In this Garage edition of The Court of Public Opinion, Jeremy Cordeaux reacts to another 25 basis point interest rate rise and questions whether Australians are being forced to endure cost-of-living pain that could be avoided with better economic management.

Jeremy argues that runaway government spending — now sitting at 27% of GDP — combined with high electricity costs is driving inflation and productivity decline. He criticises the NDIS as financially unsustainable and suggests alternative monetary approaches, including temporarily increasing superannuation contributions to reduce spending without crushing households.

At a state level, Jeremy questions election promises involving hundreds of millions in public spending, challenges the transparency of the not-for-profit sector, and criticises proposals to close hospital infrastructure amid ramping and bed shortages.

The episode also revisits the brumby cull in Kosciuszko National Park, calls for “castle doctrine” style self-defence protections for homeowners, and raises concerns about animal welfare in extreme heat.

As always, it’s a blunt, fast-paced and unapologetic Garage session focused on accountability, productivity and common sense economics.