Doorstop interview – Sydney | Prime Minister of Australia
BILL CREWS, EXODUS FOUNDATION: Welcome. I hope you all have Christmas lunch with us and you don’t just rush off. But as you can see, this is Christmas lunch for the people who have got nowhere else and no one to share Christmas with. And I’m so grateful. I am so grateful for Anthony and Chris Minns to come up here and share it with them. Because that’s what we need today. We need people who are in government who care for those who are the poorest and that are struggling. Because if governments care for the battlers, they’ll care for everybody else. If they care for all of those up there, the battlers miss out. And this group of people, I’m really proud to say, care for the battlers. So, welcome to them.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, can I just say what a privilege it is to be here at Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation in Ashfield, once again. This is the spirit of Christmas and the spirit of Christianity in action. Helping the vulnerable and helping those who don’t have somewhere else to go to spend their Christmas with. And they’re provided with a hearty meal. But most importantly, they’re provided with a smile and friendship and engagement with others. Bill Crews and the Exodus Foundation do fantastic work, not just here in Ashfield, but right around Australia. And Bill wants to take this model, indeed, around the world.
Can I say to everyone at this time, particularly those people, whether they’re volunteers here at Exodus Foundation, or other places and charities around Australia, helping out others, volunteering their time – thank you. Thank you for your service to others. And I say to those in our police and emergency services, our ambos, people working in the health system – thank you for giving up your Christmas Day in the service of others as well. And to our Australian Defence Force, whether they’re serving here in Australia or overseas, your sacrifice in the interests of the security of our nation is recognised, and I pay tribute to you and to your families.
Christmas can be a time where people celebrate with their family and friends. A joyous time. But for others who’ve lost loved ones over the year, it can be a difficult time as well. And I say that if you know someone who might be doing it tough today, reach out to them and provide them with a bit of support and a Merry Christmas and a bit of joy. So, to all today, I say Merry Christmas. And to those young ones in Australia, I hope that Santa was good to you as well.
CHRIS MINNS, LEADER OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES LABOR PARTY: Well, thank you to the Bill Crews Foundation, Anthony Albanese, Jodie and Jo Haylen in Summer Hill and Madison over there on the fairy floss, who has been killing it, and all the volunteers who are here today celebrating Christmas with the local community. Bill does an incredible job, not just on Christmas Day, but 365 days a year. 40,000 meals a month go out the door from this facility and on the roads, helping people who are doing it tough. And you can see the spirit behind me today. It’s just a spirit of celebration and the community coming together. It’s wonderful to be a part of it. I, too, would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope you have a safe and happy break, particularly to emergency service workers, firefighters, police officers, paramedics that have to work on this day and have to pull a shift during the daytime or the nighttime – we’re thinking of you. And a final big shout-out to everybody who’s out of their homes because of flooding or bushfires this year. I hope this year is as good as it can be and that next year you’re in your home to celebrate Christmas with your family and your friends. Merry Christmas, everybody.