Episode's summary
Snowy Hydro was meant to be one of Australia's biggest renewable energy projects. But the ambitious scheme has been hit by massive cost blowouts and delays, raising serious questions about how much taxpayers will ultimately have to pay. So what’s gone wrong with Snowy 2.0, and is the project still worth the price tag? Energy expert Bruce Mountain joins Carrington Clarke to unpack the spiralling costs, the engineering challenges and what the troubled project tells us about Australia's energy transition on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Snowy Hydro was meant to be one of Australia's biggest renewable energy projects. But the ambitious scheme has been hit by massive cost blowouts and delays, raising serious questions about how much taxpayers will ultimately have to pay. So what’s gone wrong with Snowy 2.0, and is the project still worth the price tag? Energy expert Bruce Mountain joins Carrington Clarke to unpack the spiralling costs, the engineering challenges and what the troubled project tells us about Australia's energy transition on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Episodes
Is Snowy 2.0 worth the price tag?
ListenedSnowy Hydro was meant to be one of Australia's biggest renewable energy projects. But the ambitious scheme has been hit by massive cost blowouts and delays, raising serious questions about how much taxpayers will ultimately have to pay. So what’s gone wrong with Snowy 2.0, and is the project still worth the price tag? Energy expert Bruce Mountain joins Carrington Clarke to unpack the spiralling costs, the engineering challenges and what the troubled project tells us about Australia's energy transition on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
A roll call for central bank rates
ListenedAround the world central bankers are grappling with how to deal with unwantedly high inflation. In recent days we’ve seen interest rate decisions in New Zealand, Canada and the US. So what can we learn from their decisions and deliberations - and in whose footsteps will the RBA follow next week? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Inflation is too high
ListenedInflation is still stubbornly high - and moreover accelerated in September - according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. So what’s costing Australian households the most? And with inflation well above the Reserve Bank’s comfort level, is a rate hike all but certain on Melbourne Cup Day? Lin Lin and Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Will investors buy into Anthropic’s AI vision?
ListenedIt’s official: Anthropic has filed to go public. This means the AI giant may soon take its place as one of the most valuable companies on earth and become available for investors to trade. But after the Nasdaq’s worst fortnight since April, what risks still lap at the edges of this IPO excitement? Carrington Clarke and ABC's Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Will the overseas oil shock influence interest rates?
ListenedThe price of Brent Crude has spiked again, with prices climbing close to the highest levels seen since the start of the war as hostilities across the Middle East escalate. How is the Australian economy bearing these overseas shocks, as inflation continues to stubbornly sit at a rate higher than the RBA would like? And just what does it mean for the chances of a rate hike next week? We also answer a listener question. Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Reporter Steph Chalmers break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Will France lead the world into economic crisis?
ListenedViolence is erupting on France's streets as economic pressures bite. Does the unrest signal a financial crisis is on the way? Plus, the US Federal Reserve meets next week and banks around the world - including the RBA - will be watching closely. Citigroup Global Chief Economist Nathan Sheets is a former Federal Reserve economist who also served at the US Treasury. ABC Business Daily's Carrington Clarke sat down with Dr Sheets at the Citi Investment Conference to unpack the outlook for France, the possibility of a global debt disasters, and what the Fed's decision could mean for America and the world. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Are Australian banks ready for a property slump?
ListenedFrom plummeting property prices across capital cities to the very live possibility of a RBA rate hike early next month, there’s lots of economic changes for Australia’s financial institutions to digest. So are Australia’s banks ready to weather what lies ahead? And on the heels of National Australia Bank announcing a major restructure earlier this week, what does the future hold for Australia’s banking sector? Carrington Clarke and Brian Johnson, Senior Banks Analyst at MST Financial break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Is China exporting its economic problems?
ListenedIt’s a tale of a two-speed economy. China's economy surprised analysts on the upside in the September quarter - but the headline growth figure masks a widening divide. Industrial activity is powering ahead, while retail spending remains far more subdued - raising fresh questions about the strength of China’s consumer economy. So why are Chinese households still reluctant to spend? And as factories keep producing at pace, is China increasingly exporting its economic pressures to the rest of the world? Lin Lin is joined by Dan Wang, China Director with Eurasia Group to break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Europe's cost of living crisis
ListenedAfter a weekend of the worst civil unrest in decades in France, markets are nervously waiting to see what the political response will be - but where there's political ramifications, economic ones are also sure to follow. So is France the most precariously balanced domino on the global economic board right now? Meanwhile back home, one of the country’s biggest and most powerful companies – National Australia Bank – is cutting about six per cent of its workforce. It’s a move set to cause anguish for many of those directly impacted by cuts. But does it also tell us something about what could be on the cards for others working in finance? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. You can read Ian's latest analysis here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and…
Is it time to raise the GST?
