SUBJECTS: Dogs; Toto; Support for the tourism industry; tourism in Tropical North Queensland; Prime Minister’s ‘gutless’ comments; sports stadium for Far North Queensland; NRL.
 
MURRAY JONES, HOST: Anthony Albanese joins me this morning. Anthony, tell me a little bit more about Toto and how she's ended up in the newspaper this morning.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning, Murray. Well, Toto is a very loyal little puppy. She's not really a puppy, but she still has the energy of a little pup, I've got to say. She's six now. And I was doing a photoshoot yesterday and we walked down to my local park and she came down, never wastes the opportunity. She was having a run around. But she decided she'd come and sit in front of me while I was getting my photo taken. And that's made the papers today. So, she is running for First Dog after all. It's a good thing. I think our dogs really keep us sane. I think that unconditional love that they give, it's always wonderful to come home and to be greeted by the pooch with lots of excitement. And there's not that much difference, I've got to say, between being out of the house for an hour or out of the house for a week, you still get a big welcome.
 
JONES: And all they want is just a little square at the bottom of the bed and then they're very happy. Well, look, I'm looking forward to seeing that photo of Toto in the Tele today. We got some interesting stuff to talk about. I do want to talk about the Prime Minister's visit to Cairns yesterday, but particularly with respect to what has been well-received, and Scott Morrison made a lot of noise about this, that he's listened to the local tourism industry, he's given them what they need, around about $60 million going to tourism across the country, but particularly $15 million directly to TTNQ. It's not contingent, as I understand it, on him winning the next election. What are your thoughts about this type of support from the Government? And what is Labor prepared to do with respect to, importantly, I guess, supporting our tourism industry here in the region?
 
ALBANESE: Well, Murray, as you know, I have visited there many times over the last three years as Leader, and beforehand as the Shadow Minister for Tourism. And I've met with TTNQ on a range of occasions. I think people will say to themselves, 'Why is it that it took to the eve of an election?' when the tourism sector in Cairns was particularly hard-hit by the pandemic because we know that Queensland's borders were shut in terms of domestic tourism, they were relying upon intrastate travel, but also, it's very dependent upon international tourism, of course, there in Cairns. And they were essentially abandoned by this Government. Abandoned. And so, we welcome any support for the tourism sector. We've been saying for many, many years now, not just months, that there was a need for specific support for tourism in Far North Queensland. You know, this Government have been in office for almost a decade. At one stage, Scott Morrison worked for a tourism organisation here and in New Zealand, I must say not terribly successfully. It's too little, too late once again from this Prime Minister.
 
JONES: Now, look, there was also allegations made yesterday, in amongst all this talk about tourism, with respect to you being gutless. And I guess it was a pretty solid shot. We're getting to the point, even though it's officially not announced as the date for the election, obviously, we're very much in election mode. But even after what's happened to the Coalition with respect to Julia Banks, Brittany Higgins, and of course, that rather icy relationship with Grace Tame, it was basically the allegation from the Prime Minister yesterday was that you've been gutless with respect to the allegations made with respect to bullying with Kitching. What is your position with respect to that fairly tough allegation that you've been gutless in regard to this?
 
ALBANESE: Well, look, we won't be taking lectures from a bloke who set up an inquiry into what his own office knew about the allegations around Brittany Higgins, which we've never heard from. Why didn't you just ask them? We won't be taking lectures about courage from a Prime Minister who shuts down debate in the Parliament at regular intervals. And when he visited Lismore, he had his security shut off streets, so that people who were victims of the floods couldn't get anywhere near him when he eventually turned up in Lismore, this is just absurd. I've done ten media events before today, in the last week. And he was out there last Friday saying, 'Where's Anthony Albanese?' Well, I will tell you where I was. I was in South Australia with Peter Malinauskas last Thursday and Friday. The Prime Minister wouldn't go anywhere near South Australia in the two weeks leading up to the state election. And I'm not surprised. Because South Australians know that he leads a Government that's out of ideas and it's out of puff. And they should be out of office come the next election.
 
JONES: I should imagine you are probably fairly buoyed by the election result there in South Australia. Sure, to a degree, it was fought on local South Australia matters. But I guess there's that swing, which you've managed to also basically close up quite tightly in recent times, with respect to preferred Prime Minister. So, you must be at least a little bit buoyed about what's occurred on the weekend in South Australia
 
ALBANESE: It was a great outcome. And Peter Malinauskas and I followed a similar pattern during the pandemic. We were constructive the whole way through. We didn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. But we spent the time developing a policy framework and a clear alternative to present at the election. And my alternative is of a better future for all, no one held back, no one left behind, is very positive.
 
JONES: Look, can we just change the subject again, as we wrap up this morning. Because I know you're a busy lad. But we've had the concern in the last couple of days about further serious coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. We've talked about the need to get international and even just domestic tourism. The numbers are further here in Tropical North Queensland. There's been a lot of talk in the last few days, particularly with the PM's visit yesterday, about support for a rectangular stadium. I know some people say that it is very low on the priority list for Tropical North Queensland. But with respect to at least some of the finances that are likely to be coming through for the Olympics in 2032, there is an opportunity, at least, to be able to upgrade Barlow Park. What is your position with respect to that, because I know you're a big footy fan, of actually getting a full-blown stadium here in the region?
 
ALBANESE: You would like to do everything, but you need to have costings done, and you need to see a business case and you need a business plan. And my understanding is that those aren't in place at the moment. You need to make sure. Because government spending is about priorities. So, you need to assess that in competition with other opportunities. You can't afford to waste money. And you need to know the value of a dollar. I learned that growing up. So, I think these issues are important. And we have a circumstance whereby we need to not waste taxpayer dollars, spend it wisely. And certainly, Barlow Park is a great ground. I know that my beloved Bunnies get to play there from time to time as well.
 
JONES: It's true. And anytime we got the Cowboys playing the Rabbits here in Cairns, we love it, for different reasons than you. And look, I think there's money that's certainly going into Barlow park. There is talk about an alternative location. But I guess there's money that is likely to be available for the Olympics, through both the State and Federal Government. Maybe at least focusing on some of those options there, even though it is a difficult place, in some ways, being, really, an athletic stadium. There are certainly some good options there. Anthony Albanese, it's been great to talk to you. I know you're a busy lad. I'm going to try and find a copy of the Telegraph so I can see that photo of Toto. But thank you so much for your time. We're looking forward to seeing you back in Cairns in the not too distant future.
 
ALBANESE: Good on you, Murray. Always great to chat.
 
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