The Treasurer of Australia has been caught misleading Australians over how they are “better off” under the Albanese Labor Government.

On 11 September Treasurer Doctor Jim Chalmers told Parliament: “an average full-time worker was $3,700 better off in the first year of the Albanese Government.”

ABC Fact Check has found this claim to be misleading because his figures completely ignored the impact of inflation with average full-time wages falling $2012.92 in real terms in Labor’s first year in office.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said this is further proof that Doctor Chalmers is a Doctor of Spin not a Doctor of Economics.

“We have a Treasurer who clearly doesn’t understand inflation,” Mr Taylor said.

“Labor politicians from the Treasurer, junior ministers to first term MPs have repeated this misleading claim that takes no account for the painful impact inflation is having on Australians’ standard of living.

“This is further proof that Labor is ignoring Australia’s cost of living challenge.”

Mr Taylor said the ABC Fact Check also confirmed inflation for employee households rose to 9.7 per cent which resulted in the purchasing power of total wages going backwards by $5,470.40 a year.

“This is yet another example of why Australians shouldn’t trust Labor when it comes to the economy,” Mr Taylor said.

“History tells us Labor’s never been able to manage the economy. They just don’t understand it.

“Australians are hurting under Labor with the price of almost everything going up – groceries, electricity, gas, insurance, fuel, furniture, rent, mortgages – you name it.

“Families are making incredibly difficult decisions in order to pay the bills and make ends meet. It’s becoming clearer by the day that despite the Treasurer’s spin, his cost of living plan is clearly not working.

“The truth is, the Albanese Labor Government has been distracted with its eye off the ball making the cost of living crisis even worse.

“Instead of prioritising a divisive Voice, reinventing capitalism, out of date reports, wasting money and raising taxes, the Treasurer needs to get his head in the game and make fighting inflation priority one two and three. That’s unfortunately not what we’re seeing right now and it’s hardworking Australians left paying the price.”

ENDS.