E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
TODAY
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2020

SUBJECTS: Victoria’s improving Coronavirus figures; Australian borders; Federal budget.

ALLISON LANGDON, HOST: Well, finally, some positive news about Melbourne’s battle with Coronavirus. Just eleven new cases yesterday, but testing was down to 7,000. From Lockdown Central, I'm joined by Shadow Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten. And in Sydney, Triple M's Gus Worland. And nice to talk to you both.

BILL SHORTEN, MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG: Hi.

LANGDON: Bill, hopes have been raised that you'll come out of lockdown even quicker now. You think there's any chance your Premier will consider it?

SHORTEN: Well, first things first, we are getting the numbers down. A month and a half ago, that was 730. Now it's down to eleven. I think the mood, while some people are keen for us to have this done with as quickly as possible, I think the general mood in Melbourne is lifting. I mean, it's day 83 of lockdowns for yours truly. But I think we can see the end in sight, and I'm not sure people want to rush it if we're this close and we're doing this well.

LANGDON: But Gus, don't you feel like we're all in this journey with Melburnians together? I mean, I think we all rejoice and we all go yay when we see those numbers coming down. And hopefully I mean, hopefully, fingers crossed today, it might be single digits.

GUS WORLAND, TRIPLE M: Exactly right. You know, it was Team Australia wasn't it, at the start of the year, when we first started chatting in March. And now we've been really feeling it for our Victorian mates. And yeah, if we can get down even less, I mean, at some stage Bill, you just got to say ‘we're doing it’, aren’t we - because there's all the other damage that's going on around, actually keeping it all shut down. So I feel for you, mate. And I feel for my family and friends there in Melbourne, but at some stage we’ve just got to bite the bullet.

LANGDON: Yes, and when –

SHORTEN: Thanks.

LANGDON, Sorry, go Bill.

SHORTEN: I think that will happen. Let's just see how the numbers go. But anyway, it's good it's great work by Victorians and our health system.

LANGDON: Yeah. We're all cheering for you. But I mean, you look at, with this lockdown, you've got businesses crippled. You've got some of the toughest lockdown conditions in the world, yet Bill, this morning we're hearing a majority of Victorians actually support Daniel Andrews handling of the crisis. Did that surprise you?

SHORTEN: Well, I was pleased to see it. I think the view when I speak to a lot of small businesses is they're desperate to get going again. But I think a lot of people just recognise that, we're in this and we've just got to finish it. We've come this far. So I think it reflects on Daniel Andrews, but I think it just reflects on Victorians. We want to get this done. We've come this far. The number of infections has dropped. Let's just finish the job.

LANGDON: Come on. There's been a there's been a lot of anger around it. It must have surprised you a little.

SHORTEN: Well, I was pleased to see that so many people were willing to stick with it. But I'd also say, as you know, we have the federal budget coming up. Now we can have economic recovery not just in Victoria, but for Australia. And I'm keen to see some good measures which help deal with the long queues of unemployed everywhere, including Victoria.

LANGDON: What is more important to you, Bill, with the upcoming budget? Is it extending JobKeeper? Is it spending more? Is it tax cuts?

SHORTEN: Well, I suppose it's some of all. I think the government's made a mistake to penalise pensioners and not increase their pension, which they do every six months, slightly. The increases aren't much, but they make a difference to a pensioner. I also think that we've got to start looking at childcare, more funding for childcare. I mean, a lot of the spending promises, tax cuts and infrastructure are going to favour the blokes, and that's fine. But I think women are missing out in the federal government's economic recovery. And I suspect that a better funded childcare would go an awful long way towards helping a lot of people, including the kids.

LANGDON: Yeah. Would you be on board with that, Gus?

WORLAND: Oh, look, absolutely. I think we've got to share the love. And I know a lot of people are struggling at the moment when it comes to the childcare situation. So, yeah, we need to make sure it's spread right across the board.

LANGDON: Now Gus, let's talk about Sydney, because The Daily Telegraph this morning is calling it a summer bummer. It's the five point plan to keep us COVID-safe during the hot months. So we've got strict social distancing, new flag warnings at beaches and restrictions at pubs and restaurants. I mean, it's going to be a summer like no other, isn't it?

