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Follow The Money

Follow The Money

Written by: The Australia Institute
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Economics and politics explained in plain English

2026 The Australia Institute
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Antoinette Lattouf on women who win
    Jun 3 2026

    Journalist and author Antoinette Lattouf tells the inspiring stories of women’s courage and conviction – and how they have changed our country.

    Recorded live as part of our Australia’s Biggest Book Club webinar series, Antoinette Lattouf joins Ebony Bennett to discuss her landmark legal battle with the ABC and her latest book, Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change.

    The original conversation was recorded live on 29 May 2026. Stay across all of our events and webinars by signing up to our newsletter.

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    Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June.

    Guest: Antoinette Lattouf, journalist and author of Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change // @antoinettelattouf

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

    Show notes:

    Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change by Antoinette Lattouf, Penguin (April 2026)

    Josh Bornstein: Working for the Brand, Australia’s Biggest Book Club, the Australia Institute (November 2024)

    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 the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3RR3KYd

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    28 mins
  • Online gambling “reshaping a whole generation” as government reforms fall well short
    May 27 2026

    The government’s latest reforms don’t do nearly enough to protect Australians from gambling harm.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Martin Thomas from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Morgan Harrington from the Australia Institute join Ebony Bennett to discuss how Australians came to have the biggest per capita gambling losses in the world, how online sports betting is turbocharging the damage caused by gambling, and the government’s straw man argument about “balance” when it comes to reform.

    This episode was recorded on Tuesday 26 May.

    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.

    Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond.

    Guest: Martin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Gambling Reform

    Guest: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, the Australia Institute // @mhharrington

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

    Show notes:

    Polling – banning gambling advertisements, the Australia Institute (May 2026)

    Teenage gambling in Australia by Matt Saunders and Morgan Harrington, the Australia Institute (April 2025)

    Worth a Punt – 2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend by Stephen Long and David Richardson, the Australia Institute (August 2024)

    ‘A thousand days of inaction on gambling reform’ by Tim Costello, The Saturday Paper (March 2026)

    New research shows kids are targeted with alcohol, gambling and junk food ads online, Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (June 2024)

    Football’s secret gambling deal exposed | Four Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation on YouTube (June 2023)

    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 the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3RR3KYd

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    24 mins
  • Victoria’s donations shambles puts rest of country “on notice”
    May 20 2026

    Six months out from an election, Victoria has been left with no political donation laws after the High Court ruled them unconstitutional.

    On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the High Court voided Victoria’s undemocratic political donations laws. They examine what this could mean for other jurisdictions and why a principled, transparent approach to political donations reform is needed – not legislation that skews the system in favour of major parties.

    This episode was recorded on Tuesday 19 May.

    Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond.

    Guest: Bill Browne, Director, Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90

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

    Show notes:

    Victoria’s donation restrictions are unconstitutional – what happens now? by Bill Browne, The Point (April 2026)

    Open letter calls on Victorian Parliament to make election donation laws fair and transparent from Australian Democracy Network, Accountability Round Table, Transparency International Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, the Australia Institute and many other integrity and community organisations (May 2026)

    High Court shines a light on how major parties have stacked the system in their favour by Bill Browne, The Point (April 2026)

    High Court gives Victoria a chance to rethink its unconstitutional, undemocratic political donation laws, the Australia Institute (April 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 the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3RR3KYd

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
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