GDP figures not good but beat "expectations"

Massive GST shortfall

Access to specialist healthcare

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:

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.

Australia&rsquo;s economy is not overheating, so why are experts predicting a rate hike?
On this episode of Dollars &amp; 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.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/more-fool-me-vantage-point-issue-6">More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia</a> by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now.
Use the code &lsquo;FOOLME&rsquo; on <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/vantage-point-subscription">a four-edition Vantage Point subscription</a> to receive a free copy of Richard&rsquo;s book, Econobabble.
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/sep/03/australia-economy-gdp-growth-rba-expected-raise-interest-rates-again">Australia&rsquo;s economy limps along, but the RBA should take a closer look before raising interest rates again</a> by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260901-rbas-own-research-shows-that-profits-drove-post-pandemic-inflation-not-wages">RBA's own research shows that profits drove post-pandemic inflation, not wages</a> by Greg Jericho, The Point (September 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-quarter-of-a-trillion-dollar-shortfall-leaving-states-and-territories-scrambling/">The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling</a>, the Australia Institute (September 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/off-the-charts/260826-how-can-australia-ensure-universal-access-to-medical-specialist-care">How can Australia ensure universal access to medical specialist care?</a> by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (August 2026)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/millions-delay-or-skip-appointments-as-specialist-care-become-too-expensive-for-many-australians-new-research/">Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians &ndash; new research</a>, the Australia Institute (August 2026)
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>. Subscribe to&nbsp;Dollars&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Sense&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dollars-sense/id1717300562">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5FWzwVKWUR2tZCbXSKuBE2?si=1c2f3558cc6d44ab">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/dollars-sense/9cc37d00-6a4f-013c-9f4c-0acc26574db2">Pocket Casts</a>&nbsp;or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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.

Australia’s economy is not overheating, so why are experts predicting a rate hike?