Politics

Leigh Sales grills Anthony Albanese on Labor’s plan to fix ‘unforgivable neglect’ of aged care

Apr 01, 2022

Leigh Sales grills Anthony Albanese about his budget proposal. Source: Getty Images

ABC‘s Leigh Sales has taken Anthony Albanese to task on her 7:30 program regarding his budget proposal, asking if it was just “a lot of aspirational sentences”.

On Thursday night, March 31, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese used his budget presentation to pledge a fix to the aged care sector.

Albanese promised $2.5 billion to the abandoned sector to go towards at least one registered nurse on duty at all times, better food for residents and pay rises to meet the demand from aged care workers.

Albanese’s speech left out policy costs and declined to divulge wage increases for sectors outside of aged care, however, he insisted the detailed budget plan is publicly available and fully costed.

Albanese defended his budget pitch, saying there was “enormous detail there” for the time that was permitted to him to present.

“I had half an hour. If I could have three hours I would go through the lot,” he said.

It’s time to bring dignity back to aged care. Only a Labor Government can do it. pic.twitter.com/qSZs1VAI3Y

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 31, 2022

When asked by Sales if Australia could judge his ability to lead based off pay rises, Albanese said he was only concerned with the wage increase of “vulnerable workers”.

“Well, with respect I’m not so concerned about all of us, in terms of you or me,” Albanese said.

“I certainly am prepared to be judged on whether aged care workers get a pay rise. Absolutely.”

Sales was also due to interview Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday, March 29, in preparation for the upcoming election in May, however, he pulled out just hours before the interview was set to go ahead.

The Prime Minister has withdrawn from tonight’s planned #abc730 interview and will instead join me next Tuesday night.

— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) March 30, 2022