SUBJECTS: Federal election; Labor’s Powering Australia plan; climate change; Labor’s policy agenda; condemning sexist and misogynistic behaviour; Christmas.

LEON BYNER, HOST: Now, let's talk to a bloke who has a pretty important role to play in this country. He is the Federal Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese. And Anthony, good morning. Thanks for coming on. And compliments for the season.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning, Leon. Yes, indeed, an early Christmas wish for you.

BYNER: Thank you. Look, I'll tell you what I'm getting from emails and people calling in this morning. Some of them say they're over Scott Morrison. But they're not sure if you've got what it takes to be the next PM. Why do you think people are still worried about your ability to lead the country or, if you like, be a safe pair of hands?

ALBANESE: Well, I'll put forward a constructive alternative at the next election. I, of course, have served as Deputy Prime Minister of the country, I have been Government Leader in the House of Representatives. On my record on infrastructure, on projects like the South Road Super Way, creating Infrastructure Australia to advise the Government independently on the best projects to back by boosting productivity and jobs. My establishment of Regional Development Australia, my establishment of Australian Council of Local Government, my work as Communications Minister when I supported a fibre-based National Broadband Network, not the ridiculous hybrid model that we're now having to fix because they decided to roll out copper instead of fibre. I think my record, the fact that the Federal Government have failed to be critical over the two years, two and a half years, that I have been Labor Leader says a lot. I'm proud of what I've been able to achieve in Government. And I'm proud of what I've been able to achieve in making us competitive. We've put forward constructive suggestions during the global pandemic. We didn't just sit back and complain from the sidelines. It was Labor that advanced the idea of wage subsidies that were called 'dangerous', which of course, became JobKeeper. We passed all the stimulus packages which needed us to pass through the Parliament. But clearly also, I think we can grow back better. So, my vision that I've outlined in recent days of real action on climate change, to create over 600,000 jobs between now and 2030, my plan for 20,000 additional university places, for free TAFE courses for 465,000 Australians in areas of skill shortage, my plan for cheaper childcare. These are all alternatives that we'll be putting forward that I believe will gain the support of the Australian people.

BYNER: Now, Anthony, you know that the latest opinion polls suggest that you guys are going to be a shoo-in at the next election. But that's what you guys also thought in 2019. Do your sense this time around, it's different?

ALBANESE: Well, I certainly don't take any of it for granted. I think that's the lesson, Leon. The poll that counts is the poll when people actually go in and mark their ballot papers. And what I want to do is to make sure that when they do that, they vote number one for the Labor candidate, then fill in all the other numbers, of course, to make it formal. But that they do so with a sense of confidence. I will lead the most experienced incoming Labor Government in our history since Federation. And it includes, of course, Penny Wong, who has been Senate Leader in the past, in Government, Mark Butler, and Amanda Rishworth will be key members of my Cabinet.

BYNER: Now, cost of living is an area that both sides of politics want to fight on. Where do you think you can realistically save people money if you win the election?

ALBANESE: Well, childcare for a start. Our plan to move towards universal childcare that's been developed by Amanda Rishworth has done a great job to change the way that early learning is seen. Now, investment in childcare isn't really a cost. It produces productivity through women's workforce participation that make our economy stronger. But it also helps those families to get by. Why is it that so many people, Leon, you hear when you talk to them, say, 'Oh, I'm better off now because little Johnny or little Mary entered kindy in year five', and before then they were really struggling? Why is it that we regard the age of five as being critical when we all know actually that human brain development, 90 per cent of it, is done by then? So, we can do much better. That's just one area. Affordable housing is another area where we have our Housing Australia Future Fund. I also want to make sure that wages keep up with the cost of living by having fundamental reform that produces fairness in the workplace where people aren't left behind.

BYNER: Look, I want to ask you about your climate policy, because this is all about energy and costs and bills. Now, you guys are saying that, with your energy policy, electricity prices will be $275 a year lower from 2025. Of course, that's a few years away. Question is - if you can lower the prices then, four years away, why couldn't you do it earlier?

ALBANESE: Well, we're not in Government now.

BYNER: Well, there's going to be an election pretty soon though. 

ALBANESE: Simple as that. That's at the end of our first term. At the end of our first term, after you get the investments that we have to fix electricity transmission. Now, South Australia has led the country on renewables. 

BYNER: Yes.

ALBANESE: But the national energy market, electricity market, doesn't have a fit-for-purpose grid. Now, the Australian Energy Market Operator have developed their integrated systems plan, which is low-hanging fruit. I announced our commitment to creating Rewiring the Nation, a corporation based upon the Clean Energy Finance Corporation that's been so successful even though this Government tried to abolish it. I announced that in my first budget reply. I expected, frankly, the Government to pinch the policy. Because it's so obvious. But a basic example of that, I think, is we're building the Snowy Hydro system, it has bipartisan support, but it won't be plugged into the grid when it's opened. It's just bizarre. It's like not being able to maximise the efficiency of the network, which anyone in the energy sector will tell you that's the low-hanging fruit that is there, as well as the incentives that we have for community batteries for solar, as well as the plans we have to make electric vehicles cheaper. And as well, of course, the big emitters to do what the safeguard mechanism that was established by the Abbott Government was supposed to make them do, which is to head to net zero by 2050 in an orderly and consistent way, which big business are saying themselves that that's the case. And you have a remarkable circumstance, Leon, whereby the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the National Farmers' Federation, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, are all saying that our policy is sensible and is workable, and it is a chance to end the climate wars nonsense that has gone on for far too long, that has cost your listeners money. Because while you have these silly arguments, the truth is that the system isn't as efficient as it should be. And that's why our modelling shows a $275 on average reduction in household electricity bills at the end of our first term.

BYNER: There's a group out there, you've heard of them, called FriendlyJordies. And they're giving people like Nicole Flint more than the blowtorch. Do you stand behind what they're doing?

ALBANESE: No, I condemn it. I condemn any behaviour which is sexist and misogynist. I think, Leon, we need more civil discourse in our public debate.

BYNER: Absolutely. 

ALBANESE: That is what is required. And it doesn't matter where it comes from. There's no place in public discussion for the sort of personal insults which have been aimed at a range of women, not just politicians, but broadcasters like Leigh Sales and others.

BYNER: Well, one good thing is civility costs nothing. And that we're all getting it for free. Hey, listen, Merry Christmas and compliments of the season.

ALBANESE: Merry Christmas to you, mate. It's been terrific talking to you over this year. And I hope you get a bit of a break. I'm sure you'll get a bit of a break more so than I will, given it is an election year coming. But I look forward to talking to you in 2022 about our positive plans going forward.

BYNER: There'll be plenty of opportunities, Anthony, for that. That's the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese.

ENDS