Hume says Liberals would oppose any increase to capital gains tax
Hume is asked about specifics of the Liberals’’ policies going forward, but isn’t offering much detail, saying she “won’t go into the intricacies of policies just after the change”.
However, there is one thing she can say for certain:
All Liberals know that the Liberal party should always be and must always be a party of lower taxes.
On the capital gains discount for property investment, Hume says the party will oppose any increase.
If you tax residential housing, there will be less of it. That would be a disaster. No-one has yet come out change to capital gains tax on residential housing will create more houses or provide more opportunities, rental houses those that are yet to purchase their first home. That would be a disaster.
Hume is asked about whether it might be a good idea to tax exports to increase revenue in order to provide services:
We are always open want to see taxes decreased. Energy is going to be a real important part of that conversation. Making sure we have energy abundance in increasing supply prices of energy.
Pressed on this, Hume deflects, saying she is not going to be “making policy on the run on Sunday morning, 48 hours after I’ve become deputy leader”.
Lower taxes are better than higher taxes. They’re better for all Australians. But energy abundance is what is going to bring energy prices down.
“Abundance” appears to be the key word here.
Outspoken Liberal staffer Charlotte Mortlock quits party after Ley’s ousting
Charlotte Mortlock, the high profile former Coalition staffer and leader of grassroots organisation Hilma’s Network, has left the Liberal party, days after Sussan Ley was ousted by Angus Taylor.
Hilma’s Network was formed by Mortlock to bring “Liberal-minded” women together. Mortlock has been a vocal advocate for modernisation in the Liberal party, including pushing for the party to support net zero targets, and was part of a small team who designed a plan for gender quotas in New South Wales preselections.
Mortlock made the announcement that she was leaving the network and the party in a statement on Sunday morning:
I have decided the time has come for me to step down as executive director of Hilma’s Network and I have also relinquished my Liberal party membership.
Due to recent events I have decided there are other ways I can support women and Australia.
Mortlock said she was proud of the women Hilma’s Network was able to support through preselections and elections, and hosted events that “challenged the party to evolve”.
Hume says Liberals want ‘a lower number of people’ coming to Australia
On immigration, and in a hint to the future direction of the Coalition, Hume says that immigration policy is “out of control”, and there is a mismatch between values.
A reset on immigration is profoundly important. We want to see a lower number of people come to our country, but we also want to raise the standards. What that looks like, I won’t get into the details today.
But I think all Australians know if you come here, coming to Australia, living in Australia is one of the greatest gifts that could ever be given to anybody. Which is why we want to make sure the people who do come here share our beliefs, share our respect for the rule of law and for democracy.
And if you don’t, then the door should be shut.
This appears to rhyme with the broader messaging from Angus Taylor on Sky News earlier who emphasised culture war issues by demanding the prime minister condemn use of the phrase “globalise the intifada” when asked about his party’s policy issues.
Hume does suggest that any citizenship test need to ensure new Australians subscribe to “core beliefs, to those freedoms, personal responsibility”.
Hume says Australia should not take ‘ideological approach’ to energy, says nuclear should still be part of energy mix
The conversation returns again to energy policy and the climate crisis.
Asked directly about whether the Coalition needs some sort of policy on climate change, Hume counters by talking about nuclear power:
If people were open-minded to the idea of lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy, which is a bill I brought forward as a backbencher so we can have a zero-emissions technology introduced into our country, as every other developed nation has either done or is in the process of doing, that would add to the energy abundance that would bring prices down.
Hume is asked to clarify whether nuclear was the Coalition’s answer to issues of climate change. She says that’s not what was asked (it was). Speers restates the question: what will the Coalition do on climate change beyond nuclear to bring down emissions?
David, I’m not announcing policy 48 hours after having been elected deputy leader … before our first shadow cabinet meeting. But it is absolutely crazy to take an ideological approach towards energy because it’s energy that drives our economy. We want to see our economy flourish and thrive so that all Australians can see better days ahead.
Hume is then asked whether the Coalition needs a policy on climate change if it hopes of winning back seats now controlled by teal independents.
There is no doubt that caring for our environment, looking after our oceans, looking after our soil, looking after our water is profoundly important. And reducing emissions is a part of that, but it’s not the only thing that’s important to Australians.
What’s important to Australians is an opportunity that they can see to get ahead. That they can see to look after themselves, to look after their families, to restore that optimism to what it is that they do every single day.
Childcare system ‘not working for Australians’, Hume says
On childcare, Hume says the party has yet to meet after the change in leadership, though she says she thinks its “pretty obvious that childcare is not working for Australians” due to the rising costs that is “becoming so out of reach for every Australian”.
We want to make sure we have a system that not only makes sure families that want to return to the workplace and have their children cared for have that opportunity to do so, but they should also have a choice as to how they go about doing that.
Hume however says subsidies are not the answer, adding that she thinks “Australians deserve a choice”.
Because we want all Australians, particularly women, to have that opportunity to participate fully in the economy, participate fully in society. And we also want to make sure we have quality childcare that makes sure our children have the best start in life, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a one size fits all approach that’s the way to deal with that.
