Could one remote Australian mine be a warning sign for the world? This week, Bloomberg Opinion columnist David Fickling talks to Chris Bourke about the revival of King Island's century-old tungsten mine, and how it reflects a new era of geopolitical competition as countries race to secure supplies of the little-known metal for weapons and munitions.

The conversation explores China's dominance of the tungsten market, Australia's untapped reserves and why decades of globalization left Western economies exposed to critical mineral supply risks. Fickling explains how one obscure mine offers a window into the race for critical minerals, the changing nature of war and the global scramble to secure strategic supply chains.

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Australia's housing downturn is accelerating, with national prices recording their biggest monthly fall since late 2022 as higher interest rates, tighter investor lending rules and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on demand. In this episode, Chris Bourke talks to Bloomberg economist James McIntyre about why the weakness has spread beyond Sydney and Melbourne.

The episode also explores what falling house prices mean for the broader economy. McIntyre says the decline is likely to hit consumer spending through the "wealth effect," slow housing construction and eventually shift the Reserve Bank's focus from stubborn inflation toward supporting growth with rate cuts.

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KPMG Australia is facing its biggest crisis in years after allegations that confidential client information was misused to help win lucrative audit contracts. In this episode, Amy Bainbridge talks to finance reporter Richard Henderson about what emerged from an explosive parliamentary hearing, and why more senior executives are stepping down.

We also examine the scandal’s broader implications for the consulting industry, investors and corporate Australia. Why has so little changed since PwC's own confidentiality scandal – and are the industry's rules fit for purpose?

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