SUBJECTS: March 4 Justice; historic rape allegations against a Cabinet Minister; WA election; Newspoll; workplace culture in Parliament House; NRL. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE GRAB: Not so much a tin ear as a wall of concrete. We had, today, women gather around Australia with a few very clear and unambiguous messages. Hear us roar. The Prime Minister needs to listen. To listen to what women are saying about what is happening in this building and outside. They said enough is enough. And what I saw outside was passionate women who are angry. They are angry about what's happened to them. They are angry about what's happened to their mothers, their grandmothers, their sisters, their daughters and their granddaughters. And they are crying out that this is a moment that requires leadership. It requires leadership from this Prime Minister. 

MARCUS PAUL, HOST: Anthony Albanese, good morning. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning, Marcus. It's good to be with you. 

PAUL: Well done yesterday. I thought that was a defining moment for you. That speech that you made is resonating right across Australia. 

ALBANESE: Well, it was an incredibly powerful rally yesterday where more than 100,000 people mobilised, mainly women, but also men supporting them, to say that enough is enough. And this was a grassroots movement. Bear this in mind, there was no big union or political organisation. This was just something that was almost a spontaneous gathering to say that women need to feel safe in their workplace or wherever they are. 

PAUL: A lot of people are calling talkback programs like mine and others. I've been listening around. And those who are critical of what's happening, I think they missed the point. You're right, this isn't political. This is more about women of Australia coming together in the hope that misogyny and violence towards them will cease. And we seem to have a Prime Minister with a tin ear to what people are asking for. Half of the population in this country are women, 52 per cent. And they need to be heard. 

ALBANESE: That's exactly right. And they don't feel safe. Too many people know firsthand a relative, a loved one, or a friend. Just about every woman that I've spoken to in the time in which this has been at the forefront of discussion has said that they know someone who's been assaulted. We know that the statistics tell us that one in five women will be raped or sexually assaulted during their lifetime. That's an extraordinary figure. That is absurd. 

PAUL: Twenty per cent of women, essentially, are in danger of having their personal space violated by a man. And that's a shocking indictment on our society. And that's why people are coming forward. Now, it's not just for women's rights. I was in Sydney yesterday amongst the 10,000 marches. And I spoke to a number of women, Anthony, of all ages. And I asked them a question. I have people calling my program saying, 'What about men? There's violence directed towards us as well. And what about protecting children from paedophiles and all this?' I mean, this is all encompassing. Violence is not gendered. Although obviously, with the stats that you and I have just discussed, if you're a woman in this country, you are at a greater risk. The conversation needs to shift. And it needs to shift very quickly about protecting all Australians, but in particular, those most vulnerable and they are women. 

ALBANESE: Well, the fact is that violence against women is a scourge. It happens in the household, behind closed doors. But we know that it can happen anywhere. The fact that there is a reported sexual assault that has occurred just metres from the Prime Minister's office in the personal office of the Defence Minister certainly did shock me, that, the revelations that Brittany Higgins has made. And I think that Brittany Higgins' speech yesterday was a speech of an incredibly brave woman who, her courage, I just find extraordinary. And it was a very significant moment, I think. And a real wake-up call. My shock yesterday was that the Prime Minister began his contribution in the Parliament, his decision, with a speech on indulgence, followed by a response from me. 

PAUL: Before you were shut down, of course, by Peter Dutton, because your response was magnificent. Sorry to interrupt you, Anthony. But I wouldn't mind playing a little bit of what the Prime Minister said yesterday. And this is the problem. And this is why, of course, people were upset this morning. And it's all over the television news. 

SCOTT MORRISON GRAB: Cities across our country, women and men are gathering together in rallies, both large and small, to call for change and to act against violence directed towards women. It is good and right, Mr Speaker, that so many are able to gather here in this way, whether in our capital or elsewhere. And to do so peacefully, to express their concerns and their very genuine and real frustrations. This is a vibrant liberal democracy, Mr Speaker. Not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets. But not here in this country, Mr Speaker. Not here in this country. 

PAUL: I mean, how good, Anthony Albanese, is not being shot at while you peacefully protest? 

ALBANESE: I just found it beyond the way that the Prime Minister said that. I just can't comprehend what thought processes went into that being a plus for people. When the Prime Minister could have gone out, as did many parliamentarians. Just about everyone in the Labor Party was outside Parliament House during that period yesterday, including our entire leadership team. And I'm sure that he would have been treated respectfully. It was that kind of audience group. They wanted people to listen. And he clearly hasn't listened if that's the response. Words fail me, frankly. PAUL: Previous prime ministers have gone and faced the music. I'm always reminded of a very brave and resilient John Howard sticking to his guns and speaking to those from the gun lobby. I mean, others have fronted the music and spoken at rallies and campaigns. The Prime Minister not fronting up yesterday and not making some sort of, I guess, appearance, spoke volumes. You called it concrete. That's probably what it is. Concrete ears, let alone tin ears. 

