Buongiorno and happy Ferragosto.
This is a fantastic celebration.
Of course, today I want to pay tribute and begin by thanking as well the faith leaders, including His Grace, Bishop Umbers, for the procession.
Because today is, of course, in acknowledgement of the feast, celebrating the Assumption into Ascension into Heaven of the Virgin Mary.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Can I begin by passing on the thoughts of the Australian government to our close friends and partners in Indonesia, and all those who've been affected by the very significant earthquake that struck there yesterday morning. I extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives. Australian officials in Indonesia continue to make inquiries with Indonesian authorities to determine whether any Australians have been impacted.
The Albanese Government and Minns Government have reached an agreement to deliver a NSW Gun Buyback Scheme to reduce the number of firearms and make communities safer.
New South Wales will be the first state to commence the Commonwealth Government’s National Gun Buyback Scheme, with both governments agreeing to share the costs of the buyback 50:50.
Following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, National Cabinet stood in solidarity and agreed to action to eradicate antisemitism and to strengthen gun laws across the nation.
Prime Minister Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, HE Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, to Australia from 17 to 20 August 2026.
Australia and Thailand share substantial trade and investment links. Thailand is Australia’s fourth largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and our 11th largest trading partner overall.
The Prime Ministers will meet in Canberra on Wednesday 19 August to discuss deepening economic cooperation under the Australia-Thailand Strategic Partnership.
Five years on from the fall of Kabul our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face violent repression at the hands of the Taliban, as well the Afghan community in Australia and around the world.
We acknowledge the brave contribution and sacrifices made by more than 39,000 Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel who conducted or supported operations in Afghanistan over 20 years.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's great to be here in Castle Hill with Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen, with a fellow who's known to everyone, Ian Thorpe, a legendary Australian and a brand ambassador for Fox, who are a battery company, with Dave McElrea from the Smart Energy Council, and our host Kunal Kapoor from RKS Energy Solutions.
KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thanks for your time.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you.
GILBERT: Congratulations. It's quite a milestone. You've passed Paul Keating now, and you're the fourth longest-serving Labor Prime Minister in this nation's history. How do you reflect on that milestone?
More than 500,000 Cheaper Home Batteries have now been installed under the Albanese Labor Government’s program – helping households and businesses store cheap solar, cut power bills and take pressure off the grid.
Australia already has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, with more than one in three Australian households having solar on their roof.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is helping households get more out of that investment, by making it cheaper to install a battery and use more of the energy they generate at home.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Late last night, I had a very productive, constructive and lengthy and substantial phone call with President Trump of the United States. The President and I exchanged views on a number of global and regional issues, including the conflict in the Middle East and recent developments in the Pacific.
MERYL SWANSON, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PATERSON: Good morning, everyone. It is a bright, sunny day here in Tomago, but it is a great day for Australia. And I just want to firstly thank the workers and their families here at Tomago Aluminium, who have been resilient and patient with both their Federal and State Governments. And I particularly want to thank the unions, the AWU, the AMWU, and the ETU, who have worked on site to get a great result today too. But my first thanks goes to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.