Wed 4 Feb 2026 17.30
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
With inflation driven by Christmas holidays and data centres for artificial intelligence, the RBA didn’t need to raise the interest rate this week, argues Matt Grudnoff.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to discuss big economic reform opportunities facing the government and why the Reserve Bank of Australia is so cautious about cutting rates, yet so quick to hike them up.
Join economist, author and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and friends in Adelaide on Sunday 1 March and in Sydney on Thursday 5 March. Tickets are selling fast, so get yours now.
Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
Hasty decision inflicts more pain and will cost jobs, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
Australian high schools the most expensive in the world – new research, the Australian Institute (February 2026)
Treasurer Jim Chalmers on the likelihood of an interest rate rise today, Radio National Breakfast, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (February 2026)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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.
In the aftermath of the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise rates, the various parties that now make up the non-government side of things (“Opposition” feels far too a cohesive term) have taken to trying to blame Government spending.
The Labor Government is dragging the public into another unlawful welfare scandal, because it refuses to walk away from an ideology and industry built around punishment
The RBA has done exactly as the markets expected and increased interest rates by 0.25%. This will put more pressure on those with a mortgage.
The 2026 Report on Government Services (RoGS) shows 41% of people waiting to get into public housing are homeless or at risk of homelessness – up from 26% in 2015.
