Dollars & Sense

The Australia Institute
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Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

  1. 4h ago

    Inflation falls, tax changes pass & Greg loses his fancy parking spot

    Plus: how the One Nation leader got all tangled up over childcare and paid parental leave. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s comments on paid parental leave and childcare, the latest inflation data, the passage of the government’s capital gains tax and negative gearing changes, and the new ‘no Gregs’ club. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 25 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Capital gains tax changes are already having an impact on wealth inequality – and vested interests are running scared by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (June 2026) Housing concentrated in the hands of a few investors as young people are locked out by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) Caring for children is the major barrier to work for women by Greg Jericho and staff writers, The Point (June 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  2. Jun 18

    What is 'middle income' in Australia?

    A new data drop by the Australian Tax Office has A) brought Greg great joy and B) shed new light on Australians’ incomes. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest interest rates decision, Greg and Matt Grudnoff’s field trip to a Senate committee, and why one newspaper is running a front-page story about Pokémon card collectors and capital gains. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 18 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: The bleak view that unemployment needs to rise shows the RBA acts firstly in the interests of companies, not workers by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (June 2026) Ninety millionaires paid no tax in 2023–24. New ATO data shows why tax reform matters by Greg Jericho & Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) The housing reforms are cooling investor demand and slowing the market. That's the point by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (June 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  3. Jun 11

    The impact of the government’s massive NDIS cuts

    Cuts to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding would have a serious, lasting impact on people living with disabilities and their families. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the latest house price data and the ongoing fearmongering around the changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing. Then, Greg shares the positive impact NDIS funding as had on his family – and what it could mean if the government’s proposed cuts pass through the parliament. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 11 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: For those shedding a tear over house prices falling, these numbers may change your mind by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (June 2026) Health minister wants to cut disability support by 99% without legislation by Greg Jericho, Deepcut News (June 2026) Are we being misled about NDIS fraud? Yes, we are. by Chris Coombes, The Point (June 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  4. Jun 4

    Data centre boom widens gap between growth figures and reality

    With what little economic growth there is being driven by data centres, is it really a net positive for most Australians? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the decision to lift minimum and award wages and what the latest GDP figures mean for Australian households. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 4 June 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australia’s GDP figures are meaningless when the boom in datacentres means destroying jobs and the climate by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Clouded Future: Managing the risks of the data centre boom, Climate Council (June 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  5. May 28

    How about we just tax gas? Examining One Nation’s gas policy

    Coverage of One Nation’s gas policy made it sound like the beginning of some kind of people’s revolution, but without a 25% gas export tax, Australians will get short-changed. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss Pauline Hanson’s gas policy announcement, the failure at the heart of Australia’s employment services system, and what the latest inflation data could mean for interest rates. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 28 May 2026. Support the research powerful interests fear. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Australia Institute's End of Financial Year Appeal before 30 June. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australians with disabilities copped the biggest cuts in the budget. Yet conservative media’s heart bleeds only for the wealthy by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (May 2026) Australia's Gas Giveaway, the Australia Institute Why the industry loves Hanson’s gas policy – and Labor won’t by Amy Remeikis, The Point (May 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  6. May 21

    Fair dinkum! The Prime Minister called us out over a gas tax

    Australia could raise around $17 billion a year with a 25% gas export tax – enough to put dental in Medicare or fund free childcare – but the government is choosing not to. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Angus discuss why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australia Institute needs to get “fair dinkum” about gas exports, the post-budget meme-wars over capital gains tax, and the “death tax” scare campaign. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 21 May 2026. Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, Podcasts, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: Death, taxes and scare campaigns: here’s the truth about Labor’s budget changes by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Keating backs CGT reforms, says Howard changes made house prices "blast off" by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) Government CGT Changes – Structurally Sound, statement by former Prime Minister Paul Keating (May 2026) Conservative newspapers are stoking fears CGT changes will hurt young Australians — despite very few being affected by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (May 2026) Australia's Gas Giveaway, the Australia Institute Richard Denniss responds to Anthony Albanese, the Australia Institute on BlueSky (May 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  7. May 14

    Budget 2026: housing changes to slowly reverse decades of damage

    The government’s changes to capital gains and negative gearing will begin to undo decades of damage to the housing market caused by Howard-era policies – so will Elinor actually be able to buy a house? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the federal budget, the latest wages data, and why the government is making Australian workers wait-o for the WATO. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 14 May 2026. Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: Australian workers have been hard done by and tax reforms in the budget only begin to return some fairness by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) The budget in seven graphs: no big surprises but this may be one of the most ambitious moves to fix Australia’s finances by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) Budget 2026: serious housing reforms but a missed opportunity to tax gas exports, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (May 2026) Budget 2026: Treasurer's speech, annotated by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) Submission to the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (December 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  8. May 8

    More pain coming as RBA hikes rates again

    Interest rates won’t affect the global oil price shock brought about by the illegal US war on Iran – so why did the Reserve Bank hike them again? On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the rationale for the Reserve Bank’s third interest rate hike for 2026 and how changing the way trusts are taxed could reduce inequality. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 7 May 2026. Visit The Point for research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts at the Australia Institute and beyond. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek Show notes: In this budget, all eyes are on CGT. But Labor’s rumoured family trust tweaks might also help fight tax inequality by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026) RBA’s decision to raise rates hurts Australians for no reason by Greg Jericho, The Point (May 2026) Monetary Policy Decision – May 2026, Reserve Bank of Australia A tragic birth, and death, in a tent – and still our poorest must pay by Amy Remeikis, The Point (May 2026) Profit-Price Inflation: Theory, International Evidence, and Policy Implications, the Australia Institute (September 2023) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/430U1Rv See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
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About

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Information

  • Creator
    The Australia Institute
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Australia Institute
  • Show Website
    Dollars & Sense

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