LAURA TINGLE, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB PRESIDENT: Thank you so much, Prime Minister. A couple of observations from your speech. You talked about trying to rebuild during a period of global uncertainty and you marked the anniversary tomorrow of your tax cut announcement here at the Press Club. We've got the ultimate global uncertainty going on at the moment in the White House. A lot of executive orders have been coming out of there this week and indications from President Trump that he's looking at slashing tax rates. He's already walked away from the OECD agreement amongst major economies on tax. I just wonder, can you realistically go to another term without actually acknowledging that you're going to have to do some sort of tax reform to fund all the sorts of things that you would like to see done for the Australian people?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well importantly, I'd make a couple of points. One is we managed to deliver not one but two budgets surpluses - pretty important. The first time that's happened in twenty years. We did that by making sure that our fiscal policy was responsible, by making difficult decisions. We also made sure when we did the tax cuts that we kept the same amount, basically, $107 billion. The Morrison tax cuts were worth $106. We did that understanding that we had to make a difficult decision. Effectively we had to take some off the top end in order to make sure that people weren't left behind. That was a tough decision that we made. That was an important decision that we made as well. We will of course continue to examine responsible economic management. We've been through MYEFO and we're going through budget preparations now, as we speak, for this budget. The ERC met yesterday and we continue to engage in those issues. So over the coming weeks and months, obviously we'll outline a range of policies that we will take to the election. Ours will be costed, as the policies I announced when I was the Opposition Leader were costed. Whether it was the National Reconstruction Fund or our Cheaper Child Care Plan or our Housing Australia Future Fund, our Rewiring the Nation policy. In a day when oppositions had cost of policies. The only costing that we've seen from the Coalition is the sort of flimsy costing that took place on the nuclear plan. And we know that that depends on 40 per cent less energy use than was assessed by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
JOURNALIST: Michelle Grattan from The Conversation. Prime Minister, what's the biggest lesson about governing that you've learnt personally during your first term that you would take to a second term?
PRIME MINISTER: Good question. I think the biggest thing is that things will come at you that you don't expect and you have to deal with them. I don't think when I stood here in 2022 before the election that if someone had stood up and said there'd be a land war still going in Europe in 2025, people would have shaken their head and said that was absurd as a proposition. We thought we'd move beyond that. Now that had, along with the long tail of COVID, an impact on global inflation that was not anticipated at that that time more than three years ago. So you have to deal with things as they are rather than as you want them to be. You deal with them whilst always keeping your eye on that horizon.
JOURNALIST: Ashleigh Raper, Network Ten. Prime Minister, throughout your political career you've been popular. People have thought you were a genuine, relatable, good bloke. You've been fondly known as DJ Albo. But in the polls as Prime Minister, your popularity has plummeted. Why do you think your likeability hasn't translated or transferred to you as Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not a commentator, I'll leave there commentating to others. What I can say is that every single day I've been focused on leading a government that implements the values that I've had my whole life - making sure that people aren’t left behind. That's why we've done things like the Single Parenting Payment changes, the 45 per cent increase in Rental Assistance, the Fee Free TAFE to make a difference in people's lives. That's why today's announcement about schools funding is so important. I passionately believe that every child deserves the best opportunity to be the best that they can. And I know that proper funding of education, not just about dollars either, but about things like literacy and numeracy and that testing - phonics. At the moment you wait under NAPLAN until a child is eight before they're tested. Jason Clare has been very, very strong about the need to test and examine in year one so that it's not too late by the time a child gets to the age of eight. They're the things that have driven me my whole life. But I also understand aspiration. My life is one of aspiration, is part of the Labor agenda as well, that people can make a better life for themselves. And that's why seizing the opportunities of new industries and the changes in the global economy are so important for me. I really think that this decade will determine what Australia looks like and how successful we are up to 2050. We need to get it right now, or else we'll fall behind while the rest of the world moves past us.
JOURNALIST: Hi, Mr. Albanese. Just back to, sort of, Laura's question. Before you mentioned the tax cuts, a broken promise you made, forced by circumstance. Another promise you gave before the last election was not to change the tax treatment of Super. You did announce that measure, which is still trying to get through the Senate on the $3 million plus accounts. But going forward, will there be any more changes to super? And if there are will we know about them before the election or are we in for more surprises after the election?
