The know-it-alls pouring scorn on Labor have easy answers. They deserve more scepticism

April 23, 2026 — 3:00am

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In today’s media space, with its blend of immediacy and the need for pithy hot takes, experts and talking heads are content providers. They can’t afford to say, “I don’t know”. But we’re entering a period in which there are going to be plenty of times when we don’t know.

Well-known economist Chris Richardson, a former Treasury officer, later a representative of one of the big consulting firms and now hanging out his own shingle, offered an insight into the way economic commentary works in an interview with The Australian Financial Review last week. “You may have noticed, I get my name in the paper a bit,” he said. “I will admit I like that. The economics game is full of big egos, and I plead guilty.” Full marks to Richardson for his frankness.

In a little under three weeks, the Albanese government will deliver the most highly anticipated budget in its four years in office. Of course, we won’t know exactly what’s in it until then, although the government is trailing out a lot of information about likely tax changes and cuts to big programs.

But we can look ahead with a bit more certainty to how it is likely to be received by many economic experts or “top economists” who work for business and financial institutions and are regularly quoted in the media........

© WA Today