Transcript - Interview with Allison Langdon, Channel 9 Today Show

ALLISON LANGDON:         
 
Yeah, look, we thought we'd give you a bit of Eminem this Friday morning because Eminem's got a message, I think, for the men battling to be our next PM: don't blow your big shot. And that would certainly have been on the minds of both candidates this week as they faced uncomfortable confrontations with members of the public. And for more, we're joined by Minister for Employment, Stuart Robert, and Triple M's, Gus Worland, who was rocking away to that here in the studio. I like. The man can move. Hey, Stuart, we are being a bit cheeky this Friday morning, but the PM says he's going to continue to meet real people. It is a high risk strategy though, isn't it, given what we've seen this week?
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
Well, it's an honest strategy. If we're going to stand for government and if we're going to say to the Australian people that we're here to provide leadership and guidance, we should make every opportunity to connect with Australian people. And I spend a lot of time with the Prime Minister, as you'd expect, and he does a lot of that. And sometimes it gets a little interesting, a little willing out there. The only message I'd have for Australians is by all means, come up and have a chat. Just be respectful. That's all we ask. Otherwise, we're going to be there chatting with everyone.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:         
 
I mean, Gus, the streets can be a mean place as we know. And, look, we saw Albo, he had some of his own problems too. He refused to take a question from a member of the public at a media conference in Perth. He looked as uncomfortable as the PM did, I guess.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Yes, I think even more uncomfortable, to be honest with you. He just should’ve taken that question. You know, the thing about Albo, he’s been able to play a straight bat and not play any shots over the last couple of months and just watch stuff unfold with the government. The one opportunity he has to sort of stand up and talk to a member of the public, who had permission from the press corps, just should’ve said, whatever you want mate, because we need to hear from him because at the moment he's saying nothing.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Yeah. And look, Stuart, I mean, I like this idea of not shying away from fronting the public as we- as the PM has stressed this week. But when it then hijacks the story and it becomes a headline rather than whatever policy announcement he's making, he may change his mind if this happens too often, right?
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
No, the Prime Minister won't change his mind. He loves everyday Australians. It's the great thing about him, and you should see him at the footy when he connects and chats with everyone. In terms of politicking, it's about getting out and about, hearing from Australians, selling our message, our economic message, our message of very high economic growth, of low unemployment, about opportunity. You can only do that, Ali, if you're out and about pressing the flesh and it's going to get willing, there’s going to be some really interesting moments, that's political life, really.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
I mean, that's the thing, Gus, isn't it? There is a lot of emotion. I think there's frustration and anger over a whole bunch of stuff that's happened over the last two years. Some of it directed at Scott Morrison, perhaps fair. A lot of it, too, outside of his control.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Yeah, exactly right. And I think as a general public, we like to see politicians under fire a little bit to show us how they sort of move and groove. And I mean, they're intelligent men and women who’re out there doing- making really important decisions. So if they can't cop a pensioner having a go and take the emotion out and actually answer it, well, perhaps they're not the right person for the job. So good on the PM and I hope Albo does the same. He should be better than he was the other day. He should answer the questions that people want asking.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Yeah. I mean, I'm with you. I like it when the pollies groove.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Yeah.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Hey, look, one of the big issues to this campaign is going to be the economy. And this morning there are reports that we're braced for at least four post-election rate rises in just six months. I mean, Gus, many people, as we know, they're already overstretched. And our housing market, right, saw the highest growth on the planet, equal only with Turkey in the past year.
 
GUS WORLAND:     
 
[Interrupts] Yeah.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
I mean, that's a fun fact. What impact do you reckon it’s going to have, four potential rate rises in six months?
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Oh, look, it's going to be a nightmare for us because we've been sitting there with these really low rates for so long and managing things quite well. We've had the last couple of years and we feel like we're coming out of it, and then something like this comes and hits you. So at some stage it had to bounce back. It was bouncing back in other parts of the world and we're normally a little bit behind, but we get there. So, yeah, it's going to be a tough time for Australians, especially who stretch themselves with their first home buy.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
That's it, Stuart. I mean, a lot of people, they spend as much as they could on that first home. We're seeing house prices dip a little bit. Are voters being misled about the state of our economy?
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
No, not at all. The economy grew almost five per cent last year, it’ll grow four per cent this year, Ali. It's why our focus is on jobs and giving people opportunity. Things will move around in the economy. You're seeing price moves in petrol, although it's $1.57 when I drove here this morning, courtesy to the excise drop. But a war in Europe, who would’ve thought. It's extraordinary. The key thing is a strong economy and over the next six weeks, we'll be talking about that because that's essential for Australians. And of course…
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
[Interrupts] But Stuart, I mean, a lot of people are financially stressed and if you have four rate rises, I mean, that's going to break a lot of people.
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
It's why our focus is on skilling Australians and getting them into jobs, Ali. Unemployment at four per cent coming down. What that means is anyone who wants a job can get one. The best form of getting ahead is a job. In the next six weeks we're going to talk about that and we're going to put forward our view why we're the best political party to get Australians and keep them into a job because there are challenges ahead.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
A lot of people would say it's getting a job and getting a pay rise, or at least getting one that matches what inflation is. But how good’s this, right? 100,000 people in Melbourne today enjoying the Grand Prix weekend. Gus, I mean, it's awesome, isn't it? And I love how many women are getting behind it this year.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Exactly right. And I reckon Drive to Survive, that show on Netflix, has got so many people involved because you get to know the drivers, get to know the owners, get to know all the personalities. So people are, like, now saying, how’d that guy go? You know, that guy who had the argument with that guy? Like, so people may not absolutely love the racing, but it's now a bit like the horse racing. You can glam up, the weather's been nice down there, have a champagne and, again, I was at a venue the other day to have a drink with someone without a mask and actually to be able to hug people as you arrive and stuff. Like, we're getting back to some sort of normal. So all these big events are even more special now because the last couple of years, of course, have been so tough.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Yeah, absolutely. It's just good to see people out and about.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Yeah.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
And I love that Drive to Survive. It's been a great show. And, look, just very quickly, because this story’s about as Aussie as it comes, right? I want you to take a look at these beauties. The Volley sneakers now with their very own mallets. I mean, Stuart, this is exactly the fashion statement our pollies need to be making. You could be a trendsetter here.
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
I'll cut you a deal, Ali, because clearly I can't grow a mullet. I think we can all assume that the mullet’s not going on top. But if Channel Nine throws some shekels to the Black Dog Institute, I'll wear them for a day. I'll campaign throughout the Gold Coast wearing my mullet Volleys.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Make it a week mate and you’ve got a deal.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Yeah.
 
[Laughter]
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
Gussie? I mean, this makes so much sense, right?
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
It's- totally, two fantastic icons altogether. It's absolutely fantastic and good on the Minister for saying that. We should be having a bit of fun at the moment and good on the Volleys for getting out there and doing it.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
All right. And I just got word in my ear too, Stuart, the boss says that's a deal. So we're done. You're wearing those for a week and we're getting behind you.
 
MINISTER ROBERT:
 
Outstanding. It's all about the Volleys and the mullet.
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
You got it.
 
ALLISON LANGDON:
 
And raising money for a great, great cause. Brilliant. Nice to see you both, enjoy your weekend, won’t you?
 
GUS WORLAND:
 
Thank, Ali. See you.