Australian politics is becoming skilled in the art of national conversation about the need for national conversations. From energy to taxation to social spending priorities, political and community leaders solemnly agree on why these conversations must be had in order to confront various economic challenges and contradictions. But beyond generalities, there’s little agreement on what and how and when to deliver everything that is supposed to be achieved.

Policy caution – certainly in terms of timing – is usually advisable, of course. As he joined other financial ministers in Washington, Jim Chalmers must have reflected on the fate of his ignominiously temporary British colleague, Kwasi Kwarteng.