1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: This is the weekend edition of Fear and Greed, daily 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: business news for people who make their own decisions. I'm 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: Michael Thompson, and good morning, Sean Aylmer. 4 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 2: Good morning, Michael, Sean. 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: Our weekend show is all about the two of us, 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: each nominating what we think is the biggest business story 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: of the week, the most remarkable business story. 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: Laughing already, I'm. 9 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: Laughing because we haven't even introduced our judge yet, and 10 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: he's already there, just like warming up his smirky shadow 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: boxing shadow boxing. And look, we've got a sleeper story. 12 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: We've got our favorite story, and we have a judge 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: to decide a winner because it is a competition, and 14 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: that judge is the shadow boxer himself. Our Fear and 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: Greed colleague, Adam Lang Adam, good morning. 16 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 3: Good morning Michael, and good morning Sean. 17 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: Good morning Adam. Can I ask. 18 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: You at you about to call him Mouhammad Ali? 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 2: I was, but that I was going to change it 20 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: to Cassius because that was a better one. 21 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: I was going to that cass or if we're gone 22 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: with Muhammad a Lang, which is terrible, terrible anyway, Adam, 23 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: could you please give us a very quick rundown of 24 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: what you're looking for. Why today, Why new listeners? New 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: listeners to the show will come into this going, oh okay, 26 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: this is a serious business show. They are judging this 27 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: by serious criteria, and those criteria are sustained across multiple weeks. 28 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 1: They're not spoiler alert, Adam, changes new. 29 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 2: New listeners would have turned off after you said, Mohammed 30 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: a Lang, they're not here. 31 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: That's a good point. But if you manage to get 32 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: past that terrible, terrible one, here's with the arbitrary. Here 33 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: are the criteria. Go for it, Adam. 34 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 3: Yes, in the end, I go with the vibe. But 35 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 3: it's about topicality, timeliness, economic impact, my subjective bias, and 36 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 3: of course melodrama. We do like a splash of melodrama. 37 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: Yes, well, that's it all in theory, and now let's 38 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: see what happens in practice. Sure, would you like to 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 1: give us the biggest story of the week, as. 40 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: You, I will give you the biggest story. I'd just 41 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 2: like to remind all listeners I don't do economics anymore 42 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: because of some of the appalling judging previous episodes. And 43 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: nothing happened in the economy this week because nothing changed 44 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 2: so the biggest story of the week, biggest story of 45 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: the week retailing. Gosh, we love retailing. So much going 46 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: on in the world of retailing. Three big stories which 47 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 2: make one big story third to third to third one 48 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: three the first third. There's a new retail supergroup. Meyer 49 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: has teamed up with a bunch of brands from Premiere Investments. 50 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: Just Jeans, JJ's, Portman's, Dottie and Jackie. Billion dollar deal. 51 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: Common factor and all that is a guy called Solomon 52 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: lou one of Australia's great retailers. It's sort of all 53 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: sorts of carry on in terms of shareholdings and what not. 54 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 2: But by the end of it all, Maya's going to 55 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 2: use script to buy these five businesses from Premiere, but 56 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: Premier is going to contribute eighty two million dollars to 57 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: fund the integration of the business. In the end, Premier 58 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: Investments will end up with fifty one point five percent 59 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 2: of Mayer. That means Solomon Lee will earn about twenty 60 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 2: seven percent will at work. Who knows what Maya has 61 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: is fantastic may One brand loyalty, what the brands have 62 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: from Premier Investments, fantastic profit margins. Story Number one story 63 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: number two, Wooly share price. It fell six percent one 64 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 2: day this week after the supermarket lowered its profit forecast 65 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: for the current half year. Why because they're really struggling 66 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: to increase prices and customers are staying away and they're 67 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: buying less. In fact, customers now so Coal's came out 68 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: the next day, same story. Customers now using at least 69 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: three stores to do their shopping. It's not just Cole's 70 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: versus Woollies, versus Aldi versus IgA. There's also Bunning strain 71 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: in there. There's chemist warehouse strain in there, a lot 72 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: of cost of living prescious. What's great about this story, though, 73 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: analysts reckon because the two majors are struggling to keep customers. 74 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: They reckon there's going to be a lot more discounting 75 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: woo good news story there ads Mosaic Brands. This is 76 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: the third third story Mosaic Brands talking Katie's Miller's non 77 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: e b autograph placed in voluntary administration. Director has been 78 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: trying to get through a very tough period restructure they 79 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 2: will keep going through to the Christmas season. There's been 80 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: all sorts of stories about Mosaic not playing and paying 81 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: supplies et Crump put all these stories together, and we 82 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 2: have a bunch of brands Katie's Millers No settle, Settle, Settle, settle, settle. 83 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: The common theme retailers are doing it really, really tough. 