Interview with Pete Stefanovic, First Edition

16 April 2024

PETE STEFANOVIC: Well, let's go back to our top story this morning, it's the second stabbing attack in Sydney in the last couple of days, last three days. Joining us live now out of Melbourne is the Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume. Jane, good to see you this morning. So we will get to Brad Banducci in the supermarkets in just a moment. But just from where you are, what are your thoughts this morning on what's going on in Sydney right now?

JANE HUME: I was watching the story unfold, Pete in Melbourne last night and my heart breaks for the people of Sydney after such a horrific event on the weekend, seeing those senseless deaths and then again last night. And my thoughts are with Bishop Emanuel and all of those in the congregation that were witness to that senseless stabbing last night. I would say, though, that one of the things I found very disturbing about the reports was the news that police have been hurt in the scuffle afterwards. And I think if this weekend teaches us anything, it is that our police are the front line, keeping Australians safe in times of terror, of fear and of senseless crime like this. And our thoughts should be with those policemen too, that were hurt in the line of duty last night.

PETE STEFANOVIC: Yeah, we'll get an update on their conditions shortly. I suppose this will also raise questions about live streaming religious services, particularly in a hot environment at the moment. Jane, do you have any concerns with that?

JANE HUME: I think the day that we stop live streaming religious services is a day that we give in to those that would seek to put fear into our hearts. That would be a terrible shame.

PETE STEFANOVIC: Okay, on to Brad Banducci. So he's going to face the spotlight this morning in a Senate inquiry in Canberra. What do you want to hear from him?

JANE HUME: Well, the supermarket giants are going to appear today both of them as part of this Senate inquiry into a Greens bill. We've heard from a number of witnesses already that have particular solutions to the cost of rising groceries, and you can understand why there is concern out there. Groceries have gone up by around 10% in the last two years alone. In fact, the price of bread and milk have gone up by 17.5% and 16.5%, respectively. Of course, it means that when people go to the supermarket and buy their groceries, that there are fewer and fewer things in that basket costing more and more. That said, is this bill the right solution to that problem that we will await to see? Quite frankly, if Labor were very serious about getting down the cost of groceries, they would tackle the big issue, which is inflation and the drivers of those costs of groceries. They would be tackling high energy prices. They wouldn't be imposing restrictive industrial relations laws on companies like Coles and Woolworths, and instead would be allowing them to pass savings on to consumers. More importantly, they wouldn't persist with a tax on farmers and a tax on truckies, which essentially get passed on directly to the price of groceries. So I think from a Labor perspective we can look at what they do rather than what they say. But let's remind ourselves that this is a Greens bill. And of course, the Greens are calling those witnesses that would support their contention.

PETE STEFANOVIC: Okay. But as for the supermarket giants though, are they ripping off consumers?

JANE HUME: Well, we'll hear today about what it is that those supermarket giants are in fact doing and what subjects, what pressures that they're facing, that they feel the need to pass on higher prices to consumers. There was some interesting testimony yesterday, and I suppose they will have to respond to some of the allegations that were made, particularly by the whistleblower.

PETE STEFANOVIC: Jane Hume, we'll leave it there. Appreciate it.