PRIME MINISTER: It's one of the big differences between us and our opponents. We understand how important superannuation is. Superannuation is about people's retirement incomes. Now, we opposed the change that the former government did during COVID that that they allowed. We moved amendments. We didn't allow the perfect to be the good. So we were constructive and said we won't knock over all of the stimulus if you include this. But the decision to allow people to reach into their super, and in many cases reduce their balances to zero, will have an impact not just on people's retirement incomes, but also on our national economy as well. That was a bad decision. Just like everyone used to agree that raiding your super for housing was a bad decision as well. So we will support superannuation. I noticed that there's a campaign as well from within the Coalition to reduce Super back to single digits away from 12. Now that, like the nuclear plan, like a whole range of other things, Peter Dutton has a history of giving in to what the rump on his backbench have to say in terms of those elements. And if they were in government I would expect changes to superannuation which undermine it. If we're in government, we'll continue to be supporters of superannuation because of what it does for retirement incomes, but what it also presents as a national asset to be able to invest in the national interest.
JOURNALIST: Hello, Prime Minister. Thank you for addressing the club today. I'm sure you've seen, but in the SMH and The Age today, there's a published poll which suggests that public support for holding Australia Day on 26 January has increased in recent years from about 47 per cent support in 2023 to about 61 per cent today. I'm just wondering what you believe might be behind this shift in sentiment that the poll has detected and whether in any way you think it might be linked to the failure of the Voice Referendum?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this weekend, we'll celebrate Australia Day, and that's a wonderful thing. Australians will gather at the beach, barbies, they'll gather around the country, and gather at their family backyards. And it's an opportunity every year as well we have to think and not take for granted what we are as a nation, what we've built here. I firmly believe it's a celebration of why we are the best country on Earth. But how do we ensure that we're even better in the future? And there's nowhere better to be on Australia Day than at citizenship ceremonies. I've said I hope Peter Dutton turns up, as I did as the Opposition Leader, to the national celebration here in Canberra in our national capital this weekend. The Australia Day Awards tomorrow night are an inspiration every year. And the citizenship ceremony, seeing the joy on people pledging their allegiance to our country, is something that lifts me up every year. And the other thing that happens at Australia Day is there is a focus on the fullness and richness of our history, including the fact that we all share this continent with the oldest continuous culture on Earth and what a privilege it is. So the first thing I'll do Sunday morning is a private ceremony that happens every year here with the Prime Minister of the day and the Governor-General with Indigenous leaders on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin, and it's a wonderful thing. And every year, certainly my local council and the Inner West Council, when it used to be three of them, all are very respectful and acknowledging of the full history. Acknowledging as well that it's a hurtful day, a difficult day for many First Nations people. But it's one in which we can celebrate what we are today, whether it be our great history going back 65,000 years, or whether it is the arrival of Europeans here, or whether it be the great multicultural nation we've built, particularly since the end of the Second World War.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, thanks very much. Cameron Reddin from Sky News. The Israeli Government continues to accuse your Government of campaigning against it, even contributing to antisemitism in Australia. You may be aware of Israeli media reports of a heated conversation between the Foreign Minister and her counterpart last month. There's also a petition online today with 10,000 signatures asking for you to prevent the Foreign Minister from going to the commemoration event in Auschwitz next week. My question is, what do you say to members of the Australian Jewish community who do not believe that the Foreign Minister is the best person to represent Australia on that trip next week?
PRIME MINISTER: Foreign Minister Penny Wong, is someone who understands racism and discrimination. And anyone who knows Penny Wong and her life story understands that. Penny Wong is going as is appropriate as our Foreign Minister, together with our Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus and the Special Envoy on Antisemitism, Jillian Segal. They will be Australia's representatives. For the 75th anniversary, the President of the Senate was the person who went and represented Australia. That was a choice of the former government.
JOURNALIST: Your message to Jewish Australians, though, who don't believe that she is the best person to go?
