Start a new sport or learn a new instrument, that's the Prime Minister's message to Aussie teens this morning as the landmark under 16s social media ban comes into effect.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS, HOST: And we're pleased to say Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins us live in studio now. Prime Minister, great to see you and thanks for giving us some time this morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's such a fantastic day, and a proud day to be Prime Minister of Australia. This is world-leading legislation. This is families taking back ownership of what happens in their households. It is empowering parents to have those discussions with their children. It's about giving children back their childhood.
JEFFREYS: For some kids it's still situation normal this morning. We've been checking in with households across the country throughout the show. Some of them have been locked out, others are still operating as usual. Are you happy with how it's going so far?
PRIME MINISTER: We certainly are. The fact that we're having this discussion and all of the tech companies will comply. They will give the figures of how many young people were online, what their figures were on December 9 and then on December 11, tomorrow. And then every month they will have to give those figures over to the eSafety Commission. And so we know that this isn't simple. No one's done this before and that's why it's so important. Doing hard things is what gives you a reward. And in this there's nothing more important. When, when you have figures like 13 per cent of young people have been encouraged to take their life online, then we have a responsibility to do something about it. And importantly, this is a reform that hasn't come from government. It's not my idea, it's the idea of parents who'd lost their young son or daughter, who took that tragedy and channelled it into making a positive difference so other parents don't have to go through what they did.
CAMPBELL: It is also going to come back with some blowback as well. There will be some people out there who will be like, well, my kid, that was their, the reason how they spoke to people is through Snapchat. They don't have their friends' phone numbers anymore. You're going to have this High Court challenge as well with two teens arguing it bans and violates their rights to freedom of political communication. What do you say to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, are they really teens going to the High Court? Or are they people who are the fronts for people who don't like this? This is a change in the power structure. These companies are powerful. We know that that is the case. And so we know that there'll be a difficult period. We are fully conscious of that. But we also know that this is necessary and this will make a positive difference going forward. And you know what? Before social media existed, shock, horror, we all communicated with our friends and we did that face to face like this. That's why I always like coming in the studio. I miss my Friday mornings on the Today show.
JEFFREYS: We miss them too.
CAMPBELL: We miss having you here.
PRIME MINISTER: It was always fantastic. Nothing beats personal communication. And that is one of the things that children are being robbed of with their childhood is a capacity to actually engage, know what's real and what's not real.
CAMPBELL: The algorithm has something to play about too.
PRIME MINISTER: Of course it does.
JEFFREYS: You know, this is big news, it's global news, and a lot of parents globally are welcoming this this morning. But here in Australia, it's been overshadowed this week by Anika Wells' expenses scandal. There's no hiding from it. She's now referred, of course, herself to Parliament's expenses watchdog. Many are calling for her to stand down as Minister while that review happens. Do you agree with that?
PRIME MINISTER: No. Sports Minister goes to sporting event. Guess what?
JEFFREYS: But is it normal to leave a Comcar waiting for 10 hours?
PRIME MINISTER: Who knows what happened there. She's referred to herself to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. We have an arm's length approach to this that was put in place by the former government after Sussan Ley had to resign after going to the Gold Coast and property purchases. So that is arm's length. It's important that they have a look at it, and Anika Wells has done the right thing. But she's been out there doing her job in promoting this important legislation.
JEFFREYS: I note that, I mean she's been incredibly passionate about this. Indeed, she flew all the way to New York to speak to the UN about it. Why isn't she here today spruiking this ban?
PRIME MINISTER: Because she's on radio and she's doing an event with me at Kirribilli House in about an hour and a half. And so there's a range of events we have split up between myself, the eSafety Commissioner and the Minister today out there campaigning and letting people know that this is a big deal and a big day.
CAMPBELL: It is a big deal. But what happens is that this then brings all expenses into the forefront of people's minds again. Are you worried about your expenses? You have anything you want to tell us now?
PRIME MINISTER: No, absolutely not. And one of the things about this -
CAMPBELL: We're not here to audit you. But if we were -
PRIME MINISTER: There's always these sort of stories that go "exclusive" - but of course the information's there. It's published. Every single airfare, every single car, every phone call that's made, every bill, every stamp for postage of MPs is published in a really extensive document. It's there for all to see, there for everyone to scrutinise. And, you know, that's appropriate. It's appropriate to have that transparency.
