The Bloomberg Australia Podcast

Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, has seen her fortune grow even larger in the last few years, thanks to astute early investing in rare earths. In this episode, we look how the Rinehart-owned Hancock Prospecting Pty almost doubled its stake in Arafura Rare Earths Ltd. and the broader global landscape of the tussle for rare earths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac shares have gained 21% this year, outperforming the broader S&P/ASX 200 Financials index. This week on the podcast, CEO Anthony Miller talks to host Rebecca Jones and finance editor Adam Haigh after delivering his first full-year earnings report. They discuss those results, Miller’s outlook for the Australian economy, AI and hybrid work arrangements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With just two Reserve Bank meetings left in the year, will Australia see another interest rate cut before Christmas? Chris Bourke speaks with Adam Bowe, head of portfolio management at Pimco Australia, about what the latest inflation data means for the RBA’s next move - and whether borrowers can expect any relief soon. They also unpack how bond markets are interpreting rate expectations, what makes this economic moment particularly tricky for the central bank, and why more retail investors are eyeing the bond market. Plus, Bowe shares how global forces, including the US Federal Reserve, could shape the outlook into 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s defense tech sector has a new star. DroneShield has seen its stock soar more than 500% this year, catapulting the Sydney-based company from a niche player to an ASX 200 member. Once built to fend off paparazzi drones, it’s now supplying counter-drone technology to militaries and governments around the world. In this episode, Rebecca Jones talks to Sydney Bureau Chief Ainslie Chandler and reporter Carmeli Argana about DroneShield’s journey from meme stock to military mainstay, whether the company’s explosive rally can last, and how its CEO’s remarkable backstory fits into this unique company’s rise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ’s new CEO Nuno Matos is moving fast to remake Australia’s fourth-largest bank. In just five months, he’s announced thousands of job cuts, paused a share buyback, and pledged to refocus on core lending and business banking — part of an aggressive push to simplify operations and rebuild investor and regulator trust. Bloomberg finance editor Adam Haigh joins host Rebecca Jones to unpack what Matos’s overhaul means for ANZ’s strategy, shareholders, and staff. They discuss his plan to lift returns, repair relationships with regulators, and steer the bank through an increasingly competitive market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few economies are as closely watched in this region right now as New Zealand’s as it navigates inflation pressures, productivity challenges and a shifting global environment.In this special bonus episode, Wellington Bureau Chief Matthew Brockett interviews New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis live on stage for the Bloomberg Address in Auckland on Oct. 10. Now in its fifth year, the annual event has become a cornerstone of New Zealand’s policy calendar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big slice of Australia’s retirement savings is tied up in so-called private markets — assets that don’t trade on stock exchanges and are often hard to value or sell. This week, Rebecca Jones speaks with reporter Richard Henderson about what happens when those opaque investments go wrong, and what that reveals about the growing risks inside the A$4.3 trillion super system. As more super funds pour money into unlisted real estate, private equity and infrastructure, regulators are sounding the alarm about transparency and valuation. We unpack what the watchdog’s warnings mean for investors, why these deals can turn sour quickly, and how Australia’s biggest funds are managing the balance between risk and return in the race to grow members’ savings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s housing market is running hot again. Home values are rising at their fastest pace in nearly two years, fueled by rate cuts and ahead of fresh government support for first-home buyers. But with the Reserve Bank keeping rates on hold this week, the big question is when the next cut might come — and what it means for affordability, supply, and renters. In the latest Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke speaks with economist James McIntyre about the forces driving prices higher, the outlook for rate cuts, and why the supply crunch is likely to keep pressure on both buyers and renters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian retirees are wealthier than ever, thanks to decades of superannuation growth and soaring property values. But with that prosperity has come a disturbing rise in inheritance impatience – where children and relatives pressure older Australians to hand over their savings early. In this episode of the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke speaks with economy reporter Swati Pandey about the rise of financial elder abuse. They discuss how housing pressures, the cost of living and wealth divides are fueling this trend, as well as the toll it takes on victims and what’s being done to better protect retirees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria wants to make working from home a legal right for two days a week – a move that could reshape how many Australians work. But is Jacinta Allan’s policy about protecting flexibility, or is it more about politics with an election looming? And can it even be done? Chris Bourke speaks with Trent Wiltshire from the Grattan Institute about whether legislating hybrid work makes sense, what it would mean for businesses and workers, and why the work-from-home debate reveals a growing divide in Australia’s workforce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.