ALBANESE: That is right. And what the theme at the rally, and the theme of what women are saying, firstly, is that people need to listen. They want to be heard. And I've said about various allegations that have been made, including against the Attorney-General, that they can't be unseen or unheard once they've been stated, which is why the Government's response up to this point of 'Just move along, nothing to see here' is not adequate and has led to, I think, anger. It's not anger directed at any individual, it is anger directed at the position that women find themselves in of not feeling safe. 

PAUL: Was it the right day yesterday, and we know that the Attorney-General has every right under our system to defend himself, was yesterday the right day? Again, I think it goes to this tone deafness of Christian Porter and his legal team announcing that he would be suing the ABC journalist. Why was that announcement made yesterday on a day when hundreds of thousands of women were meant to march around Australia for equality? 

ALBANESE: Well, that really is a decision that he's going to have to explain. I find the Government's response to the difficult issues, and they are difficult, they are issues which I think everyone wishes weren't around because we wish that violence against women wasn't something that needs a response and needs change. 

PAUL: Would you agree that yesterday was the wrong day for Mr Porter to come out and challenge? Again, that's his right. But why couldn't he have done it today, if not tomorrow, if not later this week? The day of all days yesterday, Anthony. 

ALBANESE: Well, I think it's up to him to explain why that occurred. 

PAUL: Let's move on to some other issues, if we can. Western Australia, Mark McGowan, a resounding victory. The Liberals in the west of this country now a minor party, no longer an opposition. It was a great win for an incumbent over there. 

ALBANESE: It was an incredible win by a good friend of mine, Mark McGowan. He leads a really competent, visionary team. They're making changes to Western Australia. I am an infrastructure person, as you know. And their expansion of the rail network there, for example, has captured the imagination. They're delivering services. They are delivering jobs in a strong economy. And importantly, they made tough decisions to keep Western Australians safe. And when Clive Palmer took them to court with the support of Scott Morrison, they stood up. And Western Australians have rewarded them. But it is an incredible result. I noticed yesterday, in Mark McGowan's own seat, he has 91 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote. 

PAUL: Amazing figures. 

ALBANESE: It is just something that we don't see anywhere in Australia. I haven't seen such a result before. 

PAUL: Speaking of figures, Newspoll yesterday has on two-party-preferred basis, your Party, the ALP at a Federal level, for the first time ahead of the Liberal National Party. That must give you a little bit of buoyancy. I mean, there was a spring in your step yesterday, for obvious reasons. But I mean, it must give you confidence now leading into the next Federal election, which is less than a year away. 

ALBANESE: Well, look, I expect polls to go up and go down. And I'm just focused on one poll, which is on election day. And making sure that we have a good offer for the Australian people. An offer that says we will prioritise jobs and the economy. And essentially, our theme is, 'We are on your side'. And I think the Government increasingly looks like a long, tired Government that's been there for eight long years and is on its own side, is all about defending itself and its own interests in the way that it allocates funds, doesn't have a plan for the economy in terms of where the new jobs of the future will be, doesn't have a plan for social policy, certainly doesn't have a plan for climate change. And we will present a strong alternative at the next election, whenever it's held. 

PAUL: Alright, let's finish on this. How about those Rabbitohs? 

ALBANESE: Well, they were a bit disappointing in the first 30 minutes last week. There is no doubt about that. But they did keep the Storm try-less for the last 50. We did run in three tries ourselves. We've had some new players. Jai Arrow, I thought, was sensational. 

PAUL: Wonderful. 

ALBANESE: And I look forward to the game against the old rivals, Manly, on Saturday. PAUL: That will be a big one. Anthony, thank you. 

ALBANESE: I am going to try to get to Brookie. I'll see how I go there. 

PAUL: Well, I think you should. I'd be out and about as much as I can. Anthony, I'd be seen and be seen to be doing a lot. Because I think we need somebody with your strength of character and your moral values and somebody who cares about women. And somebody who cares about social justice and social issues for the people of Australia rather than self-serving big business, etc. Good to have you on, Anthony. We'll chat soon. 

ALBANESE: Thanks very much for your generous comments. 

PAUL: All right, Anthony Albanese. He was brilliant yesterday, he really was. Finally taking it up to the current mob. 

ENDS