The Citizens Report
How to Reduce Interest Rates, Gas Prices & Housing Costs | Citizens Report 1 October 2026
Elisa Barwick and Robert Barwick explain how different government and Reserve Bank policies could affect interest rates, inflation, energy prices and housing costs and examine the powers available to address the pressures facing Australian households. With the Reserve Bank raising the cash rate to 4.60% amid persistent inflation, this week's Citizens Report examines whether higher interest rates can address inflation driven by factors such as fuel and energy costs, and looks at alternative approaches involving bank lending, gas reservation and housing. We also cover: - Interest rates and inflation: Why raising interest rates may have limited impact on inflation driven by imported fuel and energy costs, and the impact of higher rates on mortgage holders and housing. - The Reserve Bank and bank lending - Gas reservation and energy prices - Housing and government action - Australia Post under scrutiny: Powerful testimony from post office licensees about the changes under CEO Paul Graham and the impact on regional and community post offices - Save Our Post Offices : Why more Senate hearings are needed - Dan Duggan: Enough is enough - The Australian pilot approaching four years in detention while facing US extradition, despite the AFP identifying no Australian offending or investigation Chapters 0:00 Introduction: Interest Rates & the Cost of Living 1:04 WA, AUKUS & Australian Sovereignty 5:13 Why Higher Interest Rates Won’t Fix Inflation 9:13 The RBA / Reserve Bank’s Power to Direct Bank Lending 13:17 The Government’s Power Over the Reserve Bank 15:30 Gas Reservation: A Solution to Lower Energy Prices 18:07 Why Australians Pay More for Their Own Gas 21:43 Labor's Gas Reservation Scheme 22:40 Pauline Hanson’s Gas Reservation Backflip 28:09 The Market vs Government: What Does the Record Show? 30:36 Housing: When Government Actually Built Homes 35:42 Australia Post: Licensees Speak to the Senate 38:31 Post Office Licensee: “I Want to Be Heard” 43:33 Australia Post’s Cultural Change Under Paul Graham 48:05 Demand Senate Hearings in Affected Communities 51:21 Free Dan Duggan: Make It a Political Issue 55:11 Enough Is Enough! Four Years in Detention Become a member of the Australian Citizens Party: https://citizensparty.org.au/membership?utm_source=SoundCloud&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=membership&utm_content=20261001_cit_rep Donate to support the Citizens Party campaigns: https://citizensparty.org.au/donate?utm_source=SoundCloud&utm_medium=end_screen&utm_campaign=cit_rep_donation&utm_content=20261001_cit_rep For cheques and direct deposits, call 1800 636 432 Sign the Citizens Party Petition to Save Australia's post offices!: https://info.citizensparty.org.au/save-post-offices Subscribe to the Australian Alert: https://info.citizensparty.org.au/subscribe?utm_source=SoundCloud&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=AAS_subscibe&utm_content=20261001_cit_rep Sign up for ACP Email Alerts: https://citizensparty.org.au/join-email-list?utm_source=SoundCloud&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=join_email&utm_content=20261001_cit_rep Contact your MP (search by name or electorate): https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CitizensPartyAU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CitizensPartyAU X: https://x.com/CitizensPartyAU TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@citizenspartyau SoundCloud: https://www.SoundCloud.com/CitizensPartyAU LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/citizenspartyau Telegram: https://t.me/CitizensPartyAU #CitizensReport #Australia #AustralianPolitics #CostOfLiving #InterestRates #RBA #ReserveBank #Inflation #HousingCrisis #GasReservation #EnergyCrisis #GasPrices #EnergyPolicy #OneNation #PaulineHanson #GinaRinehart #AustraliaPost #SaveOurPostOffices #FreeDanDuggan #AUKUS #AustralianSovereignty #PublicBank #Housing #AustralianEconomy #CitizensParty #AustralianNews #PoliticalCommentary #AustralianPodcast #AusPol #DanDuggan
