SUBJECTS: WA GST; Scott Morrison not standing up for West Australians; climate change; net zero by 2050; NRL Grand Final; South Sydney Rabbitohs.

HOST: Hello, Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese. How are you going? 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: G'day. I'm going very well. Not quite living in paradise here in Sydney, more like living in lockdown. 

HOST: For sure. Hey, quick question, GST. It's been on the boil for the last couple of months, and your Party specifically over here has been campaigning hard that we could change, the West Australian contribution could change and the distribution, you've come out today to say that's not going to happen. What took you so long?

ALBANESE: Well, we campaigned for it to be lifted in the first place. We campaigned for it to be legislated. And our position has been very clear for a very long period of time that Western Australians deserved more. You keep the national economy going, particularly over the last couple of years, I've got to say. And when I was Infrastructure Minister, I established the WA Infrastructure Fund, a special fund where we funded projects like Gateway WA and Perth City Link, syncing the railway line there that's created, that magnificent square, bringing the city together with North Bridge. We did the Swan Valley Bypass. We did major projects right around Western Australia. And WA deserved it. And that's why we called for the legislation to be carried earlier this year and voted for it.

HOST: You did a really clever thing. And this is probably just from politicking and things like that, because for the past couple of months, there's been a lot of conjecture that that could change given that we are heading into a Federal election. But in reality, it all really comes down to whether your Party supported a change to that GST. So, is this just a sign that you guys are really gearing up for election campaign in a snap?

ALBANESE: Well, we're certainly gearing up for an election campaign whenever it is. We think that Australia deserves a change of government. The current mob have been there for three terms. They don't have a strategy for the future to deal with climate change. They are still waffling around over whether they'll support a basic principle like net zero by 2050. They don't have a plan for industry, for education, for health. They're really just occupying the space. And we have an opportunity coming out of COVID to grow back stronger, to imagine a better Australia and then set about creating it. And I want to work with Mark McGowan's Government to do that, particularly in Western Australia. 

HOST: Albo, dumb it down a little bit for me, man. I've looked on the bookies. They've got your 50-50 with ScoMo. For the average person like me who doesn't read about politics and doesn't care too much for it, why am I voting for you?

ALBANESE: You are voting for me because I'm compassionate and care. But I also have a hard head re making sure that we have an economy that grows, that we create wealth, as well as caring about its distribution. And you're voting for me because you don't want people to be left behind. But you also don't want people to be held back from opportunity. 

HOST: Hey, Albo, you must have been pretty chuffed with the front page of the paper over here on Monday when ScoMo basically said, 'Everyone needs to remember that I'm fighting Albo, not Mark McGowan'. Are we going to see you over here on the campaign, I guess COVID permitting quite a bit, campaigning with the very popular Premier?

ALBANESE: Absolutely. I am a regular visitor to Perth when I was able to be there, and throughout Western Australia. We actually had a full Shadow Cabinet meeting planned for Port Hedland. That would have been the second one that I'd had in the West. And I'm really looking forward to campaigning. We've got fantastic candidates. And I'm looking forward to campaigning with each and every one of them right throughout Western Australia as soon as I can.

HOST: Anthony, we just turned on an amazing show. It made us all feel good about ourselves over here. The AFL Grand Final in Perth and Optus stadium. It was a huge success. And many now thinking, 'Well that's what we can be, that's what we can do. We can put on big events'. There's some momentum over here for Commonwealth Games which is available and achievable for 2026. There is no host city for 2026. Next year is in Birmingham in the UK. Would you support, would a Federal Government led by Anthony Albanese, support a Perth bid for the Commonwealth Games Perth 2026?

ALBANESE: Well, of course I haven't been lobbied yet by the Lord Mayor of Perth. I look forward to the charm being laid on to support that bid. But I think the Commonwealth Games is a great event. I attended up in Gold Coast and it did a lot of things for the Gold Coast and for Queensland when it was hosted just a few years ago. So, we would give proper consideration to any of those type of events. But Australia does punch above our weight. And you look at Saturday's magnificent game. It was a great game of footy. But the spectacle as well was great. And those shots would have gone around the world, not just around Australia, showcasing what a great city Perth is. And I certainly think that I'd encourage people to come forward with any proposals. As I said, this is the early days yet so no rock-solid commitments until we see proper proposals. But Perth has certainly shown time and time again. You've hosted the Commonwealth Games before way back in the 60s before I existed. So, it would be a great event. And the cricket is always great in Perth. And indeed, you've even hosted home games for my beloved Bunnies.

HOST: Big one this weekend.

HOST: Who is your pick?

ALBANESE: I bleed red and green. I am a very passionate life member of Souths. I was a director of the board for them, so to declare an interest there. But I think it'll be a cracking game. And I've just got to say, thank goodness for WA and for Queensland that people have been able to watch sport from lockdown. It's kept people going, I've got to say. I've seen more footy on the TV this year than I have in the previous 20 years, I think, because normal functions that I'd be out on a Friday or Saturday night, they're all cancelled as well. 

HOST: Albo, good on you. We appreciate your time as always. And thanks for being supportive of us here in the West. I'm sure we'll chat again in the inevitable lead-up to that Federal election early next year. 

ALBANESE: And just remember, for those watching on Sunday, South Sydney are virtually a WA team.

HOST: Go the Panthers. Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader, always a pleasure.

ENDS