One reason why revelations and allegations about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Qantas business class upgrades has resonated with the public this week is that his government hasn’t given people more important things to talk about.

The Albanese government is less than six months out from an election. It’s in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and a slump in economic growth buoyed only by the government’s spending. Yet the prime minister offers no medium-term plan that explains to Australians how his government is going to encourage sustained growth led by business investment and rising productivity that would result in long-term prosperity for all Australians.