Rumble in the economic jungle: Chalmers challenges Taylor to three debates
“I challenge the shadow treasurer to a series of debates about the economy. He’s had almost three years now and he still has no costed, coherent or credible economic policies.
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“I would have thought at least three formal debates between the treasurer and the shadow treasurer would be appropriate given how important the economy is.”
There was a single debate between Chalmers and then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg during the 2022 election, held at the National Press Club more than a fortnight out from polling day. In 2019, there was also just a single debate between Frydenberg and then-shadow treasurer Chris Bowen.
Pressed on the extraordinary argument between Zelensky, President Donald Trump and Vice President J. D. Vance in the White House at the weekend, Chalmers would not be drawn on US policy towards Ukraine.
But he said Australia’s support for Zelensky and Ukraine had not changed.
“I think President Zelensky is a hero. He is the democratically elected leader of a very courageous country standing up to Russian brutality and aggression,” he said.
“We support the leader and the people of Ukraine and we salute their really remarkable bravery.
“This is a brave and courageous country. It has a democratically elected leader who will go down in history for the bravery of his position and his leadership, and we support him and his country without reservation.”
Shadow defence spokesman Andrew Hastie described the White House incident as “very heated”, reiterating that Australia stood with Ukraine against an “unjust” and “illegal” invasion by Russia.
Hastie said the incident highlighted the approach taken by Trump to key issues.
“(We’re seeing) a very different US approach to security and trade. That has implications for Australia,” he told Sky News.
“We need to demonstrate a strong hand. I think he wants to know his allies have a strong hand.”
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