KYLE SANDILANDS, HOST: Everyone be upstanding for the Prime Minister of Australia, Albo, on the air. What a week. He's been here, there, everywhere, telling everyone why he deserves to stay in the current role of Prime Minister of Australia. Good morning, Prime Minister.
 
JACKIE ‘O’ HENDERSON, HOST: Good morning.
 
SANDILANDS: How's the campaign going? Are you having fun?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Wonderful to be with you. Pretty good. I'm over in Perth today -
 
SANDILANDS: Nice.

HENDERSON: Lovely.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Right now. I'll be in all six states between now and Saturday, which is a bit crazy, isn’t it?
 
HENDERSON: It is a bit crazy.
 
SANDILANDS: But you got to do it.
 
PRIME MINISTER: But you know, you’ve got to get out and about.
 
HENDERSON: And how much sleep are you getting per night at the moment?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Not enough. And of course, I don't know what the time is here, but it's a different time from what it is over there, two hours earlier.
 
SANDILANDS: So, Prime Minister, in the election cycle that you're in now, where you're here, there, you're meeting everyone, you're doing the whole campaign, you've still got to run the country as well. Do you get woken up in the middle of the night with stuff that's important that a Prime Minister needs to be told? Or are they a bit selective on only if it's a super emergency?
 
HENDERSON: Yeah. Can someone else handle it?
 
SANDILANDS: Yeah. How does that work if something needs attention? They wake you, right?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Only if it's an emergency, but I do have regular briefings from my departmental secretary, still keeps going, but it's in caretaker mode. So they're very careful to not be political, and for us to not make decisions that aren't just straightforward.
 
SANDILANDS: Let me tell you too, Prime Minister, well done from the Channel 7, what do you call those things, the? -
 
HENDERSON: The debate.
 
PRIME MINISTER: The debate!
 
SANDILANDS: Yeah. Overwhelmingly, they said that, you know, you won those debates, even the Sky News’ debate, and they're a Dutton fan over at Sky.
 
HENDERSON: Yeah, you're winning all the polls.
 
SANDILANDS: And the polls, they're saying it's -
 
HENDERSON: It’s looking good.
 
SANDILANDS: It’s all good for Albo, but you don’t want people to be like, sort of, “ah, he’s got this in the bag.” You still want every vote, every vote counts, is that right?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely we do, and there's no room for complacency. You might remember 2019, everyone thought Labor was going to win.
 
SANDILANDS: That's right.
 
PRIME MINISTER: On election night, we didn't win. It wasn't because of a miracle, an intervention from up above. It was because of the way that people filled in ballot papers. And we want every single vote. There's a lot at stake at this election – whether everyone gets a tax cut, whether students get 20% cut off their debt, whether we have a policy that we have to deal with climate change, whether we have energy bill relief, whether we have cheaper child care, all of these issues are at stake. Whether your listeners can get a first home with just a 5% deposit, that's at stake at this election.
 
SANDILANDS: How good’s that? You know, I think that's something that is great that the government is thinking about doing because putting a little deposit together is not easy, especially in the capital cities.
 
HENDERSON: It’s not. And it just makes it so hard to enter the market.
 
SANDILANDS: If you want to buy a place in Bourke, you know, your 10%, that's easy to get. But when you're dealing with the million and above, that's a tough get, you know, it's hard to scrape that together. So, I think that might work for you. What else is going on? How do you prep for these things? Do you just need to be a bank of knowledge because people are asking you, what are the price of eggs? Do they say, “oh, how much is a two litre Omo dishwash?” How do you know everything?
 
HENDERSON: Do you guys have to study up on all of this stuff beforehand?
 
PRIME MINISTER: They go through - yeah, well, I can tell you, you know, two litres of milk, three bucks and eggs if you –
 
SANDILANDS: I wouldn't have a clue how much anything is.
 
PRIME MINISTER: At Coles at the moment, they're $6.60 at the moment. You have to go through those things and prepare.
 
