Comedian Dave Hughes has detailed his reasons for skipping the Logie Awards, opting instead to attend a Liberal Party event in Geelong. Hughes, 55, addressed a joke made by Logies host Robert Irwin during the ceremony, who quipped about a potential reboot of Hughes's show "Hughesy, We Have a Problem." Hughes expressed pride in receiving a mention despite his absence, telling the Today show that Irwin was correct about the existence of problems in the country.
Hughes explained his decision to attend the Liberal Party event was driven by his desire to see a change in government in Victoria. The event, held at a bowls club to support local Liberal candidates ahead of the state's November election, garnered more media attention than Hughes anticipated. He joked about feeling like the center of attention, with multiple cameras focused on him during his drive to the event.
"All I want to do is change the government down here in Victoria," Hughes stated. "I'm jumping on the Liberals to hopefully get the job done."
He acknowledged that his political commentary on social media has drawn both praise and criticism. Hughes also humorously shared that his wife, Holly Ife, had warned him of a potential divorce if he formally entered politics, suggesting a mock divorce as a possible solution. His daughter's request for him to stop discussing politics due to a disagreement with a school friend also prompted lighthearted remarks.
Hughes rejected claims that his political involvement was motivated by personal financial interests, such as investment properties or tax changes. He stated his initial interest stemmed from budget policy, but his focus has broadened to government spending and accountability. "People can say what they like. I know why I'm doing this," he said. "I want the governments to know that we're going to start looking at what you're doing with our money."