The Fin

Today, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and tech editor Paul Smith take us inside the spectacular undoing of Firmus: what went wrong, how it unravelled in a week, and what this sudden collapse reveals about the AI boom.

This podcast is sponsored by Ripple

Further reading:
How Firmus’ $44b IPO failure unfolded
Firmus was on a runaway train to become one of the country’s most valuable listed companies. This is the day-by-day account of how that hope evaporated.
The pain that killed Firmus’ float is spreading. Here’s a new victim
AirTrunk’s decision to delay its Singaporean property IPO is another sign that the rising cost of capital is starting to foster doubts in the global artificial intelligence trade.
AirTrunk postpones $4.4b Singapore listing as interest rates soar
AirTrunk, has delayed plans to list a real estate investment trust in Singapore due to global market volatility, including rising interest rates.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, senior reporter Greg Bearup and pollster Kos Somaras on how vital migrants have become in the regions, why those towns are voting for One Nation and how new data shows that the shift doesn’t have much to do with immigration.

With additional audio: Nic Walker

This podcast is sponsored by Ripple

Further reading

‘We’ll cut your rent by up to 4k’: Hanson ups the ante on immigration One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lifted the stakes in the immigration policy wars by releasing modelling showing her policy would save renters between $2000 and $4300 a year.

Taylor’s middle ground on migration might be the safest courseThe Coalition has tried to reconcile two competing interests: how to slash the number of arrivals without hurting the economy.

Voters turn on Albanese and Chalmers as economic concerns bite The latest The Australian Financial Review/RedBridge Group/Accent Research poll also shows economic management is starting to resonate with voters, jumping 7 percentage points in a month as an issue of concern to sit just outside the top five.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, senior reporter Myriam Robin on the story of a mega landlord and what it tells us about the vibe in the housing market – between renters and Australia’s two million landlords.

This podcast is sponsored by Ripple

Further reading:
This 34-year-old owns over 200 properties. Now his tenants are unionising
Australia was built on the dream of owning property. But as that compact unravels, Eddie Dilleen’s clash with a militant renters union exposes a growing fault line.
Why 6.5pc is the benchmark for new residential property investors
The changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax have made rental returns more important than ever. Here are 37 suburbs that are throwing up opportunities.
Investors are still buying, as this $950,000 inner-Sydney sale shows
We speak to the team behind last week’s most intriguing property sale.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, deputy economics editor Michael Read and wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs on the latest round of the super wars, whether you should be able to access your superannuation early and what is the magic number for a comfortable retirement.

This podcast is sponsored by Ripple

Further reading:
Hanson poses the super question Australia stopped asking
How much super is too much and, in the trade-off between living standards today and in retirement, do we really need to put 12 per cent away?
Support grows to tap superannuation for wages, housing
About 62 per cent of voters support using super to boost take-home pay, as some in the Coalition consider a policy allowing people to pay their mortgage out of super.
Gazumped again? Hanson announces previous Coalition super policy
One Nation’s plan to let workers access 3 percentage points of their super is the same policy the Coalition planned to announce under Sussan Ley.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, markets reporter Alex Gluyas on what the AI threat debate means for tech stocks, why Cathie Wood is predicting a golden era and whether the bond market might spoil the party.

This podcast is sponsored by Ripple

Further reading:
Cathie Wood declares ‘golden age’ for equities after bumpy ride
The high-profile investor is betting equity markets are at the start of a decade-long bull market driven by artificial intelligence. And she’s an Elon Musk fan.
Investors see their own threats in push to slow AI development
One fund manager said tighter restrictions would be a commercial advantage to Anthropic and OpenAI, and hurt newer start-ups and microchip manufacturers.
The market’s biggest fear is no longer the AI bubble. It’s this
Investors are worried about a disorderly meltdown in bonds. Australia – now almost halfway to a correction – provides a window into how it could unfold.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and associate editor Primrose Riordan on how Bathla built its property empire, why it all fell apart and why its effects will be felt well beyond western Sydney.

This podcast is sponsored by Elston.

Further reading:
Living in ‘half a house’: How Bathla turned cheap housing into a nightmare
The downfall of the developer has left families stranded in half-built homes and sent shockwaves through the private credit market.
This developer could be private credit's ticking time bomb
Bathla Group, a property developer has almost $3.2 billion in debt, it will be private credit investors who could lose out.
Bathla’s collapse has property insiders panicking like it’s 2007
Australia’s ever-rising property market has masked all manner of sins, particularly in private credit, which has been shown up for its lack of discipline.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and Victorian political correspondent Sumeyya Ilanbey on the project that has come to sum up Victoria’s problems, whether it is too big to cancel and how it will play into November’s state election.

This podcast is sponsored by Elston.

Further reading:
The secret tax that says everything about Victorian Labor
The revelation that Labor secretly introduced a tax on public transport users is the latest chapter in a saga in which political momentum has trumped fiscal responsibility. (edited) 
Vic Labor’s secret tax exposes fiscal transparency void
The opposition and leading economists say a charter of budget honesty is needed after the Victorian government introduced a new tax without telling the public. (edited) 
Carroll’s budget scalpel misses the $34b elephant in the room
Premier Ben Carroll is looking to scrape off as many costly, wasteful barnacles he can find before the November 28 state election

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate editor Primrose Riordan and courts correspondent Max Mason on why Jon Adgemis is struggling to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret and what his story tells us about the private credit market.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac.

Further reading:
Jon Adgemis thought he was winning. Then his CFO took the stand
The failed pub baron has been trying to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret. But a chatty former accountant is making that difficult.
Adgemis’ right-hand man alleges tax con funded ‘exorbitant lifestyle’
The business affairs of the former KPMG deal maker-turned-bankrupt are being scrutinised, with allegations of “sham arrangements” to pay for his spending.
From playboy pub baron to bankruptcy: Inside Jon Adgemis’ $1.8b fall
From KPMG consultant to “glamour banker” with the “Midas touch” to junk-debt-laden bankrupt. It’s been a wild ride for Jon Adgemis and Public Hospitality Group.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s bet on gambling reform, the problem with "brand Albo" and why there’s nothing funny about the melon incident.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac.

Further reading:
PM bets on stability pitch as popularity falters
Anthony Albanese celebrated a significant milestone on Friday, but voters have learnt stability and steadiness don’t preclude poor taste.

Migration or superannuation, the spectre of Hanson hangs heavy
Pauline Hanson keeps setting the agenda, whether she means to or not. The government and Coalition are scrambling to follow.

‘Policy capture’: The week that exposed Labor’s gambling ties
An explosive week of public hearings exposed the harms of the gambling industry. So why isn’t the government following its own advice on advertising bans?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy economics editor Michael Read on what’s going on in the housing market, whether it’s the correction we had to have and why the government doesn't want to call it that.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
RBA warns house prices have further to fall
Despite the softness in the housing market, RBA governor Michele Bullock said another interest rate rise remains squarely on the table.
Labor MPs are lost in housing’s hall of mirrors
Prices are falling, but the government is reluctant to claim the credit. So its MPs have resorted to rhetoric about renewed optimism for first home buyers.
Property price slide exposes political peril for Albanese government
As the sharpest housing market correction in almost four years gathers pace, the Albanese government is discovering that voters do not necessarily welcome falling values.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela Macdonald-Smith and Ryan Cropp on the reasons we all stopped freaking out about the oil price and why that was premature.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
Labor’s plans to source more fuel leaves shipments stranded at sea
The government has been accused of picking winners for its subsidised import plan, which has created a glut and forced vessels to wait offshore for months.
Ampol rakes it in on refining, trebling first-half profits
Bumper first-half gross profits have been driven by soaring returns on turning crude oil into petrol and diesel during the conflict in the Middle East.
Oil refiners chase sweeter support deal despite surging profits
Ampol and Viva Energy are pushing for a major overhaul of subsidies to keep their refineries running for longer, even as their own earnings are soaring.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legal affairs reporter Janek Drevikovsky on why Twiggy is taking on Meta, whether he can win and what happens if he does.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
Meta admits it wiped key evidence in Forrest stoush
The social media giant has accepted it should be punished for not preserving copies of Facebook scam ads featuring the mining billionaire’s likeness.
‘Dad, it’s a fraud’: Call that sparked Forrest’s $60m war on Facebook
Why is Andrew Forrest fighting one of the world’s biggest tech companies in one of California’s most storied courts – and spending his own money to do it?
Forrest pressures local ad body to penalise Meta over scam revenue
Andrew Forrest has written to IAB Australia asking for the group to consider Meta’s membership, after news the company made more than $20 billion from scams.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Thomson and Ronald Mizen on why CEOs are losing patience with the AI giants, what’s driving the government’s policy shift, and whether Anthony Albanese is overplaying his hand.

