SUBJECTS: National plan to reopen during the COVID pandemic; COVID outbreaks around Australia; lockdowns; vaccine rollout; Labor’s $300 COVID vaccination incentive; arts sector missing out on support. 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: I'm not too bad. How are you?

HOST: We're not doing too bad either. I mean, like a lot of people, we are all in lockdown. Some of us have been locked down a lot longer than others. How are you going in lockdown? How's your mental health? Because, like the rest of us, you haven't seen your family since the start of June. They're in Sydney and you're in Canberra. And you can't get back to see them. Not just your family, your dog, which is like the extra child of your household as well. 

ALBANESE: Absolutely. And it was International Dog Day yesterday. So I put up a, if anyone wants to see a cute doggy, I put up a little video of my Toto throwing a ball to herself on Instagram. AlboMP. Check it out.

HOST: Toto playing by herself. So that is lockdown life for a dog, isn't it? When your dad is in Canberra.

ALBANESE: No one to throw a ball to you. 

HOST: Poor thing. Oh my goodness me. It's been crazy. We're at nine weeks now locked down in New South Wales. It's been a tough run for a lot of people. Now, you've got a proposal, 300 bucks on offer if you get elected so that people will get their double vaccine. What do you reckon, though? The vaccination rates have gone up, we're in a good position now, do you think it's still relevant?

ALBANESE: Of course, it is. Does your radio station have prizes? I bet they do. 

HOST: Yes. 

ALBANESE: It is not the only reason why people listen, but it's basically a reward and an incentive. The economy is really struggling. Giving everyone $300 to spend at the local cafe or in whatever way they wanted to, spending and stimulating the economy. We're going to need to do some form of economic stimulus. Why wouldn't you attach it to a positive health outcome?

HOST: I've got to say, I remember you and I, we actually shared breakfast at an AFL Grand Final. I was performing and it was kind of where sport and music combined. I've got to say, over the last while, the arts have really struggled. There's a lot of posts online, a lot of musicians and people within the industry that are wondering what the future holds for them and how they're going to bounce back. Well, what do you think, from a Labor point of view, is in store for the arts? 

ALBANESE: Well, they just need more support. They got left behind by the current Government. Arts and universities seem to just not register. The nature of the work is that it's casual employment, they don't have a single employer, they didn't get JobKeeper. They missed out on so much support. They then organised gigs which got cancelled. You've had festivals cancelled. You've had local pubs that have the local artists not making a lot of money, just struggling to get by. And all of that cancelled as well because they are closed. We need more support. And coming out of the pandemic, we need a little bit of joy in our life. And it's the arts and sport. Those two things are the big things that do it. I've never watched so much rugby league in my life.

HOST: I will see you for a Damien Leith show and a beer at the North Gong, mate. 

ALBANESE: That sounds pretty good to me.

HOST: Just quickly before you go, on this subject of places like the North Gong Hotel, but all other local businesses in the area that have been shut down for like eight weeks, I mean, it feels like every other day there's a business posting online saying that this is our last week open and then we're shutting down and we may never reopen again. What's your message to them?

ALBANESE: Hang in there, if you can. We recognise you're doing it tough. I thought we should have brought back JobKeeper. I argued for it last year. It kept the relationship going between employers and employees and gave a bit of security there. But this one's been really tough. I did a Zoom call with local small businesses a couple of weeks ago. And they were finding this was far more difficult than last year. We admire what you do. We know you work hard. And I'm sure that we'll get through this, but hopefully with as few businesses damaged as possible. But the other message is, of course, to your listeners out there - if you can't get vaccinated, please do so. It is the key to getting those numbers up. 

HOST: Absolutely right. Well, Albo, we look forward to, if you become Australia's next Prime Minister, mate, we look forward to you continuing your great association with the Illawarra and an economic package that will really boost the Illawarra as we come out of this COVID period. Mate, great to catch up. And enjoy the weekend, Albo. 

ALBANESE: Thanks very much. Stay safe everyone.

ENDS