The Money

The growth of cyber-crime is considered to be the biggest challenge facing Australian businesses.Collectively cyber-attacks cost the economy $42 billion dollars last year, with ransomware the most disruptive type of hack, costing $3 billion.So what is the government doing? And what can organisations do, both to lower their risk of attack, and if the hackers succeed in accessing their systems?GuestsNick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic, Security FanaticsDr Jay Jeong, Senior Research Fellow, University of MelbourneDr David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security, Griffith UniversityDavid Cullen, National Director of Advocacy, CISO LensAbi Bradshaw, Head of the Australian Signals Directorates Cyber Security Centre

New research suggests that the increase in vaping across Australia will cost the health system an extra $180 million each year and that’s a conservative figure.Vaping has been framed as a way to stop smoking tobacco, however it can also be a gateway to taking it up. It’s estimated that 13 per cent of people who vape transition to cigarettes.The Australian government has called vapes a public health menace and introduced restrictive anti-vaping policies. But are these policies intended to drive positive change giving rise to a dangerous black-market?Guests:Professor Louisa Collins, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteDr James Martin, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Deakin UniversityBecky Freeman, Associate Professor of Public Health, Sydney University

Twice a year most Australians are made to deliberately mess with our body clocks. When we go into daylight saving and when we come out.Many of us love the longer summer evenings. What we don’t love is the sleep adjustment that makes us feel tired, fuzzy and out of sorts.There are plenty of arguments about whether daylight saving is a good or bad thing.So in this episode we look at the costs and benefits and whether it’s time to rethink the concept.Guests:Dr Thomas Sigler, Associate Professor, University of QueenslandAllison Schrager, Economist & Senior Fellow at the Manhattan InstituteDr Yevgeny Mugerman, Senior Lecturer, Bar-Ilan UniversityDr Jayanta Sarkar, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology

As we head into Easter you may have noticed the price of your seasonal sweet treats like chocolate bunnies and eggs are a bit higher than last year.The main reason is the price of cocoa beans or actually, the price of cocoa futures. They’ve skyrocketed by more than 100% in 2024 alone and tripled over the past year.But why is that and will we be prepared to keep paying higher prices for the sweet stuff?GuestsTina Angelidis: Co-Owner, Adora ChocolatesPia Piggott: Associate Analyst, RabobankProfessor John Dumay: Accounting & Finance, Macquarie Business SchoolPaul Zahra: CEO, Australian Retailers Association Check out the Chocolate Scorecard: https://www.chocolatescorecard.com/

In the country’s most expensive housing markets, family help and the ‘bank of mum and dad’ is increasingly necessary for younger people to buy homes. But could this entrench and perpetuate lasting advantage for those already part of the property-owning class?GuestsDr Julia Cook: Senior lecturer, Sociology, University of NewcastleDr Laurence Troy: Senior lecturer in Urbanism, University of SydneyDr Monique McKenzie: Post doctoral research associate, University of SydneySophie Renton: Managing Director at social research firm, McCrindle.

Innovation sparks thoughts of tech giants, inventions and Silicon Valley. While those companies in Cupertino may be good at generating extreme wealth, they’re not so good at spreading it across the communities they benefit from.Other places do better, particularly Switzerland, Sweden and Austria. What can we learn from them?Guest:Neil Lee, Author, Innovation For The Masses: How To Share The Benefits Of The High-Tech Economy

Wage theft costs Australia’s workforce at least a billion dollars a year.Some industries, like retail, hospitality and horticulture are renowned for it. But the practice is widespread across many sectors. There’s been wage theft cases against franchises like 7 Eleven and Bakers Delight, institutions like universities and the ABC, and corporate giants like Coles and the Commonwealth Bank.So which workers are most vulnerable and what can be done to protect them?Guests:Giuseppe Carabetta, Associate Professor of Workplace and Business Law at the University of Technology, Sydney Business School.Rebecca Thistleton, Executive Director, McKell Institute Victoria.Stephen Clibborn, Associate Professor in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies, University of Sydney Business School.Paula McDonald, Professor of Work and Organisation, Queensland University of Technology

The market concentration of the beer industry. 

Illiteracy is costing the Australian economy billions.It won't cost much to fix the problem in our schools, just a commitment. 

How would we survive the world today if we didn't have our phones? 

How airlines have transitioned to financial institutions and data gathering businesses that just happen to have planes.  

The rising cost of extreme weather events and climate change. 

The Money looks at the accusation that the major supermarkets are price gouging, something the Federal Government is investigating. 

Mariana Mazzucato and the influence of the big consulting firms and why the long term really matters. 

Sophie Howe and Alison Pennington, women from different generations but with the same goal to improve the living conditions of younger and future generations. 

Pay attention to what you're subscribing to, what you're buying and the cost of online returns.

As the number of students attending university has grown so has their debt and while the HECS / HELP system has worked well in the past - does it now need reform?

Taylor Swift is on track to make over $US1 billion from her world tour. Here’s how she (and other superstars) make so much.

The economics of present giving. 

Disagreement between PNG and the IMF and why our future depends on how we shape our cities.