MARK GIBSON, HOST: Prime Minister, good morning. Welcome back to the West.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Mark. It's wonderful to be here again back in Western Australia. I think I've now been here more than the three previous Prime Ministers combined. But I do love coming to WA. It's such an important state for our national economy and it's always a great place to visit.
GIBSON: It's also a very warm welcome for you, Prime Minister. Now -
PRIME MINISTER: It sure is. We had a barbecue with our new Senator Varun Ghosh, talking to retail workers yesterday afternoon in beautiful Hyde Park about our tax cuts and how much benefit they will receive, particularly retail workers. Of course, many of whom work part time, earn under $45,000 a year and they're going to get a tax cut now. But I've got to say they were very warm in the welcome in all ways. Yesterday afternoon, I think it hit 43 degrees.
GIBSON: Now, Friday's arrival of thirty-nine asylum seekers in our northwest. How did they make it all the way to shore without Border Force detecting anything?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't talk about operational matters. The important thing is that we have Operation Sovereign Borders in place. Those people, as has been reported, are now on Nauru. We won't allow people to settle here who arrive by boat. This isn't the first time, of course, there were people wandering around the far north coast of Queensland under the former government from time to time. What is important is how the response occurs, and that that message go out there that unauthorised arrivals such as these will not be allowed to settle in Australia. That was our commitment that we would keep those Operation Sovereign Borders arrangements in place. That's precisely what we have done.
GIBSON: Are you worried about more arrivals and are you, as the opposition says, weak on national security?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Peter Dutton sort of sways between being angry about policy developments like tax cuts being put in and angry about international issues, angry about migration issues. It would have been good if he channelled some of his feelings into actually looking after home affairs when he was the Minister, instead of the debacle where we know from the Richardson Review last week, there was hundreds of millions of dollars wasted and all sorts of chaos in the system. And I do point towards the comments by the commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, who's been very clear that the comments such as that have been made are unhelpful. They're sending a message to people smugglers that everything's all okay and really encouraging them. And it is disturbing what Peter Dutton is doing, but it is typical of his negative approach to everything.
GIBSON: Prime Minister, let's move on to WA's legislated share of the GST. I want you to tell our listeners, is that deal in any doubt or are your opponents just running a scare campaign on this?
PRIME MINISTER: No, exclamation mark. It's just absurd that we had National Cabinet last year, which of course, wasn't about WA's share because that is very clear, but it was about making sure that every other state receives its arrangements that are in place as well. That was all finalised last December. It hadn't been extended under the former government. We have, of course, done that, and it's absolutely in stone to extend the GST no worse off guarantee for other states, right up until the forward estimates, which is what they asked us to do.
GIBSON: We care about Western Australia the most, though. One hundred per cent ironclad guarantee, our share will not change?
PRIME MINISTER: It's done. It's done. Why will we be giving every other state more money to compensate them?
GIBSON: I don't know.
PRIME MINISTER: For something that isn't happening. Well, we're not silly. We run a budget surplus for a reason, because we're fiscally responsible. Unlike the previous mob who splashed money around like confetti. We value taxpayers' money, and we value the contribution that WA makes to our national economy. It drives our national economy. You deserve your fair share, and under my government, you're certainly going to get it.
GIBSON: You realise though, don't you, that when you break one promise, like the changes to tax cuts, your credibility and truthfulness it's pretty easy to attack on other issues, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: No, because what I did was go to the National Press Club, say economic circumstances have changed from something that was put in place five years ago, where we said that was a triumph of hope over experience. What we're doing is providing exactly the same amount, a bit more actually, $107 billion over the forward estimates over four years, in order to make sure that people aren't left behind and that West Australians get their fair share as well. It is only under Labor that every taxpayer will get a tax cut, and 84 per cent of them will get even more than they were going to get previously. We think that this was a sensible policy. And guess what? The opposition changed their mind as well and voted for it last week. So, they voted for it because it is a sensible change, even though they continue to criticise it. They can't have it both ways. If it's bad policy, they should have voted against it and they should promise to repeal it. But it's good policy, which is why we're putting it in place.
GIBSON: My guest this morning is the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. And PM, I guess, really, I mean you know this as well as anyone, the number one issue right now for Australians relates to the cost of living.
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely.
