: On the line now, this was not pre-organised, it’s the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Good afternoon to you, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G’day, Jacqui. Good to talk with you again.
FELGATE: Good to talk to you. Now, you might have heard, we are in the midst of a power outage crisis in Victoria. We’ve had so many callers without power still today, that’s 10 days on from last week’s storms. And today with this firefront and again wild weather, we’ve got thousands without power. And I know it is a state issue, but I wanted to ask you, is our power system reliable? Does this show our vulnerability?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it shows that when you have a massive storm like you did, I saw the towers that were bent over, frankly, like they were an aluminium can, was quite extraordinary, the weather event that caused this outage. And certainly for half a million people to lose power is a real problem for all of those people. I understand that most people were put back on, it was down to hundreds before any further incident that’s occurred today. And certainly I’m aware of the bushfires down there and it’s quite extraordinary that in recent times we’ve had both floods and bushfires in Victoria, as we have in some other parts of Australia. And I just urge everyone in the area that’s affected there, to stay across the updated warnings and alerts from local authorities and thank 3AW and other networks for keeping people informed.
FELGATE: Now, we’ve had a really unusual summer, I think, right around the country, but particularly here in Victoria. Started extremely wet and now we’ve got these extreme heat conditions. Are we, as a nation, prepared?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we know that the science told us that our climate was going to change and was changing and we’ve certainly seen that. There’s been two different cyclone type events in Far North Queensland. You’ve had flooding on the Gold Coast. You’ve had fires in Western Australia. I was in Perth on the weekend and into the early part of this week, it was 43 degrees and the heat was quite extraordinary. The morning before last, we did a press conference at 8:30am and frankly, no one could stand not under shade at that time. So, it is a concern. It’s one of the reasons why we need to take climate change very seriously and why we need to be a part of that global action. But as well, quite clearly, I met with the Australians of the Year yesterday and they are experts, of course, in finding cures to cancer, literally, particularly melanoma. And those lessons, one of the things that they said to me is that it is more important now than ever before that the slap on sunscreen and put on a hat and all that sort of care of staying out of the sun. They point out that a suntan is really just cells that are in distress and that we need to get away from the idea that a tan is so called healthy, which has been part of our culture. Certainly when I was growing up, that was the case. And we just need to, I think, as a community, as a society, talk about how we respond to the changes in our weather.
FELGATE: Can I ask you back on the weather issue and the power issue as well. Here in Victoria, we are moving away from gas and pushing towards sustainable energy. But are we ready for this? Are we exposed on days like today?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we need to make sure that we get the system right, that we have energy security and that we upgrade the grid. One of the things that I was briefed on, not just when I came to office, but beforehand, was essentially our energy grid wasn’t fit for purpose for the 21st century. And so we need to do that. We need to make sure that energy security is an absolute priority. And I know that the Victorian Government is working very strongly on that. Projects like the Marinus Link project with Tasmania, where the Federal Government is strong investors, along with Victoria and Tasmania, will really provide a lot of security for Victorian energy.
FELGATE: Now, can I ask you about Dunkley? We saw today there was an advertisement by the Advance Australia group, saying that of the 149 high risk asylum seekers let out of detention, 40 of them are in Melbourne, how many in Dunkley? But are you worried about dirty tactics in that seat?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think people will have a look at that ad, which is designed to frighten and scare people and see it for what it is. Our top priority is keeping Australians safe. Australians know that this was a decision of the High Court of Australia and governments must obey the law. It took more than three years for the first continuing detention order application to be lodged after, under the former Government, after the high risk terrorist defender regime was established. That’s what we’ve based our preventative detention and community safety order system on. Applications are being prepared, but it doesn’t happen overnight. You want to make sure that they’ll be successful as well. And I think people will just look at that imaging and frankly recoil from it. Politics is a difficult business.
FELGATE: It can be a dirty game. Correct?
PRIME MINISTER: It can. And you don’t change a country for the better by just seeking to scare people and delving into fear. And I note that this campaign that allegedly isn’t from the Liberal Party done in the name of this group is certainly very partisan. They spread a whole lot of misinformation and there’s misinformation as part of that ad. And it’s unfortunate because I don’t want to see Australia go down the American road where there’s so much polarisation.
FELGATE: Are we heading that way then?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m worried that we won’t be able to have civil discourse. We can have disagreements about issues, but we should always try to be respectful, try to talk through the facts, rather than just have a fear campaign. This is really the sort of tactics which have dominated American politics in recent times, and we’ve seen where that’s ended up with a very polarised society with people who literally can’t get on the sort of demonstrations and the failure to act. I’ll give you an example. I mean, in America, they haven’t been able to deal with gun issues. So, guns kill more people in America, including kids, than occur anywhere else in the world per capita. In Australia, under John Howard, to give credit where credit’s due, with Tim Fischer’s support and with the support of Kim Beazley from the Labor Party, we got it done in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre. That was Australian politics operating as it should. People coming together. John Howard showing leadership to his credit, but Kim Beazley showing leadership as well. Not being opportunistic, just providing that support. And as a result, we haven’t had a mass crime with guns like we’ve seen in schools, it’s almost on a daily basis, it’s certainly on a weekly basis in the United States, there are these massacres because the political system isn’t able to function effectively, in the interests of overwhelmingly, people in America want something to happen.