PRIME MINISTER: Penny Wong is our Foreign Minister, she has stood up against antisemitism at each and every opportunity and will always continue to do so. She's someone for whom a core belief in the dignity of every human being is just a part of her character as much as any person I have met in my entire life.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. Anna Henderson, SBS World News. Thank you for your address. Bob Hawke introduced Medicare, and with Paul Keating he floated the dollar. Julia Gillard began the NBN and introduced the NDIS and Gonski. Kevin Rudd helped Australia avoid recess in the global financial crisis. So, what is the big legacy of this term of government for you? What is the headline achievement that the true believers will be looking back on with pride in 20 years?
PRIME MINISTER: Keeping us out of recession. 1.1 million jobs. Getting inflation from a 6 to a 2. Making sure that people's living standards are looked after, that they're not left behind. Completing the NBN. Completing, finishing, Gonski – it’s taken a long time, but it was on pause and went backwards when the former government came in and ripped tens of billions of dollars out of education. Turning the decline in Medicare around. And importantly moving towards, just as Labor governments have moved and created Medicare, Universal Provision, universal provision of Superannuation. We're taking the steps, and I announced in December, for universal provision of child care. This will transform the way that Australia functions, will transform opportunity and will make sure that every young Australian gets the best start in life.
JOURNALIST: Thank you, PM. Charles Croucher from the Nine Network. Before the Queensland election, David Crisafulli categorically ruled out leading a minority government. You've previously ruled out a formal agreement with the Greens. But would you lead a minority government if that's what the Australian people deliver? And do you believe your experience with the last minority government actually helps you in that circumstance?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we won't be entering into any coalitions. The only coalition that exists is the Liberal Party and the National Party. And quite often it's the Liberal Party, National Party and the Greens when it comes to the Senate. Combining to block and delay in what I call the No-alition. They're saying no to all the housing reforms, for example. Saying no and delaying them. Saying no at the moment to issues like superannuation, for fairer treatment of superannuation at the very high end. So my government intends to be a majority government. That's what we're working towards. And I've said, I said it before the last election and indeed in 2013 when I became Deputy Prime Minister, we refused to do arrangements. We just continue to govern on the floor of the Parliament. I'm someone who though has always given respect across the board. My door is open to Liberals, Nationals, to a range of people. If Crossbenchers want to see me, I think that's important as well. But as far as agreements are done, the only coalition sits on the other side.
JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister. Mark Riley from the Seven Network. Almost every day, if not every day, your opponent Mr Dutton calls you a weak leader. In footy terms, he says you're too soft. I'm just wondering if you think you need to be tougher to take on a second term and how you might do that?
PRIME MINISTER: I tell you what weakness is, weakness is not having the guts to come to the National Press Club. Weakness is holding one press conference at a quarter to two, before Question Time begins at two, over the last six months and not facing the Parliament House Press Gallery. Weakness is just saying no to everything before you even see the detail. What's tough is coming here, fronting up as I did last year saying that we have changed our mind on tax cuts. Fessing up, making it very clear it wasn't what we said we would do, but it's the right thing to do. And you'd recall your reports at the time were not glowing of that decision, with respect. We were right to do so. It's the toughest thing I've done this term. It's absolutely the right thing to do. Some people, I not only did it, I brought the team with us as well. Toughness is also about how you lead. You know we did, Bill Shorten resigned this week, we replaced Bill, we've had the swearing in ceremony on Monday. My government's 50 per cent equal representation now in the Cabinet with the exception of myself as PM. We're still waiting I think, unless something's happened this morning, he can't even make a decision about who his Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs is, who the spokespeople are. When our mate from Queensland hit the fence and resigned and when Julian Leeser left, these vacancies have stayed vacant forever because he can't even stand up to people in his own Party Room. That's not leadership. I lead a team. I lead a team in a way that's collegiate, that brings people with me. That's why last year I make no apologies for the fact that we brought the entire Caucus together to ensure that they made the decision as well, they owned it and would go out there and advocate for the change we made on tax. We'll continue to make difficult decisions in the national interest, even if at times there's a personal cost to it, because I'm determined to lead a Government that changes the country for the better.
