Jane Hume

Edwina Jane Hume (; born 30 April 1971) is an Australian politician who has served as the deputy leader of the Opposition and deputy leader of the Liberal Party since 2026. She has a been a senator for Victoria since 2016, and previously held ministerial positions in the Morrison government. Prior to entering politics, she held senior positions in the banking, finance and superannuation sectors.

Early life Hume was born in Melbourne on 30 April 1971. She is one of two daughters born to Steve and Louise Exell; her father was a senior executive with Quaker Oats and later worked as a management consultant and business broker. She grew up in the suburb of Armadale and attended Lauriston Girls' School. She graduated from the University of Melbourne with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce.

Career Hume began working at the National Australia Bank (NAB) in 1995 as a sales and marketing research manager. She completed a graduate diploma in finance and investment with the Securities Institute of Australia in 1996, and subsequently worked with NAB as an investment manager (1996–1998) and private banker (1998–1999). She then moved to Rothschild 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, However, following a double dissolution she was elected in fifth position on the Coalition ticket at the 2016 federal election. Her candidacy was supported by the party's state president Michael Kroger.

Prior to the 2019 election, Hume stated she was "seriously considering" switching to the lower-house seat of Higgins in place of the retiring Kelly O'Dwyer. She subsequently declined to contest the preselection ballot, citing a need for "fresh talent". Prime Minister Scott Morrison subsequently intervened to ensure incumbent senators Hume and Paterson were re-endorsed, following opposition from the party's conservative wing.

In May 2019, Hume was appointed Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology in the Morrison government.

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 the allegations of sexual misconduct in parliament, she was additionally appointed Minister for Women's Economic Security, a new position.

Political views Hume reportedly "holds socially liberal views". According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Hume is a member of the Moderate/Modern Liberal faction of the Liberal Party. 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". She has described herself as a "lifelong monarchist".

In May 2021, Hume stated her philosophy on regulating the cryptocurrency 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 that influencers and social media users offering investment advice should not be subject to the stricter guidelines imposed on registered financial advisers.

In September 2022, Hume spoke in favour of a bill to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, which bars Australia's territory governments from legislating for assisted 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.

Personal life Hume has three children with her former husband Andrew Hume.

Hume supports St Kilda in the Australian Football League.