MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: Another big day in Canberra, Day 2 of the Jobs Summit is about to get underway. We are joined from there now by the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. PM, good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G’day, Michael. Good to be with you. We kicked off at 8:00. I've ducked out to speak to you.
ROWLAND: Oh, appreciate it even more, there you go. Skilled migration very much on the agenda today. Has consensus emerged on increasing the skilled migration intake from 160,000 a year to 200,000?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there is a consensus that there is a need for an increase, and there’s also consensus that it’s not just about the numbers, but it’s about the make-up of our migration system, that we need to move towards more permanent migration rather than a reliance on temporary labour. What that did was set us up and make us more vulnerable so that when the borders shut, all of a sudden there was an overreliance on temporary labour which meant that we could not fill the skills that were needed in this country. So, it’s not a matter of just the number, it’s a matter of the nature of the number, but it’s also a matter of training Australians for jobs as a priority as well, and that’s where our 180,000 fee-free TAFE places we announced yesterday, a commitment worth $1.1 billion, to be done in partnerships with states and territories, is so important.
ROWLAND: It’s one thing to increase the number of skilled migrants coming in, it’s another problem if they simply can't afford to live, especially in the big cities – the same applies as well to many young Australians – how important is it that any increase in skilled migration is tackled with an even greater, laser-like intensity on tackling the housing shortage?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s absolutely critical, Michael. That’s the benefit of bringing people together, as we have, over this two-day period, but the more than 100 meetings that were held in the lead-up to the Summit, is that you need to have reform that all works together. So you need to do something about immediate skills shortages through the migration system. You need to look at the nature of that migration system so it’s permanent rather than temporary. You need to train Australians for the jobs and skills that are needed so that they can benefit, whether it's young people going into a trade, or whether it’s people retraining as the economy changes. But you also need to look at housing affordability, and this was an issue that was discussed at the National Cabinet on Wednesday as well – how we get all the levels of government to work together, but over this two-day period as well, we’re looking at how you increase housing supply, how you free up private capital to go into housing through the superannuation industry in particular is one example of an area where you can get real improvement. But we’re also looking at what the Federal Government can do in partnership with the states, including planning and land use issues, as well going forward. We need to deal with the challenges which are there, but we need to do it in a way that doesn't create additional challenges somewhere else, and that's where housing supply is so critical.
ROWLAND: A couple of other issues, the AMA is cranky with National Cabinet for cutting that COVID isolation period from seven days to five days, claiming it’s nothing more than a political decision, so doctors are unhappy. As you’d know, Prime Minister, a lot of Australians out there are still spooked by COVID, understandably so. Can you understand that ongoing anxiety and why not everybody agrees with this decision?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure, people of course are entitled to put forward their views, but if people are sick, they shouldn't be at work, it’s as simple as that. And the decision that was taken on Wednesday to change the rules, the mandates that are there from next Friday, from September 9, take that into account. If you’re sick, if you've got symptoms, you should not be going to work, it’s as simple as that. But if people aren't contagious, they’re not sick, they don't have any symptoms, after five days and they want to be at work, their employers want them to be at work as well, then to me it is, on the balance of where we’re at, a necessary change to take place and one that was supported by all states and territories, and to which the National Cabinet has come to a uniform position on. I will say this, Michael as well, I think it is a good thing that the National Cabinet is now operating with one voice. Previously what we had was the National Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister went out there and did a press conference, then the New South Wales Premier said what New South Wales was doing, and Victoria said what Victoria was doing, and Tasmania said what Tasmania was doing, and it was incredibly confusing for people. I give credit to all of the Premiers and Chief Ministers for trying to work together and get more uniformity so that people can understand exactly what the rules are and so that we can move forward as a nation.
ROWLAND: And speaking of understanding, the AMA wants the health advice underpinning that decision to be released. Will you do that?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, they’re doctors, they have different views, so do the different Chief Health Officers have views...
ROWLAND: They’d understand the health advice if you released it, even more so than most of us?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Chief Health Officers in every state are responsible for their respective advices, so that’s a matter for the state governments as to whether that happens or not, but the decision is really clear, Michael, if you’re sick, you shouldn't be at work. If you have symptoms, you shouldn't be at work. If you’re contagious, you shouldn't be at work. The thing is, Michael, eventually one of the discussions we had as well was that the flu and various other diseases, infections that are around, people manage, over a period of time, they manage their health in consultation with their doctors. No one is saying here that anyone should be at work if they're sick. What we are saying is that over a period of time, COVID might be around for a very long period of time. Gradually what is occurring is that some of the mandated restrictions which are there are being reviewed and where appropriate, being relaxed, if you like, or brought back, and common sense tells you that that has to happen over a period of time. We can't continue to have the sort of restrictions which were there early on, and one of the reasons why that is possible is because people have gone out there and got themselves vaccinated and got some protection for themselves.
ROWLAND: OK, I know you've got to get back to the Summit. One of the attendees, by the way, is the QANTAS boss, Alan Joyce. Is it true he hitched a ride on the government jet to Canberra?
PRIME MINISTER: He did, along with a whole lot of other people. We had the Business Council of Australia dinner on Wednesday night, so myself and other ministers who were there, we offered lifts to anyone who wanted to come down –
ROWLAND: The RAAF didn’t lose his bags?
PRIME MINISTER: The RAAF will be paid a fare, not just from Alan Joyce, but from the head of the BCA, Jennifer Westacott, from Tim Reed, and a bunch of others who were on the plane with us all together. It was a good thing that got everyone to Canberra in time so he that we could start the Summit on Thursday, and I can confirm that the Royal Australian Air Force have never lost anyone's bag, ever.
ROWLAND: When can I book a seat? Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Michael.