SUBJECTS: Federal election; cost of living; Labor’s policy agenda; Morrison Government always too little, too late.
 
JOHN LAWS, HOST: Mr Albanese joins me on the line. Good morning, Anthony Albanese and welcome to the program again.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning, John. And thank you for your warm wishes on my health issues.

LAWS: That's all right, I was concerned about you, it's a bad thing, you know, that COVID thing's a bad thing.

ALBANESE: It sure is. It knocks you around a bit. You feel really, really tired. I've had relatively mild symptoms. I've been lucky compared with so many others who've had difficulties with breathing or major chest issues. But I've been relatively mild. But it still does knock you around a little bit. But this is day seven for me in iso. So I hope to be out tomorrow afternoon and travelling to Perth because we have our campaign launch on Sunday.

LAWS: Well, I'll tell you what, you picked a big journey to start off, here to Perth. Is that not a bit big after you've been unwell?

ALBANESE: Well, I am taking medical advice. And they have said that I need to take it relatively easy on the first days out of iso. So I will take that advice. But we have our launch scheduled in Perth, it'll be the first time that a major campaign launch has happened in the West. And so I'm really looking forward to it on Sunday.

LAWS: Beyond a few short term sweeteners, what can you genuinely offer to bring long term relief on price hikes? Things are going up.

ALBANESE: Well, the cost of everything's going up but people's wages aren't. That's why we need a plan to boost productivity and to alleviate the supply pressures which are out there, we need the right kind of economic growth that takes pressure off working families. And one way we do that is to invest in cheaper childcare, that will really make a difference for working families. For so many women, if they work a fourth or a fifth day, they end up working for nothing, and it puts more pressure on them. And that will boost productivity. We have our plan for cheaper and cleaner energy through our Powering Australia policy that will cut power bills by $275 a year by 2025. It will create over 600,000 new jobs. We have a plan to train people for well paid jobs through our fee-free TAFE plan, our additional university places, a plan to boost productivity by upgrading the National Broadband Network. And we need to make more things in Australia.

LAWS: Well, I agree with that. I've been saying that for years. But listen, you're not in a position to make companies pay their employees more money. Only people in the government can benefit if you if you raise wages, people in government are going to benefit but you can't make companies pay their employees more.

ALBANESE: What you can do is work through a cooperative relationship.

LAWS: Do you agree with me? Yes or no? You cannot make companies pay their employees more yes or no?

ALBANESE: What you can do John, is establish a system whereby employers and unions sit down, work cooperatively to enterprise bargaining and gain workplace improvements and gain increase in wages through that. The problem for the Government is that they don't have a plan to lift wages, indeed the opposite. They want low wage growth to be a part of their economic architecture. And that's really showing itself up. There are other areas where, for example, there is a Fair Work Commission case at the moment about the aged care workforce. The Government can't even put in a submission saying that aged care workers who earn as little as $22 an hour are deserving of a pay increase even though the Royal Commission made it very clear.

LAWS: So what are you going to do? You will raise the average hourly rate?

ALBANESE: We will make a submission to the Fair Work Commission saying that they should have due regard to what was found in the Royal Commission about aged care workers needing a wage increase.

LAWS: There's a very good chance there'll be a hung parliament.

ALBANESE: I don't think that's right, John. We're shooting for a majority Labor government. We need to win seven seats to get there in addition to the changes that have come about through a redistribution and I'm very hopeful that we'll be able to get there. I think that this Government have been in office for almost a decade, they're asking for a second decade in office, they don't have a plan for the future, they don't have a plan to lift wages and take pressure off cost of living. They don't have a plan to deal with climate change and energy policy. They don't have a plan to make more things here in Australia. And I think people will say to themselves, well, they had a decade in office, they promised at the last election that there'd be measures including a national integrity commission, and there haven't.

LAWS: Look, Anthony, you have a very clever habit, because you've got a very clear mind. Let's talk about what you're doing. Don't tell us what the other side hasn't done, or hasn't got. That's all you're doing. Tell me what you're gonna do?

