The Bloomberg Australia Podcast

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.

Australia’s political year has opened amid deepening domestic and global tensions. One Nation is now surging in polls, underscoring the erosion of support for traditional parties as cost-of-living pressures and cultural divides reshape the political landscape. In this episode, Bloomberg’s new Canberra correspondent James Mayger joins the podcast to unpack the fallout from the Bondi attacks, the passage of gun and hate-speech laws through a divided Senate, and how global instability — from US politics to China and Taiwan — is feeding into Australia’s domestic debate and shaping the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mining sector kicked off 2026 with a bang as Rio Tinto and Glencore confirmed early-stage talks that could create the world’s biggest mining company. In this episode, host Chris Bourke is joined by Bloomberg’s Asia-Pacific head of commodities, Clara Ferreira Marques, to unpack why the deal is back on the table, what’s changed since talks first surfaced last year, and whether the “most obvious” merger in mining can actually get done. They dig into the race for copper at record prices, the cultural and regulatory hurdles standing in the way, and what a tie-up would mean for rivals like BHP. From coal and China to scale, strategy and leadership, the conversation explores why mining’s long-anticipated M&A wave may finally be taking shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bondi Beach has long stood as a symbol of Australia’s easygoing spirit—a multicultural meeting place of sunlight, surf and community. But the recent terror attack during a Hanukkah celebration shattered that image, leaving a nation in mourning and reflection. In this episode, host Rebecca Jones is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist David Fickling to explore why this attack cuts so deeply, not just for those directly affected, but for the Australian identity itself. They unpack the cultural significance of Bondi, the global ripple effects of local violence, and how public figures and everyday Australians are responding. You can read David’s column on the terror here: Bondi, and Australia, Get Swept Into a Violent World - BloombergSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s hopes for rate cuts in 2026 have dimmed after RBA Governor Michele Bullock signaled they’re no longer on the table – and that a rate hike is now a real possibility. With inflation proving stickier than expected and price pressures broadening on everything from housing to everyday essentials, markets are beginning to reprice the path for interest rates. In this episode, Bloomberg’s Swati Pandey breaks down why the RBA is shifting toward a potential tightening bias, how upcoming inflation data could shape the next move, and what it all means for mortgages, the housing market and Australia’s economic outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From next week, Australia’s under 16s will be prevented from accessing platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook, as the Labor government pushes to curb harms caused by social media.In our latest podcast, Rebecca Jones asks Bloomberg’s Angus Whitley to unpack the origins of the ban, what both parents and children can expect when it comes into force next week – and what the controversial move means for Big Tech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has suffered a major climate setback, losing its bid to host next year’s COP summit in Adelaide. At the same time, the Coalition has reignited Australia’s climate wars by abandoning its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 – a reversal that resets the political debate just as the world pushes for faster decarbonisation. In this episode, Rebecca Jones asks Bloomberg’s David Stringer to unpack what the failed COP bid means for Australia’s international standing, how the Coalition’s shift could shape the next election and what renewed climate volatility means for investment, energy transition plans and ultimately your power bill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The softer New Zealand dollar means more Australian tourists are flocking across the ditch for holidays and long weekends. Meanwhile, Kiwis are increasingly migrating to Australia to escape their country’s economic weakness. On this week’s Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke talks with Ainsley Thomson in Wellington about why New Zealand’s currency has weakened, the impact on its tourism industry and why Kiwis are leaving in droves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Macquarie’s reputation as Australia’s “millionaires factory” is under strain. The investment giant’s latest profit fell short of expectations, sending its shares sliding and investors questioning whether its golden era is fading. Commodities trading – once the powerhouse of the bank – is losing steam amid regulatory pressure and a calmer market, while leadership faces scrutiny over pay and performance. Bloomberg’s finance editor Adam Haigh joins Rebecca Jones to unpack what’s gone wrong, where the bright spots remain, and whether CEO Shemara Wikramanayake can steady the ship. Plus, how Macquarie stacks up against Australia’s big four banks in an increasingly competitive lending and investment landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.