This podcast is sponsored by Workday

Further reading: 
Could China’s AI bombshell spark a ‘Lehman Bros moment’ for markets?
A new model that threatens OpenAI and Anthropic could have huge ramifications for global indices, which have soared on the artificial-intelligence trade.
The AI pivot: inside Albanese’s plan to bring big tech to heel
Riding high on global momentum from the under-16 social media ban, the prime minister is stepping up for a high-stakes public brawl with AI tech giants.
National security concerns drove Labor’s pivot on AI
As the technology increasingly encroaches on defence capabilities, cyber experts and the opposition warn that Australia must redouble its efforts to master it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. 

Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the fallout from the KPMG scandal and what the government might do to bring the big four accounting firms into line.

Further reading: 
KPMG’s ‘10-hour masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis’
By repeating PwC’s crisis-management mistakes, KPMG has forced a reluctant federal government to finally pull the trigger on unprecedented structural reforms.
No timeline for big four reform despite PwC, KPMG scandals
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says reform is “real priority for the government”, but concedes there is “no particular timeline” for new rules.
Inside Project Magenta: How Allens gave KPMG a pass on leaks
The law firm cleared the company of partner misconduct without interviewing a single outsider and using a literal reading of the allegations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs and property reporter Lucy Slade unpack our national obsession, explain why property has been such a powerhouse, and ask a previously unthinkable question: Is investing in property even worth it anymore?

This podcast is sponsored by Workday

FURTHER READING: 
Should you buy an investment property after the budget changes? 
New restrictions on negative gearing and capital gains tax alter the appeal of residential property.

Economists say property prices might fall 10pc. So what?
With property prices up 400 per cent since 2000, what does a 10 per cent drop actually mean? And what happened the last time governments made major changes to property taxes?

Sydney renters drowning amid record rent rises
Rental prices are at record highs nationallypushing Sydney’s median to $841 a week, due to the vast shortage of homes available

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s budget backdowns, the increasingly crowded field in Australian politics and why it will be a bumpy two years to the next election.

This podcast is sponsored by Workday

Further reading:

PM wins round one of the budget battle, at a cost
Proper process, good policy and taxpayers’ money were among the casualties of this week’s rush to legislate the budget.
Finally, the teals discover that the Senate is where it’s at
By forming a new party – Community Strong Australia – lower house independents are finally realising that true policy influence lies in the upper house.
While Hanson stumbles, Taylor’s Coalition is quietly sinking
One polling setback does not a crisis make for One Nation, but it is a reminder that major parties are subject to more questioning and scrutiny.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald and technology editor Paul Smith on the investment case for SpaceX, whether there’s enough money for the other AI mega floats and why Australian investors are all in.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

SpaceX is the first of three sci-fi IPOs with truly insane maths
Elon Musk has shot for the stars with the first of three huge AI-based floats that ask investors to believe the companies can boldly go where no one has gone before.
Fears of ‘AI Strait of Hormuz’ as Trump’s Anthropic ban shocks business
Labor’s Ed Husic and some of Australia’s top tech leaders warn Donald Trump’s export ban on the latest Anthropic AI models exposes a national over-reliance.
How SpaceX turned the IPO curse into a goldmine
The real genius of the company’s historic $2 trillion public listing isn’t the valuation – it’s how it hacked the market’s ultimate gatekeepers: passive funds.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On The Fin podcast this week, professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the KPMG allegations, and why they might be more damaging than the PwC tax leaks scandal.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:
Move over PwC: Why KPMG audit leaks are the ultimate betrayal
Why the big four firm’s misconduct could be worse than the tax leaks scandal, and a blockbuster hearing date is set for June 19. Plus, are you in talent debt?
KPMG audit leaks scandal – everything you need to know
KPMG Australia faces a crisis following a whistleblower’s allegations that partners used confidential client data to win audit work.
KPMG barred from bidding for federal work for three months
The firm has agreed to stop bidding for federal government work while the Finance Department investigates its handling of a whistleblower complaint.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate editor Joyce Moullakis and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on how Macquarie crashed the big four bank’s mortgage party, why deposits are next and whether the banking bubble is about to pop.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:
Macquarie banks on tech nerds to smash big four’s mortgage oligopoly
When it came to building up its retail banking business, the Silver Doughnut has taken inspiration from America’s tech giants – not its banking rivals at home.
The bank bubble is popping. An AI winter may be coming next
Bank stocks have quietly slipped into a correction as the sector is suddenly hit by structural pressures. AI-driven cuts may be the answer to holding the line.
The budget killed our property super cycle. What comes next?
The way the budget has deliberately blown up the 30-year housing super cycle raises uncomfortable questions about Australia’s economic future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior writer Myriam Robin and energy and climate reporter Ryan Cropp on the gas tax campaign, who’s behind it, why it took Australia by storm and whether it’s a good idea.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Inside the online army fighting the gas tax war (and it’s not over)
How a teacher-turned-podcaster, a heterodox economist and a rugby player sparked a groundswell of discontent.
One Nation backs gas tax and new state-owned projects
Party leader Pauline Hanson will unveil a plan to hit oil and gas companies with a new royalty regime while taking state ownership of new exploration.
Korea Gas accuses government of breaking pledge on LNG contracts
KOGAS Australia said the government’s draft gas reservation plan conflicts with its assurance that long-term LNG sales contracts would not be hit.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial Review tech reporter Paul Smith and business reporter Amelia McGuire on what happens next for Australia’s two tech titans and their billionaire founders, and which company is best placed to weather the SaaSpocalypse.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading: 
‘A certificate for burnout?’ Inside Canva’s confetti-filled AI pivot
In the midst of the AI-fuelled wipeout of tech firms, Canva and Atlassian spruik similar talking points to very different receptions.
How Mike Cannon-Brookes’ divorce may affect the control of Atlassian
The division of the Atlassian co-founder and CEO’s shares in his divorce settlement with estranged wife Annie could have big consequences for the company.
Cannon-Brookes says Atlassian’s $37b AI fall is rational but wrong
In an interview, the billionaire says the software giant will emerge stronger from the sharemarket sell-off and that he misses running it with Scott Farquhar.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial Review wealth editor Joanna Mather and reporter Andrew Hobbs on how Labor’s new tax rules reshape investment strategies and what that means for you.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading: 
Albanese says CGT is going back to 1999. That’s not quite trueLabor’s proposed capital gains tax inflation model is different from Paul Keating’s in two ways that mean investors will typically pay more tax.
The game has changed – what investors need to know
The budget measures have jolted many wealth plans. We ask the professionals about tips for first home buyers, property and share investors, retirees and those with trusts.
‘Ludicrous’: Modelling shows bucket companies face even bigger tax hitFurther examination of the budget papers shows the penalty tax rate that will apply to bucket companies could be as high as 70 per cent, tax specialists say.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Gardner on why Xi Jinping is the quiet winner from the war, how much the conflict has cost Donald Trump and what it means for the midterm elections and the rest of his presidency.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
MAGA still supports war strongman Trump. But that’s not enough
On the streets of Miami and Palm Beach, havens for Donald Trump supporters, the president’s war in Iran gets unswerving trust – or at least the benefit of the doubt.