JOURNALIST: Jade Gailberger from News Corp. Prime Minister, thank you for your speech. Just back on Australia Day. In today's papers you have said “Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate everything we have built together.” Yet companies are scrapping all references to our national day. Do you support calls to boycott pubs and businesses that don't support Australia Day? And should venues impose public holiday surcharges?
PRIME MINISTER: Look we – you know, I sometimes think Peter Dutton every year has a fight with an imaginary friend over something that most Australians are just getting on with, Australia Day. And one of the things that Australia Day celebrates is the fact that we're not a Soviet style command system. You know, like just chill out, get on with life. You know? The debates over which company has thongs in it. Last year it was, you know, Woolworths – boycotting Woolworths, Australia's largest employer. Did I support that? No, I didn't support that. I support Australia Day. I'll be celebrating Australia Day. I'll be participating at the national events here. I hope that Peter Dutton joins me in a bipartisan show of support for our national day in our national capital.
JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister, for your speech. Many topics to ask you about, but I think I'll follow up on Mark Riley's question. It's true that Peter Dutton hasn't appeared here at the National Press Club. I can say as a former Director of the Club, he has that standing invitation and it's been there for some time. Clearly one way in which to get the Opposition Leader and yourself to take more questions is to hold a debate. Do you commit to having three debates ahead of the election and do you commit to having one of those debates here at the National Press Club?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm happy to commit to having debates. My Campaign Director is here, Paul Erickson, and he's responsible for all of those negotiations and I hope he does the right thing and delivers. I certainly think this is an appropriate venue for a national debate here, because what it does is it allows journalists from across the spectrum, as we've had here today, from the full spectrum of diversity of media, to be able to ask questions.
JOURNALIST: So, here and three?
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll leave it up to Paul Erickson to finalise that. But certainly I would applaud his diligence and skills, if that is the outcome.
TINGLE: Of course, the first debate ever was conducted here in 1984. So, we've got history.
JOURNALIST: Geoff Chambers from The Australian. Prime Minister, before the last –
PRIME MINISTER: I'll even offer to give Peter Dutton a lift down from Parliament House, in case he can't find it.
JOURNALIST: Before the last election, you spoke about restoring integrity and responsibility to politics. You told Australians, “If I get something wrong, I'll own up to it.” And that you would unite the country and bring people together. On three issues – your Government's leadership in response to antisemitism, Labor's promise to reduce power prices by $275 by 2025 this year, and your decision to proceed with the Indigenous Voice referendum despite expectations it would fail amid a cost of living crisis. Will you own up to getting these issues wrong or acknowledge that mistakes were made?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll go in reverse order. I stood here and every time I stood up at a – it wasn't – on election night, every time I stood up and gave a major speech and I gave 10 vision statements. I came to the National Press Club on multiple occasions. I'd begin by reaffirming the commitment that Labor had to Indigenous recognition in our Constitution. And that was something, I note, that Scott Morrison promised to do in the lead up to the 2019 election as well. People from both sides had said that, and going back to John Howard, promised Indigenous recognition in our Constitution. So, that was something that had been around for a very long period of time. So, I reject –
JOURNALIST: Was the timing wrong?
PRIME MINISTER: I reject the assertion that you make, and indeed The Australian, your publication, had had a proud history of campaigning and publishing people like Noel Pearson over a long period of time, advocating for Indigenous recognition in our Constitution, in our nation's birth certificate. On the issue of energy, we, like the rest of the world, got hit with a global energy crisis that led to, in some countries, far higher increases. You had double digit inflation in countries like the UK, in parts of Europe, driven by the impact on energy prices that are linked globally. Globally, as well. And so we were affected by that. On antisemitism we have, on October 8 – October 8 – at 9am, I was on the Insiders program. I condemned the action unequivocally. I said then that Israel had a right to defend itself. The day after, I opposed the Opera House demonstrations taking place and called for them to not occur. We've established a range of legislation, including strengthening legislation about hate symbols and Nazi symbols, outlawed for the first time ever. The Coalition – I've been around a while and I know who was trying to get rid of 18C, because I was campaigning with Peter Wertheim and members of the Jewish community against Peter Dutton and others who were trying to get rid of and weakened our hate laws in this country. That was what was going on over the period of the former Government and it was defeated. I've established the first Envoy on Antisemitism. We've increased funding not once, but twice, for security issues and agreed to every request which has been made. And indeed there are substantial arrests taking place. And we've supported the police and national security agencies through Operation Avalite and the state police investigations that have been established to undertake arrests which are out there. The other thing that we have done at each and every opportunity is to look for social cohesion, not to look for difference. Not to look for division and not to look for – to make partisan points. But to act in a way that's responsible, that lowers the temperature of debate. Just as the Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess, has so clearly pointed out is in our national interest.
