The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is about to be in Western Sydney today speaking at the Airport City Summit. He joins us this morning. Morning, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Good to be with you.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: You've been pushing for a second airport in Sydney for about a quarter of a century.
PRIME MINISTER: A bit longer actually, it was in my first speech in 1996.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: 1996?
PRIME MINISTER: It will be incredible to be able to open it very soon. The first flights, the plane testing begins, it's the 13th July, freight flights start on the 26th of July and passenger flights commence on the 25th of October and we'll have Jetstar will be the first in. But Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Singapore and Qantas.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Yeah, in terms, I mean, you must be pretty disappointed that the Metro won't be built in time for the opening. It does seem like it's going to be hard to get to the airport at this point.
PRIME MINISTER: It does, but people will get there. There of course isn't a metro to Melbourne Airport yet and it's been open for many decades. So, it will open and the Metro will be fantastic when it opens next year.
CRAIG REUCASSEL : Now, your tax changes got through Parliament this week, but that can't be said of the rest of your legislative agenda. Gambling reforms have been sent to the Senate inquiry by The Greens and the Liberals.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we only introduced it yesterday. To be fair, there was no intention to pass it.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Yeah, but it's been sent for this eight week thing. I mean it does seem like you're a bit out of, well, it seems like, I mean, Peta Murphy, her inquiry called for a total ban on gambling advertising in Australia. The Liberals, The Greens and your backbench don't seem to support your current reforms. Don't you need to go further to get support of Parliament?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it actually in some ways goes further than that report went. It's a comprehensive approach. It deals with issues such as particularly online, which has expanded substantially like in other areas of our lives. It deals with overseas gambling as well. There's not much point shutting down sites in Australia and leaving everything open overseas so that no revenue, no regulation takes place as well. Things like the naming of sporting grounds and sponsorship of jerseys is covered as well. There's a range of reforms this has been worked through in a comprehensive way. Was only introduced yesterday morning. There was no, never any consideration of it passing yesterday in a day. That's not what happens. And there'll be an inquiry which is absolutely fine and normal process. It will be debated in the Parliament in August, September and then will go through by the end of the year, I would hope. I think this is important reforms. My Government has taken more action on gambling harm than any Government since federation.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Well, this does include a ban on gambling ads on broadcast television during live sport before 8.30pm so that will hopefully get it away from kids, which is one of the big problems here. There was a claim from the Member for Cook, Simon Kennedy, that there's a carve out for live sporting events on streaming platforms, which means there can still be ads continuously throughout streaming of sport. Is that the case?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Member for Cook has a particular view. It's not necessarily the view of the Liberal Party.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: I understand, but is that carve out there in -
PRIME MINISTER: The Liberal Party, have a different position. There is legislation before the Parliament. We will go through the Senate inquiry. There are different regulations for different times. There is a carve out that anyone can choose from their devices. So, for example, if they're streaming something online, people can exclude themselves from any gambling advertising, full stop.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Yeah. I mean, do you think opting out is the way to go? Do you think, do you think you should have to opt into advertising so that it doesn't, I mean, a lot of people on the text line saying gambling laws didn't go far enough, so, invasive. A total ban on gambling ads. No brainer. Just as there is a total ban on cigarette ads, says Helen. The public seems to really want these to go far. Do you think you've gone far enough, though?
PRIME MINISTER: I think we have gone far enough. I think we've got the balance right. Between, for example, some people have called for an absolute ban across the board. Now, for example, Melbourne Cup, should there be, is it legitimate to advertise the fact that there's betting on horse racing? There are, many of the streaming channels are, of course, racing channels. One of the issues with horse racing is people bet on them. And I'm not against someone having a punt on a Saturday. What I'm against is problem gambling, which overwhelmingly, by the way, overwhelmingly is poker machines, which is of course regulated by the states. And indeed the Murphy Inquiry, more than half of their recommendations relate to state and territory governments, not to the Commonwealth. What we've done is consult over a period of time. We've also been introducing measures such as BetStop, which has been very successful, so that people can be excluded from being able to gamble. And that has been a big success in cutting down from people who feel as though this can be an addiction, feel as though they need protection from themselves, if you like, in being able to gamble.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Also the social media ban was also blocked by The Greens, the Liberals in the Senate put to an inquiry as well. You know, the argument David Shoebridge was using was why double a penalty you've never used. Could you actually enforce the penalties now? Like why have we not seen any of the penalties enforced given that we see, you know, studies showing that 70 per cent to 80 per cent of kids are still using social media the same way.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is very different from a Senate inquiry into gambling. This is extraordinary that something that was bipartisan with Peter Dutton's support during the last term where Australia is leading the world on these bans. We've always said there needs to be adjustment to the legislation, that we wouldn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. And we haven't done that. Five million accounts have been shut down. But the eSafety Commissioner has said what she needs is more powers. Powers to get documents and powers to get the information from the big companies. Now this legislation is four pages. It's not complex, it's simple. It does two things. Doubles the fines and allows the eSafety Commissioner to get the information and the documentation from these big global companies that are making money from the fact that people can be exploited through these platforms. And it is outrageous the delay because what the eSafety Commissioner has said very clearly is that that will allow the platforms to go and just delete a whole lot of material. Whereas if it was passed yesterday, that would have been the date from which these demands could be made by the Commissioner. So, then fines can be issued.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Yeah. Ok. We'll watch with interest as that goes to a Senate inquiry as well. Just quickly, Prime Minister, have you been watching the Paraguayan President every time Paraguay play or win he gives the nation a public holiday. Just saying, just something to consider if the Socceroos win tomorrow okay.
PRIME MINISTER: Well tomorrow is a Saturday. I look forward to getting up very early along with I'm sure a fair proportion of Australia's 27 million people.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: Are we going to see photos of you in your tracksuit, John Howard style in The Lodge?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't think anyone necessarily wants to see me in a trackie. Maybe just in my Socceroos shirt. I've got a couple of them. And I'm really looking forward to the game. I think we're a real show.
CRAIG REUCASSEL: We are a real show. Monday public holiday. Just saying. Good on you, Prime Minister. Thanks for speaking us this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks so much, Craig.
