CITIZENS REPORT 30/4/26 - With ‘friends’ like these, Australia doesn’t need enemies

In this episode of The Citizens Report, host Robert Barwick delivers a scathing critique of Australia's political and economic leadership, arguing that the country's 'friends'—particularly the United States, Israel, and Japan—are more dangerous than any enemy. The episode opens with a fiery condemnation of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) for its singular focus on interest rate hikes to combat inflation, despite having a legal tool under Section 36 of the Banking Act to directly control credit and curb inflationary housing markets. Barwick highlights how the RBA's 'one tool' mantra is a lie, and how the Citizens Party successfully blocked attempts by the government to eliminate democratic oversight of the RBA. He draws a parallel with China’s deliberate housing market correction, which redirected credit to manufacturing, and contrasts it with Australia’s failure to act, despite housing being the largest driver of inflation. The discussion then turns to the erosion of cash use in Australia, with the RBA’s own data showing rising cash transactions despite banks closing branches and ATMs. Barwick blames the big banks and Australia Post’s leadership for pushing cashlessness, warning that post offices—critical for rural communities—are under threat. He also exposes the hypocrisy of ASIO and AFP, who conducted a self-investigation into the Bondi terror attack and found no fault, while ignoring clear failures in monitoring pro-ISIS networks. The episode culminates in a damning indictment of Japan’s remilitarization, its denial of wartime atrocities, and its economic exploitation of Australia through gas exports. Barwick reveals how Japan profits more from taxing Australian gas than Australia does from exporting it, and criticizes the Australian government for enabling this through secrecy and fear-mongering over China. The episode ends with a call to action: support the Duggan family, join the Citizens Party, and reject the false narrative that China is the enemy while ignoring the real threats posed by allies.