CAT LYNCH, HOST: Oh, what an absolute pleasure. Welcome to the show, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day. Good to be with you.

MERRICK WATTS, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister. You're out and about in Western Sydney today where of course a lot of the listeners to Triple M reside. And you've got good news for small businesses and tradies. And you're out there telling them, aren't you? Because in the lead up to the election, Prime Minister, you are a very busy man.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I sure am. Today we'll be announcing extending their instant asset write off for another year, so that small businesses and tradies can upgrade their tools or get new equipment for their kitchen or get a new computer for their office and write that off. And we'll do that up to $20,000, extended for a further 12 months to June 2026. But in addition to that, we've got extra road funding for Windsor Road, $220 million to upgrade Windsor Road around Rouse Hill. In addition to that, we've also got $120 million for Rouse Hill for full maternity services. There's a lot of bubbies being born in Western Sydney and we want to make sure that they can go somewhere locally so that they emerge there in Rouse Hill.

HOST: Prime Minister, I've got to ask you, I mean, I'm intrigued by this write off scheme that you've got. I'm obviously planning a big weekend, There's a lot of footy on. I'm planning on writing myself off. Will I get a $20,000 subsidy to do that?

PRIME MINISTER: No, mate, you might get a Panadol the next morning.

HOST: (laughter) Great one.

HOST: Well played.

HOST: Prime Minister, we've seen you out and about, obviously, on the campaign trail. Now a video that I'm sure you hate has gone viral overnight of you taking a bit of a tumble off the stage.

PRIME MINISTER: I fell for the Hunter Valley many, many years ago. This time it was a bit literal. No, I was fine. I stepped back and there was no stage. Simple as that.

HOST: It’s happened to all of us, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: What's important isn't how you go down, it's how you get up.

HOST: Yes!

HOST: Oh yes.

PRIME MINISTER: My tennis legs put me in good stead, so I didn't fall on my butt. Thank goodness.

HOST: Good recovery.

PRIME MINISTER: It was fine.

AARON WOODS, HOST: It was a great recovery, Prime Minister. The way you handled yourself, you got up so quick, you bounced back. But one thing I want to talk to you about, Prime Minister. Tonight, Rabbitohs come up against the Roosters. We know you're a Chook man (sic). Is this one on the calendar that you circle and you must win.

PRIME MINISTER: This is a must win. And Latrell Mitchell will be on fire tonight. Mitchell and Jack Wighton. What a combination in the centres. It's just a pity we haven't got AJ and Tyrone Munro outside them. But Jye Gray is just performing unbelievably well. He's got so much energy and spark.

HOST: Well, Prime Minister, that's what I was going to say. What do you think about leaving Jye Gray at the fullback and not having Latrell Mitchell there and put him at centre?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it would be a very brave man who told Mr Bennett where to play the team, so I'll leave those decisions to him. But he's great wherever he plays, Latrell, he's such a weapon. And I think Jye Gray's got to be in the 17. When we get Campbell Graham back, he's a pretty good centre, too. He makes such a big difference as well. While I'm not sure how long AJ's going to be out, but you could put Campbell on the wing. Of course, that's where he began playing first grade while he was still at school. And so, it's a pretty awesome backline that we've got. And I think the emergence of young Humphreys this year at half has been extraordinary, the combination with Cody's been great.

HOST: You know what, Prime Minister, I think you've just done a great wrap up. Do you want to join us every Friday and help us talk NRL?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, mate, I'm happy to. And I've got a soft spot for the Tigers as well, of course.

HOST: Oh, good man.

PRIME MINISTER: I represent Leichhardt there, so I'm cheering for the Tigers. Except when they play the Mighty Rabbits. But we can all agree, surely we can have unity in opposing the Chooks.

HOST: Of course.

HOST: 100%. One thing we do love seeing them get hammered.

HOST: Prime Minister, right now, Maroon, of course is listening to this program thinking I'm out of the job, because the Prime Minister is going to take my spot on Dead Set Legends over the weekend with that wrap up. Absolutely outstanding. I mean –

PRIME MINISTER: I'm up for it. Give me a time, speak to my people, and we're off. I've got to say, I'm winning the Tele tipping competition at this point in time.

HOST: Are you? Even after last round? Last round really threw my tipping into a bit of a spin. How did you go?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I got five. Because I was one of the few people who was brave enough, of course, to tip Souths against the Panthers.

HOST: Wow!

HOST: Very smart.

PRIME MINISTER: I did tip the Gold Coast against the Chooks as well, so I think that that lifted me up a bit. But last night, I've got to say, I did tip Cronulla and I watched, I got home just in time to watch the end of the game and that Raiders try at the end was extraordinary.

HOST: Wasn't it?

HOST: Oh, the Sharkies fans -

PRIME MINISTER: I loved Ricky’s reaction. I have such a soft spot for Ricky Stuart. He's so passionate, wears his heart on his sleeve and I just think that was fantastic to see someone completely lose it on the sideline there. And it's only round five.

HOST: Prime Minister, you should make a rule every time Ricky Stuart blows up that it shouldn't be a fine because we'd see it every week. It'd be outstanding.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, exactly. Put a bit of colour back into the game.

HOST: Close game. And those poor Sharkies fans, a lot of them are rushing off to Engadine Maccas as a result of that.

HOST: I don't know what you're talking about. Let's move on.

HOST: Lovely to speak to you, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: That's not this Prime Minister by the way.

HOST: Yeah, no we’ll make that very clear.

HOST: Oh, we know.

HOST: Yeah, we know that.

HOST: Oh, a bit of footy chat with the PM. How wonderful.

HOST: He's the best.

HOST: Oh, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thank you so much for taking the time to chat to us and all the best for the rest of your campaign trail.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks so much, team, and have a lovely weekend, everyone. And may it begin with the Mighty Rabbits winning tonight.

HOST: Thank you.

HOST: Thank you, Prime Minister.

ENDS