Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today Show

23 April 2025

KARL STEFANOVIC: We're joined by Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume in Melbourne. Jane, good morning to you. The Opposition Leader did get personal. Are you getting that desperate?

JANE HUME: It was a very fiery debate. There's no doubt about it, and there was a broad range of topics that were covered off. But I thought the most interesting feature for me last night was the fact that the Prime Minister had to back away from both his Medicare campaign, which has continued throughout this election campaign, entirely unfounded, considering the Coalition is delivering not just the same amount, but more in in Medicare funding than than, the than the government. But also the Prime Minister's lack of use of that $600 billion lie about the Coalition's nuclear energy policy. The fact that he didn't mention that number for the very first time, I think, speaks volumes. Obviously, it's a number that's entirely discredited. It's been put forward by a discredited organisation that donates to the Labor Party. The fact that the Prime Minister was walking away from that, I think, is a very good sign, perhaps we can have a sensible debate on energy from now on.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Talk straight talk with us. Lay it out in the line, is the Prime Minister a liar?

JANE HUME: The Prime Minister has quite clearly set up a series of mistruths about things like Medicare, about energy, about women.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Jane, Jane , Jane , Jane, Jane. Is he a liar or not? I mean, pretty simple question.

JANE HUME: Well, I think the Mediscare campaign is an enormous lie. There is no doubt about that. That's, that's a government that is clutching at straws because it's run out of ideas.

KARL STEFANOVIC (TALKS OVER): Okay, you're also, you're clutching at straws too. Sorry. Half a million Australians have already cast their ballot in pre-poll voting. It’s getting late in the piece for you, right?

JANE HUME: But it's been an interesting day, even the first day on pre-poll, I was out there yesterday in Tasmania, and it was a much more buoyant feeling than I was expecting in both Bass and Braddon, where I was. So it's, I actually think that the Coalition have a bit of a pep in their step, and last night's debate helped along with that, because Peter Dutton was very strong. He delivered his message very clearly, particularly around the cost of living relief that the Coalition will be delivering to all Australians, around cuts to the fuel excise, the $1,200 cash back at the end of 12 months, and also incredible ways to deal with that energy crisis.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay, look, the tram is going to cut you off. Hey, look, you want to spend an extra 21 billion on defence, almost doubling Labor's planned increase. I don't think you're going to find many people who'd argue with it, probably just the bean counters. How are you going to pay for it?

JANE HUME: This is a really important investment in Australia's defence future, because, let's face it, even the Prime Minister says we have never lived in more uncertain times, but he hasn't got a solution to deal with that. $21 billion in defence will make sure that our men and women in uniform have the capability they need to defend our country in these uncertain times. There will be more announcements about this today, but this is a very sensible and credible approach to making sure that we reach our defence budget spending of around 2.5 percent of GDP within the next five years and all credible defence experts will say that's what we need. We also intend to get to 3% in the next decade.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay, I mean.

JANE HUME: It's really important. It's more uncertain times.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Jane, it's so important you've left it with one week to go.

JANE HUME: The first responsibility of a government is to keep.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Okay. I want to finish with this one.

JANE HUME: But the first responsibility of a government is to keep its citizens safe.

KARL STEFANOVIC: I want to finish with this one if we can. Women are deserting the Coalition, according to the latest polls. You'll be hoping that's wrong, like it was in the US, right? Do you take that as a given? Or are you fighting against that this election?

JANE HUME: I have no doubt, I have no doubt, that some of the mud that the Prime Minister and the Labor Party has slung at Peter Dutton over this last campaign has begun to stick. That's truly unfortunate, because only a Coalition government will deliver the empowerment to Australian women, indeed, all Australians to live their best lives, the most prosperous future in a safe environment too.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Alright, thanks for fighting that delay with us.

JANE HUME: What this government can do is keep Australians safe and make Australia prosperous.

KARL STEFANOVIC: Oh, thank god it's almost over. Always good to talk to you, Jane. Appreciate it.