Television interview - Channel Nine
TOM STEINFORT, HOST : Welcome back to the MCG and Nine's special presentation of the state funeral for the great Neale Daniher. ALICIA LOXLEY, HOST : Joining us now is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who led a wonderful condolence motion for Neale Daniher in Parliament a couple of weeks ago. It's a huge day, isn't it, for the Daniher family, but also the wider Australian community.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER : It's a big day for the country. Neale Daniher was a deserved winner of the Australian of the Year award just a couple of years ago and there's never been anything more certain. Normally you don't actually get told as Prime Minister.
I thought you'd get a heads up. You don't. But it was such an obvious choice of him.
The legacy that he leaves is quite extraordinary and he will continue to inspire. TOM STEINFORT : I'd imagine there aren't too many people that can say that they have maybe given some lessons over the years to a Prime Minister about leadership. But have you taken any cues on leadership from Neale Daniher?
PRIME MINISTER : Absolutely. Resilience. At the time of his diagnosis, the life expectancy was two years.
Neale lasted 13 and he didn't just last, he lived, with exuberance, with joy. He never asked for any people to feel sorry for him. He went out there and he seized every moment that he had to make a difference for others and that's inspirational.
It is so Australian as well. And it was a great honour to have got to know him. ALICIA LOXLEY : You described him as a great Australian when you did speak in Parliament.
It's a term that probably, perhaps is overused but, but could not be more fitting for someone like Neale. As you say, he said, it's going to take a lot longer than two years for this beast to kill me. And that's exactly what happened.
PRIME MINISTER : Yeah, none better than him. And every day, he came into my office a number of times, lobbying for funding for MND, for research, to fight the fight. But the way that he carried himself as well, the way that he continued to have a voice even when he'd lost the physical capacity, to be such an inspiring person.
This is a terrible disease. I've known a few people now who've been afflicted by it, the beast, as he called it. We've now got Jai Arrow, who I know very well, very young man afflicted by this again, once again showing inspiration by saying he's not going to be beaten by this and fighting.
And he was here, of course, at the G on Monday and it was an extraordinary event. Again, on Monday it showed that Neale Daniher's legacy will continue. The Big Freeze will continue.
People will continue to do research and to try to find a cure for this. And when they do, his name will be spoken. TOM STEINFORT : You'll be up on stage shortly, speaking as part of the funeral.
It must be hard to sum up Neale's life and pay tribute to that man and that legacy. PRIME MINISTER : It is in a way, though you could do it just in a really short way, I think, as well, because everyone knows him. Everyone knows what he did.
He was much loved by football followers, but by everyone around the community as well. And he did a great job as Australian of the Year he went out and advocated for other causes as well. And he's his legacy.
It's a fitting tribute that it's taking place at his beloved MCG. ALICIA LOXLEY : What do you hope Australians learn from Neale? It's interesting.
People who never met him feel this personal connection to him. What are you hoping that people take from his life and what he's done? PRIME MINISTER : Humility, compassion and determination.
That's what his life was all about. And a fantastic legacy. And to Jan and his children and others, just, I think the whole country's heart goes out to you today.
TOM STEINFORT : Absolutely, Prime Minister. Really appreciate you making time and joining us up here and good luck with everything on the rest of the day ahead. A big day, a sombre day, but an important day.
PRIME MINISTER : A sombre day, But he also, one of the things that he wasn't sorrowful, he would want people to celebrate his life as well. ALICIA LOXLEY : Yeah, absolutely. Beautifully said, Prime Minister.
Thank you again for being with us. PM&C acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.