The "sensible centre" is a myth

Bipartisanship can actually be bad

No safe seats

The search for the “sensible centre” in Australia politics is pointless and flies in the face of evidence, says Richard Denniss.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the constant search for the centre ground doing Australians harm, why bipartisanship can actually be bad, and his new essay, Dead Centre.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss

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

Show notes:

A chance to be brave: understanding Australia’s election result, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

The search for the &ldquo;sensible centre&rdquo; in Australia politics is pointless and flies in the face of evidence, says Richard Denniss.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Richard Denniss joins Ebony Bennett to discuss why the constant search for the centre ground doing Australians harm, why bipartisanship can actually be bad, and his new essay, Dead Centre.
Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/dead-centre-vantage-point-issue-2">available now</a> via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Richard Denniss, Executive Director, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/richarddenniss.bsky.social">@richarddenniss</a>
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ebonybennett.bsky.social">@ebonybennett</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/a-chance-to-be-brave-understanding-australias-election-result/">A chance to be brave: understanding Australia&rsquo;s election result</a>, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (May 2025)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Follow The Money

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Get all of the Australia Institute's podcasts in one feed.

Australia Matters

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

The search for the “sensible centre” in Australia politics is pointless and flies in the face of evidence, says Richard Denniss.

How political pragmatism is killing us with Richard Denniss

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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

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 // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mhharrington.bsky.social">@mhharrington</a>
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 &amp; Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute
Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/the-palm-scheme/">&lsquo;The PALM Scheme: Labour rights for our Pacific partners&rsquo;</a>, The Australia Institute (December 2023)
<a href="https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/publications/if-i-stay-like-this-how-can-i-benefit-my-family-initial-findings-/">&ldquo;If I stay like this, how can I benefit my family?&rdquo; Initial findings on disengagement from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme</a> by Kirstie Petrou, Matt Withers, Kaya Barry and Emily House, Griffith University (December 2025)
<a href="https://www.assipj.com.au/southsea/publications/">Australian South Sea Islanders &ndash; Port Jackson: publications</a>
Theme music: <a href="https://www.wantokmusik.org/tio">&lsquo;Mumbwe&rsquo; by Tio</a>, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

What would it take to make the PALM scheme a genuine win-win for Australia and its neighbours?

What can be done to fix the PALM scheme? | PALMed Off, Episode 4

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, DevPolicyBlog (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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

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.&nbsp;Call&nbsp;<a href="tel:1800737732">1800 737 732</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://1800respect.org.au/FAQ#faq-2707">text 0458 737 732</a>, chat online or video call via&nbsp;<a href="https://1800respect.org.au/">their website</a>.
Host: Morgan Harrington, Research Manager, The Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mhharrington.bsky.social">@mhharrington</a>
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 &amp; Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute
Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite
Show notes:
<a href="https://devpolicy.org/publications/reproductive-justice-palm-scheme/">&lsquo;It&rsquo;s not illegal to be pregnant&rsquo;</a> by Lindy Kanan, DevPolicy Blog (May 2025)
<a href="https://australianwomenshealth.org/2025/05/13/reproductive-health-and-rights-for-palm-scheme-workers/">&lsquo;Reproductive Health and Rights for PALM Scheme Workers &ndash; Statement&rsquo;</a>, Australian Women&rsquo;s Health Alliance (May 2025)
Theme music: <a href="https://www.wantokmusik.org/tio">&lsquo;Mumbwe&rsquo; by Tio</a>, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

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?

Is Australia failing its duty of care? | PALMed Off, Episode 3

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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

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&rsquo;s become a safe haven for some of the estimated 7,000 people who have &lsquo;disengaged&rsquo; 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 // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mhharrington.bsky.social">@mhharrington</a>
Interviewees: Ken Dachi (Welcoming Australia), Paul Maytom (Leeton Multicultural Support Group), Ian Bull (member of St. Peter&rsquo;s Anglican congregation, Leeton), (Waskam) Emelda Davis (ASSI-Port Jackson Chair), anonymous former PALM workers
Scripting and production support: Stephen Long, Senior Fellow &amp; Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute
Sound design and mixing: Simon Branthwaite
Show notes:
<a href="https://welcoming.org.au/initiatives/mayoral-alliance-for-the-pacific/">&lsquo;Towards a Fair and Sustainable PALM Scheme&rsquo;</a>, PALM position paper from the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, Welcoming Communities
<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/bhright/exploitation-of-palm-scheme-workers-in-aus-meat-industry">&lsquo;Meat the Reality: Unpacking the Exploitation of PALM Scheme Workers in Australia&rsquo;s Meat Industry&rsquo;</a> by Ema Moolchand and Professor Shelley Marshall, RMIT University (February 2025)
Theme music: <a href="https://www.wantokmusik.org/tio">&lsquo;Mumbwe&rsquo; by Tio</a>, with thanks to the Wantok Music Foundation
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

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?

How political pragmatism is killing us with Richard Denniss

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