Thu 17 Sep 2026 17.10 AEST
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
As the world becomes increasingly insecure, we’re seeing an alarming retreat from multilateralism that risks pushing some of the most vulnerable communities across the world further into poverty, while undermining collective efforts to strengthen our institutions and build a more stable and prosperous world for all.
The real question is no longer whether tax reform affects housing markets. It is whether we're prepared to tackle the far bigger structural issues that determine housing supply and affordability in the first place.
To borrow a concise definition from foreign policy expert Thomas Wright, the Overton window is the idea that there is an “acceptable range of political discourse in a society” at a given time. In democratic systems, leaders and parties tend to stick within these boundaries to remain popular and legitimate.
By lifting the rate of Jobseeker, the Australian government could save lives.
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the shocking number of Australians dying on Jobseeker, the government’s immigration policy announcements, and why inequality is a political choice. Then, a bittersweet Dollars & Sense announcement.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 17 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:
Extreme inequality is not a given. It is a political choice and we can unmake it by Joseph Stiglitz, The Point (September 2026)
In such a rich country, it is shameful how many Australians on jobseeker are dying in desperate poverty by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)
Recycled fuss about migrants is just a painful hot-button topic looking for an issue by Amy Remeikis, The New Daily (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.
