View from The Hill: Australians don't need to be told high interest rates are 'smashing' the economy, but is there an alternative?

Treasurer Jim Chalmers mightn't have expected his weekend comment - made ahead of expected low growth figures later this week - that interest rate rises were "smashing" the Australian economy to set off the reaction it has. After all, it's been something of a Chalmers mantra.

In June he said rate rises were "hammering the economy". On another occasion that month he said higher rates were "hammering consumption"