Dollars & Sense

Despite big talk from the government about punishing any fuel retailers profiteering from the global energy crisis, many forms of price gouging remain perfectly legal.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss how profits are driving inflation, why the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission doesn’t have the power to take on price gouging properly, and why migration is not causing Australia’s housing crisis. Then, the wheels come off talking about the meat industry.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 26 March 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
The data shows Australia’s population growth isn’t out of control, it has simply returned to trend by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (March 2026)
Rising profit margins turbocharged Australia’s latest inflation figures – but something worse is just around the corner by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026)
Profit push is back: the increase in inflation is due to profits by Greg Jericho and Dave Richardson, The Point (March 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: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians are already paying a price for the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, so why did the Reserve Bank double down and raise rates again?
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the economic impact of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates, and why changes to the capital gains tax discount might finally be on the way.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 19 March 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
Never waste a fuel crisis: the Albanese government must seize the moment and start taxing gas companies by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026)
New Analysis: Mid-East war’s hit to Australian economy, how to reduce its impact, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
Report on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount, Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount, Parliament of Australia (March 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].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re meant to tax things you want less of and subsidise things you want more of – yet Australian governments are handing out $16.3 billion in fossil fuel subsidies this financial year.
Elinor is back but Greg is away, so Matt Grudnoff jumps in to talk about Australia’s absurd fossil fuel subsidies, fuel security in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, and why the AI bubble will probably burst, even if the technology turns out to be a win overall.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 March 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
Australian fossil fuel subsidies growing faster than NDIS, hitting $16.3 billion in 2025-26, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
New Analysis: Mid-East war’s hit to Australian economy, how to reduce its impact, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
Debugging the Productivity Commission’s claim that AI will boost Australia’s GDP by $116 Billion by Matt Saunders, The Point Live (March 2026)
Labor must stop juicing house prices and make buying a home the Australian dream – not negatively gearing one by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 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].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The joint US-Israel war on Iran could have serious, lasting impacts on the global economy.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss the economic impact of the illegal US-Israel war on Iran, the latest Australian GDP data, and why the Reserve Bank seems to want more Australians to be unemployed.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 5 March 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut
Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark
Show notes:
Australia’s GDP growth is partly due to government spending. So why isn’t the Coalition complaining? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026)
The US and Israel attack Iran, foment chaos, After America, the Australia Institute (March 2026)
ACTU plan would fix gas policy mess and raise $12.5b for Australians, the Australia Institute (August 2025)
Tax: Beer drinkers vs gas companies by Rod Campbell, the Australia Institute (February 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].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is a low taxing nation, but Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson still seems to want the highest earners to pay less.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Skye discuss Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson’s call for tax cuts, why tariffs won’t be replacing income tax despite Donald Trump’s claims, Australia’s bizarre subsidies for fossil fuels, and why Greg reckons he wouldn’t take a tasty pay rise to go to the dark side.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 26 February 2026.
What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut
Host: Skye Predavec, Researcher, the Australia Institute // @skyelark
Show notes:
Finally fixing capital gains tax is good – but linking it to another tax cut for Australia’s rich is bollocks by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026)
Australia’s most costly anti-climate policy hits taxpayers for $30m a day as calls mount to wind back fuel tax credits by Adam Morton, Guardian Australia (February 2026)
ACCC alleges Coles mimicked Woolworths in ‘disguising’ big price hikes by Max Mason and Carrie LaFrenz, Australian Financial Review (February 2026)
Corporate profits increase inflation, the Australia Institute (December 2024)
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].
Support Dollars & Sense: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.