Environment minister urges colleagues not to undermine treasurer over budget cuts

The Guardian reported that environment minister Murray Watt called on his Labor colleagues to stop undermining Treasury chief Jim Chalmers as the government works to sell its budget. Watt said the party is facing pressure to trim popular clean‑energy subsidies in an effort to curb inflation.

He added, “It’s pretty obvious that there are all sorts of people making all sorts of comments,” after a meeting on budget savings. The article noted that cabinet ministers reconvened on Monday to discuss possible savings for the mid‑year financial update due next month. Those discussions are part of a broader push to reduce spending and ease pressure on the economy.

The push to cut subsidies comes as Labor seeks to balance fiscal restraint with its climate agenda, while internal disagreements risk complicating the budget’s passage.

Why it matters

The dispute could shape how Australia funds clean‑energy projects and influences the government’s ability to manage inflation through fiscal policy.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

9 Nov 2026, 11:17 IST

Key names

Jim Chalmers, Labor, Murray Watt

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianStop undermining Jim Chalmers, environment minister urges Labor colleagues 9 Nov, 11:17

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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