84 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: We also had retail sales this week, which showed that 85 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 2: over the last quarter, even though we got those July 86 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: tax cuts and we got energy rebates, people didn't really 87 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 2: spend that buying goods and services. A lot going on 88 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 2: in retail easily easily the biggest story of the week, Michael. 89 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: It's certainly the biggest story in terms of the number. 90 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 2: Of words used. I'm going to time you see how you. 91 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 3: Go, Adam? 92 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: Before I start, Adam, can I make you a deal? 93 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 3: Here we go, Okay, a retail type deal. 94 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: I just want to make you a deal. I'll make 95 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: you an offer here. Sean took so long with his 96 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: story just then I am and he did three stories 97 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: and rolled it all into one. I'm going to do 98 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: my entire story in three sentences. That's it, just three sentences. 99 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: Because of a lack of knowledge or no this is 100 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: there is three sentences. The trade off is the melodrama. 101 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: There's not a lot of melodrama because obviously, that's where 102 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: I add the mayonnaise. 103 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 2: That's your value. 104 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: Add your valu ad three sentences to combat Sean's three stories. 105 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: Here we go. After three and a half years, headline 106 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: inflation has fallen to two point eight percent for the 107 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: year to the end of September, back into the Reserve 108 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: Bank's target range, with lower petrol prices and energy bill 109 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: rebates helping. 110 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 2: One. 111 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: The trimmed mean or underlying rate is still at three 112 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: and a half percent, which is above the target, but 113 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: it's coming down two. The RBA will be very happy 114 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: with this, but we'll want to see it sustainably there 115 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: before at lower's interest rates, so we can expect to 116 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: cut around May next year. 117 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: Done that is, Darlas. 118 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 3: There you go. 119 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: I told you the trade off. I told you the 120 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: trade off was melodrama. 121 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 2: Didn't tell us much. 122 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I told you everything you needed to know. Sure, 123 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: you know what it shows what brevity can do. Right, 124 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: give the facts. If we have any of those new 125 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: listeners still sticking with us after your omnibus story that 126 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: went on and on and on and on, you know 127 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: what they just received. They just received everything they need 128 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: to know about the economy. 129 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:44,119 Speaker 3: This week. 130 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: You are welcome listeners. Men are the people here to 131 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: help you out. 132 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: And you know what, the melodrama is back and this 133 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: is much longer than the story itself. Keep going, Michael, 134 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 2: keep it up. 135 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: No, no, this is I'm taking up Adam's judging time. 136 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 3: Now. 137 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: Adam has started as judging and I'm just adding a 138 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: little bit of theater to hisudgment. 139 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 3: Right, Okay, So Sean Black Friday, Cyber Monday coming up 140 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 3: at the end of the month. 141 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 2: What's that got to do with anything? What's that got 142 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: to I didn't even mention it. 143 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 3: No, they could factor into the judgment anyway. This change 144 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: from retail physical to online and the way it's internationalizing retail. 145 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: I didn't mention that either. 146 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 3: I know at the end of this month, we've got. 147 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: To judge what I said. Can you judge what I 148 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: said as opposed to carrying on about what you like? 149 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 2: When I think about, Oh my. 150 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 3: God, so Christmas coming up, massive retail part of the year. 151 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 3: Retail is hugely important here, and there's been a big change, 152 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: you know, from internationalization of brands and what I'm seeing 153 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 3: in what you've talked about my own Premier wilworstlows profit 154 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 3: forecast mosaic brains. Mosaic brands. 155 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: Is all those brains. Good word, Adam, good word brain brain. 156 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: Not a lot of years going on here, go on. 157 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: I think he's making valid points. 158 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 3: Amalgamating really is as a competition to those very changes 159 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 3: in the industry. So I think your stories are absolutely fascinating. 160 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 3: Consumer spending is about sixty percent of the economy. 161 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: I'm gone, Michael, I'm gone. 162 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,679 Speaker 3: So you really really good. 163 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: I'm sensing the SmackDown there. 164 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 3: Is, however, the fact that inflation is coming down, albeit 165 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 3: assisted by grants on energy by the government. This is 166 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 3: good news, and I think is the most important thing 167 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 3: is interest rates coming down. So for me, a bigger 168 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 3: story of the week is the headline inflation number. 169 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: So did you judge my story on my story or 170 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 2: your story? 171 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 3: Adam yours? 172 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: He was trying to help you out there, Sean. I 173 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: was trying to give you a bit of extra That 174 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: was the intent. 