Morrison said Albanese’s comments yesterday started a “chain reaction” that would lead to higher interest rates and higher living costs,“and if he doesn’t understand that,well,that tells you everything you need to know about what he doesn’t understand about the Australian economy.”

Those comments appear to run in contrast with Morrison’s repeated commentary about the independence of the Fair Work Commission,the industrial umpire that decides the national minimum wage,a topic that has now become a central component of the election.

Former Macquarie Dictionary editor Sue Butler,an expert in the Australian lexicon,said the term “loose unit” was usually ascribed to someone who was eccentric and unconventional,as well as someone who enjoyed going out on the town “and getting plastered”.

“I think it has the same sense as ‘loose cannon’,someone you can’t trust,” Butler,now an independent lexicographer,said.

“Most people would use ‘loose unit’ with,I think,a tinge of admiration … his use of it as a derogatory term is,perhaps,unusual.”

Labor’s industrial relations spokesman,Tony Burke,told ABC Radio this morning that Albanese’s support for the minimum wage to be increased to meet the 5.1 per cent inflation rate is “completely consistent” with Labor policy.

Burke told the ABC’sRN Breakfastthat Labor will have more to say about its position on wages growth soon,but wouldn’t be drawn on whether that will include an exact figure.

“What we’ve made clear is that we can’t go back on wages,” the Labor frontbencher said. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time and we’ve been making the same point publicly for a long time.”

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