The Fin

Australian Financial Review

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

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100 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes100

Newest first

Wednesday · 32 min
Inside Andrew Forrest’s $60 million war on Facebook
Legal affairs reporter Janek Drevikovsky on why Twiggy is taking on Meta, whether he can win and what happens if he does. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Meta admits it wiped key evidence in Forrest stoush The social media giant has accepted it should be punished for not preserving copies of Facebook scam ads featuring the mining billionaire’s likeness. ‘Dad, it’s a fraud’: Call that sparked Forrest’s $60m war on Facebook Why is Andrew Forrest fighting one of the world’s biggest tech companies in one of California’s most storied courts – and spending his own money to do it? Forrest pressures local ad body to penalise Meta over scam revenue Andrew Forrest has written to IAB Australia asking for the group to consider Meta’s membership, after news the company made more than $20 billion from scams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 32 min
Australia's AI gamble: Inside Albanese's plan to bring big tech to heel
James Thomson and Ronald Mizen on why CEOs are losing patience with the AI giants, what’s driving the government’s policy shift, and whether Anthony Albanese is overplaying his hand. This podcast is sponsored by Workday Further reading: Could China’s AI bombshell spark a ‘Lehman Bros moment’ for markets? A new model that threatens OpenAI and Anthropic could have huge ramifications for global indices, which have soared on the artificial-intelligence trade. The AI pivot: inside Albanese’s plan to bring big tech to heel Riding high on global momentum from the under-16 social media ban, the prime minister is stepping up for a high-stakes public brawl with AI tech giants. National security concerns drove Labor’s pivot on AI As the technology increasingly encroaches on defence capabilities, cyber experts and the opposition warn that Australia must redouble its efforts to master it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 57 sec
Trailer: How I Made It returns July 29
How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 15 · 30 min
KPMG’s masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis
Professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the fallout from the KPMG scandal and what the government might do to bring the big four accounting firms into line. Further reading: KPMG’s ‘10-hour masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis’ By repeating PwC’s crisis-management mistakes, KPMG has forced a reluctant federal government to finally pull the trigger on unprecedented structural reforms. No timeline for big four reform despite PwC, KPMG scandals Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says reform is “real priority for the government”, but concedes there is “no particular timeline” for new rules. Inside Project Magenta: How Allens gave KPMG a pass on leaks The law firm cleared the company of partner misconduct without interviewing a single outsider and using a literal reading of the allegations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 8 · 23 min
Is it even worth investing in property any more?
Wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs and property reporter Lucy Slade unpack our national obsession, explain why property has been such a powerhouse, and ask a previously unthinkable question: Is investing in property even worth it anymore? This podcast is sponsored by Workday FURTHER READING: Should you buy an investment property after the budget changes? New restrictions on negative gearing and capital gains tax alter the appeal of residential property. Economists say property prices might fall 10pc. So what? With property prices up 400 per cent since 2000, what does a 10 per cent drop actually mean? And what happened the last time governments made major changes to property taxes? Sydney renters drowning amid record rent rises Rental prices are at record highs nationallypushing Sydney’s median to $841 a week, due to the vast shortage of homes available See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 1 · 27 min
Is this the end of Australia's two-party system?
Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s budget backdowns, the increasingly crowded field in Australian politics and why it will be a bumpy two years to the next election. This podcast is sponsored by Workday Further reading: PM wins round one of the budget battle, at a cost Proper process, good policy and taxpayers’ money were among the casualties of this week’s rush to legislate the budget. Finally, the teals discover that the Senate is where it’s at By forming a new party – Community Strong Australia – lower house independents are finally realising that true policy influence lies in the upper house. While Hanson stumbles, Taylor’s Coalition is quietly sinking One polling setback does not a crisis make for One Nation, but it is a reminder that major parties are subject to more questioning and scrutiny. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 24 · 29 min
Sizzle or fizzle: Will investors make money from SpaceX?
Chanticleer columnist Anthony Macdonald and technology editor Paul Smith on the investment case for SpaceX, whether there’s enough money for the other AI mega floats and why Australian investors are all in. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: SpaceX is the first of three sci-fi IPOs with truly insane maths Elon Musk has shot for the stars with the first of three huge AI-based floats that ask investors to believe the companies can boldly go where no one has gone before. Fears of ‘AI Strait of Hormuz’ as Trump’s Anthropic ban shocks business Labor’s Ed Husic and some of Australia’s top tech leaders warn Donald Trump’s export ban on the latest Anthropic AI models exposes a national over-reliance. How SpaceX turned the IPO curse into a goldmine The real genius of the company’s historic $2 trillion public listing isn’t the valuation – it’s how it hacked the market’s ultimate gatekeepers: passive funds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 17 · 25 min
