559 | What Do US & China’s Tariffs Mean for Aussie Property Investors?

As Bryce says in this week’s Mindset Minute... 

“When you make big life decisions, don’t just listen to people closest to you; listen to those closest to your goals.”   

That’s why, in Ep 559, we’re sitting down with David Robertson, Chief Economist and Head of Economic & Markets Research at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, to unpack the real forces shaping Australia’s economy and property market right now. 

Having been with Bendigo Bank for over 23 years, David’s career spans senior Treasury roles at the State Bank of NSW, First Chicago, and Commonwealth Bank.

 Known for combining decades of economic expertise with a clear, engaging delivery, he has built a loyal audience through Bendigo’s Monthly YouTube economic updates. 

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• Missed The Latest Cash Rate Update? Watch Ben’s August RBA Cash Rate Announcement here >>  
   
• (NOT FREE) David’s Book Recommendation: Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World by J. Doyne Farmer 

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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Chapters

• 0:00 559 | What Do US & China’s Tariffs Mean for Aussie Property Investors?
• 1:59 AFL finals approaching, Summer Series shoutout & PIPA 2025 Survey is closing soon!
• 6:37 Mindset Minute: “When you make big life decisions, don’t listen to people closest to you, listen to…”
• 9:02 Welcome, David Robertson, Head of Economic & Markets Research at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank!
• 11:06 The #1 data points David looks at to stay on the pulse
• 13:20 The highest risk-free investment: US dollar, bonds or gold?
• 18:22 Money Story: 7pm politics, property & economics updates, racehorses and probability distribution
• 21:58 How did David’s upbringing impact his forecasting today?
• 25:54 Is human behaviour a macro or micro factor?
• 27:07 Professional Story: From foreign exchange dealer to Bendigo Bank
• 30:47 Demystifying the role of treasuries inside banks
• 33:32 Australian Economic Update: “If you had to sum up the economy in one sentence…"
• 35:15 What do US & China’s tariffs mean for Aussie property investors?
• 39:20 David’s thesis: Where is the neutral cash rate?
• 41:29 What does an AI economy look like for Australia? Productivity, 2027 tightening cycles & global macro factors
• 45:17 9 out of 27M: Is commutable regional land the key to Australia’s undersupply?
• 47:08 David’s sweet spot for where to buy regionally
• 49:24 Red tape, construction reform & construction productivity
• 54:15 What is the optimal population & immigration level?
• 56:22 Headlines around the country: the 2 states in the fast lane
• 58:41 The message to Victorian property investors
• 1:00:31 His suggested solution: Increase GST (with offsets), remove stamp duty & low-productivity taxes
• 1:03:53 What tobacco, overconsumption and the wealthy have in common (tax design)
• 1:05:50 Thank you for those unique insights, David!
• 1:08:08 Life By Design Hack: “Marry someone who claps for you in public and coaches you in private.”
• 1:10:26 WMPN: Warning! Interstate Buyers Agency Market Risk