Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney has fired off a pre-emptive shot at critics after the conglomerate hailed $44.2 billion in revenue at its general meeting on Thursday, questioning why profit is seen as a “dirty word” today. In his speech to be delivered to shareholders in Perth later today, Mr Chaney will defend Wesfarmers remaining strongly profitable through Australia’s cost-of-living crisis. “For some external parties, profit seems to be a dirty word, but it is important to understand how profitable businesses are essential to our economy and future prosperity,” the Wesfarmers chair is sc…