Parliament Erupts as Treasurer Chalmers, Liberal MP Hawke Trade ‘Liar’ Accusations
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Australian Parliament descended into chaos Wednesday as Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Liberal MP Alex Hawke traded accusations of lying during a heated Question Time exchange over the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold interest rates at 3.60%.
The confrontation reached its peak when Hawke, manager of opposition business, slammed his papers on the table, pointed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chalmers, and declared: “You are hopeless and a liar, lying to the Australian people.”
Speaker Milton Dick intervened to restore order after both sides violated parliamentary protocol by using the word “liar,” which is prohibited in the chamber. Both Chalmers and Hawke eventually withdrew their remarks under pressure from the Speaker.
The clash erupted after Chalmers accused Opposition Leader Sussan Ley of making false statements about the Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate announcement.
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
Chalmers Accuses Opposition of Dishonesty
Chalmers was more animated than usual during Wednesday’s question time and accused Ley of misrepresenting the central bank’s position.
“The Leader of the Opposition said completely untruthfully, dishonestly, that the Reserve Bank yesterday called out the government’s spending when it came to the decision that they took independently at the board level,” Chalmers said. “That never happened.”
The Treasurer said Ley had been peddling an “egregious lie” and blamed Australia’s economic challenges on the former Coalition government.
“From time to time, reluctantly, it is on us to point out the egregious lies being told by that opposite about our economy,” Chalmers said.
Opposition Responds with Force
Chalmers’ remarks sparked immediate objections, with Ley and Leader of the House Tony Burke rising simultaneously to lodge points of order.
The atmosphere intensified when Hawke, described as Ley’s numbers man, stood to respond. He slammed his papers loudly on the table in a dramatic gesture before launching his counterattack.
“If lying is in order, then lying is in order – and this is a liar,” Hawke said, directing his comments at the government front bench.
Burke immediately objected to the language, rising to his feet and stating: “That’s seriously disorderly by every definition.”
Speaker Enforces Parliamentary Standards
Dick, who appeared visibly annoyed by the exchange, moved quickly to shut down the confrontation and remind both sides of parliamentary decorum.
“I don’t want anyone called a ‘liar.’ I don’t want anyone accused of lying,” Dick said. “The practice is crystal clear on that. That word is fraught with danger – please don’t use it. Use other words. Now, let’s move on.”
The Speaker’s intervention forced both Chalmers and Hawke to withdraw their remarks, though the tension in the chamber remained palpable throughout the remainder of question time.
RBA Rate Decision
The explosive exchange occurred one day after the Reserve Bank of Australia announced it would hold the official cash rate at 3.60%, disappointing Australians who had hoped for relief on mortgage repayments.
Ley had claimed the central bank’s decision reflected concerns about government spending levels, a characterization Chalmers flatly rejected as false.
The Treasurer’s defense of the government’s fiscal policy and his attribution of economic challenges to the previous Coalition government set the stage for the heated confrontation with Hawke.
Secondary Clash Over Energy Policy
Prime Minister Albanese also faced questioning during the session over comments made by Northern Territory Labor MP Luke Gosling, who claimed on Sky News Tuesday that power bills would drop 20%.
Liberal MP Simon Kennedy pressed Albanese on whether a 20% decrease in power bills represents official government policy.
After repeated questioning from the member for Cook, Albanese addressed Gosling’s remarks and said the MP had been quoting from the Climate Change Authority’s 2035 targets report.
“Our average household energy costs will fall by about 20 per cent over the next decade under a co-ordinated renewables rollout,” Albanese said.
The Prime Minister’s response aimed to clarify that the projected decrease would occur over a decade under specific conditions, rather than as an immediate policy outcome.
Parliamentary Tensions Rise
Wednesday’s question time reflected escalating tensions between the government and opposition as both sides position themselves ahead of the next federal election.
The use of parliamentary language has become increasingly contentious, with both major parties testing the boundaries of acceptable discourse while attempting to score political points with voters.
The “liar” controversy follows a pattern of heated exchanges in recent parliamentary sessions, with the Speaker forced to intervene more frequently to maintain order in the chamber.
Political Implications
The clash between Chalmers and Hawke underscores the central role economic management will play in coming political battles, particularly around interest rates and cost-of-living pressures facing Australian households.
With the Reserve Bank maintaining rates at elevated levels, both government and opposition are seeking to shape public perception of responsibility for economic conditions.
Chalmers has consistently argued that Labor inherited economic challenges from the former Coalition government, while opposition MPs contend current government spending is contributing to inflationary pressures.
The dramatic nature of Wednesday’s exchange ensures the controversy will continue generating headlines and may influence how both sides frame their economic messaging in future parliamentary sessions.
Parliamentary Protocol
Australian parliamentary standing orders prohibit members from accusing other members of lying or deliberately misleading the chamber. The restriction aims to maintain civil discourse and prevent personal attacks from derailing legislative proceedings.
Speakers have broad authority to enforce these rules and can require members to withdraw remarks deemed unparliamentary. Failure to withdraw comments when directed can result in members being ordered to leave the chamber.
The use of the word “liar” represents one of the clearest violations of parliamentary protocol, making Wednesday’s exchange particularly significant in terms of breaching accepted standards of conduct.
Both Chalmers and Hawke’s willingness to use prohibited language, even temporarily, signals the intensity of partisan divisions over economic policy and the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy decisions.
The incident will likely be examined by parliamentary officials as an example of the deteriorating tone in Question Time and may prompt renewed discussions about enforcing civility standards in the chamber.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!