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

Jun 11, 2025 · 26 min
Apocalypse or a four-day week? What AI might mean for you
This week on The Fin, technology editor Paul Smith discusses the AI future and whether it is more likely to be utopia or dystopia. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Waymo’s robot driver was too scared to take us where we wanted to go The self-driving taxis are an experience to remember but their post LA-riot nerves rendered them unable to use human logic, and left us stranded. Apocalypse or a four-day week? What AI might mean for you If you’re “AGI-pilled” and you believe artificial intelligence will soon surpass humans, you’re probably worried about your job. But insiders reckon that might be the least of our problems. From ‘lucky country’ to ‘left-behind country’: Matt Comyn’s AI warning Executives say Australia is in danger of falling behind as the rise of artificial intelligence creates a profound change in the way people and businesses work. Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 4, 2025 · 25 min
The not-so-super tax change that is dividing Australia
This week on The Fin podcast, Joanna Mather and Michelle Bowes on how the super tax will work, why it’s so controversial and what people are doing to get ready for it. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: 7 ways the wealthiest will beat the $3m super tax Investment bonds, an early inheritance for the kids or just cop it on the chin? Affected taxpayers are weighing their options. ATO puts wealthy families on notice over $3m super tax The new tax is not yet law but the ATO wants to understand the “behavioural responses” to the planned tax that might already be occurring. There is a case to reform super tax breaks. But not this way Australia’s tax breaks on retirement balances are generous. But the treasurer is going about reform the wrong way, experts say. Save 50% or more on unlimited access to the Australian Financial Review in our EOFY sale, ending June 30. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 28, 2025 · 24 min
Are house prices about to take off again?
This week on The Fin podcast, economics correspondent Michael Read on why the Reserve Bank is cutting rates and what it means for people like him trying to buy a house. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Australia on verge of house price boom: economist History suggests that once the RBA starts cutting, property fever hits quickly. One prominent expert says a 10 to 15 per cent price rise is coming. Bullock flags more rate cuts as RBA slashes growth forecasts Donald Trump’s trade war has forced the RBA to lower its projections for growth in investment, household spending and exports, as it cut the cash rate again. House price risk won’t stop another rate cut: Bullock Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock expects state and federal governments to do the heavy lifting on housing affordability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 21, 2025 · 30 min
Coalition chaos: ‘It’s like someone dropped an atom bomb’
This week on The Fin, political editor Phillip Coorey and former Labor adviser and AFR columnist Lidija Ivanovski talk about the decimation of the Opposition, the uphill battle facing Sussan Ley and the fierce debate over the Super Tax. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: The longer the split, the harder it will be to reconcile Sussan Ley, who used to hold her own in shearing sheds, is playing hard ball. It took five days for the Coalition to fall apart Negotiations between the two parties fell at the first hurdle. When parliament resumes, the Liberals will hold all 30 shadow ministries and the Nationals will be on the crossbench. How Albanese learnt from Labor losers and won big on Saturday For six months, he has been privately telling his supporters that he had the plan to deliver Labor a second-term majority, and the skill to pull it off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 14, 2025 · 28 min
Does Warren Buffett’s retirement mark peak America?
This week on The Fin podcast: senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on Buffett’s legacy and whether his catchphrase ‘never bet against America’ still stands. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Fear, loathing (and hope) as finance’s elite gather in LA Private equity titans and dealmakers converging at the Milken Institute Global Conference this week were relentlessly optimistic in public, but the tone was different behind the scenes. US billionaire’s Sydney taxi ride sparks $6.2b super-like initiative Michael Milken is gathering support for a plan to emulate the Australian superannuation system and give every child a $US1000 share account. Warren Buffett steps down, delivering a parting shot against tariffs The disciples of legendary investor Warren Buffett gathered in Omaha seeking reassurances of America’s future, instead they got a bombshell about his future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 7, 2025 · 23 min
How a $14 billion deal can happen without a shareholder vote
This week on The Fin, James Thomson and Joyce Moullakis on James Hardie’s latest controversy, why shareholders don’t get to vote and what they want to change. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: The great ASX investor uprising delivers very hollow victory The hated James Hardie takeover of a US group is going ahead, but investors have at least won some important concessions. Inside the biggest investor uprising in three decades Investor anger over the James Hardie deal is being compared to 1993’s investor rebellion against Murdoch’s plans for “super voting shares”. Now the ASX is in the gun. ASX compliance chief rejects rule gaming suggestion Daniel Moran likened the ASX’s role in the controversial James Hardie transaction to that of a referee on a sporting field. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6, 2025 · 37 min
Election 2025: What Labor will do with its thumping win
This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, economics editor John Kehoe and economics correspondent Michael Read on what the Labor Party will do with its mandate and who the Coalition should put in its new leadership team. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 30, 2025 · 28 min
Should anyone have as much power as Peter V'landys?