Off the reins: Xi, Trump set for summit with a difference
Neither leader needs any more drama than they already have, so they will instead seek an easy path to stability in the world’s most important bilateral relationship.

Trump says US-Iran ceasefire on ‘massive life support’
The US president accused Tehran of reneging on a promise to drop its nuclear ambitions as part of a deal to end the war, which threatens his meeting with Xi Jinping.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phillip Coorey on the first year of the Albanese’s government’s second term, what’s happening with property taxes and how the biggest loser in the budget will be Gen X.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
Prime minister arrests popularity decline, One Nation plateaus: poll
Anthony Albanese’s handling of the petrol crisis has improved his personal ratings and is helping to prop up Labor’s vote.
Anthony Albanese sees the populist writing on the wall
As Labor prepares for a Hastie-led opposition, the PM is ready to break promises so Labor can court younger voters and save it from the parties of grievance
CGT change to tax existing investments based on length of ownership
The Albanese government plans to transition investors to a new capital gains tax regime through a hybrid grandfathering system.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Jesinta Burton and Tom Rabe on the landmark ruling, who won, who lost and why this is just one part of a complex web of legal battles over Gina Rinehart’s fortune.

This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy

Further reading:
The sins of the father: Gina Rinehart’s bitter victory
The legal war between the billionaire and her children mirrors the secrecy and power struggles she once faced with the late Lang Hancock.
Battle of the titans gives Pilbara’s quiet achiever his due
Don Rhodes was the man to whom Lang Hancock turned to identify a rich iron ore deposit. Fifty years and a huge court case later, his company is in for a big royalty win.
Rinehart and Rio Tinto to pay, but mining saga cost yet to be revealed
A landmark ruling has found Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting owes the heirs of her father’s former partner millions in royalties on one of the Pilbara’s most valuable iron ore assets.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the rise and spectacular fall of Antony Catalano.

This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy

Catalano’s big play to take on REA and Domain to be mothballed
Staff at the businessman’s regional media empire were told on Friday that the View.com.au platform, only recently bound for the ASX, would instead close down.
The cult of Antony Catalano is coming crashing down
Accused of assaulting his wife Stefanie, the businessman – once dubbed Mr Property – has gone into rehab. The survival of his empire hangs in the balance.
Antony Catalano is losing even more money
The bottom line at Australian Community Media, which Catalano co-owns with Alex Waislitz, has gone from bad to worse.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, political editor Phil Coorey and Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras on the sudden rise of One Nation. What's driving it? How far it could go, and what it says about how Australia is changing.

This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy

Further reading:
‘For too long, we’ve turned a blind eye’: Liberals vow hardline immigration approach
Liberal leader Angus Taylor has flagged an end to a non-discriminatory Australian migration policy, promising to use social media to weed out undesirables and to “boot out” visa holders who fail to adhere to a legally binding and enforceable set of national values.
One Nation nears Labor as Coalition vote hits record low
Support for the federal Coalition has hit a new low of 17 per cent, but Labor’s vote is holding steady as Australians overwhelmingly blame Donald Trump for spiralling petrol prices triggered by the war in the Middle East.
One Nation now speaks for a generation politics ignored
The rise of One Nation among Australia’s working- and middle-class battlers is a story of economic decline and political abandonment by Labor and the Coalition. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, motoring writer Tony Davis and reporter Sam Irvine on why Australia is closer than ever to the EV tipping point and whether charging infrastructure and policy settings are keeping pace.

This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy

Further reading:
Now’s the time to buy a used EV: What you need to know
Electric cars are smoother, quieter, cleaner, cheaper to run and cheaper to service. And the data shows people are rushing to make the switch.
Australians can’t get enough of this Chinese EV as fuel prices soar
The sales spike came as the Middle East conflict sent fuel prices soaring and despite a decline in overall new vehicle sales.
How the fuel crisis could fix a hole in the EV market
Stephen Yiu lives near a petrol station, and is constantly reminded of his escape from soaring prices as new and used EV sales jump.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over a special two-part podcast series, Financial Review journalists Peter Ker and Alex Gow examine the makeup of the archetypal insider trader, scrutinise the trend of non-custodial sentences, and ask ASIC chair Joe Longo if the regulator's recent focus on investigation will lead to more prison time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angira Bharadwaj and Joyce Moullakis on why CBA ended up in the middle of a billion dollar loan fraud scandal, how its spreading to the other banks and who might be behind it.

This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy

Further reading:
Escalating $1b loan fraud scandal threatens to engulf top banks
AUSTRAC is investigating a widening mortgage loan fraud scandal, after a syndicate duped Commonwealth Bank into writing $1 billion in loans off fake payslips.
AUSTRAC calls in 10 banks for key meeting on spike in mortgage fraud
The agency requested data from the lenders as it works to assess the extent of the fraud and whether properties funded by criminal proceeds should be seized.
CBA probes $1b in suspected fraudulent home loans, calls in police
The country’s largest bank is working to assess how many loans have been secured based on doctored applications, including documents created using AI.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our two-part series, Inside Edge, we go behind the scenes of the corporate regulator's high-stakes war on insider trading. We trace the thin line between a "great piece of gossip" and a federal crime, revealing why this is the easiest law to break-and the hardest to prove.

