MARK LEVY, HOST: Election week, it's a big one ahead, Saturday, Election Day, and to his credit, I sent a message to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese this morning inviting him to join me whenever he found some time here on the morning program. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, is on the line right now. Prime Minister, good morning to you.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you, Mark.
 
LEVY: We've got a big week ahead, Prime Minister.
 
PRIME MINISTER: We sure do. It's been pretty busy already. I've been on the Central Coast this morning in Robertson announcing a fantastic project there, $20 million that will help to provide shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence and a trauma centre, done with the Central Coast Women's Centre, but also with a housing supplier there dealing with affordable housing. And it was a very positive announcement about an issue that, of course, is far too prevalent, unfortunately, in our society.
 
LEVY: It certainly is. Look, I'm not going to play any music on you today like last night in the debate, but let's try and whip through a few things –
 
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
 
LEVY: Cause we are limited with time. The polls would indicate, and I know we give plenty of weight to polls leading into an election, that there will be a minority government after Saturday. So, the obvious question, the question that I get asked from my listeners is, the question to you, Prime Minister, will you do a deal with the Greens?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No.
 
LEVY: Why have you preferenced them second in your own seat?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I win on primaries, Mark. My preferences don't go anywhere. The preferences only count if you run third in a seat. I got 54% last time. I don't expect to go backwards this time. And I think that the Greens, you know, they have more and more become a fringe party. I'm about people voting number one for the Labor Party and having a Labor majority government. I'm the only leader of a political party that's striving for a majority in our own right.
 
LEVY: With respect, though, in all but eight seats, Labor is preferencing the Greens second or third. Adam Bandt is saying he's prepared to do deals with you as Prime Minister in a minority government. So how can you honestly say to the Australian people that there won't be deals done with the Greens?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Because there won't be. Adam Bandt also says, you know, if it was the case there was a minority government people would have a choice over whether they support myself or Peter Dutton. But the truth is, Peter Dutton's part of a coalition, and Peter Dutton's done a preference deal with One Nation, with all of the right-wing parties. One Nation have changed their how to vote, indeed, because of the deals that have been done. What I've done is make sure we're presenting our own case for the Australian people. And I want to see a majority government. That's why I'm campaigning not just in seats like Robertson, but in seats to win seats off the Liberal Party, but also win seats off the Greens in seats like Brisbane and Griffith and Ryan. I’m very hopeful that we can have a win and return a majority government.
 
LEVY: So, so on May 3, if there's a hung Parliament, who are you going to work with?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I'm going to work with the Parliament, work with myself, and people will have a choice –
 
LEVY: So nothing will get done?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, that's not right at all. Now there's 25 Labor Senators out of 76. You know what? We've got stuff done, because that's what I've been able to do. I treat people with respect, but I won't do deals. There'll be no coalition unlike the Coalition I'm running against. I'll put forward the program that we are taking to this election. That's what I did last term, and we have been successful in implementing most of our agenda. Indeed, the Liberals, Nationals and Greens teamed up to block our housing proposals and so much else in the Senate -
 
LEVY: Let's stick to what you're taking to the election. I wanted to ask you, and it's interesting you talk about respect, and I heard you say to a journalist this morning that you don't deserve to be verballed, you deserve some respect, and of course, as the Prime Minister, you do. But do the Australian people deserve some respect from you, Mr Albanese, when it comes to the lies that you've been telling through this election campaign?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I've been putting forward a positive program, tax cuts for every taxpayer. Our opponents are saying they'll have higher income taxes for every single taxpayer. Energy bill relief, a 20% cut in HECS debt for every Australian, 5% deposit for home buyers, Free TAFE, and of course strengthening Medicare, including the announcement that we made yesterday of a 1800 MEDICARE number that your listeners will be able to ring 24 hours a day to get advice from a nurse and to, if need be, be referred to a GP who will be available to give that health advice. I’ve put forward a positive plan -
 
LEVY: But what's with the ‘Mediscare’ campaign though, Prime Minister? I mean, this notion that Peter Dutton is going to, you know, make cuts to Medicare – he's made clear that he's going to match what you are doing with Medicare. So how can you go to an election on Saturday saying there is going to be cuts to Medicare when clearly there won't be?
 
PRIME MINISTER: He's got form. At the last time the Coalition came into office, he said there'd be no cuts to health, and no cuts -
 
LEVY: That’s the past. That's the past, Prime Minister. We're talking about this election.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'll tell you what he said last night. I don't know if you saw the debate on Channel 7, when he was asked about wanting to abolish bulk billing, he said, “I wanted to make primary care sustainable.” He is on the record for more than a decade, including just last night, in saying that primary care isn't sustainable if trips to the doctor are free. That's what he said last night.
 