This week on The Fin podcast: Mark Di Stefano talks about the rise of one of Australian sport’s most powerful men and takes us inside the battle to control the future of racing and rugby league. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Inside the plot to ‘get rid’ of Peter V’landys In his climb to the top of racing and rugby league, Peter V’landys has broken the rules and challenged the system. But now some in the system are fighting back. How Peter V’landys built a property empire Over two decades under the leadership of Peter V’landys, Racing NSW and the NRL have splurged millions of dollars on residential and commercial real estate. Racing royalty launch broadside against V’landys leadership Champion trainers Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller are among the authors of a scathing letter about racing governance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 29, 2025 · 32 min
Election 2025: The three key seats to watch on Saturday night
Phillip Coorey and the panel on the seats that will decide the election, whether the AAA credit rating is really under threat and what Labor and the Coalition aren’t telling us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 23, 2025 · 22 min
Why Donald Trump & Xi Jinping will do a deal
This week on The Fin podcast, Financial Review columnist and former ambassador to China, Geoff Raby on the US-China trade war, what it means for Australia and why Washington and Beijing will do a deal. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Australia faces hit from Trump’s trade war The IMF has cut its growth forecast for the country by half a percentage point, in a sign it won’t be immune from a global slowdown triggered by US tariffs. Japan eyes pact with China, South Korea as trade war hedge Tokyo signals renewed interest in negotiations with a personal letter from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Chinese President Xi Jinping. China hits back at US with 125pc tariffs Beijing escalated the trade war with the United States by again raising tariffs and accusing the Trump administration of “unilateral bullying and coercion”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 22, 2025 · 31 min
Election 2025: Why Albo has a spring in his step and Dutton's big bet on defence
This week's podcast guests are Canberra Bureau Chief Tom McIlroy and Foreign affairs and Defence correspondent Andrew Tillet. They join Lisa Murray and Phil Coorey to discuss the coalition's plan to increase defence spending, the erosion of trust in institutions and the potential risks of following American political trends in Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 16, 2025 · 23 min
Winners and losers from Trump’s (forever) trade war
This week on The Fin, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on what's going on in markets, how Australia is more exposed than ever, and why the Trump chaos is changing the world. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Trump’s crisis is only beginning. It will make you question everything Chalmers is determined not to waste Trump crisis. But it will get ugly Viktor Shvets fears ‘Lehman Bros moment’ amid fresh tariff chaos The bond market teaches Trump the art of the squeal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 15, 2025 · 32 min
Election 2025: Taking apart both sides’ ‘diabolical’ housing policies
This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, deputy editor, news, Jessica Gardner, economics editor John Kehoe, and senior writer Myriam Robin take apart Labor and the Coalition’s housing policies, discuss why tax reform is so hard and unpack the battle for Kooyong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 9, 2025 · 26 min
The fight to save Australia's private hospitals
This week on The Fin, Health editor Michael Smith on the battle to save Healthscope, the war between insurers and hospitals and whether private equity is messing up the healthcare system. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: Tensions build between David Di Pilla’s HMC Capital and Healthscope When the hospitals group ran out of money to pay its rent this year, its landlord responded with a bid to buy the company. Hedge fund interest in Healthscope triggers break-up concerns The country’s second-largest private hospital operator is negotiating with lenders to stave off insolvency in the middle of a federal election campaign. Di Pilla spruiks Healthscope bid, says he’ll keep hospitals running The veteran dealmaker’s HMC Capital has been eyeing the country’s second-largest operator of private hospitals, and says his proposal is “a serious one”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 8, 2025 · 33 min
Election 2025: The Trump slump and Dutton's 'ham-fisted' backflip
This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, former Labor adviser Lidija Ivanovski and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp talk about how Trump's tariffs decision has changed the focus of the campaign and why betting markets are finally catching up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 2, 2025 · 25 min
Has Elon Musk crashed Tesla out of the EV race?
