On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how the Federal Government’s new carbon credits method for ‘protecting’ native forests will allow fossil fuel companies to greenwash their climate pollution and expand coal and gas production.

This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July.

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

Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang

Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website

The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/

On this episode of What&rsquo;s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how the Federal Government&rsquo;s new carbon credits method for &lsquo;protecting&rsquo; native forests will allow fossil fuel companies to greenwash their climate pollution and expand coal and gas production.
This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets: <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website">https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website</a>
The Point: <a href="https://thepoint.com.au/">https://thepoint.com.au/</a>

What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss cuts through the spin to explain the political and economic decisions shaping the lives of everyday Australians.

Richard connects the dots between policy and politics with sharp analysis. By getting straight to the point, Richard helps listeners understand how democracy works and why it matters.

Presented by the Australia Institute.

What&rsquo;s the Point? with Richard Denniss cuts through the spin to explain the political and economic decisions shaping the lives of everyday Australians.
Richard connects the dots between policy and politics with sharp analysis. By getting straight to the point, Richard helps listeners understand how democracy works and why it matters.
Presented by the Australia Institute.

What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss cuts through the spin to explain the political and economic decisions shaping the lives of everyday Australians lives.

What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss

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

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

Australia Matters

What's the point of offsets?

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains why the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is banking on mass unemployment, the impact of AI on superannuation, and what happens if the AI bubble bursts.

This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October.

Read more on The Point.

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

Host: Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // @glennconnley

Show notes:

More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2026)

'Not an unintended consequence': Mass unemployment is the AI business model by Tegan George, The Point (October 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

On this episode of What&rsquo;s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains why the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is banking on mass unemployment, the impact of AI on superannuation, and what happens if the AI bubble bursts.
This episode was recorded on Friday 30 October.
Read more on <a href="https://thepoint.com.au">The Point</a>.
Host:&nbsp;Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/richarddenniss.bsky.social">@richarddenniss</a>
Host:&nbsp;Glenn Connley, Senior Media Advisor, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/glennconnley.bsky.social">@glennconnley</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/more-fool-me-vantage-point-issue-6">More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia</a> by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/new/261022-not-an-unintended-consequence-mass-unemployment-is-the-ai-business-model">'Not an unintended consequence': Mass unemployment is the AI business model</a> by Tegan George, The Point (October 2026)
Theme music:&nbsp;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&nbsp;What&rsquo;s the Point? with Richard Denniss&nbsp;on <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXQ0oSpA60zbnbOH5xNLdinbxKeW2JqH&amp;si=fKjXy59qM9uUQ77q">YouTube</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/whats-the-point-with-richard-denniss/id1896871574">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/033rDEIEiJCMwPEwADjpfb">Spotify</a> or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

What’s the point of allowing AI to ruin superannuation? 

Senate Estimates is a government and department accountability mechanism. It’s a process where Senators get to look under the hood of Federal Departments and ask, among other things, how is taxpayer money being spent? In this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explores why Estimates matter for democracy, and ways it can be improved.

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

Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia, Richard Denniss’ Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press.

Show notes:

Aussies pay more tax on beer than international gas companies pay on tens and billions of dollars worth of our offshore gas they export | David Pocock, via Facebook
David Pocock is right: more tax is raised from beer than from petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) | The Point

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 topodcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Senate Estimates is a government and department accountability mechanism. It&rsquo;s a process where Senators get to look under the hood of Federal Departments and ask, among other things, how is taxpayer money being spent? In this episode of What&rsquo;s the Point?, Richard Denniss explores why Estimates matter for democracy, and ways it can be improved.
Host:&nbsp;Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/richarddenniss.bsky.social">@richarddenniss</a>
Order&nbsp;<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/more-fool-me-vantage-point-issue-6">More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia</a>, Richard Denniss&rsquo; Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press.
Show notes:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/2068193550713397">Aussies pay more tax on beer than international gas companies pay on tens and billions of dollars worth of our offshore gas they export | David Pocock, via Facebook</a><a href="https://thepoint.com.au/factchecks/260217-david-pocock-is-right-more-tax-comes-from-beer-than-from-petroleum-tax"> David Pocock is right: more tax is raised from beer than from petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) | The Point</a>
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions&nbsp;
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&nbsp;What&rsquo;s the Point? with Richard Denniss&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXQ0oSpA60zbnbOH5xNLdinbxKeW2JqH&amp;si=fKjXy59qM9uUQ77q">YouTube</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/whats-the-point-with-richard-denniss/id1896871574">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/033rDEIEiJCMwPEwADjpfb">Spotify</a>&nbsp;or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

What's the point of Senate Estimates?

On this episode of What’s the Point?, Alex Fein, researcher and strategist at Redbridge, joins Richard Denniss to discuss why so many Australians are angry right now, the real message many voters are sending to the political establishment, and the dirty secret about productivity.

This episode was recorded on Friday 16 October.

Read more on The Point.

Guest: Alex Fein, Research and Intelligence Principal, Redbridge Group // @auspoldaily

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

Show notes:

Raw Power: Going Beyond What One Nation Is Selling by Alex Fein, The Point (June 2026)

It's time to call it what it is: Foreign Interference by Alex Fein, The Point (June 2026)

More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 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 podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

On this episode of What&rsquo;s the Point?, Alex Fein, researcher and strategist at Redbridge, joins Richard Denniss to discuss why so many Australians are angry right now, the real message many voters are sending to the political establishment, and the dirty secret about productivity.
This episode was recorded on Friday 16 October.
Read more on <a href="https://thepoint.com.au">The Point</a>.
Guest:&nbsp;Alex Fein, Research and Intelligence Principal, Redbridge Group // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/auspoldaily.bsky.social">@auspoldaily</a>
Host:&nbsp;Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/richarddenniss.bsky.social">@richarddenniss</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260626-raw-power-going-beyond-what-one-nation-is-selling">Raw Power: Going Beyond What One Nation Is Selling</a> by Alex Fein, The Point (June 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260616-call-it-what-it-is-foreign-interference">It's time to call it what it is: Foreign Interference</a> by Alex Fein, The Point (June 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/more-fool-me-vantage-point-issue-6">More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia</a> by Richard Denniss, Australia Institute Press (August 2026)
Theme music:&nbsp;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&nbsp;What&rsquo;s the Point? with Richard Denniss&nbsp;on <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXQ0oSpA60zbnbOH5xNLdinbxKeW2JqH&amp;si=fKjXy59qM9uUQ77q">YouTube</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/whats-the-point-with-richard-denniss/id1896871574">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/033rDEIEiJCMwPEwADjpfb">Spotify</a> or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

What's the point of offsets?

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