JOHN FOREMAN, HOST: Joining me now the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese and the Premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet. Welcome to both of you, thank you for joining us tonight.
DOMINIC PERROTTET, PREMIER: Thanks, John.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It’s great to be here.
FOREMAN: It’s great to have you both here. This time last year Premier, I was welcoming you to your first Australia Day as Premier. And this year Prime Minister, your first Australia Day in your capacity as Prime Minister. Just listening to Dami Im’s voice there, I noticed in your address this morning online one of the things you talked about was all of the people that are becoming Australian citizens this week. Dami became an Australian citizen in 2004, our country is so much the richer for that. From your perspective as a Prime Minister with an Italian surname, how important is multiculturalism and the migrant story to our Australian story?
PRIME MINISTER: It is critical, it’s part of the modern Australian story. With the exception of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, we are all either migrants or descendants of migrants and I'm very proud to be half-Italian and to be in the position I am. But today 19,000 people joined the Australian family. They pledged to support our laws, they pledged to support our values and the democratic beliefs that we share and that to me is what Australia Day is about. Today is a celebration of the values that we have and our common interests that brings us together as a nation.
FOREMAN: Premier, this time last year, we met for the first time on this very stage. It has been a very challenging year for many Australians, especially in New South Wales with the floods. What are your reflections on these last 12 months?
PREMIER PERROTTET: You’re right it has been a very difficult time, particularly in the region communities affected by floods. We've had people lose their lives, their homes, there has been a lot of destruction. But despite all of that, what has shone through to me has been the spirit of service. The selflessness, the generosity of people going out there to help. Whether that's our uniformed volunteers, the SES, RFS, Surf Life Savers, to people who aren't in volunteer services. Just getting up and going out and helping, they are the values that make our country great. As the Prime Minister has said, they are the values that we celebrate today, but I also think we reflect on them and make sure that our kids have those values passed onto them as well.
FOREMAN: The other thing you mentioned this morning Prime Minister, in your speech online was the importance of the referendum that is coming up - the recognition of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution. I might come to you first on this Premier, because today at WugulOra you spoke, and correct me in I'm mischaracterising your words, but you spoke about the importance of having important practical steps that help people to close the gap. But also the importance of important symbolic steps as well and you've come out in support of this, why?
PREMIER PERROTTET: Yes I have, because I think we need to come together as one nation and be unified. We support as a government the Voice and I've also gone on my own journey. It was last year following the Australia Day Service, that we put the Aboriginal Flag on the Harbour Bridge. That is not something to divide, that is something to unite our great country and I think that’s exactly what it’s done.
FOREMAN: Prime Minister, this time next year there either will or won't be a recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in our Constitution - that's up to the people watching us tonight. And looking at the polls, it looks like there’s a pretty big chunk of the population who haven’t made up their mind yet. So for people joining our broadcast tonight who might not watch 7:30 or the other political programs, why is this so important right now?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is about two things and two things only, the first thing is recognition. To recognise in our nation's birth certificate, our Constitution, the fact that we live with the oldest continuous culture on earth. That should be a source of great pride. And secondly it’s that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should be consulted on matters that affect them through the Voice. That is all that is before the Australian people, those important principles. I must say it is fantastic that every Premier and Chief Minister are all united in our support for this going forward. It will be a unifying moment for the nation.
FOREMAN: I've got to say it is very inspiring for all of us to see. Obviously you are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. It goes without saying you probably would be barracking for each other's Opposition Leader in any election. But tonight we can see there’s unity between you on this topic and tonight's concert actually is a great example, it’s the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet supported by the National Australia Day Council. Thank you both for being here tonight, the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of New South Wales, thank you very much for being with us.