[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 Liberal National Leader riley8583.]

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 with me Former Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal National Party Riley8583. Welcome Riley.

Riley: Thank you, Yala. I am very glad that I have been able to sit down with you and discuss the issues impacting Australians.

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

Riley: I am riley8583, the current member for Cowper and Leader of the Liberal National Party. I am running because Australians are being left behind by both major political parties. The cost of living crisis is getting worse, and nothing has been done. I am sick and tired of nothing getting done, which is why I decided to rejoin the Liberal National Party and spread my message far and wide.

Yala: Let's start within Parliament, you mention the increasing intensity of the cost of living, what have you done as a Member to propose or try to address it?

Riley: I have been in the process of working with the government to address the record-high inflation. I have also been working on delivering a significant policy that I took to the last election, which abolishes the fuel excise tax. However, unfortunately, I have not yet been able to deliver this. I’ve also supported the ANCAP government’s tax cut plan, which reduced the weekly tax impact on the budget of many Australian families.

Yala: Is there anything that you individually proposed to the parliament during this term on these issues?

Riley: I haven’t proposed any legislation, although I do have some legislation planned in the next term of parliament which addresses corporate price gouging. The only other thing I can comment is that I did ask the Prime Minister earlier in the term, during question time, what the government planned to do to address the cost of living crisis. My record on delivering cost-of-living relief is limited. However, I have been limited in my ability to deliver relief, given that I was an independent on the crossbench, with very limited power.

Yala: Speaking of your time on the crossbench, many were shocked to see your announcement of defection to the Liberal National Party, with the equally sudden rise to the leadership. What caused you to make this decision, and how can Australians trust you won't defect again next term?

Riley: Great question. I was elected as an independent, where I sought to deliver for my electorate. I delivered key commitments, specifically the royal commission into the 2022 flood crisis and funding for projects within my electorate. It was clear that Australians were hurting and that Labour was not offering a real alternative. The Commonwealth Party was essentially non-existent, and ANCAP was the party of government. It was clear that the LNP was the only option, to provide a voice for the forgotten Australians. The LNP gives me a vessel to affect nationwide change, and that is what I plan on doing on day one if I am elected Prime Minister. Australians can trust that I will remain a member of the LNP as its leader, and driver. I have no plans to sit as an independent in the next parliament, because Australians need a strong LNP, and that is what I am striving to create.

Yala: Is that a promise that regardless of what happens, you will remain in the LNP if reelected this election?

Riley: Yes, I commit to remaining as a member and leader of the LNP if we don’t win government at the upcoming election. However, I will also put my leadership up for a vote because the decision whether I remain as leader or not is up to the parliamentary party.

Yala: You mention the inspiration of the 'forgotten australians'. What does this mean to you?

Riley: Australians that have been forgotten by Labour and the other parties. These Australians are working class aussie battlers that don’t have a voice at the table.

Yala: Would you say the government has forgotten these people?

Riley: Yes. Although, it has delivered more for them than Labour has, given Labour’s poor performance this term.

Yala: How can these quiet Australians trust you to deliver on these promises, if by your own admission, the government your party holds ministries in has forgotten them?

Riley: Current members of my party hold ministerial portfolios, although I have had no say in these appointments. My leadership style is completely different from that of my predecessor.

Yala: How so?

Riley: My vision for the party is to bring back working class voters whereas the former Leader had more of a focus on traditional liberals in affluent communities

Yala: Thinking about the election, would you consider yourself a candidate for Prime Minister?

Riley: Yes, I’d say that I am cautiously optimistic that I can once again take the top job after three years since my previous term. A lot has happened since then, and I think that I can govern far better than I did during my time in office in 2020, when Australia was facing an unprecedented crisis.

Yala: As I did with the other leaders, as you consider yourself to be a Prime Ministerial candidate, let us paint the road to the lodge. What are the key policies you and your party are running on this election?

Riley: Thank Yala. I will be reaffirming most of the commitments I made to the people of Cowper at the last election, specifically relating to infrastructure and mental health funding. The LNP will commit to modernising corporate legislation, because Australia is lacking behind the international community. We will commit to addressing the cost of living crisis through two key policy points that I will outline below. We will commit to abolishing the fuel excise tax, and maintain the current tax cuts that the Bellman government implemented. We will go after corporations that are price gouging all in the name of profit. Lastly, we will commit to delivering in our regions, particularly when it comes to dams and water storage. We will invest in regional roads, and improve the overall road network across regional Australia. Furthermore, we will commit to building regional healthcare facilities, and expand support services for mental health. These are the core policies that we will be taking to the election, with some other policies yet to be announced.

Yala: Would you consider your party to be economically conservative, or something else? With promises for increased spending and reduced taxes, do you propose to offset this, and if so how?

