SUBJECTS: Labor’s $300 COVID-19 vaccination incentive; COVID outbreaks around Australia; vaccine rollout; fitness regimes.

TANYA WILKS, HOST: We have got Anthony Albanese who is the Leader of the Opposition. Morning, Mr Albanese. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning. Good to be with you. 

WILKS: I was just about to launch into a story about my new purchase, my Total Gym, and now you've called, so obviously, you take precedence over that.

ALBANESE: Well, good for the first day of spring. You've got a new fitness regime, do you?

WILKS: Absolutely, I do. Do you have one?

ALBANESE: I do try. I actually, during COVID, I got a treadmill in the office next to my desk. We can't get out and about, so it is just one of the ways of overcoming the hardship of lockdown here in Canberra.

WILKS: Well, I just now envisage you slipping into the en suite and whacking on the Lorna Jane and coming out and hitting the treadmill.

ALBANESE: No. No Lorna Jane. No one wants to see that. 

WILKS: Well, look, we need to talk about what's going on. Because here in the Hunter yesterday, we had 18 people that were arrested for these anti-lockdown protests. And you get the feeling that people are just getting a little bit fed up, getting restless is basically what I'm saying. So how do you think the Government is going to keep a lid on people and encourage them to do the right thing, get the vaccination, so life can return to normal?

ALBANESE: No one wants lockdowns. But we know the consequences of the delay in lockdown when there was an outbreak from a single limo driver that led to some infections around Bondi. And Scott Morrison congratulated Gladys Berejiklian for not taking action. And the consequence is now we're entering month three of a lockdown that spread throughout Sydney and then up to the Hunter and throughout the whole state and then to Canberra and then to Victoria. So no one wants lockdowns, but you do have to take action in order to limit the extent and also the severity of the lockdown. Up to seven people have died in my electorate as a result of this current outbreak. Tragically, a couple of them, an elderly couple, were booked in to get their vaccine, they were living at home in Marrickville. They unfortunately died the week before their appointments came through. So we do need to recognise this is a serious disease. No one wants lockdowns. It's really hard for people. I get it is so hard for parents trying to home-school their kids. It's hard for people not being able to go about their way of life. But we do need to get people to get vaccinated. Get out there and get the jab if you possibly can.

WILKS: Well, the idea that you'd floated a few weeks back was about the incentive to get people vaccinated. Do you think we still need to incentivise people? Is what's going on in our hospitals and rolling out of professionals and experts every day to give us an insight into what's going on, is that not enough? Do you think monetary incentives is the way to go to get to that 80 per cent?

ALBANESE: I think we need to throw everything at this. And that's what the Chief Medical Officer said early this year. That's what Lieutenant General Frewen, who's in charge of the rollout, said. And throughout Australia, there's all sorts of incentives that have been offered, but nothing from the Federal Government. You have Telstra giving its employees $200, Qantas with frequent flyer points. On the weekend, you had various sporting teams get together to encourage people to come along and get a jab in their Newcastle Knights jumper or whatever their favourite team was and that the sporting codes would offer prizes for them. So there are incentives out there. I think across the board, a $300 payment, both as a reward and an incentive, would make a difference. Overseas, there's all sorts of innovative ideas. In Indonesia you get a chicken if you get a jab. I don't think that would work here. 

WILKS: Is it a roll or is it roasted? 

ALBANESE: No, a real one. A real chicken. 

WILKS: You get eggs.

ALBANESE: In Hong Kong, they're offering eggs. In the United States, they have everything from free beer to tuition fees being paid for through a lottery system. You have all sorts of incentives out there. And I think anything that starts a discussion between people, anything that encourages people who might be putting it off, some people, let's face it, tried to get vaccinated and just couldn't get an appointment because the big problem was supply, as supply comes on, we need to make sure that we offer every incentive possible. The biggest incentive, of course, is to protect yourself and your family and your neighbours and your community. But incentives do work on a range of measures. That's why for childcare, for example, the Government, under Scott Morrison when he was the Minister, linked payments for childcare and for Family Assistance with the no jab, no pay policy.

WILKS: We have the idea, even though you're not officially part of National Cabinet when they meet, we have the idea, because you are Federal Labor, that you would have the ear of Annastacia Palaszczuk, Dan Andrews, etc, do you believe that they, in Victoria and Queensland, will play ball and do what they signed up to do as part of that National Cabinet agreement and open up their borders once we do get to 70 and 80 per cent?

ALBANESE: Well, they all signed up for the national plan. The national plan, of course, provides for various protections to be continued to be available at 70 per cent and 80 per cent. No one wants restrictions. Restrictions affect people's way of life and their capacity to get around and it hurts the economy. But to be fair to Queensland at the moment, South Australia also, I noticed Scott Morrison never talks about the Liberal states, South Australia and Tasmania and Queensland and Western Australia all have their borders closed to New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT at the moment. That's a decision that is perfectly understandable. WA is getting the Grand Final in the AFL. Brisbane will get the Grand Final in the Rugby League. And it's tough times, but these decisions have been made to keep their citizens safe.

WILKS: Do you think we will have a very Merry Christmas and spend it with our families? 

ALBANESE: Well, I certainly hope so. I really do. It's Father's Day this Sunday. I haven't seen my son for three months, since I've been home. And it is really difficult with the restrictions that are on that apply here in the ACT as well where I haven't left the ACT for over a month. And it's difficult for people. Let's hope we can have families gather at Christmas time. That's what we all want to see. And let's all work to that. And one way to work to that is by people getting jabbed.

WILKS: And speaking of work, back to the treadmill for you. Thanks for the time. We appreciate it. 

ALBANESE: Thanks very much. Have a great day.

WILKS: You too. 

ALBANESE: And good luck with your fitness regime. 

WILKS: Thank you. I appreciate it. There is Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Opposition.

ENDS