JOY Drive

20 Mar 2025

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Are Shopping Malls Dying?

Business, Consumer Affairs, Popular Culture, Shopping, Society & Culture

It was buzzing if you stepped into an Australian shopping centre in the 1990s. Families were renting movies at Video Ezy, grabbing groceries at Franklins, or browsing gadgets at Australian Geographic.

Fast forward to 2025, and things look very different. Some department stores are ghost towns, cafes are struggling, and empty shopfronts are everywhere.

Ally Fashion, Rivers, and Michel’s Patisserie are just a few of the iconic Australian brands that have collapsed in the past year. And with rising costs and shifting shopping habits, many more could follow.

So, what’s behind the retail downturn? And can anything save the Aussie shopping mall?

Guest: Lauren Rosewarne, Associate Professor in Public Policy, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:13 — 15.4MB)

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24 Apr 2025

Professor Jennifer McKay: Could you accidentally sign a contract by texting an emoji?

Law, Personal Safety, Popular Culture, Technology

Can a thumbs-up emoji lock you into a legal contract? Professor Jennifer McKay AM, expert in business law and ...

24 Apr 2025

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Relationships without conflict

Popular Culture, Relationships, Social Media, Society & Culture

George and Amal Clooney say they have never argued in their nearly ten years of marriage. Is that relationship goals… ...

24 Apr 2025

Noah Secomb: 2025 Australian Federal Election Update

News & Politics, Politics

Early voting is underway as we approach the final stretch of the 2025 Australian Federal Election campaign. Hear about the third ...