As a massive new crackdown looms, ASIC boss Joe Longo reveals his growing frustration with the courts: "The sentences aren't as strong as we would like." Find out if you're closer to the edge than you think.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Jonathan Shapiro and Emma Rapaport on what's behind the Magellan and Barrenjoey merger and whether there's enough room for another homegrown investment bank.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Magellan merger delivers billion-dollar bonanza for Barrenjoey staff
Since the merger was announced, Magellan’s shares have risen by more than 33 per cent, lifting the paper wealth of Barrenjoey’s 463 staff to over $1 billion
Booming Barrenjoey swallows parent Magellan after only 5 years
Barrenjoey and Magellan are tying the knot to create a mini-Macquarie in a $1.62 billion deal. We’d tip one side to dominate the merger.
Lowy family takes major stake in Magellan after merger with Barrenjoey
Steven Lowy, a principal of Lowy Family Group, the family’s private investment business and family office, said it had a long history with Magellan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology reporter Amelia McGuire and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on whether Curtis' AI start-up Firmus can live up to the hype.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Firmus lands $600m-plus annual tech giant deal as it eyes ASX float
The artificial intelligence start-up has already announced a $70 billion plan to work with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres on facilities across the country.
Firmus plans mid-year IPO after sealing $14b Blackstone deal
The AI data centre provider co-founded by Oliver Curtis has secured the huge debt facility to build its so-called AI factories across Australia.
The new iron ore: Can AI ‘tokens’ become Australia’s next great export?
Having exhausted excess power in the US, the tech giants want to have AI factories in Australia. Are we the lucky country again, or is it all a trick?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the radio stars' falling out and whether ARN can use it to exit one of the worst deals in Australian media history.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Kyle Sandilands fires back at ARN: ‘I am not in breach’
The high-profile radio personality says his employer denied him due process after it accused him of serious misconduct and cut up a $200 million contract.
Jackie O declares: ‘I did not quit’ radio show
In a statement on Friday Jackie Henderson said she was “deeply saddened by the events of the past week” after her radio partnership with Kyle Sandilands ended.
Kyle and Jackie O’s radio rift was about more than star power
The pair’s two-decade run atop broadcasting with the most expensive show of its kind has come to a sudden and acrimonious end. We look inside the implosion.                                                               ‘There is no line’: how Kyle Sandilands thrives in the cancel culture eraThe radio host on his record-breaking contract, expanding business empire and what the PM did at his wedding.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, resources reporter Peter Ker on the challenges ahead for Australia’s iron ore industry, why copper is booming and what miners are doing to ensure the country remains a resources powerhouse.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Iron ore giants face billion-dollar hit from China-backed price switch
A new index for the country’s most lucrative export has been lower than the long-time benchmark for the vast majority of days since it was launched this year.
Size counts in mining’s game of relevance, but not that much Glencore
BHP and Rio shares are at record highs and their bosses are being courted at the White House. So how can Glencore boss Gary Nagle say they’re irrelevant?
Copper displaces iron ore as BHP’s best earner, supercharging profits
The Big Australian, like its rivals, pivoted towards commodities critical to the energy transition, with production of the red metal to grow 25 per cent by 2035.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Technology editor Paul Smith and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on why financial markets are suddenly spooked, which businesses are most at risk from AI disruption and whether the concern is overblown.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
WiseTech drops Australia’s first AI jobs bomb
Rapid, large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence is happening, with the companies most at risk of disruption leading the charge.
AI comes for the software giants, and Australia is no safe haven
One venture capitalist warns there will be “roadkill”. Another says the market is “schizoid”. Artificial intelligence is making tech increasingly turbulent.
Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei warns AI has the potential to tear society apart
Dario Amodei’s Anthropic is behind the most popular AI platform for businesses worldwide, but he has serious worries about the technology tearing society apart.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and columnist Lidija Ivanovski on Angus Taylor’s big move, the threat from One Nation and why this might not be the last leadership contest before the next election.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
It’s Timmy v Jimmy, with CGT the first battleground
Jim Chalmers and Tim Wilson both harbour leadership ambitions. Treasury will be their sparring ring, and both will be determined not to come off second best.
Taylor’s big advantage could be 35pc of voters don’t know who he is
The new opposition leader is standing at the bottom of a mountain and there is doubt among many in his own party that he can climb it.
Jane Hume has become the Liberals’ woman problem by tearing down Ley
The new deputy leader might be able to charm some with her confidence and presentation, but her record does not look like that of a champion for working women.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: journalist Lucy King on the global scam operators targeting Australian investors, how the brother of Olympic breakdancer Raygun came to be working for them and why they are so hard to shut down.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading:
Raygun’s brother linked to global scam network with nearly 40,000 Aussie victims
An AFR investigation unravels corporate registries to link Brendan Gunn, brother of “Raygun”, with a global network that has fleeced victims of millions.
‘Devastated’: How I lost $500k in a crypto ATM scam
Mary, 85, is one of thousands of victims of Australia’s boom in crypto ATM’s, which suck in $275 million a year, and are the “getaway cars” for scammers.
Modern money laundering explained: Inside a $2.2b crypto heist
The washing of money through digital tokens is fuelling global crime. We trace the funds from the robbery to its final “integration” and explain why Australia needs stronger international rules.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, James Eyers on why key executive and eldest son Peter Fox has taken an unexpected break from the company, what it means for the Linfox succession plan and why handing over mult-billion dollar family fortunes is so hard to do.

This podcast is sponsored by Vanta

Further reading: Peter Fox’s long absence puts Linfox succession plan in the spotlight
For seven decades, billionaire businessman Lindsay Fox has loomed large over the empire he built from one truck. Who will succeed him is an open question.
Peter Fox on extended leave at Linfox as non-family directors step up
The son of the trucking magnate has been on sabbatical since December, with others outside the family appointed chairman of various logistics businesses.
‘We’re not going anywhere’: Peter Fox says Armaguard’s future assured
The Linfox boss hopes an independent pricing model is swiftly approved by the competition regulator, so a new enterprise deal can be struck with the union.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, United States correspondent Jessica Gardner on Trump’s first year back in the White House and Mark Carney's viral speech.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading:

Rudd’s replacement is no political animal. That’s a good thing
Many believe the role of US ambassador requires a sharp politician, but Greg Moriarty is the technocrat that Australia needs to meet the challenges of the times.
Trump softens on Minneapolis, but Dalio warns of slide to civil war
The US president has signalled a shift in strategy on immigration after the deadly chaos, but global investor Ray Dalio says the “United States is now a tinderbox”.
Carney declares rules-based order dead as Greenland row escalates
The Canadian prime minister warned the world order was breaking, and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed not to give in to “bullies”.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, health editor Michael Smith on why baby-making is such big business and how private equity firms are reshaping the IVF sector.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading:
Ill-conceived: Inside Australia’s IVF money-making machine
The commercialisation of the industry as private equity owners take over from pioneering doctors has many people very worried.
Monash IVF rejects $300m takeover bid from Genesis Capital as too low
Shares in the fertility group have fallen more than 40 per cent since mistakes were disclosed earlier this year, prompting the PE-led consortium to swoop.
Monash IVF says market share, patients down since embryo mix-ups
Stiff competition and pricing pressure in Victoria has hurt the fertility group’s performance so far this fiscal year.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rear Window columnists Mark Di Stefano and Hannah Wootton look back on the action-packed year that was and ahead to what 2026 might bring.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading:

Cannon-Brookes now travels by private jet Mike Cannon-Brookes, Atlassian co-founder and leading climate change crusader, has recently picked up a private jet.
Dutton left ‘very serious’ cyclone area for Hemmes’ Sydney mansion The opposition leader said people wanted the prime minister “governing, not campaigning” as Queensland braced for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Billionaires, boardrooms and office romances: Rear Window’s 2025 year-in-review
There was no shortage of hypocrites in corporate and political life in 2025, and a veritable surfeit of illicit office romances.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast political editor Phillip Coorey and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp on the carnage at Bondi, what is being done to make sure it never happens again and whether it’s enough.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading: 

‘When is the shooting gonna stop?’ 9 minutes of terror on Bondi Beach
At first, the crowd thought it was fireworks; but as the bloodied bodies dropped around them, they realised this was a shooting and they were the targets.
Minns wants new laws to block protests after terror attacks
The NSW government has recalled parliament to legislate caps on gun ownership and new protest restrictions, despite federal Nationals rejecting a gun crackdown.
Just like that, the nation grew accustomed to antisemitism
The government did act to ward off “the long shadows of the past” for Jews, but not enough. And for that, it is exposed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: Greg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenz on what’s behind Australia’s retail crime wave, why Victoria is ground zero and whether facial recognition technology is the answer. 

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading:
We met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime’s popularity
Retailers are contending with a new type of player in their industry. Here’s how such offenders became a nationwide phenomenon and scourge of the country.
Facial recognition tech vital to protect staff and shoppers: retailers
Business leaders are ramping up efforts to combat surging crime rates, but their use of new tech is running up against privacy concerns.
Victoria accounts for half the rise in crime at Woolworths stores
The supermarket giant is the latest retailer to use profit season to highlight an increase in crime and aggression against staff.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and technology editor Paul Smith on the multi-trillion dollar AI investment boom, where the opportunities are for Australia and what happens if it goes wrong.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda 

Further reading: 

OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporates
The Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major venture capital-backed tech companies as it attempts to steal a march on rivals.

Burry, Buffett and boomers: How markets drive our ugly generation gap
While investors love the contrarian wisdom of Michael Burry and Warren Buffett, capital-soaked markets mean the world they won in is gone, creating deep societal problems.

