JULES LUND, HOST: Well, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. We know why you've called through. You've obviously heard about Fifi being in Beauty and the Beast and you either want to get some tickets or you want to help her out with a bit of a line read. How are you today?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, I tell you what, I'm not as excited as Lisa was there. That was fantastic. I was hanging on hold there, just cheering for her.
FIFI BOX, HOST: I know. How do you think you'd go with Alphabucks, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I have, I have done it. And I also got to nine last time I did it on one of your stations. I think it was one of your syndicated stations. It might have been on yours, but I have done it. And the pressure that you're under –
BOX: It's intense.
PRIME MINISTER: And I've got to say, The Bachelor and The Voice, I was trying to think myself and I didn't think of them either, so I have solidarity with Lisa there.
NICK CODY, HOST: That's good. It's good that you don't know reality TV shows and that's a great sign.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't have a lot of time, I've got to say. We've been busy putting together a Budget.
BOX: Well, Prime Minister, what about musicals? Are you across the musical Beauty and the Beast that I'll be performing in at Her Majesty's Theatre on Thursday night?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I certainly am and it's a great story. I like musicals. I must say that Jodie and I have an enormous amount in common. You know, the same footy team, same political views broadly, the same views about a whole lot of shows. Although she's completely obsessed by Married at First Sight.
CODY: No –
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not quite as obsessed.
CODY: That's good.
PRIME MINISTER: But musicals. She's not into musicals. I love musicals. I dragged her to West Side Story last year and I loved it, but she just liked it. She tolerated it.
CODY: Prime Minister, we're going to – I'm actually going to – I'm sorry to be an opportunist, but I need to use this opportunity, obviously, to get you to coach Fifi Box on her line. I want to get, there's so many different variations. A bit like, you know, Seinfeld's “these pretzels are making me thirsty.” The line is: “the baguettes, hurry up.” She is, of course, playing Marie, the baker's wife. And how would you deliver that exact line? “The baguettes, hurry up.” You do it your way.
PRIME MINISTER: I think: “the baguettes, hurry up!”
BOX: Not bad, Prime Minister. That could be the best one.
PRIME MINISTER: Reckon I could get a gig if this politics stuff doesn't work out in May?
BOX: Well, I've got one for you, Prime Minister: “the Budget, hurry up!”
PRIME MINISTER: It's tonight, Fifi, tonight! No more sleeps to wait for the Budget. And it will be a good Budget, building on what we've done in our first term. Strengthening Medicare. The employment figures are really good in it. Building a stronger economy, more cost of living relief on top of what we've announced already, including the Energy Bill Relief and additional support for Medicare, including Cheaper Medicines that we announced last week, down to $25. The same price that they were way back in 2004. There aren't many things that are the same as 2004, everyone would have noticed.
BOX: Now, Prime Minister, you may have heard, we obviously have a crime problem here in Victoria and here on the show we managed to run a petition to bring on bail reform for repeat offenders. We got 120,000 signatures in two weeks. And our Premier, Jacinta Allan, she acted on that because of the weight of numbers. Is there anything in the Budget that would support what we're dealing with down here in Victoria in terms of crime and our situation?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, firstly, good on you for collecting that petition and good on Jacinta Allan for responding to what was necessary. I support the changes that she has brought in very strongly. Every Australian has the right to feel safe in their local community. So, whenever the Australian Federal Police or our security agencies have asked for more resources or new technology or changes to the law to help them do their job, my answer is just one word, which is ‘yes’. That is what we have done. And indeed, in tonight's Budget, there is additional funding for our intelligence agencies that give us advice about a range of issues that we deal with, of course, law and order by and large is a state issue, but we deal with issues like terrorism and some of the cyber security issues. We've had massive, massive increase in funding for our eSafety Commissioner and the work that they do. Of course, in today's world, security can come in many forms and that's one of the reasons why as well, we're putting in the ban, effectively, for young people's access to social media. That's about keeping them safe online. Too many young kids have essentially taken drastic action. I've spoken to parents who really called for this, including ones who've lost their young loved ones and that's one of the reasons why we're taking that action as well.
LUND: Well, it's going to be very hard for me now to congratulate you for winning two tickets to Beauty and the Beast this Thursday night.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I can't do Thursday night. I've got to – but, you know, I’d like to get there sometime.
LUND: It won't affect the Budget, they're free tickets.
PRIME MINISTER: I reckon it will be fantastic and I'm sure you will completely nail it, Fifi.
BOX: Thank you, Prime Minister. That means a lot. A big endorsement coming from you.
PRIME MINISTER: I love musicals. I love them. My Mum used to love musicals and I, as soon as I, you know, started working and one of my fondest memories is like taking my Mum to all the classics, you know, to South Pacific and all of those. The Sound Of Music –
BOX: Les Mis.
PRIME MINISTER: She loved all – Phantom of the Opera.
BOX: Wizard of Oz.
PRIME MINISTER: She loved all of them. I actually brought my Mum down to Melbourne, she didn't go on a plane many times in her life, to see Phantom of the Opera there in Melbourne.
BOX: Anthony Warlow, that would have been.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
BOX: Marina Prior.
PRIME MINISTER: Marina Prior. The great Marina Prior. And Melbourne is the capital for musicals. Like, you've really been ahead of the game for a long period of time. There's those beautiful theatres there and it's a great way to spend an evening. So, even better if you're on stage, Fifi.
CODY: Well, we might lose the capital title depending on how Fi goes tomorrow night, but she'll have a crack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thank you for your time.