WORLAND: Oh, look, exactly. But this year has been exactly the same. And you can look at everything, Ally and Bill, you know, negatively or positively, and why don't we just say how lucky we are that we can get anything going on and we just got to suck it and see for the time being. So let's not be negative about it. Let's just say, you know what? We can still go to the beach. We can still go and have a swim, have a sunbake, do whatever you want, buy an ice cream. So I mean sure, we might not be able to do it on top of each other, but that's not the worst thing in the world. Let's just enjoy what we've got.

LANGDON: All right. Bill, do you enjoy an ice cream on top of each other? [laughs]

SHORTEN: Oh, I love you Sydney people, there's nothing you won't get up to. I mean, at the moment, we can't go more than five kilometres from our house. So, the idea that you've got to distance by towel, to Victorians, isn't the world's hardest obligation at the moment. What are holidays? We're keen to have one. Anywhere.

LANGDON: Yeah, well, that's it. You know what, though? It's looking very promising for Christmas, isn't it? But we do then have to ask the question, what's going to happen with the borders because the border wars won't go away. And this morning, we've got a group of leading health experts, they've joined the Prime Minister and they've joined leaders in property, retail and hospitality, saying there's no legitimate health reason to keep the borders closed. Bill, the issue here is borders are political, do you think it's likely that the Premiers, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mark McGowan, will listen or budge?

SHORTEN: Well, early on in this pandemic, the Prime Minister handed over the borders to the Premiers. So you sort of can't have it each way. You can't say you make the hard decisions and then I might come in later and contradict you.

LANGDON: But hang on, the Prime Minister never had control of the borders.

SHORTEN: Well, he'd be the first Prime Minister since Federation who’s created six countries in one. So, I do think, it's been a bit convenient, as he's famously said about the bushfires, he doesn't hold the hose. So you know, I'll take with a grain of salt him bagging the Labor Premiers. He doesn't seem to do the same to the Liberal Premiers. People are sick of the politics. We all want the borders taken off. But let's do it when it's safe to do so. There should be common sense, and I think I and 99 percent of people just want to see common sense, balanced with safety. And I think we're heading in the right direction.

LANGDON: Gus, is it time to reopen Australia?

WORLAND: Look, I think we've always said on this show that, you know, let's listen to the health experts. If they say to do something, then we should do it. If they are saying now that there's no health reason to have the borders shut, then let's open them up again. We've always said the health experts are the ones that know what they're talking about. Let's leave politics out of it. So to me, that means open them up.

LANGDON: All right, Gus, you heard it here first. I think actually you've said that a few times, to be honest. Now, I want to finish on this. Do you like the idea of jellyfish and chips? Because researchers at University of Queensland say that's what we may have to get used to as traditional fish stocks run out. So other options, Bill. Urchin and chips, eel and chips, even Patagonian toothfish and chips. Any sound appealing?

SHORTEN: Well, that sounds tasty. I like to have jelly at the end of my meal. I don't want to see my fish plate wobbling. [laughs]

WORLAND: I think anything with chips and a glass of white wine, I'll shove it right down my gullet. No dramas at all.

LANGDON: Okay. That is a challenge that you will now see on the Today Show. Gus Worland eating jellyfish and chips. I don't think that's poisonous, is it?

WORLAND: And the wine as well!

LANGDON: Doesn't even matter.

WORLAND: Gotta be the wine as well. It's a combo.

LANGDON: Oh, good. I’ll provide the wine if you agree to eat jellyfish on air. Bill, what are you going to agree to eat on air for us?

SHORTEN: Sure, I’ll each jellyfish - all for The Today Show, you're going well. So if we've got to eat jellyfish, we’ve got to eat jellyfish

LANGDON: You guys are mad. You're going to regret that.

SHORTEN: Yeah, I’m sure I am too.

LANGDON: Cause I'm gonna hold you to it. While I’m at it, Karl, are you in?

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: No way.

LANGDON: That’s the first time!

SHORTEN: Harden up, Karl.

LANGDON: Gentlemen, always good to chat to you. Look after yourself.

WORLAND: Have a good day.

SHORTEN: Have a good morning.