this episode of Follow the Money, author and economist Gary Stevenson joins Ebony Bennett to discuss wealth inequality, the global issue of housing unaffordability, why Australia should tax gas properly, and how many far-right parties have become the Steven Bradburys of global politics.

This episode was recorded on Thursday 26 February.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Guest: Gary Stevenson, economist and author of The Trading Game // @garyseconomics

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

Show notes:

If you drink beer, congratulations, you’re the backbone of the Australian economy! After all, that’s how politicians and the media describe the gas industry. But the truth is the federal government collects more money from the beer excise than from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, as Independent ACT Senator David Pocock pointed out in Parliament, in an exchange that went viral.

When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked why Australian beer drinkers pay more tax than gas export companies, the PM dodged the issue by accusing Senator Pocock of “promot[ing] grievance”.

If, like most Australians, you think Australia shouldn’t be giving away its gas for free, or that the gas industry should contribute more from its super profits tax than the beer excise, the Prime Minister seems to think you should stop whingeing about it. The real question is – why isn’t the Prime Minister aggrieved by this gas rip-off?

On this episode of After America, Allan Behm and Dr Emma Shortis discuss the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the assassination of its leader, Trump and Netanyahu’s cynical messages for the Iranian people, what this war means for nuclear proliferation, and the Australian government’s “deeply disappointing” response.

This discussion was recorded on Monday 2 March 2026.

The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute

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

Show notes:

The Mar-a-Lago model: how Trump is trying to dominate global governance, After America, the Australia Institute (February 2026)

There are now “safe” Liberal and National seats where One Nation could do very well.

Labor, Greens and independent preferences will decide whether One Nation wins those seats – which means progressive voters have leverage over Liberals and Nationals desperate to hold their seats.

For decades, Australians in so-called “safe” seats have been told their votes do not matter, that they cannot influence the outcome of the election.

This myth was exploded four years ago when first-time community independents won a swathe of supposedly safe, “blue-ribbon” Liberal seats.

The success of these “teal” independents depended both on winning over former Liberal voters and securing preferences from progressive voters.

One Nation gives progressive voters another chance to flex their muscles and remind the major parties that there is no such thing as a safe seat.

A seat is considered “safe” if the winner at the last election got 60 per cent or more of the vote (including preferences), “fair safe” if they got 56-60 per cent of the vote and “marginal” if they got less than 56 per cent of the vote.

Don’t hold your breath.

Why am I pessimistic? Well, the problem with the Coalition isn’t just that they all want to be captain of the Titanic after it has struck the iceberg. The real problem is their policy solutions are rubbish.

Remember, there was no leadership speculation when Peter Dutton led the Coalition to last year’s historic election hammering.

The public didn’t reject the Liberals and Nationals because of internal fighting. They rejected them because they didn’t like their policies.

Dutton spent three years telling Australians that they were in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis (which was true). But when the election came around, the public could see how truly terrible the Coalition’s solutions were.

Does anyone remember the claims that nuclear, the most expensive form of electricity, was going to lower power bills?

On housing affordability, it was just as bad. Its big policy was to allow first-home buyers to drain their super accounts to buy a home. This would have been like a first-home buyers’ grant on steroids. The result would have been much higher house prices coupled with more Australians retiring in poverty.

So, will the new leadership team do any better? The early signs aren’t good.

One of the biggest supporters of the plan to use super to juice house prices was Tim Wilson. Angus Taylor has just appointed him shadow treasurer.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson’s call for tax cuts, why tariffs won’t be replacing income tax despite Donald Trump’s claims, Australia’s bizarre subsidies for fossil fuels, and why Greg reckons he wouldn’t take a tasty pay rise to go to the dark side.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 26 February 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

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

Show notes:

A detailed examination of data from the Reserve Bank and Australia’s National Accounts reveals that wage growth is not responsible for the recent uptick in inflation.

It concludes that the RBA’s latest interest rate hike not only fails to address the much bigger driver of inflation – surging company profits – but it blames the wrong culprit.

The end result is that young home buyers are being lumped with the burden of bringing inflation down.

The report highlights that the RBA’s own data clearly shows “non-wage sources” are responsible for rising inflation.

Furthermore, forecasts in the RBA’s February Statement of Monetary Policy suggest that the impact of wages on inflation will actually fall over the next year, while inflation keeps rising.

