The rate of business failures is now at its highest level since January 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. Business payment defaults are also at record levels, with more businesses struggling to pay suppliers.

Patrick Coghlan, CEO of CreditorWatch, talks to Sean Aylmer about the August Business Risk Index, and why conditions are likely to get worse before they improve.

The rate of business failures is now at its highest level since January 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. Business payment defaults are also at record levels, with more businesses struggling to pay suppliers. Patrick Coghlan, CEO of CreditorWatch, talks to Sean Aylmer about the August Business Risk Index, and why conditions are likely to get worse before they improve.

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Business journalist Sean Aylmer talks to leaders about all things business in the Fear and Greed daily interview. 

Business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> talks to leaders about all things business in the <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear and Greed</a> daily interview.

Business journalist Sean Aylmer talks to leaders about all things business in Fear and Greed Interviews.

Fear and Greed Interviews

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Interview: Business failures are rising - and it's going to get worse

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/c4f40429-4079-429a-a80e-b1ee00dc5a01/transcript

Wednesday 7 October 2026

Consumer sentiment hits 50-year lows, creating the potential for a dive in household spending. 
The Coalition unveils its immigration policy, with a big drop in migrant numbers
OpenAI apologises for its agents accessing official websites, but says companies and governments need better defences
The best places to take a holiday, at least if you want to take advantage of a strong Aussie dollar
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to copyright her voice to counter deepfakes

 

Hit follow on the podcast so you don’t miss the latest news, and join our free daily newsletter here. 

 

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That?- is your home your best investment? Get the episode from Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Wednesday 7 October 2026
Consumer sentiment hits 50-year lows, creating the potential for a dive in household spending.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The Coalition unveils its immigration policy, with a big drop in migrant numbers</li>
<li aria-level="1">OpenAI apologises for its agents accessing official websites, but says companies and governments need better defences</li>
<li aria-level="1">The best places to take a holiday, at least if you want to take advantage of a strong Aussie dollar</li>
<li aria-level="1">Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to copyright her voice to counter deepfakes</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Hit follow on the podcast so you don&rsquo;t miss the latest news, and join our free <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">daily newsletter here</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And don&rsquo;t miss the latest episode of <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/">How Do They Afford That?</a> - is your home your best investment? Get the episode from <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14">Spotify</a> or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Sentiment at 50-year lows; OpenAI apologises with a warning; Aussie $ holiday winners

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b6293a19-c280-42cc-a5e8-b4db00be3f49/transcript

Australians expect organisations to behave with integrity and accountability. But the new 2026 Australian Governance Index reveals a substantial gap between those expectations and what people believe they're actually seeing, with 43 per cent of Australians saying organisational behaviour has become worse in recent years.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Katrina Horrobin, CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia, and Matt Rowley, partner at strategic advisory firm General Strategic, about what's driving the governance gap, why expectations differ between sectors, and what businesses can actually do about it. They also discuss AI governance, the importance of human judgement, and why organisations need to think beyond their traditional "social licence".

The Governance Institute of Australia is a supporter of Fear & Greed.

Australians expect organisations to behave with integrity and accountability. But the new 2026 Australian Governance Index reveals a substantial gap between those expectations and what people believe they're actually seeing, with 43 per cent of Australians saying organisational behaviour has become worse in recent years. Sean Aylmer speaks with Katrina Horrobin, CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia, and Matt Rowley, partner at strategic advisory firm General Strategic, about what's driving the governance gap, why expectations differ between sectors, and what businesses can actually do about it. They also discuss AI governance, the importance of human judgement, and why organisations need to think beyond their traditional "social licence". The Governance Institute of Australia is a supporter of Fear &amp; Greed.

Q+A: Australia has a governance gap. Why is it getting worse?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/20eaa493-f9b8-40f1-8585-b4db00be3c52/transcript

This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


ASX rises 0.6pc


Firmus IPO selling restrictions


Macquarie backs directors after KPMG probe


Trump orders Fort Hood gunman executed


Jeffrey Archer dies at 86

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/"> Fear &amp; Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">
ASX rises 0.6pc
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Firmus IPO selling restrictions
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Macquarie backs directors after KPMG probe
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Trump orders Fort Hood gunman executed
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Jeffrey Archer dies at 86
</li>
</ol>
Join our&nbsp;<a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX rises 0.6pc

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/a9f75237-e879-49d9-9fc1-b4db00601de5/transcript

Interview: Business failures are rising - and it's going to get worse

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FEAR & GREED | Business News

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