How Australia can expand carbon pricing

For decades, Australia has been a global leader in child immunization efforts. Vaccination has protected millions of children from preventable diseases like diphtheria, measles and whooping cough. But after child vaccination rates peaked in 2020 at around 95%, we're now seeing an alarming decline. In this podcast, health policy experts Peter Breadon and Wendy Hu discuss these concerning trends and what governments can do to boost vaccination rates in Australia. Hosted by Kat Clay. Relevant research - Child vaccination in Australia is falling - The Conversation (https://grattan.edu.au/news/child-vaccination-in-australia-is-falling/) - Falling vaccination rates endanger us all - The Sydney Morning Herald (https://grattan.edu.au/news/falling-vaccination-rates-endanger-us-all/)

28 Helmi 11min

Last Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia delivered its first rate cut in over four years. For many, the tumultuous years of rate rises have felt like a cost-of-living gauntlet. Inflation has driven up the cost of household bills, groceries and housing, with families slashing their spending to make ends meet. Despite the RBA’s independence from government, the rate cut falls under the shadow of a looming election, and both major parties are using the decision to pitch policies that ease the cost-of-living crisis. On this podcast, host Kat Clay interviews Grattan experts Trent Wiltshire and Jessica Geraghty, on the RBA’s decision, what it means for the election, and Australia’s economic outlook. Helpful links: Statement by the Reserve Bank Board: Monetary Policy Decision https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2025/mr-25-03.html Australia's Productivity Pitch: https://engage.pc.gov.au/projects/productivity-pitch/surveys/idea/survey/your-idea#submissions

21 Helmi 21min

Most Australians have enough to enjoy a comfortable retirement. But too many retirees who rent are being left behind. Today, two thirds of retirees who rent privately live in poverty, including more than three in four single women. And a growing number of older Australians are at risk of becoming homeless. With home ownership falling across the board, it’s only going to get worse. On this podcast, host Kat Clay discusses Grattan’s new report, Renting in Retirement: Why Rent Assistance needs to rise, with authors Brendan Coates and Matthew Bowes. Read the report: https://grattan.edu.au/report/renting-in-retirement-why-rent-assistance-needs-to-rise/

7 Helmi 20min

Some communities are “GP deserts”, where there are too few GPs to ensure everyone can get the care they need when they need it. These communities are typically sicker and poorer than the rest of Australia, but receive less care and face higher fees. On this podcast, host Kat Clay interviews health experts Peter Breadon and Wendy Hu on the problem of GP deserts and how governments can fix them. Read the research: https://grattan.edu.au/news/how-to-eliminate-gp-deserts/

3 Helmi 13min

Each year, our staff curate the Wonks' List, a selection of the best technical reads for policy enthusiasts. From the housing crisis to trade policy, each of these works sparks discussion on pressing economic issues. On this podcast, Senior Associates Nick Parkinson and Elizabeth Baldwin break down what made the Wonks' List for 2024, and why. Read the list: https://grattan.edu.au/news/wonks-list-2024/

24 Tammi 17min

Do you find the idea of planning for your retirement overwhelming? If that’s you, you’re not alone. Our new report shows about 80 per cent of Australians find retirement planning complicated and about 60 per cent of Australians expect that their retirement will be financially stressful. But there are three things the government could do to simplify superannuation – so Australians can enjoy their retirement. On the latest podcast, Brendan Coates and Joey Moloney discuss their new report, Simpler super, and how these three reforms could take the stress out of retirement. Read the report: https://grattan.edu.au/report/simpler-super/

20 Tammi 20min

Peter Dutton has released the costings for the Coalition's nuclear energy plan, proposing to build seven nuclear power stations at the sites of current coal plants. The Coalition says its plan would be markedly cheaper than Labor's plan to convert to mostly renewable energy by 2050. But a report from CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator suggests that renewables have the lowest cost range of any new electricity generation. Added to this, debates around energy prices are only going to get bigger as the 2025 federal election draws closer. And in the end, is the ultimate goal of emissions reduction getting lost in the clamour for cheaper bills? On this podcast, Grattan's energy experts Tony Wood and Alison Reeve provide incisive commentary on the state of energy policy - and they argue that Australia shouldn't jump to Plan B anytime soon. Links to reports mentioned in the podcast: - Frontier Economics report https://www.frontier-economics.com.au/economic-analysis-of-including-nuclear-power-in-the-nem/ - CSIRO and AEMO GenCost Report https://www.csiro.au/en/research/technology-space/energy/gencost - Grattan's submission on nuclear energy https://grattan.edu.au/news/nuclear-energy-for-australia/

18 Joulu 202425min

Each year, Grattan Institute selects its best books of the past 12 months – recommended reading for the Prime Minister, and indeed all Australians, over the summer holidays. From the history of democracy to the stars above, each of these reads put humans squarely in the centre of the frame. Grattan CEO Aruna Sathanapally, and researchers Jessica Geraghty and Nick Parkinson, discuss why we chose these six pieces. Read more about these thought-provoking reads on our website: https://grattan.edu.au/news/prime-ministers-summer-reading-list-2024/

9 Joulu 202419min