E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
TRIPLE M
MONDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2020
SUBJECTS: 2020; COVID; Mind Your Mate.
ANNOUNCER: This is Triple M's Mind Your Mate, with Gus Worland and Hugh Jackman.
GUS WORLAND, TRIPLE M: Yeah. And I've got a guy on the line now Jacko, called Bill Shorten, who's become a really good mate over the last year. We spend Tuesday mornings together just before seven o'clock chatting away on the Today Show and Bill, I really enjoyed our chats this year. How are you this morning, brother?
BILL SHORTEN, MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG: Yeah, I'm outstanding this morning. And how are you gentlemen?
WORLAND: We are very well, Bill, for you, it's been tough, obviously, being a politician in a year like 2020. But what I've loved about you, mate, is the fact that you've kept it Team Australia very much this year. And in fact, the Labor Party have done that because you realise that there's bigger things going on in the world.
SHORTEN: Yes, there is and, you know, this great Australian saying’s come to the fore that whenever you speak to someone about how they're going, they always say there's someone doing it worse. And that has been 2020. Everyone's conscious that everyone else is doing it hard and we've all got to pull together.
HUGH JACKMAN: Yeah. Bill, can I ask you, I'm always really in admiration of politicians who can take such heat from so many people. Literally the moment you sign on as a politician, half the world hates you, and then you go through the ups and downs, you get elected, you don't get elected. How do you deal with the ups and downs of it? How do you actually compartmentalise things for yourself? And how do you decompress?
SHORTEN: Well, it’s a good day when only half the mob hates you. And it's a privilege to serve. But most people won't be happy until we're hitchhiking to Canberra and camping on the lawn. But in all seriousness, it's a privilege. And what you've got to do is not take it personally. So, you know, losing the election, that was bad, at least for half of us. The way you cope with pressure, one of the ways I do is when I go home to see my family, once you shut that door, you almost take your job - it's like a uniform, your suit of armour, you take it off and you just be yourself. So what you've got to understand is that when people sink their teeth into you, or you get criticised in the media, by and large, it's the position they're attacking, You can't afford to take these things personally. So once you realise that, then you realise that who you are is not necessarily who is copping all the negative flak. Does that make sense?
JACKMAN: Yeah, totally. I think knowing who you are, having a place of refuge, which obviously for you is home where you can completely be yourself and just unload everything, I think all of that is really important. And you seem to be doing a really good job of it, mate.
SHORTEN: Yeah, well, this COVID’s put a different set of pressures on people. I know there's a great poem, from poet Adam Lindsay Gordon. And he said, Life is mainly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, courage in your own. And it's good life advice, isn't it? Be kind to others. And, you know, do what you have to do to be strong in your own. So there ya go, bit of poetry as well gentlemen. First time poetry’s been on Triple M?
JACKMAN: Gus reads a poem every morning.
WORLAND: You brought your A game to the radio show. I wish you'd done the same on Today with me all year, Bill. But mate, it's absolutely wonderful to have you on this show. As I said, you know, a year ago, didn't know you very well, but now I think you're an absolute champion. And thanks so much for joining us on the show today and mate, just have a wonderful Christmas and look forward to talking to you again soon.
SHORTEN: It's good, in talking to you, Hugh, you've now answered the question about my new mate, you know, to understand him better. And, you know, he's very hairy, very manly, perhaps trains in a different paddock to you, but you know, you’re both Wolverines.
WORLAND: Thanks a lot, Bill. Appreciate your time. Bill Shorten.
JACKMAN: Bill, I’m never going to hear the end of that. Never hear the end of it.