ALBANESE: Well, we will have a National Anti-Corruption Commission, we will have a Future Made in Australia plan, we will have a Buy Australian plan, we'll establish a National Reconstruction Fund that will support existing industries to transform and become more efficient, but also we’ll identify new opportunities that are there. Take John, just one idea. We have lithium, copper and nickel in this country, we have everything that goes into an electric battery. With the rise in electric vehicles happening around the world, this could be a major industry for Australia. We need to make sure that happens. We've missed too many opportunities in the past to manufacture more things here. And we need to make sure that we get it right, work with industry to do so, and we can.

LAWS: Yeah, look, that all sounds very good. Good point, you make, it sounds very, very good. But if it's so good, why hasn't somebody else already done it?

ALBANESE: Because this Government sit on their hands. They blame everyone for everything that happens. It's never a case of accepting responsibility. This is the government equivalent of the kid at school saying the dog ate my homework. Every time something comes up, it's always someone else's fault. We know that I'm benefiting at home here of being triple vaxxed. I'd be a lot sicker if that hadn't occurred. But the truth is this Government were complacent and said it wasn't a race to order vaccines. And it always was. 

LAWS: Look, there's a very good chance, as I said, it'll be a hung parliament. Could totally you rule out making a power sharing deal with the Greens or with any other party? 

ALBANESE: Yes. 

LAWS: So no power sharing deals with anybody?

ALBANESE: Yes, well, I'm the only person running for prime minister who can form government in their own right. We know the coalition between the Liberals and the Nationals, we know what Barnaby Joyce said about Scott Morrison and his capacity to tell the truth and be trusted, he's the Deputy Prime Minister. That's why it's just dysfunctional. The National party are split. And there's only one vote between the two different factions and that's why they keep changing who the deputy prime minister is. The Liberal party are split. And Scott Morrison has a small group around him, but many of his own side have very different views to him. And the Liberals don't like the Nationals. What I will bring is a coherent united team to govern the country.

LAWS: Okay, but given all that, and you've just reeled off a whole lot of stuff. Given all that, how possibly could you lose?

ALBANESE: Well, I'm hoping to win, John, and I'm certainly out there. We have our team while I've been absent out there physically, but I've been out there virtually including talking with you and your listeners here today.

LAWS: The so-called teal independents. They're funded by Climate 200. Don't you think it's a bit rich that they claim to be independent? When they're all essentially one party? That is a bit rich, isn't it?

ALBANESE: Well, that's a matter for them. I've never been a fan of independents. I have always believed that the way that you change the country is to change the government. And that's why I've been in the Labor Party since I was at school. I've been handing out for the Labor Party since I stood next to my mum as a little boy. And that's where my passion is. 

LAWS: Would you be more critical of the teal independents if they were contesting any Labor held seats?

ALBANESE: Well, there's independents contesting my seat, John. There's a range of independents and crossbenchers. I think I've got eight candidates in my seat. They're not all from major parties. 

LAWS: I know, but they're not the teal independents, are they?

ALBANESE: I have no idea who some of them are John, to tell you the truth. There's a range of candidates putting themselves forward. I have someone who I know very well I'm surprised is the Clive Palmer candidate in my seat. He's someone I regard as a friend, actually. But he's put himself forward – but that's democracy, John, it's, it's a good thing that we have a democracy. It's something that we should cherish, and something that people should think very carefully about before they vote. In this country, of course, people cast their vote, and then we respect the decision which is made.

LAWS: You kind of sidestepped our question about the teals only being against the Liberals. What do you say about that?

ALBANESE: Well, there's a range of independents. I'm not sure who the teals are, I know that there's some people running in teal. I know in Wentworth, the Liberal candidate seems to be using teal as well, so there's two teal candidates in Wentworth, one of them who's a Liberal, and one of them who's an independent, I think Allegra Spender, so both of them are using the same colours. But I think the fact is, that there is a great deal of disillusionment from traditional Liberal supporters, because of the Government's failure to act on climate change and the failure to act on a National Anti-Corruption Commission.

LAWS: But they are backed by Simon Holmes a Court and Climate 200, the teals, I'm surprised you don't know who the teals are, I find that hard to understand. Why don't you know?

ALBANESE: There's two teal candidates in Wentworth, John. That's the point that I'm making. And so independents are running around the country, as I said, there's independents clearly running in my seat, as well. And what my job is to do, is to advocate for the Labor Party in every single seat. And in the seat of Wentworth I'll be advocating for Tim Murray, the Labor candidate who is a fantastic candidate, I've got to say. He's run in the past, and he'd make a very fine member. And I encourage people to not vote for the so called teal independent, not vote for the liberal so called teal. But to vote Labor.

