RUSSELL CLARKE, HOST: We have a special guest back in our city today, The Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Albanese. And we certainly hope to be having him on the phone. In fact, I think that might be him now. Good morning, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It sure is, Russell. What a beautiful day here in Perth.
CLARKE: Ah, yes. We put on a show when we have special visitors. Welcome back to WA. I think this is what, the 27th time, I think?
PRIME MINISTER: 27th visit. Yeah, it's a bit cooler today than it was yesterday morning in Kununurra, I've got to say.
CLARKE: Yeah, be thankful for that.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Well, Kununurra was delightful. I've got to say. It's a beautiful part of Australia there in the East Kimberley. And we had some really important announcements for regional WA, some $200 million in housing and community infrastructure, opening up the Port so that they can export directly there, up through the Port of Wyndham, along with a couple of other ports as well Ashburton and Dampier. And today here in Perth, I'm just on my way up to the northern suburbs.
CLARKE: Yeah, you've got something at about 8:15am this morning, I believe.
PRIME MINISTER: We do, yeah. I'll be with Tracey Roberts who's an absolute champion. I got to know Tracey when she was the Mayor and she has championed the idea of an aquatic and rec centre there for that growing community. And we'll be turning the first sod there this morning along with the State Government and the local Mayor. It'll be a really good thing. Three indoor pools.
CLARKE: Fantastic. I saw in the press release it did say “please wear closed toed shoes,” so no sandals or thongs today, Mr. Prime Minister. Make sure you're dressed appropriately. Look, you are on the road. You're doing the trip. The Akubra has come out of the cupboard. So, we could be forgiven for thinking that an election campaign is now underway, or it's a soft launch at least. We are obviously getting closer. But can we put it – I mean, I know you were not giving any dates yesterday. Is it any different today? Can we squeeze one out of you?
PRIME MINISTER: Not different today, mate –
CLARKE: I try.
PRIME MINISTER: I work each and every January and you don't get to 27 visits to Western Australia and 12 visits to the Northern Territory, and a lot of visits, dozens of visits to Queensland, without working hard for Australia each and every day. And I regard the job I have as an incredible privilege and honour of being Prime Minister of this great country. And I'm determined to make it even better into the future.
CLARKE: Of course, we have a state election, which is locked in for the 8th of March over here. Now I'm sure you've had some close negotiation with Premier Cook as to when you might be calling yours, because you must maybe worry or at least have in the back of your mind the possibility of voter fatigue here in WA, which of course as we know is a very important state as we head towards the next election.
PRIME MINISTER: It certainly is. I was with Roger just yesterday at the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic there in beautiful Midland, here in Perth, one of the eight that we've opened around the state. And there with Trish Cook, our Candidate for Bullwinkel who actually was a nurse at that centre before it became an Urgent Care Clinic and it was terrific to be with her and Tania Lawrence and the Premier yesterday. Look, the Premier's focused on his election on the 8th of March and I think he is deserving of a significant victory –
CLARKE: And some clean air from you.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we'll be doing, of course, I'll continue to work with him constructively. One of the things we've been able to achieve together is the creation of jobs, building of infrastructure. The last visit here, I was here for the opening of the Metronet line, which was a great day. We were jumping on and off the train there, opening new stations. It's been remarkable. In the decades that I've been coming to WA, seeing the growth and the success of this great state, not just here in Perth, but right around the state. And I want to work constructively in the future with Roger and I'm sure we'll be able to do that.
CLARKE: You were in Queensland, obviously at the beginning of this road trip. You've committed over $7 billion, which is a lot of money, for the Bruce Highway, which we know is a big highway. Peter Dutton has now matched that. Is there any chance we can get you to match him on, maybe something for us over here? I'm thinking, I don't know, maybe Indian Ocean Drive, we can get dual lane the whole way for safety?
PRIME MINISTER: He doesn't promise anything. I'll tell you what I won't match him on. We won't be building a nuclear reactor in Collie. This will be the first state to move completely out of coal fired power. WA will be powered by renewables as well as gas and that's the same position that my Government has –
CLARKE: Are you convinced that the no nuclear road is going to be a big winner for you?