JOURNALIST: Thank you for your address, Mr. Prime Minister. Labor has been historically the major party of choice for the vulnerable, working class people, LGBTQ communities, people of colour, people with disabilities. But a lot of these groups have become increasingly disillusioned following the Census debacle, cuts to immigration, attempts to rein in or measures to rein in the NDIS. Many think that you have forgotten them for those who appear to be more towards the political centre. Are you taking your voter base for granted?
PRIME MINISTER: Not at all. We're acting in a way that is certainly in the national interest and to make sure people aren't left behind. I’ll tell you what will undermine the NDIS – is it being unsustainable, is people ripping off the system. Not people with disabilities – unscrupulous people taking advantage of the circumstances to essentially gain income through the system by manipulating it. We have importantly, when you think about this, the NDIS – our objective has been to work with the states on reducing growth in the NDIS. Reducing growth, not cutting it. Reducing growth to 8 per cent annual. That's hardly an objective which undermines the system. We want a system that has integrity, that has sustainability. Because unless it has that, it will be undermined in the future. So, that's just one example of the work that we have done. But in addition to that, I can assure you that in our Treasurer and Finance Minister – to give credit where credit's due – when we've sat around in difficult budgets and aiming to deliver a surplus, every time issues like rental assistance or provision of support for people who are vulnerable, every time that has been absolutely at the forefront of what Jim and Katy always advocate. And in particular, you know, I'm so proud of what we did to take Anne Summers’ report on single parenting payments. That's something that, you know, was very dear to me. That was something that was a mistake made by a former Labor Government. We fixed it.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, thanks for your speech. Josh Butler from The Guardian. A moment ago you spoke about the Indigenous Voice referendum. Obviously it was unsuccessful, but the question of constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians still remains unresolved. You spoke about the Liberal leaders who have backed this idea. Peter Dutton obviously at one point spoke about symbolic recognition through the campaign. We know you're point of view on this. My question to you is what now? There obviously – maybe Australians don't have an appetite for another referendum anytime soon. But would you, your future Government or another government set up some sort of process like the Referendum Council to chart a course for what is next on this thorny issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we respect the outcome of the referendum. It wasn't what we sought, but we respect the decision of the Australian people. Peter Dutton has said, you will note – you know, there's always these statements and then they're never spoken about again. But he committed to a referendum in the next term. That's his commitment that he made during the referendum. And I'm sure there's some people who thought, oh well, I can vote no because I'll get another crack at a different option during the next term if Peter Dutton is the Prime Minister. What we are concentrating on is Closing the Gap. What are the practical measures that we can make, particularly about economic empowerment? I went to Garma in the end of – second half of last year and outlined what was the focus of our agenda. So, if you look at practical measures we're taking, including our housing record, funding for remote housing, we understand that's a major issue. The health funding that we're doing through dialysis and other measures as well in Central Australia. Our $250 million Central Australia Plan that goes to a range of issues of providing that community support. Our schools agreement with the Northern Territory is so important to lift up opportunity there. We're engaging across all the portfolios with Malarndirri McCarthy, obviously, as the lead. But that's our focus, it was very much outlined in my Garma speech of a way forward and we'll continue to engage, including with Pat Turner and others as well –
JOURNALIST: But no move on recognition in a second term?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're not planning to do a – well, we will not be holding a referendum in our second term on any issues. I think that, you know, as much as – referendums are hard to win in this country. And we've seen, I think, that all it takes is opposition and you know, people speak about – I'm amazed – I thank members of the media for not asking me the date of the election. But you know, Australians have voted twice, not once, twice against four year terms. Like, a pretty simple proposition. Why do you want more elections, every three years rather than four? Every state and territory government's done it. The world hasn't ended. It's actually more stable. It's sensible. But guess what? If people have an opportunity as an opposition to just say no, then they do. So, I'm focused on practical outcomes and making a difference. That'll be my focus next term.
