Radio Interview – 96FM Perth
LISA SHAW, HOST: Busier than Prince Harry on the worldwide privacy tour is our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Great to be here.
SHAW: Lovely to have you back in the studio, you flew in on the weekend for the launch of the Resources Technology Showcase. How was that?
PRIME MINISTER: That was fantastic fun. All the extraordinary breakthroughs that are happening in technology and robotics and in using information technology, and really to drive productivity. New equipment, big machines, but also fun stuff as well that engages all these kids. Like there were thousands of them out there at the convention centre.
SHAW: I feel like we’re a bit of a world leader in this stuff.
PRIME MINISTER: It was the best I’ve seen. The best I’ve seen bar none. And the kids were so enthusiastic. There was this scrum, I was worried going around with all the TV cameras that some little kid was going to get knocked over by a camera. But it was just good fun, the enthusiasm that was there. And the beauty is that it was really showing practically what the application of science is, and that’s the future for this state and this country, is becoming the smart country. And if even 2% of the kids who were there yesterday afternoon, and then outside as well with the big equipment, they were building things with their families. If 2% of kids who were there get inspired to study science, to become engineers, to become technicians, to go and work in these vast industries that will grow. Looking at as we shift to cleaner technologies, you know, making batteries and making more things here, then that will be a great thing.
DEAN CLAIRS, HOST: Anthony, you told us on the hustings for the Federal Election you’d come back to Perth, you’d come back to Western Australia a lot of times. But your schedule must be gruelling. It felt like you were sitting there in the seat of Aston in Victoria after the win for Mary on the weekend. Then all of a sudden you’re here, it’s pretty full on.
PRIME MINISTER: I was and I woke up in Hobart yesterday too.
CLAIRS: Yeah there you go.
PRIME MINISTER: But look, it was important that we acknowledge Mary’s win. It was an extraordinary thing, a once in a century event. And Mary is such a humble person. She’s done it tough in her life. She grew up in public housing, she’s raised kids on her own. She’s looked after her niece as well. She’s a cancer survivor. She’s got this extraordinary story. And I think her genuineness and warmth really shone through. If anyone was watching her speech on Saturday night, she was genuinely humbled by it. And she’ll be a great voice in the Parliament, not just for Aston, but I think people will really warm to her. And it’s good to have people like that in the Parliament. She’s certainly not someone who expected to be there. She ran last time, when the margin was above 60%. She got this big swing, and then she got another one. And I think in part that is because of who Mary Doyle is, and to her credit. And then I’d given the commitment about the showcase. So I don’t break commitments, so we dashed across here. And then I got to go to the Derby yesterday.
CLAIRS: Got to see the Dockers have a win, absolutely.
SHAW: You have kept true to your election promise about, you know, visiting WA. This is your tenth trip?
PRIME MINISTER: Eleventh.
SHAW: Eleven, what is it, trip number eleven?
PRIME MINISTER: Who’s counting, who’s counting?
SHAW: Within a year as Prime Minister, how has the first year gone?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it’s up to listeners to judge. Well, you get curveballs thrown at you. No one thought the Russian invasion of Ukraine would continue for so long and have that impact on global inflation that it has. So we’ve had to deal with that, those pressures, but it’s a great privilege. I’m very cognisant of the great honour that I have, leading this, the best country on Earth. But it’s also, the best thing is getting out and about and meeting people and engaging people. We took the entire Cabinet to Port Hedland, as I promised we would. I’ve been to Kalgoorlie, I’ve been to Albany, as well as of course, here in just about every suburb of Perth now, I think, over the eleven months that I’ve been PM. And we’re working constructively. The good thing, I think, the feedback I get is that they say, ‘you know, it’s good that the adults are in charge’. And they mightn’t agree with everything that my Government has done. But they know that we’re trying to address things and they know that we’re engaged and we’re looking for solutions rather than looking for arguments, which is what people want. People had conflict fatigue, I think. And so the fact that we’ve got so much legislation through the Parliament. You know, cheaper medicines, cheaper child care begins on July 1, there’s 18,000 people benefiting from our fee-free TAFE just here in WA. And I visited a TAFE not far from here, just up the road, and talking to students who are going to become electricians or become aged care workers or child care workers who are benefiting from that fee-free TAFE, just really warms your heart. It shows that the effort that’s put in can make a difference to people.
