The Fin

Jetsetting, love scandals and hypocrites: Rear Window’s 2025

Rear Window columnists Mark Di Stefano and Hannah Wootton look back on the action-packed year that was and ahead to what 2026 might bring. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: Cannon-Brookes now travels by private jet Mike Cannon-Brookes, Atlassian co-founder and leading climate change crusader, has recently picked up a private jet.Dutton left ‘very serious’ cyclone area for Hemmes’ Sydney mansion The opposition leader said people wanted the prime minister “governing, not campaigning” as Queensland braced for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Billionaires, boardrooms and office romances: Rear Window’s 2025 year-in-reviewThere was no shortage of hypocrites in corporate and political life in 2025, and a veritable surfeit of illicit office romances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Too dangerous to run': After Bondi, Australia grapples with division

This week on The Fin podcast political editor Phillip Coorey and NSW political correspondent Paul Karp on the carnage at Bondi, what is being done to make sure it never happens again and whether it’s enough. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: ‘When is the shooting gonna stop?’ 9 minutes of terror on Bondi BeachAt first, the crowd thought it was fireworks; but as the bloodied bodies dropped around them, they realised this was a shooting and they were the targets.Minns wants new laws to block protests after terror attacksThe NSW government has recalled parliament to legislate caps on gun ownership and new protest restrictions, despite federal Nationals rejecting a gun crackdown.Just like that, the nation grew accustomed to antisemitismThe government did act to ward off “the long shadows of the past” for Jews, but not enough. And for that, it is exposed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Australia is in the middle of a shoplifting crime wave

This week on The Fin podcast: Greg Bearup and Carrie LaFrenz on what’s behind Australia’s retail crime wave, why Victoria is ground zero and whether facial recognition technology is the answer. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading:We met a professional shoplifter to understand this crime’s popularityRetailers are contending with a new type of player in their industry. Here’s how such offenders became a nationwide phenomenon and scourge of the country.Facial recognition tech vital to protect staff and shoppers: retailersBusiness leaders are ramping up efforts to combat surging crime rates, but their use of new tech is running up against privacy concerns.Victoria accounts for half the rise in crime at Woolworths storesThe supermarket giant is the latest retailer to use profit season to highlight an increase in crime and aggression against staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI bubble comes to Australia: what happens if it goes pop?

Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and technology editor Paul Smith on the multi-trillion dollar AI investment boom, where the opportunities are for Australia and what happens if it goes wrong. This podcast is sponsored by Acenda Further reading: OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporatesThe Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major venture capital-backed tech companies as it attempts to steal a march on rivals. Burry, Buffett and boomers: How markets drive our ugly generation gapWhile investors love the contrarian wisdom of Michael Burry and Warren Buffett, capital-soaked markets mean the world they won in is gone, creating deep societal problems. Reasons the AI bubble doesn’t look like the dotcom crash (yet)It’s the biggest spending spree in history. Is the AI boom a bubble, and what does it mean for investors and the Australian economy if it bursts?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The market darling, the $50 million share dump and the silent CEO

Senior reporter Jonathan Shapiro on the rise of DroneShield, why its CEO just dumped all his stock and whether the company can restore the faith. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband Further reading: Oleg Vornik defends $50m DroneShield share sale, citing risk to lifeWhile the businessman has been circumspect about the reasons for offloading his entire stake, privately he has given an explanation to some investors.Inside the two-week unravelling of high-flying tech stock DroneShieldA $70 million share sale by the chief executive, chairman and a third director has opened up a Pandora’s box of questions about its products, and accounts.DroneShield dream run comes to abrupt end after CEO dumps $50m stakeShares in the defence technology business crashed almost 30 per cent after Oleg Vornik and two directors sold considerable holdings with little explanation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.