‘Respect': Anthony Albanese stamps new-found authority in first press conference since election

News.com.au

05-05-2025

There's a new sheriff in town.
The Prime Minister has made it clear in his first press conference since his election victory that he plans to make some changes in the political ecosystem.
And that starts with channelling Aretha Franklin and demanding some R-E-S-P-E-C-T for his government and the parliament.
Stamping his new authority in the job, Mr Albanese walked out into the Prime Ministerial courtyard just after noon today declaring his first priority was providing HECS relief to younger voters.
But perhaps more intriguing was a mood shift as he bounced reporters for being disrespectful.
He made it clear he would still be talking to the independents and the crossbench despite his massive majority if they had 'good ideas.'
'I do want to thank the Australian people for the very clear mandate they have given my government,'' he said.
'I promised to be a prime minister for all Australians, those who voted Labor, and those who didn't. And hope to earn the trust of the Australian people on an ongoing basis.
'We are deeply humbled by the result on Saturday. And we don't take a second
of it for granted. The hard work will continue today.'
Mr Albanese said he wanted to make Labor 'the natural party of government' and that it depended on delivering results.
'But also effectively engaging with business and engaging with civil society, so that we can make what is the best country on earth even better in the future,'' he said.
'I am genuinely so optimistic that if we get this decade right, we can set Australia up for the decades ahead.'
Mr Albanese said he would consult with colleagues about forming a frontbench.
'I make this point. I treated people with respect. My door is open to members of any political party, or none, who are elected as members of the House of Representatives or the Senate. They all deserve to be treated with respect,'' he said.
'If people have good ideas, we're up for hearing them.'
'We are overflowing with talent. That's the truth.
'We have so many people who you could put forward. It's one of the things the Australian people saw during this election campaign.
'Half of the shadow cabinet, you know, when I was sitting on the bus with you fine folk, or in – had you on the plane, I sometimes would do a little trivia quiz of what is person X's portfolio, a shadow minister, and none of you knew. We have an incredibly talented team.'
But asked about 'a rumour' that Tanya Plibersek could go to the NDIS portfolio, Mr Albanese wasn't having it.
'That's just nonsense, as you were told yesterday,'' he told the reporter.
'People have got to stop. The only person who knows is me. You were told by my office yesterday that it was nonsense.'
As the reporter tried to interject, Mr Albanese stopped him so that he could continue.
'The words are coming out, mate. With respect.'
'I respect the caucus. I respect the caucus. But I say to all of you, if you hear something, it is – unless it comes out of my mouth, it is nonsense. And you know, you were told that yesterday.'
Asked what his first order item was Mr Albanese said it was all about cutting HECS debts.
'20% cut in student debt. As I promised,'' he said.
'I'm very confident we have a mandate for that. We can't have been clearer. If the Senate gets in the way of that, then they'll receive the same response the housing spokespeople for the Liberal Party and the Greens got on Saturday.'
Mr Albanese is referring to the fact that the Liberal's housing spokesman Michael Sukkar and the Greens Housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather lost their seats in Victoria and Queensland respectively.
'My job is to govern effectively. I'm proud of course of leading the Labor Party, that I make no pretence that I'm anything other than an absolute Labor loyalist, I
came out of the womb, Labor, I will go in the ground Labor when it's all over,'' he said.
'I'm loyal. But I also treat people with respect.
'One of the reasons why – as leader of the house, I treated crossbenchers with respect.'
He then had a go at the media for the controversy over the time he invited the independents to the Lodge.
'The frenzy that was there, because I invited crossbenchers to the Lodge, with respect, frankly, get a bit of maturity about you,'' he told reporters.
'Seriously. They were entitled to be treated with respect. That's what I did. That's what I will continue to do. Thank you very much.'
And with that, the Prime Minister bounced out of the courtyard, after a waffle-free press conference.