In this special, pre-election Squiz Kids Q+A, Prime Minister Scott Morrison answers ten questions from Aussie kids. 

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Prime minister, welcome to Squiz Kids

Great to be back

Now we’re only days away from the election, PM, how are you feeling? 

I’m feeling great, I’m here with Jenny, and we’re up moving around talking to people around the country about the bright future that’s there for us, we’ve just got to get on and make sure that we can realise that for everybody so Australia can go past these really difficult years that we’ve had with the pandemic, we’re coming out of all that, and we’re coming into a new period and I’m really looking forward to leading Australia through that.

Excellent. Now PM here at Squiz Kids, we live by the motto that it’s a kid’s world too. And with that in mind, we asked Suqiz Kids what questions they’d like to ask the Prime Minister as he goes into an election. We had 100s of responses and have chosen ten of the best. Are you ready to take the Squia Kids hot seat and be grilled by the kids of Australia? 

That’d be great.

“What’s your favourite part about being Prime Minister?” – Lucy, 10 Vermont, Melbourne

My favourite part is how many wonderful people I get to meet and I particularly like it when the young people come to see us, whether it’s down in Canberra or I’m out visiting them in their schools or other places they are, out on the sports field, every time I get to spend time with young people and particularly young kids it just reminds me of, yes the responsibilities that we have to make a stronger and brighter future for them, but it also just fills me with optimism, because young people so often they’re just so full of energy and always excited about what’s ahead.

“What is the most important quality for a Prime Minister to have? – Kaitlyn, 10, Greystanes

Well I must tell you, particularly over these really difficult times, strength has been so important. Strength to ensure we can always stand up for what Australia needs, strength to ensure we can make the right decisions to help Australia to be able to come through what have been such difficult times. Not all the decisions you make can be popular and it’s important to get them as right as you possibly can on every occasion. And so that’s strength to stand up to those who would seek to make things harder for Australia, well that’s very important in a Prime Minister. Um, and that’s something I’ve always tried to bring to the job. But in addition to the strength you know it’s important that there’s understanding. You’ve got to understand the problem you’re seeking to solve, you’ve got to understand the things that people are feeling around the country, so you can ensure that you take people with you to get your, your policies and everything you’re trying to achieve right. So I’d say two things actually, strength and understanding.

“What was your dream when you were a kid, and did you think you would be Prime Minister”— Noah, 11, Exeter. 

Well I never thought I would be Prime Minister, that’s for sure. You know your life takes many different journeys, and I’m sure that’s the same for kids who are listening on, Noah in particular who’s asked the question, but also mums and dads who may be listening as well. But I know what the most exciting thing is, in your life, is it’s being able to be a parent. I love the fact that Jenny and I have been able to have a family, and to raise our family, this is the greatest joy of our life, and that’s something that I’ve always wanted, I grew up in a very loving family, I was very fortunate and uh so that’s something that I always hoped for as well and we’re really pleased to be able to be doing that. But as a Prime Minister, now that I”m in the job, it is very much about trying to ensure that more and more Australian families can have a loving environment, can be supported, that home is a safe place for everyone, and that kids get the best start in life at school, but more broadly in the family environment and the communities that they’re growing up in .

Was anyone in your family not happy when you became PM? —Josh, 10, Exeter

I think everyone was a bit surprised, that’s certainly the case, because it happened all very suddenly. But as a family we’ve always just adjusted to things that have happened, in the course of our lives, we stick closely together and I draw a lot of strength from my family. They give me tremendous support and particularly Jenny, but also Abby and Lily and my mother and sadly lost my father a few years ago, but all my family and friends they’re a tremendous support to me in the job that I do and they help me get through each day and make sure I stay focused on the things that are important to the country, but at the same time, you know family is the centre of my life and I’m so grateful to them.

What is the one thing you would want to change about the world?—Marco, 9, Exeter

I’d really like people to be kinder to each other. That’s the most important thing I think. We see what happens on social media, this really worries me. And for some of the younger kids who may be listening to this, hopefully they’re not on social media at this point, but I do know for older kids and teenagers and for parents as well, what happens in social media can be very very damaging to people, and we need to be very careful, and the thing that really upsets me about it is people can be so cruel and they can be so unkind and it’s important that we always understand that we should be trying to treat others as we would have ourselves treated. I think that’s a very important principle. So I think people just being a bit kinder to each other would be great.

Did you ever get into trouble at school? —Willow, 9, Gold Coast 

Oh yes! Yes I did. I did my fair share of detention and you know many years ago they used to give you the cane, and I got that once or twice as well. So you know, I could be a bit disruptive when I was a kid, but you know I was spirited. That’s what my mother would say. (Laughs)

Host: I think you’ve just given every disruptive child in Australia an excuse to be disruptive in class. 