ListenedThe price of Brent Crude has taken another leg up, flirting with 110 US dollars a barrel over the weekend and pulling even greater focus onto how high energy costs are affecting the global economy. Meanwhile, Australia’s increasingly expensive public debt is putting pressure on government budgets. So is now the time for major tax reform? And would any major party be willing to test the idea of increasing the GST? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The 'Thelma and Louise' moment coming for global economies
ListenedGlobal markets are shifting, debt is getting more expensive, and the AI investment boom is showing signs of risk. So what's the big picture and where could the next crisis emerge? Macro strategist Gerard Minack joins us to unpack the forces shaping the global economy, from rising bond yields and the growing threat of a sovereign debt crisis to whether the billions pouring into AI will ever deliver the returns investors are banking on. Plus, we turn to Australia's housing market, where higher interest rates, changes to investment incentives and slowing population growth could create a perfect storm for house prices. What should investors be watching, and what do these shifts mean for the rest of us? On ABC Business Daily with Carrington Clarke, Gerard Minack cuts through the market noise to explain what matters and what could come next. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au OR Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear…
Will higher unemployment stop a rate hike?
ListenedFresh jobs figures from the ABS show worsening unemployment here in Australia. Meanwhile inflation is hotter than expected in the United States. So will these new numbers stay the Reserve Bank’s hand from hiking interest rates on Melbourne Cup Day? And what do minutes from the RBA’s last board meeting reveal about what the central bank thinks are the biggest risks right now? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Solving the productivity puzzle
ListenedDespite rich resources and recent advancements in technology, why does Danielle Wood think the economy is still struggling to be more productive? The Productivity Commission Chair joins ABC Business Daily to weigh in on Australia’s productivity problem - workforce participation, population growth, the care economy, and AI’s role in stimulating growth. So, are we set on a path of stagnation where decent pay rises cause prices to rise? Or can we turn this ship around? Carrington Clarke and Danielle Wood, Chair of the Australian Productivity Comission, break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
What are the ripple effects of the Firmus fiasco?
ListenedThe cost of the Firmus fiasco continues to be counted, with Maas Group paying a heavy price for its connection to the Australian AI startup. So, how much wider is the pain likely to be felt across the economy? And where to now, for the biggest trade in global AI markets? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Did Firmus fly too close to the sun?
ListenedIt was the 44 billion dollar float that flopped. AI startup Firmus has dramatically pulled the plug on what was supposed to be the second biggest listing in ASX history. So what went wrong? Who is left "holding the bag"? And what does the decision tell us about investor appetite for all things AI? Carrington Clarke and James Thomson, senior Chanticleer columnist at the Australian Financial Review, break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Alan Kohler on our financial past and future
ListenedBooms, busts and everything in between — for more than half a century, finance journalist Alan Kohler has had a front-row seat to the Australian economy. For his final episode hosting That's Business, we're changing things up. Alan swaps the host's chair for the hot seat to reflect on what 50 years of reporting on money, markets and business has taught him. What were the best and worst economic policies of his time? What has Alan got wrong? And if he could start all over again — would he do anything differently? Carrington Clarke sits down with Alan Kohler to unpack it all on That's Business with Alan Kohler.
Is cutting immigration good economics?