Reasons the AI bubble doesn’t look like the dotcom crash (yet)It’s the biggest spending spree in history. Is the AI boom a bubble, and what does it mean for investors and the Australian economy if it bursts?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on the rise of DroneShield, why its CEO just dumped all his stock and whether the company can restore the faith.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 

Oleg Vornik defends $50m DroneShield share sale, citing risk to life
While the businessman has been circumspect about the reasons for offloading his entire stake, privately he has given an explanation to some investors.
Inside the two-week unravelling of high-flying tech stock DroneShield
A $70 million share sale by the chief executive, chairman and a third director has opened up a Pandora’s box of questions about its products, and accounts.
DroneShield dream run comes to abrupt end after CEO dumps $50m stake
Shares in the defence technology business crashed almost 30 per cent after Oleg Vornik and two directors sold considerable holdings with little explanation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phillip Coorey and Tony Barry on the decision to dump net zero, the Coalition’s existential crisis and whether Sussan Ley’s leadership can survive.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 

Andrew and Angus who? Leadership rivals a blank canvas, says poll
More than a third of voters have never heard of Andrew Hastie or Angus Taylor, the men who could challenge Sussan Ley for the Liberal leadership.
One Nation seen as party best suited to handle immigration: poll
While cost of living remains the most important issue for voters, they believe One Nation is the party best suited to deal with immigration policy.
‘Lowest since Federation’: Dire poll for Liberals and Ley as One Nation surges
Voters are more disillusioned than ever with the Coalition after a week of infighting over climate policy, and as support for One Nation hits a new high.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Kehoe and Michael Bleby on the RBA’s inflation dilemma, why the next interest rate move might be up and how that will affect the property market.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:

Investors are flocking back to the property market Three interest rate cuts, double-digit price rises and tepid new housing supply have convinced investors that property is once again a sure bet.

If you’re waiting for another rate cut, read this first The lower speed limit means the economy cannot afford as much income growth for people, and that living standards will increase by less than in the past.

Housing market tipped to cool as rate cut hopes diminish Home prices grew 1.1 per cent in October, the fastest monthly pace in two years but some of the heat may come out soon as borrowing costs stay on hold.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health editor Michael Smith discusses CSL’s remarkable story, why investors have lost faith in the healthcare giant and what Trump has to do with it.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:

How CSL went from 'bloated bureaucracy' to $145b global behemoth
When Brian McNamee took on the top job at Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, the government-run entity was barely worth the land it was built on.
McNamee vows to stay CSL chairman despite growing investor disquiet
The pharmaceutical giant has avoided a board spill, but a market bloodbath arising from declining US vaccine rates has investors seething.
‘We have to fix this’: Brian McNamee on turning around CSL
CSL was once a market darling, now it’s out of favour and pressure is on board and management to convince sceptical investors of a plan to restructure the business.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, Lucy King and James Eyers on Australia’s crypto ATM boom, how they are being used for investment scams and why Australia is being targeted.

This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce

Further reading:

‘Devastated’: How I lost $500k in a crypto ATM scam
Mary, 85, is one of thousands of victims of Australia’s boom in crypto ATM’s, which suck in $275 million a year, and are the “getaway cars” for scammers.

Consumers, banks urge outright ban on crypto ATMs
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will give AUSTRAC powers to restrict the machines, but consumer groups say this won’t stop the danger to older Australians.

Labor to crack down on crypto ATMs amid scam surge
New powers will be handed to regulators to restrict the use of crypto ATMs, which have become a hub for scams and illegal money laundering.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Edmund Tadros and Paul Karp on Deloitte’s stuff-up, why it became a global story and what it means for the way we use, and value, AI.

This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce

Further reading: 
‘Oversight was not followed’: Deloitte apologises for AI report
The firm will discipline personnel over a report that had to be reissued after they failed to vet incorrect AI-generated material in the document. 

Deloitte’s AI scandal shows consultants need a new strategy
The saga also raises existential questions: for consultants, AI is both a major opportunity and a threat that directly undermines their premium fees.

Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report
Deloitte will issue a partial refund to the government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a report littered with errors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, senior writer Greg Bearup and Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor on China's dominance of the local EV and battery market and why that's a security risk.

This podcast is sponsored by Salesforce

Further reading:

Is your Chinese EV a ‘ticking time bomb’?
The rapid uptake of electric cars and home batteries from the Asian nation has put Australia’s energy infrastructure at risk of foreign hijack, experts warn.
China could disable or detonate Aussie EVs, warns top cyber expert
Malcolm Turnbull’s former cybersecurity tsar says Australian government officials should not ride in Chinese-made EVs because of the surveillance risk.
‘Crying shame’: Inside the demise of Australia’s only battery maker
Brian Craighead spent a decade trying to build an industry. He blames a cash crisis, a glut of Chinese product and shambolic federal policies for its failure.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Hobbs and Tony Boyd on how investors lost $1.2 billion in Shield, First Guardian and Australian Fiduciaries, and how the gatekeepers let it happen.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda

Further reading:
The ‘easy peasy’ approval: Shield exposes $850b super wrap industry
These funds told us they were toxic: how did Macquarie miss it?
How Macquarie ignored its own advice on Shield (and lost $100m)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior reporters Jonathan Shapiro and Primrose Riordan on what ASIC's crackdown on LaTrobe Financial and the Jon Adgemis saga tells us about the private credit market, the risks for super investors and whether the golden run is over.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda

Further reading:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canberra bureau chief Nicola Smith and Washington correspondent Jessica Gardner on the Pacific defence deals and what to expect when Albanese sits down with Donald Trump.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda

Further reading: 
Trump and Albanese meet, as PM finally lands White House visit
Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese met at a UN reception in New York as it was confirmed they would finally sit down together at the White House next month.
China looms large over PM’s embarrassing setback
Australia faces a diplomatic setback after failing to secure PNG defence treaty, but what it really signals is a growing influence of China in the Pacific.
Tears, forgiveness and fury: Kirk remembered as martyr for free speech
Allies of Charlie Kirk have vowed to carry on his mission to defeat leftist ideology at a packed service that at times looked more like a campaign rally.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and banking reporter Angira Bharadwaj on ANZ’s overhaul, why banks are cutting jobs and whether management has lost control of the message.

This podcast is sponsored by Acenda

Further reading:
ANZ’s pragmatic deal for ‘betraying’ Australia deserves no applause
ANZ has stitched up a pragmatic settlement with ASIC to give Nuno Matos room to launch his reset. But it shouldn’t distract from what has been shabby governance.
‘It’s long overdue’: The cull wiping out thousands of bank jobs
After a spike in staff numbers since the royal commission, three of the big four banks are wielding the axe, with more than 5000 people exiting the industry.
It’s the age of turbulence as Nuno Matos turns ANZ upside-down
Known among some staff as El Nuno, the Lisbon-born chief executive is attracting fear, intrigue and admiration as he cuts staff and overhauls the bank.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NSW political correspondent Paul Karp and deputy property editor Michael Bleby on the political leaders declaring war on NIMBYs, whether it will help the country meet its housing supply target and why the bigger problem might be a tradie deficit.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading:
How the Woollahra development could redraw politics in Sydney’s east
Urban infill doesn’t just reshape the local environment; it can change the political landscape as well.
NSW planning minister says NIMBYs ‘vying to create childless suburbs’
Paul Scully has been pushing for higher densities in Sydney, creating a backlash from residents. He says resistance to housing has become “institutionalised”.
Property supply chief targets capital gains tax breaks in housing ‘war’
As the country begins a discussion about tax, the property industry veteran says the crucial role of housing also demands a big-picture review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rupert Murdoch's eldest son has finally secured control of the family’s sprawling media empire in a multi-billion dollar settlement with his siblings. Media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones gives his take on the deal that ends a bitter succession battle.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading:

