When Labor was in opposition, then Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers was a strong proponent of a wide variety of metrics that are championed by economists as more accurate indicators of economic performance.
This earned him respect, even from his rivals, though only behind closed doors.
But since coming to power, his focus has often turned to whatever metric is favourable for the Albanese government. Whether it be switching from quarterly figures to annual or emphasising the headline economic metrics that he once saw as less than ideal indicators of the nation’s economic performance.
