A shocking number of Australians on Jobseeker are dying – it doesn’t have to be this way

By lifting the rate of Jobseeker, the Australian government could save lives. On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the shocking number of Australians dying on Jobseeker, the government’s immigration policy announcements, and why inequality is a political choice. Then, a bittersweet Dollars & Sense announcement. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 17 September 2026. More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia (https://australiainstitute.org.au/sto...) by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription (https://australiainstitute.org.au/sto...) to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble. Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut (https://bsky.app/profile/grogsgamut.b...) Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek (https://bsky.app/profile/elinorjohnst...) Show notes: Extreme inequality is not a given. It is a political choice and we can unmake it (https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/2609...) by Joseph Stiglitz, The Point (September 2026) In such a rich country, it is shameful how many Australians on jobseeker are dying in desperate poverty (https://www.theguardian.com/business/...) by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (August 2026) Recycled fuss about migrants is just a painful hot-button topic looking for an issue (https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/p...) by Amy Remeikis, The New Daily (September 2026) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au (mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au) . Subscribe to Dollars & Sense on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast...) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5FWzwVK...) , Pocket Casts (https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/dolla...)  or wherever you get your favourite podcasts. Support Dollars & Sense & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/44tIACB See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.