Federal election 2025: Treasurer Jim Chalmers heckled in Perth over student debt, ‘genocide’ in Middle East

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been heckled by two female protestors at a media event in Wangara, with one questioning the high level of student debt and claims “gas companies are ripping us off” while another made claims of “genocide” in the Middle East conflict. One female protestor stormed the press conference at Australian Vanadium screaming: “Hey, Jim Chalmers. This Government collects more from the HECS student debt than the petroleum resource rent tax. “Why is your government supporting Woodside’s climate reckless projects, while companies are ripping us off.” The protestor was led away with Dr Chalmers telling media he was “completely untroubled by it”. “You’d prefer press conferences aren’t interfered, but you prefer to live in a country where people have a view and can express it,” he said. “We are cutting student debt and have reformed PPRT so Australia gets a bigger return on offshore gas.” No sooner had Dr Chalmers addressed one protester, who was led away by police, another woman gate crashed the presser, asking questions on the conflict in the middle east. “Over the last 16 months we have increased our exports and investments into Israel,” the woman said. “I’m just wondering (whether the) the current political climate might see us divesting from genocide and apartheid in the foreseeable future.” Dr Chalmers responded Australia had “made it clear we want an enduring ceasefire in Gaza”. “We want humanitarian access,” he said. The woman, who started yelling, was also led away by police.