SUBJECTS: Federal election; Medicare.
 
STEVE GRAHAM, HOST: Why is it every time we talk to Anthony Albanese, there's a good Souths game coming up? There's something to do with this May election coming up?

TANYA WILKS, HOST: Yeah, well, there's that getting in the way of probably his enjoyment of footy at the moment. But the Opposition Leader is in Cessnock today. Anthony Albanese, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning. I did get to see the Bunnies beat St George last Saturday, so I won't get to many games at the moment, but I did sneak one in. 

GRAHAM: Yeah. Now, what are you doing in Cessnock, Albo?

ALBANESE: What I'll be doing is with Dan Repacholi, and also Meryl Swanson and Pat Conroy, announcing one of the 50 plans that we have for a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. What we want to do is to make sure that for existing GPs or community health centres, they can set up, get capital grants, to set up services so that people if they break an arm, or they need that urgent care, instead of ending up in the emergency departments that are really, really crowded, as everyone knows, there's somewhere they can go with extended hours, seven days a week, and get the care from a nurse, and a doctor, and get those essential, urgent care that doesn't require acute care. They won't be doing operations or anything like that but it's really about taking pressure off the emergency departments but also about our commitment to strengthen Medicare. 

WILKS: Well, this seems to be kind of stepping on the toes of GP access afterhours, but it's not, I get that. But do you have plans to reveal something about that? Because that's a big one for our area.

ALBANESE: Well, we've also provided support in places like Toronto, we want to extend GP after hours services. One of the things that I think really divides politics in Australia is the attitude towards health and Medicare. Labor created Medicare, we’ll always strengthen it.

GRAHAM: I think, yeah, and you're right. I think the big thing on everyone's minds, particularly coming out of the pandemic, is health.

ALBANESE: Absolutely, it's been a wakeup call, not that we really needed one. If you don't get your health right, then you won't get good economic outcomes. Everything flows from having good health care.

GRAHAM: I’ll tell you what, Albo, it’s no secret people watching an election campaign, the tough and hard work you do in the long days, long hours, you're all over the place. I don't know about your mum because we, you know, we come from a similar background, did you get some Cell Vital? Because that's vital for you mate, do you remember that? Berocca, Cell Vital, something to give you energy?

ALBANESE: Certainly. Well, I get energy from the adrenaline that you get in a campaign, I've got to say. So, we’ll have a busy day today, yesterday I was in Melbourne, the day before in Tasmania. Last week I did Perth, Brisbane. Adelaide.

WILKS: How are you doing all this? Did they allocate you a plane to just zip around, just you, a private one?

ALBANESE: They do, both sides have access to a plane during the campaign. The Prime Minister has one all of the time of course. But now I have access that does make it very possible. So, I'll be flying into Newcastle there this morning. It makes it a lot easier.

GRAHAM: Was it a good moment when you actually saw Barnaby Joyce getting off a Jetstar flight?

ALBANESE: Good luck to him. I've got lots of Jetstar flights in my time. I've got to say.

WILKS: Well, you’ll probably run into him because he's at the airport this morning as well.

ALBANESE: Well, he's making a rare appearance in this election campaign. 

WILKS: Good on you, Albo. Stick it in.

ALBANESE: I thought they’d silenced him, so anyway, it’s good that he’s out and about, and I wish him well.

GRAHAM: No, the Liberals don’t know he’s here. 

ALBANESE: That’s right. He snuck in. 

WILKS: Hey, listen, have a great day. We'll talk to you next time. 

ALBANESE: Thanks guys. 

ENDS