The gloves are off in Canberra as Treasurer Jim Chalmers launches a blistering attack on the Coalition, accusing them of "dishonesty" in a heated row over inflation.

Question Time descended into acrimony today as the government fended off aggressive questioning regarding the impact of public spending on Australia’s sticky inflation figures. Treasurer Chalmers did not mince words, accusing the Opposition of "verballing" Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock and conflating public demand with private consumption to score cheap political points. The tension boiled over when Industry Minister Ed Husic was unceremoniously ejected from the chamber, symbolizing the fraying tempers on both sides.

The Inflation Blame Game

At the heart of the conflict is the economy. The Coalition is hammering the narrative that Labor’s spending is fueling the inflation fire, a claim Chalmers dismisses as economic illiteracy.

• The RBA Factor: Chalmers defended the government’s record, citing the RBA Governor’s distinction between public and private demand. He argued that the recent tick-up in inflation was driven by the private sector, not government coffers.
• Parliamentary Theater: The ejection of Ed Husic highlights the Speaker’s struggle to maintain order as the government and opposition trade insults rather than policy ideas.
• Distraction Tactics: Labor argues the Coalition is desperate to distract from its own internal divisions, using the economy as a wedge issue despite the complexity of the global financial headwinds.

A Fractured Discourse

Beyond the shouting match, the session revealed the deep polarization in Australian politics. With the cost of living biting hard for voters, both parties are desperate to avoid blame. Chalmers’ "dishonest" label is a calculated gamble to paint the Opposition as untrustworthy economic managers.

As the dust settles on a raucous Question Time, the Australian public is left watching a political class more interested in scoring points than solving the nation’s economic puzzle.