CANBERRA, ACT, Feb. 8 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript:

Note

Subjects: role of government spending in RBA rate hike, tax reform in the upcoming Budget, challenges to social cohesion

David Speers:

Treasurer JimChalmers, welcome to the program.

JimChalmers:

Thanks very much, David.

Speers:

So, when rates went up on Tuesday, you said government spending was not a factor in the decision. Was it a factor?

Chalmers:

Well, David, our political opponents and their acolytes are deliberately and dishonestly trying to conflate 2 different things. The idea that public demand is part of aggregate demand is not contested by me or by anyone. The question isn't whether public demand can create inflationary pressures; ...