SBS News In Depth

The RBA lifts rates to an 18-year high of 4.85%, adding more pressure to mortgage holders. But could this be the last rise?

The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the fifth time this year, adding more than $530 to monthly repayments on a typical $700,000 mortgage since February. But is the RBA now finished raising rates, and what does its decision mean for house prices and the economy? SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham, UBS Wealth Management’s Mike Jenneke and Canstar’s Sally Tindall about the outlook for borrowers, savers and investors.

In this episode:
Why the RBA lifted interest rates to 4.85%, and whether this could be the final rise of the cycle.
How higher mortgage repayments and falling borrowing capacity are affecting housing affordability, and what borrowers can do to secure a better rate.
Why Australia's housing downturn could deepen, and whether the economy is heading towards a recession.
How investors are responding to the RBA decision, global uncertainty and the sell-off in technology stocks.
What higher interest rates mean for savings accounts and how to make the most of better returns.

Climate, slavery reparations and UK backpacker visas dominate talks at the Commonwealth summit.

At CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda, Anthony Albanese promotes Australia’s climate agenda while facing scrutiny over its environmental record. The summit is also confronting demands for slavery reparations from Britain, as leaders discuss trade, security and a possible change to backpacker visa arrangements.

In this episode:
Anthony Albanese outlines Australia’s climate message and argues environmental action can drive economic growth.
Why more than 500 academics are questioning Australia’s climate leadership ahead of future international talks.
Caribbean leaders renew pressure on Britain over slavery reparations and the prospect of a formal apology.
What King Charles has said about the legacy of slavery and why calls for reparations remain contentious.
Behind-the-scenes discussions on UK backpacker visa arrangements and whether any change could emerge from the talks.
SBS News in Depth is a news analysis podcast from SBS, going behind the headlines with reporting and interviews on the stories shaping Australia and the world.

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Why the US midterms matter, what they reveal about voter sentiment, and what the results could mean for both parties.

As Americans vote in the US midterm elections, political analyst Larry Sabato explains why the contests are seen as a crucial judgment on Donald Trump’s second term. He discusses the issues shaping voter sentiment, what the polls suggest, and how the outcome could reshape both major parties.

In this episode:
Why midterm elections are considered an important measure of public sentiment during a presidential term.
The issues Larry Sabato says are driving voter concerns, including cost of living, fuel prices and the Iran war.
Why these elections are receiving such intense attention and what voters may be signalling about Donald Trump’s presidency.
What current polling suggests about Democratic chances in the House and Senate, and the uncertainty that remains.
How either result could influence the future direction and strategy of both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Higher than average temperatures and dry conditions are on the way, and governments have shored up supplies as they urge caution this bushfire season.

Australia is preparing for potentially damaging effects of the El Nino weather system, after the National Emergency Management Agency warned of a hotter, drier summer this year.

To bolster resources, the federal government says it has committed more than 150 million dollars to support the national aerial fire-fighting fleet.

In this story:
Authorities warn of a heightened risk of bushfires due to El Nino weather system
A multi-agency campaign to urge Australians to talk about bushfire and flood plans
The supplies stored in a national stockpile to be distributed in emergencies
The specialist aircraft waiting in the wings ahead of bushfire season
Tasmanian campaign to ready households for upcoming bushfire threat

European fridge hacks raise questions about whether Australian supermarkets could face similar cyberattacks.

A cyberattack that disrupted supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe has raised new questions about food security and infrastructure risks. Could Australian supermarkets face a similar threat? A cybersecurity expert explains how the attacks work, why they're concerning and what can be done to stop them.

In this episode:
How hackers allegedly gained control of supermarket refrigeration systems and caused food to spoil.
Why recent attacks in Europe are prompting fresh concerns about cyber threats to critical infrastructure.
Whether Australian supermarkets could be vulnerable to the same kind of incident.
The unanswered question about who might be behind these attacks and what their motive could be.
The practical cybersecurity measures experts say could reduce the risk of similar disruptions.