175 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 2: Mind you. Michael's better at Michael's better at economics when 176 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: he doesn't say much. 177 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: Isn't it funny? What this has taught me is that 178 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: you know what if I just if it's to the 179 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: bare minimum, there's a chance I could actually win. 180 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: Surely not most remarkable, most. 181 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: Remarkable story, Go for it. Look mine's actually a really 182 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: serious story. The most remarkable story this week was the 183 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: findings of an inquiry into the response to the COVID 184 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: pandemic this week, and it was so so wide ranging. 185 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: There was a public servant seen, a public servant, an epidemiologist, 186 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: and an economist examining every single aspect. 187 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 2: Is this like a joke? 188 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: Sounds like a joke, doesn't it They walk into a 189 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: bar yep, And so look, just highlighting a couple of 190 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: the key kind of findings because there was just so 191 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: it was just so broad. They did point out that 192 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: there were courageous decisions taken early on during the pandemic 193 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: by and these were by governments plural within Australia, so 194 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: both federal and state. Those courageous decisions included international border closures, 195 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: moving really quickly to do that, and also setting up 196 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: the National Cabinet, which they said worked really well to 197 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: begin with and was a very effective kind of tool 198 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 1: for getting information out there. They said, without these kind 199 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: of early decisions, the death toll would have been much higher, 200 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: so kind of a significant point. Those were the early 201 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: lockdowns the job keeper system as well helped to build 202 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: a sense of kind of national purpose, which I thought 203 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: was okay. That probably reflected a lot of people's experiences 204 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: within the early days of the pandemic that it felt 205 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: like everyone kind of was moving in the same direction. 206 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 1: There were decisions made quickly. The thing that the inquiry 207 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: really then pointed out was that that trust in government, 208 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: in the health system, etc. Was eroded as the lockdowns 209 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: wore on, and there was a lack of reasoning, a 210 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: lack of transparency as to why it was necessary, and 211 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: they were inconsistently applied from state to state, and that 212 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,599 Speaker 1: there was the slow vaccine roll out, and that was 213 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: then eroding the trust. The social impact. See this is 214 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: how broad this report was, that it went into the 215 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: social impact then as well today, not just at the time, 216 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: the fact that it's still being felt with the impact 217 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: on children and mental health, their academic performance, an increase 218 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: in family and domestic violence as well during that period 219 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: which is still obviously being felt today. The economic impact profound, 220 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: enormously significant. 221 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: There was leave the economic impact that profound, Just move on, 222 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: I mean the huge Adam will like that one one word. 223 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: Profound, huge amount spent by governments that contributed obviously to 224 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: the inflation challenge, again something that we are still dealing 225 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: with today. As I mentioned in our lead story, our 226 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: lead story, my main story, which really became the lead 227 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: story of the show, didn't it, because it one the 228 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: whole thing today. This whole report remarkable because of its scope. 229 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: They looked at everything here and the most important part 230 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: is that it is designed to help develop a blueprint 231 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: for what to do because, as the Minister said when 232 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: they were handing down this report, there will be another pandemic. 233 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: We don't know when it will be, we don't know 234 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: what it will be, and that this is absolutely vital 235 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: to look at what worked, look at what didn't, so 236 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: that next time we are able to do it even better. 237 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: There you go. That's it short, I just did good. 238 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 2: It's a quick comment on that the pylon, on the 239 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: state governments that's happened since that report, and on the 240 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 2: Reserve Bank and others. I think it's really unfair. Hindsight 241 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: is twenty twenty, yeah right, And I just I think 242 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 2: the report's great. I mean obviously about stuff that happened 243 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 2: long time ago. So I've got nothing to do with 244 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: this week. But what I do think is difficult is 245 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: that they had this pylon saying are those premiers were 246 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 2: hopeless and they're all doing their best at the time, 247 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 2: And I think that's really unfair. 