GIBSON: And while I'm talking to you, I'm getting messages coming through on the text line, ask him what he's doing for pensioners. Ask him what he's doing to help us with the cost of living. Apart from these tax cuts, which are going to make a bit of a difference, but what else are you doing? What can you tell people how you're helping them with the cost of living crisis?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, cheaper medicines have delivered, particularly for older Australians and pensioners, some savings of over $250 million already since we put them in place. The 60-day dispensing of medicines will do even more than that. The tripling of the bulk billing incentive has meant that more Australians are getting to visit the GP for free. And our Urgent Care Clinics that exist right throughout Western Australia, including here in Perth, but in Broome and in Bunbury and other regions as well, is making a difference because all people need is their Medicare card. Cheaper childcare has cut childcare costs on average by 11 per cent since it was introduced. And in addition to that, of course, our Energy Price Relief Plan has made a difference. And this morning I'll be visiting a TAFE where we have 300,000 fee free TAFE places there making an enormous difference, meaning West Australians are getting trained to be carpenters and electricians and carers in the aged care sector and childcare sector for free. All of these things, combined with our tax cuts are making a difference for Australians when they need it, which is right now. But we continue to examine ways in which we can address those cost of living pressures which is why we changed our position on tax cuts, because we understood the sort of messages that you're receiving required the government to do something more than just say, ‘oh, well, it's all too hard’. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was absolutely the right decision, done for the right reason.
GIBSON: I just want to ask you quickly about the nickel industry. I'm sure our Premier will bring this up with you today, but operations are being scaled back, big projects are in doubt, jobs are being lost. Should your government be doing more to assist producers?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we've done is list nickel as a critical mineral that will enable the nickel industry to access the various funds that we've established. As well as that, we're looking at how we can provide further support with a smart, targeted and time limited policy. I've had two discussions with the Premier already, he'll be addressing our Cabinet this afternoon. And we're having discussions with industry as well while we are here. A great West Australian, of course, Madeleine King is our Resources Minister. She is very focused on this issue. Nickel is a critical industry for the West, but for our national interest as well. And we're determined to intervene to make a difference in a practical way.
GIBSON: And just one from our region. Police in Papua New Guinea have just confirmed that there's been a horrifying massacre in the Highlands region there with at least 53 killed in tribal fighting. You've had the Prime Minister of PNG here earlier this month. Do they want more immediate assistance to help quell this violence?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is very disturbing, the news that has come out of Papua New Guinea. We are providing considerable support, particularly for training police officers and for security in Papua New Guinea. We are great friends with PNG, which is an important relationship for us, and I have a good personal relationship with Prime Minister Marape. He addressed our Parliament, the first Pacific leader to do so just a couple of weeks ago. But we remain available to provide whatever support we can, in a practical way, of course, to help our friends in PNG.
GIBSON: All right, Prime Minister, just before I let you go, I just need to ask, how are the wedding plans coming along? I want to know if you and Jodie have come up with a venue because we've got many spectacular possibilities for you here in WA, you know.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, you do indeed. And as people would be aware, I enjoy, and with Jodie, we've enjoyed holidaying in WA. We've come across privately and done that on a couple of occasions. But given since the announcement we haven't seen much of each other. It's a bit hard to organise these things from Perth or Nowra or Newcastle or the Central Coast.
GIBSON: I noticed you've been getting up those miles the last couple of days. I noticed that. But look, while you're here, you could scope out Margaret River, you could dash up to Broome. There's plenty of options for you.
PRIME MINISTER: Look, it's a great state, WA. And I fell in love with this state when I came over in, I had Christmas day 1983 on Rottnest Island. I spent six weeks here. I didn't have any money then, someone was driving over and myself and my then partner, we hitched a ride over. We spent six weeks, we went down to Albany and explored Margaret River and the big trees down there, went across to Rottnest, had Christmas day there, hung out in Freo and Rockingham and saw the Triffids on that trip at a pub in Freo.
GIBSON: Good trip.
PRIME MINISTER: And it was a fantastic trip. And ever since then, I have always enjoyed coming back to WA. But Jodie and I when we have a chance, we will sit down and privately, between us work out, thank you for all the suggestions we're receiving, we'll work out an appropriate time and a venue down the track. We are very happy and thank everyone, for the very warm wishes that we have received. It's been quite lovely.
GIBSON: Congratulations on that. And back, this is a work trip, all right. None of this going to Rotto and going to see bands. This is a work trip, go well with your federal colleagues -
PRIME MINISTER: It sure is. I'll be at a Lunar New Year dinner tonight with 950 of my closest friends from the Chinese Australian community celebrating New Year there with Sam Lim, the wonderful member for Tangney.
GIBSON: Sounds great. Thanks so much for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, mate.