SUBJECTS: Lockdown ending; supporting local business; vaccinations; incentives

HOST SOPHIE WALSH : Well, after a long time between drinks, Sydney-siders have embraced their first week of freedom with full force with the race to the pub quite literally.

HOST RICHARD WILKINS: Co-founders of Hawke's Brewing Company, David Gibson and Nathan Lennon, alongside Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese at the Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney. Where else would you find Albo on a Saturday morning. (LAUGHTER) Good to see the three of you. David the Hawke mural has spoken we passed 70 per cent and you must be stoked to get everybody back into the pub?

DAVID GIBSON: We are really, really happy and it’s an amazing feeling being down at our local watering hole the Marrickville Bowling Club especially after so many weeks of lockdown. And probably a better feeling will be necking a cold Hawkes Lager after the race I can tell you now.

WALSH: Are you saying that you haven't already got on it?

WILKINS: Albo’s Looking very trim isn’t he?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRASLIAN LABOR PARTY:Thanks Dickie

WALSH: How important it is for the community to embrace their local pub after so many months of lockdown?

NATHAN LENNON: Sophie, I don't think that you need to give any more incentive than to sink beers. This is what it is all about, supporting locals and supporting hospitality industry that has suffered through a really long lockdown. It is amazing and encouraging everyone to get into their locals and drink local independent beer.

WILKINS: It is more important than you think it is. You need to go and prep for the race. Albo you have a very important job calling the race today. We’re looking forward to your dulcet tones during the calling. What made you want to do this?

ALBANESE: I want to encourage people to get vaccinated. We need to get those vaccination rates up even higher. Australians have been magnificent to this point and we need to get it to this point and we need to get it to 80% and even higher. The more people vaccinated, the safer we are, the quicker that we can get back to life as normal, including getting down to the local pub and supporting local business.

WALSH: Albo, on the subject of beers can we talk the footage of you sculling one on “Freedom Day”. It looked like you were struggling I think it fair to say that Hawke's record is safe?

ALBANESE: It is the first on-tap beer for a long period of time I have to say. It went down very, very well. It was fantastic that we were able to open up because people had got vaccinated. We need to do even better. And the Hawke’s Lager company here have had incentives to encourage people. I was in businesses this week that were providing cash incentives for their employees. We have had big major companies offer incentives like Telstra and Qantas and others, it is a good thing. We need to get together. We are all in this together. There are consequences not being able to see our friends and mates. Today the race to the pub is just another way of just highlighting the need for people to get out there, get the jab if you haven't already.

WILKINS: Well said. I thought that you were going to enjoy that beer twice there for a minute,... Maybe..

WALSH: As you mentioned he is looking trim, taught and terrific. How have you done it? We have all stacked on KGs in lockdown.

ALBANESE: Not having as much beer is a start. Just trying to get fitter, fit for the campaign. I have got my own race. Scott Morrison said, of course, it wasn't a race. It always was. But there is another race between me and him coming up. I wanted to make sure that I was match fit.

HOST: You are looking great. Today it is the race to the pub, take it away Albo.


ALBANESE: Here we go. Ready, set, go!

ENDS