SUBJECTS: National plan to reopen during the COVID pandemic; COVID outbreaks around Australia; lockdowns; vaccine rollout; need for national quarantine facilities; Labor’s $300 COVID vaccination incentive; hot Australian politicians. 

INTRODUCTION: He's a big music fan who co-hosted an episode of Rage and once used his political power to save a Dolly Parton tour. He also happens to be the Leader of the Federal Opposition and the Leader of the Australian Labor Party. Please welcome the thorn on Scott Morrison's side, Anthony Albanese.

HOST: Should I say Albany Anthonese, my apologies to you, sir. How are you this morning?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: That's okay, Paul.

HOST: Albany Anthonese, we think has quite a ring to it.

HOST: It does. 

ALBANESE: Well, people have done various things to mangle my name since kindy. So join the queue. 

HOST: Change your first name to Albany and you would get lots of votes down there in the Great Southern area, Mr Albanese. 

ALBANESE: We could make it a target seat. Beautiful part of the world, actually. 

HOST: What did you cop since kindy? What did people go and say, 'Oh, got you'? 

ALBANESE: If I say it now, next time I visit Perth, I'll get it from everyone. But people connected and go, 'Oh, you know, what? Has anyone ever said that your name is like elbow knees? Elbows, knees? Get it?' And I would go, 'Yeah, you are the thousandth person who said that. You're not a genius for working that out'.

HOST: Kids can be so cruel. Anthony Albanese, pleasure to have you on the show. My question to you is that at the best of times during this pandemic, it's felt like our political leaders were kind of working together for the nation's good. And that was great when we've had those moments. But right now, I'm hearing 70 and 80 per cent. I don't know what the hell is going on. Does anyone in Canberra have an idea about our movement forward? 

ALBANESE: Well, I just think that Scott Morrison has used this week to try and have an argument with an imaginary friend. You have a national agreed response. It is in writing and on one little A4 bit of paper for phases A, B, C and D. And it's been agreed by every state premier and every territory leader. And I really think that what's happened, because there are lockdowns in the east, including right here in Canberra, due to a failure to roll out the vaccine and a failure to have national quarantine facilities that are appropriate, then Scott Morrison has been looking for an argument. And that's led to him calling Western Australians cave dwellers who want to stay in their cave and want restrictions to stay there. And no one wants restrictions. Everyone wants this disease to be beaten. Everyone wants to go back to life as normal. And in Western Australia, of course, has been singled out, along with Queensland, for attack. And it's rather bizarre that the states that have been most successful should be the subject of attacks from the national Government. It's just bizarre.

HOST: Because, as Matt is saying, the messaging is confusing across the board. We got lots of people who have been in touch with us going, 'We can't get our kids to come back to Perth because they can't get in from New South Wales, but we're fine with footballers coming over'. So is this a pandemic or not?

ALBANESE: Well, it certainly is a pandemic. And it's having a real impact on people's lives. In my home state of New South Wales, the figures yesterday reaching over 1000 new COVID cases for the first time, another three deaths. The consequences of this disease getting out of control, losing control of contact tracing of those cases yesterday, three quarters of them, they don't know where it came from, what the origin of it is. And our hospitals now are overwhelmed. There are hospitals turning away ambulances because, essentially, they can't cope in Western Sydney. And it is a reminder that we can't be complacent here. We need to get on top of it. We need to make sure people are fully vaccinated. But Mark McGowan has kept West Australian safe. That's been his priority and he's done a good job at doing it. But of course, we all want the economy to be lifted up. I'd rather be there in the studio talking to you guys. And I'd rather be home. I haven't been home since the beginning of June.

HOST: You're not allowed in our cave. 

ALBANESE: I'm not allowed to go anywhere at the moment without going into quarantine. And I'm, of course, in lockdown here in Canberra. But I think what we actually need is national leadership. But the Prime Minister always is looking to blame someone else. He should put his hand up and say, 'I got it wrong, it was a race, I said it wasn't, I was complacent. I didn't order enough vaccines and that's why we're here now but here's where we want to go going forward'. I think if he did that, he'd actually get more respect. So I probably shouldn't give him that advice on radio. 

HOST: Don't worry about it. He won't take anything you say anyway.

ALBANESE: I have been out there doing my best. We have a $300 plan to give people a bit of incentive and also to give people a reward and help stimulate the economy. And I, for the life of me, can't see a downside in this proposal. But he's knocked that back as well. I just think we need a bit more positivity and a bit more hope going forward. But looks like you might get the Grand Final.

HOST: Yes. Anthony on a lighter note, I've been checking out hot Australian politicians on Instagram. Have you seen that you've made an appearance there?

ALBANESE: That must be a satirical.

HOST: Someone is mashing photographs of politicians in Australia with hot people and making the politicians pretty attractive. And you look good. You've scrubbed up well. But it also got me thinking, if I'm going to make a movie of your life, who would you like to play you in the role?

ALBANESE: I don't know. Keanu Reeves?

HOST: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson?

ALBANESE: No, he is definitely much bigger than me. 

HOST: Let's stick with Keanu. That is a ripping answer.

ALBANESE: Keanu is pretty cool. How about my mate, Russell Crowe? Rusty would do it. He's a good fella.

HOST: Go and check out that site, it is hilarious.

HOST: Go and have a look and get stuck back into it, mate. We will leave you to it. Thanks for joining us this morning. Anthony Albanese, catch you later.

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, guys.

ENDS