SUBJECTS: Labor’s Regional First Home Buyer Support Scheme; Federal election; Labor’s policy agenda; Labor’s Housing Australia Future Fund; housing affordability; housing in regional Australia; free pineapples; Double or Nothing quiz game.
 
HOST: Now, we have a very special treat this morning. Leader of the Opposition, Albo, Anthony Albanese. Good morning, Anthony.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: G'day. Good morning to you all.
 
HOST: Now, Anthony, you've got an incredible initiative, should you get elected this year, for people who are trying to get into the market, first home buyers?
 
ALBANESE: We sure do. We have a Regional First Home Buyers Support Scheme. And what it will do is help 10,000 people who are trying to get into their first home, particularly in regional Australia, to buy a home. It will save people up to $32,000 there in the Illawarra, which will mean, essentially saying that they can secure a home as long as they've got a deposit of five per cent, the Government guarantees up to 15 per cent of the purchase price. And what that does is mean is that it reduces a whole range of costs, effectively, it avoids paying mortgage insurance. And that will put housing within reach for many people. We know that if you do own a house, you're doing okay, because the value of the house has gone up, including there in the Illawarra. But if you're trying to get in to a market, it is just so tough. And this is a really practical plan that I will be in Wollongong today announcing.
 
HOST: Well, fantastic. You have announced it here first, Anthony, which is awesome. Have you had a call from ScoMo? Has he rung you and said, 'Anthony, let's shoot this out, let's set a date, let's get to the polls'?
 
ALBANESE: No. I wish he would. He said in October that he'd stopped governing and had started campaigning. And since then, we've seen month after month after month. And I think people are over it. They want to make a decision one way or the other. And so, the country needs to move forward. It's really hanging on. They've brought forward the Budget from May to March so that they can delay the election until May. And I really think what they should have done is hold the election, give the Australian people a say, and then the new Government could bring in a Budget. We've already said if we're successful, we'll have another Budget this year based upon our priorities.
 
HOST: Well, you know what? We have an idea for you, which might help with the election. Every Friday, we do Free Pineapple Friday. We play a game here on the show called Double or Nothing where we give away cash, a lot of cash. On a Friday, you get 50 bucks anyway just for getting through. And you know what? This could be something you could take on board. You could give away free pineapples to everybody who votes for you. It is a winner, Albo.
 
ALBANESE: I think there might be a law against giving away free pineapples with a how-to-vote.
 
HOST: Well, what a shame. Semantics.
 
ALBANESE: It is an interesting suggestion. When you first raised it, I thought you were talking about that endless Australian debate of whether pineapple goes on pizza or not.
 
HOST: That's controversial.
 
HOST: That is. It's sacrilegious to put pineapple on a pizza. But luckily for us, Anthony, it's not illegal to give away free pineapples on the radio. And that's what we're doing this morning. With your help, Anthony, we would like you to play Double or Nothing. This is a cash game we play every morning where we dish out cash to someone in the Illawarra. And someone has called through and would love you to be a proxy and play for her.
 
ALBANESE: Okay. It's a bit of pressure.
 
HOST: You've got this. All right. So, the way the game works is you got five seconds per question. All right? Each time you get one right, you get the option of doubling it. Alright? So, are you ready to play Double or Nothing?
 
ALBANESE: I am.
 
HOST: All right. Let's do it.
 
HOST: All right. Anthony. Question number one for $50, for a pineapple. What does Popeye eat to get his strength?
 
ALBANESE: That is an easy one. Spinach. I grew up watching Popeye.
 
HOST: Can you do a Popeye impersonation? Just putting it out there.
 
ALBANESE: I can in private.
 
HOST: You've scored 50 bucks there, Albo, for Tammy. Would you like to risk that and then double it for 100 bucks?
 
ALBANESE: Does Tammy get a say in this?
 
HOST: No.
 
ALBANESE: I'll go with it then. Yes. Okay.
 
HOST: Okay. Question number two for $100.
 
ALBANESE: Popeye's partner was Olive.
 
HOST: That's not the second question. Okay. How many S's are in the word Mississippi?
 
HOST: Down to the wire.
 
HOST: I could hear you going through the word there.
 
ALBANESE: Four. They are all double letters.
 
HOST: That's right. Well, look, Anthony, you're cooking with gas.
 
HOST: All right. Do you want to go for $200 for Tammy, Anthony?
 
ALBANESE: Yeah, why not? I think Tammy would want it.
 
HOST: We were just talking about house prices. She needs some money.
 
HOST: Alright. Question number three for $200. Daniel Johns is the lead singer of which Aussie band?
 
ALBANESE: That's an easy one. Silverchair.
 
HOST: Yes.
 
HOST: It is easy.
 
HOST: Albo is an old DJ. He knows this stuff.
 
HOST: He is all over it.
 
ALBANESE: Tomorrow.
 
HOST: "You gonna wait, fat boy".
 
ALBANESE: I say that sometimes.
 
HOST: Alright. Now, listen, you're playing so well. You are at 200 bucks. I think you should go for the 400 Because the question is pretty easy. But it's your choice for Tammy. Do you want to go for $400?
 
ALBANESE: Okay, only because you said the question was easy. So, I will blame you if it goes wrong.
 
HOST: I'm willing to accept that. I'm willing. Okay.
 
HOST: All right. Question number four for $400. What type of car does Mr Bean drive?
 
ALBANESE: That is easy. A Mini.
 
HOST: Smashing it. $400. Do you want to go any further? I have $800. I have it in my hand. It's up to you, Anthony.
 
ALBANESE: I might check out there, I reckon. $400 is pretty good for Tammy.
 
HOST: That's right.
 
ALBANESE: I can live with her losing 50. But if she lost 400, I might lose 400 votes.
 
HOST: You're out?
 
ALBANESE: I am out. I declare it.
 
HOST: You've declared it. Congratulations.
 
ALBANESE: Very generous of your Illawarra radio station to pick a Newcastle band there with Silverchair.
 
HOST: We're supporting everyone. That's it. That's what it's all about.
 
HOST: Well, congratulations, Anthony Albanese. You've won for Tammy of Albion Park $450. You've scored her, what's that? That's nine pineapples.
 
HOST: Well done.
 
HOST: Nice.
 
ALBANESE: Good on you, Tammy. Happy to help.
 
HOST: There's one vote. There's one vote for you, Albo.
 
ALBANESE: Go out there and spruik for Labor. How good is it? $400.
 
HOST: That's a good kick into the weekend. Look, all the best with the election, if and when. And no doubt it's going to be announced in the next day or two, we imagine. All the best with your visit to the Gong, the new first time buyers’ scheme, and all the best with the election, mate. Cheers. Thanks for buzzing in.
 
ALBANESE: Thank you so much. Bye.
 
ENDS