Did KPMG learn nothing from the PwC tax leaks scandal?
On The Fin podcast this week, professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the KPMG allegations, and why they might be more damaging than the PwC tax leaks scandal. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Move over PwC: Why KPMG audit leaks are the ultimate betrayal Why the big four firm’s misconduct could be worse than the tax leaks scandal, and a blockbuster hearing date is set for June 19. Plus, are you in talent debt? KPMG audit leaks scandal – everything you need to know KPMG Australia faces a crisis following a whistleblower’s allegations that partners used confidential client data to win audit work. KPMG barred from bidding for federal work for three months The firm has agreed to stop bidding for federal government work while the Finance Department investigates its handling of a whistleblower complaint. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 10 · 29 min
Will Macquarie burst Australia’s banking bubble?
Associate editor Joyce Moullakis and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on how Macquarie crashed the big four bank’s mortgage party, why deposits are next and whether the banking bubble is about to pop. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Macquarie banks on tech nerds to smash big four’s mortgage oligopoly When it came to building up its retail banking business, the Silver Doughnut has taken inspiration from America’s tech giants – not its banking rivals at home. The bank bubble is popping. An AI winter may be coming next Bank stocks have quietly slipped into a correction as the sector is suddenly hit by structural pressures. AI-driven cuts may be the answer to holding the line. The budget killed our property super cycle. What comes next? The way the budget has deliberately blown up the 30-year housing super cycle raises uncomfortable questions about Australia’s economic future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 3 · 29 min
Beer, gas and the viral tax fight gripping Australia
Senior writer Myriam Robin and energy and climate reporter Ryan Cropp on the gas tax campaign, who’s behind it, why it took Australia by storm and whether it’s a good idea. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Inside the online army fighting the gas tax war (and it’s not over) How a teacher-turned-podcaster, a heterodox economist and a rugby player sparked a groundswell of discontent. One Nation backs gas tax and new state-owned projects Party leader Pauline Hanson will unveil a plan to hit oil and gas companies with a new royalty regime while taking state ownership of new exploration. Korea Gas accuses government of breaking pledge on LNG contracts KOGAS Australia said the government’s draft gas reservation plan conflicts with its assurance that long-term LNG sales contracts would not be hit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 27 · 32 min
The AI questions Atlassian and Canva can no longer ignore
Financial Review tech reporter Paul Smith and business reporter Amelia McGuire on what happens next for Australia’s two tech titans and their billionaire founders, and which company is best placed to weather the SaaSpocalypse. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: ‘A certificate for burnout?’ Inside Canva’s confetti-filled AI pivot In the midst of the AI-fuelled wipeout of tech firms, Canva and Atlassian spruik similar talking points to very different receptions. How Mike Cannon-Brookes’ divorce may affect the control of Atlassian The division of the Atlassian co-founder and CEO’s shares in his divorce settlement with estranged wife Annie could have big consequences for the company. Cannon-Brookes says Atlassian’s $37b AI fall is rational but wrong In an interview, the billionaire says the software giant will emerge stronger from the sharemarket sell-off and that he misses running it with Scott Farquhar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 20 · 27 min
What the budget means for your wealth (and did Boomers win?)
Financial Review wealth editor Joanna Mather and reporter Andrew Hobbs on how Labor’s new tax rules reshape investment strategies and what that means for you. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Albanese says CGT is going back to 1999. That’s not quite true Labor’s proposed capital gains tax inflation model is different from Paul Keating’s in two ways that mean investors will typically pay more tax. The game has changed – what investors need to know The budget measures have jolted many wealth plans. We ask the professionals about tips for first home buyers, property and share investors, retirees and those with trusts. ‘Ludicrous’: Modelling shows bucket companies face even bigger tax hit Further examination of the budget papers shows the penalty tax rate that will apply to bucket companies could be as high as 70 per cent, tax specialists say. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 13 · 31 min
How much is the Iran war costing Donald Trump?
Jessica Gardner on why Xi Jinping is the quiet winner from the war, how much the conflict has cost Donald Trump and what it means for the midterm elections and the rest of his presidency. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: MAGA still supports war strongman Trump. But that’s not enough On the streets of Miami and Palm Beach, havens for Donald Trump supporters, the president’s war in Iran gets unswerving trust – or at least the benefit of the doubt. Off the reins: Xi, Trump set for summit with a difference Neither leader needs any more drama than they already have, so they will instead seek an easy path to stability in the world’s most important bilateral relationship. Trump says US-Iran ceasefire on ‘massive life support’ The US president accused Tehran of reneging on a promise to drop its nuclear ambitions as part of a deal to end the war, which threatens his meeting with Xi Jinping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6 · 34 min
Generation X? The federal budget is coming for you