JOURNALIST: Dana Daniel from the Canberra Times. Thank you for your speech, Prime Minister. You've made some big announcements in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Like a lot of safe seats, voters here in Canberra can feel a bit neglected. We've got probably the most outdated stadium in the country, no convention centre worthy of a national capital and a real sense of being either punished by the Coalition or taken for granted by Labor. Do you have any plans to chip in for the new stadium, convention centre, the Canberra Theatre Precinct, the Commonwealth Park Pool or the Sydney to Canberra rail line?
PRIME MINISTER: Always back self interest, you know it's trying as Keating said. Well, I don't want to go through the list of what, what is now my local community here. It's a fantastic place to live. I make that point. But we have put half a billion dollars into our national institutions just down the road here. We had a national art gallery that has a single piece of art – thanks to Gough Whitlam – worth $500 million that has buckets on the floor because the roof is leaking in the same venue that has Blue Poles. The National Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, all of these national institutions. The National Archives had our precious history essentially going to dust because there was no proper funding of it. The Australian Institute of Sport, where every Australian wants to go and cheer when our Olympians or Commonwealth Games competitors are competing in the green and gold, was massively underfunded, was falling apart because money hadn't been put in. That's before you get to the light rail line here and other infrastructure, including the wonderful environment here around the Murrumbidgee River, that has been funded as well. So, we think the national capital – I firmly think the national capital and our national institutions matter. I am – some people who've watched me for a while have said, you know, you're a conservative when it comes to national institutions and those things. I love the Parliament. I think that the Prime Minister should live in Canberra. Call me old fashioned, the Prime Minister's residence is The Lodge, not Kirribilli House. And hence, I think, since I've been Prime Minister, urged on by Andrew here and Alicia and Dave, but most importantly – because I'm more scared of her than the other three – is Katy Gallagher. And it's pretty handy having a Finance Minister from Canberra. I'll just make that point.
TINGLE: Prime Minister, we're starting to run out of time. Are you happy to take a few more questions?
PRIME MINISTER: Sure.
LAURA TINGLE: Thank you. So, I think we've got one from James Riley.
JOURNALIST: Thanks Prime Minister. I'm James Riley from Innovation Aus. I wanted to ask you about artificial intelligence and productivity, an area where the US is making some big bets. One of the first announcements by President Trump was about the private sector investing $500 billion US to build AI data centres across the US. Overnight, he signed an order for an AI action plan to secure energy and infrastructure to maintain that AI dominance in the US. So my question is, what do you think that means for Australia in terms of competing on AI and building our own capability? What is the Australian government doing to support digital infrastructure like data centres and ensuring that we have the energy to power them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well thank you for the question. Ed Husic is leading our work when it comes to artificial intelligence and making sure that we can take advantage of the opportunities that will arise from it, whilst understanding some of the risks that are there as well from artificial intelligence. When it comes to our capacity to engage in the new economy, which includes AI and new technologies, we will need more energy which is why Australia has potentially, and there have been significant investments from companies like Microsoft here in Australia, something I announced in Washington DC when I was there for my state visit. The idea that Australia will need 40 per cent less energy than what the Australian Energy Market Operator says will be required essentially says not just, you know, our aluminium and steel industry being offshored, but it also means no capacity to deal with things like data centres and new technologies that will require significant energy resources. And the other things that these data centres will look for, because they're global industries, is their carbon footprint. So I'll be looking for opportunities for green energy in particular, and that is a significant advantage that we have. That's why the work that Chris Bowen is leading is so important for Australia, for not just traditional manufacturing and making things, but also these new industries that will employ tens of thousands of people, if not hundreds of thousands, over a period of time. We made a commitment at the last election for 1.2 million jobs in tech, essentially going forward with the Tech Council. This is a huge opportunity and I've been a part of discussions with significant corporate interests about investing here because of the opportunities here with green energy, the advantage that we have, comparative advantage in our legal security, if you like, our political stability, and where we're located in the world as well. Just to our north, fastest growing regional world in human history. There's nowhere you would rather be than right here. So whether it's these issues or the PsiQuantum issue that we're dealing with in Queensland, these are opportunities for Australia and my government wants to seize them.