ListenedMigration is dominating the headlines, with the Coalition promising the biggest cut to immigration in Australia’s history — a policy opposition leader Angus Taylor has called "budget neutral". But what are the economic questions behind student visa numbers, skilled worker contributions, and pressures on the Australian property market? And just how should economics shape decisions about migration? Carrington Clarke and Professor Robert Breunig, Director of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the ANU, break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Why your morning coffee is more expensive
ListenedIt’s no surprise that people are feeling bad about the economy and their finances. But the latest look into consumer sentiment from the Westpac-Melbourne Institute’s index, reveals Australians are experiencing what the bank describes as a ‘cost-of-living nightmare.’ Meanwhile, you may have noticed the price of your morning cup of coffee has gone up as small businesses raise prices in the wake of the RBA’s surcharge ban. So what does the ban mean for businesses? And consumers? Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Reporter Lin Lin break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Firmus looks to float
ListenedThe Australian stock market could be set for its second biggest IPO in history, with Firmus, the data-centre builder and operator, looking to tap the market for billions. So does the business case stack up? Meanwhile, Australians across the country are adjusting to last week’s rate hike in an economy with inflation still higher than the RBA would like. The central bank says it hopes to avoid recession as it tries to tame price rises. But what lessons can be learned from previous economic cycles? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. You can check out Ian's recent analysis pieces on Firmus and recession talk. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
To tax or not to tax EVs
ListenedThe surge in electric vehicle sales seems here to stay, as Australians look for alternatives to petrol-powered cars and the global energy crisis pushes prices at the bowser higher still. But with fewer drivers paying the fuel excise, what does this mean for government revenue? And what are the economics behind taxing vehicles on our roads? Carrington Clarke and the e61 Institute's Amy Tramontozzi break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
What CBA’s Matt Comyn thinks about interest rates
ListenedCommonwealth Bank is Australia’s biggest bank and its second-biggest company. One in three Australians are CommBank customers, giving it an enormous influence over the Australian economy. Matt Comyn has been CBA’s CEO since 2018 and has been named by the Australian Financial Review as the most powerful person in corporate Australia. Now, with Australians watching closely for what happens to interest rates amid a still-high cost of living, Matt Comyn joins Alan Kohler on That’s Business to discuss rates, AI, productivity and the future of Australian banking. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
A financial system with ‘no room for complacency’
ListenedIt’s health-check day for the Australian financial system, with the release of the Financial Stability Review from the Reserve Bank. And despite inflation still well above target, a fourth interest rate hike this year and the downturn in the property market, the RBA seems most concerned about what’s happening overseas. So why is the AI investment boom's increasingly opaque funding on the RBA’s radar - and what else are they watching? Carrington Clarke and ABC Finance Journalist Alicia Barry break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Inflation still too high for the RBA
ListenedFresh inflation figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics give us a look under the hood of an economy running hot. So just what is keeping inflation higher than the RBA would like? How does this fresh data affect the odds of a further rate hike in November? And how are central banks responding to the global bond market? Carrington Clarke and Paul Bloxham HSBC’s Chief Economist for Australia, New Zealand, and Global Commodities, break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The highest rates in 15 years
ListenedThe Reserve Bank of Australia has raised rates, bringing the cash rate to the highest it’s been since 2011. And even though this latest hike doesn’t come as a surprise, the sting will still be felt by borrowers throughout the country. So what does this mean for the Australian economy? And how likely is a fifth rate hike before the end of the year? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Are lenders doubting the US dollar?
ListenedIs the era of US-dollar dominance on its last legs? Against the backdrop of the war in Iran, a trade war with Canada, and bond sell-offs, trust in the Greenback appears to be weakening. Meanwhile central banks around the world have been looking elsewhere to shore up reserves. So how does this all play into rising interest rates - here in Australia - and across the world? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The economics of migration
ListenedAustralia's migration debate is once again ramping up, with Labor planning to cut backpacker and student visa numbers amid calls from One Nation to slash immigration by 750, 000 places over three years. Beneath the political storm is a complicated history of changing economic and social policy governing who gets to come to — and who gets to stay in — Australia. Mark Cully is a former chief economist for the Department of Immigration, a former chair of the OECD Working Party on Migration, and the author of a new book: Waves of Plenty: Immigration and the Making of Australia. He sits down with Alan Kohler on That's Business to discuss the economics of migration, how we got here, and what we can learn from the immigration policies of the past. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
Can the government control AI?
