Jim Chalmers says he has reflected on the key takeaways after One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen secured 57%of the vote after preferences at the Secret Harbour byelection. Speaking on ABC’s 7.30, Chalmers said he acknowledged that concerns about inflation, the cost of living and real wages were on voters’ minds before the poll. I have thought very deeply about the legitimate concerns and anxieties and frustrations that people have.
About how the economy works, or doesn’t work for people. That’s the thing I’m most focused on. It’s the whole reason for our efforts to get inflation down, to make the economy more productive.
Chalmers added he believes the “faultline in our politics” is now changing. It’s not necessarily between the centre left and the far right, it’s not necessarily the old distinctions. The distinction in our politics right now is a Labor government working to address the very real concerns that people have, versus the Liberals and Nationals and One Nation who just want to prey on that, and pick on that.
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