The chaos in France is a ‘warning signal’ for Australia’s public spending and rising costs

Key points

• Economists say the unrest in France is a warning signal for Australia's public spending and rising costs. Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday over school underfunding and cost-of-living pressures.
• Economist Luke Hartigan said soaring energy costs are a major factor, but that France's high public debt and generous welfare state are the more fundamental problem. Public debt in France is nearly 120 per cent of the economy, compared with 53 per cent in Australia.
• Economist Bob Breunig called for an honest public conversation about what government can do and what it will cost.