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Anthony Albanese has admitted he doesn’t know how much it costs everyday Australians to fill up with gas, just days after admitting he doesn’t know what’s in the full version of the Uluru statement from the heart.
The prime minister was asked about basic costs following a major speech at the PLA National Conference, where he said the cost of living was his government’s number one priority.
“Can you tell me roughly what the price of gas is right now? asked Sky News host Andrew Clennell.
“Well, I’m not going to fill up my car. But it was around $1.80 last time,” the Prime Minister replied.
Anthony Albanese has admitted he doesn’t know how much it costs everyday Australians to fill up with gas
Mr Albanese’s response was reminiscent of his predecessor Scott Morrison, who was unable to say how much essential groceries, such as bread or petrol, cost when asked at the National Press Club.
Former Prime Minister John Howard, whom Mr Morrison considered a mentor, was being asked the same question.
To avoid tripping, Mr. Howard carried with him a piece of paper outlining the running costs of bread, milk and other staples.
The average weekly price of unleaded petrol fell 196.5 cents per liter last week, according to data from the Australian Petroleum Institute.
Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart recorded an average weekly price of over $2 per litre, while Brisbane had the cheapest price of 188.2 cents per litre.
Motorists are unlikely to see any relief at the pumps in the coming weeks as the falling 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 problems at the pump.
“We must continue to do what we can to reduce the pressure on inflation,” he said.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the government’s budget in May did not sufficiently address the challenge of inflation.
“This government must show real moderation in spending. And you have to stop doing things that make it worse,” he told Sky News.
Mr Albanese’s high-profile Sky News interview came just days after he presented his re-election pitch at the ALP’s National Conference and unveiled a new slogan – ‘Working for Australia’.
Motorists are unlikely to see any relief at the pumps in the coming weeks as the falling Australian dollar and global oil prices remain extremely volatile (stock image)
Mr Albanese’s extraordinary admission comes after he revealed he had failed to read the additional pages of meeting briefings, notes and background which led to Uluru’s statement from the heart was ridiculed and incredulous
The prime minister hinted at a 2025 election when asked if he intended to stay on for another full term if re-elected.
“Absolutely,” he said Sunday.
“Politics can change quickly. And we take nothing for granted, and certainly not the next election for granted.
“This conference has been an important step and prepares us for the 2025 campaign and beyond.”
Mr Albanese’s extraordinary admission comes after he revealed he had failed to read the additional pages of meeting briefings, notes and background which led to Uluru’s statement from the heart was ridiculed and incredulous.
Mr Albanese has repeatedly pledged to implement the declaration “in its entirety”, upholding the three pillars born out of the dialogues around Australia in 2017: voice, treaty, truth.
It has since been revealed that there is a detailed 26-page explanation of the declaration which calls for reparations, ‘rent’ to be paid, a review of land rights and a rewriting of Australian history .
These arguments were not included in the final statement, but critics fear these are matters the voice of Parliament will wish to pursue.
The Prime Minister was asked if he ‘agrees with most of what is said in these pages’ during a lengthy interview with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on Wednesday.
To the radio host’s surprise, Mr Albanese revealed that he had not read it.
“I haven’t read it,” he said. ‘There are 120 pages, why would I?
“I know what the conclusion is. The Heart Uluru Statement is one page long. This is the conclusion.
The revelation sparked outrage from Jacinta Price who accused the Prime Minister of campaigning for a voice and pushing a vote ‘on something he doesn’t understand’.
While official Uluru statement from the heart is only one page and calls for “voice, treaty, truth”, an extended 26-page document also calls for reparations, “rent” to be paid, reconsideration of rights land and a re-writing of Australian history.
Critics of the referendum fear that Mr Albanese’s “vow” to present the document in its entirety could also include parts of the extended document.
Mr Albanese admitted on Wednesday that he had not read the full document during an interview with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, saying: ‘There are 120 pages, why should I (read it)?’