SHAW: One of the big issues at the moment is the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which you’re campaigning for of course. A lot of people don’t understand exactly what it is because they say the wording may be a little vague. Can you explain just in layman’s terms, exactly what we’re talking about?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, look the wording of it, if they actually look at it, it’s really clear. And it’s up there on the website, and people can Google it and see the words that will be put, the constitutional change. And it’s about two things. Firstly, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution. That’s the first thing. At the moment, our nation’s Constitution, which is like our birth certificate, if you think of it that way, should recognise that we share this continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth, 65,000 years, that should be a source of pride. So just simple recognition. That’s the first thing. The second thing is just consultation. That’s what the Voice is. That where matters affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, they should have a voice, they should be consulted. So it’s not a right of veto, it doesn’t change the power of the Parliament or the way that decisions are made. It won’t be a funding body. It will simply be a body that can make representations. And the wording is very clear, it “may” make representations, so they don’t have to. And then it’s clear that the Parliament will determine the structure, functions and operations of the Voice. So it’s really about good manners. If you’re going to have a policy that impacts Aboriginal Australians, then ask them their views. And we know that what’s happened up to now isn’t working. There’s a 10-year life expectancy gap. There’s gaps in health and education and housing, infant mortality, there’s gaps when it comes to incarceration rates, they’re the most incarcerated peoples in the world. So we know that with the best of intentions, I think governments of all persuasions have tried to do things for Aboriginal Australians. This is about doing things with Aboriginal Australians. That’s an important distinction. And I really hope.
SHAW: It sounds like common sense.
PRIME MINISTER: It is common sense. And we know, we know that when we do that, you get better outcomes. Justice reinvestment, Indigenous Rangers programs, community health programs, where Aboriginal people are involved, you get better outcomes. And that’s what it’s about. So the no campaign will try to raise a whole lot of furphies, what it’s not about. But it is pretty straightforward. It is pretty simple. And I sincerely hope that when we wake up the day after the referendum, Aboriginal Australians will have been given respect. All of us can walk a little bit taller, I reckon, if we acknowledge the fullness of our history, walk with a bit of pride. And the world will look at us as well, saying, well, they’ve acknowledged their history, and that the counterfactual to that is, I think, problematic. So if not now, when? This has been promised for a long period of time
CLAIRS: Yeah, it feels like about time. Anthony, we drive into work at four in the morning. So we get a different view of things. And unfortunately, we drive through East Perth, and there’s the homelessness issue is worse than ever, as far as we can see. And we’re not just talking about people who haven’t got a roof over their heads. It’s the working poor as well. And we know all about the rising cost of living right now. But it would be lovely to snap your fingers and solve an issue. It’s such a difficult thing to solve, but what are the things that you see are being done that can make such a difference?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, for a start, we’ve got legislation before the Parliament, which will see a doubling of the number of social and affordable housing, new stock coming online, 30,000 additional through our Housing Australia Future Fund. A $10 billion fund to make a difference, including funding specifically for 4,000 of those reserved for women and children escaping domestic violence. Some for our veterans as well, a specific program for them. Funding to fix remote housing, funding for emergency housing as well. We’ve got our housing accord going forward, which is about encouraging private sector investment, that’s been done with the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association, and state and territory governments, we want to work through as well. We know this is a big problem. But we have a comprehensive plan. Unfortunately, the Housing Australia Future Fund, our opponents in the Liberal Party, and indeed, in this case, the Greens Party as well, are not supporting that going forward. It should have passed the Parliament last week. We’re hopeful that it will though, because it really needs to happen. And hopefully, one of the things that comes out of Saturday’s Aston by-election is that the Liberals realise you can’t just sit there and say no to everything, which is what they’re doing at the moment. And this is a really practical measure that will make a difference. And I can’t understand why anyone would vote against it.
SHAW: Yeah, well, we’re going to have to let you go, time is against us of course, I know you’ve got a million places to be, but thank you so much for popping in and seeing us.
PRIME MINISTER: great to be in the studio rather than just talking on the phone.
CLAIRS: Yeah you always end up on the phone, so it’s wonderful to see you.
PRIME MINISTER: Indeed, great to be back in Perth. It’s been, I’ve got to say, pretty stunning weather yesterday. It was a gorgeous day for the derby.
CLAIRS: It was, pity you didn’t get to Bluesfest as well, we know you love your tunes. Next time.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, missed all that. See you.
CLAIRS: Good to catch up with the Prime Minister, Anthony everywhere at the moment Albanese.