This week on The Fin podcast, North Asia correspondent Jessica Sier and motoring writer Tony Davis on Tesla’s challenges, the rise of BYD and whether a five-minute battery charge could be the real game changer. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading: BYD overtakes Tesla to secure pole position in EV race The Chinese electric carmaker’s latest full-year financial results reveal the extent of this power shift, with it surpassing the $US100 billion revenue mark. Tesla’s new strategy as sales fall: Openness (but don’t mention Musk) The Cybertruck is being shown off at a Sydney expo and executives are free to speak for the first time in years as Tesla takes a new tack amid falling sales. Trump tariffs deliver body blow to Japan’s auto industry After embracing the return of a once staunch ally, Japan’s car makers now find themselves on the front line of the trade war despite huge investments in the US.NEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 1, 2025 · 25 min
NSW will decide the election | Labor's Trump's bump | Out of control on the campaign bus
This week, political editor Phillip Coorey, economics editor John Kehoe and political correspondent Ronald Mizen talk about who has had the best start, what effect Trump’s tariffs and China’s ‘spy’ ship will have on the election and what happens on the campaign bus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 30, 2025 · 1 min
Introducing: The Fin: Election 2025
With the federal election underway, The Fin is releasing a special weekly podcast for the duration of the campaign called Election 2025. Every Tuesday, The Fin host Lisa Murray and political editor Phillip Coorey will be joined by The Australian Financial Review’s political experts to break down the critical voter issues, analyse the latest polls and pick out the key battlegrounds. For the latest updates from the campaign trail and best analysis on the political strategies that will influence the result, tune in to The Fin’s political panels from 5pm, Tuesday. The Fin: Election 2025 can be found by searching The Fin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 26, 2025 · 25 min
Slater & Gordon, the email scandal & the girl with the cat tattoo
This week on The Fin podcast, professional services reporter Maxim Shanahan and Rear Window columnist Hannah Wootton on Slater and Gordon’s workplace meltdown and the mysterious woman at the centre of it all. Quotes in this episode are voiced by AFR staff. This podcast is sponsored by AICD. Further reading: Slaters refers former staffer to police over incendiary mass email The law firm says a forensic investigation has found the sender of the infamous memo had access to sensitive data and was familiar with its cybersecurity. A decades-long rap sheet of deceit blows open Slater and Gordon probe The woman whose first name matches metadata in the rogue salary and performance spreadsheet that erupted into a crisis at the law firm is a convicted fraudster. We fact-checked the email Slater and Gordon says is largely fiction The now infamous all-staff email sent to more than 900 Slater and Gordon staffers was unsparing in its criticism of the firm. Here’s what we know about key claims. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 19, 2025 · 26 min
Election mode: Dutton's Trump problem & the budget no one wanted
This week on The Fin podcast, political editor Phillip Coorey and economics editor John Kehoe on how both sides of politics are planning to spin the budget, who’s ahead in the polls and why the most important person in this election race might not be Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton. Further reading: Chalmers concedes Labor won’t keep its $275 power bill pledge Jim Chalmers has effectively raised the white flag on the election promise to lower power bills by $275, but says it will be worse under Dutton’s nuclear energy plan. Dutton coming off the boil as election nears Peter Dutton’s personal ratings and voter expectations of a Coalition victory have fallen sharply, suggesting Labor attacks on the opposition leader are working. We wasted a $400b windfall, and now we’ll all have to pay An audit of federal finances finds Australia has never seen rivers of gold like this, but the hangover will be brutal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.