ListenedThe Australian Government is calling for stronger global rules around artificial intelligence. But as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, the question is becoming increasingly urgent: can governments regulate AI before it gets ahead of them? This week, prime minister Anthony Albanese announced a swarm of OpenAI's agents appeared to work together to circumvent cybersecurity defences and access Medicare health data. But the US President Donald Trump has rejected calls for more AI guardrails, arguing the technology should instead be embraced as "super intelligence". Alan Kohler sits down with Andrew Charlton, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, to discuss who stands to benefit from the AI boom, who should control the technology, and whether Australia can shape the future of AI or will simply have to adapt to it. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
The latest jobs stats and AI hacks
ListenedNew jobs data out today shows the unemployment rate has risen in Australia. But is it enough to halt the RBA's expected interest rate hike? And an agent from Open AI has hacked into a Services Australia portal. Could this damage big tech's reputation at a time when it's asking for government support to invest in Australia? Carrington Clarke and ABC Finance Journalist Alicia Barry break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Bullock weighs in before rates day
ListenedReserve bank boss Michelle Bullock has made her final public appearance ahead of next week’s rate decision. And with the public eager to get some sense of which way rates will go, the message most people seemed to hear was clear: The fight against inflation isn’t over yet. And it may take a further lift in unemployment to get there. So is a rate hike all but certain? Meanwhile, Donald Trump recently took the stage to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Is the US president about to cut the world off from American diesel? Carrington Clarke and Millie Muroi, Economics Writer at the The Sydney Morning Herald break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
What will it cost to live longer?
ListenedWhat will Australia’s economy be like forty years from now? According to Treasury’s latest Intergenerational Report there will be about forty million of us. But will they be living better lives than the 28 million kicking around today? And could AI finally turn around Australia’s flagging productivity problem? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. You can read Ian's piece on the Intergenerational Report here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Big banks bet on a rate hike
ListenedThe price of Brent Crude has climbed back above one hundred dollars a barrel in response to rising concerns that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is spreading. Here in Australia, the Coalition is touting a new fuel excise proposal as the price of diesel climbs closer to spikes not seen since the beginning of the conflict. Meanwhile, analysts from Australia's big four banks agree that a September rate hike from the Reserve Bank is looking increasingly likely. So what do the latest auction clearance rates do to fill in the Australian property picture? And just how deep a downturn is on the horizon? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Building faster, cheaper housing
ListenedFor years governments and companies have been trying to figure out how to make more houses people can afford in Australia. In other parts of the world, building homes in factories and then assembling them onsite is part of the solution — but it's never really taken off in Australia. Now, construction firm Built has joined up with Bunnings' parent company Wesfarmers to create Built Living, a company making pre-cast concrete apartment parts ready to turn into affordable homes. But are Australians willing to embrace the model? And what's the price impact, really? Built Living CEO Dale Connor joins Alan Kohler on That's Business to find out what it'll take to make pre-fab work in Australia, the lessons from overseas markets, and what the closure of housing developer Bathla means for the construction industry. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
The Fed hikes. Will shares fall?
ListenedThe US Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates for the first time since 2023 - and the consequences could reach all the way into your investment portfolio. United States Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh says the move is designed to bring inflation back towards target faster - but will one hike be enough, or are more on the way? And as higher US rates ripple through global markets, shifting currencies, borrowing costs and share prices - what are the potentially significant consequences for Australian companies and investors? In this special episode of ABC Business Daily Carrington Clarke is joined by Richard Schellbach, Equity Strategist at UBS, to break it all down. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
When Chinese EVs dominate a market
ListenedThailand's massive car manufacturing industry has seen the country nicknamed the "Detroit of Asia". But China's electric vehicle boom is shaking up the Thai automotive sector, with Chinese brands dominating the EV market and local manufacturers pushing for tariffs to protects themselves as vehicle production falls. Meanwhile in Australia, the economics of going electric are shifting again as oil prices come under renewed pressure and EV sales climb. On ABC Business Daily, Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Reporter Lin Lin explain how consumer behaviour and government policy turned Thailand's car market upside down, and unpack what we can learn from it in Australia. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Will an AI backlash hamper its boom?
