Wed 30 Sep 2026 17.16 AEST
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The Australia Institute’s Chief Economist Greg Jericho has slammed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to raise interest rates again, arguing there is no data to justify increasing them to the highest level seen in 15 years.
It should not be assumed that every private hospital service is essential care that would otherwise have to be performed in a public hospital. Like the public system, private healthcare delivers excellent and necessary care. But it also delivers care of little or uncertain value. Australian research has demonstrated low-value procedures in the private sector.
Sydney Water will seek expert advice on whether data centres could release “forever chemicals” into the wastewater system after the possibility was raised at a Senate inquiry. The scrutiny comes as Swedish nonprofit ChemSec reported earlier in September that most of the world’s top 10 PFAS producers are planning to expand production, with some framing their investments around the “AI revolution”.
Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australians’ extraordinary gambling losses, the federal government’s failure to create a national regulator for online gambling, and her proposal to lift standards in the NT.
This episode was recorded on Friday 25 September.
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.
Guest: Justine Davis, Member for Johnston, Northern Territory Legislative Assembly // @justinedavismla
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Quality research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts you can trust.
National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute
SIGN THE PETITION: Ban online gambling ads!, the Australia Institute
“Appalling”: Wilkie slams government’s response to gambling inquiry, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (August 2026)
Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator stops accepting gifts from betting companies, for now by Jack Hislop, ABC News (November 2025)
NT’s regulation of Australia’s online gambling industry labelled a ‘complete farce’ by Jack Hislop, ABC News (April 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. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
