Anthony Albanese has declared Jim Chalmers is doing “a great job” and will remain in the position through to the next election while another ambitious Labor MP widely rumoured to want his job denies he’s trying to replace the Treasurer.
The Prime Minister has also insisted he does not lose his cool, after the Liberal Party launched an attack ad contrasting his commitment to kindness at the last election with several recent tense public interactions.
Asked if he could admit that he sometimes loses his cool, following a viral social media video showing him losing patience with his staff, Mr Albanese responded “no”, before quickly attempting to move to the next question.
“Not even occasionally Prime Minister?”, Mr Albanese was asked again during a Parliament Houe press conference, but he chose to not answer the follow up question.
Speaking a day after Cabinet minister Murray Watt called on colleagues to stop leaking and undermining Dr Chalmers, the Prime Minister also insisted his Government was united and worked together “in a cohesive way”.
Asked if he was also concerned about the apparent undermining of his Treasurer from inside Labor, Mr Albanese praised Dr Chalmers’ handling of the economy and claimed the pair work closely.
“This is a Treasurer who’s produced a couple of budget surpluses, lower deficits, that’s producing economic reform, and we’re continuing to work through with the mid-year economic forecast just in — it’ll come in next month. We’re continuing to work that through,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
Pressed by The Nightly if he had also urged colleagues to stop undermining the Treasurer, Mr Albanese stopped short of repeating Senator Watt’s plea, but maintained his Government was united.
“We work together in a cohesive way. We’re working together on the range of challenges, but opportunities as well, that our Government faces, that the world is facing. We live in turbulent times,” the PM said ahead of his departure for UN climate talks in Turkey.
“My Government focuses each and every day on cost of living on how we can make a difference, and that is what my Government will continue to do.”
Over recent weeks reports have emerged of growing tensions between Dr Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with suggestions the Treasurer could be eventually replaced in a frontbench reshuffle.
On Monday Senator Watt, a close ally of Mr Albanese, was asked whether he’d “like to see an end to the undermining and leaking against your Treasurer?”, to which the Environment Minister responded: “Yes, I would”.
“As a member of the Government, I take seriously the responsibility to work together to support Government policies and also to get our work to support each other in what are very difficult times.”
“I think that Jim Chalmers is doing an excellent job as a Treasurer in what are very difficult economic times, many of the features that are impacting on our economy are sort of well outside any treasurer’s control, and I very much support Jim Chalmers in his efforts.”
Inside Labor there is continuing speculation over whether the Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton, could eventually take on the job of treasurer if Dr Chalmers is removed.
“No, I’m very focused on my job,” the rising Labor star, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary, told Seven’s Sunrise program when asked if he would take Dr Chalmers’ job if offered.
“I’m working on artificial intelligence now. One of the biggest issues facing Australia. I’m not interested in the next job. I’m interested in this job.”
The Cabinet Secretary said Dr Chalmers was doing a “good job at a difficult time” and declared the embattled Treasurer would still be in his position this time next year.
“It’s no secret that the Australian economy is facing big challenges that Australians are feeling, and those are challenges that are impacting every single country around the world,” Mr Charlton said.
“And Jim Chalmers is really facing those challenges, whether it be getting inflation down by delivering two budget surpluses, or helping young Australians to buy their first home.
“These are big, difficult challenges, and the Treasurer is facing them, and that’s why he has the support of his colleagues.”
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino has also leapt to the defence of his senior colleague, insisting Dr Chalmers was “absolutely” safe in his role and faced no threats from Labor rivals.
“The Treasurer is leading a very ambitious program,” Mr Malino told Nine’s Today show on Tuesday.
Speaking from Melbourne after joining Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson on the State election campaign trail, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor seized on the divisions inside the Albanese Government.
“We’ve got a Government in chaos, we’ve a Treasurer in hiding, and we have a Prime Minister fleeing the country again. Do your jobs. Do your jobs. That’s all they need to do”, Mr Taylor told reporters.
The renewed discussion over Dr Chalmers’ future has emerged amid another apparent Government leak that suggests the Federal Cabinet is no longer able to consider unfettered advice from Treasury on tax proposals.
Citing sources, The Australian newspaper reported that independent commentary from departmental experts is being scrubbed from so-called pink papers — documents detailing the impact of floated revenue policies.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails