The Bloomberg Australia Podcast

Australia’s housing downturn is gathering pace — and the nation’s biggest banks are starting to feel the effects. Mortgage applications are falling, investor lending has slumped and house prices have retreated from their March peak as higher interest rates and tax changes weigh on demand.
On this episode, host Chris Bourke is joined by finance editor Adam Haigh to unpack what CBA, Westpac, ANZ and NAB are saying about where house prices go from here, how a prolonged slowdown could squeeze bank profits and what it all means for investors. They also examine why the Reserve Bank sees the housing slowdown as a sign its tightening is working — and how much further the market could fall.
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Bird flu has reached Australia and is spreading rapidly among wild birds, raising fears it could jump into commercial poultry flocks and put further pressure on already elevated food prices. In this week’s podcast, recorded on Aug. 11 as the outbreak continues to evolve rapidly, agriculture reporter Ben Westcott explains why eggs would be particularly vulnerable, what producers and governments are doing to contain the virus, and what previous outbreaks in the US can tell us about the potential economic fallout.
Australia had more time than most countries to prepare, but the virus remains unpredictable — with potential consequences stretching from native wildlife and poultry farms to dairy cattle and, in a worst-case scenario, humans. We look at the lessons from overseas, the rollout of vaccines for endangered wildlife and the warning signs to watch in the weeks ahead.
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Australia's domestic aviation market may be on the cusp of its biggest shake-up in years, with two startup carriers — Zinc and Koala Airlines — plotting to challenge the long-standing dominance of Qantas and Virgin. In this episode, Chris Bourke asks global business reporter Angus Whitley why entrepreneurs see an opening despite the industry's brutal track record.

The episode also explores the hurdles facing any new entrant, from raising capital and securing airport slots to overcoming Qantas' powerful frequent flyer program and the risk of fare wars. Whitley discusses Jetstar's controversial decision to charge for overhead cabin baggage as an example of the pricing power incumbents enjoy — and if more competition could ultimately mean cheaper fares for Australian travellers.
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Macquarie is entering a new era. After nearly four decades at the investment bank and almost eight years as chief executive, Shemara Wikramanayake is stepping down, handing over to veteran executive Greg Ward after overseeing a period of record profits, surging share prices and growing global influence.
Bloomberg finance reporter Richard Henderson joins Rebecca Jones to unpack Wikramanayake's legacy, why Ward emerged as the board's choice, and the challenges awaiting him — from slowing mortgage growth to regulatory scrutiny and preserving the entrepreneurial culture that has long set Macquarie apart from its rivals.
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Almost 100,000 New Zealanders have moved to Australia in the past two years, as higher wages, bigger retirement savings and stronger career opportunities prove too tempting to ignore. For Australia, the surge is helping ease chronic shortages of nurses, police officers and other skilled workers. For New Zealand, it’s fueling concerns about a growing brain drain ahead of a November election.
In this episode, Chris Bourke speaks with Wellington Bureau Chief Ainsley Thomson about why Australia is winning the battle for Kiwi talent, how employers are actively recruiting across the Tasman, and what the migration boom means for both economies.
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