SUBJECTS: Vaccine rollout; restrictions across Australia; state borders; Christian Porter’s resignation from Cabinet; blind trust; Federal election; Labor’s $300 vaccination incentive; South Sydney Rabbitohs; NRL.

ANDREW BLAND, HOST: Good morning to you, Albo.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning. Greetings to everyone on the Coast.

BLAND: How goes it? 

ALBANESE: Okay. It's actually quite a beautiful day here in Sydney. So, that's quite good. I'm sure it's not as warm as it is up there.

BLAND: That goes without saying, mate. And of course, we have a bit more freedom up here with zero COVID cases, touch wood. 

ALBANESE: You've done very well and Annastacia Palaszczuk has done a great job.

BLAND: Well, she's in town at the moment. She may well be hearing you right now. So, she'll appreciate that pat on the back. Now, let's talk about the election. Anywhere from November this year to mid next year we could be off to the polls.

ALBANESE: That's right. It's up to Scott Morrison to call the election. And it may well be that the latest debacle with Christian Porter, another Cabinet Minister resigning in the scandal over accepting money for his legal case and not disclosing where the money came from or how much, is one of the catalysts that lead to an election being called sooner rather than later.

BLAND: He's moving to the backbench but saying he will contest the next election.

ALBANESE: Well, he's moved on to the backbench, but the stench remains here, and so does the cloud of blowflies above it. This is red hot. You can't, as a Member of Parliament, accept money and say you're not going to disclose who gave it or how much. It's simply untenable. It's a breach of the register of pecuniary interests that people must make. And it's no wonder this Government hasn't actually advanced the National Anticorruption Commission that they promised way back in 2018.

BLAND: Well, doesn't necessarily end here, though, does it, as far as that case is concerned?

ALBANESE: It certainly doesn't. This is just untenable to have a circumstance like this. It will make the whole register of pecuniary interests, whereby people have to disclose any benefit on a private basis who are elected Members of Parliament, it renders that completely irrelevant if people can say, 'I've got some money, won't tell you how much, won't say who gave it'. That's just quite a farcical situation. And it's not on. It wasn't on for him to remain as a Cabinet Minister, but it's also a breach of his obligations as a Member of Parliament.

BLAND: Anthony, what are your chances, honestly, at the next election? Where are we looking at the moment in the two-party preferred?

ALBANESE: Look, there's a poll out today. But polls come and go. The one today has us ahead. And we've been ahead for a while. But you'd rather be in that situation than not. But the poll that counts, of course, is the one on polling day. And I'm determined that we'll put forward a positive alternative talking about jobs. For example, when I visited Maryborough there, the Downer EDI site. Manufacturing rail here in Australia is precisely what we need to do to create those regional jobs. And I want to bring manufacturing back onshore. And I want to work with the Queensland Government as well rather than work against them to keep people safe and to get through COVID.

BLAND: Anthony, I know you don't have a lot of time. Just quickly wanted to touch on this $300 incentive for people to get vaccinated. Should we be paying people to get vaccinated?

ALBANESE: Look, it's an economic incentive. We should be doing everything we can to provide incentives to people. That's what all the advice says. That's what the rest of the world is doing. And that's why this practical proposal that I've put forward of a $300 payment for everyone as a reward who've already been vaccinated, but as an incentive for those who might be sitting around there going, 'Oh, well, we've done okay with COVID here on the Fraser Coast, no big rush', it might encourage them to get out and get vaccinated as soon as possible. And that would be a good thing. And guess what? The economy isn't doing real well at the moment. And it will provide an important stimulus for the economy as well. 

BLAND: So, for someone like me, I'm already vaccinated, double vaxxed, you are saying you would give me $300 even though I did it for health reasons?

ALBANESE: Sure would. And most people, of course, will do it for health reasons. But we need to provide every incentive possible. We don't want to disadvantage people who've gone out there and done the right thing early.

BLAND: Anthony, I do appreciate your time. I've got to touch on your footy team who are looking okay.

ALBANESE: The Bunnies are going to get premiership number 22 there in Queensland, hopefully at Suncorp in a couple of weeks. They're looking good. We will see how we go against the rivals Manly. And then I'm really hoping that Queenslanders, of course, will get behind the traditional team of Souths. They were very good to us when we got kicked out of the comp. I was a board member during that period. And Queenslanders love their rugby league. And they got behind us. And hopefully get on board the Bunnies over the next couple of weeks.

BLAND: You going to the Grand Final?

ALBANESE: I can't. Not allowed, unfortunately. It is a great tragedy. I was there in 2014. And my mum took me to the hill on the SCG way back in 1971, 50 years ago. So, 50 years since our second last comp, since we won Premiership number 20. And hopefully, we'll have premiership number 22. We'll see how we go.

BLAND: All right, Anthony Albanese, Federal Opposition Leader. Thank you for your time this morning. Much appreciated. We'll talk soon.

ALBANESE: Thanks very much, mate.

ENDS