Data centre boom widens gap between growth figures and reality

With what little economic growth there is being driven by data centres, is it really a net positive for most Australians?
On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Greg and Elinor discuss the decision to lift minimum and award wages and what the latest GDP figures mean for Australian households.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 4 June 2026.
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Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut
Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek
Show notes:
Australia’s GDP figures are meaningless when the boom in datacentres means destroying jobs and the climate by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (May 2026)
Clouded Future: Managing the risks of the data centre boom, Climate Council (June 2026)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
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