HEIDI MURPHY, HOST: Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, thank you for your time this morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Heidi.
MURPHY: What would you say his greatest legacy is?
PRIME MINISTER: Just his character and his integrity. He is someone who served his Party, the labour movement, but also his nation with distinction. Every single job that he had, he put his whole heart and soul into it. He made a difference as Trade Minister, helping to do deals to assist Australian jobs and the Australian economy. In energy, he did the same. In the arts, he revitalised the arts through his his passionate commitment to a creative Australia. On employment, both as a union official and as Minister for Employment, he was passionate about getting Australians into jobs and secure work as well. With regional economic development and agriculture, he was very committed to making sure that decentralisation occurred. He was someone who was liked right across the spectrum and held in great respect
MURPHY: The words I'm hearing this morning in most of the of the tributes are things like respected. He was respected, respectful, and decent, those sets of words together. Did you ever have any disagreements around the Cabinet table?
PRIME MINISTER: We did but I don't talk about the Cabinet table, of course. But in the Labor Party from time to time you have some some disagreements over policy issues. But for Simon, they were never taken to heart. He was someone who could be respectful and debate issues through. He is someone who made such an incredible difference. It's very hard being Opposition Leader, as I found out. It is the toughest job in politics. And Simon, when I became Opposition Leader in 2019 and then when I became Prime Minister, was a source of advice because he'd been there and done that. His wisdom that comes through experience was always worth tapping into. And I saw him just about a month ago. He looked fantastic, I've got to say. He was happy and enjoying life, he was still making a contribution through his work promoting Australian jobs and industry and trade. And that was a work trip that he was on in Germany, and it is just so sad to see him gone far too soon.
MURPHY: You are, as you say, doing the job that he wanted once. What sort of Prime Minister do you think he would have made if he had gone to the voters and if he had won?
PRIME MINISTER: I think he would have been a very good Prime Minister. He is someone who understood the benefit of proper Cabinet government. That was one of the things that he counselled me on and something I certainly have been attempting to implement, to follow the Hawke model, if you like, of giving Ministers their jobs, trusting them to do those jobs, getting oversight through the Cabinet and having a government that maximises the potential that it has by maximising the input of the skills that people bring around the Cabinet table. And that was something that Simon would have done. He was very consultative as the leader of the Party and I think he would have brought that if he had the opportunity of serving as as Prime Minister. We know that didn't occur, but he didn't look backwards. He continued to look forwards and was always incredibly positive. And that's why he was a delight to spend time with. I had dinner with him last year in Europe. I was there repairing the relationship with France and going to the NATO Summit. And we caught up there in France, he was working on the European free trade deal we're trying to get done and also promoting Australian businesses. He was always great company.
MURPHY: You've spoken with his family?
PRIME MINISTER: Carole is overseas with him. We have been in contact with the family. We, of course, have offered a state funeral. At the moment, procedures have to go through over the next three or four days in Germany. We are making arrangements that are appropriate to bring Simon back. And it is a really tough time for the for the family. One of the things that people will know, anyone who had contact with Simon knows the relationship with Carole was quite extraordinary. They were unbelievably close and they had a wonderful relationship. Every time you had a discussion with Simon, Carole would come up as part of the conversation. And she will be devastated today.
MURPHY: I'm sure we'll hear more tributes as we go through the day. I thank you for having the time to come on with us this morning. Just briefly before the nine o'clock news, while I still have you, a couple of other issues. The Newspoll today is showing support for the Voice is dropping and dropping pretty quickly. How much does that worry you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I believe people will focus as we get closer to the referendum date in the last quarter. This is a once in a generation chance. We know that constitutional change doesn't come about that often. There hasn't been any changes to our constitution now for many, many decades. This will be the first referendum that will be held this century. We know eight out of 48 have been carried. But I believe that when Australians focus on the opportunity that's there to recognise First Nations people in our Constitution, and to consult them on matters that affect them. And that is essentially what this referendum is about. It won't change the way the Parliament functions. It won't have a right of veto. But it will give us the opportunity to listen.
MURPHY: I think the problem, Prime Minister, is that people aren't listening to this argument from you. It appears to be that the No vote is strengthening.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, history tells us that it is hard to win a referendum in this country. We will continue to put the case and I'm confident that when businesses, unions, every single sporting code in Australia, faith groups, the non-government sector, go out there, talk to neighbours talk to friends, talk to community groups, that we will get a positive result when the referendum is held later this year.
MURPHY: In October?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it will be later this year. It has to be sometime between late September and December. It's obviously not going to be on AFL Grand Final date all Melbourne Cup day.
MURPHY: Good, or Melbourne Cup Day.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a Tuesday, it won't be then.
MURPHY: Set the date. All right, thank you Prime Minister.