Commonwealth Bank profits

5% deposit scheme juiced lending figures

Investors still cashing in

Capital gains tax reform rumours

Government spending not to blame for inflation

Tax & government deficits

On the back of ongoing tax concessions primarily benefitting the wealthiest and the government’s five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, Australia has just broken a new record for average home loan size.

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the persistent rumours of changes to the capital gains tax discount, why government spending isn’t to blame for the latest inflation increase, and the impact of the federal government’s five per cent deposit scheme on lending figures (and don’t discuss wages as promised last week, cus Greg can’t read a calendar).

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 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.

You can also subscribe to the Vantage Point series to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

Will the government finally deliver a housing policy that stops making a bad situation worse? by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026)

“They rushed this”: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026)

Profit in home lending by David Richardson, the Australia Institute (February 2026)

Submission to the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 2026)

Australia’s great gas giveaway by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024)

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.

On the back of ongoing tax concessions primarily benefitting the wealthiest and the government&rsquo;s five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, Australia has just broken a new record for average home loan size.
On this episode of Dollars &amp; Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the persistent rumours of changes to the capital gains tax discount, why government spending isn&rsquo;t to blame for the latest inflation increase, and the impact of the federal government&rsquo;s five per cent deposit scheme on lending figures (and don&rsquo;t discuss wages as promised last week, cus Greg can&rsquo;t read a calendar).
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 12 February 2026.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/what-we-owe-the-water-vantage-point-issue-4">What we owe the water: It's time for a fossil fuel treaty by Kumi Naidoo</a>, is available now for just $19.95. Use the code 'PODVP' at checkout to get free shipping.
You can also <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/vantage-point-subscription">subscribe to the Vantage Point series</a> to get four essays a year on some of the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world.
Host:&nbsp;Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grogsgamut.bsky.social">@grogsgamut</a>
Host:&nbsp;Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social">@elinorjohnstonleek</a> 
Show notes:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2026/feb/12/government-housing-policy-capital-gains-discount">Will the government finally deliver a housing policy that stops making a bad situation worse?</a> by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/they-rushed-this-why-the-reserve-bank-got-it-wrong-by-raising-rates/">&ldquo;They rushed this&rdquo;: why the Reserve Bank got it wrong by raising rates</a>, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/profit-in-home-lending/">Profit in home lending</a> by David Richardson, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/submission-to-the-select-committee-on-the-operation-of-the-capital-gains-tax-discount/">Submission to the Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount</a> by Matt Grudnoff and Greg Jericho, the Australia Institute (February 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/australias-great-gas-giveaway/">Australia&rsquo;s great gas giveaway</a> by Mark Ogge, Rod Campbell and Piers Verstegan, the Australia Institute (May 2024)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Dollars & Sense

Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work, and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.  

Dollars &amp; Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work, and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.

On the back of ongoing tax concessions primarily benefitting the wealthiest and the government’s five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, Australia has just broken a new record for average home loan size.