Scott Kuru

Welcome to Episode 4 of Answering Australia’s Most Googled Money Questions. Every week, I answer the questions Australians are asking most about money, property, investing and the economy. Got a question you’d like answered in a future episode? Leave it in the comments. It might be featured next.

A strong country cannot depend on overseas production for everything it needs. Cars, fuel, machinery, electronics, and everyday goods are all tied to global supply chains, currency movements, and decisions made outside Australia. The more we rely on imports without building enough local capacity, the more exposed households and businesses become when conditions change. #Australia #AI #datacentre #imports

The RBA is talking tough on interest rates for a reason. If households and businesses believe another rate rise is coming, we tighten our belts. We borrow less. We spend less. Businesses become more cautious. That alone can help take pressure off inflation without the RBA actually raising rates. It’s called “jawboning”. But here’s the bigger issue. The RBA can control the price of money. It can’t fix Australia’s productivity problem. And in my view, that’s the economic challenge we should be far

Most Australians are not struggling to buy because they lack ambition. They are struggling because the system has changed faster than their incomes can keep up. When property prices move far beyond wage growth, the old advice no longer works the same way. This is why understanding the market matters before making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. Share your thoughts in the comments #australia #property #investmentproperty #Australia

Australia has everything it needs to be one of the wealthiest and most prosperous countries in the world. So why does getting ahead feel harder than ever? Housing is becoming less affordable, rents keep rising and wages are struggling to keep pace with the cost of living. One of the biggest pieces of this puzzle is productivity. When productivity stalls, wages and living standards eventually feel it. And when asset prices keep rising at the same time, the gap becomes even harder to close. Austra

The RBA has held rates at 4.35%. Plenty of Australians were hoping for some relief, but I think we’re putting far too much weight on what happens at every RBA meeting. One rate cut won’t suddenly make housing affordable, bring grocery prices back down or fix Australia’s housing shortage. The bigger issues run much deeper. Pay attention to interest rates, but don’t sit around waiting for the RBA to change your financial future. Build your skills. Build your income. Build assets. Prepare for what

Your offset account could be costing you thousands without you even knowing. ASIC reviewed 8 major Australian banks and found weaknesses in how offset accounts were being managed, with more than $55 million already paid to affected customers. The concerning part is that the problem can be incredibly difficult to spot. Your repayment might look exactly the same while more of your money goes towards interest and less towards paying down your loan. Don’t just assume your offset is working correctly

Aussies are paying more at the pump, while some of the world’s biggest oil companies are making billions from higher oil prices. Of course, that is how commodity markets work. When supply is disrupted and prices rise, producers can benefit. But it raises a bigger question. When global crises create enormous windfall profits while households are being told to tighten their belts, who should carry the cost? Should Australians simply wear it, or should more of those gains be used to ease the pressu

This could be one of the biggest shifts in the property market in years. Longer loan terms can reduce monthly repayments and increase borrowing capacity, making it easier for more Australians to enter the market. But there’s another side to the story. If more buyers can borrow more, what happens to property prices? And is this just the beginning of even longer mortgages in the future? What do you think? Is a 40-year loan a good move, or does it create bigger problems down the track?

When tax brackets don’t keep pace with inflation, more Australians are pushed into higher tax rates without becoming significantly better off in real terms. That’s why bracket creep matters. Understanding how the system works is the first step to making better financial decisions. Do you think Australia should automatically index income tax brackets to inflation?

The rental market is becoming more competitive, and It doesn't look like it will be cooling any time soon. Low vacancy rates, rising demand and a shortage of quality housing are making it harder for Australians to secure a place to live.

A lot of people say “stop immigration” like that would somehow fix everything. Australia relies on migrant workers across construction, aged care, hospitals, farming, hospitality and regional industries. The real issue isn’t immigration itself. It’s bringing people in faster than we build the homes, roads, schools and hospitals to support them. Immigration didn’t break the system. It exposed how badly we’ve failed to build for growth.