1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,560 Michael Thompson: It's Monday, the twenty eighth of April twenty twenty five. 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,440 Michael Thompson: Welcome to the Fast five Business News by Fear and Greed, 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,360 Michael Thompson: where we give you the top five business stories you 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,640 Michael Thompson: need to know. When it's five minutes, I'm Michael Thompson 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,040 Michael Thompson: and good morning Sean Aylmer. 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:16,960 Sean Aylmer: Good morning, Michael. 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,360 Michael Thompson: Sean, five stories, five minutes. Let's go with story number one. 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:21,840 Michael Thompson: Federal Labor, the Liberals and National Party are in the 9 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,440 Michael Thompson: final stretch of campaigning with five days to go before 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,639 Michael Thompson: the election. Now Prime Minister Anthony Albernezi is firm favorite 11 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,479 Michael Thompson: to return to the lodge come next Monday, and barring 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,040 Michael Thompson: a disaster, the question is really just whether it's going 13 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,400 Michael Thompson: to be as a majority or a minority government. 14 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,720 Sean Aylmer: I think that's right. The fourth and final debate last 15 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800 Sean Aylmer: night again produced no clear cut winner, though across all 16 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,920 Sean Aylmer: four debates Prime Minister Anthony Alberaniz he probably did enough. 17 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,239 Sean Aylmer: Last night's debate on the Seven network were spirited, particularly 18 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,800 Sean Aylmer: as Opposition leader Pett Dunton knows he has plenty of 19 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,760 Sean Aylmer: ground to make up. It's been a cost of living 20 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,600 Sean Aylmer: an election campaign. Labour's focus on health, particularly Medicare and 21 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,520 Sean Aylmer: GPS and the coalitions push on energy. In the twenty 22 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,080 Sean Aylmer: five cents of leader cut in petrol excise, they've been 23 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,080 Sean Aylmer: the most emphasized issues. Polling released over the weekend by 24 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,600 Sean Aylmer: SEC Newgate shows that Anthony Alberizi is considered a better 25 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,039 Sean Aylmer: guardian of cost of living issues than Peter Dutton. That 26 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,880 Sean Aylmer: certainly is helping him. Last night, housing again got a run. 27 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,800 Sean Aylmer: Each side has distinct policies on that. Nuclear energy continues 28 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,200 Sean Aylmer: to be a millstone around the opposition's neck, as it 29 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,160 Sean Aylmer: seems is its work from home policy for federal bureaucrats, 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,880 Sean Aylmer: even though that dropped it quite a while ago. Donald 31 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,160 Sean Aylmer: Trump and the perception that Peter Dunton is more aligned 32 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,240 Sean Aylmer: to him hasn't helped the opposition either on defense as 33 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,880 Sean Aylmer: we saw last night, and the economy. The government has 34 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,320 Sean Aylmer: potentially been outperformed by the opposition. Meat is reporting that 35 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,400 Sean Aylmer: Peter Dutton will visit twenty eight seats in the final 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,600 Sean Aylmer: week at the campaign, including sixteen alp health seats. 37 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,960 Michael Thompson: Eighteen million people Australians are enrolled to vote at around 38 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,680 Michael Thompson: eight thousand polling stations across the country. The winner of 39 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,920 Michael Thompson: the election, of course, as the party that controls seventy 40 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,440 Michael Thompson: six of the one hundred and fifty House of Reps. 41 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,400 Sean Aylmer: Yes, fourteen thousand No, I'll say that again. One four 42 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,240 Sean Aylmer: hundred and fifty six candidates running this year, three hundred 43 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,600 Sean Aylmer: and thirty across forty Senate vacancies, eleven twenty six cross 44 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,000 Sean Aylmer: the one to fifty House of Rep seats, sixty two 45 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,919 Sean Aylmer: percent of men, thirty eight percent women, sixty million ballot 46 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,000 Sean Aylmer: papers papers, and nearly two million people have already voted. 47 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,120 Michael Thompson: Wow, I'm just sorrying number two now, Sean. The local 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,640 Michael Thompson: housing market is slowing markedly, with auction clearance rates now 49 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,680 Michael Thompson: at their lowest level this year, and the number of 50 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,560 Michael Thompson: houses going off for sale also a week. 51 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,639 Sean Aylmer: Just over a thousand auctions over the past week, more 52 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,160 Sean Aylmer: than the Easter weekend, but about half the level of 53 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,160 Sean Aylmer: a year ago. Of course, we had the ANZAC Day 54 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,600 Sean Aylmer: long weekend that played a role. The preliminary clearance rate 55 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,280 Sean Aylmer: came at sixty four point two percent, lowest since mid 56 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,960 Sean Aylmer: December last year. Now, the rate peaked in February immediately 57 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,520 Sean Aylmer: after a twenty five basis point rate cut. It's been 58 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,040 Sean Aylmer: sliding ever since. Over the past week or so, Melbourne 59 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,720 Sean Aylmer: is the best of the big cities coming in at 60 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,079 Sean Aylmer: about sixty eight percent. Sydney was sixty six percent, Adelaide 61 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,200 Sean Aylmer: was about the same level, but in Brisbane and Canberra 62 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,360 Sean Aylmer: less than half the homes that went up for auction 63 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:05,840 Sean Aylmer: or for sale were sold. 64 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,720 Michael Thompson: Story Number three. Virgin Australia is now flying to Europe 65 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,400 Michael Thompson: thanks to its partnership with Qatar Airways, but thus far 66 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,480 Michael Thompson: Sean airfares haven't fallen. 