Foreign aid doesn’t come at the expense of struggling Aussies
If anything, the more generous a country is to foreigners, the more it usually provides for its own people.
Despite big talk from the government about punishing any fuel retailers profiteering from the global energy crisis, many forms of price gouging remain perfectly legal.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Matt and Elinor discuss how profits are driving inflation, why the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission doesn’t have the power to take on price gouging properly, and why migration is not causing Australia’s housing crisis. Then, the wheels come off talking about the meat industry.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 26 March 2026.
What we owe the water: It’s time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code ‘PODVP’ at checkout to get free shipping.
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Host: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
The data shows Australia’s population growth isn’t out of control, it has simply returned to trend by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (March 2026)
Rising profit margins turbocharged Australia’s latest inflation figures – but something worse is just around the corner by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (March 2026)
Profit push is back: the increase in inflation is due to profits by Greg Jericho and Dave Richardson, The Point (March 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.
If anything, the more generous a country is to foreigners, the more it usually provides for its own people.
Labor has announced a new gas reservation policy that will require energy giants to set aside 20 per cent of exports for the east-coast domestic market from July next year. With the announcement of this policy, the Albanese government has been accused of “caving” to the gas lobby and offering a “half-baked” solution to avoid mounting pressure for a 25 per cent export tax.
