Australia Cost of Living Crisis 2026 - Economic Impact - Dr. Varinder Jeet - Preetinder Grewal

Is the "luck" running out for the lucky country? In this deep-dive episode of The Insight Report, host Preetinder Singh Grewal is joined by Dr. Varinderjit, a Research Fellow at Macquarie University, to unpack the complex web of the 2026 Australian cost-of-living crisis. We often hear about global conflicts on the news, but rarely do we discuss how they directly impact the price of milk in Melbourne or your mortgage repayments in Sydney. Dr. Varinderjit explains the "Triple Hit" facing Australians: surging energy costs, the RBA's aggressive interest rate stance, and the structural failures in our housing market. Key takeaways from this episode: The Petroleum Trap: Why Australia’s reliance on Singapore-refined oil makes us vulnerable to Middle East instability. Rockets and Feathers: The frustrating economic phenomenon that keeps your prices high even when global costs fall. The Migration Debate: Why "stopping migration" isn't the silver bullet for housing, and why our aging population needs a younger workforce to survive. Productivity Gaps: How a lack of investment in Australian workers is keeping wages stagnant. Don't miss this essential analysis of where the Australian economy is headed and what needs to change for long-term stability. Listen to the full conversation and subscribe for more weekly insights on Radio Haanji 1674 AM. Visit haanji.com.au for more. #RadioHaanji #TheInsight Report #CostOfLiving2026 #AustraliaEconomy #PunjabiPodcast #HaaanjiAU #MortgageStress #DrVarinderjit