PM says it is 'bizarre' media focuses on trivial things, bemoans 'clickbait culture' (2025)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sat down with The Examiner editor Craig Thomson in the final week of the election campaign. The PM discussed preparing fully costed policies for early voting, why he thinks it is 'bizarre' for the media to focus on trivial matters rather than policy analysis, and why he frequently visits Tasmania. Mr Albanese also talked about legacy Labor reforms like universal childcare, our relationship with Trump's USA, trade with China, housing infrastructure, and why bipartisan cooperation with Tasmania's Premier gets better outcomes and is in the national interest.

There is a voting period now rather than a voting day. Should political parties adapt and have all policies fully costed and released before the pre-poll begins?

I think you do have to get most of your policies out there, and that's what we've done. Our first election announcement was in October last year in Adelaide on education, followed by childcare in Brisbane in December, and then further skills policy at the National Press Club in January. Before the election was called, we launched our major Medicare policy in Launceston. All of those were fully costed and included in our budget on March 25th. We also released our costings before the pre-poll opened. There are minor announcements with attached costings that we are releasing this week. The truth is voting has changed permanently-people will vote early. I expect up to a million voted last Saturday alone.

Do you think it's contemptuous to voters not to have everything ready by the time pre-polling begins?

You've got to get things out there early, and that's certainly what we've done. All our major policies have been released early and fully costed.

What do you think of the state of political discourse in this country, like when falling off a stage becomes more important than discussing policy?

Yeah, I think it's bizarre. Some of the trivialities concentrated on are just a product of clickbait culture, which has an impact. But we've put forward really serious policies: Medicare reform, changes to student debt, income tax cuts. That's what I want to talk about-economic, social, and environmental policy.

A lot has been made of the house you purchased with your fiancé. If you are re-elected, do you plan on serving the entire term?

Yes, absolutely.

So you're not going to do a handover to anyone during the term?

No. I think it's in the national interest to have continuity. Australia's last seven elections produced seven different prime ministers. I'm enjoying the privilege and have a great team. Three years is so short - many countries have four or five-year terms.

Is it possible to look at extending parliamentary terms to four years?

That would require a referendum, which was defeated under the Hawke government. The Coalition's default position tends to be "no." In most countries, it's at least four. In some, it's five, the UK, for example. I feel like three years is almost like half a term. We're not proposing any referendums in the next term, though I do think it's sensible reform.

Even with Trump's unpredictability, you've said you trust the U.S. as an ally. How do you think that relationship should be managed? Should we leverage security? What about other proposals, such as removing U.S. access to Pine Gap?

We shouldn't leverage defence relationships for trade or economic issues. Defence and security partnerships with the U.S. are in Australia's national interest. But we should always stand up for our own interests, whether it's our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, media bargaining code, or national security. I disagree with Trump on tariffs; I think they're economic self-harm. They hurt U.S. consumers more than they help their industries.

Tariffs are active economic self-harm that the United States is engaged in. Australia should stand up for its own interests, and we will do so. Now, if the United States chooses to continue to impose tariffs, that will hurt them more than it will hurt us. It will hurt their consumers. There aren't more steel and aluminium producers in the United States today than two months ago before the tariffs were introduced. All that's happened is that U.S. consumers and buyers are paying more for those products.

How do you respond to commentary suggesting that Australia is "unfriendly" to the U.S. when, for example, we export more beef to China?

That doesn't put Australia's national interest first. That's what I'm doing. Wherever there's a void, we should fill it. For example, when China had trade impediments with Australia, the relationship broke down under the former Morrison government; the United States stepped in and sold its beef to China. It is not my government's position that the United States can pressure Australia into not trading with China; that's not our position. Our position is to seek to advance our national interests and support our farmers, producers, manufacturers, and resources sector. We'll stand up for our own interests.

That commentary doesn't prioritise Australia's national interest. When China imposed trade impediments on the Morrison Coalition government, the U.S. stepped in and sold its beef. There's no reason we shouldn't do the same. We'll always stand up for our farmers, producers, manufacturers, and resource sector by exporting to China or anywhere else we can.

You visit Tasmania quite frequently. Why is that?

Yes, I've visited more than 20 times as Prime Minister, but I've been coming since 1986. I love the culture here. It's a relaxed and friendly state with beautiful natural environments, great people, food, and experiences. I also enjoy holidaying here.

Do you think Labor is in a good position to flip Tassie-specifically Bass and Braddon?

Yes, both are winnable. We've got fantastic candidates: Jess Teesdale is a powerhouse young teacher who is deeply committed to her community. Ann Urquhart has shown courage in moving from the Senate to run in Braddon. She's passionate about jobs and the economy, especially in the North West and West Coast. She'd be an outstanding member of the House of Reps.

What about Lyons?

Rebecca White is an outstanding candidate. She'll make an enormous difference and is a future Cabinet Minister. She knows her community well, and since the state and federal boundaries align, she's already represented much of the electorate in state parliament.

What's something bold you want to do as Prime Minister if re-elected with a majority - like Hawke and Keating floating the dollar?

I want to move toward universal, affordable childcare and entrench and strengthen Medicare. Affordable childcare, being universal, will make an enormous difference and with the work we've done here, funding for Launceston Hospital, and the work we've done on tripling the bulk billing incentive. It's no accident that we launched the Medicare policy here in Launceston because it has been such an issue here.

However, we are also living through the most significant transformation in the global economy since the Industrial Revolution. Tasmania, which is powered by renewables now with hydro, can do even more and can be more than 100 per cent renewable with projects like Marinus Link and the opportunity that's there as well to grow manufacturing connected with the clean energy transformation. I think it is very exciting that it is already powered by renewables, but with projects like Marinus Link, it could exceed 100 per cent renewable energy and expand clean-energy manufacturing, very exciting opportunities.

On housing: Many people say that even when new homes are built, the infrastructure isn't in place to make those areas livable. Does your policy address that?

Yes, it does. We've had two rounds of the Housing Infrastructure Fund, which works with local government and not-for-profits to deliver water connections, sewage, roads, and other essentials. On top of that, we have community infrastructure programs to support social infrastructure like sporting fields and community halls-to improve quality of life.

Final question: You seem to have a good relationship with the Tasmanian Premier despite being from different parties. Should this be more common in politics? No matter the political divide, work to get things done for constituents.

I hope so. I've worked constructively with Premier Jeremy Rockliff. We have a good personal relationship-we can have private discussions that stay private. That has helped deliver things like the $120 million Launceston Hospital upgrade and $65 million for UTAS Stadium. I've always worked well with all levels of government - state, local, and federal - because people want outcomes. That's something I'm determined to deliver.

Peter Dutton's Tasmanian media representative was approached for an interview.