Rear Window’s year in review: the scoops, the scandals, the power plays

Outgoing Rear Window editor Myriam Robin tells us about the megalomaniac trying to solve Australia’s housing crisis, the column’s biggest scoop and the rebellion underway at the country’s most exclusive clubs.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:Peter V’landys bogged down in a multibillion-dollar property playThe influential CEO of Racing NSW is staring down allegations aired confidentially by purported whistleblowers to a parliamentary inquiry.Gina Rinehart lobbies NGA to remove portrait Being Australia’s richest resident comes with some perks. Who knew said benefits included a network of flunkies who will bombard a national institution over a painting you don’t like?Who’s in (and out) at the Australian Club Who coughs up the hefty annual membership fee at Sydney’s Australian Club on Macquarie Street? Why, we’re so glad you asked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, James Eyers on why Donald Trump is a crypto bro, whether Bitcoin’s price will stay at these record levels and how regulators are playing catch up. This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:ASIC moves to expand its oversight of crypto and digital assetsThe corporate regulator’s new guidance outlines more than a dozen examples of how it intends to assess what is in – and out – of financial services laws.A bitcoin convention in Sydney rings crypto alarm bellsBitcoin is up almost 130 per cent this year and the US election result put a rocket under crypto. But there are still plenty of ways to lose money in an (unregulated) bull market.Bitcoin smashes through $US100,000 as traders eye ‘huge re-rating’Investors believe the change in attitude towards cryptocurrencies still hasn’t been priced in, making Thursday’s milestone just the beginning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Chanticleer columnist James Thomson and reporter Hannah Wootton on why ASIC is suing Cbus, what it means for industry funds and whether the ‘super wars’ are back.This podcast is sponsored by Aussie Broadband. Further reading:How Cbus’ big party year went horribly wrongIt’s not the biggest or the worst performing of the super funds. So why has Cbus become the poster child for the $4 trillion sector’s problems?Big Super’s reckoning has arrivedAfter 32 years of guaranteed inflows from workers and scant scrutiny, the $3.9 trillion industry faces customer fury over service, unclear investment practices and questionable governance.Super sector’s problems are much bigger than CbusThe damning review of governance at CBUS shows while industry funds have led the way in gathering and growing assets, they now need to play governance catch-up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Technology editor Paul Smith and media and marketing reporter Sam Buckingham-Jones on why the ban is being introduced, what it means for children and parents and whether it could cause a rift with the new US President.This podcast is sponsored by UNSWFurther reading:Why this former TikTok executive wants a strict social media banTikTok hired Felicity McVay to convince Disney, Universal and the AFL to use the platform more. Now she’s campaigning to get children off it.Canberra takes on big tech – and Gen Alpha – with social media bansAll Australians could be forced to register official identity documents with social media giants to prove they are over the age of 16.Trump may use tariffs to hit back at PM’s tech crackdownAmerican and Australian officials are warning the Albanese government that its crackdown on social media platforms could anger the incoming US president into putting tariffs on $33 billion of exports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Australian Financial Review contributor and former diplomat Geoff Raby on Trump’s world and what it means for Australia and why China and Russia are less close than you might think.This podcast is sponsored by UNSWFurther reading: Xi is thumping Putin in the Great GameFormer Australian ambassador to China Geoff Raby takes a deep dive into the “Chussia” partnership. His conclusions about a rising Sinostan would not please the Kremlin.Civil servants to flee as Trump ‘drains the swamp’ (again)Everyone knew Trump’s cabinet picks would be provocative and a purge of government workers was coming. But they have arrived with stunning speed.G20 goes soft on Russia as Putin threatens to use nuclear weaponsThe G20 has ended with a whimper with watered-down statements on Russia, climate change and the Middle East.