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely, because it doesn't stack up. It's economic madness. And their modelling that they put out themselves said that there'd be 40 per cent less energy used by 2050 than what has been modelled by the Australian Energy Market Operator under their ISP. Now, if you're saying there'll be 40 per cent less energy use, you know what you're really saying? There'll be less jobs, there'll be less manufacturing, there'll be less economic activity and that's just extraordinary. And the fact that Peter Dutton has said that this is going to be taxpayer funded, so the taxpayers are going to fund the building of this between now and sometime in the 2040s. It's not clear what will happen to energy in the meantime, mind you. But in the 2040s then there'll be this nuclear reactor there in Collie. No wonder he snuck in and out without telling anyone, because it just doesn't stack up. I've been to Collie, I've met with the massive renewable projects which will be powering the grid as well because they'll be connected up with the power lines that come from the current power station, as well as meeting with critical minerals and rare earths and all of the quite exciting developments we're seeing here in WA that will power Australia's future. The Opposition’s own spokespeople, people like Matt Canavan have been out there saying this is just a political fix. And that's what it is, it doesn't stack up.
CLARKE: Obviously this is going to be a major point in this upcoming election. One is going to be cost of living and the other one is obviously going to be about energy. I just wanted to, while we've still got you on the phone, because I know you're busy and off to open the new aquatic centre but 10 days until a new US President. Throwing around the threat of tariffs like lollies to kids in a crowd. You've said that he – you don't think he'll impose any on us. Why are you so confident that he won't?
PRIME MINISTER: Well the United States has a trade surplus with us and so if you have tariffs, then that would actually disadvantage the United States, and we also have a Free Trade Agreement of course with the US we have an important relationship and in the AUKUS arrangements, for example, I've been down there at the defence facility here in Perth. I went on a nuclear powered sub, one of the Virginia Class subs there just a few months ago. There are Australians working on that sub. Australians there in the United States learning and getting the skills that they need and the truth is that we have a very important relationship with the United States. I had a constructive first discussion with Donald Trump. And I'm confident that we'll continue to act in both our country's interests.
CLARKE: As unpredictable as he is. Just one more thing. Elon Musk is poking his nose into other political systems around the world, in countries, especially the UK, for instance. Do you happen to follow him on X?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't, but funnily enough his feed pops up regardless –
CLARKE: You might want to keep an eye on him in.
PRIME MINISTER: In my system, even though I don't follow him.
CLARKE: You might want to keep an eye on him and follow him.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that says something about the algorithms and the way that they work, I think. And one of the things about social media is we have our social media ban for those under 16. I want to see kids, including here in Perth, out on the netball courts, playing cricket, playing footy, engaging with each other in the playground rather than on their devices.
CLARKE: A lot of parents would agree with you on that one.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, parents – this is the showstopper at the discussion of every school pickup and on the sidelines of every sporting event. As someone who had a young one who's not so young anymore, I will recall the many hours watching him play cricket for Summerhill –
CLARKE: And not scrolling.
PRIME MINISTER: Exactly, exactly. And I want – kids need to, as well, learn to engage with each other. And one of the things that's happened with some of the bans that have been placed on kids taking devices into the schoolroom is that kids at lunchtime and play lunch and all of that, guess what? They're engaging with each other as well. That's part of the lessons that are learned at school, aren't just things that are in the classroom, they're social interaction. And that's so important.
CLARKE: Well, there's a lot of support across the House for you on that one. Look, I know you’re busy because you're on your way to the 8:15am event. Thank you very much for your time. Which I guess is about to become even more scarce and a little more valuable for you. After 8am, 96FM is actually going all 80s, Prime Minister. I know you were growing up back in the 80s. Just hit me with one of your favourite bands of the 80s?
PRIME MINISTER: Cold Chisel.
CLARKE: Cold Chisel. All right, I'm going to put it into the music department and if they can't get something on for the Prime Minister –
PRIME MINISTER: Flame Trees, you cannot go wrong. You cannot go wrong. You know, it's early in the morning, you probably don't want Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye). Probably a little bit, you know, upbeat.
CLARKE: You know, maybe if you would need a wake up.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, wake people up. It sure would.
CLARKE: We will see if we can get some Cold Chisel for you on as the Ultimate 80s begins. And I will let you continue on your way. Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Russell.