Phillip Coorey on the first year of the Albanese’s government’s second term, what’s happening with property taxes and how the biggest loser in the budget will be Gen X. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Prime minister arrests popularity decline, One Nation plateaus: poll Anthony Albanese’s handling of the petrol crisis has improved his personal ratings and is helping to prop up Labor’s vote. Anthony Albanese sees the populist writing on the wall As Labor prepares for a Hastie-led opposition, the PM is ready to break promises so Labor can court younger voters and save it from the parties of grievance CGT change to tax existing investments based on length of ownership The Albanese government plans to transition investors to a new capital gains tax regime through a hybrid grandfathering system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 29 · 28 min
The fight over Gina Rinehart's fortune
This week, Jesinta Burton and Tom Rabe on the landmark ruling, who won, who lost and why this is just one part of a complex web of legal battles over Gina Rinehart’s fortune. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading: The sins of the father: Gina Rinehart’s bitter victory The legal war between the billionaire and her children mirrors the secrecy and power struggles she once faced with the late Lang Hancock. Battle of the titans gives Pilbara’s quiet achiever his due Don Rhodes was the man to whom Lang Hancock turned to identify a rich iron ore deposit. Fifty years and a huge court case later, his company is in for a big royalty win. Rinehart and Rio Tinto to pay, but mining saga cost yet to be revealed A landmark ruling has found Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting owes the heirs of her father’s former partner millions in royalties on one of the Pilbara’s most valuable iron ore assets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 22 · 32 min
The unravelling of a media empire: Antony Catalano’s darkest chapter
This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and media reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on the rise and spectacular fall of Antony Catalano. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Catalano’s big play to take on REA and Domain to be mothballed Staff at the businessman’s regional media empire were told on Friday that the View.com.au platform, only recently bound for the ASX, would instead close down. The cult of Antony Catalano is coming crashing down Accused of assaulting his wife Stefanie, the businessman – once dubbed Mr Property – has gone into rehab. The survival of his empire hangs in the balance. Antony Catalano is losing even more money The bottom line at Australian Community Media, which Catalano co-owns with Alex Waislitz, has gone from bad to worse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 15 · 25 min
How One Nation went from fringe to mainstream in six months
This week, political editor Phil Coorey and Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras on the sudden rise of One Nation. What's driving it? How far it could go, and what it says about how Australia is changing. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading: ‘For too long, we’ve turned a blind eye’: Liberals vow hardline immigration approach Liberal leader Angus Taylor has flagged an end to a non-discriminatory Australian migration policy, promising to use social media to weed out undesirables and to “boot out” visa holders who fail to adhere to a legally binding and enforceable set of national values. One Nation nears Labor as Coalition vote hits record low Support for the federal Coalition has hit a new low of 17 per cent, but Labor’s vote is holding steady as Australians overwhelmingly blame Donald Trump for spiralling petrol prices triggered by the war in the Middle East. One Nation now speaks for a generation politics ignored The rise of One Nation among Australia’s working- and middle-class battlers is a story of economic decline and political abandonment by Labor and the Coalition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 8 · 28 min
Is now (finally) the time to buy an electric vehicle?
This week, motoring writer Tony Davis and reporter Sam Irvine on why Australia is closer than ever to the EV tipping point and whether charging infrastructure and policy settings are keeping pace. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading: Now’s the time to buy a used EV: What you need to know Electric cars are smoother, quieter, cleaner, cheaper to run and cheaper to service. And the data shows people are rushing to make the switch. Australians can’t get enough of this Chinese EV as fuel prices soar The sales spike came as the Middle East conflict sent fuel prices soaring and despite a decline in overall new vehicle sales. How the fuel crisis could fix a hole in the EV market Stephen Yiu lives near a petrol station, and is constantly reminded of his escape from soaring prices as new and used EV sales jump. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 2 · 14 min
Inside Edge Episode 2: The Platinum Asset Management Insider
Over a special two-part podcast series, Financial Review journalists Peter Ker and Alex Gow examine the makeup of the archetypal insider trader, scrutinise the trend of non-custodial sentences, and ask ASIC chair Joe Longo if the regulator's recent focus on investigation will lead to more prison time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 1 · 24 min
The AI-fuelled fraud that deceived Australia's biggest bank
Angira Bharadwaj and Joyce Moullakis on why CBA ended up in the middle of a billion dollar loan fraud scandal, how its spreading to the other banks and who might be behind it. This podcast is sponsored by Woodside Energy Further reading: Escalating $1b loan fraud scandal threatens to engulf top banks AUSTRAC is investigating a widening mortgage loan fraud scandal, after a syndicate duped Commonwealth Bank into writing $1 billion in loans off fake payslips. AUSTRAC calls in 10 banks for key meeting on spike in mortgage fraud The agency requested data from the lenders as it works to assess the extent of the fraud and whether properties funded by criminal proceeds should be seized. CBA probes $1b in suspected fraudulent home loans, calls in police The country’s largest bank is working to assess how many loans have been secured based on doctored applications, including documents created using AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.