If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via their website, www.lifeline.org.au.

If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via their website, <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">www.lifeline.org.au</a>.

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Follow The Money

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

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.

Look after yourselves and each other

Why oil prices are so high

Why some fuel stations have run low

Will Australia see fuel rationing?

Fuelling inequality

Australia's missed opportunities

Cutting the fuel excise

Taxing gas ISN'T a diplomatic risk

Petrol and diesel prices are sky high because of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, but major fuel shortages in Australia are very unlikely. 

Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss Australia’s relatively strong position in global energy supply chains. Matt explains why some petrol stations have run low despite overall fuel supplies remaining steady, how the price hikes are fuelling inequality, and why Scott Morrison’s 2021 claim about an electric vehicle policy putting an “end to the weekend” now looks even more absurd than it did at the time.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 31 March.

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

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

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

Show notes:

Fuel costs and RBA hikes equal to a 90 basis point rate rise: 'this is brutal' by Greg Jericho, The Point (March 2026)

Fuelling inequality: The brunt of a global crisis should not be borne by people in poverty by Kristin O’Connell, The Point (March 2026)

The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 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 Castsor wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Petrol and diesel prices are sky high because of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, but major fuel shortages in Australia are very unlikely.&nbsp;
Matt Grudnoff and Ebony Bennett discuss Australia&rsquo;s relatively strong position in global energy supply chains. Matt explains why some petrol stations have run low despite overall fuel supplies remaining steady, how the price hikes are fuelling inequality, and why Scott Morrison&rsquo;s 2021 claim about an electric vehicle policy putting an &ldquo;end to the weekend&rdquo; now looks even more absurd than it did at the time.
This episode was recorded on Tuesday 31 March.
You can <a href="https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/gas_export_tax_b">sign the Australia Institute&rsquo;s petition</a> calling on the federal government to make gas exporters pay their fair share.
Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattgrudnoff.bsky.social">@mattgrudnoff</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://thepoint.com.au/news/260326-fuel-costs-and-rba-hikes-equal-a-90-basis-point-rate-rise-this-is-brutal">Fuel costs and RBA hikes equal to a 90 basis point rate rise: 'this is brutal'</a> by Greg Jericho, The Point (March 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260331-fuelling-inequality-the-brunt-of-a-global-crisis-should-not-be-borne-by-people-in-poverty">Fuelling inequality: The brunt of a global crisis should not be borne by people in poverty</a> by Kristin O&rsquo;Connell, The Point (March 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/explainers/260323-the-case-for-a-gas-export-tax-explained">The case for a gas export tax, explained</a> by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026)
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>. Subscribe to Follow the Money on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/follow-the-money/id1078781512">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0JOrvYNuhHOwaFuZ7PlW1d?si=e9265dc6a04d40b3">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/follow-the-money/2aeecbb0-b36a-0133-2e57-6dc413d6d41d">Pocket Casts</a> or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Petrol and diesel prices are sky high because of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, but major fuel shortages in Australia are very unlikely. 

Prices skyrocket but major fuel shortages "very unlikely"

Energy markets in a crisis

The 25% gas export tax

Export vs windfall profits tax

NSW ban on new coal mines

A 25% gas export tax would drive down gas prices for Australians and collect billions of dollars that can be used to provide better, cheaper health and education services. 

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)

What the Middle East war means for Australians and gas companies, the Australia Institute (March 2026)

'No new coal or gas is a slogan, not a policy': Bowen, ABC Radio National (March 2023)

SUMMER SPECIAL | President Anote Tong, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (January 2017)

What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, Australia Institute Press (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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Castsor wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

A 25% gas export tax would drive down gas prices for Australians and collect billions of dollars that can be used to provide better, cheaper health and education services.&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s ban on new coal mines.
This episode was recorded on Tuesday 24 March.
You can <a href="https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/gas_export_tax_b">sign the Australia Institute&rsquo;s petition</a> calling on the federal government to make gas exporters pay their fair share.
Guest: Rod Campbell, Research Director, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rodcampbell.bsky.social">@rodcampbell</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://thepoint.com.au/explainers/260323-the-case-for-a-gas-export-tax-explained">The case for a gas export tax, explained</a> by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/tax-gas-exports-invest-in-health-aged-care-new-polls/">Tax gas exports, invest in health/aged care &ndash; new polls</a>, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/what-the-middle-east-war-means-for-australians-and-gas-companies/">What the Middle East war means for Australians and gas companies</a>, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/-no-new-coal-or-gas-is-a-slogan-not-a-policy-bowen/102061144">'No new coal or gas is a slogan, not a policy': Bowen</a>, ABC Radio National (March 2023)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/summer-special-president-tong/">SUMMER SPECIAL | President Anote Tong</a>, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (January 2017)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/what-we-owe-the-water-vantage-point-issue-4">What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty</a> by Kumi Naidoo, Australia Institute Press (February 2026)
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>. Subscribe to Follow the Money on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/follow-the-money/id1078781512">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0JOrvYNuhHOwaFuZ7PlW1d?si=e9265dc6a04d40b3">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/follow-the-money/2aeecbb0-b36a-0133-2e57-6dc413d6d41d">Pocket Casts</a> or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

A 25% gas export tax would drive down gas prices for Australians and collect billions of dollars that can be used to provide better, cheaper health and education services.

How a gas export tax could transform Australia

Fossil fuel subsidies growing faster than the 

AND we give gas away for free

Impact on the climate

Fuel security & the war on Iran

Solutions

Now costing Australian governments $31,020 per minute, fossil fuel subsidies are growing faster than spending on the NDIS. 

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)

Australia’s great gas giveaway, the Australia Institute (May 2024)

Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy, Follow the Money (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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Now costing Australian governments $31,020 per minute, fossil fuel subsidies are growing faster than spending on the NDIS. 
On this episode of Follow the Money, Rod Campbell and Ebony Bennett discuss why it&rsquo;s time to call out the idea that governments can&rsquo;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.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/what-we-owe-the-water-vantage-point-issue-4">What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo</a> is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/vantage-point-subscription">subscribe to the Vantage Point series</a> 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 // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rodcampbell.bsky.social">@rodcampbell</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/report/fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-australia-2026/">Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2026</a> by Matt Grudnoff and Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/australias-great-gas-giveaway/">Australia&rsquo;s great gas giveaway</a>, the Australia Institute (May 2024)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/joseph-stiglitz-on-super-profits-capital-gains-and-why-corporate-tax-is-good-for-democracy/">Joseph Stiglitz on super profits, capital gains and why corporate tax is good for democracy</a>, Follow the Money (February 2026)
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>.

Now costing Australian governments $31,020 per minute, fossil fuel subsidies are growing faster than spending on the NDIS.

Look after yourselves and each other

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