Australian businesses are taking longer to collect payments from customers, and they're responding by delaying payments to their own suppliers. The result? An additional $5.5 billion tied up in working capital across the companies surveyed in the latest McGrathNicol Working Capital Report.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Jason Ireland and Sean Wiles, Partners at McGrathNicol Advisory, about Australia's sharp deterioration in working capital performance, the sectors under the greatest pressure, and what businesses can do to free up cash.

McGrathNicol is a supporter of Fear & Greed.

Australian businesses are taking longer to collect payments from customers, and they're responding by delaying payments to their own suppliers. The result? An additional $5.5 billion tied up in working capital across the companies surveyed in the latest McGrathNicol Working Capital Report. Sean Aylmer speaks with Jason Ireland and Sean Wiles, Partners at McGrathNicol Advisory, about Australia's sharp deterioration in working capital performance, the sectors under the greatest pressure, and what businesses can do to free up cash. McGrathNicol is a supporter of Fear &amp; Greed.

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.

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Fear & Greed Q+A

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>

Q+A: Why Aussie businesses have $5.5 billion less cash to work with

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/686f9c4f-da37-4b3a-869a-b4f200b5ba3a/transcript

Friday 30 October 2026

High interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis hits some of the country’s largest retailers. 
The corporate regulator undertakes inquiries about the failed Firmus technologies float, focusing on its bankers
A chaotic day in parliament results in five MP’s being ejected during Question Time
One of the doyens of the New York Stock exchange, General Motors, moves to the Nasdaq
Alphabet and Microsoft’s profit results trigger very different responses from investors

 

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?- where to start with messy money. Get the episode from Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Friday 30 October 2026
High interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis hits some of the country&rsquo;s largest retailers.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The corporate regulator undertakes inquiries about the failed Firmus technologies float, focusing on its bankers</li>
<li aria-level="1">A chaotic day in parliament results in five MP&rsquo;s being ejected during Question Time</li>
<li aria-level="1">One of the doyens of the New York Stock exchange, General Motors, moves to the Nasdaq</li>
<li aria-level="1">Alphabet and Microsoft&rsquo;s profit results trigger very different responses from investors</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> - where to start with messy money. 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.

Retailer pain as rates rise; 5 MPs ejected in Canberra chaos; Alphabet, Microsoft results

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0c4752c5-7e6a-4a13-9516-b4f200b5bc6f/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 0.5pc as banks rally


Challenger takeover talks continue


Star in talks with US lender


Drone threats over military bases quadruple


At least 68 killed in Spanish train disaster

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the&nbsp;<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 0.5pc as banks rally
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Challenger takeover talks continue
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Star in talks with US lender
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Drone threats over military bases quadruple
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
At least 68 killed in Spanish train disaster
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX rises 0.5pc as banks rally

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/fd7d21db-a7e1-4c74-9879-b4f20064ca92/transcript

Thursday 29 October 2026

Hot inflation figures point to a fifth rate rise this year on Tuesday. 
The federal government under pressure over spending
Woolworths looks to be gaining in the supermarket wars, posting a solid jump in sales
Star Entertainment hit with a $260m fine, raising questions about its viability
The Israeli election result remains on a knife’s edge, with the two Arab parties in Israel set to hold the balance of power

 

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?- where to start with messy money. Get the episode from Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Thursday 29 October 2026
Hot inflation figures point to a fifth rate rise this year on Tuesday.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The federal government under pressure over spending</li>
<li aria-level="1">Woolworths looks to be gaining in the supermarket wars, posting a solid jump in sales</li>
<li aria-level="1">Star Entertainment hit with a $260m fine, raising questions about its viability</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Israeli election result remains on a knife&rsquo;s edge, with the two Arab parties in Israel set to hold the balance of power</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> - where to start with messy money. 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.

High inflation to trigger rate hike; Woolies wins in supermarket wars; Star’s $260m fine

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/c4e0750f-87f0-4551-bf1e-b4f100be9cdc/transcript

Q+A: Why Aussie businesses have $5.5 billion less cash to work with

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