ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I hope everyone got a few days off. I got a few days off in beautiful Tasmania last week. So, thank you to Caucus members and Ministers for leaving me alone for a few days. It was good to have a break and to celebrate Jodie's first birthday with us as a married couple as well.
Direct flights from Western Sydney to South East Asia are on the way, with Vietjet signing on to fly from the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI).
Taking off in January 2027, Vietjet will operate twice weekly to Ho Chi Minh City, increasing to three times weekly in March. The new services will be operated by Vietjet’s A330 fleet, with each plane carrying up to 377 passengers.
From November 2027, Vietjet Thailand plans to start fourweekly services from Badgerys Creek to Bangkok. The new services are subject to regulatory approvals.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
To your association’s president, Ms Bihong Wang, to the many state and federal parliamentarians and other elected and consular representatives here tonight, including Gabriel Ng and Carina Garland, and to the award judges, sponsors, finalists and winners, thank you so much for that warm welcome.
Last year I was able to attend your Box Hill Chinese Lunar New Year Festival and was struck by your amazing community spirit.
I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has appointed Mr Simon Draper PSM as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
Mr Draper brings extensive public sector experience to the role, currently serving as Secretary of the New South Wales Premier’s Department.
Prior to this, Mr Draper held senior leadership positions including CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, CEO of Infrastructure NSW, and Secretary of the NSW Department of Industry.
He also has experience working across the infrastructure, utility and energy sectors.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency, Mr To Lam, on his visit to Australia from 9 to 12 August 2026.
The leaders will meet for the first time in Canberra on Tuesday 11 August 2026 to discuss opportunities to deepen cooperation.
Australia and Vietnam are close regional partners with a longstanding friendship.
The Prime Minister will be on leave from Friday 31 July until Thursday 6 August 2026.
During this time, the Deputy Prime Minister will be Acting Prime Minister.
EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us from Parliament House. Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Emma. Good to be with you. It's very chilly, I must say, here in Canberra this morning.
MADELEINE KING, MINISTER FOR RESOURCES: Good morning, everybody, and welcome here to the towns of Karratha and Dampier, up here in the north of Western Australia. It's a true honour and a privilege to be here at the Perdaman Urea Plant today, with Chairman Vikas Rambal, and I want to just acknowledge the work you and your whole family to create what is the largest manufacturing project underway in Australia at this moment.
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments have announced they will kick off investigations into building a new oil refinery in Western Australia. The project is proposed by Perdaman, and would help strengthen energy security in Australia.
The Prime Minister and Premier travelled to Karratha to announce they will conduct a jointly funded $4 million pre-feasibility study for a new large-scale oil refinery, which would be built by Perdaman.
Working families are in a stronger financial position today than they would otherwise be because of the tireless advocacy and strong leadership of Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil.
Sally and Michele secured incredible successes for working people in their eight years together leading Australia’s union movement – the first all-female leadership team in the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ 99-year history.