SUBJECTS: A Better Future for Queensland visit; floods in Maryborough; announcements made on A Better Future for Queensland trip; Federal Government’s failure to learn from mistakes; RATs and booster shots. 

ANDREW BLAND, HOST: This back to work Monday, it's 7:47 as we say a very good morning, he's joined us a number of times here on The Big Breakfast, it is the Federal Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese. Good morning, Anthony.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning. Thanks for having me on the program.
 
BLAND: Not a problem. You've been touring our wonderful state?
 
ALBANESE: I did. I had a great opportunity, I did 10 days. We drove from Cairns, we went north first to Mossman, and then went all the way south to Maryborough. We did the Fraser Coast there, Bundaberg and Maryborough, Hervey Bay, but we also did Gracemere and Gladstone, Rocky, Mackay, Ingham, Innisfail, Tully, Mission Beach, Cairns, Townsville. It was a great opportunity to connect with Queenslanders. We did 20 towns and cities over the 10 days. And it was an opportunity to listen to what their concerns were. But, also, we had some big announcements, particularly on the Emergency Response Fund – making sure that that is actually used and renamed for disaster preparedness so that we actually prepare for disasters, of which Queensland, unfortunately, gets more than its share of floods and cyclones, and the use of that fund was a big announcement. As well, we had announcements about funding for the Great Barrier Reef and First Nations Rangers, a range of programs. So, it was a great trip.
 
BLAND: Okay, so Maryborough, as you would well be aware, you, I would imagine, were here not long after the floods there, which we've had to endure once again in the region. But the cleanup, the response, by the people was just amazing,
 
ALBANESE: It was extraordinary. And it was a chance to thank the fire and emergency services personnel, but also the SES and the RFS, the volunteers who came from right around the region to really lend a helping hand. It was remarkable, indeed. I was there on the Friday and it was remarkable how much had already been cleaned up. We went to the Downer EDI site as well, there in Maryborough, and you could see where the water had gone up to, it was quite extraordinary. And the fence, with the bits of grass stuck, you could see the height of the water that happened so suddenly. It was extraordinary.
 
BLAND: Yeah, it came quickly, Anthony, and sort of went down just as quickly, but with the help of, as you say, not only the emergency services, but many, many, people chipped in with this.
 
ALBANESE: These are just great Australians who answered the call to go and help, and they were remarkable men and women, and they deserve our thanks each and every day for what they do.
 
BLAND: Absolutely. Anthony, what are you hearing as you tour the state? What's the main message that you're getting?
 
ALBANESE: People are worried about insecurity at work, they want secure jobs. They also responded very positively to our message about A Future Made in Australia. It's one of the things about the Downer site, making trains, there for Queensland, and the previous government, of course at the state level, flogged it off, basically, made trains overseas and we know that in the end that doesn't work. In the end, anytime a government does that, it's not fit for purpose. We went to the Rio Tinto Alumina refinery there just outside of Gladstone. And that was important. They're shifting to hydrogen. So, it was a chance to have a chat with them about how they're going to lower their emissions but increase their efficiency and be able to employ more people. There was a chance to talk to industry as well, we talked to cane growers, banana growers, we talked to the beef industry. We announced funding for Beef Australia 2024. That will be, of course, a major event. It’s a major tourism event as well as an industry event held there in Rocky. We went to the Gracemere Saleyards for that announcement. And it was an opportunity to talk, as well, the tourism industry, of course, who have done it so, so tough. And, of course, overhanging all of this was the problems that are there with the rapid antigen tests. We visited a couple of medical centres where they just haven't been able to get access to them, and the problems with the rollout of the booster and the issues associated with the pandemic, of course, hangover all of our heads at the moment.
 
BLAND: Yes, certainly. The RAT tests are few and far between, slim pickings in our region, at least for the moment, Anthony.
 
ALBANESE: Everywhere mate. It’s just a shocker. It's easier to catch COVID than it is to catch a RAT in so many parts of Australia.
 
BLAND: It's terrible, isn’t it? That, hopefully, is changing in the next couple of weeks.
 
ALBANESE: Well, I certainly hope so. But why is it that the Government didn't learn the lessons from their failure to secure vaccines? I mean, we make rapid antigen tests here in Australia and they're busy exporting them overseas. It's just extraordinary that the Government waited until there was an absolute crisis before they bothered to order some. It's not leadership. And once again, it's a failure to learn the lessons that should have been learnt with the failure on the rollout of the vaccine that, of course, led to a delay as well in people being eligible for booster shots.
 
BLAND: We've got a Federal Election coming up within the next few months, Anthony. How are you feeling about what's to come for yourself personally and the party? Are you feeling that perhaps this is the time?
 
ALBANESE: I'm feeling positive. The Government will be shooting for a second decade in office. And I think it is time for a change. That's what many voters in Queensland, right throughout the visit said to me directly, that they were prepared to give us a go, that they appreciate our message about secure work, about making more things here, about supporting new industries through the National Reconstruction Fund. And there is disappointment, I think, with the Government. There are two basic things people expect – it’s competency, and there's been major problems with the rollout now of rapid antigen tests and booster shots, school having to be delayed, the return there, in Queensland, and they expect integrity as well, it’s a big issue. There's a failure to have a national anti-corruption commission that's so important to restore integrity and faith in politics at the national level, and that the Government really don't have a plan for the future. I want to be a part of building a stronger Queensland, more regional jobs. Our energy policy was very well received, it's been backed by the Business Council, the National Farmers’ Federation, it will create over 600,000 new jobs and reduce energy prices by $275. And people have been pleased to see a policy that's been broadly welcomed after the 22 attempts and none of them landed. I think people want an end to the climate wars and they want a government that just gets on with building a stronger Australia.
 
BLAND: Anthony, we appreciate your time this morning. And no doubt we will be chatting once again before election time, I would imagine. Thanks for joining us this morning.
 
ALBANESE: Thanks very much. Have a great day.
 
ENDS