Lachlan Murdoch takes family media empire, paying siblings $5b to exit
The deal brings to an end almost two years of bitter legal wranglings over control, cementing Rupert Murdoch’s eldest son’s leadership at News Corp and Fox.6:42Lisa MurrayWendi Deng emerges on Rupert and Lachlan’s side in Murdoch split
Unlike three of their older half-siblings, the businesswoman’s two children with the billionaire patriarch will keep a stake in the family media empire.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, workplace correspondent David Marin-Guzman discusses the test case of a compliance company that has been spying on its staff, what it means for work from home and how AI will affect the future of surveillance.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading:
Company turned laptops into covert recording devices to monitor WFH
Safetrac says it needed to track work-from-home staff for underperformance, but some employees say the surveillance went too far and police are now investigating.
WFH surveillance case is a wake-up call
The Safetrac case shines a spotlight on the issue of employee surveillance versus the right to personal privacy when staff work from home.
Safetrac surveillance installed without staff agreement: HR manager
The firm, which turned staff laptops into covert listening devices, should have updated its surveillance policy beforehand, its own people manager told WorkCover.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political editor Phillip Coorey on the debt bomb facing the next generation, the ‘Braveheart ’situation in parliament and the Iran-led attacks in Australia.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading: 
The VW, the tobacco kingpin, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
Sloppy criminals who reused a stolen car for arson attacks on a synagogue and nightclub led spies to uncover a state-sponsored campaign of terror.
PM had no choice but to act after explosive Iran revelations
After years of rejecting overtures to sever ties with Iran, the government was left with no other option.
Talkfest hasn’t started yet. Jim Chalmers says it’s already a win
The treasurer says the build-up to Tuesday’s summit has entrenched the productivity crisis in the political psyche.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: senior writer Greg Bearup on why the Mormon Church is buying up vast tracts of Australian farmland and whether it’s in the national interest.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading: 
Mormon church’s $490m spending spree exposes trade deal blind spot
Farmers fear the American church could change the face of Australian agriculture.
The chequebook of Mormon: $500m on Australian farms in six months
With its immense resources, the US-based Mormon church is buying up vast tracts of Australian farmland. Is this in our national interest?
Wagyu Rich Listers fatten outback portfolio with Qld deal
Peter and Jane Hughes, already among the world’s biggest producers of wagyu beef, have added a central western Queensland cattle property to their operation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: senior writer Myriam Robin on how worried we should be about declining fertility rates, whether they could and should be reversed and why politicians in Australia are so reluctant to talk about it.

This podcast is sponsored by CMC Markets

Further reading:
Can Australia escape the global fertility crisis?
Not too long ago, the world was worried about runaway population growth. But with birth rates falling too fast, the scramble is on to avoid the demographic crunch.
How to fix the economy to make Aussies richer – from people who did
Jim Chalmers’ economic roundtable risks history being repeated because a cautious prime minister has no electoral mandate for sweeping change.
Why Australia is far from full but no one wants to talk about it Angst over house and rental prices is fracturing the fragile bigger-Australia consensus. Yet walking away from a larger population is not an option

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Jemima Whyte and associate editor Joyce Moullakis on whether Macquarie has lost its edge, who might be in line to take over the top job and what happens when you threaten the pay packets of a millionaires’ factory.

Further reading: 
Macquarie scrambled to lobby proxy firms ahead of fraught AGM
The company made the highly unusual move to understand if major investors would reject executive pay plans as it dealt with a backlash.
Glenn Stevens feels the burn from Macquarie’s worried investors
The former RBA governor has seen off a global financial crisis and angry borrowers. Can he turn around an undercurrent of anxiety at the Millionaires Factory?
Macquarie investors deliver wake-up call with strike on executive pay
Investors deliver an embarrassing rebuke to the Millionaires Factory over bonuses amid regulatory woes and the surprise exit of its CFO.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, Technology editor Paul Smith talks about his interview with Altman and reveals what it would take for the AI chief to pull the plug.

Further reading: 
What OpenAI’s Sam Altman suggests you do to keep your job
The race is on to build machines that can outthink humans. The tech founder in charge of ChatGPT says there is one thing that would make him stop.
‘Try the future’: New ChatGPT AI agents promise to do your jobs
Drawing on three pre-existing OpenAI products, ChatGPT Agent lets users ask AI to take control of multi-step and fairly complex tasks.
OpenAI wants AI tax breaks, promises $115b annual windfall
OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji has conducted a whirlwind set of meetings in Canberra as the company prepares to launch an AI blueprint for Australia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, North Asia correspondent Jessica Sier and Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor on whether Panda diplomacy works and why Beijing needs a succession plan.

This podcast is sponsored by Workday.

China ordered this Aussie flower farm to grow rice. Then they found a solution
In a country of 1.4 billion people, keeping everyone fed can be the difference between stability and chaos. The Lynch Group nearly had to tear down its greenhouses.
Beyond the Wall: Albanese’s high-stakes China play
As the prime minister is criticised over the extent of his China sightseeing, the government insists it is playing the long game and that face time matters.
Rumours of Xi’s downfall distract from China’s real challenges
The notion that Xi Jinping is about to be toppled is a distraction from the real cleavages in Chinese politics.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, economics editor John Kehoe and senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on the RBA’s shock decision on interest rates, what it means for the economy and whether the next generation could be the first to be worse off than their parents.

This podcast is sponsored by Workday.

Further reading: 
Gen Z will be richer than their parents. But here’s the catch
Sluggish productivity and tax policies rigged against young people mean many are missing out on financial comfort precisely when they need it most.
RBA rate call extraordinaire Rory Robertson makes his last prediction
The economist has spent three decades trying to interpret the smoke signals emanating out of Martin Place. He’s giving up the game as it’s profoundly changing.
Which RBA board members voted for a rate cut?
At least two Labor appointees to the Reserve Bank monetary policy board almost certainly voted for a cut on Tuesday, former insiders believe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, workplace correspondent David Marin-Guzman on what has been done to stamp out a culture of fear and intimidation in the CFMEU and whether it's working.

This podcast is sponsored by Workday.

Further reading:
High Court leaves CFMEU administrator with no more excuses
The failed High Court challenge to the CFMEU administration has cleared a path to cleaning out the union. But the administrator still has to walk it.
High Court ruling on CFMEU a ‘line in the sand’ moment for cleanout
The CFMEU administrator has declared the High Court backing of the administration will make way for systemic industry reforms.
‘Let’s make some money together’: Inside the CFMEU’s bribery scandal
Sometimes it was a foot tap, other times a little kick, but either way cash was passed under the table to the union boss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and Wealth reporter Lucy Dean on the surge in inherited wealth, what’s behind it and what can, or should, be done about it….

This podcast is sponsored by Workday.

Further Reading:
You're probably part of Australia's new inheritocracy
How inheritance is upending the marriage market
How do the 1pc find love? With these high-end matchmaking services
The maths that makes SMSFs a tax reform target for Chalmers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Ayesha de Kretser and Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald on Virgin’s return to the market, why it will struggle to stay in its lane and whether Australia can ever sustain more than two airlines.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 
Virgin prepares for IPO take-off in a test for Bain – and the market
Five years after collapsing into administration, the country’s second-largest airline will finally return to the ASX on Tuesday. There is a lot at stake.
IPO market cracks open as Virgin, Greatland shares soar on debut
Fund managers rushed into the airline’s stock in a major win for Bain Capital, which has worked on turning around the business for five years.
Virgin’s future is now in the hands of the markets gods
The problem with listing ceremonies is they look backwards, but investors look forward. The airline did what it must to relist, but now it’s over to the ASX.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, professional services reporter Maxim Shanahan on why King & Wood Mallesons is struggling to manage risk and conflicts across its jurisdictions.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 

‘We didn’t have a hope in hell’: KWM’s cautionary China tale
A corrupt wind farm deal in Montenegro, a controversial Russian legal conference and the financial problems of one of its most senior executives have thrown the spotlight on the Sino-Australian law firm.

Calls for tougher rules amid KWM drama
The senators who led the inquiry into the PwC tax leaks scandal say King & Wood Mallesons’ troubles expose flaws in the governance of top law firms.

