Jane Hume | |
|---|---|
 Portrait, 2021 | |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | |
| Assumed office 13 February 2026 | |
| Leader | Angus Taylor |
| Preceded by | Ted O'Brien |
| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office 13 February 2026 | |
| Leader | Angus Taylor |
| Preceded by | Ted O’Brien |
| Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy | |
| In office 22 December 2020 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Jones (Financial Services) |
| Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology | |
| In office 29 May 2019 – 22 December 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Minister for Women's Economic Security | |
| In office 30 March 2021 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Senator for Victoria | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2016 (2016-07-02) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edwina Jane Exell (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (age 54) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Party | Liberal |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Finance, banking |
Edwina Jane Hume (née Exell; born 30 April 1971) is an Australian politician who has served as the deputyleader of the Opposition anddeputy leader of the Liberal Party since 2026. She has a been asenator for Victoria since 2016, and previously held ministerial positions in theMorrison government. Prior to entering politics, she held senior positions in the banking, finance and superannuation sectors.
Hume was born inMelbourne on 30 April 1971.[1] She is one of two daughters born to Steve and Louise Exell;[2] her father was a senior executive withQuaker Oats and later worked as a management consultant and business broker.[3] She grew up in the suburb ofArmadale and attendedLauriston Girls' School. She graduated from theUniversity of Melbourne with the degree ofBachelor of Commerce.[4]
Hume began working at theNational Australia Bank (NAB) in 1995 as a sales and marketing research manager. She completed a graduate diploma in finance and investment with theSecurities Institute of Australia in 1996, and subsequently worked with NAB as an investment manager (1996–1998) and private banker (1998–1999). She then moved toRothschild Australia as a senior business development manager in the asset management division, and briefly as a key accounts manager. She left the workforce in 2002 to start a family,[4] and from 2005 to 2006 served on the management committee of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA).[1]
Hume was a vice-president ofDeutsche Bank Australia from 2008 to 2009 and later served on the boards of theRoyal Children's Hospital (2011–2016) andFed Square Pty Ltd (2015–2016). Immediately before her election to parliament she was a senior strategic policy adviser withAustralianSuper.[4]
Hume joined the Liberal Party in 2003.[4] Before her election to the Senate, Hume held senior positions in theLiberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division), serving on the administrative committee, on the executive of the Women's Council, and as a delegate to state council. She was president of the party'sArmadale branch.[1]
In March 2016, Hume won Liberalpreselection for theCoalition's Senate ticket at the next federal election. She was initially ranked in third position behindJames Paterson and Nationals senatorBridget McKenzie, after losing to Paterson in the ballot for the top position.[5] However, following adouble dissolution she was elected in fifth position on the Coalition ticket at the2016 federal election.[6] Her candidacy was supported by the party's state presidentMichael Kroger.[7]
Prior to the2019 election, Hume stated she was "seriously considering" switching to the lower-house seat ofHiggins in place of the retiringKelly O'Dwyer.[8] She subsequently declined to contest the preselection ballot, citing a need for "fresh talent".[9] Prime MinisterScott Morrison subsequently intervened to ensure incumbent senators Hume and Paterson were re-endorsed, following opposition from the party's conservative wing.[10]
In May 2019, Hume was appointed Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology in theMorrison government.[1] In an interview withThe Sydney Morning Herald after her appointment, she described Australia's superannuation system as "inefficient" due to "high fees, duplicate accounts, underperforming funds and unnecessary insurance". She promised "a much broader vision for super" and said the government would make superannuation insurance voluntary for people under the age of 25 to reduce fees.[11]
Hume's title was changed to Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy as part of a December 2020 cabinet reshuffle. In March 2021, following theallegations of sexual misconduct in parliament, she was additionally appointed Minister for Women's Economic Security, a new position.[1] She held both portfolios until May 2022, following the appointment of theAlbanese ministry.
Hume reportedly "holds socially liberal views".[12] According toThe Sydney Morning Herald, Hume is a member of theModerate/Modern Liberal faction of the Liberal Party.[13][14] In her maiden speech she said that "my side of politics owes it to our followers and to our most vulnerable to articulate a positive social justice agenda for the Right".[15] She has described herself as a "lifelongmonarchist".[16]
In May 2021, Hume stated her philosophy on regulating thecryptocurrency sector, arguing that it was up to Australian investors to "be sensible enough to judge for themselves whether to put their hard earned money into higher-risk assets". She argued that cryptocurrency was subject to Australian laws – “it’s not a free pass” – but that she would not stand in the way of anyone who wanted to buy it. She also said thatinfluencers and social media users offering investment advice should not be subject to the stricter guidelines imposed on registered financial advisers.[17]
In September 2022, Hume spoke in favour of a bill to repeal theEuthanasia Laws Act 1997, which bars Australia's territory governments from legislating forassisted suicide. She had previously been in favour of the ban, but changed her mind following the death of her own terminally ill father via assisted suicide.[18]
Hume has three children with her husband Andrew Hume.[15]
Hume supportsSt Kilda in theAustralian Football League.[19]
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Deputy Leader of the Opposition 2026–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party 2026–present | Incumbent |
Prime Minister:Scott Morrison | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Assistant Ministers | ||
| Dismissed/resigned | ||
