The Fin

Hosted by Australian Financial Review

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 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

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.

August 5, 202624 min

Did we stop worrying about the oil price too soon?

Angela Macdonald-Smith and Ryan Cropp on the reasons we all stopped freaking out about the oil price and why that was premature. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Labor’s plans to source more fuel leaves shipments stranded at sea The government has been accused of picking winners for its subsidised import plan, which has created a glut and forced vessels to wait offshore for months. Ampol rakes it in on refining, trebling first-half profits Bumper first-half gross profits have been driven by soaring returns on turning crude oil into petrol and diesel during the conflict in the Middle East. Oil refiners chase sweeter support deal despite surging profits Ampol and Viva Energy are pushing for a major overhaul of subsidies to keep their refineries running for longer, even as their own earnings are soaring. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 29, 202632 min

Inside Andrew Forrest’s $60 million war on Facebook

Legal affairs reporter Janek Drevikovsky on why Twiggy is taking on Meta, whether he can win and what happens if he does. This podcast is sponsored by Westpac Further reading: Meta admits it wiped key evidence in Forrest stoush The social media giant has accepted it should be punished for not preserving copies of Facebook scam ads featuring the mining billionaire’s likeness. ‘Dad, it’s a fraud’: Call that sparked Forrest’s $60m war on Facebook Why is Andrew Forrest fighting one of the world’s biggest tech companies in one of California’s most storied courts – and spending his own money to do it? Forrest pressures local ad body to penalise Meta over scam revenue Andrew Forrest has written to IAB Australia asking for the group to consider Meta’s membership, after news the company made more than $20 billion from scams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 22, 202632 min

Australia's AI gamble: Inside Albanese's plan to bring big tech to heel

James Thomson and Ronald Mizen on why CEOs are losing patience with the AI giants, what’s driving the government’s policy shift, and whether Anthony Albanese is overplaying his hand. This podcast is sponsored by Workday Further reading: Could China’s AI bombshell spark a ‘Lehman Bros moment’ for markets? A new model that threatens OpenAI and Anthropic could have huge ramifications for global indices, which have soared on the artificial-intelligence trade. The AI pivot: inside Albanese’s plan to bring big tech to heel Riding high on global momentum from the under-16 social media ban, the prime minister is stepping up for a high-stakes public brawl with AI tech giants. National security concerns drove Labor’s pivot on AI As the technology increasingly encroaches on defence capabilities, cyber experts and the opposition warn that Australia must redouble its efforts to master it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 22, 20260 min

Trailer: How I Made It returns July 29

How I Made It is back with host Lauren Sams. Don’t miss season six as we uncover how Australia’s top entrepreneurs built their fortunes and what they learnt along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 15, 202630 min

KPMG’s masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis

Professional services editor Edmund Tadros on the fallout from the KPMG scandal and what the government might do to bring the big four accounting firms into line. Further reading: KPMG’s ‘10-hour masterclass in how not to respond to a crisis’ By repeating PwC’s crisis-management mistakes, KPMG has forced a reluctant federal government to finally pull the trigger on unprecedented structural reforms. No timeline for big four reform despite PwC, KPMG scandals Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says reform is “real priority for the government”, but concedes there is “no particular timeline” for new rules. Inside Project Magenta: How Allens gave KPMG a pass on leaks The law firm cleared the company of partner misconduct without interviewing a single outsider and using a literal reading of the allegations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.