248 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: Sure, I think you're absolutely right. And this was the 249 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: funny thing was that so much of the coverage after 250 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: this report handed was handed down focused on all those 251 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: negative parts. And when I went back and kind of 252 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: did some more reading into it, I felt, actually the 253 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: report was not critical, It was not universally critical. The 254 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: fact that they said that there were a lot of 255 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 1: really good decisions made, and the fact is that the 256 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: end result is that the death toll in Australia would 257 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: have been much high if the government's plural had not 258 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: acted in the way that they did. Yeah, so I 259 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: completely agree with you. 260 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,479 Speaker 2: Yeah dad. Story. So, the most remarkable story for mine 261 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 2: cepfernuation funds we found out this week spent more than 262 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 2: four hundred million dollars four hundred million dollars that's members 263 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 2: retirement savings on marketing and sponsorships. In the twenty twenty 264 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: three financial year. They gave about forty million dollars to unions. 265 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 2: The ten biggest spent three hundred million. Ossie super favorite 266 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 2: of all three of ours, I know, I did the 267 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 2: pacelips Osi Super sixty million dollars in marketing it was 268 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: the highest. Forty three million dollars of that was on advertising, 269 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 2: Australian Timement Trust forty two million, up there with SeaBus 270 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 2: Hester Aware super host Plus was thirty million, including twelve 271 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: million dollars on sponsorships Richmond Tigers, Thousanding, Rabbos, et cetera. 272 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 2: In total, super funds spent eleven billion dollars on expenses. Now, 273 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 2: more than one third of that was to investment related 274 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 2: ex spenses, eleven percent to advice. There's also wages administration. 275 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 2: I mean, these are massive, massive funds, right, So I 276 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 2: don't think eleven billion actually is that. It's a lot 277 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 2: of money, but I don't think it's out of control. 278 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: When they're talking about three or four trillion dollars of 279 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: management here, about five and a half percent of that 280 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: with marketing, advertising and sponsorship. So I think that's probably 281 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: the measure that you've got to think about. OPRA is 282 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 2: trying to crack down on inappropriate spending by superfunds. Now, 283 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: the funds themselves said that advertising and sponsorship deals are 284 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 2: cost effective ways of increasing their size and customer engagement, 285 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 2: which in turn benefits members. Definitely truth in that because 286 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: superfunds have been merging over the past few years, because 287 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: once there's great size, you get economies of scale. It 288 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: does help members. So this isn't just oh my god, 289 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 2: they've spent four hundred million dollars, what a waste. That's 290 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: not fair because it does actually give them economies of scale. 291 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 2: The Association of Super Funds of Australia Chief execut of 292 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 2: Mary Della Hunty, he's been on the show a few times. 293 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: She said marketing spend, when managed, effectively improved members financial 294 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: positions by helping them make more informed decisions. Pretty good 295 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: argument as well. The spending also helps funds compete, communicate 296 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: and deliver a value in a free market environment. According 297 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 2: to as tell A Hunting true. But the bottom line, 298 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 2: four hundred million dollars in spending on marketing it's a 299 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: remarkably large amount of money. I can't decide where I'm 300 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: falling on this story, whether it's money well spent or not. 301 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: And I think it's great that the regulator is keeping 302 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 2: an eye on this. I can't decide myself that I'm 303 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 2: happy or not happy about it because I actually think 304 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: the funds, the super funds have a very valid point 305 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: because if you can get more members in, you do 306 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 2: get economies of scale and that actually does lower cost 307 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 2: longer term. Anyway, remarkable amount of money, Adam. 308 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a huge investment, and show it to your point. 309 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 2: I think now I started with me again, Michael, we 310 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: knew where this was going and where this was going. 311 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: Go on, Adam, Sorry we interrupted. 312 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 3: It is a remarkable amount of money. There's an element too, 313 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 3: I think of financial education. Now. I know that's probably 314 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 3: not an obvious link, but it is great. We have 315 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 3: this asset in this country over the last thirty years 316 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 3: or so of superannuation. It's magnificent changed the country's financial 317 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 3: health and I see it as part education when no, 318 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 3: you don't. COVID report is so exceptional, courageous decisions taken 319 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 3: early on, and yep, we can all be grateful for 320 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: them now and we can learn from what we could 321 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 3: have done better. So I think it's such an exceptional thing. 322 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: It is a remarkable report and remarkable story of the 323 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 3: week for me. Do you know what that is? 324 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: Sean? 325 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 3: A key for you to gloat? 326 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: No, I was it's not. Look, I thought you would 327 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: have learned by now that I'm not a gloater. I 328 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: will just point that to the scoreboards. It's the grin 329 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: on your face, the sparkling the eyes. Yeah, the swagon hello, breathing. 330 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 2: And so it is. 331 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: It is two nil right now, which is a landslide. Which, 332 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: you know what, I don't hold out a lot of 333 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: hope for the for the sleeper story, only because only 334 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: because you know what's going to happen. Now. You're going 335 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: to get a pity point here, Sean. 336 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, Adam does that. If you're down zip to it 337 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 2: the break. 