Anthony Albanese has admitted he doesn’t know how much it costs ordinary Australians to fill a tank of petrol just days after admitting he didn’t know what was in the full version of the Uluru Statement from the Heart
The Prime Minister was asked about basic costs after a key speech at the ALP National Conference where he said the cost of living was the number one priority for his government.
“Can you tell me what the price of gasoline is at the moment?” Sky News presenter Andrew Clennell asked.
“Well, I’m not going to fill up my car. But last time it was around $1.80,” the prime minister replied.
Anthony Albanese has admitted he doesn’t know how much it costs ordinary Australians to fill up a tank of petrol
Mr. Albanese’s answer was reminiscent of his predecessor Scott Morrison, who could not say exactly how many essential groceries, such as bread or gasoline, were asked by the National Press Club.
Former Prime Minister John Howard, who regarded Mr Morrison as a mentor, used to be asked the same question.
To avoid tripping, Mr. Howard always carried a piece of paper on which the running costs of bread, milk, and other household items were listed.
According to data from the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the average weekly price for unleaded petrol was 196.5 cents per liter last week.
Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart recorded an average weekly price of more than $2 per litre, while Brisbane had the cheapest price at 188.2 cents per litre.
Motorists are unlikely to see any relief at the pump in the coming weeks as the fall in the Australian dollar and global oil prices remain extremely volatile.
Mr Albanese said the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact of inflation continued to cause pump pain.
“We must continue to do what we can to reduce inflationary pressures,” he said.
Motorists are unlikely to see relief at the pump in the coming weeks as the fall in the Australian dollar and global oil prices remain extremely volatile (stock image)
Simon Birmingham, opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, said the government’s May budget had not adequately addressed the inflation challenge.
“This government really needs to cut spending. And it has to stop doing things that make things worse,” he told Sky News.
Mr Albanese’s extensive interview on Sky News came just days after he outlined his re-election pitch to the ALP National Conference and unveiled a new slogan: ‘Working for Australia’.
The prime minister hinted at an election in 2025 when asked if he planned to stay on for another full term if he returned to power.
“Absolutely,” he said on Sunday.
Politics can change quickly. And we don’t take anything for granted, certainly not the next election.
“This conference was an important step and prepared us for the 2025 campaign and beyond.”
Mr. Albanese’s extraordinary admission comes after he revealed that he had not read the additional pages of briefings, notes and context leading up to the Uluru statement of the heart, and was met with derision and disbelief.
Mr. Albanese’s extraordinary admission comes after he revealed he had not read the extra pages of briefings, notes and context leading up to the Uluru statement of the heart, and was met with derision and disbelief.
Mr Albanese has repeatedly vowed to implement the declaration ‘fully’, arguing for all three pillars that emerged from the dialogues in Australia in 2017: voice, treaty, truth.
It has since been revealed that there is an in-depth 26-page explanation of the statement calling for reparations, the payment of ‘rent’, a rethinking of land rights and a rewriting of Australia’s history.
These arguments were not included in the final statement, but critics are concerned that they will be topics that the Voice to Parliament will want to pursue.
The Prime Minister was asked if he “agrees with most of what is said in those pages” during a lengthy sit-down interview with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell this week.
To the surprise of the radio host, Mr. Albanese revealed that he had not read it.
“I haven’t read it,” he said. ‘There are 120 pages, why should I?
‘I know what the conclusion is. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is one page. That’s the conclusion.’