Jim Chalmers gets paid to answer Super Ted, so here is what he said:

For those of you wondering why the Shadow Treasurer cuts such a come comical almost cartoonish figure in this place that’s your answer.

We are working through serious economic challenges and that is the best way in the considered, methodical, consultative way that defines this government. If the Shadow Treasurer wants to ask me about unemployment, he needs to acknowledge the average rate under this government is the lowest of any government in half a century.

Half a century.

Under those opposite, unemployment averaged 5.6%, under this government, 3.9%. I find it odd that the Shadow Treasurer would want to highlight that in Question Time in the House of Representatives.

Similarly on inflation.I take advice in the course of job as Treasurer but I won’t take advice on inflation from those who left us with inflation that was 6.1% and rising fast.

Inflation on their watch was twice what it is now and it was rising fast. One of the reasons for that that we now know, whether it is from the COVID review or other places, is that when inflation was absolutely galloping in our economy, in 2022, 6.1 and rising fast, they were pouring more and more fuel on the flames.

We know that now. That is an economic fact and that is their legacy. This is why they have no economic credibility, especially with inflation, especially with employment and also when it comes to real wages. I’m asked about government spending. Those opposite promised a surplus every year in office. They delivered nine consecutive deficits.

This side of the House, weave been here for three full years. We have delivered two surpluses and one smaller deficit than we inherited from those opposite. They had spending as almost a third of the economy. We got it closer to a quarter.

They had real spending growth growing 4.1%. We’ve got it growing at 1.7%. This is why the questions from those opposite lack any credibility whatsoever, because we remember your record. We remember your record. We know that when we came to office, inflation was roaring, interest rates were rising, real wages were falling, living standards were plummeting, you’d only delivered deficits.

There was $1 trillion in Liberal debt. We spent every day or our three and a bit years cleaning up the mess they left us.