338 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 4: You're basically away from it even well, I know, I'm 339 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 4: just I'm I mean, let's face inflation verse shops and 340 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 4: COVID verse, whatever the thing I was talking about, super 341 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 4: I mean, I never had a shot in either of 342 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 4: those two. 343 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Having said that, thank God in the past Adam 344 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: has been willing to make a four nil against me 345 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,479 Speaker 1: so that there might be there make an opportun here, 346 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: all right, quick break and we'll come back with a 347 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: sleeper story. 348 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 3: Sean. 349 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: We are looking for a sleeper story of the week. 350 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: This is a story that's flying under the radar, or 351 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: is going to be a story that becomes bigger further 352 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: down the track, in which case the fuse has been 353 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 1: lit during this particular week, preferably not a fuse that 354 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 1: was lit perhaps the previous week and has then kind 355 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: of spilled over into the week that's just gone. What's 356 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: your story, Sean? 357 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 2: My story is I was gonna say about Pandora's Box, 358 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 2: but I don't think I will say that. It's actually 359 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 2: about the Quantus upgrade saga, which is opening a Pandora's 360 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: box of issues for politicians, for senior executives, for Quantus, 361 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 2: all sorts of issues. Joe Aston, a former commerce at 362 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: the AFR, lit the fire, so to speak when he 363 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 2: released his book on Quantus It infers and Albanez's Anthony 364 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 2: ab and Easy. The Prime Minster rang Alan Joyce and 365 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: asked for upgrades when he was Transport Minister. The Prime 366 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 2: Minister's office eventually this week said Miss Alberzi never rang 367 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,719 Speaker 2: text or emailed mister Joyce for an upgrade, but it 368 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: took about four days to get there and he equivocated 369 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: about it non stop. That really lit things. Later in 370 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 2: the week, Opposition leader Peter Dunton, who'd been attacking the 371 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 2: Prime minister conceded his office had asked Gena Ryan Hart's 372 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,719 Speaker 2: office to use her company's private jet to travel from 373 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 2: Queensland to Sydney to attend a barley bombing service earlier 374 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: in the year. Mister Duarton said he couldn't get commercial 375 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 2: fight the government refused a request for a raft plane 376 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 2: private Tartar unreasonable, so they rang Gina. Now the main 377 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 2: attack dog from the opposition has been Bridget McKenzie, the 378 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 2: opposition transport spokesperson. That's exactly what you'd expect. Late in 379 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 2: the week, she actually had to go and check with 380 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 2: airlines just in case she had received a few upgrades. 381 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 2: Misster Albernese came out. He was talking about greater transparency 382 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: and trust. This whole issue of the perks of office 383 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 2: is huge. This book has lit a fire. I actually, 384 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: what's interesting, I went to the book launch during the 385 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 2: week and Joe was interviewed by James Chesnelho's the editor 386 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 2: in chief of the Financial Review. Nowadays, plenty of media 387 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: types around, really interesting. Some of the fund managers and 388 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 2: those sorts of people were around, and basically, I mean, 389 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 2: I've known Joe for many years. Is incredible, incredible author. 390 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 2: I was wondering who his sources were. So there I 391 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 2: was looking at people, and a lot of people looking 392 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 2: very sheepish, I must say, But they showed up. But 393 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 2: they showed up. The thing about it is that the 394 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 2: whole transparency of government and everyone's getting caught up. So 395 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 2: it's not just Albanezi and Dutton, it's all politicians. Same 396 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: with CEOs. There's this whole thing about the Chairman's Lounge, 397 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 2: which is an exclusive club quantits offers. I have no 398 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,919 Speaker 2: problems with the Chairman's Lounge whatsoever, if that's its quantus. 399 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 2: It thinks makes business sense to offer important people member 400 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 2: the Chairman's lance. Good on whatever. But this thing about 401 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: perks and whatnot, I reckon. This is going to go 402 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 2: on right up to the next election. Sleeper story, Michael, 403 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: it's a good one. 404 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: Dismissive look at you. I'm not openly dismissive unlike you. 405 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: Very quick one for me, A sleeper story that is 406 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: stunningly brief. Here we go. 407 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 2: The fact is three sentences. 408 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: I could probably actually do it in three sentences. By no, 409 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: I'm not going to don't count them because it might 410 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: be five I don't or six. So it just depends 411 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 1: on how much fluff I add it could and don't 412 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: count these either, because these these are preamble sentences. Okay, 413 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: by now pay Later is back. That's the heading that 414 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 1: doesn't count as a sentence. Zip Co, don't make that 415 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: face at me. Sure, way to go. It went away. 416 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 2: No, it's been growing NonStop. 417 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 1: No, it hasn't last. 418 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 4: No. 419 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:10,479 Speaker 2: No. 420 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty three was a terrible, terrible year for buying 421 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: now pay later. Throughout the year, on various occasions, applications 422 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 1: for buying now pay later dropped by as much as 423 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: twenty five percent. All right, we had multiple operators collapse. 