In this episode of Straight Talk, I sit down with economist Chris Joye for round five, a frank conversation about government spending, immigration, productivity and Australia’s economic future.

Chris argues that Australia’s challenges run deeper than events in the Middle East. He examineswhat he describes as $660 billion in additional government debt since 2022, the pressure population growth is placing on housing and infrastructure, and an expanding public service alongside declining private sector productivity.

He also questions the Reserve Bank’s “narrow path” strategy, whether political influence has shaped its approach to inflation, and the cost to Australian households. I then ask Chris what needs to change: how to rein in spending, lift productivity and get Australia’s economy back on track.

Join my exclusive Mentored community: https://mentored.com.au

Subscribe to the Mentored newsletter here: https://the-mentored-platform-pty-ltd.myklpages.com/l/WWJGc5

Executive Producer: Samuel Morgan Head of Production: Jonah Mclachlan