67 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,720 Sean Aylmer: That's because demand is really strong, according to data from 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,440 Sean Aylmer: Webjet reported in The Australian. In fact, travelers are paying 69 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,640 Sean Aylmer: more for the economy fairs or for economy fairs to 70 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,440 Sean Aylmer: destinations such as London, Rome and Paris. You take Sydney 71 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,760 Sean Aylmer: Rome twelve months ago seventeen forty five with Air China, 72 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,919 Sean Aylmer: that was the cheapest, lowest available now twenty two to 73 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,280 Sean Aylmer: sixty three with China Eastern Quantas twelve months ago for 74 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,440 Sean Aylmer: that same route twenty four one hundred. Now it's more 75 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,320 Sean Aylmer: than three thousand bucks. Qatar Airways fairs have also climbed, 76 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,400 Sean Aylmer: as have business class airfares. The higher prices have been 77 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,280 Sean Aylmer: attributed to strong demand for eurosummer traveling. 78 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,840 Michael Thompson: Storing Number four. US President Donald Trump says Russia's escalating 79 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,440 Michael Thompson: bombardment of Ukraine has left him concerned that Russia doesn't 80 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,520 Michael Thompson: want to end the war, and he's threatened new sanctions 81 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:01,280 Michael Thompson: on Moscow. 82 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,040 Sean Aylmer: Yes, it was the sharp rebuke of Vladimir Putins, something 83 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,560 Sean Aylmer: Trump has been reticent to do, and came after he 84 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,840 Sean Aylmer: met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski in the Vatican, the 85 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,840 Sean Aylmer: head of Pope Francis's funeral. Trump run and social media 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,760 Sean Aylmer: that too many people were dying and there's no reason 87 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,520 Sean Aylmer: for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, 88 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,160 Sean Aylmer: and towns. According to Associated Press, he said he's considering 89 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,840 Sean Aylmer: sanctions as well as secondary or banking sanctions. As well 90 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,240 Sean Aylmer: as secondary sanctions, Trump went on to say, and I 91 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,560 Sean Aylmer: quite it makes me think that maybe he doesn't want 92 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,240 Sean Aylmer: to stop the war. He's just tapping me along and 93 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:33,800 Sean Aylmer: has to be dealt with differently. 94 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,400 Michael Thompson: Last one story number five. The Academy of Motion Picture 95 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,440 Michael Thompson: Arts and Sciences has introduced a new rule for the Oscars. 96 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,160 Michael Thompson: From now on, members of the Academy will be required 97 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,240 Michael Thompson: to actually watch all the nominated films in each category 98 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,560 Michael Thompson: in which they vote revolutionary really for the best Picture. 99 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,120 Michael Thompson: That means judges may have to watch up to ten movies. 100 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,440 Michael Thompson: The Academy plans to keep track of what members have 101 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,080 Michael Thompson: seen in its digital screening room and acquire members to 102 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,359 Michael Thompson: fill out a form noting films seen elsewhere, including in 103 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:02,839 Michael Thompson: theaters or at festivals. 104 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,080 Sean Aylmer: According to a story in The New York Times, if 105 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,599 Sean Aylmer: any film in a given category hasn't been viewed, the 106 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,520 Sean Aylmer: member will not be able to vote in that category. 107 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,159 Sean Aylmer: They're actually about ten thousand voting members of the Academy, 108 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,080 Sean Aylmer: so there's quite a few. Several years ago the Tonys, 109 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,520 Sean Aylmer: which the Broadway equivalent, introduced the rule. Now the Oscars 110 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:19,599 Sean Aylmer: are doing it the same. 111 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,480 Michael Thompson: All right, there we go, five stories in five minutes. 112 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,200 Michael Thompson: Thank you very much, Sean, Thank you, Michael. It is Monday, 113 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,080 Michael Thompson: the twenty eighth of April twenty twenty five. Remember to 114 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,640 Michael Thompson: hit follow on the podcast, and if five minutes isn't enough, 115 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,880 Michael Thompson: you can find our longer daily show called Fear and 116 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,920 Michael Thompson: Greed wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Michael Thompson and 117 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,200 Michael Thompson: that was the fast five business news by Fear and Greed. 118 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,920 Michael Thompson: Have a great day.