Coalition wages ‘culture wars’ as Labor focuses on | Australian Markets

The Coalition is concentrated on waging “culture wars” as a substitute of tackling the rising value of dwelling, Jim Chalmers says whereas pushing back towards polling outcomes suggesting Australians maintain bleak expectations for 2025.

The Treasurer urged optimism on the finish of 2024 as Australia waved goodbye to a yr outlined by high housing, grocery and vitality prices.

Polls on the time indicated Australians had been more optimistic than on the finish of 2023.

However as January attracts to an finish – and the looming federal election attracts nearer – the primary political polls of the new yr have proven blended outcomes for the federal government.

The latest Resolve ballot, carried out for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, confirmed 46 per cent of voters anticipated their actual wages to fall this yr, whereas 50 per cent anticipated inflation to worsen.

Peter Dutton’s reputation has grown, with 39 per cent preferring him prime minister over Anthony Albanese, who got here in at 34 per cent.

The 2 had been tied on the finish of final yr.

Requested in regards to the latest ballot on Thursday, Mr Chalmers stated the Albanese authorities “is completely focused on cost of living”.

“It beggars belief that our opponents are focused on picking culture wars about all kinds of issues,” he instructed the ABC.

“The government … has been very focused on the cost of living throughout. That’s why we have made substantial progress on inflation.”

However Mr Chalmers conceded the findings had been reflective of the instances.

“First of all, it does reflect the genuine pressures that people are under,” he stated.

“When it comes to the economy in aggregate, we know that that progress doesn’t always immediately translate to how people are feeling and faring in the economy and there’s a political element to that.

“We understand that, and we’re responding to those cost-of-living pressures with the tax cuts, the energy bill relief, and all of the other ways we’re getting wages moving again and helping people deal with these kinds of pressures.”

The latest Guardian Important ballot instructed a totally different story to Resolve’s survey.

It discovered voters held brighter outlooks for 2025, feeling higher in regards to the direction of the nation and their personal funds.

The ballot confirmed Mr Albanese was performing best with youthful Australians, with 54 per cent of these aged 18-34 giving him a constructive score.

In distinction, solely 36 per cent of these over 55 gave him a constructive score.

In the meantime, Mr Dutton’s rankings slipped into the damaging.