The Fin

Hosted by Australian Financial Review

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country. Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

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60 recent

October 14, 202621 min

The spectacular undoing of Firmus – and what went wrong

Today, senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and tech editor Paul Smith take us inside the spectacular undoing of Firmus: what went wrong, how it unravelled in a week, and what this sudden collapse reveals about the AI boom. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading: How Firmus’ $44b IPO failure unfolded Firmus was on a runaway train to become one of the country’s most valuable listed companies. This is the day-by-day account of how that hope evaporated. The pain that killed Firmus’ float is spreading. Here’s a new victim AirTrunk’s decision to delay its Singaporean property IPO is another sign that the rising cost of capital is starting to foster doubts in the global artificial intelligence trade. AirTrunk postpones $4.4b Singapore listing as interest rates soar AirTrunk, has delayed plans to list a real estate investment trust in Singapore due to global market volatility, including rising interest rates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 7, 202625 min

Migrants keep this town running. Why it's voting for One Nation

This week, senior reporter Greg Bearup and pollster Kos Somaras on how vital migrants have become in the regions, why those towns are voting for One Nation and how new data shows that the shift doesn’t have much to do with immigration. With additional audio: Nic Walker This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading ‘We’ll cut your rent by up to 4k’: Hanson ups the ante on immigration One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lifted the stakes in the immigration policy wars by releasing modelling showing her policy would save renters between $2000 and $4300 a year. Taylor’s middle ground on migration might be the safest course The Coalition has tried to reconcile two competing interests: how to slash the number of arrivals without hurting the economy. Voters turn on Albanese and Chalmers as economic concerns bite The latest The Australian Financial Review /RedBridge Group/Accent Research poll also shows economic management is starting to resonate with voters, jumping 7 percentage points in a month as an issue of concern to sit just outside the top five. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 30, 202623 min

What a 200-property landlord reveals about the housing market

This week, senior reporter Myriam Robin on the story of a mega landlord and what it tells us about the vibe in the housing market – between renters and Australia’s two million landlords. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading: This 34-year-old owns over 200 properties. Now his tenants are unionising Australia was built on the dream of owning property. But as that compact unravels, Eddie Dilleen’s clash with a militant renters union exposes a growing fault line. Why 6.5pc is the benchmark for new residential property investors The changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax have made rental returns more important than ever. Here are 37 suburbs that are throwing up opportunities. Investors are still buying, as this $950,000 inner-Sydney sale shows We speak to the team behind last week’s most intriguing property sale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 23, 202625 min

How much super is enough for a comfortable retirement?

This week, deputy economics editor Michael Read and wealth reporter Andrew Hobbs on the latest round of the super wars, whether you should be able to access your superannuation early and what is the magic number for a comfortable retirement. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading: Hanson poses the super question Australia stopped asking How much super is too much and, in the trade-off between living standards today and in retirement, do we really need to put 12 per cent away? Support grows to tap superannuation for wages, housing About 62 per cent of voters support using super to boost take-home pay, as some in the Coalition consider a policy allowing people to pay their mortgage out of super. Gazumped again? Hanson announces previous Coalition super policy One Nation’s plan to let workers access 3 percentage points of their super is the same policy the Coalition planned to announce under Sussan Ley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 16, 202627 min

Is this AI Armageddon or a 'golden age' for the share market?

This week, markets reporter Alex Gluyas on what the AI threat debate means for tech stocks, why Cathie Wood is predicting a golden era and whether the bond market might spoil the party. This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Further reading: Cathie Wood declares ‘golden age’ for equities after bumpy ride The high-profile investor is betting equity markets are at the start of a decade-long bull market driven by artificial intelligence. And she’s an Elon Musk fan. Investors see their own threats in push to slow AI development One fund manager said tighter restrictions would be a commercial advantage to Anthropic and OpenAI, and hurt newer start-ups and microchip manufacturers. The market’s biggest fear is no longer the AI bubble. It’s this Investors are worried about a disorderly meltdown in bonds. Australia – now almost halfway to a correction – provides a window into how it could unfold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 9, 202630 min

