SUBJECTS: COVID outbreaks around Australia; lockdowns; vaccine rollout; need for national quarantine facilities; Labor’s policy agenda; holding the Government to account; Labor’s $300 vaccination incentive. 

HOST: Albo, good morning to you. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: G'day. 

HOST: Thanks very much for joining us on the show. 

ALBANESE: Greetings from Canberra. 

HOST: Yes. I don't expect that you would come on to the show and say how great everything is going from the Government's perspective in terms of the vaccine rollout and what have you, but are we making up for any of the mistakes that seem to have been made so far?

ALBANESE: Well, I certainly hope that some lessons have been learned. I think that the Prime Minister now knows this was a race. And it's a race in which we were running last in the developed world. And certainly, Australians have always done the right thing. They were magnificent in 2020 and made sacrifices. But the truth is that we didn't get enough vaccines, we didn't get the rollout of the vaccine right. And we just still need to do more to have purpose-built quarantine around the country.

HOST: I think this really was a case where there should have been sort of more bipartisan involvement. Did you attempt to make links to try and do it together?

ALBANESE: Well, we certainly did. We provided support for the Parliament to meet last year, under special circumstances. It couldn't have happened without that cooperation. We put forward the idea for wage subsidies that became JobKeeper. We said unemployment benefits should increase, and that occurred. We spoke about mental health. But we were talking from July last year about the need to do deals with five or six pharmaceutical companies to get more vaccines, to get them quicker. The Government chose to say we were first in the queue when we weren't. And we continue to put forward constructive ideas. This year, recently, I put forward the constructive idea of a $300 cash payment as both a reward and an incentive for people to get vaccinated, but also to provide some economic stimulus given that the economy, according to the Treasurer yesterday, will go backwards by two per cent in the current quarter.

HOST: If that's 300 bucks comes in, I've already had one jab, can I just get 150?

ALBANESE: You’ve got to get both. You have to be fully vaccinated and then you get the $300.

HOST: One of the things, sort of slightly off topic, but certainly related, is one of the challenges, as Federal Opposition Leader, to not be perceived as a one trick pony in terms of coming out and bashing the Government at every opportunity and to try and, obviously, put forward positive things as well? It must be a bit of a balancing act.

ALBANESE: Absolutely. Indeed. I was criticised by some last year for being too constructive. 'Why aren't you getting stuck into the Government every day?' Because we were providing support even where we thought there were issues. Clearly, there's been issues with the practical rollout of JobKeeper where a lot of businesses have got it who shouldn't have, who were actually increasing their profits. We didn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We said we'll raise those issues, we'll move amendments, but if the amendments aren't supported, then we won't insist on them. And so I've got some flack there from the base, if you like. But you've got to, I think, balance up the national interest and always put it first before any partisan interest. And we did that. And I think that is acknowledged by people. I certainly hope that it is. But it's been a very difficult time to be in Government, but also a difficult time to be Leader of the Opposition. That's certainly not what I was anticipating when I got this job a little over two years ago.

HOST: Now, you're talking strong words there, Mr Albanese. But we're heading perhaps into an election. Are you firing up for that so you can be running the show if possible?

ALBANESE: Certainly. And we've got, during this period, I gave a speech when I was still allowed to, at the National Press Club just about six weeks ago here in Canberra, just outlining the plans we have for the National Reconstruction Fund. I visited Bendigo with Lisa Chesters there to talk about advanced manufacturing and to talk about job creation in regional Australia. I have been talking about more secure work, the need for the gig economy workers to be looked after, the need to close the gender pay gap. We've been talking about skilling up Australians and training them for the jobs of the future through Jobs and Skills Australia. We're talking about net zero emissions by 2050 in terms of climate change action. So we're putting forward a range of policies. And I visited a childcare centre there in Bendigo as well a while ago, talking about our cheaper childcare plan. And we clearly need to fix the aged care crisis by fixing workforce issues there as well. So we're putting forward alternative policies. Australians, at the moment, of course, are very much focused on COVID and getting through the current period. But a range of our alternative program for building back stronger, effectively, is what we need to do coming out of this crisis. Seize the opportunity to think about how we can be a better Australia and then set about creating it.

HOST: Well, listen, we really appreciate your time this morning. When are we going to see you up here next?

ALBANESE: Well, when I'm allowed to come.

HOST: Forgot about that.

ALBANESE: At the moment, I'm not allowed. I got to cuddle young Charlie when I was there, Lisa's little boy. And I've had to have just photos at the moment. Obviously, Parliament is sitting for the next fortnight. And I just hope that we get through this. The lockdowns are necessary, of course. We know from New South Wales' experience that's the case. But I haven't seen my own son for now it's into the third month. So that has been quite a difficult period as well. But I know that many Australians are doing it far, far tougher than me. And I'm worried about those whose jobs are really vulnerable at the moment and that they'll be left behind. 

HOST: Well, we appreciate your time. Thank you very much for that. And obviously, strange and challenging times still ahead. But certainly, thank you for joining us on The Wake Up Call this morning.

ALBANESE: Thank you. And stay safe everyone.

HOST: We'll do our best for sure. Anthony Albanese, the Federal Opposition Leader, joining us on The Wake Up Call on Gold Central Victoria.

ENDS