This week on The Fin podcast, political editor Phillip Coorey talks about what the government is likely to announce in the federal budget, what that means for inflation and interest rates, and gives his assessment of how Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are faring as we count down to the next election.

This podcast is sponsored by AICD

Further reading:

• Labor election plans start blowing smoke

Labor is banking on at least one rate cut before calling an election. That scenario is no longer guaranteed.

• Chalmers locks in business tax breaks to help Made in Australia

The budget will contain tax breaks for investors to turbocharge the government’s Future Made in Australia Act, Jim Chalmers has confirmed.

• ‘Vigilant’ RBA puts home loan borrowers on notice

Governor Michele Bullock has issued a fresh warning to mortgage holders, two years after the Reserve Bank of Australia began raising interest rates.

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This week on The Fin podcast, Ben Potter and Jacob Greber talk about Peter Dutton’s atomic bet, the economics of nuclear energy and whether the power requirements of the AI revolution change the debate.

This podcast is sponsored by ANZ
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Spotify here
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Apple here 

Further reading:

• Dutton’s atomic bet threatens Coalition chain reaction over climate

Rather than keep the heat on Labor’s handling of the cost-of-living pain as inflation stays high, the opposition leader’s nuclear venture risks becoming the story.

• Booming AI demand threatens electricity supply

Regulators are scrambling to factor the explosive growth of data centres into demand projections as one network warns of a 250 per cent surge in power needs.

• Why Dutton is going nuclear

Peter Dutton thinks he can sell nuclear power to the public. The energy industry remains unconvinced by the business case.

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This week on The Fin podcast, before heading home after more than six years based in Shanghai and then Tokyo, Michael Smith talks about the changes in China over that time, what its slowing economy means for Australian prosperity and Japan's new role on the world stage. 

This podcast is sponsored by ANZ
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Spotify here
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Apple here 

Further reading:

• In six and a half years I witnessed a dark pivot in China
  When I first landed in Shanghai on a freezing winter’s night in January 2018, China felt like a place bursting with optimism and opportunity.
• Japan is finally waking up from its lost decades. Can it last?
  The country is doing defence deals and its economy is powering up. But it has a fight on its hands to keep the momentum going given its structural challenges.
• The data that reveals the truth about Australia’s China ties
  Although Australia’s relations with China have warmed, key metrics show economic ties are at their lowest levels in more than five years and are unlikely to bounce back.

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This week on The Fin podcast, senior reporter James Eyers takes us inside the high-stakes negotiations over Armaguard's financial future, talks about the big personalities involved and gives his view on whether we are witnessing the death of cash. 

This podcast is sponsored by ANZ
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Spotify here
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Apple here 

Further reading:

• Inside the battle for Armaguard and the future of cash
  The high-stakes negotiations over the financial future for the cash transit monopoly reached a crescendo over Easter.
• Linfox lays out its terms for keeping Armaguard afloat
  Peter Fox, the company’s executive chairman, says his family are “not beggars here”. He says the cash-in-transit monopoly will keep operating if fees rise
• Coles hoards cash over Easter as Armaguard teeters on the brink The Lindsay Fox-controlled monopoly has engaged former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty to lead negotiations with major banks over a rescue package

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This week on The Fin podcast, Lauren Sams talks about the rise of Zoë Foster Blake, takes us inside the deal to regain control of her skincare business and tells us why there is so much takeover activity in the beauty industry.

This podcast is sponsored by ANZ
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Spotify here
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Apple here 

Further reading:

• Zoë Foster Blake: ‘I still think it’s hilarious that I’m in business’

This beauty entrepreneur sold her business for a fortune. And then she bought it back for a song.

• Foster Blake sold Go-To stake for $89m. She’s bought it back for a fraction of that

The former Young Rich Lister, along with her co-founder Paul Bates, have taken back control of the skincare brand from the failed BWX Group.

• One of the fastest growing categories for Young Rich Listers – vanity

Australian beauty brands have pushed out the established labels, from toothpaste to tanning, with a little product innovation and a lot of savvy marketing.

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This week on The Fin podcast, property editor Nick Lenaghan and Chanticleer columnist James Thomson on the relentless rise of house prices and the dilemma it poses for the RBA.

This podcast is sponsored by ANZ
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Spotify here
Listen to 5-in-5 with ANZ on Apple here

Further reading:

• Record-breaking house prices make early rate cuts ‘less likely’

Home values nationwide hit new peaks in March, boosted by strong gains in the more affordable markets, but rising prices could also delay rate cuts.

• Why good intentions are no match for housing’s grim reality

Big house price gains in 2025 and 2026 look likely as Australia’s housing supply crisis gets worse

• The housing data that should make the RBA wary of cutting rates

Australia is a nation obsessed with house prices, and with 60 per cent of people planning to buy in the next five years, the central bank is unlikely to be immune from that.

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This week on The Fin podcast, Jonathan Shapiro and Carrie LaFrenz take us inside their shopping experiment and talk about what happens in the luxury grey market and why investors are so polarised when it comes to the high-end retailer, Cettire.

Further reading:

• Cettire’s Texas hold ’em reveals questions about the value of luxury

The red-hot ASX-listed retailer appears to have one figure for customs and another for customers when it comes to its products.

• The market battle over secretive e-commerce play Cettire

There’s smart money on either side of the Cettire trade. But there remain unanswered questions about its closely guarded business model.

• We spent $1300 shopping at Cettire. Here’s what happened

It’s the buzziest stock on the ASX, thanks to “eye-watering” sales and wide margins. Customer reviews aren’t all so glowing. What’s behind the success?

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This week, we are bringing you the first episode of season 3 of Tech Zero, a podcast from resources reporter and regular on The Fin Peter Ker. 

Ker and producer Lap Phan talk to Formula 1’s Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds about the championship’s existential threat, what they are doing about it and whether there is a future in zero-carbon fuel. 

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This week on The Fin podcast, Zoe Samios on the Matildas' Olympic campaign, the bankability of women’s sport and Captain Sam Kerr’s legal case.

Further reading:

• Australia’s favourite sports team is no longer male. Will the dollars follow?

Matildas merchandise already outsells the Socceroos’ by a factor of two to one. But in the big-money world of major sport, scoring goals doesn’t always move the dial.

• Australia in the box seat to host the 2026 women’s Asian Cup

With money flowing into women’s soccer, registrations up and the Matildas on a roll, it would be the icing on the cake.

• Socceroos, Matildas success boosts cash for Football Australia

Almost $20 million in prizemoney from the Socceroos, a boost in sponsorship and an uptick in merchandise sales nearly doubled Football Australia’s revenue.

 

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This week on The Fin podcast, Boss editor Sally Patten and reporter Hannah Wootton on why the gender pay gap exists, who are the worst offenders and what can be done to fix it.

Further reading: 

Bonuses, overtime drive 19pc gender pay gap

• The median pay gap at businesses with 100-plus employees has been revealed for the first time and professional services and banks recorded some of the worst disparities.

These companies nailed the gender pay challenge. It wasn’t easy

• Companies such as Super Retail Group, Wesfarmers, PwC and Cotton On have the most balanced pay rates between men and women employees.

Family choices explain part of gender pay gap, say bosses

• Corporate leaders say women taking more family responsibilities makes the dominance of men in the highest-paid roles difficult to shift. But some female directors said women “deciding” to take on lower-paid work was a “false choice”.

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