So amongst the Joe Exotic, NO RAGRETS and other ridiculousness (upside down face emoji) there was also some questions on tax reform, the direction of Australia and also, sovereignty.

The strongest answer came when he was asked by Laura Tingle about the possibility of refreshing Australia’s defence review, in light of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Albanese said:

You don’t need a refresh to tell any Labor Prime Minister, the party of John Curtin, that we need to defend ourselves. I think it was a Labor prime minister who understood that the kowtowing to the UK as it was then, wasn’t going to defend Australia and I’m very proud to be part of the same party that defended Australia. Importantly, they turned to Curtin, not with an election – because the existing UAP government, conservative government, toppled out of office because people thought they needed the national interest defended and it was Labor who did it then and it’s Labor that will do it now.

That’s the strongest answer Albanese has given about building self-reliance within Australia and comes on top of what he sees as his bigger reforms of Made in Australia (essentially reinstating manufacturing capabilities) and critical minerals.

Does this indicate that a second term Labor government would actually do something with power? The history of this government wouldn’t point to it. But if Labor doesn’t do something with a second chance (if they are handed one) then they might find themselves pushed aside for a disruptor who will.