Karl Stefanovic's blunt message for the Albanese government after Australia's top banker exposed major interest rates problem in rare intervention: 'Dacked'

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:22, 6 May 2026 | Updated: 01:24, 6 May 2026 The Albanese government has denied it was 'fiscally dacked' by the Reserve Bank of Australia after it announced another cash rate hike and took aim at Labor's spending. At its meeting on Tuesday, the RBA board, headed by Michelle Bullock, increased the cash rate by 0.25 points to 4.35 per cent in a blow for Australian mortgage holders. The decision was prompted by persistent inflation, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier this year claimed the government had tamed. During a 45-minute press conference, Bullock brutally took aim at the Albanese government's attempts to buy votes. 'The extent to which the government makes up budget shortfalls for households by giving them more money makes it harder to dampen demand,' she said. The comments came just hours after reports emerged claiming the Albanese government was considering a one-off tax break in the upcoming Federal Budget. Australian workers who pay tax could see an income offset between $200 and $300 for earned income rather than investments, according to The Australian.  In a painful exchange on Wednesday morning, Chalmers was asked by Today show host Karl Stefanovic: 'How does it feel to get fiscally dacked by the Reserve Bank Governor?' Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) has denied it was 'fiscally dacked' by the Reserve Bank of Australia after it announced another cash rate hike Millions of Australians were hit with another brutal mortgage blow when the RBA hiked rates Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked Chalmers on Wednesday: 'How does it feel to get fiscally dacked by the Reserve Bank Governor?' The TV personality pushed the Treasurer on whether he would listen to Bullock's warning about 'government stimulus'. The term is a reference to targeted action by governments or central banks to boost economic activity during downturns, recessions, or crises.  It can take the form of increased spending, tax cuts, or reduced interest rates.  But Chalmers insisted the Governor's comment was a response to a hypothetical question. 'Obviously, I don't see it that way. Karl, this will be a really responsible budget, because we take this inflation challenge in our economy seriously, because we know that people are under pressure,' Chalmers said. 'The Governor was asked a hypothetical question about some budget speculation that there'd be a heap more stimulus in the budget.  'There won't be a heap more stimulus in the budget. In fact, the budget will wind back spending overall. There won't be a heap of new stimulus in the budget.' Stefanovic pushed the Chalmers further, stating that he 'can't solve, obviously, the issue of government spending by spending more'. The RBA board, headed by Michelle Bullock (pictured), increased the cash rate by 0.25 points to 4.35 per cent in a blow for Australian mortgage holders But the Treasurer said the Albanese government had 'found a bunch of savings' to trim the budget. '(It will make) room for priorities like urgent care clinics an Medicare funding, the fuel tax cut, these sorts of really important steps we are taking,' Chalmers said. 'But overall, we'll be winding back spending.'  On Tuesday, Chalmers also claimed that a significant reason for Australiams facing a higher cost of living is due to the conflict in the Middle East.  Bullock acknowledged on Tuesday that Australians had been left poorer in the wake of surging oil prices after the United States' military strikes on Iran, and the retaliation that followed, including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But she said that, even before the conflict broke out, demand in Australia was above supply, which raises prices. 'The ability of the economy to supply the goods and services that were being demanded in total, including by government and by the private sector, was outstripping the ability of the economy to supply it. 'That's why inflation was rising.' While previous cash rate hikes by the RBA have been significantly split, Tuesday's decision saw a clear majority with eight of the nine board members voting to raise it. The remaining member voted to hold rates.  For an owner‑occupier with a $600,000 mortgage and 25 years remaining at the start of this year's hikes, another 0.25 adds $91 to their minimum monthly repayments. The total increase across the three hikes since February would be $272 a month. The increase will lift the average owner‑occupier variable rate to 6.26 per cent, pushing it above the 6.25 per cent mark for the first time since January 2025. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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