I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

It’s wonderful to be at the Ethnic Business Awards tonight.

I’ve attended many of these galas over the decades — and, let me say, it always feels like coming home to a great extended family.

I look around this room and I see high achievers and people who inspire.

First among equals are Joseph and Angela Assaf, who worked so hard to get this event off the ground, and have kept it going ever since.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella in San Francisco today in the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister announced the Australian Government's decision to explore the safe and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service in partnership with Microsoft, through the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).

KAUSEA NATANO, PRIME MINISTER OF TUVALU: Thank you, Mr Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Albanese, and your Government for your tremendous work that has put in to finalise this first step of our Falepili Union.

On Remembrance Day, our nation marks the moment when the guns of the Western Front fell silent, with a silence of our own.

We take a pause from everything in our own lives just for a moment, and reflect.'

We think of everyone in that extraordinary moment 105 years ago, emerging from a war that had gone on for year after year on an unprecedented scale – and into the peace in all its relief and uncertainty.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Lest we forget, is Australia's eternal promise to all those men and women who have worn our uniform, who defended our nation, defended our democracy, and risked their lives in order to preserve the Australian way of life. Today, on November 11, we pause to reflect and pay thanks to all those service men and women who are serving our nation today, but all those who have served us in the past.

On Wednesday, 29 November 2023, the Australian Government will issue a formal national apology to all Australians impacted by the Thalidomide Tragedy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver the apology on behalf of the Australian Government, Parliament and the Australian people, in the House of Representatives.

Thalidomide survivors, their family members, carers and supporters will attend the historic apology, followed by a reception in the Great Hall of Parliament House.

I rise to pay tribute to Helena Carr, who passed away suddenly while travelling in Europe with her beloved husband and life partner, Bob.

Helena did not hold public office, but she was held in great respect and esteem by all who knew her.

Among those who gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral in her memory today were Premier Chris Minns, former prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull, and, fittingly, a host of former premiers. Not least Mike Rann, who flew from Europe to be present.

Given Helena’s modesty, we can only wonder how she might have reacted.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I've just met with the Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella. And it was a constructive meeting, in which I spoke about the $5 billion announcement that's been made, of investment by Microsoft in Australia, the largest investment that they've made in a country like Australia for the entire period that they've been in existence. We spoke also about the cooperation that will occur between Microsoft with the Australian Signals Directorate.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Firstly, can I say, Prime Minister, congratulations on your election. Australia and Thailand have a great friendship and we are working on our strategic partnership that we have in place between our two great countries. We have a good trading relationship as well and a trade agreement. We are important partners, as well. As members of ASEAN we're certainly involved and 50 years, we will celebrate, next year, and I thank you for accepting our invitation to come to Melbourne in March.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, great to catch up, again, Justin and great to have an informal chat last night. We have economies that are so similar. We have a bit in common as well about our histories and our culture and our values, I think are very similar. We appreciate the fact that you're big investors in Australia as well through your pension funds, big investors in our infrastructure, and there's a huge opportunity as our economies transition. Historically, we've both been very, very much benefited our growth from fossil fuels.