Since Parliament last sat, the likelihood of a rate rise this year has gone from 'not likely' to 'lock it in'. I wish I could say this is because, in the past couple weeks, there has been data showing that the economy is going gangbusters and is in need of cooling off. But alas… this is not the case.
You’ve been told your whole life that taking on debt for an education is OK, because that education will land you a good job. The debt will be manageable. Your earning power will increase. University will be your pathway to social mobility.
In a sign of the brutal impact of the Reserve Bank’s three interest rate rises, more than 1 million Australians worked multiple jobs in the June quarter for the first time. When cost of living pressures rise, one of the more dramatic impacts we see in the economy is more people needing to work more than one job to make ends meet.
Early super access proposals would ultimately make people worse off – but the government could do more to help Australians currently in need.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss One Nation’s superannuation proposal, ways the government could provide genuine cost-of-living support, the Reserve Bank’s twisted thinking over inflation and interest rates, and Barnaby Joyce’s run-from-Jesus moment.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 10 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
Quality research, analysis, explainers and factchecks from experts you can trust.
Show notes:
Horror warnings about Australia’s ‘collapsing’ housing market are absurd – and very much in bad faith by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)
The fight on super misses the point by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026)
Superannuation tax concessions are making inequality worse by Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (July 2024)
Why a rate rise is now looking increasingly likely by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 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.
