[Australia Tonight has relaunched their channel tonight, with audiences switching on their tv’s to see Yala Talama’s face in the iconic Australia Tonight studio for the first time in years. The following is the transcript of the interview with former Deputy Prime Minister CM.]

Yala Talama: Good evening, and welcome to Australia Tonight. As a part of our relaunch, we will be conducting an interview series with the candidates putting their name forward on the ballot this election. These interviews are unscripted, and will be uncensored excluding where TV regulation requires. Continuing our series, I have in the studio Former Deputy Prime Minister ChairmanMordecai. Welcome CM.

CM: Good to be with you

Yala: To begin, we will start with the same question to everyone, who are you, where are you running and why are you running?

CM: Well I’m CM, I’m running for Sydney, and that’s because I’ve lived in Sydney for many years. I think it’s the greatest city on earth, and I want to serve its interests and its people as their MP (as I was fortunate enough to have done several years ago). Why run at all was probably the harder choice, and the answer to that one is I believe in the Labour Party, I believe in Jordology’s leadership, and I think after years of rightist chaos we need driven and visionary progressive government to seize the possibility of this historic moment.

Yala: What are the key policies you are seeking to propose to the people of Sydney?

CM: Labour’s going to be running on a manifesto which will be released very shortly to the Australian public. Our vision is for an egalitarian, prosperous, and innovative Australia. For Sydney, that means supporting education and innovation, significant investments in infrastructure and in fair trade to improve supply (so access to better goods for cheaper), creating jobs in emerging sustainable industries, and alleviating housing pressure. Most pressing of all for Sydney is climate action. Our city’s world famous coastlines are under threat, our outer suburbs are under enormous pressure from overheating, and bushfires pose a massive city-wide health risk. Labour believes in Australia leading the way on climate action, applying ideas from Saul Griffiths and Ross Garnaut to drive our future prosperity and blaze a path for other nation’s to follow.

Yala: Are there any Sydney-specific policies you are hoping to run on?

CM: If you’re fishing for a pork-barrel, I’m afraid you won’t find one because we don’t believe in throwing money to win seats. But we do believe in crafting policy that benefits not just the nation as a whole, but all of its parts together. That’s particularly the case in a city as cosmopolitan as Sydney… our prosperity is the nation’s, and when the whole country does well, we see the results most acutely. Our trans healthcare plan for example will help trans individuals to receive life-saving affirmation care nationwide, not just in Darlinghurst, but you’d think one of the greatest queer communities in the world will see a real difference. Emerging industries like electric car and bus manufacturing will absolutely entail jobs directly in Sydney. Education investments will be in the regions AND the suburbs. Housing expansion is absolutely going to focus on density in capital cities and expanding public housing access to end homelessness (a particular problem in Sydney). National problems require national solutions, but the breadth and reach of our vision shouldn’t be confused for not-having-specifics-in-mind for Sydney.

Yala: Looking back a bit, you are a veteran of Australian politics, most infamously defeating BloodyChrome during his eligibility crisis in the December 2018 election. What brings you back to politics, and what do you think has changed since then?

CM: I think the serious and sustained damage the chaotic and radical right have done to this country is really what brings me back. Griffo and then Bellman have been a substantial threat to this nation, it’s institutions, and it’s future. They’ve got to be stopped, and not just stopped, but so comprehensively rebuked that this previous government in particular becomes a cautionary tale in this nation’s history. As for the second half, In many ways, politics is much the same, but the key exceptions are probably the prevalence of independents, and also the boldness of the right. The right keep rehashing old issues and ideas like nuclear power, but I don’t remember ever having to really worry about a fight over abortion for example.

Yala: What would the first month of Member for Sydney CM look like?

CM: Well it hopefully looks like part of a Labour government! laughs no but really it looks like sustained community engagement. I want to spend more time in my electorate than I do anywhere else on earth, not just because of my adoration for the harbour. But also because I want to make sure that any policy decision i participate in, no matter what it is, is informed by Sydney community values as much as my own. I happen to believe fairly strongly that there’s no greater font of wisdom than the usual crowd in a Leichhardt pub. I want to stay grounded in local perspectives and keep my eye on local issues, particularly as we work on tackling national problems.

Yala: Is there anyone else you are hoping to see join you in the next parliament, both inside and outside of your own party, assuming you are elected?

CM: Well I think each and every Labour candidate is someone I’d like to see join me if I’m elected. We don’t put up undeserving candidates, so they’d all be wonderful. Personally I’m particularly looking forward to working with TSC again. Other than that, I’ve enjoyed working with Forza and Slowpassenger so I’d be keen to see them re-elected, and of course our coalition partners the CLP have been wonderful partners in achieving real progressive outcomes.

Yala: How have you changed since you were last in office? Is this Justicialist CM, Radical CM, or a new CM that we could see in parliament?

CM: Well I think its important to understand that I'm evolving and growing all the time, as everyone does, but that my values and my perspective and how i approach a problem or an issue don't really change... my context does. So not only has my political context changed, where I've found a party that speaks to my values and to the needs of the nation enough that I don't feel like I ought to go out on a lark and do my own thing (Justicialists) but also that I've come into contact with new ideas and have had more time to think about others. But Labour CM is just the same as any of the other CMs in the sense that I'm committed to egalitarianism, opportunity, justice, and personal freedom. That's what I'm looking for in any solution to any given problem... does it advance human dignity, either here in Australia or globally? And how I reckon that's best achieved is where I've maybe evolved, but that basic approach? That will always be my guiding star.

Yala: Are you confident in your chances of election?

CM: I'm too superstitious to comment, but I certainly wouldn't be running if I didn't feel like I could represent the sentiment of Sydney. And without being too pointed in my remarks, I think that sentiment is very receptive to consistent, earnest, and energetic progressivism, and I don't think they're getting that currently.

Yala: Have you or Labour done any endorsement or preference deals to help increase your chances of victory?

CM: I think that's a question best left to Jordology, our leader. I'm not going to be talking horse-race stuff. But obviously our strategy will emphasise assisting people we think are going to be easy and productive partners to work with in pushing progressive policy in the next Parliament. "Deal" implies a quid-pro-quo, and I think our approach in Labour is always a little closer to a meeting of the minds.

Yala: Is there any final message today that you have to the people of Sydney as they decide on who they support next week?

CM: I want to see Australia led by people with compassion, vigour, honesty, and vision. I want to see this country flourish, its people prosper, its children thrive. If you want that too, I'd ask you vote Labour. But particularly, I want all of those things in abundance for the place I grew up in and I call home. I love this city and her people. I love walking up Sussex Street towards the Rocks when it rains, and I love the quiet laneways that criss-cross leafy suburbs until you find that one spot with a gorgeous glimpse of the harbour, a secret tucked-away view only you know about. I love the people you meet in Newtown cafes and at the Bondi showers. I think Sydney deserves an MP that won't take it as a seat for granted. I think it deserves a person with consistent, clear-eyed determination. I think it deserves a person with a plan for our future and a commitment to see it through, rather than chop or change party allegiance and jump the political spectrum just to get a nice job and a ministerial limo. If you reckon I fit the bill, I would be humbled and honoured to be give a voice to the greatest city on earth.

Yala: Thank you for your time CM.

CM: Thank you very much.