Treasurer Jim Chalmers rejected calls to apologise in question time after being accused of “cherry-picking” an economist’s comments on government spending and inflation.
Shadow treasurer and assistant treasurer Ted O’Brien raised the issue during question time, citing comments made by AMP economist Diana Mousina and reported by the Australian Financial Review.
O’Brien said Mousina claimed her remarks, quoted by Chalmers the previous day, had been selectively used.
Mousina said government spending growth was likely to slow in the 2026–27 financial year, but added the government was still contributing to inflation.
Responding, Chalmers said his comments referred to public demand making a smaller contribution to overall economic demand.
He accused the opposition of acting out of political desperation and said the defining economic story of 2025 was a faster-than-expected recovery in the private economy.