“Lifting interest rates to slow inflation is often referred to as a blunt instrument. In this instance, the blunt instrument is being used to smash the wrong culprit,” said Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute.

“The RBA’s own data makes it crystal clear that non-wage factors like massive corporate profits are driving inflation, not the meagre wage growth of workers.

“For many Australians, wages rises have been more than wiped out by interest rate rises – and certainly wiped out by price rises.

The LITO is an automatic tax refund – currently capped at $700 per year – which low-income earners receive when they lodge their tax returns.

Increasing the cap to $3000 would ensure the nation’s lowest-income earners stay ahead of inflation. Those earning between $32,000 and $46,000 would receive a tax cut of more than $2,000 per year.

The reforms would help those who’ve been hit hardest by inflation: workers and families whose nominal wages may have risen, but whose real wages have fallen, as a result of surging prices, particularly on essentials like food, energy and rent.

The analysis shows the cost of increasing the LITO would be $11.98 billion per year. This revenue could be replaced with a gas export tax – as suggested by the ACTU – which could raise $17 billion.

Recent polling also shows widespread support across party lines for a 25% tax on gas exports, with particularly strong support among One Nation and Greens voters.

One Nation yesterday announced a policy to charge the gas industry royalties, while Independent Senator David Pocock threw his support behind a 25% gas export tax.

“This is the engine room of the cost-of-living crisis – the current tax settings mean that Australian families on low incomes are not keeping up with price rises,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

On this episode of Follow the Money, journalist and author Niki Savva and Australia Institute co-Chief Executive Officer Dr Richard Denniss join Amy Remeikis to discuss how the Liberal Party ended up with their worst federal election result in modern history in 2025, why there’s no such thing as a safe seat in Australian politics anymore, and Niki’s latest book, Earthquake: the election that shook Australia.

This episode was recorded live at the Australia Institute’s Politics in the Pub in Canberra on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Guest: Niki Savva, journalist, author and former political advisor

Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss

For more than a decade, Australia Institute research has shown that CCS is one of the biggest and most expensive failures in the history of climate policy in Australia.

The research shows that CCS projects have repeatedly missed deadlines, fallen monumentally short of carbon capture targets and gobbled up billions of taxpayer dollars.

Sadly, detailed analysis of all the available evidence suggests there is little likelihood the epic failure of CCS will change any time soon.

“The gas export industry already gets most of its gas for free. This conference is gas companies saying they want publicly-subsidised infrastructure as well,” said Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute.

“It’s clear that this conference is about helping the gas industry, not about helping the climate. Look at who is attending: all the gas companies and none of the climate organisations.

“Carbon capture projects aren’t meant to work. 100% of carbon capture projects on gas-fired power stations have failed. On coal-fired power stations, the rate is 98%.

“It isn’t supposed to work, it is supposed to let investors pour money into new gas projects while pointing at spending on carbon capture to avoid any criticism on climate.

“Gas companies don’t want to pay for carbon capture themselves, they want taxpayers to pay.

“In 2024, a $700 million carbon capture lobby group told its industry donors to stop giving it money; that it had more money than it could spend.

On this episode of After America, Allan Behm joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the potential consequences if the United States again strikes Iran, the first meeting of Trump’s grotesque ‘board of peace’, and the striking similarities between a(nother) shamefully racist week in Australian politics and Trump administration rhetoric and policies.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 20 February 2026.

The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

Guest: Allan Behm, Advisor, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute

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

Show notes:

Shorter America this week: Will he or won’t he on Iran; The Trump doctrine?; On climate, he absolutely will; The only thing more powerful than hate is love by Emma Shortis, The Point (February 2026)

The Wrap with Dr Emma Shortis

More often than not, Australia’s relationship with the United States highlights and reinforces the worst in our politics, and the worst in theirs.

Here at home, the week began with some shamefully racist politicking by federal parliamentarians. A “hardline” Liberal Party immigration proposal was “leaked” to the Australian media. Straight from the Trump playbook, the proposal mooted banning immigrants from 37 regions, deporting 100,000 asylum seekers and visa holders, and even vetting the social media of aspiring migrants. To followers of American politics, that might sound very familiar.

Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Keep reading

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why Coles is in court over its pricing, whether it’s time to panic with government debt set to hit $1 trillion, and the role of corporate profits in driving inflation.

This discussion was recorded on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @angusrb

Show notes:

The results show that support for taxing gas export cuts across party lines, including among voters often seen at opposite ends of the political spectrum, such as the Greens and One Nation.

