Thank you so much to Prerana and to Peter for giving us a powerful beginning for this morning's events and discussions. And thank you to Auntie Serena and her niece and nephew for once again giving us a wonderful Welcome to Country. And I join with her in acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we're meeting, past, present and emerging. I acknowledge Dr Anne Aly, our fantastic Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and I acknowledge other Members of Parliament, Senators who are here, and I thank all the sponsors who are here as well, who of course make this possible.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Your Majesty, it is an absolute honour to welcome you to Australia. We had a very good meeting last year in New York, where we discussed the full range of issues confronting not just our nations, but confronting the world and humanity. Unfortunately, some of those are of course, still going because we do live in a time of increasing global uncertainty, particularly with the escalating conflict in the Middle East. We share your condemnation of the Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan met in Canberra on 14 October 2026 and reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Australia and Jordan built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity. 

Leaders welcomed the opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda for strengthened cooperation, building on the 2016 Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation, and reflecting the growing breadth of the bilateral relationship. 

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: The Prime Minister is my lead guest this afternoon, Anthony Albanese, Welcome to the program.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Goood afternoon. Good to be with you.

KARVELAS: In the last couple of weeks, some Labor MPs have been feeling a little bit nervous. Today you told your Caucus you would be kicking with the wind in the fourth quarter. It's a term you used before the last election I recall –

PRIME MINISTER: And the one before.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Australia from 13 to 14 October 2026.

Australia and Jordan share a warm relationship, underpinned by defence and security cooperation.

Our countries are working together to advance peace and regional security, support humanitarian efforts, to counter terrorism and violent extremism, to grow trade and to strengthen cooperation on resources, energy, and the environment.

It is a profound honour to join with you today on this landmark anniversary.

I acknowledge Her Excellency, the Governor-General of Australia, Sam Mostyn, I acknowledge the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh. 

I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition, and other parliamentarians who are here. 

I acknowledge former prime ministers' John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison. 

Today marks 25 years since the commencement of Operation Slipper, Australia’s first military contribution to the war in Afghanistan and the beginning of a significant chapter in our nation’s military history.  

In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, Australia joined an international coalition to combat terrorism and support security and stability in Afghanistan.

I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Richard Morecroft. As the face and the voice of the news of the ABC, Richard became a beloved part of Australian life. 

Combining a consummate professionalism with an unyielding humanity, Richard was a figure of absolute trust, a warm and familiar presence who guided us through the good times and bad. 

Today, we pause to remember the devastation that Hamas unleashed in the terrorist attack in Israel on the 7th of October, 2023. 

On this dark anniversary, we remember the 1200 who were taken from the world, the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust.

We think of everyone who was dragged into captivity, everyone who never returned home to their families, and everyone forever scarred by what they endured. 

Our nation’s thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the Australian Army soldier who has tragically died during a training exercise in the Northern Territory yesterday.  

Our thoughts are also with the five other Australian Army soldiers who were injured in the incident, and we wish them a speedy recovery. 

There are no safe or easy days for those who serve in our country's name. This sad incident is a terrible reminder of what families take on when their loved one bravely puts on our nation's uniform.