The Minerals Council of Australia is advertising that mining companies pay “at least 30 cents of every dollar to government”, rising to as much as 54 cents “once royalties are included”. Except, this is not correct.
As a long-term critic of the Productivity Commission, and someone who has called for their abolition, even I think the Prime Minister’s recent attack on the government-funded think tank was unfair and inaccurate.
On Monday, Australian Energy Producers (AEP) - the lobby group representing the foreign owned gas giants that export 80% of Australia’s gas - welcomed the Coalition’s announcement to help them export even more of Australia’s finite gas resources by cutting environmental protections and increasing subsidies.
Australia’s economy is not overheating, so why are experts predicting a rate hike?
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg gets triggered by the growth figures, before he and Elinor discuss how the states and territories have missed out on a lazy quarter-trillion and why access to specialist healthcare is slipping out of reach for many Australians.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 3 September 2026.
More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now.
Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.
Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
Quality research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts you can trust.
Australia’s economy limps along, but the RBA should take a closer look before raising interest rates again by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)
RBA’s own research shows that profits drove post-pandemic inflation, not wages by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026)
The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling, the Australia Institute (September 2026)
How can Australia ensure universal access to medical specialist care? by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (August 2026)
Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians – new research, the Australia Institute (August 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.
