It's time to call it what it is: Foreign Interference
If a hostile state ran this sort of operation to swing our vote, we'd call it foreign interference. It's time we did.
Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch
On this episode of Follow the Money, transparency advocate Rex Patrick and Australia Institute Democracy & Accountability Director Bill Browne to discuss the failing freedom of information system and why the proposed changes could make government less transparent – not more.
Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available now via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Rex Patrick, former Senator for South Australia // @mrrexpatrick
Guest: Bill Browne, Democracy & Accountability Director, the Australia Institute // @browne90
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Proposed changes to Freedom of Information scheme don’t add up, the Australia Institute (September 2025)
Transparency Summit 2024, the Australia Institute
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.
If a hostile state ran this sort of operation to swing our vote, we'd call it foreign interference. It's time we did.
The tragedy in the tragedy of the commons was it always assumed the humans’ worst natures would come to the fore. Political scientist Elinor Ostrom was among those who proved the theory wrong. Assuming the worst of human nature always travels further than considering actual human nature, which is multifaceted and flawed and generous and, more often than not, surprisingly kind.
