SUBJECTS: Labor’s $300 vaccine incentive proposal; vaccine rollout; weight loss; JobKeeper going to companies that increased profits; other incentives; South Sydney Rabbitohs. 


LAWRENCE MOONEY, HOST: He's the Leader of the Opposition and potentially going to be our next Prime Minister. He's the boy from Marrickville, the Rabbitohs tragic, it is Anthony Albanese, and he joins us this morning on Moonman in the Morning. Good morning to you, Albo.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: Good morning. Good to be with you. Greetings from a very frosty Canberra.

MOONEY:  We've seen the ice on the grass there and C1, Scomo's car, is rolling again. Some people say the most applicable number plate in the country. Now, to policy things at hand, you have outlined a $300 vaccination incentive saying that you'll give $300 to every man, woman and child who gets the double vaccination, to a cost of $6 billion. Scomo referred to you as ‘a game show host’, Albo. Is it a game show that you're running?

ALBANESE: No, this is real life. And what we know is that economic incentives can work, are working, have worked in the past for all sorts of behavioural issues. And if you provide this incentive, it's just one of the tools. That's why the Chief Medical Officer said earlier this year, said we should look at every incentive possible. And this is just one measure. We know we're running last in the developed world for the vaccination rollout.

MOONEY: It’s a disgrace

ALBANESE: And when you're running last you've got to pick up your game, pick up your speed, and this is one way that you could do it.

JESS EVA, HOST: Speaking of being a game show host, not that you are. But you've got Grant Denyer, you know, you've had the Andrew O’Keefes. You're looking good at the moment, Anthony, you know, you've lost a few pounds, you've got your designer suits on, your image looks like it could be on TV all the time. What's your secret?

ALBANESE: I've got my running shoes on, walking my dog, and just trying to get fitter. I started last year.

EVA: You’re looking great.

ALBANESE: Thank you very much, I'll come on here every day.

EVA: I tell you what if I wasn't engaged, Anthony, you'd be in a lot of trouble.

MOONEY: Albo, how much weight have you dropped because I'm a man that stands on the scales every morning and goes, ‘dah’. Because it's always the same answer. But how much have you dropped?

ALBANESE: I've dropped around 14 kilos.

MOONEY: You are looking good, because on the other hand, the Prime Minister, Scomo's, been in lockdown and he is blowing out. He hasn't been to the barber is looking very fluffy. So, you're looking like an alternative at the moment. Let me ask you this on a serious note.

ALBANESE: You've got to be match-fit for the grand final.

MOONEY: You do, yes. And you're looking good. But there's $12 billion being given to companies as a result of JobKeeper. $12 billion that's been given that wasn't needed, the Government aren't pursuing it because it wasn't part of the plan. If you get into Government, will you try and get that $12 billion back?

ALBANESE: Well, I think that there's an obligation that they should pay it back. And I wouldn't have established a system that allowed them to keep it. We know the companies, they're the ones with the big wrap-arounds in all the newspapers every day. They're the ones that have increased the wealth of the corporate executives. I did almost fall over yesterday when Scott Morrison spoke about you can't spend money encouraging, $300 to individuals for them to be fully vaccinated, is a waste, but tens of millions of dollars to really wealthy individuals, no, no problem there, you can keep the money, don't worry about it.

MOONEY: $12 billion, if you get that back then you can pay for your vaccination incentives and have $6 billion left over.

ALBANESE: That's right, exactly, to help out other small businesses that are doing a tough. Maybe – here's an idea – we could actually help people in the arts and entertainment sector who've been abandoned during this period and haven't got enough support.

MOONEY: Hear, hear.

EVA: Do you know what I'd like the Government to give us, Anthony? Horse tips. Get someone on, if you get your injection, if you get your vaccination, give us the trifecta at the Shepparton dogs or at Randwick and give us a good multi. That's what you want, they'd be lining up.

ALBANESE: When we looked at the incentives that have been put around the world, I won't name the country but there's one to our north that gives people a cow. If they're fully vaccinated. They go into a lottery to get a cow.

MOONEY: Indonesia are giving out chickens.

ALBANESE: All sorts of incentives.

MOONEY: I'm not going to count out chickens as a bad idea either.

ALBANESE: Oh yeah. Why not?

EVA: Hey Albo, are you still drinking in lockdown since you've lost this weight, or what's been your pleasure?

ALBANESE: But that's part of the secret as well, is I completely went alcohol free for a few months. Now I have the occasional tipple, which I must say, given I'm not allowed to go anywhere, last night I did have a little whiskey last night. Just one.

EVA: It’s the only pleasure.

CHRIS PAGE, HOST: Jess, when you’re a Bunnies supporter at the moment the only pleasure you need is watching them get it done as they race up the NRL ladder, they're flying on.

ALBANESE: They're on fire.

PAGE: Anthony Albanese, the Leader of the Opposition. Thank you for your time this morning. We'll chat to you again soon. 

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, guys.


ENDS