Dollars & Sense

The government is under fire for trying to ‘pick winners’, but green manufacturing could be the pony to get behind, says Greg Jericho. The Australian Government wants to create a future that’s ‘made in Australia’, but can it really compete with the likes of China and the United States? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg explores whether the new Future Made in Australia strategy could spur on the renewable manufacturing sector – or if the government’s flogging a dead horse. Greg Jericho is Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia. Each week on Dollars & Sense, Greg dives into the latest economic figures to explain what they can tell us about what’s happening in the economy, how it will impact you and where things are headed. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work // @GrogsGamut Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey Additional editing: Emily Perkins Theme music: 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 [email protected] Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tech industry talks about huge investment in Australia. That sounds great, but who’ll actually benefit? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to discuss Anthony Albanese’s speech on artificial intelligence, lessons for data centre regulation from Australia’s experience with the gas industry, Barnaby Joyce’s vision for the Reserve Bank, and Matt’s guide to voodoo. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 16 July 2026. Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The PM has pledged to protect artists’ copyright. But without action on AI theft it is all hot air by Alice Grundy, The Conversation (July 2026) The Wrap: No, a drop in house prices isn't a calamity. It means housing is finally becoming more affordable by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (July 2026) One Nation’s economic thought bubbles have little substance – except for one by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (July 2026) Theme music: 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An outright ban on gambling advertising would be extremely popular – so why isn’t the government doing it? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor to talk about the federal government’s “piss poor” online gambling reforms and the push to pay super to under 18s. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 9 July 2026. 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. Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Check out the new Australia Institute podcast series, What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss. It’s available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite shows. Show notes: National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute Online gambling “reshaping a whole generation” as government reforms fall well short, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Only thing standing in way of gambling reform is government’s cowardice by Morgan Harrington & Jack Thrower, The New Daily (November 2025) Super for under-18s is a gendered issue, costing women up to $11,000 at retirement by Gemma Killen, The Point (July 2026) Polling – banning gambling advertisements, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Teenage gambling in Australia by Matt Saunders and Morgan Harrington, the Australia Institute (April 2025) Theme music: 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some in the media are treating it like the beginning of a housing apocalypse, but a slight drop in house prices shows that the government’s housing investor tax reforms are doing their job. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt Grudnoff joins Elinor discuss the positive impact of the government’s changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, why migration hasn’t caused the housing crisis, and concerns about negative equity and grandfathering of the policies. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 2 July 2026. Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: No, rents won’t increase by $2,000 a year because of changes to negative gearing by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) It may be time to calm the farm on falling house prices by Greg Jericho, The Point (June 2026) The housing reforms are cooling investor demand and slowing the market. That's the point by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) The CGT discount, not a lack of supply, is driving house prices up by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) Theme music: 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus: how the One Nation leader got all tangled up over childcare and paid parental leave. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s comments on paid parental leave and childcare, the latest inflation data, the passage of the government’s capital gains tax and negative gearing changes, and the new ‘no Gregs’ club. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 25 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Capital gains tax changes are already having an impact on wealth inequality – and vested interests are running scared by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (June 2026) Housing concentrated in the hands of a few investors as young people are locked out by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) Caring for children is the major barrier to work for women by Greg Jericho and staff writers, The Point (June 2026) Theme music: 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 [email protected]. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.