Interview with Laura Jayes, AM Agenda

23 October 2024

LAURA JAYES: The IMF says that the outlook for global growth is improving but that long term gains are still pretty lacklustre. The Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been saying the worse is behind us but we keep seeing families affected by inflation and the cost of living. Joining me live now is Jane Hume, Liberal Senator and Shadow Finance Minister. Good to see you, Jane. First of all, when we look at this warning from the IMF, it really puts Australia right down the list. Why is that?

JANE HUME: Indeed, it does. It's really belled the cat on Labor's excuses for this high cost of living and high inflation Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese have been saying for some time that this is a global phenomenon that Australia is caught up in. But clearly, if we are up there with only Slovakia as a comparable country, the IMF are telling us that there is a problem with Australia's homegrown and sticky inflation. And indeed, they're calling, as the Coalition has done now for two years, for governments to show restraint in their spending so as not to fuel the inflation fire for longer. And that's what we've seen. Inflation has stayed higher for longer because of Labor's choice of policy response and their economic mismanagement. We're now seeing inflation not expected to come back to band, according to the RBA’s forecasts, until the middle of 2026 sorry, come back to the middle of band until the end of 2026 and in the meantime, we're in a per capita recession. There has been some poor policy choices taken by Labor, an anti-productivity agenda, and Australians are now paying the price. We are all poorer now than we were two years ago, and it's going to be a very lean Christmas for many Australians.

LAURA JAYES: Okay, but it would be remiss of me not to point out that Australia's inflation did go as high as other countries like the US and the UK. It has stayed higher for longer, though, but they had a lot more acute pain. Is there some credit for the Government on that front?

JANE HUME: And that I think is what we're referring to when we say that Australia's inflation problem, as Michele Bullock from the RBA has said, it is both home grown and sticky. It is being caused by decisions made in Australia, and it's staying higher for longer because of decisions being made in Australia…

LAURA JAYES: You have to give the government then, some credit for keeping it lower or not spiking as high as other advanced economies then.

JANE HUME: Well, I think that if you speak to the average Australian who are suffering from the price, from the cost of high groceries, who are paying the price when they repay their mortgages or pay their increasing, ever increasing rent. For those that are paying soaring energy bills, I'm not entirely sure they're giving the government credit for tackling the cost of living crisis when it matters and how it matters.

LAURA JAYES: Okay, let's talk about another issue that has been on the agenda the Queensland election. I spoke to David Littleproud about this earlier this week, and that is the abortion issue. He described it as opportunistic. Now, Jacinta Price has been asked about this very issue, and she's said, not effusively, but said, sure, it should be on the national agenda. Is it? Is that what the Coalition is going to do?

JANE HUME: Laura, this is an issue that is the purview of the states. It always has been an issue for the states and for the territories. It's not an issue for the federal government in the Liberal Party. It's always been an issue of conscience, too, and rightly so. There are some deeply held views right around the country, and that is fine, that's why they call it choice. But what I can assure you, and assure your viewers and assure all voters, is that a Dutton led Coalition government has no plans, no policy and no interest in unwinding women's reproductive rights.

LAURA JAYES: Okay, so this is not going to be part of any Coalition policy? We're not going to inject any of that American style politics into the next federal election campaign.

JANE HUME: It has been an issue raised by fringe parties in a state election. It is not an issue for Federal politics, and there is no plan to change or unwind women's reproductive rights in Australia under a Coalition led government.

LAURA JAYES: There's some people in your party that do as you say, have these quite tightly held and effusive views on abortion. Are you anticipating that they might speak out on this issue more frequently?

JANE HUME: It is a personal issue. That's why it's called choice. But there's no plans for a coalition government led by Peter Dutton to make any changes to women's reproductive rights.

LAURA JAYES: What's your personal view on it Jane?

JANE HUME: I have no need, I don't see the need to change the laws. But the good news is, I'm not in Queensland. It's not an issue that's been raised with me. The issue that's been raised with me is the cost of living. The cost of living, which is an issue that's affecting all Australians. It's a mainstream issue because it affects all Australians, and that's what the Coalition government, that's what a Coalition opposition is focused on. That's what we want to bring to government tackling the issues that are important to all Australians.

LAURA JAYES: It was interesting to see David Littleproud described this whole issue on abortion as opportunism, because it does work in places like the United States because they have non-compulsory voting. Is there some elements of politics in Australia, perhaps even within your own party, that want to use that same opportunism? And do you think it would work?

JANE HUME: I think we've seen fringe parties in state governments raise this issue for that very reason, but it is an important issue. It is not an issue that is important to ordinary Australians. What's important to ordinary Australians is how they're going to put food on the table this week, next week and this Christmas. It's how they're going to pay their mortgages. It's how they're going to pay their electricity bills. That's what a Coalition government, that's what a Coalition Opposition and a Coalition in government will be focusing on.

LAURA JAYES: Okay I don't think you could be much clearer on that, Jane Hume, that it's not going to happen within a Coalition federal government.

JANE HUME: Not going to happen.

LAURA JAYES: Thank you. Appreciate it. We'll see you soon.