424 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: We had Layby which was one of them, lay Buy 425 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: and then Open pay as well. We had operators collapsing. 426 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 1: The sector was in trouble. It is rubbish. It has 427 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: been in trouble. Like the fact I've just laid out 428 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: the facts. You cannot argue with cold hard facts. Anyway, 429 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: that's not I'll let you talk, I'll let you talk. 430 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: Let me keep going. Zipco has been the best performing 431 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: stock of the ASX two hundred over the last twelve months. 432 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,199 Speaker 1: It is worth ten times what it was worth a 433 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: year ago when by Now pay Later was in the doldrums, right, 434 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: It is quite incredible. It is a comeback. ZIP has 435 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: had a remarkable September quarter used by four million people, 436 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: transactions up forty three percent forty three percent, a lot 437 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: of this being driven by the US of course, as 438 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: interest rates come back down, people are spending again. We've 439 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: seen that this week that by Now Pay Later, which 440 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: was for so long, had this. You had this kind 441 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: of period where it was it was the next big thing, 442 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: and after pay of course it was. It was an 443 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: absolute darling, an absolute Why are you looking at me 444 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: like that? 445 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 2: Because you're talking about the share prices and I'm talking 446 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 2: about the actual use of Buy Now, Pay Later. Millennials 447 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,880 Speaker 2: have been using buy Now, Pay Later NonStop. 448 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: Twenty four percent drop in applications throughout last year. That 449 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: is not NonStop twenty four percent drop in applications, Yes, 450 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,400 Speaker 1: in actual I mean that's essentially the use now volume 451 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,199 Speaker 1: is the use. I can get the volume figure. I 452 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: just got one headline keeping it a brief, so you 453 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: cannot argue with the fact that we had multiple providers 454 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: actually collapsing because it is unsustainable anyway. It is back. 455 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: It is clearly clearly back. By Now Pay Later, which 456 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: had become a friendless sector. Oh yes, maybe one friend, 457 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: Sean Aylmer. But everyone else, everyone else just hated it. 458 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,880 Speaker 1: It was the leper of the finance world. Of course, 459 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: one person brave enough to walk amongst the lepers, Sean 460 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: Aylmer once again. But it is coming back into favor. 461 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: It is the sleeper story of the millennium. Might have 462 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: overreached there at the end. I no, no, I don't 463 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 1: think anyway, adam okay millennium. 464 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 5: So look, uh, Sean wins in a vexed category because 465 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 5: both have lineage to previous weeks, of course, but I 466 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 5: think by now pay later. 467 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 3: It's been a progressively growing story over the last twelve months. 468 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 3: Michael twelve month window. It is an incredible recovery. What 469 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,919 Speaker 3: a great Australian story too. But Joe Aston's book The 470 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 3: Chairman's Lounge was released this week and the challenges got deeper. 471 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 3: And I do think Sean has a point. There is 472 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 3: an uncomfortably cozy relationship between many brands. Quantus is a 473 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 3: rare one. Not many people have a chairman's lounge. Not 474 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 3: many politicians need a service like this for travel all 475 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 3: the time, so they get very close and in add 476 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 3: comfortable way. I really like that story. 477 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 2: You're a the of alisted company. Were you ever a 478 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 2: member of the Chairman's Lounge? 479 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 3: Ten beautiful years? 480 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: Sean, not anymore, though that's funny, ten beautiful years. 481 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 2: I love that I have this dreadful story, but I 482 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 2: don't know that I'm allowed to say it on air 483 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: about the Chairman's Lounge. 484 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: So anyway, you have to do it now. You can 485 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: change names to protect the identity of the innocent. 486 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 3: Yep. 487 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,400 Speaker 2: So I know. I have a friend who was who 488 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: was an editor of a paper, and the friend was 489 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 2: a member of the Chairman's Lounge for four or five 490 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: years and this friend lost it, like moved on from 491 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 2: the job and had three months left at the Chairman's Lounge. 492 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 2: And this friend was taking his partner and kids, of 493 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:47,719 Speaker 2: which he has many, and his brother and anyway, so 494 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 2: it was basically my last time ever to get to 495 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 2: deep my friends last time to get to the Chairman's lounge. 496 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,479 Speaker 2: His friend we walked in. We walked in with eleven people. 497 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 2: The woman at the desk it was the international one 498 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 2: and said the airport she had. 499 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 3: How many. 500 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 2: Eleven? What am I? What did I have to lose? 501 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 2: My friend have to lose, and I said, yeah, they 502 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: we're all family literally, and she's. 503 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 3: Like, okay, well, if we have room. 504 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: She said, leave it with me. You go and help 505 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: yourself to the food. Leave it with me. But now, 506 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 2: lady she came back, said I can't done the paperwork, 507 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 2: thanks very much, Mistrailma. And that was that. 508 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 3: This friend was called mister Alma. 509 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, a friend. 