Controversy has emerged around a Victorian Liberal Party Senate pre-selection candidate who also happens to be a staffer within Australia’s largest industry superannuation fund, Australian Super.
The candidate is Jane Hume who, apart from describing herself as a Senate Candidate for Victoria for the Liberal Party also describes herself as being a Senior Policy Adviser at Australian Super.
Hume’s employment within the industry fund has given rise to a Facebook discussion in which some participants have expressed concerns about her position on key Government superannuation policy such as fund governance and choice of fund.
One participant in the discussion stated, “All Senate Candidates should make a public statement supporting Federal Minister [Assistant Treasurer] Kelly O’Dwyer’s reform agenda, which includes: EBA Reform for Super, full choice for Default Super Funds & Independent Directors for all Industry Super Funds. Right now”.
However Hume’s background reveals a long career in the financial services industry including positions at National Australia Bank, Rothschild Australia Asset Management and Deustche Bank. Further, she has held office on Victorian Liberal Party committees and was a Liberal candidate in the 2010 Victorian election.
A number of former senior Liberal politicians are now serving on the boards of industry funds organisations, Hume is possibly the first person to be employed by an industry fund prior to becoming a Liberal politican.
