DAN TAYLOR, HOST: It's Dan and Christie for Breakfast and it's Australia's 31st Prime Minister joining us for a very special occasion. Anthony Albanese, good morning.
ISSY ROLDAN, HOST: Morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. It is a superb day in Hobart.
TAYLOR: Yeah. And you're hanging out with the Danish King and Queen. How good is that?
PRIME MINISTER: I am indeed. And I know that Queen Mary is very much looking forward to her visit, but so is King Frederik. They're delightful people. Jodie and I had them to dinner at the Lodge in Canberra on Monday night. They were fantastic company. They're very humble. They're very down to earth. And I know they're looking forward to spending some time in Tasmania looking at industry and art and culture and everything. It's also about just connecting with people and they're doing everything from kicking footies to going to events.
TAYLOR: I did see that. How's that reception been? Because I think she should be recruited to the Tasmanian Devils for the AFLW after that mighty right foot. That went like 80 metres and it was a torpedo straight through the big sticks, wasn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: It was pretty extraordinary. It's a great photo, but that says something about their character. They're just delightful to spend some time with, and I'm sure they'll connect with Tasmanians and get a great welcome.
ROLDAN: Mr Prime Minister, we've been talking a little bit about the rising fuel costs on the show lately. What's happening on the political level to navigate this in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: We're having a meeting just in a couple of hours of the National Cabinet. And what that does is bring together all of the premiers and chief ministers and the national government to make sure that we're doing everything we can to coordinate distribution and to make sure as well we put that downward pressure on prices that have risen. This is a global issue arising out of the war. I think people understand that it's happening right around the world, but that doesn't alleviate the pressure that people are under due to these rising prices. So, we've empowered the consumer watchdog to protect motorists from unfair price rises. We've doubled the penalties for any abuse of market power. We're putting more fuel into the system as well by releasing some of the reserves as well as changing some of the fuel standards so that some of the fuel that we were only exporting and not using here can be used here as well. We're working with our partners around the world from destinations of where our fuel comes from. And importantly, for your listeners, there's been no reduction in fuel supply. This is just this massive spike in demand caused by people being concerned they won't have access. The fuel supplies are secure here in Australia. There's been not a single ship that was supposed to dock here in the last three weeks - they've all come, the supply is there, but clearly because of some of the issues of behaviour, including people going along and filling up jerrycans and putting them in their garages or their properties, that doesn't make sense. It's also not safe. So, we want to make sure as well that we reassure the public, need to address that.
TAYLOR: Absolutely. Supply chains, inflation, fuel prices. You've got a lot on your plate right now.
PRIME MINISTER: We do indeed.
TAYLOR: We do indeed. You do think about the future and Free TAFE is a big thing for me. The skills, the confidence, the pathway into apprenticeships. Prime Minister, were you ever a chippy or a sparky or did you get yourself a forklift licence or were you a bog doctor, like a dunny diver, a plumber or anything like that?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, I wasn't. I didn't have the skills to do that. I did used to drive a little forklift occasionally when I worked at Grace Brothers. It doesn't exist anymore. In the supermarket and filling shelves and carrying pallets and all of that while I was a student. But I tell you what, the TAFE students I met yesterday in Burnie were just fantastic. I mean, these are people who are undertaking Free TAFE. They wouldn't have done it without it being free. They're getting their Cert II that will then feed into their next level if they then go on to get an apprenticeship. Free TAFE has really helped, as well as in services as well. I've met on previous visits to TAFEs here in Hobart, I've seen people in the care sector undertaking nursing or early education as well going into that qualification to have a good career.
ROLDAN: Mr Prime Minister, always so good to talk to you. Before you go, the Matildas are in the Asian Cup Final. Where are you going to be cheering them on for this Saturday?
PRIME MINISTER: It is most unfortunate that my diary is often a nightmare. And when I watched the China semi-final and that -- well, two amazing goals, but Sam Kerr's goal to secure victory and passage to the Final was just wonderful. And so, a great, proud West Australian doing it on home turf as well. And so, I have a dinner. I'll be giving a speech at some stage on Saturday night in Melbourne. So, I won't be -- if I was in Sydney, I certainly would be going to the game, but I really look forward to Saturday night. And go the Tillies.
TAYLOR: Go the Tillies. Appreciate your time on the Dan & Christie Show with Issy this morning. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks guys.