KWM sues former global chief operating officer
King & Wood Mallesons is suing a former member of its international management committee for debt relating to loans worth more than $1 million.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, technology editor Paul Smith discusses the AI future and whether it is more likely to be utopia or dystopia.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading: 
Waymo’s robot driver was too scared to take us where we wanted to go
The self-driving taxis are an experience to remember but their post LA-riot nerves rendered them unable to use human logic, and left us stranded.
Apocalypse or a four-day week? What AI might mean for you
If you’re “AGI-pilled” and you believe artificial intelligence will soon surpass humans, you’re probably worried about your job. But insiders reckon that might be the least of our problems.
From ‘lucky country’ to ‘left-behind country’: Matt Comyn’s AI warning
Executives say Australia is in danger of falling behind as the rise of artificial intelligence creates a profound change in the way people and businesses work.

Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Joanna Mather and Michelle Bowes on how the super tax will work, why it’s so controversial and what people are doing to get ready for it.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

7 ways the wealthiest will beat the $3m super tax
Investment bonds, an early inheritance for the kids or just cop it on the chin? Affected taxpayers are weighing their options.
ATO puts wealthy families on notice over $3m super tax
The new tax is not yet law but the ATO wants to understand the “behavioural responses” to the planned tax that might already be occurring.
There is a case to reform super tax breaks. But not this way
Australia’s tax breaks on retirement balances are generous. But the treasurer is going about reform the wrong way, experts say.

Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, economics correspondent Michael Read on why the Reserve Bank is cutting rates and what it means for people like him trying to buy a house.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

Australia on verge of house price boom: economist
History suggests that once the RBA starts cutting, property fever hits quickly. One prominent expert says a 10 to 15 per cent price rise is coming.

Bullock flags more rate cuts as RBA slashes growth forecasts
Donald Trump’s trade war has forced the RBA to lower its projections for growth in investment, household spending and exports, as it cut the cash rate again.

House price risk won’t stop another rate cut: Bullock
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock expects state and federal governments to do the heavy lifting on housing affordability.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and AFR columnist Lidija Ivanovski talk about the decimation of the Opposition, the uphill battle facing Sussan Ley and the fierce debate over the Super Tax.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
The longer the split, the harder it will be to reconcile
Sussan Ley, who used to hold her own in shearing sheds, is playing hard ball.
It took five days for the Coalition to fall apart
Negotiations between the two parties fell at the first hurdle. When parliament resumes, the Liberals will hold all 30 shadow ministries and the Nationals will be on the crossbench.
How Albanese learnt from Labor losers and won big on Saturday
For six months, he has been privately telling his supporters that he had the plan to deliver Labor a second-term majority, and the skill to pull it off. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on Buffett’s legacy and whether his catchphrase ‘never bet against America’ still stands.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 
Fear, loathing (and hope) as finance’s elite gather in LA
Private equity titans and dealmakers converging at the Milken Institute Global Conference this week were relentlessly optimistic in public, but the tone was different behind the scenes.
US billionaire’s Sydney taxi ride sparks $6.2b super-like initiative
Michael Milken is gathering support for a plan to emulate the Australian superannuation system and give every child a $US1000 share account.
Warren Buffett steps down, delivering a parting shot against tariffs
The disciples of legendary investor Warren Buffett gathered in Omaha seeking reassurances of America’s future, instead they got a bombshell about his future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, James Thomson and Joyce Moullakis on James Hardie’s latest controversy, why shareholders don’t get to vote and what they want to change.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 
The great ASX investor uprising delivers very hollow victory
The hated James Hardie takeover of a US group is going ahead, but investors have at least won some important concessions.
Inside the biggest investor uprising in three decades
Investor anger over the James Hardie deal is being compared to 1993’s investor rebellion against Murdoch’s plans for “super voting shares”. Now the ASX is in the gun.
ASX compliance chief rejects rule gaming suggestion
Daniel Moran likened the ASX’s role in the controversial James Hardie transaction to that of a referee on a sporting field.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, economics editor John Kehoe and economics correspondent Michael Read on what the Labor Party will do with its mandate and who the Coalition should put in its new leadership team.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast: Mark Di Stefano talks about the rise of one of Australian sport’s most powerful men and takes us inside the battle to control the future of racing and rugby league.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading:
Inside the plot to ‘get rid’ of Peter V’landys
In his climb to the top of racing and rugby league, Peter V’landys has broken the rules and challenged the system. But now some in the system are fighting back.
How Peter V’landys built a property empire
Over two decades under the leadership of Peter V’landys, Racing NSW and the NRL have splurged millions of dollars on residential and commercial real estate.
Racing royalty launch broadside against V’landys leadership
Champion trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller are among the authors of a scathing letter about racing governance.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phillip Coorey and the panel on the seats that will decide the election, whether the AAA credit rating is really under threat and what Labor and the Coalition aren’t telling us.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Financial Review columnist and former ambassador to China, Geoff Raby on the US-China trade war, what it means for Australia and why Washington and Beijing will do a deal.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband

Further reading: 

Australia faces hit from Trump’s trade war
The IMF has cut its growth forecast for the country by half a percentage point, in a sign it won’t be immune from a global slowdown triggered by US tariffs.

Japan eyes pact with China, South Korea as trade war hedge
Tokyo signals renewed interest in negotiations with a personal letter from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China hits back at US with 125pc tariffs
Beijing escalated the trade war with the United States by again raising tariffs and accusing the Trump administration of “unilateral bullying and coercion”.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's podcast guests are Canberra Bureau Chief Tom McIlroy and Foreign affairs and Defence correspondent Andrew Tillet. They join Lisa Murray and Phil Coorey to discuss the coalition's plan to increase defence spending, the erosion of trust in institutions and the potential risks of following American political trends in Australia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on what's going on in markets, how Australia is more exposed than ever, and why the Trump chaos is changing the world. 

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, deputy editor, news, Jessica Gardner, economics editor John Kehoe, and senior writer Myriam Robin take apart Labor and the Coalition’s housing policies, discuss why tax reform is so hard and unpack the battle for Kooyong.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, Health editor Michael Smith on the battle to save Healthscope, the war between insurers and hospitals and whether private equity is messing up the healthcare system.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading: 
Tensions build between David Di Pilla’s HMC Capital and Healthscope
When the hospitals group ran out of money to pay its rent this year, its landlord responded with a bid to buy the company.
Hedge fund interest in Healthscope triggers break-up concerns
The country’s second-largest private hospital operator is negotiating with lenders to stave off insolvency in the middle of a federal election campaign.
Di Pilla spruiks Healthscope bid, says he’ll keep hospitals running
The veteran dealmaker’s HMC Capital has been eyeing the country’s second-largest operator of private hospitals, and says his proposal is “a serious one”.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, former Labor adviser Lidija Ivanovski and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp talk about how Trump's tariffs decision has changed the focus of the campaign and why betting markets are finally catching up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, North Asia correspondent Jessica Sier and motoring writer Tony Davis on Tesla’s challenges, the rise of BYD and whether a five-minute battery charge could be the real game changer.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading: BYD overtakes Tesla to secure pole position in EV race
The Chinese electric carmaker’s latest full-year financial results reveal the extent of this power shift, with it surpassing the $US100 billion revenue mark.
Tesla’s new strategy as sales fall: Openness (but don’t mention Musk)
The Cybertruck is being shown off at a Sydney expo and executives are free to speak for the first time in years as Tesla takes a new tack amid falling sales.
Trump tariffs deliver body blow to Japan’s auto industry
After embracing the return of a once staunch ally, Japan’s car makers now find themselves on the front line of the trade war despite huge investments in the US.NEW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, economics editor John Kehoe and political correspondent Ronald Mizen talk about who has had the best start, what effect Trump’s tariffs and China’s ‘spy’ ship will have on the election and what happens on the campaign bus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the federal election underway, The Fin is releasing a special weekly podcast for the duration of the campaign called Election 2025.

