Melbourne-based senator Jane Hume has caused a storm for her joking comments about the quality of regional towns’ coffee. Photo: Picture: Jane Hume, LinkedIn.
Melbourne-based Liberal senator Jane Hume has caused a storm with her comments about living in regional Australia.
In an interview on Channel 7’s Sunrise, Senator Hume was asked about whether she would consider a move to the Nationals following party leader David Littleproud’s comments that he would be open to more Liberals joining the regional-focused party’s ranks.
Senator Hume offered a tongue-in-cheek response, stating she is “too fond of coffee” and that she would have to “speak a lot slower” if she did defect.
“I do look very fetching in an Akubra, I’ll tell you that much. And I’d have to speak a lot slower and talk about the regions more often down in cocky’s corner,” Senator Hume said.
“To be honest, I am too fond of good coffee and free markets to join the National party.”
Despite Senator Hume’s joking comments, many, including Wagga Wagga Coffee Guru owner Murray Gabriel, have been quick to refute her coffee claims.
Mr Gabriel has worked in service and hospitality across the country, including in Sydney and Melbourne. Despite the Senator’s remarks, he said it is the regions that have it over their city counterparts when it comes to coffee.
“It just shows how out of touch Senator Jane Hume is with regional Australia,” he said.
“The coffee and cafe culture in regional areas is just as good, if not better, because you get better service in regional areas than in the capital cities.
“You’ve got such a saturation of the market in Wagga alone, which means that you’ve got to be good or you will quickly lose out.”
When asked if he would be happy to prove Senator Hume’s comments wrong, Mr Gabriel reluctantly extended an invitation.
“Yeah, look, if she were in town, why not? However, I doubt she’d ever come out this way.”
Joining Mr Gabriel in his dismissal of Senator Hume’s comments was Wagga-based NSW Member of the Legislative Council Wes Fang, who hit back at Senator Hume’s opposition to joining the National Party.
“Jane Hume should try speaking slowly when giving an answer (to journalists),” he said.
“It would provide her an opportunity to engage with her superior moderate metropolitan Victorian Liberal brain, before jamming her Manolo Blahnik in her mouth.”
Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kirsty McBain, has also rebuked Senator Hume for her comments on regional living, stating she would be happy to shout her a chai latte from her electorate office in Queanbeyan.
“Regional Australians are hardworking people who are raising their families and keeping our country running,” she said.
“People in Geraldton, Geelong and George Town don’t need smarmy lectures from arrogant Liberals who think once you step out of an inner-Melbourne laneway we are all slow-talking drongos.
“I’d be happy to have Senator Hume in my electorate and shout her an excellent chai latte from my local cafe, Infuse in Tura Beach, a macchiato from 4 Seeds in Queanbeyan or a croissant from Honorbread in Bermagui.
“People who live in the regions are proud of where they live, and the government is proud of the contribution regional Australians make.”
