Housing becoming more affordable

National Construction Code

Situation for renters

Migration is not causing the housing crisis

Real wages are falling

Housing solutions

Tax gas exports, pay for public housing

The government took on housing investor tax concessions to bring prices down, but more action is needed to address the rental affordability crisis.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Maiy Azize and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the government’s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing are allowing more first-homebuyers to enter the market, the data revealing that migration isn’t the cause of the housing crisis, and the dire situation facing Australian renters.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday 25 August.

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: Maiy Azize, Chair, Everybody’s Home & Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia // @maiyazize

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

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

Show notes:

Priced Out 2026, Everybody’s Home (August 2026)

The Coalition’s answer to the housing crisis is a race to the bottom by Maiy Azize, The Point (August 2026)

House prices are cooling, exposing a stubborn political narrative for what it is by Maiy Azize, The Point (July 2026)

No, the housing tax changes won’t push up rents by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (August 2026)

It could take until 2037 to recover from Australia’s real wage collapse by Greg Jericho, The Point (August 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.

The government took on housing investor tax concessions to bring prices down, but more action is needed to address the rental affordability crisis.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Maiy Azize and Matt Grudnoff join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the government&rsquo;s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing are allowing more first-homebuyers to enter the market, the data revealing that migration isn&rsquo;t the cause of the housing crisis, and the dire situation facing Australian renters.
This episode was recorded on Tuesday 25 August.
<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: Maiy Azize, Chair, Everybody&rsquo;s Home &amp; Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/maiyazize.bsky.social">@maiyazize</a>
Guest: Matt Grunoff, 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://everybodyshome.com.au/rent-hikes-costing-renters-weeks-of-work-a-year/">Priced Out 2026</a>, Everybody&rsquo;s Home (August 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260819-the-coalitions-answer-to-the-housing-crisis-is-a-race-to-the-bottom">The Coalition&rsquo;s answer to the housing crisis is a race to the bottom</a> by Maiy Azize, The Point (August 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260728-house-prices-are-cooling-exposing-a-stubborn-political-narrative-for-what-it-is">House prices are cooling, exposing a stubborn political narrative for what it is</a> by Maiy Azize, The Point (July 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/off-the-charts/260818-no-the-housing-tax-changes-wont-push-up-rents">No, the housing tax changes won&rsquo;t push up rents</a> by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (August 2026)
<a href="https://thepoint.com.au/off-the-charts/260825-it-could-take-until-2037-to-recover-from-australias-real-wage-collapse">It could take until 2037 to recover from Australia&rsquo;s real wage collapse</a> by Greg Jericho, The Point (August 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.

The government took on housing investor tax concessions to bring prices down, but more action is needed to address the rental affordability crisis.