Every Tuesday, The Fin host Lisa Murray and political editor Phillip Coorey will be joined by The Australian Financial Review’s political experts to break down the critical voter issues, analyse the latest polls and pick out the key battlegrounds.

For the latest updates from the campaign trail and best analysis on the political strategies that will influence the result, tune in to The Fin’s political panels from 5pm, Tuesday.

The Fin: Election 2025 can be found by searching The Fin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, professional services reporter Maxim Shanahan and Rear Window columnist Hannah Wootton on Slater and Gordon’s workplace meltdown and the mysterious woman at the centre of it all.

Quotes in this episode are voiced by AFR staff.

This podcast is sponsored by AICD.

Further reading:
Slaters refers former staffer to police over incendiary mass email
The law firm says a forensic investigation has found the sender of the infamous memo had access to sensitive data and was familiar with its cybersecurity.
A decades-long rap sheet of deceit blows open Slater and Gordon probe
The woman whose first name matches metadata in the rogue salary and performance spreadsheet that erupted into a crisis at the law firm is a convicted fraudster.
We fact-checked the email Slater and Gordon says is largely fiction
The now infamous all-staff email sent to more than 900 Slater and Gordon staffers was unsparing in its criticism of the firm. Here’s what we know about key claims.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, political editor Phillip Coorey and economics editor John Kehoe on how both sides of politics are planning to spin the budget, who’s ahead in the polls and why the most important person in this election race might not be Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton.

Further reading:
Chalmers concedes Labor won’t keep its $275 power bill pledge
Jim Chalmers has effectively raised the white flag on the election promise to lower power bills by $275, but says it will be worse under Dutton’s nuclear energy plan.
Dutton coming off the boil as election nears
Peter Dutton’s personal ratings and voter expectations of a Coalition victory have fallen sharply, suggesting Labor attacks on the opposition leader are working.
We wasted a $400b windfall, and now we’ll all have to pay
An audit of federal finances finds Australia has never seen rivers of gold like this, but the hangover will be brutal.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, foreign affairs and defence correspondent Andrew Tillett and international affairs expert James Curran on how Donald Trump has disrupted the world order and why we are headed for a khaki-tinged election.

Further reading:
Trump’s tariffs were inevitable. But Albanese could have done more
Levies on Australian steel and aluminium to the US starting on Wednesday will have domestic political fallout.
Albanese rebuffs Trump over call to lift to defence spending
While Labor comes under fire over military readiness, figures show defence spending as a share of the federal budget is at highest in almost a decade.
Richard Marles’ mindless talking points ignore Trumpian change
Elsewhere, Donald Trump’s return is being noticed, and acted upon with decisive swiftness. But it is not happening in Australia yet.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, senior reporter Max Mason and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson discuss WiseTech’s tumultuous five months, Richard White’s second coming and whether he should stay in charge.

Further reading:
‘I am WiseTech’: How Richard White regained control of his company
On one side was a group of independent directors with their reputations on the line. On the other, a powerful founder with everything to lose.
The billionaire, his lawyer wife – and the secrets of their explosive relationship
Richard White says he would “take a bullet” for his wife but many of the billionaire’s long-time friends are unhappy about the marriage and the couple’s volatile history.
King Richard’s return gives WiseTech investors a stark choice
Incredibly, Richard White has more power at WiseTech than at any time since it listed in 2016. But that comes with some big consequences for investors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, senior writer Myriam Robin and author Neil Chenoweth on the bitter fight for control of the Murdoch empire and why the election of Donald Trump couldn’t have come at a worse time for Rupert’s succession plans.

Further reading:
The Murdochs go to war – through the media
Rupert and Lachlan have failed, for now, to take control of the family trust. But that outcome is by no means the end to hostilities between the media scions.
‘Self-interested people’: Why Murdoch and Trump are back in business
Rupert Murdoch is known for aligning his business interests with the politician of the hour. His appearance with Donald Trump this week was no different.
Logan Roy’s death morphed into a real life Murdoch succession drama
Shortly after the fictional patriarch died on television, the family behind the News and Fox empires began to plot life after their patriarch, Rupert.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, editor-at-large Michael Stutchbury and economics correspondent Michael Read on why the Reserve Bank cut rates this week, whether Bullock is ‘one and done’ and how this affects the timing of the election.

This podcast is sponsored by IG.

Further reading:
RBA rate cut more about politics than economics
After roughing up the central bank, Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers should take whatever sliver of bacon the RBA will give financially squeezed voters.
Bullock shifts rate cut expectations after line-ball decision
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese now has just days to decide whether to call a snap election to capitalise on the RBA rate cut or delay to woo voters further.
RBA opens a window for the PM, but will he take the chance?
Anthony Albanese may seek to capitalise on Tuesday’s rate cut with a March 29 election, but he could also decide that it is not enough to sway voters.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, AFR Magazine contributor Brook Turner on why Sydney has become the epicentre of this battle and whether there is still a place in Australia for single-sex schools.

This podcast is sponsored by IG.

Further reading:
‘We became a pinata’: The culture war tearing a school apart
How its decision to go co-ed made Newington College in Sydney the country’s most talked-about school.
‘We did not expect the intensity’: Newington hits back at co-ed row
Coeducation is seen as the future of school. So why is Newington College in Sydney at the centre of a debate so hot that parents are withdrawing boys?
Why coeducation is so fraught in Australia
Are single-sex schools – no, make that boys-only schools – deserving of the bad rap they get? Are they hotbeds of toxic masculinity? Are girls better off without boys disrupting their classes and smashing their self-confidence?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and technology editor Paul Smith on DeepSeek’s breakthrough, why Australia has banned its use on government devices and what this all means for 'the magnificent seven' US tech stocks that have been pushing markets to record highs.

This podcast is sponsored by IG.

Further reading: 
DeepSeek drama: are markets all-in on the most dangerous idea in history?
While investors fret about what the arrival of DeepSeek means for their all-in bet on American artificial intelligence dominance, they’re ignoring even bigger questions.
Is big tech’s AI future really what we’re looking for?
The race is on to build the fastest, most efficient AI models and hopefully tech companies will start developing the products we want to use.
Labor bans DeepSeek from government devices
Australia has banned Chinese artificial intelligence service DeepSeek from government devices over national security concerns.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Europe correspondent Hans van Leeuwen on how companies and governments are responding to Trump, 2.0, whether diversity programs are under threat and why Australians have stopped going to Davos.

This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband.

Further reading: 
Trump slams Europe, threatens ‘trillions’ in tariffs
The president lambasted Canada’s trade surplus with the US and also fired a verbal volley at the European Union’s restrictions on his country.
CEOs at Davos feel ready, even heady, for Trump 2.0
At the World Economic Forum, much of the global corporate elite is responding with surprising optimism to the new president’s radical and hyperactive agenda.
Has Trump killed DEI? Davos might have the answer
The World Economic Forum summit, where the liberal cosmopolitan elite gathers to network and self-congratulate, will be an early litmus test for Trump 2.0.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin, Travel editor Fiona Carruthers discusses the outlook for tourism, why flights are getting cheaper, which airlines are likely to give you the best deal and why Greenland is suddenly on everyone’s list.

Further reading: 
Europe calling? A guide to predicting the cheapest fares
If you’re wondering whether to book your 2025 flights now or to wait, recent average prices are a handy benchmark.
The hottest travel spots as the economy turns cold
Japan is cool, Bali is always warm, but Vietnam is so hot right now. The cost-of-living pinch is driving Australians to make sure their overseas holiday hits the mark.
Why Australians should ditch Europe this Christmas
After a dire year for the currency, those heading to the northern hemisphere should consider looking elsewhere to get the most bang for their buck.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.