Australia's 'sickspan'

Private sector performs poorly in care sectors

Private health insurance

Soaring cost of specialists

Changes to private health rebate

Solutions

Soaring specialist costs, an increasingly complex system, and Australians getting sicker for longer suggest all is not well in Australian health care.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Luke Slawomirski and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the soaring cost of specialists, why pushing people towards the private health system doesn’t take pressure off public hospitals, the government’s proposed changes to private health rebates, and how to ensure Australia doesn’t backslide towards US-style health care.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 15 September.

More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest edition in the Vantage Point series, is available now.

Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.

Guest: Luke Slawomirski, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // @lukeslawomirski

Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Australia has an illness system, not a health system by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (July 2026)

Millions delay or skip appointments as specialist care become too expensive for many Australians – new research, the Australia Institute (August 2026)

Why scrapping the age-based private health insurance rebate makes sense by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (September 2026)

The quarter of a trillion dollar shortfall leaving states and territories scrambling, the Australia Institute (September 2026)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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 Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Castsor wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Soaring specialist costs, an increasingly complex system, and Australians getting sicker for longer suggest all is not well in Australian health care.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Dr Luke Slawomirski and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss the soaring cost of specialists, why pushing people towards the private health system doesn&rsquo;t take pressure off public hospitals, the government&rsquo;s proposed changes to private health rebates, and how to ensure Australia doesn&rsquo;t backslide towards US-style health care.
This episode was recorded on Tuesday 15 September.
<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 edition in the Vantage Point series, 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.
Guest: Luke Slawomirski, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lukeslawomirski.bsky.social">@lukeslawomirski</a>
Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattgrudnoff.bsky.social">@mattgrudnoff</a>
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ebonybennett.bsky.social">@ebonybennett</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260729-australia-has-an-illness-system-not-a-health-system">Australia has an illness system, not a health system</a> by Luke Slawomirski, The Point (July 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)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260911-why-scrapping-the-age-based-private-health-insurance-rebate-makes-sense">Why scrapping the age-based private health insurance rebate makes sense</a> by Luke Slawomirski, 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)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by 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 Follow the Money on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/follow-the-money/id1078781512">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0JOrvYNuhHOwaFuZ7PlW1d?si=e9265dc6a04d40b3">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/follow-the-money/2aeecbb0-b36a-0133-2e57-6dc413d6d41d">Pocket Casts</a> or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Follow The Money

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Soaring specialist costs, an increasingly complex system, and Australians getting sicker for longer suggest all is not well in Australian health care.