LAWS: And is it true that you've sidelined Tanya Plibersek?

ALBANESE: No, not at all. She's out there campaigning each and every day.

LAWS: And what about Bill Shorten and Ed Husic?

ALBANESE: They're great assets. I've spoken to Bill just last night. Bill's been out there campaigning, he's launched our disability reform agenda for the NDIS. He's doing a fantastic job, and so is Tanya. I did a press conference with Bill on the day of my budget reply about NDIS reform. And he's doing a great job, as is Tanya Plibersek. I've got a united, great team. And I'm very proud of all of them. And I think we will make a very experienced incoming government. One of the things I really appreciate about Bill as well, I chatted with him last night, is he's been a great source of advice as a former leader, as have other former leaders as well.

LAWS: The Labor Party has tightened its media vetting process for the election campaign with all interviews, requests having to go through campaign headquarters. Why? Why don't you trust your possible future ministers to make their own decisions?

ALBANESE: That's nonsense. John, you texted me and asked me directly for this interview. That's how this interview came about.

LAWS: Yeah, but you're the boss. That's slightly different. And I'm the boss too.

ALBANESE: And I appreciate that, John. During a campaign, you don't want five people standing up at the same time. You have coordination. Look, Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce were in the same town yesterday, Rockhampton. In the same town. Did they appear together? No.

LAWS: I see. 

ALBANESE: You know, during this campaign, we've seen so little of government ministers. They've been sidelined. They've gone missing. All you have, like you had last time around, is just Scott Morrison. I'm very proud of the team that I have. One of the things that has occurred with my enforced isolation due to the health restrictions which are in place in order to keep us all safe, is that my team have been out there each and every day doing press conferences. But I have people running around the country. We coordinate, not surprisingly, so that you don't want 10 shadow ministers to be in Brisbane at one time and no one in Sydney or no one in Adelaide. We have at any time people right around the country, campaigning very strongly.

LAWS: Kristina Keneally and Andrew Charlton both have fantastic credentials, there's no doubt about that. But they've been parachuted into seats in which they didn't previously live. Why don't you think any of the locals are capable of representing Parramatta or Fowler?

ALBANESE: Well, they're excellent candidates, John. Kristina is our current Senate deputy leader. She's a former Premier of New South Wales, and she'll be an outstanding representative in Fowler. Andrew Charlton has extraordinary capacity. He in recent times established a business that became very successful. He sold that business. He's now seeking to enter the Federal Parliament, he'll be a great representative for Parramatta. He represents aspiration, which is what people in Parramatta want, a better life for themselves and their families. He will be an outstanding representative over a long period of time for the people of Parramatta. Parramatta is, of course, Sydney's second CBD. It's a powerhouse of our national economy, not just the regional economy in Western Sydney, and Andrew Charlton will bring an enormous capacity to that seat. In Dobell on the Central Coast, their candidate has been parachuted in from the eastern suburbs of Sydney. And might I remind you, John, that the current Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, was from the eastern suburbs of Sydney, and only moved into the Sutherland Shire in order to seek preselection for the seat.

LAWS: Listen, just going back to your comment about media vetting, all the interview requests do have to go through campaign headquarters. That's widely known to most people. But the only reason that you're talking to me, there are a couple of reasons. One, you know that we've got a huge audience that covers the entire country. And the second thing is, you like me.

ALBANESE: That's true. That is absolutely true. John, I have enormous respect for what you have achieved. You are a giant of radio broadcasting. And I don't think you've ever asked to speak to me and I've said no, I always try to make myself available to you and to your listeners. And I have incredible respect for you.

LAWS: That's nice to hear. While I'm in front, we'd better go.

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, John.

LAWS: Okay, take care of yourself now, get better because that's a nasty thing that can come back again, you know.

ALBANESE: It sure is, I'm under strict doctor's instructions to take it easy. I'll travel to Perth tomorrow afternoon. But but my big reemergence will be on Sunday at the campaign launch.

LAWS: Thanks for your time. Good to talk to you.
 
ALBANESE: Thanks, John.

ENDS