The Pub Test

Why Are We Still Talking About the Budget?

The Budget Is Over. The Fight Isn’t. Four weeks after the 2026 Federal Budget, Australia is still arguing about it. The Budget was handed down four weeks ago. So why are we still fighting about it? This week on The Pub Test, Neil Pharaoh and Dr Erin Watson hear two very different takes on the 2026 Federal Budget. Joseph Mitchell from the ACTU says it starts shifting the burden from workers to wealth. Innes Willox from Australian Industry Group says it risks creating uncertainty for business, investment and small employers. Workers versus wealth. Growth versus fairness. Certainty versus reform. The Budget may be over — but the argument clearly isn’t. Find out more Australian Unions / ACTU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianUnions/ [https://www.facebook.com/AustralianUnions/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausunions/ [https://www.instagram.com/ausunions/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aus.unions [https://www.tiktok.com/@aus.unions] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AustralianUnions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-unions/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-unions/] #AustralianUnions Australian Industry Group Website: https://www.australianindustrygroup.com.au/ [https://www.australianindustrygroup.com.au/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianIndustryGroup/ [https://www.facebook.com/AustralianIndustryGroup/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/australianindustrygroup/ [https://www.instagram.com/australianindustrygroup/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-industry-group/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-industry-group/] #AustralianIndustryGroup #AllForBusiness #ThePubTest #AusPol This episode was powered by Tanck and Baker & York https://tanck.com.au/ https://www.bakerandyork.com/https://www.thepubtestpodcast.com/ Produced by Keehlan Ferrari-Brown

Student Debt, Work From Home & Argentina’s Economic Gamble

Australia’s university debt system, Victoria’s work-from-home debate and Argentina’s economic experiment all raise the same question: when does government intervention stop helping and start distorting the system? HECS, TAFE, gendered work, flexible workplaces and the lessons Australia can draw from one of the world’s most politically fascinating economies. This episode was powered by Tanck and Baker & York https://tanck.com.au/ https://www.bakerandyork.com/https://www.thepubtestpodcast.com/ Produced by Keehlan Ferrari-Brown

One Nation Beats Labor, Parliament’s Passport Problem, & the Rise of the New Serfdom

The latest Redbridge opinion poll has dropped a absolute bombshell: One Nation has surged to become the country's most popular primary vote political party, outpolling both Labor and the Coalition. As a massive political disruption looms over upcoming state and federal elections, the center-left and center-right are being completely hollowed out. This episode was powered by Tanck and Baker & York https://tanck.com.au/ https://www.bakerandyork.com/https://www.thepubtestpodcast.com/ Produced by Keehlan Ferrari-Brown

Australia's Water Crisis & Why America still Fears Cuba

Australia’s water crisis is becoming one of the biggest political and economic issues of the decade. Neil Pharaoh and Erin Watson break down why water may become more valuable than oil, how regulation is slowing Australia down and what Cuba reveals about modern geopolitics. This episode was powered by Tanck and Baker & York https://tanck.com.au/ https://www.bakerandyork.com/https://www.thepubtestpodcast.com/ Produced by Keehlan Ferrari-Brown

Antony Green on The Farrer Election & Australia’s New Political Divide

*This episode was recorded before the 2026 Federal Budget* This week on The Pub Test, we sit down with legendary election analyst Antony Green to unpack what the recent Farrer by-election reveals about the future of Australian politics. From political fragmentation and regional decline to compulsory voting, generational frustration and the changing political mainstream. This episode was powered by Tanck and Baker & Yorkhttps://tanck.com.au/https://www.bakerandyork.com/https://www.thepubtestpodcast.com/Produced by Keehlan Ferrari-Brown