‘Potential for backlash’: Abbie Chatfield’s massive admission in Anthony Albanese interview
The media personality acknowledged her confession has “the potential for backlash” during an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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Abbie Chatfield has made a major admission that has “the potential for backlash” during an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as Australia waits on him to call the federal election.
In the latest episode of her podcast, It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, the media personality sat down with Mr Albanese for a wide-ranging, 90-minute discussion that addressed everything from his perception as a “weak” leader to Labor’s actions on cost of living, climate change, the rights of First Nation’s people and his relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Chatfield, who has never skirted around her political leanings, issued a lengthy disclaimer at the beginning of the episode, heading off critics at the pass that the conversation could be seen as “biased” – because, she acknowledged, “it is”.
“I wanted to make sure that I represented the views of my listeners who are predominantly Greens voters, I believe, or a bit further left than Labor,” she said.
“I understand that people have issues with Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government. I completely understand that.”
Though Chatfield’s approach was to present the Prime Minister with criticisms that have been made of him or the ALP “and then let him answer and reply”, her “primary goal in this is to get Labor back into government”.
“If you’re thinking ‘this is so biased’ – it is biased,” she said.
“It certainly isn’t a perfect conversation, just as the Labor Party isn’t a perfect party. But I do prefer the Labor Party over the Liberal Party.”
She added that the scope of topics to discuss within a limited amount of time precluded her ability to “debate him” – saying that it “wasn’t because I didn’t want to”.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t want to prove him wrong. It was just a timing thing,” Chatfield said.
“And it also didn’t feel very productive to get into a back and forth about topics that we disagree on.”
“Before anyone accuses me of getting paid by the Labor Party”, Chatfield joked, Greens leader Adam Bandt would also be interviewed on It’s A Lot in the coming weeks.
“So this definitely wasn’t a … I don’t believe it was biased because I don’t want Dutton in,” she continued.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had also been invited onto the podcast, but “he won’t do it”.
“We tried (former Liberal Prime Minister) Malcolm Turnbull – he’s too busy. I’m going, come on, Liberal boys,” she said.
“But yeah, that’s my disclaimer, I guess. I just want people to understand where I’m coming from, because I know that there is potential for a lot of backlash in me being polite or kind to the Prime Minister.
“And I understand that. I’m not saying that that is silly … I do think, though, we have to be realistic with this election. It’s very, very close. It’s too close to be spending my time debating the Prime Minister and berating him when what I want to do is question him on things that worry me and worry you and let him answer and move on to the next topic.”
The federal election is due by May 17, with the election date dominating the political agenda in recent weeks.
Questioned by Chatfield about “an idea going around the internet – and it makes me shiver to my bones – that Mr Dutton is strong and you are a weak leader”, the Prime Minister took at his opposition.
“I will say, I asked him on the podcast, he said no. That’s all I’m going to say,” Chatfield said.
“Well, you know, that’s the thing. Being strong isn’t only doing longform interviews with … essentially the cheer squad. So he doesn’t front up to interviews,” Mr Albanese responded.
“He is always prepared, his whole history of his engagement in politics has been essentially attacking people who are more vulnerable, who aren’t in a position to fight back, whether it be talking about Lebanese migration being wrong, talking about people who can’t go out in Melbourne because of African gangs, the way that he has engaged with immigration issues.
“That’s not tough, it’s not tough to attack people who aren’t in a position to fight back. That’s weak from my perspective.”
Mr Albanese insisted that if he remains Prime Minister, his government will continue “to do work on climate change, to address gender equality as a core component of our policy, creating opportunity for people through education, strengthening Medicare, taking action on all of those measures”.
Chatfield also questioned Mr Albanese on his relationship with the US President – and whether Australians “should be scared” Donald Trump is back in the White House.
“I have a kind of a personal nosy girl question. The call with Trump, what happened?” she began.
“I’m dying to know … When you call, what number are you dialling? Don’t give us an actual number, (but) did you call the White House? Did you call his mobile? Is it a landline?”
While acknowledging the pair “have a different political perspective, obviously”, Mr Albanese said he had a “good discussion of about 40 minutes” with the President.
“We had a constructive discussion about why it is in America’s interests as well as Australian interests for there to not be tariffs, because the US has a trade surplus with Australia,” he said.
“But we also had a chat about a whole range of things … It was a friendly conversation. It was our second conversation that we have had, but my job is to represent Australia’s national interest, and I did that.”
“Should we be scared as Australians having Trump in?” Chatfield asked.
To which the Prime Minister responded: “Americans have voted for President Trump. He has a different perspective from President Biden. We just have to deal with it, and deal with it we are.”
Originally published as ‘Potential for backlash’: Abbie Chatfield’s massive admission in Anthony Albanese interview
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