Dave Hughes lashes out at latest interest rate hike after Aussies are told to stop spending so much on 'crazy stuff' like groceries

Comedian Dave Hughes has taken aim at Australia's latest interest rate hike, sarcastically suggesting struggling households should stop spending money on extravagant purchases like groceries.

The Liberal supporter shared a video to Instagram shortly after the Reserve Bank of Australia announced its latest decision on Tuesday, mocking the suggestion that Australians need to rein in their spending.

'So the RBA's just raised interest rates again in Australia, so that's cool,' he began.

'They've said we've just got to stop spending so much, and people do, they're just doing f**king crazy stuff. You know, there's people going out and just buying groceries. It's just... you can't do it, guys.'

Hughes then revealed that even his own household had felt the sting of rising grocery prices.

Holding up a grocery receipt to the camera, he said: 'My wife did it. Right? Supermarket shop, 500 bucks.' 

'Look through the bloody receipt. She hasn't even bought cocaine!' he joked.

The comedian bluntly captioned the video: 'RBA saying Aussies must stop acting like they are rich.'

His comments came as the Reserve Bank announced another increase to interest rates, putting further pressure on mortgage holders already struggling with the cost of living.

Hughes returned to Instagram on Wednesday with another sarcastic video, this time jokingly taking aim at critics blaming the Federal Labor government for the latest rate hikes.

'People blaming the Labor government for this interest rate explosion disgust me,' he began the tongue-in-cheek video. 

'Yes, the last time interest rates were this high was 2011. Yes, it was after three years of a Labor government. Yes, that's true. Whatever,' he said.

'People go, "Oh yeah, private sector's got no money. They're not spending, it's the government spending." Yes, it is the government spending. They spend because they care,' he said.

Hughes then turned his attention to government contracts, accusing politicians of handing lucrative deals to their associates.

He cited a Victorian Labor government contract involving almost $2million spent on hiring pot plants for two offices, joking that it was an example of 'mates' rates'.

'They had to give them back. It was mates' rates, guys. It was their friends looking after them,' he said.

The comedian also took aim at the controversial redesign of the Bureau of Meteorology's website, which began under the former Coalition government in 2019.

Hughes claimed that the project became an example of alleged cronyism after Labor came to power in 2022, pointing to the involvement of consulting firm Accenture.

He then singled out Labor MP and Digital Minister Andrew Charlton, who sold his consultancy business to Accenture in 2020 for $35million, with more than $32million of the sale attributed to goodwill.

Charlton subsequently worked for Accenture before entering politics and becoming the member for Parramatta. He was later appointed to the ministry.

Hughes suggested the former business relationship raised questions about the company's government contracts, although he acknowledged that Charlton had no involvement in awarding them.

'And Accenture get a lot of contracts, but it's hands-off. Andrew's got nothing to do with it,' he said sarcastically.

He also mocked the company over its work on the Bureau of Meteorology website, questioning why it continued to receive government contracts despite reported problems with the project.

'They spend, what, $80million for a $100billion website and it doesn't work. Whatever, they deserve more contracts because they're friends,' he said.

Hughes claimed Accenture had received another $1billion in government contracts, framing the arrangements as politicians helping their friends.

'So they've got basically another billion dollars' worth of contracts, billion dollars' worth of contracts. 'Cause it's mates helping mates,' he said.

'Everyone wins, especially the Australian people. Can't you feel how rich we are? Go Labor.'

In the caption accompanying his second video, Hughes again criticised the RBA and the government.

'The RBA have cranked interest rates again to the highest level since the last time Federal Labor were into their second term in 2011,' he wrote.

'The RBA blame the private sector. The RBA are fools.'