National Cabinet met in Sydney today to discuss a range of priorities affecting Australians, including Australia’s new artificial intelligence laws, progressing policies to end gender-based violence, firearm reform following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi, avian flu transferring to mammals, and fuel security in light of the ongoing serious conflict in the Middle East.
Thank you so much, Geoff, and thank you, Bran as well for what I thought was a really constructive, thoughtful opening to this evening’s events. I begin by also acknowledging the traditional owners and I thank Yvonne Weldon for the welcome to country. I want to thank everyone here for hosting us for what is my fifth address to the BCA and to acknowledge all of my state and federal parliamentary colleagues who are here this evening, in particular all my ministerial colleagues, but also the members of the diplomatic corps, senior public servants, but members of the BCA as well.
MARK GIBSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome. Welcome back to the ABC Breakfast studio.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Wonderful to be here in Perth. It's a lot warmer than Canberra, having listened to that weather report there.
GIBSON: No change to the 75-cent floor, no change to WA’s share.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks everyone for joining us. This is the seventh Cabinet meeting that we have had in Western Australia, not just in Perth, of course, but one of those was held in Port Hedland. It's my 45th visit to Western Australia as Prime Minister, something I have exceeded the commitment that I made prior to the 2022 election.
One of the national collection’s most iconic and cherished paintings, Blue poles, will travel across the country thanks to the Albanese Labor Government’s Sharing the National Collection program.
The work, which has never been seen in Western Australia, will go on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth from April to September 2027.
Valued in 2023 at $500 million, Blue poles by American Abstract Expressionist artist, Jackson Pollock was purchased by the Australian Government in 1973.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's fantastic to be back in Western Australia for my 45th visit as Prime Minister. And we're regularly here because WA is the engine room of the Australian economy, and importantly as well is playing such an absolutely critical role in AUKUS. I had a long conversation with President Trump just a week ago where I spoke about the work that's happening here in Western Australia and spoke about how AUKUS is, in both of our work, full steam ahead. So important.
The Albanese and Cook Governments are today announcing the selection of the site for the new Defence Precinct at Henderson – supporting thousands of well‑paid, highly skilled jobs, and delivering continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment in Western Australia for generations to come.
The site layout includes the preferred location for the Government’s naval shipbuilding and sustainment activities, and for the sustainment of Australia’s future conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, representing an important milestone in the delivery of AUKUS.
The Albanese Government and Barr Government have reached an agreement to deliver a Gun Buyback Scheme in the ACT following a similar agreement with NSW.
Following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach last year, National Cabinet stood in solidarity and agreed to action to eradicate antisemitism and to strengthen gun laws across the nation.
Greater consistency between jurisdictions is important to ensure firearms reforms designed to strengthen community safety and reduce the number of high-risk firearms are effective.
SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome back.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good evening, Sarah.
FERGUSON: Today, you called the decision by the Israeli Defence Force not to conduct a criminal investigation into the killing of Zomi Frankcom outrageous. Is it a coverup?
PRIME MINISTER: It clearly is an outrage, and there's a need for a far more transparent and clear explanation from the Israeli government other than what we've received.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you so much. I am absolutely delighted to welcome Prime Minister Anutin to Australia for his first visit as Prime Minister. Since establishing relations nearly 75 years ago, we will celebrate that next year, Australia and Thailand have built deep connections based on friendship and goodwill. In those years, we've worked together across trade, law enforcement, education, agriculture, innovation, and energy. That relationship and our continued engagement has paid dividends for both of our people.