SUBJECTS: Disability funding; GST; housing affordability; cost of living; healthcare; Medicare; infrastructure investment;
 
MIKE O’LOUGHLIN, HOST: Now the federal election, as we know, has been called for Saturday, May 21. And today officially, is the first full day of the election campaign. I think the fact that Labor leader Anthony Albanese has kicked off his campaign trail right here in Tassie says a lot about just how important our votes are. So we've got Mr Albanese joining us live on the line right now. We're very grateful for him making the time. Anthony, good morning, welcome back to Tassie.

ALBANESE: Good morning. Good to be here - just travelling between Launceston and Devonport as we speak.

O’LOUGHLIN: And could you tell us why did you make, decide to make Tassie the first stop on your campaign trail?

ALBANESE: Well, this is the fifth time I've been back in Tasmania since the borders reopened. I've been a regular visitor to Tasmania over more than two decades now. I like Tasmania. It's an important area. Ross Hart I believe did a fantastic job in the time that he served as the member for Bass and I want to see him returned and I want to see Chris Lynch elected as member for Braddon.

O’LOUGHLIN: It's a busy agenda I was looking at, I'm grateful for the time but what is on the agenda for today? I know you've done some announcements about hearing in Launnie.
ALBANESE: We did we had a fantastic announcement for The Shepherd Centre to be here in Launceston and also to have a presence in Hobart so that they can service the whole of Tasmania. This will help more than 2000 children who are hearing impaired and their families, to provide those specialist services here in Tasmania for children with hearing loss. And today it was a really, a really good morning meeting with a family including a lovely young girl Frankie, who has had cochlear implants in both of her ears, and of course hearing is so important for the educational opportunities of young children.

O’LOUGHLIN: Can I then ask a question, David emailed, one of the listeners with a question for you says: “if elected will Labor make Tasmania's share of the GST distribution to the state more realistic and not so lopsided like it is now?”

ALBANESE: Oh look, we don't have any intention of changing the GST arrangements which are in place.

O’LOUGHLIN: Right. Well, another question and I don't have much time, because the main things concerning Tasmanians pretty much at the moment, definitely health. We spoke with HACSU, earlier about health - and I've got a question for you from them in a moment, but also cost of living. We didn't see too much in the budget for renters. I mean, there was temporary relief for fuel, one off payments - what does Labor plan to do about the cost of living and the housing struggles facing Tasmanians and we'll get on to health in a tick?

ALBANESE: Well, at the moment, they're all just one off payments that end when the election ends. It shows that they don't actually have a plan for the future. We have a plan to deal with cost of living, including cheaper childcare, including making sure that energy prices are lower, but also for homelessness and housing. We’ll provide for a Housing Australia Future Fund, we’ll create some 30,000 additional social and affordable housing units that will really assist people and take pressure off people in the housing sector.

O’LOUGHLIN: A tough one, it's very difficult, especially when you think of where we're gonna get the land from, and the products and materials and labour tough to come by right now. But let's talk about the health crisis because we're tight for time, I know. we spoke with Robbie Moore, Assistant Secretary for the Health and Community Services Union, or HACSU as I mentioned earlier, here in Tasmania earlier this morning, and he had a question for you. This is it.

ROBBIE MOORE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES UNION: Would he match the resources that we see that go into places like the Northern Territory directly into the Tasmanian system, so that we can actually get serious about addressing the health crisis that we have here in Tasmania?

O’LOUGHLIN: There you go. What's your response?

ALBANESE: Well, I'm not sure what he means by drawing an analogy with Northern Territory. But I'll say this about health care, is that Labor will always be better on health then the Coalition. We’re the party of Medicare and we'll be having more to say about strengthening Medicare during the campaign. But we'll also be about fixing the aged care crisis that is so important in the health sector as well. And it was the centrepiece of my budget reply to have a nurse in every nursing home to make sure that older Australians get the care that they need.

O’LOUGHLIN: I know that, again, health is so critical here, but when you look at some of the people that have been putting questions through to us, not just health but cost of living, affordable housing you've touched on, and national security. Really, I mean, Centrelink needs to be looked at, education, more police. I mean, gee, the list is endless. But realistically Tasmania needs a better share. And I think it's pleasing to know that you've started off in Tasmania. I think that's a point.

ALBANESE: Oh, absolutely. Tasmania will be an absolute priority for me. When I had the privilege of serving in government previously, I had the rail revitalization programme. I had investment in the Midland Highway, investment in the Bass Highway. We did major work at Burnie Port. I know how important Tasmania is to our national economy and, and it will be a major part of our plan to give all Australians, but particularly here in Tasmania, a better future.

O’LOUGHLIN: And I know the National Social Justice stocktake report was compiled by the Salvation Army, you will get a chance to read that, the top social issues identified by residents of 151 electorates from right across all of the nation. In Tasmania, it was housing affordability as you've touched on, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health, homelessness, family violence, identified as the top issues for respondents, and mainly, and then for the electorate of Bass as well, mirror, mirroring the same concerns.

ALBANESE: Well, that's right. Australians are under real pressure. So many Australians are just doing it tough at the moment, we've got a complacent government that seems to think that everything's just all hunky dory.

O’LOUGHLIN: And you're thinking that we need to, so you're with, you've got the talented ex-Member with you to hopefully get a tick in the in the box.

ALBANESE: Well, hopefully, number one, because we want the votes to be formal and then number every square. But, but Ross Hart is a great candidate. I'm very pleased that he's prepared to put himself forward again.

O’LOUGHLIN: Isn't it interesting how every, every particular time that we've gone to vote since 2001, it’s been, been a different, it's swapped between Labor and Liberal each time, it's been a heck of a tough vote.

ALBANESE: It has, Bass is always a competitive seat and it will be again. But I think, with Ross Hart, you have someone who people know, who will work very hard for the electorate. And in many ways, the Morrison government haven't even had the confidence of their own local member here. And that's why they're not worthy of re-election. But in order to get rid of the government, people need to vote for Ross Hart as the local member.

O’LOUGHLIN: I know we've got to go and I've got the wrap up and I do appreciate your time and how busy it is. But when you come back next time, give us a bit more time so we can have a bigger chat. 

ALBANESE: Absolutely. Good to talk with you.

O’LOUGHLIN: You too. Good to talk to Mr. Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader of course. We'll have a chat to Ross Hart down the track, we're gonna have a chat to all of them by the way, and get their views. Sorry, it was so quick. That's all we got. 

ENDS