MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, took part in and spoke at the rally in Canberra. He joins us now. PM, very good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBAESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Michael. Good to be with you.
As an Australian, there are few experiences more humbling than to walk the Kokoda Track.
To be in the place where Australians and Papua New Guineans faced a merciless invader and fought for the same thing: home.
This week I had the privilege of walking in the footsteps of those giants, and to do it in the spirit of friendship that was forged between our two peoples in those darkest of days.
Joined by Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape, it was a trek like no other.
We gather today to mourn the joy Faraz Tahir should have known.
We grieve for the long and happy life he should have had the chance to make here in Australia.
The birthday he should have celebrated on Wednesday – and for many years to come.
We imagine the great success that a person of his drive and determination would have achieved and the profound contribution that someone of his boundless generosity, deep faith and powerful community spirit would have made.
We mourn for all the possibilities stolen from him.
We gather today on ground made hallow by Australian sacrifice.
Where we now have the privilege of joining together in peace and liberty, Australian soldiers fought to hold back a relentless enemy.
Six hundred and twenty-five Australians were killed on the Kokoda Track. Of those, 99 fell in the Battle of Isurava and 111 more were wounded.
And we remember and honour them this morning.
We gather today in the final shadows of night because the first Anzacs did.
JAMES MARAPE, PRIME MINISTER OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA: He made a call, he made it happen in terms of picking that date. I would just want to reflect that Papua New Guineans must not take this lightly. He, as I said in the interview earlier, he could have picked a chopper to get him here, retired his obligation to pay respect to the ANZAC event and then walk down towards the easier leg of Kokoda. Instead, he walked the hard way up, and that's reflective of the inner man he is.
Thank you for the extraordinarily warm welcome to the Oro and Northern Provinces.
I’m told Oro means welcome. And that couldn’t be more appropriate. So thank you again.
To the children who sang the national anthems for us - the Australian national anthem has never sounded better. Thank you for that honour.
In a short while we’ll set out on the footsteps of giants.
Our people fought together in World War Two on the Kokoda Track and defended Australia and defended Papua New Guinea.
SARAH ABO, HOST: Millions of Australians will unite to mark Anzac Day after a week of violence that's rocked our country. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is one of many preparing to commemorate the day by hiking the Kokoda Trail. And he joins us live now from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister, thanks so much for your time. It's hot over there, I bet.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sarah. It's a bit warmer than Canberra. Let me give you the tip, Sarah.
NATALIE BARR, HOST: The Prime Minister has touched down in Port Moresby for meetings with his PNG counterpart, James Marape, before they walk part of the Kokoda Track together. It comes as a cyber battle brews at home between the Australian Government and billionaire Elon Musk. The tech mogul social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has refused to take down graphic content from last Monday's church attack. The e-Safety Commissioner has now been granted a temporary legal injunction to make the company hide posts with the vision for all worldwide users.
PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: A stoush between Elon Musk and Anthony Albanese. I'm not sure many people would have had that on their bingo card at the start of the year, but here we are and joining us live now is the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister, good to see you. Thanks for your time and I promise you we will get to the trek in just a moment. But I want to ask you about Elon Musk. He's mocked you this morning for choosing censorship and propaganda over free speech and truth. What's your response to that?
EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Well, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is about to become the first sitting PM to walk parts of the Kokoda Track. He'll be joined by PNG Prime Minister, James Marape, deepening ties between the two neighbours and paying respects to fallen soldiers ahead of Anzac Day. And Mr Albanese joins us now from the capital, Port Moresby. Mr Albanese, thanks for joining us on News Breakfast.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Emma.