ListenedThe people building the world’s most powerful AI systems are starting to warn that development may be moving too fast. Some want a slowdown and stronger safeguards. Others, including Donald Trump, are dismissing those warnings as a “hoax” that could hand China an advantage. But underneath the safety debate is a huge economic story too - billions in investment, rising debt and enormous expectations riding on the AI boom. Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Correspondent David Taylor unpack what’s driving the pushback, what it could mean for Australia, and why the US 10-year Treasury yield breaking above 5 per cent is another sign that global markets are feeling the pressure on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Another oil shock is here
ListenedBrent crude is back above US$100 a barrel, with a second critical global energy choke-point now looking increasingly vulnerable. At the same time, Australia has its own problem to solve. The Reserve Bank of Australia says inflation remains the country’s biggest economic concern - but some of the pressures pushing prices higher, including another jump in oil, are coming from forces Australian interest rates can’t control. So how dangerous is this latest oil spike - and are borrowers being asked to carry the cost of inflation they didn’t create? Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Listen to our chat with Satyajit Das on if we're heading for a "Bondmageddon" here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to…
How Trump's trade war is changing everything
ListenedDonald Trump is rewriting the rules of global trade, using tariffs as political weapons and up-ending decades of economic orthodoxy. At the same time, trade routes themselves have become central to the war in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz sitting at the heart of the conflict. So what does someone who has spent his career understanding the politics and economics of trade make of all this disruption? Former Australian trade negotiator and author of Why Politicians Lie About Trade, Dmitry Grozoubinski joins Alan Kohler on That’s Business with Alan Kohler to unpack Trump’s trade war, Mark Carney’s retaliation from Canada, and what the upheaval could mean for Australia and the global economy. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
Breaking down Bathla
ListenedBathla Group has collapsed owing billions, with hundreds of projects caught up in the fallout. But when a developer that big goes under, the bigger question is what it tells us about the wider market. Was Bathla simply a company that grew too fast and took on too much debt - or is it a sign of deeper pressure across property and construction? In this special episode of ABC Business Daily, ABC Business reporter Lin Lin is joined by AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver to unpack how higher interest rates, rising construction costs and the growth of private credit are reshaping the industry. Listen to our chat with Satyajit Das here. Read Lin Lin's reporting on Bathla Group here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Nike’s spectacular fall
ListenedNike has lost its edge. More than US$230 billion has been wiped from its market value since its 2021 peak, and its share price is now back around levels last seen more than a decade ago. For a brand that has dominated global sport for generations, that’s a remarkable fall. So what went wrong? Was it China, competition, brand dilution - or simply a business that stopped setting the pace? ABC Business reporters Lin Lin and Dan Ziffer unpack how Nike ended up being dropped from the top 100 companies on the US share market, and what its slide tells us about the risks facing even the biggest global brands, on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The numbers behind One Nation’s super plan
ListenedOne Nation wants Australians paying rent or a mortgage to take more of their superannuation home now - but what could that cost them later? The proposal has ignited a political fight, with One Nation Treasury spokesperson Barnaby Joyce arguing people should be trusted with their own money. But behind the rhetoric are much bigger economic questions about retirement balances, inflation, interest rates and Australia’s $4.4 trillion super system. ABC Business Editor Michael Janda and ABC Business Correspondent David Taylor unpack what One Nation is actually proposing, what we learned from the COVID-era experiment with early super access - and whether the numbers behind this latest pitch stack up - on ABC Business Daily. Listen to Alan Kohler's conversation with AustralianSuper head Paul Schroder here. Listen to the political breakdown of One Nation's super plan on our sister podcast Politics Now here. Listen to our chat with Satyajit Das on if we're heading for a "Bondmageddon" here. Got a burning business…
Are we headed for 'Bondmageddon'?
ListenedSatyajit Das thinks another major global financial crisis might be coming - and soon. He was warning about dangerous debt structures well before the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Now, with inflation still sticky, interest rates elevated, debt piling up and huge amounts of money pouring into AI, he thinks the pressure is building again. But what breaks first? In this special episode of ABC Business Daily, former banker and financial commentator Satyajit Das joins ABC Business Editor Michael Janda to unpack the risk of “Bondmageddon”, whether the world has become too dependent on cheap money, and how the AI boom could become another fault line in the financial system. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
WiseTech's new CEO on recovering from scandal
ListenedWiseTech Global is one of Australia's great technology success stories, running CargoWise, the operating system for global trade. But in recent years it's been engulfed in scandal amid grave allegations against founder and former CEO Richard White, which he strenuously denies. On top of that, the company's facing a changing tech and trade landscape thanks to AI. WiseTech's new(ish) CEO Zubin Appoo talks through how to pull a company out of a crisis, and debates whether artificial intelligence will change the game - just like the internet did for Alan's old newspaper jobs. Zubin Appoo, CEO of WiseTech and Alan Kohler unpack it all on That's Business with Alan Kohler. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
What's behind the retail results?