510 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: That is extraordinary. 511 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 2: It was very funny and I feel slightly bad that 512 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 2: I did it, but I've admitted it now. Moving on, Sean. 513 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 3: Wins not just for that last anecdote either. 514 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was that was great, all right, Sean. 515 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I wish I hadn't said that story. 516 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: It's out there now. Shall I go first with this? 517 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 2: Yeah? 518 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: The favorite story, Favorite story, Favorite story. Only one option 519 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: available to us this week, and it is one that 520 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: we have talked about before, but it has to be 521 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: mentioned again because we are a news podcast and I've 522 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 1: got to mention the biggest global story of the week 523 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: of the year, the US election is finally, finally, finally 524 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: here the melodrama. 525 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 3: The theater, but a theater. 526 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 1: The theater but at its heart, at its heart, a 527 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,719 Speaker 1: vitally important decision to be made the leader of the 528 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: free world, the leader of the world's largest economy. The 529 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: polls here, we are a couple of days out, a 530 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: couple of days out, and the polls are extraordinarily close. 531 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: It is staggering. Who knows where it'll end up. But 532 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: we need to talk about Donald Trump in a garbage 533 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: truck because that man has mastered the photo op, hasn't 534 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: he like it is just it is quite extraordinary when 535 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: you think about if you had said, could any other 536 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: politician have pulled off appearing in a garbage truck and 537 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: not have it reflect negatively on your campaign. It's the 538 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: kind of thing that any media adviser would be no, no, no, 539 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: do not stand near a garbage truck. Do not stand 540 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: near a garbage truck. People will associate you with a 541 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: garbage truck forever. Instead, he's not just standing near it, 542 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: he is driving the bloody thing. It is quite extraordinary. 543 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: And it started, obviously with a comedian. And this is 544 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: how amazing this campaign has been in the way that 545 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: these things have just been turned around. Started with comedian 546 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, which is an extraordinary 547 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: thing in itself. This week where the comedian called Puerto 548 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:54,239 Speaker 1: Rico garbage. Joe Biden responded, Joe Biden, right, is he 549 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: with her still? Joe Biden, Well, you wouldn't have thought so. 550 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: And isn't this funny that he had been silent for 551 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: so long, months and months and months then finally pops 552 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: his head up just in time to make a gaff 553 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: right four days out from the election or whatever it was, 554 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: where he said that Trump's supporters were garbage. So Trump 555 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: then got himself into the garbage truck saying, no, they're 556 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: not garbage, they're Americans. And that basically sums up this 557 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: entire election campaign. 558 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 3: Right. 559 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: We've got rallies, we've got gaffes, and we've got photo opportunities. 560 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: It's been light on policy, it's been big on personality. 561 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: We've had two debates, two candidates from one party, two 562 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: assassination attempts. Joe Biden's intervention after months of silence, probably 563 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: says that they did make the right call in shifting 564 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: to Kamala Harris. Is it going to be enough? We 565 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: will find out on Tuesday, US time. It is my 566 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: favorite story of the week because we are finally, finally there, 567 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: and this week kind of summed up everything anyway, Sean 568 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 1: over to you. 569 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 2: So I think that's the biggest thing. I should have 570 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 2: dropped my retailers and done that as the biggest story 571 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 2: the week. But it is definitely not my favorite story 572 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: of the week because I reckon most people are sick 573 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 2: and tired of it. So favorite is the one that 574 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 2: you really like. The US and I love US politics. 575 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 2: I follow it, but I'm going to detox on the weekend. 576 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: I've had enough. I don't like it. Actually almost makes 577 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 2: me angry what's going on. So it's not a favorite story, Michael. 578 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: Mine however, mine, however. 579 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: Stop stop, Adam, do not nod at Sean's points, and 580 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: what was worse? You know, I just need to describe 581 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 1: what happened just then for anyone who kind of obviously 582 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 1: isn't in the studio with us, Adam. 583 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 2: If there's anyone out there that's not in the studio 584 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: with us, this is you. 585 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 3: Yes. 586 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 1: And then he picked up his pen. He picked up 587 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: his pen, and he made a note, how dare he? 588 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 2: Yes? How dare you? 589 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: After Sean made a point about my story, you changed 590 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: my score? I am I have seen you, Lang, I 591 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:00,080 Speaker 1: have seen. 592 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: You, Mohammed A Lang. We have seen you. My favorite story, 593 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 2: which is actually a favorite story like something you should 594 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 2: be happy about, is all about the crisis at Starbucks. 