SUBJECTS: Visit to Perth; weightloss; federal election; music knowledge.
 
BASIL ZEMPLILAS, HOST: With a spring in his step, two, we've got to say. Leader of the Opposition, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good morning.
 
ZEMPILAS: And welcome to Perth.

ALBANESE: Good to be here in person.

ZEMPILAS: And you couldn't wait to get here. So much so you got on the first plane in.

ALBANESE: Well, I did promise that I'd be on the first plane. I didn't realise that that first plane would be on my birthday and would land at five past 12, but here I was. 

XAVIER ELLIS, HOST: Did you get the stuffed quokka? Or you weren't able to get the stuffed quokka? 

ALBANESE: I missed the quokka. All I got was a RAT test on the way in.

ELLIS: Yeah, ok. Pay that.

ZEMPILAS: Actually, there was a little bit of conjecture, Anthony, because you had a South Sydney Rabbitohs mask on. And now there was a bit of talk that if he wants to win votes in the West, maybe he needs, maybe he needs a different sort of logo on his mask.

ELLIS: And I said I liked it because that's who he supports.

ALBANESE: No, it's real and I know enough about here, I've spent a lot of time here over the years. And I'm gonna upset either Eagles supporters or Dockers supporters so go for the Rabbitohs. 

ZEMPILAS: So, stay neutral. Although, sitting on the fence doesn't work really.

ALBANESE: Well, you don't have to involve yourself in the middle of civil war.

ELLIS: That's a fair point. I learnt that this week myself. Sit out of everything.
 
ZEMPILAS: Yeah, that can be a good tactic.

ALBANESE: But I love the derbies, fantastic. 

ZEMPILAS: Well, you know we call them derbies over here. 

ALBANESE: Well, we have Swans Giants derbies, we call them, in Sydney and the Giants usually do pretty well. But I'm actually a Hawk's supporter.

ZEMPILAS: Xavier Ellis, Hawthorn premiership player, there he is, 2008. You probably remember.

ALBANESE: Indeed. I was there. [Hawthorn theme plays] We're a happy team at Hawthorn.

ELLIS: Hey, Albo, I need to ask you, mentioned Hawthorn, back in the day I was a little bit of a thinner person. Right now I'm robust. You've lost a lot of weight. How have you lost the weight?

ALBANESE: Discipline. I've been careful about my diet.

ELLIS: Right. What's the main thing you've cut out? 

ALBANESE: Bread.

ELLIS: Bread. Ok.
 
ALBANESE: Bread. Potato. Pizzas.

ELLIS: All the good stuff.
 
ALBANESE: All the good stuff, exactly. 

ELLIS: Alcohol?
 
ALBANESE: I have cut down on alcohol. I cut it out completely for five months. 

ZEMPILAS: Yeah, makes a difference, doesn't it?

ALBANESE: In January last year, I had a near death experience in the car. I had a head on car crash and that really causes you to sit back and think about things. I was on pretty heavy painkillers, so I had to have no alcohol. And I just thought I'll see how long I can go for. I went five months. So now I have the occasional beer. I had a nice Little Creatures last night. 
 
ELLIS: Ooh yeah. 
 
ALBANESE: Was very good. At Leederville, the pub there, was very good. But yeah, just discipline. Walking, I walk the dog and I try to be a tennis player. And I find that I'm not really into gyms. 

ELLIS: How much have you dropped?
 
ALBANESE: 18. 

ELLIS: Wow. That's a good effort.
 
ALBANESE: Yeah, I had my target of 80 and I've reached that.

ZEMPILAS: So, I mentioned when you walked in, you've got a spring in your step, you've dropped the weight. We've heard about the wedding shredding, where people train up for the big event. You've got a big event coming up in a month, two months, three months, whenever it's called. Do you feel like it's yours for the taking?
 
ALBANESE: I certainly don't feel like that. I think going through 2019, where everyone thought we'd win and we didn't, has meant that there's a lot of discipline on our side. And we're not counting the chickens before polling day. But I think we're competitive, at worst. I think that this government has reached the end of its time. They're tired. They're out of ideas. And they're out of personnel with people jumping ship. And I think we're ready. We're up for being a better government. We are running under the theme of a better future and I think we've got practical plans to make a difference to people's lives.

ELLIS: So, Albo, Baz is into the politics. Lord Mayor. I'm certainly not. I'm 34, I've got two kids. Why would I vote for ya?
 
ALBANESE: Because depending upon the age of your kids, if they're in childcare, we will make it more affordable. 

ELLIS: You've said enough. 
 