HENDERSON: Hang on. Are they, Kyle? You said I was wrong this morning.
 
SANDILANDS: No, I said it was $8 normally, he's saying the Coles “down, down, prices are down” special.
 
HENDERSON: Yeah.
 
SANDILANDS: So, he knows his stuff.
 
HENDERSON: I wonder, you know what? You've got an opportunity for an endorsement here.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Petrol was $1.78 on average across the country yesterday. These things, I mean, they're not the big picture issues. The big picture issues really are what can you do for the country? You know, free TAFE makes an enormous difference for people, 600,000 benefiting. And Medicare is so important and strengthening Medicare with 50 more Urgent Care Clinics, tripling the bulk billing incentive, putting medicines, the price of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme down to $25. They're the things that really matter. And the fact that Peter Dutton, frankly, has had not the best campaign, is the polite way to put it, because they haven't just done the policy work. And now, today they're putting out costings. They have to say what they're going to cut. We know they're going to stop people getting the 20% off student debt. We know they're going to cut public housing funding through the Housing Australia Future Fund. They're going to cut support for manufacturing through the National Reconstruction Fund. But they've got to find $600 billion for this nuclear fantasy they've gone down. And it's a policy that's pretty friendless, not supported by any state government, Labor or Liberal, and they've got to find the money for it. Now, unless they say where that $600 billion is coming from, then they're just not fair dinkum because they are going to have to make cuts in order to pay for it.
 
SANDILANDS: Hey, when we gave $1.5 billion to Ukraine, right, that was humanitarian aid, right? Like we -
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, $1.3 billion of it was actually for things that go bang. Drones –
 
SANDILANDS: Right, so it wasn't cash. It was mainly the trucks, those big army trucks and drones, right.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Defence, yeah – the Bushmasters to protect them.
 
SANDILANDS: Yeah, they’re good.
 
PRIME MINISTER: They are amazing vehicles. Made in Bendigo.
 
SANDILANDS: Really?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Yep, you bet.
 
SANDILANDS: I love that. They're a good looking truck, everyone, everyone – they’re the envy of the world military those trucks, everyone loves those.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, they sure are. And the good thing is about it, yes, we're helping Ukraine, but it's also creating jobs in Bendigo in one of our regional cities. That's a good thing as well.
 
SANDILANDS: That's a great thing. Now, where do you reckon you guys need to improve? Because this is where, you know, you and I, we're pretty friendly. In our last election, I did say I was going to vote Liberal, but this time, I spoke to Dutton the other day on the air, asked him about marijuana, and he's still down that rabbit hole of, “oh, it's a gateway drug,” when there's so much evidence that for kids with real issues like ADHD and all these - I'm not joking, Jackie, you laugh. This is a real thing.
 
HENDERSON: I would never put my child on weed if they had ADHD.
 
SANDILANDS: Well, you've opened yourself up for a lot of ridicule on social media there.
 
HENDERSON: Go on then. Please enlighten me here because I actually don't know.
 
SANDILANDS: There are a lot of kids with lots of issues that some of this stuff, I'm not talking smoking joints.
 
HENDERSON: Oh, yeah. Okay, you're talking about –
 
SANDILANDS: The CBD and THC.
 
HENDERSON: Yeah, okay.
 
SANDILANDS: Because he sort of lost my vote when he went, “nah, we're never going to look at that.” And I thought, well, how unprogressive.
 
HENDERSON: But you want just outright weed to get high, though.
 
SANDILANDS: I do.
 
HENDERSON: That's what you're talking about.
 
SANDILANDS: Yeah, because I want the crime rate to drop. I want us to stop wasting money chasing weed dealers.
 
HENDERSON: What are your thoughts -
 
PRODUCER: But on Kyle's side, I mean, other countries are doing this, United States.
 
HENDERSON: Yeah, that’s right.
 