595 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 2: Now sales at the world's biggest coffee chain of down, 596 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 2: fewer people coming into stores, grips share price hardly moved 597 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 2: this year. While it went down, then it went up. 598 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 2: The problem, according to the new CEO, a guy called 599 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 2: Brian Nickel, this is his list. Experience is transactional, Menus 600 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 2: are overwhelming, product is inconsistent, wait is too long, handoff 601 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 2: is too hectic. Few others added. Eight dollar lattes are 602 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 2: the coffee shops around eight ingredient drinks take too long 603 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 2: to make a third of orders a mobile, meaning thoyse 604 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 2: that you when you walk into a Starbucks and new 605 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 2: order you have to wait way, way too long. I 606 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 2: then went and asked what the biggest possible Starbucks order was, 607 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 2: and I'll give it to you. And I'm trying really 608 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 2: hard to do this quickly. You can order a quite 609 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,240 Speaker 2: long shot grande and evented cup, half cup, double cup, 610 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 2: no sleeve, salted caramel mocha latte with two pumps of 611 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 2: vanilla substitute two pumps of white chocolate micro for moca 612 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 2: and substitute two pumps the fairs, not for toffee, not 613 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 2: half whole milk and half bread with no whipped cream, 614 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 2: extra hot, extra fame, extra caramel drizzle, extra salt, added 615 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 2: scoop of neila been powdered with light ice, well stirred. 616 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: Really it's quite order, isn't it. 617 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 2: It is quite the order. So the first steps after 618 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 2: all that, mister Nichol is going to not charge for 619 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 2: dairy milk. He's not going to increase prices, his goal 620 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,239 Speaker 2: of people being served within four minutes. But I just 621 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 2: I kind of like this story of Starbucks at some 622 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 2: point waking up to itself and realizing all this crap 623 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 2: that people order actually isn't very good for business, and 624 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 2: the fact that he's going to make that easier. I 625 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 2: just think it's I always went to coffee tasting at 626 00:33:56,200 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 2: Starbucks in Seattle. No, it is, that is right. So 627 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 2: you know when you sniffer, you get a glass of 628 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 2: wine and you sniff it, coffee tasters snorted, oh, and 629 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna I'm not gonna make the noise. But literally, 630 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 2: so you're walking around and there was this guy who 631 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 2: was a chief coffee taster and he's going, you know, 632 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 2: the noise snorting, noise go the next one were absolutely 633 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 2: off putting. Anyway, crazy story. Favorite story of the week, Adam. 634 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 3: Oh, ess, that's a good story. I really like this 635 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 3: CEO at Starbucks. I think that is awesome the way 636 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 3: he's come in very clinically going here are the problems 637 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 3: we need to fix. I think that's just terrific as 638 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 3: a business story. But the scale of the impact of 639 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,920 Speaker 3: the US election has to get it for me. So 640 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 3: well known, Michael, it's three to one a landslide. 641 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,919 Speaker 1: That is a landslide. May I ask the point as well, God, 642 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 1: please don't let it be that rare kind of anomaly 643 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: where suddenly Sean has beaten me on points, because. 644 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,799 Speaker 2: But even before Adam it tells us it's also you know, 645 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,319 Speaker 2: if it's three to one, so you expect to win 646 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 2: by six or seven points, so when it comes in 647 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 2: there's like two or three points difference. Disappoint it's a 648 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 2: dead heat. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. 649 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:24,840 Speaker 3: Well okay, so it's ninety points to Michael. 650 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: It should have been higher. 651 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 2: You won take the win. 652 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,240 Speaker 3: Ninety points to Michael, eighty seven points to Sean. 653 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: All right, I'll take it. You know what a win 654 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:40,719 Speaker 1: is a win that is a good new win. Thank 655 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: you very much, Adam. That is you know what, good 656 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 1: good judging. Thanks, thanks, thank you Adam for your contribution 657 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:51,760 Speaker 1: today this week. 658 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:53,760 Speaker 3: I've done a good job. Thank you, Michael. 659 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: You haven't dden. 660 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 2: Thank you, Sean, Thank you. Though, I'm just I'm just 661 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 2: upset that inflation and US election and massive Cavid report. 662 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 2: How can they win unfair. 663 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:10,839 Speaker 1: Based on the ever shifting criteria that should have been 664 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:15,720 Speaker 1: severely punished. That's right, Ah, goodness me market on account. 665 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:16,080 Speaker 3: I reckon. 666 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 1: This is the first time that the criteria have actually 667 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 1: been applied. 668 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 2: Because you won. 669 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:28,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, golly. Anyway, Look, make sure you're following the podcast 670 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 1: and please join us online on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, 671 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 1: and X. 672 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 3: I'm Michael Thompson. 673 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 2: That was Fear and Greed. 674 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:36,720 Speaker 3: Have a great weekend.