ALBANESE: Simple as that. No, well, when your youngest hits the age of five. Why is it that when your youngest kid goes to school, suddenly you're much better off? Surely we should be encouraging people. And it's about an economic reform, women's workforce participation, driving up productivity, but also encouraging growth in the population. So we think that is really important for families, but also good for kids. And we want a Future Made in Australia. That's a big theme. We need to make more things here, learn the lessons from the pandemic. What were our weaknesses? How do we fix them? We need to be more resilient, be able to stand on our own feet.

ZEMPILAS: If you don't win enough Labor seats at the next election to form government in your own right, would you call upon the Greens? 
 
ALBANESE: No.
 
ZEMPILAS: And that is ruled out categorically?
 
ALBANESE: Absolutely. We want to govern in our own right. And that's why we're searching for the magic number of 76 seats. We need seven seats.
 
ZEMPILAS: If you're a seat short, Mr. Albanese, a seat short away from you becoming Prime Minister and the Greens are prepared to do a deal to form a coalition you wouldn't do that?
 
ALBANESE: No. Simple as that.
 
ZEMPILAS: I like this. 
 
ALBANESE: They can, they can put in Scott Morrison if they want. That's the choice that they would have. But there'll be other crossbenchers there as well. Bob Katter, Rebekha Sharkie, Zali Steggall. There's a range of people there. But I want us, I'm the only person running in this election who can form government in my own right. We know Scott Morrison has been held back by the Coalition with the Nats. There's a majority in the Parliament, an overwhelming majority want to take climate change seriously. That's been the case for more than a decade. But their being held back by this little minority saying, nup, the earth's flat, we won't do anything about it. And as a result, we're missing out on opportunities from acting on climate change. Opportunities to grow jobs, particularly here in the West. I've been down to the nickel refinery there at Kwinana. You have lithium, you have everything that goes into a battery. Why aren't we making more things here?
 
ZEMPILAS: Last time you were with us and you've been a great supporter of the Triple M Breakfast show since we started only 12 months ago. We thank you for that. Not always easy to get Labor leaders on this program. But you've been outstanding, Mr Albanese.
 
ALBANESE: Mate, I could live here.
 
ELLIS: Well, I've given him a bit of advice privately too, Baz.
 
ZEMPILAS: Last time you were on the program, ah, have a listen to this. 

ZEMPILAS: 92.9 Triple M, Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader. Good morning and welcome back to Triple M Perth.
 
ALBANESE: Thank you and it's always good to follow an oils song.
 
ZEMPILAS: Now that was terrific. Only, it was pointed out by some of our listeners, and these things happen, these things happen. It was actually a Hunters and Collectors song. 
 
ALBANESE: Oh, it was too.
 
ZEMPILAS: Easy mistake to make but a chance to redeem yourself in front of the voting public here, Anthony. So we're just going to play you a little snippet. And you've had, you've had a chance to reflect, you've had a chance to dig deep, to go through the musical knowledge. Just a little snippet of a song and you tell us whether you think it's Midnight Oil or Hunters and Collectors. 
 
ALBANESE: Oh, here we go.
 
ZEMPILAS: Here's the first one. [Music plays]. Alright, Anthony. 
 
ALBANESE: Oils!
 
ZEMPILAS: Yes, he's nailed it. He's got the first one. Righto, you gotta get three out of three here. Redemption. Okay, here's the second one for you. [Music plays].
 
ALBANESE: Oils, again. Beds Are Burning. Can even name the song.
 
ZEMPILAS: Alright, for the clean sweep, and a seat, maybe a bedroom at Kirribilli. Here's the third one. [Music plays].
 
ALBANESE: The Holy Grail. Xavier would have heard that. 
 
ELLIS: I did hear that. 
 
ALBANESE: At the Hunters. I've seen the Hunters at the G on Grand Final Day.
 
ELLIS: Three out of three.
 
ZEMPILAS: You're in very good form. Enjoy your time in Perth. It's a big month or so coming up, big few months coming up. Good luck and we appreciate your time.
 
ALBANESE: It is. Thank you. Thank you very much and look forward to the next couple of months and I'll be back. Now I can get in, I'll be back. 
 
ELLIS: Put it here, right now on the table. When you do become PM, will you still come to Triple M Perth and just be a regular with us?
 
ALBANESE: I will come in the studio. Done.
 
ELLIS: There we go. Lock it in.
 
ZEMPILAS: And if the Rabbitohs mask doesn't work for you, I've got one of these.
 
ALBANESE: You don't have an interest here, in a City of Perth mask. That's a good one.
 
ZEMPILAS: You can wear that we pride. Anthony Albanese, thank you for your time and good luck with what's ahead. 
 
ALBANESE: Thank you very much.
 
ENDS