14 April 2023 | 63 MIN

Conversations, with Peter Costello AC, Former Treasurer of Australia

In this Conversation, John is joined by former cabinet colleague Peter Costello. Alongside John, Peter was an integral member of the Howard government, serving as Treasurer between 1996 and 2007. No Treasurer in Australia’s history has held the position longer than he.

They discuss the economic situation in which Australia finds itself in 2023, with a fast-growing national debt, an appetite for easy fiscal stimulus, high inflation and ballooning costs of living. The net-zero path committed to by Australian governments, Peter points out, will only increase pressure on the economy, requiring a fundamental transformation of energy markets, and cannot be achieved without the use of gas as a transition energy source.