The Bloomberg Australia Podcast

Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under-16s was designed to protect kids — but just months in, cracks are already showing. Regulators say major platforms may be falling short, while parents and teens report the rules are easy to get around, with workarounds ranging from shared accounts to AI-generated age checks. So is the policy actually changing behavior, or just reshuffling it? Bloomberg’s Ros Mathieson joins the podcast to unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and whether this bold experiment could become a global model — or a cautionary tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Australia at risk of running out of fuel? Panic buying has surged, prices are spiking and some regional stations are already running dry as tensions in the Middle East rattle global supply chains. This week on the podcast, Ben Westcott joins Rebecca Jones to unpack the data behind the headlines — how much fuel Australia actually has, where the system is under strain and why the ripple effects could hit everything from supermarket shelves to farm output.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a second straight meeting, the RBA has lifted interest rates, signaling the fight to curb price pressures isn’t over. But what’s actually driving those decisions behind closed doors? Bloomberg Economics’ James McIntyre joins the podcast to decode the RBA’s thinking: from the data that matters most to how global shocks, like rising energy prices, are shaping the outlook — and what it all means for where rates go next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia consumes more cocaine per capita than any other country in the world — nearly double the rate of the US. In this episode, Bloomberg’s Angus Whitley joins host Chris Bourke to unpack the data behind the surge, why a wealthy, remote nation has become such a lucrative market for global cartels, and how cocaine use has spread across professions and age groups. They examine the A$82 billion economic toll of illicit drugs, the role of organized crime, and how shipments — from commercial flights to offshore drops — are slipping into the country. Plus, are authorities making any headway, or is demand simply too strong to curb Australia’s growing appetite?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices are surging as the escalating conflict involving Iran rattles global markets, sending investors scrambling to assess the fallout. While US stocks have been relatively steady, crude’s jump is sharpening concerns about inflation and what it means for interest rates worldwide. In this episode of the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Rebecca Jones talks to markets reporter Richard Henderson about how the turmoil is flowing through to the ASX, petrol prices and Reserve Bank policy. From energy producers and airlines to haven trades and AI giants, we unpack the winners, losers and the key risks Australian investors should be watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy Bainbridge, Bloomberg pensions reporter who covers Australia’s superannuation trends, walks through rising retirement targets and what they mean for future retirees. She explains how higher comfort balances affect work choices and saving, outlines how super funds are building lifetime income and annuity options, and explores tech-driven advice and regulatory questions shaping retirement products.

Aradhana Aravindan, Sydney deputy bureau chief covering local politics and property. Swati Pandey, Asia-Pacific economy reporter focused on housing and urban policy. They discuss a Woollahra fight over reviving a station and adding 10,000 homes. They cover worries about infrastructure, lifestyle trade-offs, Sydney’s low density versus global cities, and the national political push to increase inner-city housing.

Global markets have been on a rollercoaster, with billions wiped from two of the hottest trades of the past year: Big Tech and Bitcoin. At first glance they might seem unrelated – but both are deeply tied to the same force driving markets right now: the AI boom. As software stocks wobble, crypto swings wildly and tech giants ramp up spending on data centers, investors are being forced to reassess what comes next. On this episode of the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Rebecca Jones speaks with cross-asset reporter Richard Henderson about what’s behind the volatility, whether the AI trade is cracking or simply cooling off, and why some investors remain surprisingly bullish.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global markets have started 2026 in chaotic fashion, with wild swings in stocks, a plunging dollar and fresh questions about everything from gold to AI. So what does all that mean for Australia’s super funds — and the retirement savings of millions of workers? This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, host Chris Bourke is joined by AustralianSuper CEO Paul Schroder, who runs the nation’s largest super fund with some A$410 billion under management. They discuss how the fund is navigating market volatility, exposure to US tech and AI, the case for staying invested through uncertainty, and why Australia’s super system still isn’t ready for the retirement wave ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re tackling one of the most fraught (and often avoided) conversations in Australian agriculture: farm succession. As families return from summer break and set their goals for the year ahead, reporter Ben Westcott joins host Rebecca Jones to unpack why passing on the family farm has become so complex, emotionally charged and financially risky. With soaring land values, ageing farmers and siblings pulling in different directions, succession planning is no longer something that can wait. What happens when it does… and what should families be doing now?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.