: PM, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Michael. It's a great day and it's been fantastic to welcome all these Olympians home. Not everyone had a medal around their neck, but every single one of them is worth their weight in gold. They've lifted up our entire nation over the last fortnight and it's a proud day to be the Australian Prime Minister.
ROWLAND: That is so true, it almost brought tears to my eyes - well, it did. Watching those athletes not just return home, but to the loving embrace of their family and friends. It's a great, uplifting national moment, isn't it?
PRIME MINISTER: It certainly is. And we have to remember that behind what can often just be a few minutes on the cycling track or in the pool is many hours, weeks, months and years of work, not just by the athletes themselves, but by their parents, their siblings, their coaches, their volunteers, their local sporting clubs. And that's why we have come together to celebrate these magnificent athletes, but also to give thanks to all those who've made this possible. It has been a real moment, the most successful Olympic team ever. But it's also the character that they've shown, the way that they have engaged in the Olympic spirit, the way they've supported each other. And you can really feel that in talking to the athletes, that sense of pride. And, of course, Anna Meares, as the boss of Chef de Mission, has done, shown incredible leadership, a magnificent cyclist, of course, an Olympian herself. She's led this entire team in such a remarkable fashion.
ROWLAND: I want to get to a couple of news stories in a moment, but before we leave the Olympics, Prime Minister, I guess this question is like asking a parent to choose between their children, but have you got a favourite moment over the last two weeks in Paris?
PRIME MINISTER: I reckon there's a few. Noemie Fox winning the gold and the family all getting excited and diving in, so many moments. And just the wonderful spirit that was there, the Opals, the skateboarders, just admiring the guts that it takes to do the sort of multiple spins when you've got concrete behind you, beneath you, is just amazing. But the entire team, I think, have done us proud. To win a silver medal in the 1500 metres was remarkable as well. But every single one of these athletes has done us proud.
ROWLAND: They've certainly done us proud. Just a couple of news items this morning, Prime Minister breaking, there's been a bit of a debate over refugees fleeing the Gaza war coming to Australia. The Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton. This morning has said no one, no one fleeing the Gaza war should be allowed in Australia. Your views on that?
PRIME MINISTER: That this bloke always seeks to divide, even on, even on a morning like today. You know, we take our advice from the Director General of ASIO and the security agencies, not from someone always looking for a fight, always looking for division.
ROWLAND: To the NAPLAN results, pretty distressing, alarming reading. Confirming one in three Australian kids aren't meeting basic literacy and numeracy standards. One in 10 even need additional support outside the classroom. It is verging on a national disgrace, isn't it, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: We need to do better and that's why we've got multiple billions of dollars on the table for an agreement with the states and territories. That's not just about funding, it's about things like national curriculum and how education is delivered. These are alarming results. We certainly need to do better with state and territory Governments, all have a responsibility. And that's why Jason Clare is leading this at a national level.
ROWLAND: The Government's offered an increase in funding to pay its share of public schooling, school expenses. The states and territories are saying, that's great, but it's not enough. What do you say to them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yeah, there's a lot of money on the table. And when you have those dollars on the table, I just say to state and territory governments, you can always stand back. That always happens where no matter how much money is put forward, they will say it's not enough. The truth is they need to do their share as well. We have agreements with Western Australia and Northern Territory. We look forward to reaching agreements with every other state and territory.
ROWLAND: Ok, let's finish with sport. And in many people's eyes, the sad mix is all too often between sports and gambling advertising. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, as you know, a prominent anti-gambling advocate says, you, Prime Minister, your Government is, in his words, utterly gutless in not proceeding with a national ban, complete ban on gambling advertising. Are you running scared from the gaming companies and the free to air broadcasters?
PRIME MINISTER: What we're doing is working through the issues, particularly with the sporting codes. And here we are today, celebrating the success of sport. We're working through the issues. My Government has done more in two years to restrict gambling than any previous Government has done. More than the previous Government did in its 10 years through measures like BetStop by banning credit card for online gaming as well, so that people aren't just building up debt. We have a range of measures that we've done already. We know there's more to do and we're setting about doing that.
ROWLAND: Why not go to full hog and honour Peta Murphy, your late MP's legacy, your late colleague's legacy, and just ban gambling ads altogether, which is what public health advocates say should be doing too, by the way?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you've always got to work out what the unintended consequences are. Are you banning something here so it -
ROWLAND: What are they?
PRIME MINISTER: So, it just appears. So, it just appears someone else. Are you aware that there's this thing called the internet? And the internet means that people can gamble offshore. That means there are no, much more difficult to put restrictions on. There's a range of issues that you need to deal with, issues which people who look at this in, in a sensible way understand we want to make sure that we deliver further change. We know there's more to do, but as I said, we've already done more in two years than any previous government combined.
ROWLAND: Ok, Prime Minister, we'll leave it there on a happy note. A great day for Australia. Good to see the Olympians come home.
PRIME MINISTER: It is indeed.
ROWLAND: And bring on Brisbane, 2032. Before we go, is it true as a host nation, we get to nominate a new sport? Is it true you reckon AFL should be that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'd be a fair chance, wouldn't we?
ROWLAND: It'd be an unfair advantage. I mean, I love the way you're thinking, but it'd be unfair advantage because no one else plays it.
PRIME MINISTER: Hey, AFL is the national sport of Nauru. There's a fun fact for you.
ROWLAND: Okay, there you go. I look forward to Australia v Nauru day one of the 2032 Olympic Games. PM, as always, thank you for joining us.
PRIME MINISTER: Good on you, Michael.
