SUBJECTS: Christmas plans; Exodus Foundation; Free TAFE and more university places; Cheaper Child Care; QR codes; COVID numbers; Omicron; health care for those not vaccinated; election timing.
 
MARCUS PAUL, HOST: The Federal Leader of Labor, Anthony Albanese. Good morning to you, Albo.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning. Good to be with you.

PAUL: Are you in Sydney town at the moment, preparing for a nice Christmas?

ALBANESE: I am indeed. I’ll be going down to help out Bill Crews at the Exodus Foundation down there at Ashfield in the Inner West with myself. And maybe between, I’ll be interested to see how many people turn up this year, previous years there was up to 2000 people, who might be a mix of homeless people, people who don't have family and are by themselves, people who really just want to be able to celebrate Christmas like everyone else. They always have gifts for the kids from Santa, and a good roast meal. And it’s always a wonderful atmosphere. Of course, COVID will make it more difficult this year. Bill, I'm sure, will have a place very strict protocols. But it’s a lovely thing to do. For me, that's really the spirit of Christmas, looking after others who really don't have much. And what they give back is just enormous appreciation and love, particularly for Bill and his team who do such wonderful work, of course, 52 weeks a year, 365 days. They're just always there helping people out.

PAUL: Yep, well done, the Exodus Foundation, Bill Crews, you're right, they do a magnificent job. And particularly at this time of the year, it's important to provide a sense of community perhaps for those who are a little less well off than what we are. Now I just want to move to a policy issue. Labor are set to invest in a new generation of early childhood educators. Tell me about this, Anthony.

ALBANESE: Well, we know that across the board, there are massive skills shortages. And one of the areas where there are these skills shortages is in the care industry. There are massive shortages of early childhood educators. We’ll provide 465,000 free TAFE places, we’ll provide 20,000 additional university places, so that Australians can fill the areas of skills shortage which are there in areas like early childhood learning. That fits as well with our policy to make universal affordability of child care a priority. We will change the way that the tapering system works so that families are overwhelmingly better off under our scheme. We know that at the moment, in the way that the system works, it often can cost a woman, it usually is the woman in the partnership, who can cost them more to work a fourth or fifth day than they earn. It makes no sense. So making child care more affordable is something that will contribute $2 to the economy for every dollar that's invested. And it will increase workforce participation, it will increase productivity, it'll be good for families but also good for children as well. We know that over 90 per cent of human brain development occurs in the first five years.

PAUL: Absolutely. Just on to COVID-19. Omicron is starting to spread, particularly here in New South Wales. We're having daily case numbers starting to soar somewhat. I don't like to be alarmist about this, of course. But there's been a bit of pressure, political pressure, being placed on the New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet, in effect also the Federal Government, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in relation to perhaps ramping up some more restrictions. Now yesterday Mr Morrison had this to say in regards to masks.

MORRISON (RECORDING): Wear a mask in an indoor setting. You don't need to be forced to do it. It's a very clear message. Wear a mask. There's no confusion about it. Just wear one.

PAUL: Yeah. So can Australians be trusted to use their common sense and just, without a mandate, look after themselves? Or do we need to start mandating the wearing of masks, Anthony?

ALBANESE: Well, the question here is whether the Prime Minister is prepared to show any leadership whatsoever. It appears to me that he's just so petrified of upsetting some of the people who've been campaigning against any rules being in place that you had the absurdity of him asserting ‘Wear a mask’ but not being prepared to do what we know will encourage that to occur. It's like him saying, ‘Just put on a seatbelt, but we won't make it a rule of law, just put on a seatbelt, because it'll help’. The difference here, of course, is as well, that he's used this sunscreen analogy. If I don't put on sunscreen, Marcus, and you and I are sitting next to each other on the beach or outdoors, you don't get sunburnt because I haven't put on sunscreen. The difference is that if I’m not obeying the rules and looking after myself and others, that has an impact on people I come into contact with. Now, I went shopping when I got back from from Queenstown yesterday. The first time that I've checked in, or not checked in anywhere, I was looking around to check in with the QR code that's been removed at the supermarket where I was, at Marrickville Metro. Some people were wearing masks, some people weren’t. No one was checked in. I’ve got to tell you, it didn't fill me with the confidence that, when you checked in with a QR code, it's not an onerous duty, then at least you knew someone was in the supermarket at the same time who was positive, you'd get a notice and be able to monitor symptoms. It seems to me a pretty sensible thing to do. And as someone whose son works at a supermarket, as well, that’s busy, who's had to be tested more than half a dozen times because people have been in supermarkets, what about the workforce as well? Let's actually show leadership here, and not have this sort of huff and puff with nothing behind it. I don't know why the Prime Minister called the National Cabinet yesterday if he wasn't going to make some decisions.

PAUL: All right. As we know, it's been very divisive. We've got nearly 94 per cent of people in New South Wales fully vaxxed. There have been some suggestions that the unvaccinated pay for their healthcare should they find themselves in intensive care. So we're talking in excess of, what, thousands of dollars each and every day? I don't know where this brain explosion came from. But surely that wouldn't be something Labor would support?

ALBANESE: I’ve got to say that here in this country, thank goodness, if you need health care, you should get it. Full stop. We don't have that sort of policy. And in my view, I saw one of the New South Wales businesses out there floating this last night. To me, that's not the way that we do things. To me, if someone needs help, we give it to them.

PAUL: All right. Well, look, I want to wish you and your family the very best for Christmas, Anthony. Look, put your feet up for a couple of days because it's going to get very hot and heavy into January, February, March, probably the Prime Minister will call a May election. You ready? You fighting fit?

ALBANESE: I'm ready for a March election, Marcus. I just think that the Government couldn't control the Parliament when we last sat. It doesn't have an agenda. It's put all these buckets of money to throw at people, taxpayers’ money, have all been put aside, some $16 billion of decisions taken but not announced. That is secret decisions that apparently taxpayers don't have a right to know what they are. So I think that it is very, very possible that after Australia Day, the Prime Minister will not wait any longer. He's been in campaign mode, he himself has said that for more than a month now, and he doesn't seem to be prepared to govern. We saw that again yesterday. Governments and prime ministers are there to lead. And we're not seeing that from this Prime Minister

PAUL: Alright Anthony, good to chat. We'll catch up in the new year. Thank you.

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, Marcus. Have a very lovely merry Christmas, to yourself and your listeners, and stay safe everyone. And if you can get your booster shot, please go and get it.

PAUL: Well said. Alright there he is, Federal Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese.

ENDS