Australian news and politics recap: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor face off in tetchy treasurers’ debate

He asks Jim Chalmers about criticism that while he is a very hard worker, he has “a bit of sa glass jaw” and that he doesn’t cop criticism well.

“I think over time, I’ve learned to understand that you take the good with the bad, and I try,” Dr Chalmers says.

“I think everyone gets grumpy sometimes, but I don’t think I get grumpy about that necessarily. I think I’ve learned over time to focus on the objective observers of the job that I’m doing. And I think ultimately the Australian people will judge that, all right, rather than the kind of partisan commentators from time to time on the opinion pages.”

Greenwood challenges Dr Chalmers to apologise for his Government’s ill-fated promise to keep energy bills down.

“Will you apologise to the people of Australia tonight with your government having said that energy prices will come down by $275 when, in actual fact, average prices are at least $500 more than what they were at that time?”

I’ll save you the big long answer but the short one is: No.

This was an interesting plank of Peter Dutton’s Budget reply - that the Coalition would donate $50 million to critical food charities if elected.

“We’ve put $50 million into food banks, because we’re seeing families with mortgages, double income families in some cases, who can’t put food on the table.

“That’s the harsh reality of Labor’s homegrown inflation and Labor’s cost of living crisis.”

The food charity pledge is a real point of difference between the two parties. It’s a shame Labor hasn’t seen fit to match it.

They’ve started by cutting to interviews they’ve done with people on the streets, who are talking about how much they’re hurting financially right now.

Greenwood asks if the Albanese Government’s Budget was enough to win votes or if it was enough to help people with the cost of living.

“This is a very coherent strategy to help people with the cost of living,” Dr Chalmers says.

“Is it enough?” asks Greenwood.

Well, it’s it’s more than what our opponents are proposing.”

Dr Chalmers tries to suggest the only way the Coalition can pay for its nuclear energy plan is with cuts to Medicare.

The Coalition has repeatedly committed to matching Labor’s future investment in Medicare.

But let’s not let the facts get in the way of a good story.

The shadow treasurer is asked about whether a Coalition government would make deeper cuts to the economy.

Instead he tries to talk about investment, pointing to the fact that investment as a percentage of GDP is at its lowest since the 1990s.

But Dr Chalmers and Greenwood keep trying to bring him back on track.

“If you get investment moving, you can keep the economy moving. And here’s the key, Ross, the way to manage a Budget is to grow the economy faster than you spend.

“It’s a simple rule. It’s one we had in place when we were in government. Jim hasn’t stuck to that. He threw it out the window.”

“Can I just start with some nonsense we’ve heard from Jim?” asks Mr Taylor.

“I mean, he started from the point of view of saying that there’s been meaningful growth in the economy, GDP per capita has gone backwards for 21 months in a row, under your so called stewardship.”

It’s a pretty tame insult, but it’s something. Now we just need some raised voices.

Chalmers is asked if the Albanese Govenrment has done enough to prevent Australia from being whacked with tariffs.

He says the government has done heaps, and Australia was hit with the least bad tariffs of anyone.

Mr Taylor says the Coalition has stood up to Trump when it was previously in government.

So, both of them are good enough. According to them.

You can almost hear the disappointment in Ross Greenwood’s voice.

“We are living in uncertain and tumultuous times, and the choice at this election is, who do you trust to manage the economy?” Mr Taylor asks.

“The context for it is that Australians are worse off than they were just three years ago, as they dig deep into their savings, as they work harder for less, and as they cut back on essential spending. Now Labor promised the world.

“They promised lower electricity prices. They promised lower mortgage mortgage costs. They promised a lower cost of living and easier lives. The reality has been different. Prices are up, debt is up, deficits are up, spending is up, taxes are up, but the one thing that is down and has collapsed is the Australian standard of living which has fallen more than ever before in history, more than any of our peer countries around the world.

“Now there is an alternative, a better plan to get this country back on track, to beat inflation, to boost growth, to back small business, to fix our housing and energy markets and to provide immediate relief at the bowser as we fix our budget to ensure that we protect our nation for the future. “