Michael Pascoe: We want inflation but not a higher cost of living. Go figure that one

As the cost of essentials like petrol soars, the Morrison government is doing nothing to help raise wages, writes Michael Pascoe.

The phrase of the week – albeit battling for space with “Ash Barty retires” and “I haven’t been at Hillsong now for over, about 15 years” – has been “cost of living”.

It promises to be big again next week, featuring in the budget argy-bargy, and then running strong all the way to the looming federal election.