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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Katharine Murphy

Fury over Chalmers’ essay is a reminder to Labor: change won’t get an easy ride

Jim Chalmers
The reaction to treasurer Jim Chalmers’ essay will have reminded the government that there is no loyal cheer squad waiting to fawn and flatter. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

One of the more comical subplots of the political week has been the fury belching from the opinion pages of the Australian and the Australian Financial Review in response to Jim Chalmers suggesting in conciliatory terms that capitalism should (brace yourselves readers) be tethered by values.

You might have missed this because the tantrum was contained largely within those enclaves. If you missed the provocation that triggered the response, the treasurer penned a 6,000-word essay for the Monthly during his summer break. The Chalmers thesis was capital could be harnessed both for private profit and public good. He also posited (wait for it readers) that better informed markets make better decisions.

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