Political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN says Jim Chalmers has become the centre of Canberra’s rumour mill, with speculation about his future as treasurer intensifying despite Anthony Albanese’s public support.

In politics, rumour feeds on rumour, and the line between rumour and reality can become increasingly blurred. At the extreme, rumour can in itself help change reality.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, struggling with a mass of economic problems, is presently the centre of the Canberra rumour mill – about his relationship with the prime minister, about colleagues’ allegedly undermining him, even about suggestions he could be shifted out of the Treasury portfolio.

Just before he jetted off on Tuesday to the COP climate conference in Turkey, Albanese was asked at a news conference: “Is it your preference that Jim Chalmers remains treasurer through to the next election?”

His answer was a flat “yes”.

In another question he was asked: “How concerned are you about the apparent undermining of your treasurer from within government?”

He replied: “The treasurer’s doing a great job. This is a treasurer has produced a couple of budget surpluses, lower deficits, that’s producing economic reform, and we’re continuing to work through with the mid-year economic forecast just in – it’ll come in next month. We’re continuing to work that through. I work closely with the treasurer.”

The answers were less important than the questions. As we know from various fronts, Albanese – who has the sole say over who is his treasurer – can always have a “change of position”.

But that the questions were asked reflected that the performance and future of Chalmers, who is under fierce public criticism in sections of the press and seeming private attack from leakers in Labor, has become the object of something of a media feeding frenzy.

Once this happens, ministers and other colleagues inevitably find themselves confronted by questions on the matter – and it’s easy to stumble.

Thus Environment Minister Murray Watt was asked this week whether he’d like to see an end to the undermining and leaking against Chalmers.

He replied: “Yes, I would” .

“As a member of a government, I take seriously the responsibility to work together, to support government policies, and also to get out there and support each other in what, are at times, very difficult times.”

Oops. Fine sentiment. Wrong answer. Watt had confirmed the leaking.

He went further. “It’s pretty obvious that there are all sorts of people making all sorts of comments.”

Later, Watt was apparently surprised at the attention to his remarks.

Meanwhile by Tuesday cabinet secretary Andrew Charlton, a favourite of the prime minister and seen as destined eventually for higher things, was resorting to the textbook answer when fending off questioning about his ambitions. “I’m very focused on my job.”

Chalmers can do little but also be very focused on his job which, if anything, is only going to get tougher in coming months. And trust Albnese won’t have one of his “changes of position”.

Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra. Republished from The Conversation.

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