Jim Chalmers has been criticized as “tone deaf” after his wife Laura attracted attention in a $1,900 designer suit that would cost most Australians a week’s wages.
The former political advisor turned magazine editor, 40, wore an $899 yellow Carla Zampatti dress and a matching $999 jacket as she supported her husband as he delivered the 2024-25 budget on Tuesday night. .
The power couple shared a sweet kiss at the beginning of their speech with two of their three young children who also attended the special night.
However, it wasn’t long before Australians were offended by Ms Chalmer’s $1,900 suit, with some calling her decision to wear the designer dress “top-notch tone deaf”.
The matter got worse after he resurfaced. Dr. Chalmers earns more than $420,000 a year as Treasurer.
Jim Chalmers has been criticized as “tone deaf” after his wife Laura attracted attention in a $1,900 designer suit that would cost most Australians a week’s wages (the couple are pictured).
It wasn’t long before Australians were offended by Ms Chalmer’s $1,900 suit, with some calling her decision to wear the designer dress “top-notch tone-deaf”.
One Facebook user criticized the move as “golden tone deaf”
“These people are so out of touch with reality and the average Australian,” one wrote.
‘While so many people live in cars and tents. “They should be forced to live on minimum wage for a month to experience it,” wrote a second.
A third shared: “This is Gold Tier Tone Deaf, you gotta hand it to them.”
“The lack of contact and budget was appalling – there are so many struggling and they don’t seem to care,” commented a fourth.
Australian workers earn an average salary of just under $2,000 a week, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australian men take home an average salary of $1,982.80 each week, while women earn less with a weekly salary of $1,744.80.
Men have an average salary of $103,105, while women earn $90,729.
Average weekly earnings were highest in Western Australia ($2,108) and the Australian Capital Territory ($2,080) and lowest in Tasmania ($1,670).
Dr Chalmers is estimated to earn an incredible $423,000 a year as Treasurer, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earns an estimated $586,000.
The base salary of an Australian politician currently stands at just over $200,000.
On Tuesday night, the Labor Party announced significant cost-of-living support for struggling residents in a pre-election speech to Australians as it tries to win over voters.
In his budget speech, Dr Chalmers boasted of a $9.3 billion surplus driven by a strong labor market and rising commodity prices.
Dr Chalmers is estimated to earn an incredible $423,000 a year as Treasurer, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earns an estimated $586,000.
The cost of living relief includes a $300 energy bill credit for each household, increased rental assistance and a $3 billion waiver on student debt indexation.
Chalmers, formerly known as Laura Anderson, worked as press secretary to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Secretary Penny Wong before returning to her first love, journalism.
Her successful career saw her become the national editor-in-chief of News Corp’s Saturday Weekend magazines in November 2021, just after returning from maternity leave.
She showed her ambition when she took the job, saying: ‘We know there is an audience for long-form, premium journalism and that’s what these magazines will do.