SUBJECTS: Bill Crews' Exodus Foundation; Christmas; Homelessness; Vaccines

REV. BILL CREWS, EXODUS FOUNDATION: Over the years, we've had so many distinguished people through on Christmas Day. Everyone from former Governors General like Bill Dean, to former Prime Ministers like Bob Hawke and John Howard, former diplomats like Arthur Sinodinos, have come here and helped. Christmas Day is really non-political. It's about people who have nowhere to go and nothing. There was a man just outside here, who collared Anthony, who's been sleeping in his car. One of the things I've been saying for a long time is all governments either need a Minister for the Homeless, or an ombudsman for the homeless, because, all too often, homeless people get overlooked in the rush for affordable housing, because there are so many people who need it, that the homeless get overlooked. So I just want to welcome Anthony and his team today and say thank you guys for coming. And thank you for the help.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Well, thanks very much Bill. It is actually a very great experience being back here at The Exodus Foundation, with Tony Burke and Jihad Dib today, volunteering to assist on Christmas Day. The pleasure that the young children have got, every child that comes through here gets a Christmas presents from Santa and from Mrs. Claus. And it's a great thing. Today, some 2,200 people will get a meal, a hearty meal with meat and veg, turkey, chicken, ham, as well as vegetables, because they wouldn't get access to it otherwise. Christmas Day is a great day for family and friends to get together. But it's also a day in which we should remember that many unfortunate people are just not able to be in that position. They rely upon places like the Exodus Foundation and Bill Crews to step in to the gap, to assist people who have fallen through the cracks, or people who just might be by themselves on Christmas Day. It is a fantastic thing today, they've gone to a great effort, as well, to make sure that everyone here is social distancing, and the protocols that are necessary due to COVID are being observed. And it is a fantastic thing that Exodus Foundation can do this. Bill Crews is a great Australian, and today is a reminder that we need to do more for the disadvantaged in our community, we need to do more for the homeless, in particular. It is a scourge that has risen during COVID, and we know that as a country we need to do better.

JOURNALIST: What's your Christmas wish?

ALBANESE: My Christmas wish for this year is pretty obvious. But another wish is something not for myself. It's the Christmas wish that we didn't have homelessness in this country. We know actually that when an effort is made, like during the Sydney Olympics or at the very beginning of the pandemic, we looked after people. Why is it that we can't do better each and every day? And my Christmas wish is that everyone has the opportunity to get a good meal everyday. It is something that a wealthy society such as ours should be able to do and it's something we should aim for. All governments need to do better.

JOURNALIST: Albo, you might have gotten a Christmas wish early yesterday with the boosters announcement?

ALBANESE: The booster announcement, of course, is something that Labor called for and state governments, Liberal and Labor, had called for. It's good that it's occurring. And people managed to get out there and get their booster shot. We need to make sure we learn the lessons that have been there in recent times of the failures, and ensure the vaccine rollout is done as efficiently as possible. So we need to make sure, as well, that going into 2022 we address those capacity issues and make sure we get people vaccinated so that they can be safe. Thanks a lot.

ENDS