Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

First of all, I think I've said a number of times now, through the course of this week and before that, that I take responsibility for all aspects of my job, including our part in the fight against inflation. I think I've made that very clear, and repeatedly so. When I quoted the economist that the shadow Assistant Treasurer is referring to, Diana Mousina, from her interview on the ABC on Tuesday morning, I was making two points very clear, and both of these points still stand.

First of all, there is not a unanimous view amongst economists, the view pushed by those opposite, and that remains the case. And, secondly, the quote that I used from the interview that she gave on Tuesday morning on the ABC reflects the factual point that what we saw in the economy in 2025 was public demand growth making a smaller contribution to demand in the economy and private demand growth making a bigger contribution to growth in the economy.

Now, I understand that those opposite are so desperate in their current political condition, but they cannot deny the fact that the story of the economy in 2025 was the faster-than-expected recovery in the private economy. If they don't want to take my word for it, then they should take the word of the Reserve Bank governor, who said, 'Growth in private demand has strengthened substantially more than expected.' The RBA governor said, 'Private demand is growing more quickly than expected.'

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