Anthony Albanese’s office failed to get Jim Chalmers to toe the line on Future Made in Australia

Jim Chalmers inserted a single reference to Labor’s flagship Future Made in Australia policy in a major speech after intervention by Anthony Albanese’s office but rebuffed requests to change language labelling the economy ‘very weak’.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers the 2024 John Curtin Oration in August. Picture: Nadir Kinani

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Jim Chalmers inserted a single reference to Labor’s flagship ­Future Made in Australia policy in a major political speech after ­intervention by Anthony Albanese’s office but rebuffed suggestions to change language labelling the economy “very weak”.

On the eve of Dr Chalmers’ August 26 Curtin Oration attacking Peter Dutton as the “most divisive leader of a major party in Australia’s modern history”, email chains reveal officials in Mr Albanese’s office requested alterations and additions to the Treasurer’s draft speech.

Freedom of Information documents confirm Dr Chalmers’ office made some tweaks to his final speech, including adding one mention of Future Made in Australia near the end of the oration.

The speech, which outlined Dr Chalmers’ blueprint for a “fourth economy” and included rhetoric straying outside of his economic portfolio, eviscerated the Opposition Leader for playing one note on “his dog whistle” and picking culture wars over fighting inflation.

The Weekend Australian can reveal Dr Chalmers’ office sent his draft speech to the Prime ­Minister’s Office on August 25, the day before briefing journalists on the oration delivered at the John Curtin Research Centre in Melbourne.

Internal PMO communications highlighted concerns the speech “doesn’t mention Future Made in Australia”, cautioning they “don’t want this seen like we are moving away from that”.

A PMO email said the Treasurer’s office should consider injecting “a few more government policies/actions throughout where they can, particularly when talking about the care economy or human capital”.

“Uni Accord, Fee Free TAFE, wage rises? Appreciate the audience is different to a BCA speech or something like that, but thinking it’s best to always show what/how the government is delivering,” the PMO email reads. A subsequent PMO email sent to the Treasurer’s office said the speech was “well crafted from a comms perspective, lovely narrative” but flagged the importance of mentioning “FMIA as an issue … could you incorporate please?”.

In “edits/thoughts” sent back to the Treasurer’s office, the PMO made suggestions including altering a line on the economy which read: “We are fighting inflation and getting the budget in better nick, but without smashing an economy which is already very weak”.

The PMO suggested “dropping the already very weak point and leaving it at ‘without smashing the economy’ ”.

“Unemployment is still near record lows and the speech highlights the strength of the labour market with the one million jobs created. On the household saving rates having fallen point, could be useful to say they have fallen to Howard government levels – RBA chart pack shows that fairly clearly,” the note reads.

The oration delivered by Dr Chalmers did not tweak or change the paragraph in his speech. Some alterations were made and Future Made in Australia was referenced once near the end of the address.

In the speech, Dr Chalmers said voters had a choice of returning to the “drift, decay and divisiveness of the last wasted decade” under the Coalition or backing a Labor government “dedicating every day to strengthening Medicare, creating jobs, boosting wages, building more homes, investing in a Future Made in Australia and helping more children into early education, TAFE and university”.

While it is not uncommon for PMOs to be sent copies of speeches or major announcements from senior ministers and responding with suggested changes, the FOI documents shine a light on the ­internal processes of how governments operate.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Friday claimed that “we now know that the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are not on the same page”.

“Jim Chalmers sent his key policy speech for the PM’s feedback, and then refused to toe the government line. These documents show that despite public assurances to the contrary, Labor’s senior leaders are not working in the same direction at all – it is incredible reading,” Ms Ley said.

“We also now know Jim Chalmers had to be forced to mention Labor’s Future Made in Australia policy by the Prime Minister’s Office – this proves Labor knows just how much this policy has fizzled.”

After winning support from Mr Albanese earlier this year to overhaul Scott Morrison’s stage three tax cuts, Dr Chalmers – who is considered a future Labor leader – is now tasked with convincing voters that Labor has the economic plan to lower inflation and support households through the prolonged cost-of-living crisis.

Amid a push from Labor MPs for the government to consider changes to negative gearing, Treasury has been assessing various options that could be adopted by the government.

Mr Albanese and senior ministers have ruled out changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax arrangements ahead of the election, with Dr Chalmers on Friday declaring an overhaul of negative gearing is “not part of our housing policy”.

“People shouldn’t anticipate that this is part of our housing policy. It’s not. We’ve got a heap of other better ideas,” he said.