Interview with Laura Jayes, AM Agenda

24 April 2024

LAURA JAYES: Let’s go to the Shadow Finance Minister now, Jane Hume. She’s listening in on that. Jane, first of all, suggestions from the Coalition today that there should be an age limit being enforced at 16 on social media platforms, Michelle Rowland was open to that, but enforcing it is the issue, isn't it?

JANE HUME: This is something that the Coalition have been talking about for a while. A recommendation from a Safety Commissioner some time ago, was that there is a trial undertaken to use age verification software on those sites where there is explicit violent material. And we think that that's a very sensible option. It's something that helps parents do their job of making sure that they're keeping an eye on what content the kids are looking at. And this will be an expansion of that. However, you know, we would hope that, let's say for social media platforms themselves, would take a little bit more responsibility here, but certainly this is something that we have proposed from the Coalition that we would like the Government to consider.

LAURA JAYES: From Michelle Rowland about this Elon v Albo issue, you got to admit that Michelle Rowland is not backing away here.

JANE HUME: And neither should she. The laws exist in Australia that gives the eSafety Commissioner the powers to require a warrant for material to be taken down. She has implemented that law, that law was put in place by the Coalition as part of the Online Safety Act. And we should be backing the eSafety Commissioner in implementing that law. What is a real shame, I think is that this has turned into a freedom of speech argument because quite frankly, you know, freedom of speech is fundamentally important to who we are as a liberal democracy and the important work that we do-

LAURA JAYES: I mean is Ralph Babet exercising his freedom of speech though?

JANE HUME: Well, I think that that's what he would tell you but you know-

LAURA JAYES: What do you think?

JANE HUME: Freedom of speech is a right is a right but all rights come with responsibilities and one of your responsibilities is human decency. This was a violent extremist act, allegedly a terrorist act. There are still procedures underway around that. And it does have implications both for those that may have been involved. And for those in which might incite further violence, there is a responsibility to behave like a decent human being. That is the reciprocal part of the right of freedom of speech and we would hope that there is a sensible pathway here. The fact that you need to legislate for these things, I think, is the most frustrating thing. And we would hope that those social media platforms would step up with their obligations to be decent human beings-

LAURA JAYES: Hasn't Ralph Babet's actions on Twitter just shown us why you need to legislate for these things?

JANE HUME: I would have hoped that elected members of Parliament would be able to demonstrate a commitment towards that sensible ground where we balance those rights and those freedoms with the responsibilities that come with it. I think maybe on this one. Mr. Babet has failed.

LAURA JAYES: Jane, can I ask you about inflation figures out in about two hours time now. Economists are saying down to perhaps three and a half percent on an annualized basis. And that's not within the RBA band. Also economists saying even if it is at that level, the budget needs to be carefully managed as to not be inflationary. Would you agree with that?

JANE HUME: Well, this is something that the Coalition have been calling for for a long period of time now. In fact, nearly two years. Inflation is one of the biggest problems that the economy is facing right now. Persistent inflation that has remained higher for longer because of the decisions that the Government making is causing an erosion of purchasing power, a reduction of people's savings and, more importantly, a diminished standard of living and quality of life. That is why it is so important to get inflation under control as a priority. Because all people, all Australians suffer from inflation, except for governments. Governments actually do pretty well out of inflation because with bracket creep, their revenue take is higher and it also reduces the face value of debt. Now, just because governments do well out of inflation doesn't mean that it shouldn't be a priority to fix because the people that have elected you are suffering because of this. In fact, we've seen real disposable incomes drop by around 7.5% in the last two years alone. If you are feeling poorer, there's a good reason for that. It's because you are poorer, and the Government isn't doing all it can do with its fiscal levers in order to alleviate that pressure on the RBA to keep ratcheting up interest rates. So that's what these economists are now calling for a contractionary budget. Or at very best, at very least, a neutral budget in order to make sure that the fiscal levers are being pulled, not just the monetary levers because when those monetary levers are poor, when interest rates keep going up, or don't come down quick enough, your real disposable income will go backwards,

LAURA JAYES: Contractionary budget that's the word I was looking for a little earlier. Jane, good to talk to you. We'll see you soon.

JANE HUME: Thanks Laura.