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. Peter Hobson from Reuters. Thanks, Prime Minister. I wanted to ask, what do you think of President Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change and what implications that might have for Australia and for the wider Pacific?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I don't think it came as a surprise, and he leads a sovereign nation and Australia is a sovereign nation as well, and we obviously will not be doing that. And we see that there is a challenge of dealing with climate change, but we also see it as a massive opportunity and we intend to seize that opportunity. And potentially, of course, there are in a range of areas as well, first mover advantage. We’ll wait and see what the implications are for where capital flows. But I say as well that many of the issues that have been established in the US, such as through the Inflation Reduction Act, we'll wait and see what the implications are for their domestic politics, if you like, because that has resulted in a flow of capital being focused on the United States because of the advantages that they have. Now we have engaged in investment and attempts to attract capital here. Part of the announcement we've made just this week on green aluminium is a major one. We're working on steel, batteries, all of these issues are ones in which Australia has potential opportunity. We'll await what the implications are for the United States based upon what they do domestically. But if you're talking about jobs, there's a lot of jobs involved in the transition to net zero.
TINGLE: Our last question, just because we're being beaten by time, will be Anthony Galloway.
JOURNALIST: Anthony Galloway from Capital Brief. Thank you, Prime Minister. The average Australian listening to your answer to Geoff's question may be forgiven for thinking that you have no regrets as PM, or you wouldn't have done a single thing differently. So my question is, over the last two and a half years as PM, would you have done anything differently? What's your biggest regret?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course any Prime Minister can do things in a way that are perfect, perhaps. And, you know, I have a view that if you look at the media every morning, I don't feel the need to give myself a character assessment on a daily basis, because I receive it in some ways, in some ways very predictably every day. And I look at the headlines and, you know, you go through that. But what we do each and every day is do our best. Do our best. No government's perfect, we do our best, but we're focused. And one of the things I will say is this. There is no day in which we say, ‘Okay, what's our personal interest here rather than the national interest?’ Every single day we focus on the national interest and dealing with things that come at us. Global inflation came at us - that's just a fact. But would I in 2022, when I was standing here, at that time inflation in the March 2022 quarter was 2.1%. Today inflation has a 2 in front of it. Unemployment is at 4. We have real wages increasing 4 quarters in a row. We have avoided, unlike so many of our competitors in the industrialised world, we have avoided recession and haven't had a single quarter of negative growth. And we've done all of that while producing two budget surpluses and making sure that we continue to have our focus, our eye on that horizon, of strengthening Medicare, of giving people educational opportunity, of increasing gender equity that we regard as important. Dealing with climate change. Repairing our relationship with our Pacific neighbours where we were, frankly, in the naughty corner for a long period of time with our closest neighbours and with ASEAN as well to our north. Repairing the relationship with China so that jobs are being created through more than $20 billion of exports. I'm happy to stand in support of the record that we have, but also to say that that's not enough. That's not how you win a second term. You win a second term through also what's the offer for the second term? And we've already outlined making free TAFE permanent, a 20 per cent reduction in student debt, cheaper child care, making the three day child care guarantee, child care infrastructure investment, the announcements we've made today about schools. Something that I haven't seen a drumbeat out there in the media saying what's happening with Gonski? You know, people sort of put in the too hard basket. We've got on and done it. And you know, I'm confident that we'll continue to talk with the two outstanding states. These are the things that drive me to make a difference each and every day. Not self-analysis, I get enough of that from you fine people and that will continue and that's your job. I respect all of that. My job is to get on with building a better Australia. That's what I intend to do.