Back to Back Barries: Is inflation driving Chalmers and Albanese apart? – podcast
News Source
•Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:00:20 GMT
📰 What Happened
Guardian Australia's Full Story podcast episode for 31 October 2026 pairs Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry to unpack how a diving economy is hitting the approval ratings of Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers. The episode also looks at elections unfolding around the world and at One Nation's latest controversy, a political cartoon showing Bluey ramming politicians with a car.
🔍 The Backstory
The episode lands after headline inflation rose to 4.3%, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers blaming Donald Trump for the acceleration and warning the economy will worsen, with higher unemployment and weaker growth on the way. Guardian colleagues have reported that voters are not buying the Trump explanation, and a Melbourne Cup-day interest rate decision looms.
🎯 Why It Matters
The treasurer-prime minister relationship is central to how economic policy gets set, and the podcast asks what happens to the country when that partnership breaks down. With households blaming government spending for cost-of-living pain, Labor's internal unity has become a live political story rather than a hypothetical one.
Guardian Australia's Full Story podcast episode for 31 October 2026 pairs Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry to unpack how a diving economy is hitting the approval ratings of Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers. The episode also looks at elections unfolding around the world and at One Nation's latest controversy, a political cartoon showing Bluey ramming politicians with a car.
The episode lands after headline inflation rose to 4.3%, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers blaming Donald Trump for the acceleration and warning the economy will worsen, with higher unemployment and weaker growth on the way. Guardian colleagues have reported that voters are not buying the Trump explanation, and a Melbourne Cup-day interest rate decision looms.
The treasurer-prime minister relationship is central to how economic policy gets set, and the podcast asks what happens to the country when that partnership breaks down. With households blaming government spending for cost-of-living pain, Labor's internal unity has become a live political story rather than a hypothetical one.