Australia Institute research shows a 25 per cent tax on gas exports could raise  $17 billion every year, while incentivising producers to prioritise the supply of gas to domestic customers.

The findings come ahead of the upcoming Farrer by-election, expected to be contested by the Liberals, Nationals, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and independent candidates.

Statement: “Gas export corporations should pay a flat 25% tax on gas exports” 

“Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

On this episode of After America, Jon B Wolfsthal, former Special Assistant to President Obama for National Security Affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the expiry of the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, AUKUS and Australia’s nuclear capabilities, and why “nuclear weapons are back with avengeance”.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026 Australian time.

The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

Guest: Jon B Wolfsthal, former Director of Global Risk, Federation of American Scientists // @jonatomic

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

Show notes:

Trump has scrapped the long-standing legal basis for tackling climate emissions by Robyn Eckersley, The Conversation (February 2026)

He will equal Scott Morrison’s record of 1368 days on Thursday. On Friday, he’ll surpass him, leapfrogging both John Curtin and Morrison, to sit behind Paul Keating as the 12th longest-serving prime minister.

Short of his party moving against him, Albanese is almost certain to win another term as Prime Minister.

The Coalition is 28 seats behind. Even if there was a “thruplition” with One Nation, the Liberals, Nationals and Barnson would have to hold their existing 43 seats and win another 27 to take government.

And don’t expect that election to be held in 2028. New deputy leader Jane Hume was right last week when she said expected Albanese to take advantage of the Liberal Party’s decline and call an early election.

Labor is already eyeing off Forrest, La Trobe, Longman and Goldstein as potential seat gains. Bowman will be on the list.

The Liberals, or Nationals (depending on who wins that fight), will have a tough time holding on to Sussan Ley’s seat of Farrer, with One Nation on the march and a community independent having already shorn 10 points off Ley’s margin at the last election. It is very doubtful the Liberals or Nationals will run another woman in Farrer, which will leave the Coalition with just enough women in the lower house to fill a 2016 Honda Civic. That’ll be sure to arrest the number of women turning their back on the party!

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit was always going to deepen divisions within Australia, not heal them. Social cohesion can’t be built on a bedrock of police violence, criminalising protest, silencing dissent and ignoring international law.

Australia’s Jewish community needs comfort and support while they grieve the fifteen innocent lives lost in the Bondi massacre. But why not invite a religious leader to provide comfort instead of a deeply controversial political leader? The grief of the Palestinian community in Australia, who are mourning the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians at the hands of Israel, was extended no such comfort or consideration by the Prime Minister or the NSW Premier in recent weeks.

Israel’s crimes in Gaza are monstrous and well-documented. The UN commission of inquiry found evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal intent by Israeli leaders and has recommended they be prosecuted.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the persistent rumours of changes to the capital gains tax discount, why government spending isn’t to blame for the latest inflation increase, and the impact of the federal government’s five per cent deposit scheme on lending figures (and don’t discuss wages as promised last week, cus Greg can’t read a calendar).

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

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

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

Isaac Herzog has been credibly accused of incitement to commit genocide and, while his is largely a ceremonial role, he is the head of state of a nation credibly accused of genocide, whose leaders are wanted on war crime charges.

Raising any of these legitimate issues brought more lectures from political leaders about needing to “bring down the temperature” and a reminder that Herzog is here to comfort members of Australia’s grief-stricken and traumatised Jewish communities after the horrific Bondi terror attack.

But two things can be true at the same time. In this case, while there were Australian Jewish people who sought comfort from “their head of state”, there were also Australian Jewish people who found no comfort in Herzog’s visit, who found community in people protesting the invitation while Palestinians are still being killed by Israeli forces.

Herzog himself ended his public meeting with Anthony Albanese by referencing the “next phase in Gaza”. But raising what that means – which includes Americans and Israelis seeking to establish beachfront resorts on Palestinian territory, built on the bones of mass graves – is raising the temperature, according to Australian leaders.

It was 13 years from the formation of the Australian Labor Party to when then-leader Chris Watson was invited to form government.

His four months as prime minister was spent at the helm of the first democratic socialist government in the world. But his impact on modern Labor looms large, having helped establish the solidarity pledge for Labor caucus members, which ultimately forced his own exit during the 1916 conscription split.

Since then, caucus solidarity – the rule that once Labor’s political arm has made a decision, all caucus members are bound to it regardless of personal views – has been treated as both a threat and novelty by party outsiders. It has always been thus.

