Three things the Albanese government could do right now to make people feel better off

The government could help low-income households electrify. Encouraging electrification has never made more sense but supports generally benefit the wealthy, who have the money needed to take advantage. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

In the 1976 movie Network, news anchor Howard Beale tells TV viewers to stick their heads out their windows and yell: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!” It’s a sentiment that resonates today in Australia and across the world.

In October, consumer sentiment at home fell to levels more often associated with recessions, despite the fact that the latest GDP numbers show the economy grew by a real 2% over the year to June (that is, 2% over and above the rate of inflation).