Albo joins us now. Do you have thick skin, Anthony, or does that still sort of get to you? A crowd of people booing?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Oh, no, it’s Australian tradition.
STAPLETON: You’re saying that like you’ve booed other Prime Ministers at the footy and that sort of stuff.
PRIME MINISTER: No, but I’ve been at a lot of sporting events in the past.
STAPLETON: It is true. I suppose, if you can go, well it’s not necessarily a personal thing. I saw Turnbull cop like 100,000 once at the MCG and that was pretty brutal.
BEN HARVEY, HOST: Albo, maybe it’s because obviously at the tennis, for me, when I think tennis, I think a lot of rich people go to the tennis. Maybe it’s because of those Stage three tax cuts.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, everyone at the tennis who’s a taxpayer last night will get a tax cut. It’s true that high income earners will get $4500. They were going to get more than that, but that is so that every taxpayer can get a tax cut and people on average incomes will get double. So, that’s a good thing. We know that low and middle income earners are really under financial pressure. They’ve been the ones who have found the inflationary pressures in the economy more difficult. And that’s why we have a responsibility to act to assist every taxpayer, not just some.
BELLE JACKSON, HOST: Now Albo, also I’m super jealous of you and where you were sitting. You got to sit with Eric Bana. What was he like? What did you talk about?
PRIME MINISTER: I did, he’s a lovely fella. I’ve met him a couple of times before. He’s very interested in tennis, he plays tennis every week and we had a chat about his new show. The follow up to The Dry.
STAPLETON: Yeah, The Dry, too. He got a bit of promo in there as well.
PRIME MINISTER: I did, there you go. I’m supporting Australian drama and Australian actors, absolutely. He’s a lovely fellow.
HARVEY: Anthony, I’m curious, have you seen him in Chopper? Have you watched Chopper?
PRIME MINISTER: I have watched Chopper. But I remember him from when he was a comedian.
HARVEY: Poida, the old school stuff.
PRIME MINISTER: A long time ago. And we had a chat about his time in stand-up as well, including playing at a joint in Canberra called the Private Bin. That was a pretty rough place back in the days.
HARVEY: It sounds rough, I’m not going to argue with you on that one in.
PRIME MINISTER: But he’s a great Australian talent and an icon.
HARVEY: Is there sort of like etiquette, Albo? Like when you become the PM you meet some cool people, you sit in some cool spots. Are you allowed to ask people for an autograph, for a selfie or is it sort of frowned upon? I’m literally sitting next to the Hulk and I can’t get a photo with him right now.
PRIME MINISTER: No, I don’t do the autographs, but I have done the odd selfie. And last night there was Eric Bana and Simon Baker was there as well. And we had a chat about, to give another plug, the fantastic show that he’s in at the moment. And it’s really good to be able to engage with people who are so, well they’re famous for different reasons. They’re great talents and it was good to have a chat last night. But the tennis on court was awesome.
JACKSON: Beautiful game.
PRIME MINISTER: As someone called Albanese, it was very good to see the Italian win.
HARVEY: You’re swapping sides already on us. One Italian wins the AO.
STAPLETON: All right Albo, we’ll let you go, mate. Thanks for joining us.
PRIME MINISTER: The first Italian to have a win ever.