LEVY: What about cost of living? This is one thing that I must admit, Prime Minister, I was throwing things at the TV last night when you said that you're addressing cost of living. Everything in my life has gone up. Everything in the listeners' lives have gone up. I want to ask you a question about electricity prices –
 
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
 
LEVY: Now, admittedly, you don't pay the cost of electricity at The Lodge, but you do have a personal property in Sydney. Has your electricity bill gone up or down?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I obviously, I live a life of privilege serving in The Lodge, but I tell you what we’ve done -
 
LEVY: Simple question, though. Your private property, though, Prime Minister, has it gone up or down, your electricity bill?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't have a private property. What I do is have, where I live -
 
LEVY: So, you don't have a residence anywhere in Australia apart from The Lodge?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I do, but I don't engage in any pretence I don't live a life of privilege, and I -
 
LEVY: But what does that mean, Prime Minister? My question to you is –
 
PRIME MINISTER: I am in The Lodge –
 
LEVY: Does your electricity bill at your private residence gone up or down? It's a very simple question.
 
PRIME MINISTER: I live in The Lodge. That's where I live. That’s where I live.
 
LEVY: So, you're not prepared to tell us what your private property, your electricity bill, whether it's gone up or down?
 
PRIME MINISTER: That's where I live. The truth is that there has been the biggest energy crisis globally since the 1970s. That has placed pressure on prices. That's why we introduced a cap on gas and coal prices in 2022. I must say, Mark, you might recall that then it was the Perrottet Government here in New South Wales that we worked with on that issue. On top of that, we've given energy bill relief to every household, three lots of it, opposed - the first two - by the Coalition, to make a difference to people. The other thing you said –
 
LEVY: If we want to make a difference though, if we want to make a difference. The Coalition has put forward its nuclear plan, which is not $600 billion, it's $331 billion, which is 44% cheaper than your plan. Wouldn't the honest and appropriate thing to do here, if we want to make a genuine difference to what people are paying for their electricity, is to lift the moratorium so we can have a genuine debate about our future and our energy policy in this country? Why is there a reluctance from Labor to even mention the word nuclear?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Mark, you know who - well, I've been to the nuclear sites, Peter Dutton hasn't. And I make this point, Mark, here's a question for you. Who introduced the nuclear ban? Who introduced it? John Howard -
 
LEVY: Yeah, but what I'm asking you, though, Prime Minister, you won't lift the moratorium. You won't lift the moratorium, though.
 
PRIME MINISTER: John Howard put the moratorium in –
 
LEVY: So, will you lift it?
 
PRIME MINISTER: And you know what? The LNP in Queensland won't lift it. Mark Speakman in New South Wales is saying that he won't lift it. The Victorian Liberal Leader is saying he won't lift it either because there are state bans, as well, in place.
 
LEVY: Alright.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Peter Dutton has a plan. I'll give you one figure, one figure, which is the Hinkley nuclear project in the UK is 14 years overdue. It will cost more than $90 billion for a single nuclear plant. The truth is that 24 out of the 28 coal-fired power stations in Australia announced their closure while Peter Dutton was sitting in the Cabinet table in the former government, and they did nothing to put in place a proper energy policy, and the reason -
 
LEVY: Well, all the while we're going down the path of renewables where we're ripping up prime agricultural land to build transmission lines that are not there because of the existing coal-fired power stations. Anyway, we move on. Average monthly mortgage payments have risen –
 
PRIME MINISTER: I'll give you the big tip, nuclear needs transmission lines as well.
 
LEVY: Average monthly mortgage payments have risen by 57 per cent. What do you say to that, Prime Minister?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, mortgage prices have gone up and they started to go up before the last election. And you know what, Mark? They've started to come down now because inflation has gone from having a six in front of it when I was elected to now being at 2.4. The Reserve Bank have started to lower those rates that started to rise before we came to office. In addition to that, in addition to that, every one of your listeners who's a taxpayer has got a tax cut under us that wouldn't have happened under the former government. We had the guts to intervene and change the tax cuts so that everyone got a tax cut, not just wealthy people like yourself and myself.
 
LEVY: Oh, I'm just a battler doing my best, Prime Minister, with respect. Two more things. Russia –
 
PRIME MINISTER: I reckon you're probably on the top margin of the tax rate, mate. If not you need to speak to management.
 
LEVY: We now realise - well, with respect, you don't know my personal circumstances. I'm just a battler doing his best. But on Russia, there's a revelation today that your government was aware before the election campaign, started of a Russian request to use Indonesian airfields for long-range military aircraft 1,300 kilometres from Darwin. Why haven't you been open and honest with the Australian people on this?
 
PRIME MINISTER: We've been completely clear that the Indonesian Government have said that this is not going to happen. And what's more, my opponent has verballed the President of Indonesia, an important country, an important country that we have an important diplomatic relationship with. He said that he’s made this announcement -
 
LEVY: But you've said nothing to see here. Murray Watt said you may as well ask for a briefing on the Loch Ness Monster.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well there is nothing to see here, it’s not happening. It’s not happening.
 
