Greens leader Larissa Waters on the housing crisis, gas exports & taxing the 1%

In this episode of Follow the Money, host Ebony Bennett interviews Australian Greens Leader and Senator for Queensland, Larissa Waters, about systemic inequality in Australia and the urgent need for tax reform. Waters argues that the current economic system overwhelmingly benefits the ultra-wealthy and large corporations at the expense of ordinary Australians, particularly in the face of a deepening housing crisis, soaring energy costs, and stagnant public services. She champions the Greens' 'Tax the 1%' campaign, proposing a wealth tax on billionaires and a minimum 25% export tax on gas companies to recoup windfall profits from global conflicts and reinvest in public goods. Drawing on international examples like Norway and Spain, Waters emphasizes that such reforms are both feasible and beneficial, debunking claims that they would harm industry. She also calls for an end to tax loopholes that favor property investors, such as negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, which have exacerbated housing unaffordability. The episode underscores that the political will—not legislative barriers—is the main obstacle to reform, with the Greens ready to support progressive legislation if the government chooses to act. Waters envisions a future where tax revenues from the 1% fund universal public services: free public transport, free childcare, expanded Medicare to include dental and mental health, and a just transition to renewable energy. She stresses that these changes are not only economically viable but morally imperative, framing them as a way to restore faith in democracy and the 'fair go' ideal. The episode closes with a call to action, urging listeners to visit taxthe1%.com.au to learn how their income compares to billionaires and join the movement for a fairer tax system. The tone is urgent, hopeful, and politically charged, advocating for bold structural change to address entrenched inequality.