Government spending is destroying Australia: Leith Van Onselen explains | 4BC Brisbane

From fuel soaring past $2.90/L to skyrocketing electricity bills and interest rate pressure, everyday Australians are feeling the squeeze. Meanwhile, government spending is tracking at pandemic-level highs, and think tanks are proposing a 15% GST to pay down public debt. Is raising taxes really the answer, or is bloated bureaucracy to blame? 4BC's Gary Hardgrave sits down with "unconventional economist" Leith Van Onselen to dissect what's driving Australia's inflation, the severe risk of diesel shortages, and why cutting the size of government is the only real way forward. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - "It's the economy, stupid": Australia's cost of living crisis 0:28 - Fuel prices soaring & Australia's dangerous diesel shortage 0:52 - RBA's interest rate trap: Raise rates or protect jobs? 1:14 - The Grattan Institute's 15% GST proposal 1:48 - Gary Hardgrave introduces Leith Van Onselen ($2.90/L fuel!) 2:18 - Why Australia ran out of strategic fuel reserves 3:18 - The real cause of inflation: Bloated government spending 4:31 - Public service explosion vs. private sector collapse 6:26 - Is a GST hike the solution? (The tax trap explained) 9:12 - Why governments must cut non-essential spending 10:00 - Gary's radical fix: Chop 25% of politicians first! Subscribe and 🔔 to 4BC Brisbane:    / @4bcbrisbane   Get more news, opinion and current affairs via the 4BC app: ► iOS: https://nine.social/14xX ► Android: https://nine.social/14xY FOLLOW 4BC: ► Facebook:   / newstalk4bc   ► Instagram:   / 4bc882   ► TikTok:   / 4bc_brisbane   ► X: https://x.com/newstalk4bc Join News Talk 4BC 882 - Brisbane's talkback radio station - for the latest in news and events impacting Australia and your city. #4BCBrisbane #4BC #AustraliaEconomy #CostOfLiving #LeithVanOnselen #BrisbaneNews #AustralianPolitics #Inflation #FuelPrices #RBAnews #PublicSector