JEFFREYS: The serious side to this is that there are a lot of families right now struggling to put food on the table, to pay the rent, to pay for the air conditioning throughout the summer as energy bills go up. I suppose a lot of people want politicians to spend time with their family. They would encourage that and indeed support that. But they also expect a level of discretion and responsibility and restraint with taxpayer dollars. Do you think it's time to review the family entitlement policies? The rules?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it was put in place by the former government and importantly, the management of it is done at arm's length. I don't do it. I don't manage it. My office don't do it. Parliamentarians don't do it themselves. There's this independent authority is there to make sure -
JEFFREYS: So, would you support changes or a review?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the independent agency is there and just like I don't decide my salary, it's important that's done by the REM Tribunal. It's important that there be distance between the decision makers and the management of it.
CAMPBELL: But to continue on what SJ was just saying there. People out there are feeling the crunch this year. The RBA have delivered this lump of coal yesterday, the Governor says that, 'The government is doing a good job on monetary and fiscal policy up to recently'. What do you say to Michele Bullock?
PRIME MINISTER: I say she's doing her job and we're doing our job. We produced two budget surpluses. We didn't promise to do that. No government has done that for more than two decades. And we reduce the size of the deficit as well.
CAMPBELL: She is saying inflation's getting out of control again. She wants you to, you know, curve that -
PRIME MINISTER: Well, she didn't say that.
CAMPBELL: She said up till recently...
PRIME MINISTER: She didn't say that. So, importantly that Michele Bullock, her comments are allowed to stand. She has a job to do as the RBA Governor. It's not surprising that the RBA Governor makes comments consistent with what RBA governors always do. Our job has been to make sure that we deliver that cost of living relief. In part, that has a cost to the budget. On January 1, we'll have cheaper medicines - $25 for medicines on the PBS script. Now that is the cheapest it's been since 2004. There's an old saying my mum used to say, nothing ever goes down in price. Well, guess what? Medicines have under this government, again and again and again. We're rolling out tomorrow, I'll be opening an Urgent Care Clinic, in my electorate, one of 147 that we will have opened by the end of the year. That's really important so people can see a doctor for free. All of those measures are critical. The reduction in student debt of 20 per cent that people are receiving, that notification on their mobile phones as we speak. And at the same time, we'll continue to look for savings in the budget as we have every year.
JEFFREYS: It's been a very big year for you, PM, but we want to say on behalf of everyone here at Today Show, a huge congratulations to you and Jodie on what looked like a beautiful wedding day. How was it?
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Oh, it was just lovely. It was fantastic. It was small, it was pretty informal, you know, people went and got their food and sat wherever.
CAMPBELL: How was getting on the decks while you were, making you work on your wedding day?
PRIME MINISTER: We had a bit of competition over our playlist between myself and Jodie.
JEFFREYS: That's always the way.
CAMPBELL: Of course.
JEFFREYS: It's usually the only thing the husband's invested in on the day.
PRIME MINISTER: But we got there, of course she won. There was a bit of dancing, I can confirm, on the night. It was just lovely to have it with family and friends. There was a bit of competition at one stage between the Coasties, Jodie's friends from the Central coast, her mates. And my mates-
JEFFREYS: The Inner Westies -
PRIME MINISTER: From Camperdown, the Housos from Camperdown over who was going to cheer the loudest.
JEFFREYS: The bride always.
CAMPBELL: Did you get a selfie with Paul Kelly? We know that's why you're here.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Paul's outside there. We just had a chat about the Kardomah Cafe and one of the things that we were commenting on out there was thank goodness that there wasn't these social media accounts and people having phones everywhere and photos when we were both younger.
JEFFREYS: Well that's it.
CAMPBELL: Is there anything you'd like to confess before you move on from it?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, if there's no photos of when I was 18, that's a good thing. That's all I can say.
JEFFREYS: So say all of us.
PRIME MINISTER: It was a great time to be a young person and to engage.
JEFFREYS: To have some anonymity.
PRIME MINISTER: We had quality of life without looking at our phones every two seconds or scrolling. It is possible. So for people out there, enjoy each other's company. Engage with each other. Play a sport. Learn a new instrument.
JEFFREYS: PM, we are grateful to have your company this morning. Thanks for finding us some time.
PRIME MINISTER: Wonderful to be here and Merry Christmas to all the listeners. And can I take the opportunity as well to just say, Australians were so generous in the warmth of their congratulations for Jodie and myself. It really touched my heart, the generosity.
CAMPBELL: Oh, much love. Good to see you.
JEFFREYS: Thank you, PM.