Another future Labor “rat” Hector Lamond, wrote of the caucus system in 1914:

“Most electoral contests are determined by that large body of more or less intelligent voters who do not attach themselves permanently to any political party. For the most part they are patriotic citizens, striving earnestly to approve what is best in the programs of rival candidates for their electoral favours.

“A large body of these electors has naturally been attracted by the progressive and national character of the Labor platform, and in increasing numbers have given the Labor Party a qualified support.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights and climate advocate, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss the need for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, why it’s past time for the Australia government to stop coal and gas expansion, and his new Vantage Point essay, What We Owe the Water.

This episode was recorded on Monday 9 February 2026.

What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Guest: Kumi Naidoo, President, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative // @kuminaidoo

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

Show notes:

On this episode of After America, Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia senior reporter covering international affairs, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss the mass layoffs at the Washington Post, the lack of transparency around the AUKUS submarine deal, and why the Australian government still has its head in the sand over Trump.

This discussion was recorded on Friday 6 February 2026.

The latest Vantage Point essay, What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.

Guest: Ben Doherty, Senior Reporter, Guardian Australia

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

Show notes:

‘Possibility of US ever selling Australia nuclear submarines is increasingly remote, Aukus critics say’ by Ben Doherty, Guardian Australia (February 2026)

The report, part of a submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry, has found the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM)) scheme is so lopsided it could damage diplomatic and economic relationships, rather than enhance them.

Similarly, the expansion of the scheme to fill shortages in the health and aged care sectors is luring medical professionals away from the health systems of workers’ home nations, leaving them desperately under-resourced.

The scheme generates around a billion dollars a year, yet just $184 million makes it back to the homelands of workers.

The report makes three recommendations:

• Ensuring a fair share of money makes it back to workers and their families.
• Improving the rights and conditions of workers, to ensure they’re not at risk of modern slavery.
• Re-examining the expansion of the scheme – originally designed to fill seasonal agricultural roles, like fruit picking – into Australia’s care sectors.

“When the PALM scheme was established, it was lauded as a win-win for Australia and its participating neighbours,” said Morgan Harrington, Research Manager at The Australia Institute.

“But more than three quarters of the money earned in Australia stays in Australia. This is desperately unfair and not in the spirit of what the scheme was set up to do.

“These workers are now a vital part of our economy, particularly in rural Australia. Without them, our meat processing, fruit picking, aged and health care sectors would be in trouble.

The Wrap: Australia doesn’t need a strong Opposition, but it does need a strong Parliament

“Australia is an ‘elective dictatorship’, an ominous term coined in the 1990s by David Hamer. Mr Hamer was a Liberal parliamentarian who served in both houses of Parliament (he was an MP and a senator). His point was that, between elections, the Government’s power is barely constrained by law or the Constitution.

“Instead, the Government is constrained by the Parliament. However benign or well-meaning a Government, democracy depends on the option for the Parliament to intervene to stop abuse of power,” writes Bill Browne.

Read more

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)

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)

The RBA was cautious when it came to cutting interest rates last year. The board repeatedly told borrowers it didn’t want to be hasty and would wait for more data before bringing rates down.

Today’s decision is, predominantly, a reaction to one month of inflation data. The annual inflation rate increased to 3.8 percent in December, above the Reserve Bank’s target band of 2-3 percent. But that was almost entirely driven by one-off spending on travel and accommodation.

The underlying or “core” inflation – which strips out all the big jumps and falls – was 0.23 percent in December, the lowest in six months.

“By its own cautious standards, the RBA should have waited at least another month before inflicting more pain on borrowers,” said Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist at The Australia Institute.

“The December CPI numbers were driven almost entirely by the increase in prices for travel and accommodation.

“Today’s decision will cost jobs. The RBA wants unemployment to go up. It believes low unemployment makes it hard for businesses to hire workers, forcing them to increase wages to attract them, and those higher wages will lead to higher prices.

“But unemployment has been below the RBA’s sustainable rate of 4.5 percent for four years and wages have not shot up. Forcing unemployment up will just create pointless misery.”

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)

From the fallout from Adelaide Writers’ Week, to our gun research referenced several times in Parliament, we had a busy start to the year. Watch just a few of our media appearances from January 2026.

The post January 2026 Media Highlights appeared first on The Australia Institute.