No, don’t do that! Listen to your parents, listen to your teachers!

Host: Now here’s a question I think shows a lot of empathy and insight.

Is it hard to make friends when you’re Prime Minister? —Grace, 10, Exeter 

I have so many wonderful friends and I’ve met and made some great friends during the time I’ve been Prime Minister, because I get to meet so many different people, all around the country, and I’ve met many of them at some of the most difficult times of their lives. And to be able to be a comfort and support to them, with Jenny, has been a great blessing for us. And we’ve maintained and built some really lovely friendships with people. And I’m very appreciative for that. As Prime Minister you meet people in all walks of life, in all circumstances, after they’ve achieved great things, after they’ve suffered terrible losses. And you get a sense really of the whole country because of the privilege and responsibility that you have to connect with all Australians. So yes we have made some very good friends and I’m very grateful for that.

“Will you be sad if you lose the election?—Felix, Brisbane

Well, the thing about elections is Australians make their choice. And that’s why Australia’s such a great country. And I think that’s fantastic. In many other countries around the world, people will know right now, over on the other side of the world there’s a terrible war going on. A terrible war going on. And we live in a country where that isn’t happening. We live in a country where governments are elected via the people that they govern. And this is one of the great things about Australia. And so we all submit ourselves to that, those of us, we all love Australia and when you love Australia, you always respect the decisions of the Australian people. And that’s why this election is really important, it’s important that we have one in the first place, and it’s always important that it’s done properly, and that people think carefully about the decision they’re going to make, adnt eh impact it’s going to have on the future. And that’s something that I’ve always respected and loved about our country.

Do you have any regrets as Prime Minister. If so, what are they? And… do your kids cringe when you pull out the ukulele? —Tom,  NSW 

(Laughs). Well on the ukulele they probably do a bit, but I also don’t mind it. A little while back when I had a bit more time I was playing it with my daughter who was teaching herself the guitar, so these are just fun things you do as a family. It’s important as a family that you do things together, and you know, it’s very dad’s responsibility to sometimes embarrass their kids. I remember my father used to do that pretty regularly, and we used to have a good laugh about it, and I think those sort of funny little institutions you have as a family, one of the other things that we like to do is I like to cook curries for them on a Saturday night, on a Friday night we cook pizzas together when I’m at home. These sorts of things are really important.

In terms of the job, it’s a very hard job, and it’s a very demanding job and it particularly has been during the course of the COVID pandemic and the many other things Australia’s had to face whether it be bushfires or floods or the drought that was going on for many years when I first became Prime Minister. And you know, we’ve been through so many other disasters in recent years, we can’t forget that for many many years people living in rural and regional australia were dealing with terrible terrible drought. And their circumstances have improved since then. In all of that you can’t get everything right in this job, but the most important thing that you do is if you don’t get something right, ir something doesn’t go to plan, and this is true for boys and girls listening on and parents too, if you don’t get it right, you’ve got to get back in there, try to fix it as best you can, and you’ve got to keep moving forward. You can’t dwell on those things too much, you learn from them, every single time, you’ve got to learn from mistakes, but you’ve also got to make sure that you don’t let that hold you back and you get on with the job you’ve got to do, fix what you need to fix, and keep moving forward.

Last question PM. Which I think could be the most important one you’ve faced all campaign, and it comes from Jayde on the Gold Coast.

What is your favourite Australian treat, Vegemite, meat pie, or lamington? – Jayde, 9, Gold Coast 

Vegemite! I love my vegemite. Wherever I can, and when I’m overseas and I ask for it, they look at me with a sort of funny look on their face, and I like to have my vegemite on toast. I always have, since I was a kid. So Vegemite for me.

Host: There you go, you heard it here first, Squiz Kids. Well PM you’ve got an election to fight, we should let you get back to it, Thank you so much for taking the time to chat to Squiz Kids. 

Thank you, and thanks to all the kids for putting in your questions, they’re really great questions. You’re playing your role as we go to this election. You may not be able to vote yet, but they’re great questions, and well done.

Host: Now before we go – we should remind everyone that we also gathered an excellent bunch of questions from Aussie kids for Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, and we’ve invited him to come on the podcast and answer them and are hoping he’ll find time in his busy schedule to do so before Saturday. 

And for anyone new to Squiz Kids – we’re a daily news podcast, made just for kids. Fun. Free. Fresh  – wherever you get your podcasts or via squizkids.com.au

Finally, PM, before we let you go it’s the Squiz Kids tradition to get our special guests to do the Squiz Kids sign off. Will you please do the honours? 

Now get out there, and have a most excellent day.