The White House/Flickr
The far-right is benefitting from a failing status quo – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
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.
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Guest: Gary Stevenson, economist and author of The Trading Game // @garyseconomics
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Tax: Beer drinkers vs gas companies by Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
Killing the Australian Dream: The failure of the capital gains tax discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
Photo: The White House/Flickr (U.S. Government work)
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 Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has released their gender pay gap data today and while we took a tiny step closer to pay equity, men are still almost twice as likely to be in the highest earning quartile – earning more than $220,000.
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The debate over the capital gains tax discount comes down to a very simple question: who do you think should pay more income tax? Should a high-income executive who makes a $400,000 capital gain (that is, a profit) from selling an investment property pay a higher tax rate than a full-time retail worker on minimum wage who decides to pick up a few extra shifts?