SANDILANDS: Even Qatar.
 
HENDERSON: What are your thoughts on that, though? Seriously, Prime Minister, because so many countries have legalised it. What -
 
SANDILANDS: We don't want to be the last, like the gay marriage. Remember how embarrassing that was? We were the last to let the gays get married. Embarrassing.
 
PRIME MINISTER: We were a bit slow on marriage equality. No question about that. And it's true what you say about some states in the United States and some countries have done what you're suggesting. It is up to the states, as I've said to you. You're a mate with Minnsy. So, this is completely -
 
HENDERSON: Oh, that's right. He keeps deferring back to that.
 
PRIME MINISTER: This is completely a state issue.
 
SANDILANDS: Can’t ask him that -
 
HENDERSON: When do we learn? It was pointless asking him.
 
SANDILANDS: Yeah, because he's right. He has told us this many times, you’d think we remember.
 
HENDERSON: No, but can't we just ask for your opinion on it? Just your opinion.
 
SANDILANDS: Would you and I, can you ever imagine you and I blowing a spliff together?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, I can't imagine that, Kyle.
 
SANDILANDS: Okay.
 
PRIME MINISTER: But I, you know, each to their own, but I can't imagine –
 
SANDILANDS: See I like that. Yeah but you're probably more of a bong guy right?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I can't imagine that. Mate, I’m off the beers at the moment –
 
HOST: Are ya?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I've been since 1 January, I have had, I'll put my hand up and say there have been a few exceptions, you know, birthday. And when I cut, how about this for a policy we did? Freezing the excise payments, the tax essentially on beer for two years. That was pretty popular.
SANDILANDS: It would have been.
 
PRIME MINISTER: I had to have a beer when I was announcing that.
 
HOST: What are your thoughts on the nose beers?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No. No no no -

SANDILANDS: No, that's never going to get [inaudible]. That's never going to get a [inaudible].

HENDERSON: I love that he knows what you're talking about.
 
PRODUCER: He knew what that was.
 
SANDILANDS: He's no idiot, Jackie. The guy runs the country. He's not a fool.
 
PRIME MINISTER: I do live in Marrickville, or used to before I moved to Canberra.
 
HENDERSON: Oh, you’re good. You’re good.
 
SANDILANDS: Are you confident going into this or are you still like, this could be anyone's game?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I'm nervous. Elections are tough and they're tough to win. And here's a little fun fact for you. There has not been a Prime Minister re-elected since John Howard in 2004 –
 
HENDERSON: Are you - wow.
 
PRIME MINISTER: 21 years –
 
SANDILANDS: Oh my, I think you’re right.
 
PRIME MINISTER: 21 years. We’ve had a revolving door. And part of my argument is there’s a lot of instability in the world. Some of it arising from decisions President Trump has made, of course, over in the US on tariffs and creating a bit of turmoil when it comes to trade issues. And we need some stability. My Government offers that. We know what we're doing. We've got inflation down, 2.4%. And yesterday we got the underlying inflation down to 2.9%, which is within what the Reserve Bank –
 
SANDILANDS: That’s great.
 
PRIME MINISTER: It's the first time in a couple of decades that that has happened –
 
SANDILANDS: Wow.
 
PRIME MINISTER: That both those figures have been where we want them to be. Unemployment is 4.1, wages are rising -
 
SANDILANDS: Hey, I've got some info for you for the steel tariffs –
 
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
 
SANDILANDS: And the aluminium tariffs. So, I've spoken to Donald Trump Jr and they - he said -
 
HENDERSON: When did you speak to Donald Trump Jr?
 
SANDILANDS: Jackie, I do a lot of s*** that - while you’re flipping tarot cards -
 
HENDERSON: Kyle, you're so full of s***. You did not speak to him.
 
SANDILANDS: I've been communicating with their camp.
 
HENDERSON: Okay, their camp is different.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Come on. Be nice to each other, you two.
 