FELGATE: Yeah, I agree there. Now, I want to ask you about Victoria’s debt levels. It is such a big topic down here. Something that really matters to Victorians is this spiralling level of debt. We are one of the worst in the country. So, is our state holding back the nation in terms of debt?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t think they are. What we’ve done, of course, is produced the first Budget surplus in 15 years, and hopefully we might even get to a second one this year. We’ll wait and see how that goes. It’s a bit early to tell. Depends on a whole range of matters, of course. But, one of the things that Victoria has done is build an enormous infrastructure legacy, whether it be hospitals like Frankston Hospital is well over a billion dollars the upgrade there, whether it be the level crossings, which I know have made such an enormous difference to productivity in Victoria, as well as, of course, making road safety that much better as well and improving liveability. So, the Victorian Government has been the best in the country as far as investing in infrastructure.
FELGATE: I think a lot of Victorians, though Prime Minister, would say that we’ve gone too far with the level of debt to build some of these projects, particularly the rail line out in the suburbs, the link there that a lot of people don’t really want. So, do you think, on a scale of one to ten, where are we tracking when it comes to handling that debt?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Victoria has a plan to deal with these issues, but the upgrade, of course, was substantial. And during the pandemic, of course, all State Governments produced deficits right around the country. And the Federal Government, we inherited almost a trillion dollars of debt that we’re dealing with. Victoria has had that significant investment that will provide a lasting legacy and will mean future economic growth as well. Melbourne was growing faster than any other city, and you need to invest in that infrastructure. I know that projects like Regional Rail Link, which made, when I was the Minister, we invested with Victoria, made an enormous difference with new stations in places like Tarneit, that when I first went there, there was basically pretty much open land, and when I went back there, there were homes everywhere. The Melbourne metro project is really important in terms of unclogging the whole system and enabling a massive increase in capacity. And the truth is that major cities around the world, if they’re successful, have effective metros and effective public transport links.
FELGATE. So, is Jacinta Allan doing a good job there, in your opinion?
PRIME MINISTER: I think she’s doing a great job. I think that she is someone who has followed on, of course, from Daniel Andrews. She hasn’t been there for very long as Premier, but she’s a very experienced Minister and she’s someone who, when I was with her at Frankston Hospital just a couple of weeks ago, when we were opening the breast cancer facility named after Peta Murphy, in honour of Peta, who we sadly lost last December. The way that she engages with the public is, I think, really warm, she’s open and she’s someone who’s a very experienced Minister. She’s someone from regional Victoria, and I think that comes through as well. People in the regions, I always find when I get out and about, they’re friendly places, whether it be Bendigo, where Jacinta is from, or just a couple of weeks ago I was in Ballarat.
FELGATE: I think a lot of Victorians, though, with respect Prime Minister, would disagree with you on that though. Bills have blown out here, there’s huge cost blowouts on our major projects. I think we’ve got one out of all of our major projects that is actually not over budget, so there’s got to be some concern there.
PRIME MINISTER: Look, budgets of course are important that they be managed, but I’ve got to say the Victorian Labor Government there has received an increased majority at the last election, which wasn’t that long ago, it was just a little bit before or around ours, around about the same time. So, I think that Victorians have had their say, and Victorians, no doubt will continue to engage as well. I think, with projects and some of the investment that’s occurred over the years, Victoria has, without doubt, the best sporting facilities, for example, in the nation. It’s the events capital of the nation. And that is, as a direct result, a vision going back as well to governments like John Cain’s.
FELGATE: Now, from the Drive team, before I do let you go, congratulations to you and Jodie on the engagement. We did speak to the owners of Italian and Sons just after you proposed, and they said you were really nervous, so can you take me through that moment?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they do say that, but they got a fair bit of publicity, I must say out of my dinner. Well, we had dinner on Valentine’s Day.
FELGATE: What did you have?
PRIME MINISTER: Both of us had pasta entrees and then had fish. We both had the same main. They did have, I think it was a five or six course menu. We didn’t do that. I’m trying to be disciplined these days and I don’t have dessert.
FELGATE: Are you on a healthy eating plan?
PRIME MINISTER: I am. I have been for some years now. It’s hard in this job because you go to so many events and if you have a little nibble at every event, then it will be a very much larger Prime Minister who appears over a period of time. It’s a big risk factor in this job. So, we did that, and we did have a limoncello at the end. And then I went back to The Lodge and I proposed privately there on one of the balconies at The Lodge, and fortunately, Jodie said yes. And we are very pleased. We’re really happy. And I have got to say that the warm wishes that we’ve been sent from people we don’t know, as well as of course, family and friends, has been quite delightful and really heartening.
FELGATE: It is a love story. And speaking of love story, will you be going to Taylor Swift? I think you’re going on Friday night are you in Sydney?
PRIME MINISTER: I am going tomorrow night to Tay Tay, and I’ve seen so many, the MCG just looked absolutely extraordinary. Did you get to go?
FELGATE: I did and my daughter got picked out of the crowd, actually, and got her guitar pick. I wasn’t there. My husband took my kids and got the guitar pick of Tay Tay. So, she was pretty wrapped.
PRIME MINISTER: My goodness. Well, that will take pride of place in your home. I’m certain of that.
FELGATE: It’s done show and tell. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, really appreciate your time. Thanks so much.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Jacqui.
