The Coalition scoffed at the idea of a wellbeing budget. But Australians want Jim Chalmers to deliver

‘People are concerned about their own health and safety and that of the community, and understand that these are the things that really matter.’ Photograph: PhotoAlto/Alamy

When Jim Chalmers announced in July that his first budget would include options to measure community wellbeing – rather than just measuring GDP – it didn’t take a genius to predict some of the media coverage.

The young, lefty treasurer, in an ashram with a yoga mat and some kombucha, limbering up for his next downward dog.