SANDILANDS: Let me tell, let me tell - thank you, Albo, thank you.
 
HENDERSON: Sorry, Dad.
 
SANDILANDS: Now, let me just explain. They would lift our steel tariffs and aluminium tariffs if we would accept more American vehicles for sale in this country. Why wouldn't you just agree to do that right now and get rid of all those problems?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Well, American vehicles are, of course, welcome here. And the big thing - the big difference is my argument with our American friends is pretty clear, which is we have a free trade agreement. We don't put tariffs on their stuff. They shouldn't put tariffs on our stuff. That simple.
 
SANDILANDS: I agree. I agree. But if they say, well “we're doing it anyway,” we've got to sort of bend the knee a little.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Maybe I'll get you, Kyle, to negotiate after the election if we're successful.
 
SANDILANDS: I'd need a black passport and an ambassadorship if that's the case, just so I can go ahead of people in that line at the airport. That's really what I'm after.
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, but we can get you through, if you come across from me, you skip the queues, I assure you.
 
SANDILANDS: Oh, it's sorted, I'll do that. But I've really paid attention to the policies. And really, politically, both parties are not that far apart, but something's very different. And I think what you're doing is protecting nearly all of us in one way, shape or form. The very needy and the wealthy and everyone in the middle. And would you agree with that, you're trying to do your best for every citizen?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. And that's why we're doing things like tax cuts for every single taxpayer, not just some. Energy bill relief for everyone. That’s why our Medicare policy is so important so that whether it's, you know, you or your lovely Mum, who the photo from your wedding, by the way, popped up of me and your Mum in my memories. You know how those photos pop up?
 
SANDILANDS: Yes, yes.
 
HENDERSON: Oh, your mum would love to hear that.
 
SANDILANDS: She would.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Just yesterday. But if you get sick, you can get the same treatment. Medicare is so important, and that's what's at stake this election as well.
 
SANDILANDS: Hey, did you see the mural of the “Dutt plug?” You know, they did that mural of Dutton. They made his head look like a butt plug on the wall in Sydney. Did you see that?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No, I've missed that one.
 
SANDILANDS: Wasn't your people doing the graffiti, was it?
 
PRIME MINISTER: I've missed that one. No, no -
 
SANDILANDS: And I've got one more question -
 
PRIME MINISTER: I certainly hope not. And I think it's really important that how people campaign as well, and that people campaign respectfully in a democracy.
 
SANDILANDS: I've got one final question. And for those in the know, they'll know. And those that have got no idea what I'm talking about, that's on you. Do you know the identity of Peggy Sue?
 
PRIME MINISTER: Peggy Sue?
 
SANDILANDS: You heard the rumour there?
 
PRIME MINISTER: No.
 
SANDILANDS: The rumour is some OnlyFans girl has made out that she's been pegging a particular person, and a lot of people are pointing the finger at Dutton. Now, is that outrageous to you or do you think that's possible?

PRIME MINISTER: I have, look, I have no idea what you're talking about.
 
SANDILANDS: Okay that’s probably good. He knows about eggs, but he doesn't know about Peggy Sue. I like that. I like that.
 
PRIME MINISTER: You know, I’m, in cricketing terms, raising the bat and trying to hit the keeper's gloves, at this point in time.
 
SANDILANDS: Good luck, sir, for this weekend.
 
HENDERSON: Thanks, Prime Minister. It's so nice talking to you.
 
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you so much, everyone.
 
SANDILANDS: And I'm telling you –
 
PRIME MINISTER: Make sure you vote, whoever you vote for, but you'll be better off if you vote Labor.
 
HENDERSON: Yep.
 
SANDILANDS: There he is, the Prime Minister. And beers and nose beers if you win. Roger that, Prime Minister.
 
PRIME MINISTER: See you, guys.
 
SANDILANDS: Go have fun in Western Australia. There’s the Prime Minister, everyone.

ENDS