ListenedAustralia’s biggest retailers have opened their books - and the numbers tell a pretty revealing story. Woolworths and Coles remain firmly in control, but the numbers show their strategies are shifting. Online sales are surging, shoppers are hunting around for value, Aldi’s growth has slowed, and smaller players are fighting over an increasingly narrow slice of the market. In this special episode of ABC Business Daily, Carrington Clarke is joined by Barrenjoey retail analyst Tom Kierath for a deep dive into what the latest results from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and others are really telling us. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The conflicts shaking markets
ListenedThe world economy is being pulled in several directions at once. The war between the US and Iran has flared again, while fears are growing about what a wider escalation in Russia’s war on Ukraine could mean for energy, trade and global markets. In this special episode of ABC Business Daily, Carrington Clarke is joined by Madison Cartwright, a geopolitical and geo-economic analyst who’s now at Commonwealth Bank, to unpack what he is watching - and what it could mean for Australia. And amid all of that, there’s a fresh read on the Australian economy, with new GDP figures showing how growth is tracking and adding another piece to the puzzle ahead of the RBA’s next interest rate decision. Catch up on the political impacts of the GPD result on our sister podcast, Politics Now, here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the…
Do falling property prices create opportunity?
Listened"No one wants to catch a falling knife." Australia’s property market is shifting fast. Home values have now fallen for five months in a row, buyer activity is down, auction results are softening, and 93 per cent of capital city suburbs recorded price falls through winter. But falling prices do not mean the same thing for everyone. For some buyers, it could mean opportunity. For sellers and heavily indebted households, the pressure is building. Carrington Clarke and ABC Business Correspondent David Taylor break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Read David Taylor's analysis on the latest property data here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
Can housing take another hike?
ListenedSeptember is shaping up as a big month for interest rates. In the US, Kevin Warsh is talking tough on inflation, while here at home three of the big four banks now think the RBA could hike again - potentially as soon as next month. So are borrowers on both sides of the Pacific about to be slugged again? And what would that mean for an Australian property sector already under pressure, as the fallout from Bathla Group’s multi-billion-dollar collapse continues? Carrington Clarke and ABC News Business Editor Michael Janda break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.
The business of comedy: Alan Kohler talks to Marty and Michael
ListenedYouTube, TikTok and Instagram are full of "content creators", but very few turn it into a profitable business. Brisbane comedy duo, Marty and Michael, got their start doing silly stunts on Facebook. More than a decade later, they have nine staff and 13 million followers across social media platforms. They've worked with US "Jackass" comedians and built a brand from that same style of fearless comedy. Marty and Michael join Alan Kohler to discuss the highs and lows (and there have definitely been some lows) of building a comedy empire. They chat about building an audience, making money from content and the challenges of turning social media into a sustainable career. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au
Banks forecast rate hikes
ListenedThere’s been a dramatic shift in interest rate predictions among some of Australia’s biggest banks today with CBA joining ANZ in predicting we’ll get a hike in November. NAB says the RBA likely to act next month. So is more borrower pain all but certain to deal with Australia’s inflation problem? And in the US, Meta has tried to minimise its pain by settling a massive court case avoiding the ignominy of their CEO being forced to take the stand, but is this the end of their legal woes? Carrington Clarke and Alicia Barry break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au OR Got a burning business question?…
What will the inflation data mean for rates?
ListenedFresh data out today shows prices are rising slower than they were earlier in the year, but still well above the Reserve Banks target. So does that mean the Reserve Bank might be forced to hike rates even further? And Canada has loaded its tariff cannon to aim at its southern neighbour… will it light the fuse? Carrington Clarke and Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP break it all down on ABC Business Daily. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au OR Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to…
Fuel shortages stoke food supply fears
ListenedUS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced a series of measures which he says will cause the ‘economic asphyxiation’ of Iran, including going after other countries that do trade with the Middle East power. But with no end in sight to the ongoing global energy crisis, a wave of secondary food shortages are cresting on the horizon. So how is this affecting the economics of Australian farming? And how vulnerable are global food supplies? Carrington Clarke and ABC Chief Business Correspondent Ian Verrender break it all down on ABC Business Daily. You can read Ian's analysis on fuel and food shortages here. Got a burning business question? We'd love to hear your questions! If there’s business and economic news that has you stumped or you'd like further insight into, we're here to help. Send a short voice recording to Carrington and the team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au and we'll attempt to answer it.