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, investigative reporter Neil Chenoweth and Rear Window columnist Mark Di Stefano on how Chris Ellison’s secret deal with the tax office came to light, why some investors want the founder to stay on and whether Mineral Resources can draw a line in the sand. This podcast is sponsored by UNSWFurther reading:Inside the two-week unravelling of Chris Ellison’s hold on MinResMonday’s attempt to draw a line in the sand still leaves unanswered questions for shareholders and investigators about the goings-on at Mineral Resources.Meet Chris Ellison’s personal accountantYenna Ong, the number cruncher who managed the Mineral Resources founder’s private affairs, rapidly gained great power. Then just as suddenly, she was gone.MinRes paid a 70pc mark up to rent Chris Ellison-owned propertiesIndependent valuations that the owners of the four industrial facilities commissioned themselves indicated that the leases were well in excess of market rates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, senior reporter Simon Evans and Rear Window editor Myriam Robin on Sanjeev Gupta’s flashy property purchase, his financial troubles and the South Australian town caught in the middle.This podcast is sponsored by UNSWFurther reading:Whyalla steelworks running out of options as taxpayer rescue resistedThe SA premier says it’s time Sanjeev Gupta took some action, with governments wary of taxpayer funds being siphoned off to overseas parts of GFG Alliance.The town bearing the brunt of Sanjeev Gupta’s financial nightmareThe British industrialist’s steelworks looms over Whyalla, population 21,900. There’s plenty at stake if things go south.Sanjeev Gupta buys on Sydney waterfrontThe steel magnate is cutting jobs and salaries at the Whyalla steelworks one week, and splashing out for prime Sydney waterfront property the next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, Joe Aston, former Rear Window editor and author of The Chairmain's Lounge, discusses what went wrong for the Qantas, its oversized influence in Canberra, and the extraordinary perks of a Qantas board seat.Editors note: On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied ever contacting Alan Joyce to seek a flight upgrade.This podcast is sponsored by UNSW Further reading:The incredible financial value of a Qantas board seatThe lavish and fudged flight perks of the airline’s executives are revealed in this extract from Joe Aston’s “The Chairman’s Lounge”.The zombie chairman: How Goyder let Joyce trash Qantas’ reputationAn exclusive extract from Joe Aston’s book The Chairman’s Lounge tells the inside story of how Richard Goyder and his board allowed Alan Joyce to fly Qantas into a reputational disaster.Albanese faces calls for probe into flight upgradesDavid Pocock and Peter Dutton have both called for a probe into whether Anthony Albanese breached the ministerial code of conduct while he was transport minister.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, International editor James Curran and US correspondent Matthew Cranston on how Trump has managed to claw back Harris’ lead in the final weeks of the campaign and what Canberra is worried about.This podcast is sponsored by IGFurther reading:Trade wars, market jolts: What a Trump win means for AustraliaThe tax and economic policies of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will have profound effects for Australian investors, exporters and US subsidiaries.Trump works a McDonald’s fry station as election goes off colourThe former president served up fries in an apron as he poked fun at rival Kamala Harris’ story of working there in the 1980s.America’s new Asian alliance network will survive beyond TrumpNo matter who is in the White House after November 5, the US’ carefully structured latticework of alliances that underpins its regional primacy will continue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Fin podcast, senior reporters Jonathan Shapiro and Jemima Whyte discuss the rise of an unusual tech billionaire, what happens when personal matters become public, and what it means for his listed company, Wisetech. This podcast is sponsored by IG Further listening: How I Made It Podcast: Why Richard White avoids risk at all costs Further reading:Richard White’s alleged lover claims he expected sex for investmentIn documents filed with the Federal Court, the wellness entrepreneur said a business trip to New York changed when the billionaire booked only one hotel room.WiseTech board decides White’s alleged affair strictly ‘personal’The legal stoush between software billionaire Richard White and Sydney wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan is a “personal” matter according to WiseTech’s board.Billionaire Richard White attempts to bankrupt alleged former loverLawyers acting for Double Bay wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan say WiseTech Global founder’s legal claim against her is an “abuse of process”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.