Riley: The spending measures that we are taking to the election are not excessive, and will not blow the budget balance. We will commit to maintaining a budget surplus, as was provided under the current and outgoing government. We will make further cuts to reckless unnecessary spending, where needed. Although, that will ultimately be up to the Treasurer to decide. The Liberal National Party is a big tent conservative party. I don’t want to put it into one box, because, some members may have differing viewpoints, and they are completely open to express those views.

Yala: What would you consider to be unnecessary spending?

Riley: We are spending record amounts on welfare, and something must be done to wind back spending in this area. It will be a critical area for the Treasurer to address.

Yala: On the road to the lodge, in the election, how many seats will the LNP be contesting?

Riley: I can’t make an official announcement yet, with preselection still in the final stages, but we are aiming for a majority.

Yala: Can you give us an estimate or approximation of how many you are hoping to run in?

Riley: Hopefully around 8 seats at a minimum, but this is still subject to confirmation.

Yala: Have you done any deals for endorsements or preferences?

Riley: I have discussed those things with parties, and candidates, but nothing concrete yet. I can confirm that we will be endorsing a couple of candidates, but this will be publicly released at a later date.

Yala: Are you confident in winning this election?

Riley: I am reasonably confident that the LNP can win this election. Although, the decision is up to the Australian people. Australians have a choice between Labour and its inability to be a good opposition, or the LNP, and other centre to right parties that are ready to govern.

Yala: Following down this road to the lodge, we reach the election. There are two scenarios, one where you emerge the leading Prime Ministerial candidate, and the other where you don't. Lets start with the former. In a hypothetical, you wake up on Sunday to see the LNP in the leading position, but with not enough seats to form government on your own. Which parties or Independents would you work with to make up that gap, and who would you outright refuse to talk to?

Riley: Great question. I can commit to the Australian people that I will not, under any circumstances, seek supply from Labour. Instead, I will speak with the crossbench and try to put together a government with the support of the independents and the Commonwealth Party. I am open to discussing policy grounds with Labour but cannot, in good conscience, form a government with them.

Yala: You would consider working with the party that labelled you as right-wing extremists? How do you respond to that allegation by the Commonwealth Party leader?

Riley: I’d agree with him. My views in 2021 are not reflective of my views now. He grew, just as I have. My political positions are much more moderate compared to previous times. I’ve had time to think and reflect, and I apologise to Australians for holding such controversial views.

Yala: It wasn't just you that he labelled as a right-wing extremist, it was your party as a whole. How can Australians be certain that you, and your party, do not meet that description?

Riley: The LNP is a centre-right party with sensible views. I’d respectfully disagree with his assessment of it. We are not far-right, nor are we extremist.

Yala: If you form government, how would you interact and work with the opposition and crossbench?

Riley: We’d support the commitments they took to the election. It’s a two-way street. I know very well how hard it is to secure support for policies that you took to the election as an independent or minor party. So, I completely understand and will respect requests made by crossbenchers supporting an LNP government.

Yala: On the other side of the coin, what would you do if you were to fail to reach government?

Riley: I’d continue to serve as the member for Cowper, and as a member of the LNP, whilst putting my leadership up for a vote, as mentioned earlier. I’d also consider working with the Commonwealth Party to form a government of some kind.

Yala: Are there any non-LNP candidates that you are hopeful will join you in parliament if you are reelected?

Riley: I’m hopeful to see Porridge retain his seat. He has been an excellent advocate for the people of Brisbane. I’d also have no problem with SlowPassenger retaining his seat. He has been a committed member for Mayo, and I wish him all the best on his re-election.

Yala: Before we finish, do you have any words for the people of Cowper, or of Australia as a whole?

Riley: We have had triumphant victories over the recent months after securing key commitments, and we must not allow this to be overturned. I am seeking a second term as the Member for Cowper because we need to keep on delivering results. People of Australia, the choice this election is clear. A vote for Labour is a vote for incompetence and inexperience, whilst a vote for the LNP and other centre-to-right parties is a vote for competence and experienced leadership. The cost of living crisis will only get worse, and the LNP is the only party with a clear commitment to tackle this issue. Thank you, Yala, and thank you to those Australians that have tuned in tonight.

Yala: Thank you for your time Riley.

Yala: Before we finish, do you have any words for the people of Cowper, or of Australia as a whole?

Riley: We have had triumphant victories over the recent months after securing key commitments, and we must not allow this to be overturned. I am seeking a second term as the Member for Cowper because we need to keep on delivering results. People of Australia, the choice this election is clear. A vote for Labour is a vote for incompetence and inexperience, whilst a vote for the LNP and other centre-to-right parties is a vote for competence and experienced leadership. The cost of living crisis will only get worse, and the LNP is the only party with a clear commitment to tackle this issue. Thank you, Yala, and thank you to those Australians that have tuned in tonight.

Yala: Thank you for your time Riley.