The Bloomberg Australia Podcast

Australia’s inflation fight just got harder. The Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the fourth time this year as surging energy prices ripple through the economy — and another hike could be just weeks away.
Bloomberg economist James McIntyre joins host Chris Bourke to explain why the RBA is so worried about businesses passing higher costs on to consumers, what that means for jobs and household budgets, and when Australians might finally see some relief from high interest rates.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania is home to the world’s largest battery-electric ship — a 130-metre ferry powered by more than 250 tonnes of batteries. This week, host Rebecca Jones talks to David Stringer, APAC Managing Editor for ESG and Green, who toured the vessel and met veteran shipbuilder Robert “Bob” Clifford. They explore how this remarkable project came together, whether electric ferries can transform global shipping, and what Tasmania’s maritime innovation could mean for an industry under pressure to cut emissions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Japanese yen has been trading near multi-decade lows — but one big Australian investor has bet on the currency’s recovery. This week, host Rebecca Jones talks to Bloomberg’s Chief Asia Rates Correspondent Ruth Carson about why Australian Retirement Trust is buying the yen, what’s driving Japan’s currency, and what a rebound could mean for Australian investors, businesses and anyone planning a Japanese ski holiday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians haven’t stopped spending — they’ve just become much more selective about where their money goes. This week, Bloomberg global business editor Karen Leigh joins host Rebecca Jones to unpack the winners and losers from Australia’s latest earnings season, from Kmart and supermarkets to furniture and electronics retailers. They discuss the rise of home brands, the impact of higher housing costs and falling property prices, and whether Australia’s newfound obsession with value could permanently change how we shop.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crisis engulfing Sydney property developer Bathla Group has put the spotlight on a fast-growing but little-understood corner of Australian finance. With the company owing about A$3.3 billion to non-bank lenders, its troubles are raising questions about the risks lurking in Australia’s A$200 billion private credit market — and whether other property developers could be next.
Bloomberg finance reporter Richard Henderson joins host Chris Bourke to explain what private credit actually is, why Australian lenders have piled so heavily into property, and why regulators are increasingly worried. They also look at how exposed super funds and ordinary investors are — and whether Bathla’s troubles could be the first sign of something bigger.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.