Why the Bathla collapse is being compared to the GFC

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro and associate editor Primrose Riordan on how Bathla built its property empire, why it all fell apart and why its effects will be felt well beyond western Sydney. This podcast is sponsored by Elston . Further reading: Living in ‘half a house’: How Bathla turned cheap housing into a nightmare The downfall of the developer has left families stranded in half-built homes and sent shockwaves through the private credit market. This developer could be private credit's ticking time bomb Bathla Group, a property developer has almost $3.2 billion in debt, it will be private credit investors who could lose out. Bathla’s collapse has property insiders panicking like it’s 2007 Australia’s ever-rising property market has masked all manner of sins, particularly in private credit, which has been shown up for its lack of discipline. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 2, 202630 min

Too big to cancel? The project that sums up Victoria’s problems

This week, editor-in-chief James Chessell and Victorian political correspondent Sumeyya Ilanbey on the project that has come to sum up Victoria’s problems, whether it is too big to cancel and how it will play into November’s state election. This podcast is sponsored by Elston . Further reading: The secret tax that says everything about Victorian Labor The revelation that Labor secretly introduced a tax on public transport users is the latest chapter in a saga in which political momentum has trumped fiscal responsibility. (edited) Vic Labor’s secret tax exposes fiscal transparency void The opposition and leading economists say a charter of budget honesty is needed after the Victorian government introduced a new tax without telling the public. (edited) Carroll’s budget scalpel misses the $34b elephant in the room Premier Ben Carroll is looking to scrape off as many costly, wasteful barnacles he can find before the November 28 state election See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 26, 202628 min

How to go from pub baron to Australia’s biggest bankrupt in 10 years

Associate editor Primrose Riordan and courts correspondent Max Mason on why Jon Adgemis is struggling to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret and what his story tells us about the private credit market. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac . Further reading: Jon Adgemis thought he was winning. Then his CFO took the stand The failed pub baron has been trying to keep the details of his $1.8 billion financial collapse secret. But a chatty former accountant is making that difficult. Adgemis’ right-hand man alleges tax con funded ‘exorbitant lifestyle’ The business affairs of the former KPMG deal maker-turned-bankrupt are being scrutinised, with allegations of “sham arrangements” to pay for his spending. From playboy pub baron to bankruptcy: Inside Jon Adgemis’ $1.8b fall From KPMG consultant to “glamour banker” with the “Midas touch” to junk-debt-laden bankrupt. It’s been a wild ride for Jon Adgemis and Public Hospitality Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 19, 202627 min

Anthony Albanese now has 'a list' – and that’s a problem

Political editor Phillip Coorey on the government’s bet on gambling reform, the problem with "brand Albo" and why there’s nothing funny about the melon incident. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac . Further reading: PM bets on stability pitch as popularity falters Anthony Albanese celebrated a significant milestone on Friday, but voters have learnt stability and steadiness don’t preclude poor taste. Migration or superannuation, the spectre of Hanson hangs heavy Pauline Hanson keeps setting the agenda, whether she means to or not. The government and Coalition are scrambling to follow. ‘Policy capture’: The week that exposed Labor’s gambling ties An explosive week of public hearings exposed the harms of the gambling industry. So why isn’t the government following its own advice on advertising bans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 12, 202623 min

Why this property downturn is different to the rest

Deputy economics editor Michael Read on what’s going on in the housing market, whether it’s the correction we had to have and why the government doesn't want to call it that. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: RBA warns house prices have further to fall Despite the softness in the housing market, RBA governor Michele Bullock said another interest rate rise remains squarely on the table. Labor MPs are lost in housing’s hall of mirrors Prices are falling, but the government is reluctant to claim the credit. So its MPs have resorted to rhetoric about renewed optimism for first home buyers. Property price slide exposes political peril for Albanese government As the sharpest housing market correction in almost four years gathers pace, the Albanese government is discovering that voters do not necessarily welcome falling values. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.