LEVY: But we’re talking about the influence of Russia in our region. I mean, when it comes to our defence -
 
PRIME MINISTER: And guess what? It’s not happening.
 
LEVY: But when it comes to our defence, Prime Minister. We had a Virgin Australia pilot tell the Australian Government that we had live fire drills happening off our coast. We had a spy ship off the south coast of Australia. And now we’re being kept in the dark over potential Russian influence in Indonesia. How does that sit with the Australian people?
 
PRIME MINISTER: There is none, Mark. There is no Russian base in Indonesia. There's not one today. There's not going to be one tomorrow. There's not going to be one next week. There’s not going to be one next year.
 
LEVY: Alright.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Russia, of course, will engage in the sort of propaganda that gets, you know, tries to assert its influence. The truth is that Russia is struggling to beat the brave people of Ukraine under President Zelenskyy, something that my government has backed Ukraine each and every day.
 
LEVY: Well, it’s a bit more than comparing it to the Loch Ness Monster or a fake moon landing. One last one, Prime Minister and I appreciate your time. You and I go along to football matches, you and I go along to functions and there is a Welcome to Country ceremony. I think they're overdone. I agree with the Opposition Leader on this. Where do you stand on welcome to country ceremonies and what did you think about what happened on Anzac Day down in Melbourne?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what happened on Anzac Day was a disgrace. There is no room ever for a disruption of Anzac Day. It's a sacred day for all Australians where we give our thanks for living in our democracy with the freedom that we enjoy of living in the best country on earth and that's because of the brave men and women who've worn our uniform. It's not a place for politics. It’s a place where we just give them thanks and I thought the disruption was cowardly. When it comes to Welcome to Country, that's up to organisations. I think that one of the great innovations in rugby league, frankly, has been the Indigenous All Stars games, has been fabulous and I think they're celebrated. And [inaudible] all Australians, whether they be the people who can trace their origins back for 65,000 years or the newest migrants.
 
LEVY: Can you understand, though, where people get a little frustrated being welcomed to their own country? I was born here, and I freely admit, yes, there was mistakes in the past, but do I really need to be welcomed constantly to the country that I was born in?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, it's just a matter of respect. You would have noticed last Friday when the New Zealand national anthem was played, God Defend New Zealand, some of it is sung in Māori and then is sung in English. It's just what happens with respect. The New Zealand High Commissioner at the Australian War Memorial had a traditional coat, if you like, over him of some form of, I wasn't sure what animal it was, it was obviously something paying tribute to that heritage. Look, I think one of the things that I do as Prime Minister, right, is to not look for culture wars, is to try and engage, I talk with people, I talk with them respectfully and that is what we need a little bit more of, you know, kindness and respect doesn't cost anything and manners don't hurt either.
 
LEVY: Alright. Well, let me finish on this one. Let me finish on this one. That debate last night, did you feel like one of those Hollywood movie stars being wound up at an awards ceremony when that music came in? Jeez, I was starting to think, what's going on here?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I couldn't really, we couldn't really hear it as much in the studio. Someone said that to me afterwards who was watching it but we couldn't really hear it that much in the studio. So, you know, it was a good debate. And I'll make this point to you, Mark, just as you invited me on the program, you haven't always appraised my government – that's fine, I will engage with people. I'm the first Prime Minister to agree, I've had four debates. I'm not frightened of scrutiny and transparency. I've got to get out there, I put my case, and I think we've got a coherent case. And in today's unstable world that we're dealing in, the last thing we need is a change of government to a mob who haven't been able to keep a policy consistent on a day-to-day basis. And I think that is one of the things that, you know, I think will be the difference on Saturday. But I'm putting forward a positive agenda, I hope it receives the support of the Australian people. But, of course, in a democracy, you support whatever the outcome is.
 
LEVY: Will you come on when there's no election?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I come on when I'm invited, you know.
 
LEVY: Just thought I’d ask.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, yeah, no, no – we can do a regular footy roundup on Monday mornings about our mighty Rabbits. We'll see how that goes.
 
LEVY: Well, that's one thing we do have in common, we both support South Sydney. But politically, unfortunately, unfortunately we’re on different pages. Well, to your credit, I sent you a text this morning and invited you on, so I appreciate you giving up some time this morning. And look, good luck on Saturday. It's looking like a minority government but may the best man and the best person win on Saturday.
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, no. Well, my message to people in some of those seats, including the Greens held seats, including the seat of Fowler, here's one for Sydney, if you want a majority government, only Labor or the Independent can win that seat. Vote Labor, vote for Tu Le in Fowler. Because if you want a majority government, if you want stability, then I agree, that's why I'll be working each and every day to hold on to the 78 seats that we hold, but also to add one or two to them.
 
LEVY: Alright. Prime Minister, thanks for your time as always.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Mark.
 
LEVY: Good on you, mate. There is Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia.

ENDS