Well, the Reserve Bank finally answered our fiscal prayers this week, and announced an interest rate cut of 0.25 percent, providing relief to stretched mortgagees across the land.

But arguably no one was sweating on the rate cut more than the Albanese government, which desperately needed a strong sign that the cost of living crisis has turned a corner, and things are going to get easier for working Australians.

But is the rate cut enough, and will they reward the government for it by voting Labor at the next election? And what about the curious anomaly in the figures that has stumped even the experts.

Senior economics correspondent Shane Wright unpacks this with Jacqueline Maley, while national security correspondent Matthew Knott discusses the landmark national security speech given by ASIO boss Mike Burgess.

 

Audio credit:

• 'Everything everywhere all at once': ASIO details multiple security threats to Australia. SBS News.

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