Radio interview - Nova Adelaide

JODIE ODDY, HOST: Now I need you to straighten up for me and be on your best behaviour because this is quite possibly the most important guest that we've ever had on the Jodie and Hayesy Show.

ANDREW HAYES, HOST: It's Jason Horne-Francis.

ODDY: Very, very- higher than Jason.

HAYES: Oh my god.

ODDY: I know, you never thought it was possible. Please say a very good morning to our Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Albanese. How are you?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I'm very well. Thanks for having me on the program.

ODDY: Well, thank you for coming to South Australia and doing all things the North South Corridor.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a fantastic announcement yesterday with the Premier Peter Malinauskas. A $15.4 billion project. South Australia's biggest ever infrastructure project, to finally complete the North South Corridor. It will be a fantastic project. It'll boost jobs, it'll take away 21 sets of traffic lights. It will make the journey north-south 40 minutes shorter. If you take 40 minutes off people's travel time, you're boosting productivity and of course, also you're boosting road safety.

ODDY: Well, Prime Minister, we've come a very long way because I'm not sure if you're aware, but for a very long time down south we had a one-way freeway.

PRIME MINISTER: I am certainly aware.

ODDY: I've long wondered who was in that meeting that signed off on that one-way freeway. Can you confirm or deny that you were actually part of that committee? That said 'yes, let's go for it'.

PRIME MINISTER: I certainly wasn't there. It was a source of a good trivia quiz, I've got to say. Where is there a one-way freeway that then turns around the opposite way in the afternoon?

HAYES: Nowhere else on this planet.

PRIME MINISTER: Pretty unique.

HAYES: Prime Minister that that is unique, and probably more unique is our new national hero and that is Raygun. Rachael Gunn. Taking breaking to the next level. Your immediate thoughts on our newest hero?

PRIME MINISTER: That she had a crack and the Olympics is all about participation and having a go, doing your best and representing your country. She did all of that. I think some of the criticism that she's copped- there's been a bit of a pile on, which I think is really unfair. Good on her for having a go and wearing a trackie while you're doing it. I mean, how Australian is that?

ODDY: Well, yes. It was long associated with former Prime Ministers. I don't think I've ever seen you going out for a morning walk in your full green and gold trackie, though?

PRIME MINISTER: No, no one wants to see that.

HAYES: Different party. That was the John Howard era. Now you've progressed and gone in a different direction, and that's fine.

PRIME MINISTER: It's also a bit cold for really early morning walks in Canberra, I've got to say, during winter. I do like to get fit when I can and I walk the dog around Canberra here. The sad thing about that is that everyone says hello to Toto because they all know her and they just sort of ignore me, really, you know, that's the Australian way. That's the great thing about Canberra. No one worries about seeing the PM. It's just like, ah, there he is.

HAYES: That's the great leveller, isn't it? Just to make sure that your feet stay grounded. Hey, we were talking off-air Prime Minister, about the idea, we're fascinated by just how incredibly our athletes have performed over at Paris. Do you send texts, or in any situation, do you send texts to athletes after they've won a gold medal or won a grand final?

ODDY: How does it work?

PRIME MINISTER: I do send some messages and I had FaceTime with the athletes the other day who had finished their courses, or in some cases, the couple of boxers who were about to compete in their semi finals, so they hadn't finished yet. We had a really good chat and a shout out. I'm so looking forward to welcoming them home at 7:00 am. on Wednesday, they get back to Sydney. Some of them will hang about and I suspect, have some fun in Europe, which is most deserved after their efforts. It's been pretty extraordinary. They've done us proud, and they have brought us joy and excitement. I think Australians have been invested in it as well and it has been really uplifting for the whole nation.

ODDY: We were very invested in Jess Trengove winning the marathon halfway through. Don't worry, she's a good South Australian girl and we love her. Prime Minister, thank you so much for your time this morning. We really appreciate it.

PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. Have a lovely day.

ODDY: You too. And say hi to Toto for us.

PRIME MINISTER: Will do.

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