KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Australia will block children from accessing social media under landmark new reforms, with the Government announcing new legislation to impose age restrictions. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us now live from Canberra. PM, good morning to you. Thanks for your time. Peter Malinauskas was on our program yesterday. There's no doubt there are logistical issues here. How is it going to be different from what the states have flagged already?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, we want to work with the states and territories. What we didn't want to develop is eight different systems. We know this is a national issue. And it's pretty simple, Karl. We want to get kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, onto the netball courts, into the swimming pools. We want them to have real experiences with real people. And we know that social media is causing social harm, which is why we put funding in the Budget to have a trial to make sure that we get it right. It's not easy, we accept that. And the result mightn't be perfect, but we need to try to make a difference here because this is something that is causing social harm and every parent is concerned about what their young ones are having access to.
STEFANOVIC: There are really advanced countries around the world who are attempting to do it and they've had great difficulties. I agree with you, it still needs to be done. You don't know what tech to use yet. How long is it going to take this process to sort out?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're going to introduce legislation by the end of the year. So, we are going out with this trial that we funded in the Budget in May and we want to have that legislation introduced into the Parliament so that people can see the clear direction that it's going in. We want to work across the Parliament as well. This is something that is certainly not a party political issue or shouldn't be. This is an issue about defending our youngest Australians and giving a bit of peace of mind to parents as well, who are really concerned about what their young ones are having access to and the social harm that it's causing. Social media has a social responsibility also to do the right thing here, not to pretend that it's nothing to do with them because it is causing harm.
STEFANOVIC: Well, basically, they say, ‘Up yours’ to everyone and they show scant regard for the threats, they show scant regard for social responsibility. So, how are you going to muscle up against them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're certainly prepared to muscle up against them and to take action as the national Government, because they do have a social responsibility here. These big multinational companies think they're above all the people who provide the income for their massive profits that they undertake. But they do have a social responsibility. And that is something that we, as a Government, are prepared to take on.
STEFANOVIC: Okay. A couple of quick ones. It looks like your changes to the RBA with a special interest rate setting board have hit the skids. Dead and buried now by the Coalition. Aussies, according to the latest polls, blame you for inflation. So, will you stop picking a fight with Michele Bullock now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we are working to put that downward pressure on inflation. But, Karl, we have a responsibility as a Government to look after people on cost of living. And that's why we have a tax cut for every single one of your viewers. That's why every single household where this program is showing is getting money off their energy bills. That's why we've done fee-free TAFE and cheaper child care, cheaper medicines kicking in. We have a responsibility to make sure that we've designed those programs to help people whilst we're taking pressure off inflation, which we've halved. The only thing we've done, Karl, has produced not one but –
STEFANOVIC: But will you stop fighting the Reserve Bank?
PRIME MINISTER: We are working with the Reserve Bank. We have produced two Budget surpluses. That's two more, really easy figure to remember compared with the former Government, zero out of nine. We're two out of two, our last two Budgets. And that is how, as well, you take that pressure off inflation, which we have halved since we came to office.
STEFANOVIC: You copped it for going, just finally, into the Hawks dressing room on the weekend. Some saw it as a cheap political stunt, which I thought was a bit rough, PM. The question this morning is, do you endorse the outrageous antics? The antics I quite enjoy, but Sarah hates and loathes, of Jack Ginnivan.
SARAH ABO, HOST: Terrible.
PRIME MINISTER: Jack Ginnivan It's all good. These young blokes, whether it's Ginnivan or Watson, you've got to love the Wiz. Even Sarah's got to love the Wiz. The wizard hats that were there at the MCG. It was awesome. I mean, Kel Shadir, this young fella, he's 19, kicking, I think he got three in his first final. It's just fantastic to watch. These are young blokes having a crack. They were running last.
STEFANOVIC: Keep going.
PRIME MINISTER: They're now on the way up. Get on board. They're having fun. And everything is a bonus for them.
STEFANOVIC: All right.
PRIME MINISTER: And it's just really positive watching young fellows having a crack. It'll be a great game on Friday night versus Port.
STEFANOVIC: There you go. PM, take Sarah down.
ABO: Oh, if he was in a black and white jumper, he wouldn't be saying that. All I'm saying.
STEFANOVIC: Thanks, PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Cheer up.
STEFANOVIC: Exactly. Exactly.
PRIME MINISTER: You could have tried to keep him. You could have tried to keep him.
ABO: He’s all yours. He’s all yours.
STEFANOVIC: Exactly.
PRIME MINISTER: The Hawks are very grateful.
STEFANOVIC: Yes. Exactly. Good on you.