SUBJECTS: Labor’s $300 vaccine incentive proposal; vaccine rollout; need for national quarantine facilities.

SOPHIE WALSH, HOST: As Australia continues to grapple with vaccine hesitancy, the Labor Party has proposed a solution - a one-off cash incentive of $300 to entice Aussies to roll up their sleeve.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: For more, let's bring in Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese, in Canberra. Albo, good morning to you. Nice to see you. You have got your chequebook out. How much is this going to cost us?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Morning. Well, this would cost - if everyone did it in the whole country, it would be $6 billion. If 80 per cent, the figure we're aiming for was done, it would be just under $5 billion. But that's a small amount compared with the $2 billion a week that these mass lockdowns are costing our national economy. This is something that we need to do. We need to get our vaccination rates up. We're running last in the developed world. So this would be good for our health but also would provide a much-needed stimulus at a time when workers and small business is really struggling to get by as a result of these lockdowns.

WALSH: So, just to clarify, this is everyone who gets the jab, not just those who haven't had it yet?

ALBANESE: No. This is everyone. You want to provide that incentive for people to get jabbed. This is just one measure. But overseas, the Biden Administration is looking at this, countries in Europe have done similar things. There are various incentives out there. And we just need to use every tool at our disposal. At a time where the economy is being predicted to actually go backwards in the September quarter as a result of these lockdowns, it would provide as well that much-needed economic stimulus at a time when businesses are really struggling. Not just those directly affected, but indirectly as well.

STEFANOVIC: The Government says cash doesn't work and it is other incentives that will encourage people to get vaccinated. How do you respond?

ALBANESE: Well, the Chief Health Officer was calling for incentives. The road map going forward from the Government itself speaks about incentives. So, it's hard to see what the negative is here, frankly. This is a constructive suggestion. They also rejected the idea of wage subsidies when we put it forward last year. Scott Morrison said it was a dangerous idea. For goodness’ sake. Put politics aside. This is a constructive suggestion and the Government should get onboard with it.

WALSH: Do you think this will get us out of lockdowns by Christmas?

ALBANESE: Well, hopefully this will be one of the measures. We need, of course, to fix vaccine supply. We need also to fix quarantine. I note you speak about our wonderful swim team going to Howard Springs. That's because it's the only purpose-built facility at the moment that is keeping people safe. There haven't been break-outs from Howard Springs. We need more Howard Springs-type facilities around the country. Fixing quarantine and fixing vaccines.

STEFANOVIC: Why don't you make it mandatory? You can legislate that? Constitutionally you can do that?

ALBANESE: I think you'd have a real issue trying to mandate vaccines. That's something that we haven't done in this country across the board. What we're talking about here is bringing the Australian people with us on this project. This is a national project. And providing this incentive is a common sense solution. What it would do as well is it would spark conversation, conversations around the workplace, around communities. ‘Have you got your 300 bucks yet?’ is a conversation that we want. Anything that starts the conversation about the need to get vaccinated is a good thing. This is put forward in a constructive spirit. It is in line with what the Chief Health Officer and others have said in the past. It's in line with what we're seeing internationally happen. And that's why at a time when it would also be good for the economy, we'd suggest that the Government should get onboard with this.

STEFANOVIC: Look, Albo, what about making your own Party, at least encouraging them to get vaccinations? Will you start with that? Will it be mandatory for Labor Party members to have it?

ALBANESE: I don't know anyone who hasn't had it. Or hasn't tried to get it. There's been a problem, of course, with access. But everyone I know in the Labor Party, in my team, is certainly wanting to get vaccinated. I'm fully vaccinated. It's the right thing to do for our own health but the right thing to do for your family, for your community, and for your country.

STEFANOVIC: Good to talk Albo. Thank you. Food for thought across Australia today.

ALBANESE: Good on you.

ENDS