Hume says Liberals would oppose any increase to capital gains tax
Hume is asked about specifics of the Liberals’’ policies going forward, but isn’t offering much detail, saying she “won’t go into the intricacies of policies just after the change”.
However, there is one thing she can say for certain:
All Liberals know that the Liberal party should always be and must always be a party of lower taxes.
On the capital gains discount for property investment, Hume says the party will oppose any increase.
If you tax residential housing, there will be less of it. That would be a disaster. No-one has yet come out change to capital gains tax on residential housing will create more houses or provide more opportunities, rental houses those that are yet to purchase their first home. That would be a disaster.
Hume is asked about whether it might be a good idea to tax exports to increase revenue in order to provide services:
We are always open want to see taxes decreased. Energy is going to be a real important part of that conversation. Making sure we have energy abundance in increasing supply prices of energy.
Pressed on this, Hume deflects, saying she is not going to be “making policy on the run on Sunday morning, 48 hours after I’ve become deputy leader”.
Lower taxes are better than higher taxes. They’re better for all Australians. But energy abundance is what is going to bring energy prices down.
“Abundance” appears to be the key word here.
‘Something has to give’ amid Liberals’ current polling crisis, Hume says
The Coalition is facing an existential crisis with the Liberal party receiving its worst result since 1944, the Liberal deputy leader, Jane Hume, says.
Something has to give. Australians are rightly aggrieved at the moment and you can see why they’re looking elsewhere because they weren’t finding answers in the messages and the policies and the positions we were taking.
That’s why there has been a change, that’s why Angus Taylor and I will lead team to the next election to make sure that we protect Australians’ standard of living, restore Australians’ standard of living and protect their way of life.
Hume is speaking to David Speers on ABC Insiders this morning, who is attempting to cast the Coalition’s new leadership team as taking the party into the future.
Asked about the mistakes of the past, including opposing work from home arrangements and opposing tax cuts, Hume defended the party’s actions.
Everybody makes mistakes and if you don’t go through a period of reflection about what you would have changed after an election loss, then you’re fooling yourself.
Australians asked us to do that reflection and that was writ large in the result. What’s important now is the future. What do Australians expect from a strong Coalition and a Liberal party that knows what it stands for, a Liberal party that speaks with conviction and not with convenience.
Taylor attacks Albanese for ‘refusing to condemn’ pro-Palestine protesters
Asked about recent protests in Sydney, Taylor did say that he believed “people have the right to pray” but refused to criticise police over their handling of the situation, including the decision to move on a group of Muslim men engaged in prayer.
He attacked Albanese for, he said, refusing to “condemn” use of the phrase “globalise the intifada”. Asked about Grace Tame and her use of the phrase, he suggested the issue begins with the PM.
I think what should happen is the prime minister should condemn it.
Asked about the by-election that has now been triggered after his predecessor, Sussan Ley, quit politics following the leadership spill, Taylor said he didn’t “underestimate the scale of the challenge” but acknowledged Ley as a “popular local member”.
I acknowledge her extraordinary service to the Liberal party.
You can read more about the Farrer byelection here:
The Liberals’ new deputy leader Jane Hume will speak to ABC Insiders host David Speers this morning.
Earlier this morning the Liberal leader, Angus Taylor, spoke to Sky News, followed by the trade minister, Don Farrell.
We will bring you all the latest.
Angus Taylor holds back on plans for frontbench, Liberals’ relationship with One Nation
Newly crowned opposition leader Angus Taylor has offered few details about the make-up his shadow cabinet and the direction of the Coalition under his stewardship, but has called on Anthony Albanese to condemn use of the phrase “globalise the intifada”.
Taylor was asked multiple times for details about the future of his party during an appearance on Sky News and about the internal challenges it faces during an appearance on Sunday morning.
In response to questions about the composition of his front bench, Taylor said he was going to “put great people into place” but that he was not going to make any announcements on the morning show.
I know you’re going to try to drag out of me the frontbench announcements. I’m not going to make them.
He was also asked how the Coalition will navigate its relationship with One Nation going forward and, in particular, whether it would negotiate a preference deal with the far right party.
My starting point with people who are thinking about or who have voted One Nation is to show them respect. They have made their decisions for a reason. We have to convince them we are a better alternative.
The party organisation decides on preferencing and that is not something we have thought on at this time.
Good morning
And welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
The new Liberal leader, Angus Taylor, and his deputy, Jane Hume, are on the press circuit this morning but have so far offered few details about the makeup of the opposition frontbench. During his appearance on Sky News, Taylor was repeatedly asked how he planned to reset the party’s direction under his leadership, and what relationship the Liberals would strike with One Nation, but he said those questions had yet to be resolved. We’ll bring you more on the Liberal party’s latest movements shortly.
Sydney’s Mardi Gras will have its first major event on Sunday as Fair Day takes place in Victoria park, marking 48 years since the first parade in 1978.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
With that, let’s get started …
<a href